Fledgling

Written by Christina E Lupin

A/N: I did enjoy every one of your reviews, everyone. I also like your ideas as to who gets custody of young Harry. The only person who got close to who I had was Griffin Raven. Now, without further ado, here is one of the most anticipated chapters I have ever had (I think)! Tell me what you think.

Fledgling

Chapter Four: Adoption

Harry liked Minerva. She entertained him with stories of his parents as well as transforming into a cat. While he petted her, she rubbed up against him, purring contentedly.

"Can I turn into a cat too?" he asked shyly.

Minerva leapt off his lap and transformed back to herself. "It is a difficult branch of magic to grasp, Harry, but I am sure that you would be able to do it, since your father could. What animal do you think you would be?"

The young boy made the cutest face as he tried to think. He scrunched his face and it made Minerva chuckle softly. Harry was more like Lily than James, which was a relief for the older woman. James was quite the mischievous child as well as a brilliant wizard. While Lily was a genius at Charms, James took to Transfiguration like a duck to water. It helped that most of the Potters were excellent at the subject and they all were Animagi as well. It seemed that Harry would do the same.

"A bird," Harry finally piped up.

Of course. Minerva smiled. "Do you know what kind of bird?"

"A big bird, like Fawkes."

Magical Animagi were extremely rare. A wizard had to be powerful to master such a difficult creature. He didn't just have to master the form, but to master the magic the animal had. In all cases of magical Animagi, the animal's magic also transferred to the wizard's human form. Also, a few cases of magical Animagi ended with the wizard or witch being imprisoned because they could not control both magicks.

"A phoenix, then?" she asked. "I think that is a wonderful animal to be."

Harry's head bobbed up and down in excitement. Before Minerva could say anything more, she heard Albus' voice coming from her fireplace. He needed her to bring Harry back to the office: he had made a decision in who would adopt young Harry.

"C'mon, Harry," Minerva said, holding out her hand to the young boy. "We are needed back in the office. Care to escort me?"

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Fawkes felt Harry's arrival and he began to trill happily, alerting the attendants of the office that someone was coming. The Ministry officials looked to the bird with confusion while the teachers looked amused. The door opened to reveal Minerva and Harry and the teachers' amusement spiked when they saw that Harry was dragging Minerva forward.

"Good to see you both again," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "I have been informed that the Dursleys are in custody and are ready for trial. And I was reassured that Harry would not have to go to the hearing."

"Who said that?" Minerva asked.

"Amelia Bones. She has heard what transpired at Privet Drive and immediately said that Harry was not to come to the hearing. She also wanted to meet our young boy as soon as possible."

"That can be arranged, once we hear who Harry's new guardian is," Minerva said. "That way, his guardian can approve the visitation."

Dumbledore nodded to the officials. "That's what they are here for. Both gentlemen, Merrick Anderson and Ric Amundson, come from the Magical Adoption department to witness the adoption of young Harry. Now, I have given a lot of thought as to who would be the perfect guardian and I have come to conclusion that he would have two guardians. A growing boy needs to have a mother figure and a father figure, not one or the other." The teachers nodded in agreement. "Therefore, I have decided that Harry's guardians will be Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall."

Minerva smiled happily while Severus looked shocked. "Albus," Severus sputtered. "You cannot possibly want me to be Potter's guardian. I would not be the best man to give him fatherly love."

"You underestimate yourself, Severus," Dumbledore said. "Harry does not need a guardian who would treat him like a porcelain doll or a hero. While Minerva can give him a loving environment, you can supply firm discipline. You do not have to be like every father in the world. Just be there for Harry and you might find yourself liking him, maybe even loving him."

Minerva watched as Severus' hard mask begin fail and she hid a smile as he submitted to the headmaster. She did agree with Albus when he said that Severus would be perfect for Harry as a father figure. She just wondered how long it would take for the younger wizard to soften and let himself love the boy.

Fawkes definitely approved of Albus' choices for his fledgling's guardians. Minerva and Severus could supply a home that would be loving and supportive. Both were firm and weren't afraid to discipline, but they also were able to comfort and love someone like Harry. He trilled his acceptance and he took off from his perch to fly around the new family.

Merrick pulled out a long parchment and asked both Severus and Minerva to sign the indicated lines. "Are you going to change his name at all, Albus?" the young, handsome man asked, his golden brown eyes glancing at the aging wizard.

"No, we are not going to change his name."

