A/N: this chapter is for Mandancie; my favorite person to read reviews from. I'm glad you like the story and where it's headed. Thanks for all the encouragement.
Once they arrived at Gringotts, via the floo network, Harry became apprehensive of the goblins and hid behind Professor Snape. He wasn't used to be around huge crowds and had even slightly panicked when he had first entered the Great Hall on that first night and even though he was now more accustomed to being around large groups he was still timid.
"It's alright son, the goblins will not hurt you." Professor Snape gently assured nudging Harry to stand beside him.
He had felt Harry tense and move behind him and while it had warmed his heart that Harry already believed that he would not allow anyone to hurt him; he also didn't want Harry to feel afraid of the goblins. Harry relaxed considerably when Professor Snape brought him up to stand beside him and he snuggled closer to Professor Snape. Professor McGonagall smiled as she saw Harry scoot closer to Sev and realized just how comfortable Harry had become with them. It had shocked her considerably when Harry had rolled over during the night and snuggled against her after a bad dream. However she had quickly gotten over her shock and had enveloped the lad into her arms and cradled him against her chest as she soothingly murmured words of comfort to sooth him and put him back to sleep. When Professor McGonagall looked up from her thoughts a goblin had just came from the back to speak with Sev, Harry, and her.
"My name is Ingen and I am the goblin that was assigned to the Potter will and estate, how may I be of assistance to young Mister Potter here?" Ingen inquired skeptically looking at Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall. It was very odd that a professor should bring a student to Gringotts at all never mind the fact that this was the second day of studies for the students. He wasn't sure what had prompted such a visit, but from the looks on the faces of both professors he had a feeling that it could in no way be a good thing.
"I would like for you to examine the Potter will and see if it has been tampered with in any way and if so by whom, if you would not mind." Professor Snape explained making sure that it did not sound like a direct order since this was not the goblin that was in charge of his own estate.
"I will be able to do so yes, but first I require that Mister Potter tell me himself what he would like done." Ingen relayed.
He watched as the child in question seemed to tense at the idea of actually having to address him. He didn't like it that the child seemed to fear him and he could tell it was from more than simply being afraid of goblins in general.
"Very well, Harry you will have to tell Ingen what it is that would like for him to do." Professor Snape explained to Harry smiling encouragingly when he saw Harry look at him nervously.
Once Harry saw Professor Snape smile he knew that everything would be ok and so he turned to address Ingen, "I would like for you to look at my parents' will and find out if it has been tampered with and if so by whom, please." Harry requested and looked to Ingen to wait for his reply.
He was most nervous that Ingen wouldn't be happy with the way that Harry had asked for his help and that in some way he may have insulted the goblin. Ingen was shocked, no human had ever previously told him please, but the boy seemed to be very polite and so the goblin took an immediate like to the young boy.
"I will do so right away Mister Potter, if you and your professors will follow me I shall escort you to my office to examine the will and then do anything else that you may need to do once I have examined the will." Ingen replied and motioned for Harry, Professor Snape, and Professor McGonagall to follow him.
Harry sighed internally and was relieved that he hadn't insulted the goblin as he had feared. Ingen lead them back into the restricted parts of Gringotts and then opened a door and motioned for them all to be seated. Harry decided to sit between Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall and so he sat down in the seat that was directly in front of Ingen's chair. After a moment Ingen came in and turned to a safe that he opened using his fingernail in a pattern against the safe. The safe popped open and Ingen reached in and produced the Potters' will and began to cast detection spells over it. The paper started to glow and then after a moment Ingen turned back to address Harry.
"Mister Potter there is no easy way to tell you this, but it appears that the will was in fact tampered with and the person who did so was a one, Sirius Black. It appears that Mr. Black cast this spell on the night that your parents were killed and hide a very crucial part of the will indeed. Your mom did not wave her rights to name Godparents that you would go to in the event of her death. On the contrary she named both of your professors, Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall, now McGonagall-Snape, your Godparents and your sole caretakers upon her and your dad's deaths." Ingen informed and then watched the young boy to gage his reaction.
