Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 6

Harry thought lunch with the students could have gone better, but it also could have been a lot worse. They certainly did not treat him like a celebrity. Harry did not want to intimidate Severus with that Boy Who Lived/Chosen One stuff, especially if he started getting his memories back.

As far as Harry knew, Dumbledore would not explain what happened for him to return, and from the lack of caring for Snape, doubted Dumbledore planned for Snape to return too. Things with Dumbledore were not fortuitous accidents. Harry was getting too smart to fall for that.

The headmistress said Severus would be sent to her office shortly.

Harry was surprised by her question. "Do you have a steady girlfriend, Mr. Potter?"

"Uh yes, but uh, she's at Hogwarts. She's in seventh year and of age. I've known her for years, since it's Ron Weasley's little sister."

"Weasley? Are you engaged, since you are already living at their house?"

"We're not sharing anything. I'm in Percy's old bedroom since he's moved out. I'm only eighteen. I think Ginny's the girl for me, but I don't want to go right from fighting for my life, to getting married and start ..." Harry paused, he had almost been tricked into saying he did not want to have a family, " … things of that importance without enjoying all the preliminaries like hand holding, walking barefoot on the beach, dinner in restaurants that make me afraid to touch the silver and all that sort of thing. She's got her NEWTs ahead of her. If I wasn't let into the auror training program on an exception, I suppose I'd be taking my NEWTs in June too, and then apply to the auror program."

"I did not recall mention of your academic achievements, Mr. Potter, but if you were studying the proper subjects to become an auror, and got those sorts of OWLs, that is good."

"I'm lucky to have heard about the auror program in fourth year so I knew what to concentrate on in fifth."

"What about schooling for a child you adopt? I would not recommend Severus in a local muggle school. He's bright in some subjects, but at his young age, I think he's reached the point where he is actually ready to learn how to use a wand, since his magic is so abundant. Muggles would notice that."

"So what are the options?"

"He was schooled at home by his mother prior to coming here. She was at home with him every day, which you will be unable to do with your career. Severus is already past where we teach children reading and math in preparation to go to Hogwarts. The only area in need of improvement is his penmanship actually."

"What else does he need to know for Hogwarts?" Harry asked and also wistfully thinking that he would not mind Snape still writing like the Half-Blood Prince.

"Severus is already fluent in Latin, even though that is no longer a requirement. His prior education also includes basic potions and spells."

"You haven't given him a wand to try?"

"Oh no, our school is not certified for that sort of coursework. Some students entering their first year of Hogwarts may have tried a wand at home under their parents' supervision, but not in a formal school setting. The Ministry is strict on appropriate magical education and who can professionally teach."

Harry mused that must not apply to teach Defense against the Dark Arts.

"Well, I'll have to look into that. I wouldn't withhold education from Severus. I do know that Ron was taught at home by his mum, but I haven't discussed with Mrs. Weasley whether she'd be willing to teach Severus."

In truth, he had not discussed much with Mrs. Weasley regarding looking for Severus Snape since the one time he mentioned it months ago started a fresh bout of crying over Fred. Since she started crying about Fred, even when doing laundry and every time she looked at his seat at the kitchen table, till the family rearranged the seating, Harry was not sure if Snape was even related to her crying. At the very least, Harry was sure Snape would be fed at the Weasleys.

"I do know from his current teacher that he is a joy to teach so you should have little trouble keeping a tutor, once you find the right one, if your friend's mother's skills are geared towards younger children."

"Mrs. Weasley's skills? She dueled Bellatrix Lestrange single-handed and won. I'd say she's got skills."

"I meant no offense, Mr. Potter. This student in particular would need advanced schooling in order not to become bored is what I meant. Though I'm not making any promises that he will be a powerful wizard, just that he's fond of books and reading."

Not a powerful wizard? Harry didn't think people should be adopting kids based on their magic potential, but at least Harry considered Snape had been really good at magic.

For schooling though, Harry speculated that over the holiday that Hermione could meet Severus and then once Harry explained the problem, she'd probably work out an appropriate curriculum and what he dreaded most, one of those color-coded study plans.

"I would not mind if he gets sorted into Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Every house has its strengths, and even a Gryffindor like me admits that without a cool head, things rapidly go tits up."

"A Slytherin?" the headmistress asked in horror.

"I think some Slytherins are all right," Harry replied, hoping she would not ask him to name any. The only one that came immediately to mind was Severus. Certainly a Slytherin was all right to pay for this orphanage, however Harry was not about to say something nice about Lucius Malfoy.

Harry was saved by a knock on the door. It was Severus.

He was told to take a seat, and Harry was a bit self-conscious since the headmistress was staying to watch them. Not that he had a plan to tell Severus who he was yet. That would be too big a shock since he was living here with all these other children when he was really a war hero like Harry. He was dreading the questions and accusations such as why was he left here for months.

Figuring he might as well just say it, Harry stated, "I told the headmistress that I wanted to adopt you."

Severus made a face, then asked, "Me?" Obviously, Potter knew who he was, but why would he want to adopt him? To have power over him, control his life and beat him night and day?

"Yes."

"No thank you."

"Why not?"

With a shrug, Severus replied, "I like it here."

"This is an orphanage."

