A/N: I hope you all like my version of the blood adoption ritual. Please review, as that gives me cause to upload. On with the story. :)
After lunch was over, it was time for the blood adoption. Alyssa sent her patronus to Minerva and Poppy after applying a spell of her own creation. Only the recipient of the message were able to hear it, others couldn't even see the patronus if they were in the same room. Minerva and Poppy came over right away, and Alyssa went down to the lab to fetch the ceremonial dagger and the potion that was needed. Alyssa had Severus and Harry stand in front of the fireplace. She stood in front of them, holding her wand in her left hand and the dagger in her right. Poppy and Minerva sat on the couch behind her.
"Why have we gathered here?" Minerva asked, beginning the ritual.
"To solidify a bond as old as time, to recognize the love of a father for his child, and to create a bond that shall be unbreakable forever, joined by blood and magic." Alyssa paused for a moment before continuing. "The child- Harry James Potter. The guardian- Severus Tobias Snape. Flesh is bound to flesh to signify taking the child as the guardian's own. Do you accept?"
"Yes," Severus said.
Harry looked confused. His papa had told him he was going to be adopted, but what did that mean? This was strange, why weren't his papa and aunt smiling? Harry grasped Severus's hand tightly, a little afraid. A black ribbon shot from the end of Alyssa's wand, loosely binding the intertwined hands.
"The child seeks comfort from his protector, binding them together."
"So mote it be," both Poppy and Minerva chorused, causing the ribbon to flash blood red before disappearing.
Alyssa slid her wand into its holster on her arm for the moment as she picked up the potion. Approaching the two in front of the fireplace once more, she continued the ritual.
"Blood of my blood, do you accept the child as your own, loving and protecting him, even at the cost of your own life?"
"I will," Severus answered, holding out his free hand.
Alyssa pricked his thumb with the dagger, letting seven drops of blood fall into the phial.
She then turned to Harry, asking, "Child, do you wish to remain with this man forever as his son?"
Harry nodded, saying, "Yes Aunt Lyss," in a quiet voice.
Alyssa bent down, saying, "This will hurt a little Harry, but it will be over soon."
She carefully pricked Harry's little thumb and caught the seven drops of blood required, causing very little discomfort to Harry. A wave of Alyssa's hand healed the two small wounds as she gently shook the goblet, mixing the blood into the potion fully before she poured equal amounts into two goblets. She handed one to Severus before helping Harry to drink his. After both were finished, Alyssa vanished the goblets, dagger, and empty potion phial. Raising her wand, Alyssa stood in front of Harry and Severus once more.
"I, Alyssa Eileen Snape, now officially bind Severus Tobias Snape and Harry James Potter by blood and by magic. None can part father and son, so I swear on my life and my magic, so mote it be."
"Heard and witnessed," Poppy and Minerva said.
There was a flash of white light from Alyssa's wand, nearly blinding them all.
When the light vanished, Alyssa smiled at Harry, "Welcome to the family Harry Snape."
Severus picked up Harry and hugged him tightly. "No one can take you away now my son." Not even the meddlesome old coot, Severus thought to himself.
Harry was still a little confused, but Papa and Aunt Lyssa said he could stay with them forever, and that made him happy.
"Love you Papa," Harry murmured, a little tired from the ceremony.
The ritual drains magic and energy from both guardian and child to create the bond, and it also takes magic from the person who performs the ceremony so the transfer of power sticks.
"I love you too Harry," Severus said, carding his fingers through his son's hair as Harry fell asleep in his arms.
"He'll sleep for an hour or so, the ceremony drains a lot of energy. We should see any physical changes by tomorrow," Alyssa said, softly so she didn't wake her nephew.
"Physical changes?" Poppy queried, looking over at an equally confused Minerva before refocusing on Alyssa, who nodded.
"Yes, physical changes. Harry's genes are now a mixture of Potter, Lily, and Severus, so there may be a slight difference in his physical appearance. He could quite possibly avoid the Potter line's deplorable eyesight. Also, his eyes could darken, his skin could become a few shades paler, and his hair might become straighter."
"Even if it is greasy," Minerva said with amusement.
Poppy giggled, "Do you think he'll inherit the hooked nose too?"
Alyssa and Severus shared a glance, and then Severus went to put Harry in his room.
"Our hair is greasy because of overexposure to potions fumes," Alyssa replied a tad frostily, "I'm working on creating a shampoo that is resistant to the fumes, but it's not my top priority at the moment."
"And as for my nose," Severus said as he re-entered the room, "It is crooked because it didn't heal properly the last time it was broken. It had been broken too many times previously."
"We know you were joking," Alyssa said, looking at the two women across from her.
"But old wounds run deep," Severus said, finishing his sister's thought.
After a moment, which was slightly awkward for Minerva and Poppy, Severus asked Poppy about what potions the Hospital Wing needed. The four talked about work for a few minutes before Minerva and Poppy left.
"I'm grateful for their help," Severus said as he dropped into his armchair, "But I wish they had left sooner."
Alyssa nodded as she copied him. "I don't think they realized how much magic and energy you had to put into the bond to make it stick. There's a reason we're visiting the Chamber tomorrow instead of today. I'm surprised you haven't followed your son into dreamland."
"I might," Severus admitted, stifling a yawn as he said, "I'll turn the papers into Albus tomorrow when we return."
"This goes against my Slytherin self-preservation instincts, but I don't want to kill that snake."
Severus nodded in agreement, "It has more right to be there than we do, and after all it is the familiar of one of the founders of Hogwarts."
Alyssa shook her head sadly. "Doesn't Albus realize that the basilisk is the last living familiar of a founder? Gryffindor's lion, Ravenclaw's eagle, and Hufflepuff's badger are all deceased, even though their descendants live on."
Severus snorted. "Please Lyss, the old fool doesn't even know about the magical familiars. He was never entrusted with the knowledge of where exactly in the Forbidden Forest their glen is located."
Alyssa let a small smile grace her face. "Once Harry is older and we've taught him to Occlude, we really should take him to visit."
Severus nodded, smiling as well at the thought of his son being entrusted with a secret none alive today, baring himself and his sister, know about.
"Maybe we can negotiate with the basilisk, promising freedom in exchange for its word that it won't attack students," Alyssa said thoughtfully, "Though we'd probably need to discuss feedings as well."
Severus nodded. "It would need to know that the familiars of the students are off-limits. Perhaps it would be of use controlling the population of Acromantulas in the Forest."
Alyssa nodded in agreement of her brother's plan. "We'll have to make sure all of the roosters are gone before we let it out though," Alyssa added, watching her brother as his eyes involuntarily closed.
He had been yawning frequently for the last few minutes, and Alyssa knew that he needed to sleep, like Harry, in order to replenish his energy and his magical core.
As she got up to find a book to pass the time until she had to start dinner, Alyssa had a feeling that something would happen tomorrow, something unexpected. As she curled back in her seat with her book, Alyssa could only hope that everything went as planned in the Chamber. She was more worried about facing Slytherin's legendary monster that facing Albus Dumbledore. Looking back later, Alyssa realized how utterly wrong she was. Dumbledore was much worse.