AN: This is my first story in English and my first with the original characters, so I hope it's not too bad. I would like to receive reviews, but please no flaming. This chapter isn't beta'ed as I don't have a beta yet. If anyone is willing, just say so in a review or contact me otherwise.

Summary: Some months after the final war, the ministry realizes that there has to be found a solution for all the parentless childeren. They create a adoption law. Some of the oldest students and all professors now have to deal with bringing up a child. Will they try to help each other and bring them close, or will it do the opposite and drive them (even farther, in some cases) apart?

The Law and some bright idea's

Shocked Hermione read the article in the Daily Profit again. Of course she had known that the Ministry would have to find some way, to give all the children that lost both their parents during the war a home, but she had never given this even a thought.

Clearly the people at the Ministry were idiots, who otherwise would create such a law that would dispose all young people of their future? She read it the article – that stated the law – again, this time trying to find loopholes in it, flaws. She couldn't find any. Clearly it stated:

Adoption Law:
Due to the enormes amount of parentless children, due to the war, all wizards and witches between 18 and 54 are required to adopt at least one child between the ages 0 and 11. All witches and wizards between 55 and 100 are required to adopt a child older than 11.
All wizards and witches that do not adopt a child of their own choice shall be assigned one by the Ministry and will have to pay a severe fine. Married couples are to adopt siblings, so that they won't lose eachother so shortly after they have lost their parents.

She cursed. It was mere months after the final war in which Harry had killed Voldemort, after Hermione had found a way in which she and Ron could lend their power and energy to Harry. All three of them had been exausted to the point of dead, but luckily they had all survived. Now it was few weeks before Christmas of their last year. Hermione had turned 18 in September, being nearly a year older than Harry and so was entiteled to adopt a child as well.

Quickly she glanced up at the Head Table, to see professor Dumbledore looking at her with a thoughful expression on his face. She realized with a jolt that all professors – except Dumbledore and maybe Flitwick – would have to adopt children as well.
This school is going to turn into a crash! She though, a small smile playing on her lips at the thought of all the small childeren, she always had had a soft spot for them.

Looking around her she saw more seventh years wearing the same look on their face as she probably had, she wouldn't be the only one already 18 and so there would be bound to be more students having to adopt a child. Maybe they could organize something together so they wouldn't get problems with finishing school.

After everybody had finished breakfast – Hermione had eaten very little, due to the article – professor Dumbledore stood up and spoke to the entire room.
"As most of you probably have noticed by now, the Ministry has passed an Adoption Law, which means that all wizards and witches of 18 year and older will have to adopt a child. I would like all students that are already 18 to stay here, while the rest of you can go." Rumour started immediately after professor Dumbledore stopped speaking, the younger ones trying to find out who would have to adopt a child, the older students simpaticising with their unfortunate 'colleagues'.

Ron and Harry picked their stuff up, while glancing nervously at Hermione, clearly afraid that she would get into a fit or something like that.
"What?" she asked annoyed, "I won't start shouting or anything you know." This clearly didn't convince Harry and Ron completely, because, while they did relax a bit, they still looked slitely nervous.

When the Great Hall had finally emptied of all who were younger that 18, the remaining students grouped together while professor Dumbledore was still quietly talking to professor McGonnagall.

Hermione quietely survied who were her fellow parents to be and then stood up.
"Girls, boys!" she called out, and quickly everybody became silent to hear what she had to say. "As there is no way out of this damn law – most people looked surprised at hearing her swear – I suggest that we work out some way in which we can help eachother so that we can at least finish school without to much problems." An agreement was muttered by most of the others and then one of the Slytherin girls stood up. Pansy Parkinson had surprised everybody – to be honest she had to admit she had even surprised herself – by fighting for the light at the final battle and from then onwards she and Hermione had come to reach some truce.
"I have an idea. Maybe we should take all the children together in a classroom and have us take turns watching over them, while the rest can do their homework or whatever else they want to do." Hermione inwardly sang, that was exactly the kind of idea she had tried to come up with.
A small discussion broke out among the parents to be, about how this exactly would be done and none of them realised that the professors had come over till professor Dumbledore quietly coughed.

All looked up a bit shocked and quickly apologised for not hearing them coming over.
"It's quite alright," professor Dumbledore said, while the twinkel in his eyes were clearly seen by everybody. "I take from the discussion you were in that you have found some way to handle the children and your studies?" After a quiet nod from everybody, he carried on. "Of course you realize that taking those children with you into your commonrooms wouldn't do much good and therefore you will all move to one of the towers. It will have personal rooms with enough space for you and your charges and the tower also has a commonroom. Professor McGonnagall will show it to you after this meeting and you will spend the rest of the day moving your things and setting up your personal rooms. Any questions so far?" Nobody stood up, so professor Dumbledore continued.

"Tomorrow morning you shall all go to where the children are kept now and you can choose. I have been able to get the Minister agree that you were all to choose first, seeing as your lives will be affected the most. Those teachers that also have to adopt a child will be accompanying you and choose one for themselves immediately too." Now some people looked surprised, clearly not everyone had realized yet that the professors of course, were not excused.
With a "Good luck with moving" from professor Dumbledore, all students followed professor McGonnagall to their new rooms.

AN. And again, I would love reviews, but please no flaming and please tell what I should better. I just started writing this thing, so I have no idea when the next chapter will follow. If I receive enough reviews I'll try on next week.