"It's very nice."

"But you're the one I want."

Severus resisted rolling his eyes. He knew why Potter wanted him in particular, but he sounded like a spoiled brat. He was a person, not a new model of racing broom. Severus responded, "There are many here who would be grateful for the opportunity, Mr. Potter. I don't know you, or much about what you did so I'm not going to be any good to you."

"That's all right, Severus."

Knowing that it was useless to resist, when he was supposed to be merely a child, did not mean he had to smile at the Boy Wonder, especially when he decided to address him by his first name. Ungrateful pisant. He was suspicious that Potter was the one that found him. No one else cared? Or was he supposed to be some sort of reward for the gormless Gryffindor and had come to collect months later, once he was bored with signing autographs and posing for pictures? If push came to shove, Severus knew exactly what made Potter tick and could make him miserable until he decided to get rid of him.

Looking at the head of the orphanage, Severus asked, "May I please return to class, headmistress?"

"Yes, Severus."

"But ..." Harry interrupted, "I uh … I'd really like to adopt you."

Harry got an odd look from Severus as he left the office.

"Perhaps you'd like some time to consider another child, Mr. Potter?"

"No, I want Severus."

"As I told you earlier, he's not interested in leaving here."

"But isn't your job to find the children homes?"

"The priority is younger children who would benefit from placement. Severus is older and not interested in finding a new family."

"That's because his old one was so crummy."

"What would you know of that? You know them?"

"No … I'm only guessing that's why he's not interested and thinks an orphanage is nice."

"My institution is the best it can be."

"Well yeah, it is, but it's not a substitute for a family."

"I can see we are not going to see eye to eye on this, Mr. Potter."

"Huh?"

"I'm not inclined to approve a single, young wizard who rationalizes his whims with such accusations."

"I didn't make any accusations," Harry protested.

Harry was shown to the floo and felt frustrated. He had found Severus Snape, and no one admitted who he really was so anyone could just come along and do whatever they wanted to him.

At the Ministry, Harry decided to go right to the top, and ended up sitting outside the Minister's office.

Kingsley did speak to Harry and could not believe that Severus Snape was in the Ministry's orphanage for months. Harry suspected he had probably been there since shortly after the Battle of Hogwarts.

Continuing, Harry complained, "And now the witch in charge won't let me adopt Severus."

"Adopt him?"

"If he's an orphan, or considered an orphan, I want to adopt him."

"Why?"

"Anyone could come along and realize who he really is. How many boys named Severus are out there?"

"Does he know who he is?"

"He knows his name, but Severus hardly even knows who I am. He thinks he's eight years old."

"Can't Snape stay there?"

"Malfoy funds the orphanage. What if he notices him?"

"Why would he? There's been hardly any mention of Severus Snape returning with Albus Dumbledore. Besides, Dumbledore knows exactly who he is, even with the one year gap in his memory."

"The Ministry's been looking for Severus for over six months. I think someone might have noticed that his description was that of a child, not an adult."

"The mission was only for those that needed to know, Harry. It was kept very quiet, based on Dumbledore's assessment that Snape did not remember anything."

"I want him out of there, Kingsley."

"He might actually be safer there, hiding among all those other children."

"I noticed him right away, even while he's playing with others. Severus exhibits a lot of accidental magic for a child that age."

"Harry, adopting a child is a huge responsibility. Perhaps I can find someone else to adopt him."

"I owe it to him. I don't know how many times Severus has saved my life, but I owe it to him."

"If he's eight, it'll be years before he can even go to Hogwarts, Harry. What are you going to do with him?"

"Keep him safe, Kingsley."

"He may end up hating you."

Harry laughed mirthlessly, "Like he liked me before? It's not about that, even though I'd like to do something for him. I'm going to have to improvise. Isn't that what parents do?"

"What do you know about being a parent?"

"How much do you know? Why can't I adopt him? Are you?"

"Me? Can you imagine the press that would get?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you could help me with that too. Get the adoption approved and sneak the paperwork through so I don't have a group of photographers all over us?"

"Not asking for much, are you, Harry?"

"What? You're the Minister."

"And you're Harry Potter."

"Well yeah, but I'd rather not go into that, you know, once I can get this little favor done."

"Oh yes, adopting one's former teacher after he's are mysteriously resurrected as a child is a teensy-weensy, little favor, especially when he was the most mysterious and controversial figure on either side of the war. Sure. Lovely. How do we know he doesn't have his memories, and he's faking it?"

"Besides him coloring pictures and playing with other children? He has pictures colored all over his classroom, and they're in color, not just black crayon."

"I'm going to have to take a look at this, Harry. This seems mighty suspicious."

Kingsley returned to the orphanage with Harry. After some quiet explanations that revealed nothing that was close to the truth, Kingsley looked at Severus's records. Someone had handwritten a '9' to correct his year of birth to 1990, instead of 1960. Everything else was about Severus Snape. The Severus Snape.

Seeing a look cross Kingsley's face, Harry leaned over to look at the records. Fleas? Snape had fleas and lice? Aunt Petunia never let Harry get that bad.

The headmistress attempted to convince the Minister that perhaps he should adopt Severus, but Harry was insistent that he owed it to his former professor.