The usual disclaimers apply; I don't own Harry Potter or NCIS, nor do I benefit from the use of these characters beyond the satisfaction of their inclusion in my works.

Chapter 10- The Adoption

Harry had woken shortly after Gibbs had tucked him into the guest-room bed. He didn't want to disturb Jethro, so he had decided to take his time and work with his green power. He slowly unwrapped the power from around his ribs, wincing at the pain before thinking of healing and applying the green power back to his ribs. His ribs immediately knitted themselves back together. He wasn't sure if he should do the same with his back, though- maybe Jethro didn't want him to heal over- night too… his uncle certainly hadn't liked it. He decided that he'd better leave the marks until he was sure it would be okay for them to be gone, but he kept that numbing charm on his back in place so that he could function pain free.

To keep himself entertained, he thought of light and led his green power back into his hands. With a look of intense concentration, he conjured a ball of light in each of his hands and started passing them back and forth. He was so focused on this exercise that he did not hear the faint sound of feet coming up the steps to his room or the minor creek of the door as it opened. However, he was distracted from his game when a sharp intake of breath was emitted to the right of his bed.

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While Gibbs was in slight awe at the sight of the child juggling a magical light, Severus gave a sharp intake of breath; it was said to be near impossible to lead magic through your non-dominant hand. Let alone the fact that the child was clearly doing wordless, wandless magic, even Severus- a fully trained wizard who had practiced for years- could only create one ball of magic/light in such a fashion. The boy's core must have been pushed along even further then he thought to create such an effect at such a young age.

In his fear at being caught using his green power, Harry launched one ball toward the foot of the bed where it dissolved due to his lack of focus and one ball toward the tall black haired man who'd come in with Jethro. However, just as Harry was about to leap off of the bed and present himself in punishment position (he'd found it better to comply before being asked in such circumstances), the dark haired man caught the green powered light in his right hand and held it up for inspection.

"This is excellent work, Harry" drawled the man while sustaining the light despite Harry's lapsed concentration.

Harry held very still. He couldn't believe what the man had said to him… He'd just complemented his green power!

"Hadrian" Gibbs laid claim to Harry's attention while Severus gave a final inspection of the ball before releasing the magic holding it together. "We've found your aunt and uncle."

However, before Gibbs could continue, Harry's shock at the compliment dissipated and he started shivering- They're going to send me back to them! I don't think I can survive being sent back to them. I knew good couldn't last. Now they know I'm a freak. His thoughts continued to roil.

He jumped when he felt a gentile arm come around his shoulders and Gibbs whisper in his ear, "Relax, Little Man. We would never send you back to those bastards." Gibbs carded his free hand through Harry's hair.

The combined effect of Gibb's strong statement and the non-painful physical touch seemed to get through to Harry. He signed to Gibbs, "So what's my punishment?"

"Punishment, Little Man?"

"For using the Green Power. I'm a Freak. Freaks that use the Green Power get collared."

"There will be no punishment, Little Man" stated Gibbs sincerely, "No one will ever collar you again."

"He's right, Hadrian" said Severus, "Mr. Gibbs will always protect you from the bad guys. As will I."

Harry looked questioningly at the dark-haired man's direction before looking back at Gibbs.

"Severus. He's a friend, Harry. He's come up with a way to keep you from the Dursleys forever, if you're interested"

If I'm interested! Thought Harry, Of course I'm interested! I wonder what they want from me to never be with the Dursley's again… Maybe it wouldn't be too bad being collared by Jethro… he's made sure I saw Ducky and was healing and let me play with Abby.

Thinking fast, Harry slipped out of Jethro's grasp, stood on the floor and started to get into punishment position while saying, "I'll do anything to be away from them! Anything. I'll be a good boy"

Gibbs and Severus shared a look before Severus said in his softest voice, "Child, we don't want that from you."

"Never. Never again, Little Man." Gibbs emphasized while pulling him upright, setting him back into bed, and carding a soothing hand through his hair.

Tears started streaming down Harry's, what could they want from him to take him away from the Dursleys. He shakily signed to Gibbs, "What do you want from me then?"

Severus and Gibbs shared another look, their resolve hardening further- No one would hurt this child again where they could prevent it.