Harry was relieved in a way that Professor McGonagall was right and that not only her, but also Professor Snape were in fact his Godparents. The thing that bothered Harry was why did the man, Sirius Black, feel the need to tamper with the will and send him to live with the Dursleys. All of the abuse that he had suffered had been for nothing and should have never happened. He knew for a fact that had he been allowed to stay with his professors from the get go then he would have lead a more happy and care free life. As the emotions crossed his mind in a whirl-wind, tears came to his eyes and he blinked feverishly trying to keep the tears at bay. Professor McGonagall saw this and stood and pulled Harry into her arms; making sure to sit down beside Sev.
"It's alright dear, everything will be ok now. I promise that you will not have to go back to those people that you were living with." Professor McGonagall promised as she gently rocked Harry against her chest.
Harry curled against his professor's chest and instantly began to feel better at the kind words that Professor McGonagall murmured to him however they also made him feel the need to cry and he wasn't sure if he should, but as she kept murmuring his body didn't give him a choice. Harry let go and cried for a moment before getting his emotions under control and making his breathing return to normal. When Harry raised his head from Professor McGonagall's chest he noticed that Professor Snape was anxiously watching him to make sure that he was alright. He was touched that the professor was genuinely concerned about him and his well-being. Harry smiled at Professor Snape and as he crawled out of Professor McGonagall's lap he turned and hugged Professor Snape to assure him that he was ok. Professor Snape was caught off guard as Harry willing turned and hugged him, but he quickly wrapped the younger boy in his arms and held him close for a few moments. He, himself, had been very worried that neither he nor Minnie had been named Harry's Godparent(s) and that the will had not been tampered with. When he had heard Ingen inform Harry that the will was tampered with and both he and Minnie were his Godparents; he wanted to jump up and down with joy that Harry was really theirs. The sudden tears that Harry spewed, once he realized that Black had been the one to cause him such anguish at the hands of the Dursleys, had broken his heart and he was glad that Minnie had taken the boy into her arms because, at the time, he couldn't even move as he was overcome with rage towards the Dursleys and Black. Harry pulled back and that broke Professor Snape from his thoughts; when he looked at Harry's face he knew that everything would be ok and now that Harry had Minnie and him, that Harry would make it without a doubt. Harry smiled at Professor Snape and Professor Snape returned the smile and nodded his head encouragingly at him.
Harry turned back to Ingen and began, "I'm sorry about that Ingen, sir, I just got overwhelmed for a moment. Now that you've proven that the will was indeed tampered with, what happens now?" Harry probed looking Ingen in the eyes. Ingen was once again floored; not only had the child asked kindly for him to perform the job that he had to perform regardless, but now the child had called him sir when Ingen was the one who worked for Mister Potter.
"Well Mister Potter, if you want I can transfer your custody over to Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall-Snape and they both would become your permanent guardians. However if you would rather remain where you are or go somewhere else I can also arrange that the decision is up to you and of course your professors." Ingen explained and then leaned back slightly allowing Harry proper time to digest all of the information he had just be given.
"May I talk to my professors for a moment and get their opinion on the matter?" Harry inquired looking to Ingen for permission.
"Of course you may Mister Potter." Ingen allowed and then he turned his attention to the papers on his desk to see if anything else on the will had been altered.
Harry turned to Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall and anxiously began, "Are you both sure that you would want to be my guardians?" Harry questioned getting down to the point instead of beating around the bush. Both professors looked at one another and then they looked back at Harry and both nodded their heads in the affirmative. Harry was about to turn around when Professor Snape motioned him to wait a moment and come over to stand in front of him and Professor McGonagall.
"Did I do something wrong sir?" Harry questioned looking skeptically at Professor Snape.
"No Harry, you did not, Minnie and I were wondering however if you would like for us to...to adopt you." Professor Snape explained nervously. "
You mean...you both...want to be...my parents...for real?" Harry mumbled tears streaming down his face.
"Of course we do my dear. We would love nothing more than for you to be our son." Professor McGonagall assured Harry.
