You, Me and What?!
Chapter 5: Adoption and Marriage, Not Necessarily in That Order
by ataraxis
Albus and Molly had taken the news of Severus and Harry agreeing to take Alicia
as their daughter with little surprise. What did surprise them was that Harry
and Severus had decided to get married first and then make the adoption official.
Albus stayed for a little while longer after the announcement to play with Alicia
and to talk with Harry and Severus about the Ministry forms they would need
to fill out to make everything legal. They also quickly planned out the wedding
ceremony that Albus agreed to officiate over that would take place by the weekend.
Severus assured Harry that if he and Alicia did end up getting the measles,
that they would be over by then.
Once Albus was gone, Molly cornered Harry as he was leaving his bedroom. "Harry dear, I haven't had a chance to thank you yet for agreeing in letting me be your part-time assistant. You won't regret it, I promise."
"Molly, you are a lovely, tenacious woman who took care of seven children plus myself. If you can manage all of us, you can certainly help me to manage my business." Harry clasped the older woman in his arms closely and whispered quietly to her, "Besides, I understand all to well the feeling of being wanted, needed and useful."
Molly teared up and hugged the young man in return. They parted, each with a contented smile on their face.
"Where's Alicia? How is she adjusting to the house?" Harry asked as he looked around the hallway and listened carefully for any sign of the mischievous little girl.
"She's downstairs playing with Dobby. When Dobby heard that their would be another member in the house to take care of he became ecstatic. Alicia just giggles everytime she sees him and that just makes him more excited. Right now, I think they are playing hide and seek, with Dobby looking for her." Molly and Harry chuckled at the image.
"Well then, while Dobby is watching over her, why don't you and I convert the last guest room into a bedroom suitable for a young girl?"
Harry escorted Molly down the hallway and opened the door to the functional, but pedestrian bedroom. "What do you think would be best -- magical beasts like unicorns on a light blue painted wall, or daffodils on a grassy hillside with clouds gently moving along the ceiling?" Harry spole as he looked closely at the flat white walls.
"I think the flowers would be best. The counterpain, pillows and sheets could be daffodil yellow with speckles of grass green. The bed should definitely be lowered and the chair and desk made smaller as well. How about you taking care of the furniture and I'll focus on spelling the walls?" Molly spoke as she strolled around the room, lightly fingering the items as she mentioned them.
"Fine by me."
Harry and Molly spent the next few minutes transfiguring and spelling the room into something the bright, cheerful little girl would find appealing and comforting. When they were both done, they surveyed their handiwork.
Just as they were about to leave the room, they heard a loud crash and then a high pitched scream. Harry rushed down the hallway and stairs into the living room. Before him stood a contrite house elf and a sobbing Alicia. Harry rushed to the little girl's side and made sure she was looking at him when he asked, "Are you alright, sweetie?"
The little girl hiccuped and nodded her head, as the tears continued to fall. "I'm sorry. I'll be a good girl, don't make me go back."
Before Harry could say anything, he heard footsteps on the landing and looked up as he saw Severus make his way slowly down the stairs.
"Severus, you shouldn't be out of bed!" Harry rushed to his partner's side and guided him to one of the cushioned chairs.
"I heard this loud racket and what sounded like a scream. Is everything all right?"
Harry looked around the living room and saw what had caused the crash. "Apparently Alicia and Dobby's game of hide and seek caused a small mishap, love. Poor Alicia and Dobby are distraught about it."
Alicia came to stand in front of Severus and Harry, behind her stood a repentant Dobby who was currently banging his head with his hands chanting, "Bad Dobby!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, please don't send me away. I'll be a good girl, I promise." Alicia threw herself at Severus and Harry, all the while still crying.
Harry looked at Severus and gave a sad smile, curious to see how his love would take this little upset, especially since he was still ill and suffering what now looked like the third and most uncomfortable stage of the measles.
Severus reached out a hand and carefully lifted Alicia's quivering chin. "Alicia, accidents happen all the time, there's no reason to think that we would send you away over something like this. In fact, nothing you can or will do would ever make us do that. If that were the case, Harry and I wouldn't be here together now, because he's a regular accident magnet." Severus smiled gently at the little girl, watching as her tears dried and the quivering lips slowly stilled. Severus caressed her cheek and watched as the smile returned to her eyes. "You are now a part of this family. Remember, Alicia, you are now our daughter. It might not be official yet, but you are our little angel and we are your parents. If you feel bad about breaking something, don't cry about it. Instead offer to help clean it up. Okay?"
