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Chapter Nine! Nice! :) This one is actually written by me, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to Murgy31 for letting me take this over... hope you enjoy my chapter written by me!!

Chapter 9

"Potter, let's go!" Severus barked angrily. "Move! Now!" Harry cowered on his bed in the fetal position, hiding his head with his arms.

"GET OUT, POTTER!" he shouted.

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Harry bolted upright in his bed, tears streaming down his face.

"Harry? Are you all right, dear?" Marie asked as she dashed to his side. He shook his head, wiping tears off his face with his sleeve. Marie smiled and pulled a tissue out of her pocket. She gently wiped the tears from his face.

"What happened, dear?" she asked softly. "Did you have a bad dream?" Harry nodded. "Was it the same one you always have?" He shook his head.

Sev left me, he signed, looking up at her in hopes that she knew what he said.

"Maybe you can explain it to Professor Snape when he gets here," she murmured softly. She'd learned some sign language, but not enough to know what the little boy had signed. He nodded unhappily, knowing there was a very long time until Severus would arrive. Marie chuckled softly, correctly interpreting the boy's unhappiness.

"He will be here before you know it, child," she murmured, stroking his hair. She laid him back down on his bed and gently put his covers over him.

"Sleep well, Little Harry," she said softly as she kissed the boy's forehead.

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"No, Harry, Professor Snape isn't here yet," Marie said, starting to get impatient with the eager little boy. "He'll be here soon." Harry sat by the window with his book in hand, always watching for the stolid man.

An hour later, the man walked down the street toward the orphanage. Harry jumped up excitedly and tugged on the matron's dress.

"Yes, Harry, is he here?" Marie asked kindly, smiling at his sheer joy. He nodded excitedly.

"Go ahead, you may go greet him," she told him. He dashed to the parlor, clutching his book tightly.

"Hello, Harry," Severus greeted, signing at the same time. Harry signed hello back.

"Before we begin our lesson for today, I must speak with Laura," Severus told the boy. Harry's face fell.

"Harry, you haven't been bad," Severus reassured him quickly. "I just have something I must speak with her about. You have been a very good boy." Harry relaxed and nodded.

"Why don't you go look at your book, and I'll be right there?" Severus suggested. Harry nodded and left the room.

"I must speak with Laura at once," Severus told Marie briskly.

"Of course," Marie bit back.

"Yes, Professor?" Laura asked as she opened her office door. "Come in, come in." Severus walked in and sat opposite from her.

"What can I do for you?" Laura asked, resting her arms on the armrests expectantly.

"I would like to... adopt Harry," Severus admitted stiffly. "And I would like to know what you require of me to make this happen."

"I—yes, of course," Laura stammered out. "Yes, I think Harry would enjoy very much living with you. Forgive me for asking, Professor, but what will you do with him when you work?"

"A... friend of mine has a daughter of her own Harry's same age," Severus told her. "She is willing to watch him for me."

"It seems as though you've thought this through," Laura remarked. "I'll draw up the papers, then. They should be ready when you are done with Harry's lesson. Of course, he cannot go home with you today. I must get the papers cleared by the government. You should be able to take him tomorrow."

"That's fine," Severus said. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome," she replied as she shook his hand.

"Harry, we've had a change of plans," Severus told the boy quietly as he entered the room. The boy was staring at the pages intently, but he looked up when he heard the man's voice. His face fell.

"Instead, you are going to accompany me on a few errands," Severus explained. Harry looked at him questioningly. Severus rolled his eyes to himself.

"Do you wish to come with me?" Severus said slowly. Harry grinned and nodded. Severus gave a half-smile and then took the boy's hand in his own.

"Marie!" Severus called. Marie dashed out of the back room.

"Yes, Professor?" she asked.

"I'm going to take Harry for the afternoon, if this is all right with you?" Severus said. It was a question, but he said it in such a way that it did not sound as one.

"Of course," Marie answered. "Have fun with Professor Snape, Little Harry!" Harry grinned and waved good-bye.

"We're going to visit Mia and Jane. Would you like to do that?" Severus asked the small boy beside him. Harry nodded eagerly.

"Sev, Harry, come in, come in! What a nice surprise!" Jane exclaimed as she opened the door to the two men. "Come, Mia and Drax were just having a snack."

Drax? What's he doing here? Harry wondered.

"Remember that family thing we talked about yesterday?" Snape whispered in the boy's ear, answering his question.

"Mia, Draco, look who's here!" Jane called.

"Harry!" Mia greeted excitedly.

"Go sit with them, Harry," Jane encouraged him. "I'll bring you out a snack as well. Are you hungry?" Harry nodded eagerly, then ran to catch up to the other two children.

"Laura seemed perfectly willing to allow us to adopt Harry," Severus murmured. Jane smiled.

"I'm glad," she replied. "Now, we must settle one thing..."

"What's that, my dear?" Severus asked.

"A couple may only adopt if they are married," she said softly. "Come, you've lived in Britain all your life and never known this?"

"I didn't grow up in Muggle Britain," he reminded her. "I have little knowledge of muggle laws." He pulled her into his arms, pondering the conundrum. She twisted within his arms until they were face to face.

"I... love you very much," she whispered as she looked up into his eyes.

"I... love you... as well," he replied, his voice sounding oddly strangled-- some would call it emotional. She put a hand on his shoulder and slowly brought her face closer to his, until their noses nearly touched. She hesitated for a second, then softly kissed him.

"Mia, Drax, Harry! Come here, please!" Severus called as he reluctantly pulled away. Jane looked at him, confused.

"Drax, Harry, you stand there," Severus directed, pointing to Jane's left. "Mia, stand there next to your mother." He pointed to Jane's right. The children did as they were told, looking confused as well. Severus fished around in his pocket until he seemed to find what he was looking for.

"Jane Granger," he began as he sank down to one knee, "you... are the love of my life now. I... wish to grow old with you, and watch our children grow up. Would you give me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Now, I'm almost positive no such law exists. (Then again, I don't live in Britain, so what do I know.) I'm fully aware of this. But for the story's sake, let's go with it. It makes the story move along faster.

I hope you absolutely love my chapter, which comes from the one and only MY MIND! ;D tee hee hee. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think... review!

PS you'll be thrilled to know that chapter ten is halfway written... no, I AM NOT BRIBING YOU! xD haha thanks in advance for reviewing! (hint hint) :)