Disclaimer: All the characters and the plot that you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling...anything you do not recognize is my own...

The "R" rating is because I am unsure of exactly how racy the material is going to get in this story...

A/N: This is my response to the Adoption Act challenge on WIKTT. This is my first challenge response, so please r/r and tell me what you like/don't like, etc.

The Challenge:

The war with Voldemort has been won but at a high cost. The loss of life in the wizarding world is staggering. Everyone has lost at least one person close to them, and a many people can now see the thestrals that pull the Hogwarts carriages.

The losses have affected more than just the hearts and minds of people. There are an alarming number of children that are now without parents, many more than the Ministry can take care of. Makeshift orphanages are overflowing. As a result, the Ministry has made the Adoption Act. It requires everyone above 20 years of age that is not attending University to take in at least one child (anyone below 17 years of age), unless they already have at least two children in their care. Married couples are only required to take in one child. Those who are over the age of 80 don't have to take in a child. (Okay, you caught me here, I was inspired in part by the Marriage Law Challenge, hope no one minds. If you do, just tell me.)

Severus Snape survived the war and is thought of by many to be a hero. However, this does not exempt him from this new law. What happens when Severus has to take in a child?

Requirements:

Takes place in or after Hermione's 7th year, so Hermione and the rest of her year are not put in homes.

Girl or boy? How old? Did he know the child beforehand? How does the child feel about him?

Show some interaction between him and his charge. Does he see him/her as a burden, or did he willingly take him/her in (perhaps as another form of redemption)? If it's the former, does he start to care for him/her?

How do Hermione and Severus get together? Does she help him with his charge, "baby-sit" for the staff, or is she taking care of a child herself? Do she and Severus come to an arrangement of convenience?

Someone challenges Severus's right to be a care-giver, and someone unexpected defends him.

Deal with some of the emotional aftermath of the war and its affect on the children, as well as them having new parent figures that are not really their parents.

It can be any length and any rating.

Bonuses:

Percy gets saddled with a troublemaker.

Minerva McGonagall takes in a child.

Remus wants to be a care-giver, but there is controversy because of his "condition".

Hermione teaching some man how to braid hair because their charge is a young girl.

Severus's charge manipulates him and Hermione into being together.

There is controversy over the fact that some of the "children" are the last of longstanding pureblood lineage, and people want to adopt them. Some problems pop up because of this.

Chapter 1- The New Law

On the morning of September 25, 2000, the last thing on Professor Severus Snape's mind was an adoption act. Sure, he realized that many wizards and witches had given their lives in the fight to defeat Voldemort, but he never expected anything to be done about it.

But the headline of the Daily Prophet was quite clear:

Minister of Magic Enacts Adoption Act

Arthur Weasley, Minister of Magic has enacted an Adoption Act to help all the orphans now living in the Wizarding world. The number of orphans has increased over the last few months as a result of the war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
The law states that any witch or wizard between the ages of 20 and 80 that is not attending University must adopt a child under the age of 17. Married couples are only expected to take in one child and those who already have two children do not have to adopt.
Letters will be sent by the ministry to all those who qualify. Please do your duty to help these children.

-Matilda Moroe

As Professor Snape read this, he noticed the owls flying towards the head table. A small letter was dropped in front of him. He opened it to reveal a letter from the Ministry:

Dear Severus Snape,
As you are unmarried with no children and only 40 years of age, you are required to adopt a child, whose parents were lost in the war. Please let us know of any preferences you have of age or gender of the child or children you would like to adopt.
Please return this immediately.
Thank you,
The Ministry of Magic

Now the fact that Professor Snape no longer had to spy for the Order, a great deal of pressure had been taken off his shoulders and he was no longer the cold, heartless man he once was, but he drew the line at children. He had been a war hero. He must be able to get out of this. No way was he going to adopt any children.

He slammed the newspaper and letter on the table and stalked to the middle of the table where Professor Dumbledore was sitting. "Albus, I must speak with you at once!"

"Now, now, Severus, I was just about to call a staff meeting. Why don't you go on down to the staff room and wait for us there," Albus answered.

Professor Dumbledore watched as Severus glared at him and stalked out into the entrance hall. Sighing, Albus stood and addressed the students, "Students, I must ask that you all return to your common rooms. All classes will be cancelled for the rest of today. Professors, please report to the staff room now for an emergency staff meeting."

He nodded at the other professors and walked into the Entrance Hall to meet up with Hermione Granger.

"Miss Granger, it is a pleasure to see you again."

"Professor," Hermione smiled at Dumbledore.

"Please, call me Albus, Miss Granger; I am hardly your teacher anymore."

"And please call me Hermione."

Albus smiled and held his arm out to her, "May I escort you to this meeting, Hermione?"

"Certainly, Albus," she said, taking his arm.
When Albus and Hermione entered the room, all the professors looked expectantly at Albus and were quite surprised to Hermione with him. Hermione took and seat next to Professor McGonagall. She looked around the room at the many professors: Harry was now Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Lavender Brown had taken over as Divination professor, and Bill Weasley had taken over as Charms professor.

Albus started to speak, "As many of you read in this morning's newspaper, the Ministry has put an Adoption Act into place to help those who lost their parents in the war against Lord Voldemort. Miss Granger has been one of our connections in the Ministry. She will explain how this will effect everyone here at Hogwart's."

Hermione stood up and adressed the group of professors, "Good morning, Professors, as many of you are between the ages of 20 and 80, you will be greatly effected by this law," Hermione began.

"How are we to deal with the children when we have to teach? We have other lives; the Ministry cannot force this upon us!" Snape said with a sneer.

"Professor, they can and they will. As I was about to say, I, along with Ginny Weasley-Potter, have taken the position of caretaker of the children while the professors are busy."

Harry smiled at this and Professor Snape's scowl just got worse.

Hermione continued, "Today I will be bringing your preference letters back to the Ministry and the children will be brought back here this evening."

She waited while all the professors, but one filled out their letters. Snape stood and growled at Hermione, "I was a hero in this war and you cannot make take part in this."

Hermione finished collecting the letters and turned to face Snape and with a scowl that could rival his said, "You will adopt and if we have to just assign children to you, we will." And with that she spun on her heel and stalked out of the room with Albus following after.
A/N: Sorry this was short....I wanted to post this and see what you all thought before I continued...so please review!!

A/N2: And sorry if the format looks weird, I'm still having trouble formatting it when I upload it...any suggestions?