Alicia nodded and reached out her little arms and wrapped them around Severus' neck, giving her new dad a hug. Severus slowly placed his arms around his daughter and carefully hugged her back. Harry took in the moment and exhaled softly, unaware that he had been holding his breath in anxiousness. Harry reached out to tenderly caress the head of his now complete family and life. Any lingering doubts he might have had were now very much gone.
~~@@@~~
Harry's prediction had been accurate. The next day, both he and Alicia had come down with the Wizarding Measles and unlike Severus, who was already on the mend, they spent the following three days with the illness. Severus took that time to work down in the cellar brewing potions, while Molly and Dobby looked over and cared for Harry and the new daughter of the house, as well as notifying all those who were close and important to Harry and Severus about the impending wedding and adoption. Albus returned at the end of the week bearing papers to make everything official, and that Saturday, the home known as Stone Mason Place was once again the location of a festive gathering.
~~@@@~~
"I now pronounce you both bonded for life. You may kiss one another," Albus spoke with a happy, light hearted tone. His eyes twinkled merrily as he watched his two best boys pledge their lives to one another, finally. He felt that all his meddling had finally paid off, and in the best possible way.
Harry and Severus turned to face each other at the final pronouncement and leaned towards one another for a tender kiss that spoke of love, caring and life-long commitment. Those that were present for the ceremony cheered and clapped their approval. Alicia had served as flower girl and ring bearer, while Minerva and Ron had been the official witnesses.
As the kiss finished, Albus spoke once more to the gathered family and friends, "I now present to you Misters Harry and Severus Snape!" Everyone stopped clapping for a moment, as the surprise of this announcement finally seeped in.
Harry and Severus both had talked long and hard a few nights ago, discussing just what their married name should be. Snape had thought a hyphenated name would be fine with him, but Harry said it was just a large mouthful and that, 'Besides, I don't want to be the Boy Who Vanquished and Triumphed forever, and that's what the name Harry Potter will always be known as.' Severus pointed out that legally, Harry might be changing his name, but to the wizarding world he would always be their darling saviour, Harry Potter. They had further discussed the potential ramifications of the name change to Harry's Pestaway business and they both felt it was best that no name change was really needed.
Ron gasped and exclaimed, "You must be crazy in love, mate, if you've agreed to take his name. I wish you the best of luck, Harry, because being a Snape won't be easy."
"Neither will being married to one, Mr. Weasley." Severus smirked, but the sting of those words had little impact to Harry as the older man wrapped his arm around his life mate's waist and gave it a gentle squeeze.
The other attendees chuckled and while everyone went off in search of the food that was being served afterwards, Harry and Severus drew Alicia and Albus into the house to sign the adoption papers. Alicia stood off to the side playing with her doll not really paying attention to the proceedings now that the excitement of the wedding was over, while Albus stood in front of the two newlyweds as they signed the adoption papers. "Little Alicia will now be known as Alicia Ann Snape."
Alicia turned around to the three men and said, "I like that name, Alicia Ann Snape. It's much easier to say than Cuthbertson."
"Indeed." Severus said with some amusement, before the look of surprise suffused not only his face, but of the other two men present.
"Alicia, you heard what Grandpa Albus said?" Harry knelt down before his newly adopted daughter.
"Uh-huh! I also heard Grandpa Albus pronounce you as bonded and everything. Can I go outside and play with Dobby now, Papa?" Alicia looked from one father to the other with the look of unconcern on her face.
Harry looked at Severus and just smiled. Severus just shook his head at the resilience of children and they both ushered her out of the house.
"Well, today is more joyous and memorable than one would have thought possible." Albus stood between Harry and Severus as the three men looked out the door and saw the family and friends gathered to celebrate in their happiness.
Harry reached for Severus' hand and clasped it tightly. Today would definitely be a day he would always cherish and hold dear to his heart.
"Thankfully, it's been uneventful otherwise. At least for something involving you, my dear husband," Severus said in a teasing manner. Albus and Harry chuckled.
"Well, love. I'm sure it won't stay that way for long. Especially not with a little girl like Alicia in the house."
"Not with just Alicia in the house. But yes, I'm certain you're right. Plenty of new adventures await us just around the corner."
The End, but the Saga will continue
Look for upcoming one-shot adventures of The Snapes