Chapter 9: Making the Family Official

The Ministry official peered curiously across his desk at the three most famous heroes in wizarding Britain and the child sitting beside them.

"Just so we are clear: you wish to adopt this child as your own?"

"We do," the friends chorused.

"I understand that. But Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger, the living situation you are proposing for this child is highly irregular…"

"Highly irregular?" Ron almost growled. His eyes narrowed into slits as he made to stand from his chair. "What the bloody hell do you mean by that?"

"Sit down, Ron!" Hermione hissed, pulling down on his sleeve.

"Well…well, first of all, Mr. Weasley, you and Ms Granger are wishing to become young Mr. Lupin's legal parents, overstepping the authority Mr. Potter possesses as the child's godfather. Second of all, applying for parental guardianship as two unmarried people, not to mention the prospect of cohabitation with Mr. Potter and in lieu of marriage, is a situation that could be detrimental to the child's development. Unless, of course, you three young adults are in a polyamorous relationship, which is also highly unusual…"

"Alright, that's enough!" Ron snarled. By now, his face had contorted in rage. Hermione's mouth had dropped open in utter shock, and Harry was gripping the arms of his chair so hard, his knuckles were turning white. Ron rose up to his full height and seized the Ministry official by the hem of his robes, almost lifting the poor man off his feet.

"You listen to me, you snooty little git!" Ron hissed. "I am going to take apart your shitty arguments piece by piece. One: Hermione and I are not stepping over Harry's godfathering authority. We will raise Teddy with equal authority; we only wish for our titles as father, mother and godfather to be printed clearly in any documentation. Two: Hermione and I will be getting married, we've set the wedding for this fall, so, no, there is no 'cohabitation in lieu of marriage' as you so aptly put it. Three: There is no polyamorous relationship between us and Harry; he's like our brother. He will only be living with us. And four: the Minister of Magic himself has promised that, if we want to keep Teddy, - and we do - he will grant us whatever arrangements we may request, no questions asked. We saved his bloody world, after all! Now, draw up those adoption papers right now so we can sign and go home, please!"

The poor Ministry official all but ran from the room to draw up all the necessary documentation. Ron sat down in triumph. He expected Hermione to scold him for his rash behavior, but none came. His fiancé could only stare at him in admiration; touched by the way he had defended his family and his desire to make that family official in the eyes of the law, no matter what anyone else might think.

The official came back, still shaking, with Minister Shacklebolt now in tow. Harry, Ron and Hermione signed their names in spaces that clearly demarcated them as godfather, father and mother, respectively. When that was all done, Kingsley waved his wand, stamping the papers with the Minister's seal of approval.

"He's all yours, Harry, Ron, Hermione. Congratulations." The now-legal family left the Ministry euphoric.