"Group Five- over here!" Dumbledore called, "Here is your portkey to Moscow!

Over here, your Rubber Ducky is the way to Moscow." The fifth group gathered and all held onto the duck. With a pop they were gone.

"Sixth group to Miami, here to the Rememberall." The sixth years were soon gone.

"From the Department of Magical Adoption to Miss Hermione Granger." A house elf appeared with a tiny pop.

"Yes?" Professor Dumbledore said, kneeling in front of the elf.

"Me is needing to give this to Hermione Granger."

"She is right over there. Shall I call her?"

"Yessir, please."

"Miss Granger?" Dumbledore said to the sleepy girl who was leaning against her trunk, "Someone to see you."

"Ok...where are they?"

"The house elf, Miss Granger." Dumbledore said. Hermione kneeled next to the house elf.

"Hellos 'Mione Granger. I is having this letter for you from Master O'Hearn. It is being about your god-daughter."

"She was just born a few days before I came back to Hogwarts." Hermione said to Dumbledore, "She's a witch."

"That is being the problem Miss 'Mione. Read the letter."

"All right."

Miss Hermione Granger,

This is the Department of Magical Adoption's head, Alexander O'Hearn. I am very sorry to report but at six twenty two a.m. this morning Amanda and Jacob Vodzak were killed last night in a muggle riot at a local restaurant. The young Miss Vodzak was at home with the house elves. The God-Father, Mr. Viktor Krum, has been contacted and is unable to take the baby due to his career. As her Godmother, as of August 29, 2003, you are now responsible for the child. Please send word back with Tiny, my house elf.

Thank you,

Alexander O'Hearn

Department of Magical Adoption

"Oh, Gods." Hermione cried, sinking down further.

"What is it?" Dumbledore asked her.

"I have to get to London!" Hermione cried, shoving the letter to Dumbledore. She conjure more parchment and a quill from her trunk and hastily inscribed a note to give to Tiny.

To Whom it May Concern,

I am Hermione Granger and I am the God-Mother of Miss Vodzak. I will be there soon to collect her. Thank you.

Hermione Granger.

"Here, Tiny, Take this to your master." Hermione said, shaking hard.

"I is thanking you, 'Mione Granger." Tiny bowed and with a pop he was gone.

"Miss Granger-" Dumbledore said, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"I have to go. Just let me get to her." Hermione started to cry from the loss of her friends and the sudden burden of motherhood.

"Not until you are calmer." Dumbledore said, looking about. He had already sent along the other groups, so it was just Hermione and Dumbledore in the Foyer of Hogwarts.

"I have to go, tell Professor Snape, Draco and Ginny. Oh, Gods, I don't know what I am going to do!" Hermione sobbed.

"I know that Professor Snape and all the heads are on first name basis. I also know that Severus values you very deeply. I am sure that he would want to accompany you to London."

"You actually approve of the relationship, still?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"I approve of the fact that you and Severus were both terribly lonely and now you have found someone to share that time with. I am merely repressing and forgetting the fact that you are student and teacher. You are of legal age, plus two years due to time turning in the third year."

"Thank you. Can I go now?" Hermione asked, grinning at Dumbledore.

"Yes, here comes Severus, Ginny and Draco. You go and send an owl to your parents. When you return, Severus will be ready.

~*~10 minutes later~*~

Hermione ran down the steps into the foyer and into Severus' arms at the bottom.

"I'm so sorry about your friends, Hermione." he said, kissing her hair.

"I am too. But there is nothing to be done now." she said, leaning into him.

"Lets get going. This baby will see the world at an early age, Hermione. What is her name?"

"It's a muggle thing. They don't name their children until the christening ceremony. That was to be on Christmas in a month, exactly. So she technically has no name."

"Oh. Well, you will just have to choose one."

"I'm not very good at that type of thing. You are so poetic. You choose something." Hermione said as Severus pulled her close to apparate to the Ministry.

"If you wish, darling." there was the pop and a split second later they were standing just inside the Ministry building.

"Hello, Welcome to the Ministry of Magic, what department, please?"

"Magical Adoption." Hermione said.

"Third floor, to your left. Wand check to your right. Thank you, have a nice day." the voice said.

"It's now or never, Mione." Severus said, taking her hand. They walked up the steps and got to the office of Alexander O'Hearn. Severus knocked twice and a few seconds later they were welcomed into the office by Alexander O'Hearn himself.

"Hello, Miss Granger." He said, shaking her hand. "I assume you are here for little Miss Vodzak."

"Y-yes. I am."

"Just put your hand onto this piece of parchment and it will magically bind you to the contract of adoption." He said, presenting the scroll.

"All right." Hermione said as she closed her eyes to put her little hand down.

"There we go, all done. This way, please." He said, pushing aside a large chair in front of a door. The door was covered with memos and baby pictures. He shoved more things aside and led them down a short hall to a little dimly lit room. There was a house elf for every baby and they were being rocked back and forth in a cradle or by the elf in the rocking chair. One little one was crying. Several were eating.

"Which one is she?" Severus whispered to her.

"I haven't seen her." Hermione said.

"Here she is." Mr. O'Hearn said, standing next to a cradle in the corner. The house elf with the nametag labled Bubbely picked a three month old child and rocked her a bit in her arms. Hermione and Severus walked though the cradles and to where Bubbely and Mr.

O'Hearn were. "Your daughter."

Bubbely held up the baby for Hermione to take. Hermione gathered her into her arms and pulled the ball of pink blankets closer. She pulled the soft blanket back from the baby's face. She was greeted by a shock of curly brown hair and bright little blue eyes.

"Oh, Gods." Hermione breathed, starting to cry again, "My daughter now."

"Oh, Hermione, remember the child. This is a wonderful thing, I promise. She is your daughter now and you have to be strong for her." Severus comforted her.

"I am just scared." Hermione confessed.

"No need to be scared. The whole castle will be raising her."

"You promise that you will be there?" she asked.

"I would be there even if you didn't want me to be."

"Thank you, Mr. O'Hearn." Hermione said, nodding towards him. "Can we apparate directly from here?"

"Yes, go ahead." he said.

"Are you ready?" Severus asked.

"Yes." He pulled her and the baby close and with a pop they were gone.