Harry quickly flung himself at both Professors and was glad that when Professor McGonagall had stood earlier to hold him that she had remained in the seat by Professor Snape. They all held each other for what seemed like centuries and then they all figured that they had kept Ingen waiting long enough. Harry was the first to pull back from the hug and then Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape pulled apart as well.
"Well Mister Potter, have you and your professors came to a decision that you all agree upon?" Ingen inquired looking to Harry for further instruction.
"Yes sir we have. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall would like very much to adopt me and I would love for that to happen." Harry conveyed looking anxiously at Ingen afraid that somehow the goblin could prevent that from happening. For some reason the fear that Ingen saw in the young Mister Potter's face made him feel bad; it was painfully obvious that the boy feared that he, himself, would prevent the professors from adopting the boy.
"That will be fine indeed Mister Potter. There is no need to worry Mister Potter. There is nothing that I can do to stop this if it is what you want and even if there was I would not do so." Ingen assured Harry. Harry smiled and did something that shocked everyone in the room. Harry quickly leaned across the desk and hugged the goblin. Ingen froze for a moment and then returned the young boy's hug before releasing the boy and sitting back into his seat. Harry smiled brilliantly and then quickly hugged Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall before reining in his excitement and sitting back down again.
"Now Mister Potter it is important that you understand there are different types of adoptions in the wizarding world and you need to pick which one that you like and see what kind of adoption your Godparents would be -comfortable with as well. First there is Nunc sumus et familia in aeternum and it is a magical blood adoption that gives you 11.5 chromosomes from each person that is going to adopt you and allows you to keep 11.5 chromosomes from each of your biological parents. This adoption process only works in cases like yours where the biological parents are deceased because, this form makes the people that are adopting you become your actual parents and their chromosomes are the ones that familial tests pick-up instead of your previous parents. However you still have your biological parents chromosomes in you and therefore not all of your features would change , but a great deal of your features would change to match your new parents. Second there is Ego te protegam semper which is another type of magical adoption which makes the people adopting you your permanent protectors and providers. Thirdly there is Te amo alumna which is the last type of magical adoption that works in your case which forms a bond between you and the people who adopt you and emotionally connects as if you were really parents and child. The final option if you do not like any of the magical ones is a muggle adoption that simply names them as your guardians until you become of legal age in the muggle world. Now I shall give you time to discuss the options and then we will go from there, alright Mister Potter?" Ingen probed looking at Harry.
"Yes sir, that's fine, thank-you." Harry agreed smiling widely at Ingen before stepping over to confer with Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.
Harry stood nervously in front of his professors not sure how to start the conversation that would ultimately change his life. Harry, himself, knew which option he liked and it was the Nunc sumus et familia in aeternum; he wanted so badly to have real parents and this option made sure that he didn't lose his biological parents either. He would simply have two dads and two moms. The only difference being that only one set of his parents was alive, but Harry knew that both of his parents would want him to be happy even though he couldn't be with them.
"Harry, sweetie, we need to discuss what you want so that we don't keep Ingen waiting to long." Professor McGonagall reminded Harry pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Yes ma'am, which options are the both of you comfortable with?" Harry questioned nervously. He knew that both professors had said that they wanted to adopt him, but he didn't know if they really wanted to become his parents even in blood.
"Well son, we're happy with any of the options and we don't want you to feel swayed to one decision or another so we thought that we'd let you decide and then tell us." Professor Snape explained smiling at Harry reassuringly.
Harry pondered it for a moment and then he turned to the professors again, "Are you both sure that you don't care which option I go with?" Harry asked hesitantly. Harry was scared to tell them the choice that he had made for fear that once they knew where he stood they would change their mind and deem that too much to handle.
"We're sure son; whatever you decide will be fine by us." Professor Snape repeated.
"Sev's right honey, no matter your decision Sev and I will still love you." Professor McGonagall agreed.
"Ok...well...in that case...I would very much like...for the both of you...to become my...parents...through Nunc sumus et familia in aeternum...if you wa..." Harry relayed but never got to finish his statement as Professor Snape pulled him into an embrace and then Professor McGonagall joined in on the hug squeezing Harry's shoulder lovingly and placing a kiss on his forehead.