Severus said, "There is a medicine, a potion, that will allow us to adopt you. You would be our son by blood and nobody could ever take you away from us."

Harry started nodding, tears still streaming down his face; he would gladly take medicine and accept new parents if it meant getting away from the Dursleys for good.

Severus took out his wand and ran a health scan on the boy. His ribs were completely healed and the numbing charm on them had been removed. This gave him an idea.

"Now Hadrian, I know this is hard for you to believe, but I can work the green power too." Severus conjured a ball of light in his right hand, bouncing it up and down before letting it dissipate. "Now I'd bet your family" he sneered the word "has told you that there's no such thing as magic. They lied. As sure as you r parents died to save you, magic is real."

Harry didn't know what to make of that pronouncement, so he kept quiet and continued to listen to the man.

"Now I know that you are numbing the pain in your back with magic and that you have healed your ribs with your magic." Here harry started to look scared again and Severus rushed to sooth him, "I'm very proud of you using that charm and healing yourself, Harry." Harry looked slightly baffled at that pronouncement but allowed himself to relax back into Jethro's arm, so Severus continued. "Now, the potion that we want you to take will cause every cell in your body to change to look more like Jethro and I. Normally, this would be a short but rather painful process. However, before you drink this potion, I want you to numb as much of your body as you can before drinking it."

Harry nodded… if the man could really use the green power- magic, he corrected himself- then maybe he knew when it was okay to use it?

"That's a good boy, Hadrian. Now we're going to have you drink the potion to make you Jethro's son first. Numb as much of yourself as you can, now please."

Harry did as he was told. He'd finally come to the conclusion that this must be a really good dream and that he was going to do everything he could to make sure it continued. It would be nice to have two guardians who cared about him like these two seemed to.

"Now," said Severus, sensing the numbing charm along the child's body, "Drink all of the potion in one go."

Gibbs lifted his potion to the child's lips and the boy drank deeply until the vial was empty.

"Are you in any pain, Little Man?" asked Gibbs

Hadrian simply shook his head. Severus nodded in satisfaction before setting a timer with his wand.

The next five minutes passed peacefully. The boy remained mostly numb while Gibbs continued to support his back while carding a hand through his hair.

"It's time" stated Severus.

The child opened his eyes to find Severus presenting another bottle of potion to Gibbs. Severus took the child's numb hands in his and looked him in the eyes.

"Hadrian" he said "I Severus Tobias Snape, do swear on my life and magic that I will protect you wherever possible from those who would seek to harm you. So mote it be." Green and blue magic met and sealed Severus' promise with magic.

Gibbs then tipped Severus' potion down the child's throat and the child's eyes fell closed again while he was swallowing.

When he was done, Harry decided to ask a question that he'd always wanted to but never had the chance… after all, if he was dreaming, maybe his dream mind would grant him his wish? Letting go of most of the full body numbing charm he turned to Gibbs and said, "Jethro, if you're my Dad now, can… can I sleep with you? Would you keep the monsters away?"

Gibbs almost choked on the sudden lump in his throat, but managed to get out, "Sure, Little Man."

Harry smiled, the first truly unguarded smile Gibbs had seen the child give, before falling asleep completely in Jethro's arms.

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"That went exponentially better than I thought it would" came Severus' voice drawing Gibbs into conversation.

Gibbs grunted in response before asking, "So, the child didn't feel any pain?"

"That is correct; he is simply exhausted by his use of magic and the potions running through his system. Over the next month the child will likely gain your and my height, some of our bone structure… though hopefully not my nose. His eyes, blood, and saliva will may change drastically over-night. Any magical paternity test taken in the morning will show the four of us as his parents. Lily's DNA will be present for any maternal paternity test. As a non-magical, though, your DNA will be most prevalent to non-magical machines unless I tainted the sample with a potion to enable detection of magical paternal DNA as well. I won't do that, though, as you need to gain full custody of the child"

Gibbs nodded before hefting the child up and carrying him to his room. "You may stay in this room tonight, Severus"

Severus nodded his thanks as Gibbs disappeared through the door with the child in his arms.

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Here's Mondays' promised chapter! I hope you enjoyed reading through Harry's adoption! I'll try to get another chapter out before the week is through.