"Okay." He then turned back to Harry's new guardians. "I need you both to grasp one of Harry's hands." Once Minerva and Severus did that, he pulled out his wand and let out a string of words no one could understand. A golden glow enveloped the joined hands that swiftly changed to white and then vanished. Merrick put away his wand, smiling. "Congratulations to you three. You are now officially a family. May Merlin always look down upon you and bless you with many beautiful days together."

"That's it?" Harry asked suddenly.

Everyone in the room burst out laughing, including Fawkes and Severus. Harry looked confused but a hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

"Yes, Harry," Ric responded. "That is it. I understand that Muggle orphanages take forever for an adoption to occur, but that does not mean that ours have to be." The Latin-American wizard turned toward Dumbledore. "If that is all, Albus?"

"Yes. Thank you both for coming out."

Merrick grinned. "You are most welcome. Thank you for letting us be a part of yet another wonderful bonding." He winked at young Harry. "You might be seeing me again, Harry." He nodded to the other teachers and both men walked out of the office.

"So, Minerva, Severus, would you let your charge be visited by Amelia and Merrick?" Dumbledore asked.

"I would not see the harm in it," Minerva said, smiling happily.

"Me either," Severus agreed, his black eyes unreadable.

"Splendid. I suggest you both let young Harry go to sleep and you can discuss what is going to happen next. Maybe you should find a house for the three of you to share?"

The new family exited the office with Fawkes following them, trilling over their heads. The teachers watched with smiles on their faces.

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Once Harry was fast asleep on Minerva's bed, his new guardians, plus Fawkes, sat in Minerva's office.

I believe Albus is right in the idea of you both owning a house together, Fawkes said. It would help further cement your bond with our charge.

Minerva nodded. "Yes." Then she turned to Severus, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't worry, Severus. I will make sure you have room for your potions lab."

Severus smirked. "I'll go pick out some food bowls and a collar for you as well, Minerva. We don't want you to be taken from us by the pound."

Now, now, children, Fawkes said playfully. Play nicely. You do have someone else in this family to take care of. And I hope you do not mind me tagging along with you when you find a place. I suspect that young Harry will need me.

"You know, he mentioned that if he could change into any animal, he would turn into a phoenix. Is that why you are so attached to him, Fawkes?" the cat Animagus asked.

Not necessarily, but it is one of the reasons why I look over him. Phoenix Animagi are even rarer than magical Animagi. And make no mistake: Harry will become a Phoenix Animagi. It will help him control his magic and to defeat Voldemort for good.

"Who knew that our young boy would be one of the most powerful wizards in history?" Severus mused, staring down at his joined hands. "Now, we have to find ways to help him contain his magic until he is old enough to control it."

"What about blocking a good majority of it? I mean, blocking the magic that would be the most harmful to him if he tapped into it."

"Like what, Minerva?"

I think she means his Animagi magic, Severus, as well as a few other talents he has. Phoenix magic is extremely difficult to control and is very draining if the user is untrained. When Harry is older, I will be teaching him how to control his phoenix magic. Speaking of phoenix magic, I believe we can use Poppy Pomfrey to help teach Harry. Phoenixes heal almost every wound and since she is a Healer, she can help control his magic as well, since it will be leaning more toward the healing side.

Harry's guardians nodded.

"I will help him learn how to heal as well," Severus supplied. "I can teach him the right potions and the right ingredients to use together to help heal as well. Since his relatives," he practically spat the word out, "taught him how to cook, it shouldn't be hard to teach him."

"The Potters are well-known for their Transfiguration skills, so I can help him flourish in that department."

The three fell into silence, each lost in their own thoughts about their charge. It wasn't going to be easy, but that didn't mean that they wouldn't help. Harry was far too precious to let him sink into insanity.

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End of chapter

I am very pleased with this chapter as well. I hope you guys are also pleased with Harry's new guardians. For anyone who might ask, I am not going to make Harry too powerful. He will be powerful, since he is a phoenix Animagus, but not too much so. I do own Merrick Anderson and Ric Amundson. I used Amundson because recently, one of my father's cousins, Mark Amundson, passed away earlier this weekend. Mark had undergone brain surgery to remove a tumor and when they released him from intensive care unit, he got a blood clot in his lungs and that killed him. He was only 49 years old. So I wanted to use his last name in his memory.

Next Chapter: Minerva and Severus get used to being guardians for Harry as well as finding ways to block his phoenix magic from appearing too soon. We get to see Amelia Bones and some other families as they congratulate the two teachers for their adoption. And, we might even see a glimpse or two of our favorite character: Sirius Black.