Brady2003us: thanks; Harry and Tom will end up staying at the Leaky Cauldron for a while. As for Godric's Hollow, maybe if I do a follow up, but not yet.

 Kenaz Astaroth:  *struggles to free herself from ropes, eventually ropes fall free* ah, that's better! * Sees Kenaz advancing on her * …anyway, here's the next chapter. Yikes!

E.R: More? Here ya go…

Shades: I'm flattered. Yes, it will be a long story, but, no, no slash.

Death Eater: Oh dear… * looks down at the pile of ash *  Would your ashes like to read this? * Sweeps up the ashes and puts them in a jar labelled 'Death Eater'. This jar is then put in front of the pc * Better?

Garnet: Hooked up, huh? Well here's your next fix.

Xaphacia: Nope, the Dursleys aren't gonna be happy. But Harry'll keep them in line! * Grins*

PhoenixMan: Thanks…I think

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"I think I would be the perfect father figure for Tom…"

Harry's mouth had acted before his brains. A very Gryffindor-ish trait. ' I didn't just say that, did I? Oh well, it's the truth… just in a very arrogant way! Uncle Vernon doesn't look too happy though!'

Harry was right; Uncle Vernon didn't look too happy. In fact, he looked apoplectic! Uncle Vernon glared at Harry before standing up to glare over at the Barbie.

"Now I don't know just what you think you are doing, but this boy is highly unstable. How can you expect this f-" Here he paused, about to call Harry a freak. He took a deep breath and continued. "Boy to look after a five-year-old when he is scarcely able to control HIMSELF!?" This speech was laced with the venom usually reserved for Harry.

The Barbie deserved some credit though. All the time that Uncle Vernon was making his speech she had never answered back, broke eye contact or flinched. When she was sure that he was quite finished with his ranting and raving she stood up and closed the space between Uncle Vernon and her with just three strides. Her demeanour, now, had changed completely. Instead of looking and acting like a Barbie, Harry now realised what a Snape/Dumbledore hybrid would look like! Under the firm, unrelenting gaze of the Barbie/Hybrid/Residential Care Officer, Uncle Vernon found himself quailing a bit.

"If you'll excuse me sir, I don't believe that I asked for your opinion!"

'Merlin, she even sounds like Snape!' Harry thought. 'I hope she never finds her way to Hogwarts. No one could stand a chance against that!'

Harry glanced at Uncle Vernon and the Barbie and saw that they were locked in a battle of verbal insults. After listening for a while, he decided that there was nothing of interest there and turned his attention to the other people in the room.

Aunt Petunia was still seated with her eyes fixed on her husband. She ground her horsy teeth whilst seeming deep in thought as what to do. Dudley had taken a trip to the kitchen and had returned, his arms laden with crisps, sweets, ice creams and biscuits, making the most of his mother and father's distraction. Tom had moved closer to where Dudley was sitting and was attempting to steal some of the food- but not having much luck!

Tom's attempts to steal the food had not gone unnoticed by Dudley! Picking up a packet of ready salted crisps, Dudley threw them at Tom, hoping to lure him away from his stash. It worked. Tom picked up the crisps and climbed back on the sofa to rejoin Harry, looking pleased with himself. Harry was still staring at the food wondering how long it would be before the other Dursleys noticed Dudley with all the food and wondering whether he should tell them. Dudley, perhaps realising Harry's intentions, threw a packet of crisps at Harry, apparently hoping the same tactics would work on him.

Harry sat in shock at Dudley's actions, and then decided to make the most of it. Grabbing the packet of crisps, he settled down to watch the quality entertainment that was now Vernon Dursley and Wendy Smith.

"YOU CANNOT SERIOUSLY BE CONSIDERING ALLOWING A FIFTEEN- YEAR- OLD BOY TO ADOPT A FIVE- YEAR- OLD!" Vernon's voice was so loud that Harry thought the Weasleys would now know of the adoption.

"I can assure you now, Mr Dursley, that if we didn't think this young man," here she indicated Harry, "stable, I wouldn't be here now!" Turning here back on Uncle Vernon, she said to Harry, " Do you have anyone else to turn to apart from this moron?"

"What do you mean?" Asked Harry.

"I mean, Is there anyone else who can give you emotional and financial support?"

"Er… Yes I suppose." Harry started, unsure of how to word the next part of the sentence. He decided on the obvious. "My Godfather."

There, he'd said the magic words. Uncle Vernon had gone white and sunk down into his chair, whatever he'd been about to say forgotten. This was just the effect Harry had been hoping for. Any mention of Sirius left the Dursley's shaking with fear. Harry was never sure whether it was the fact the Sirius was a wizard or the fact that he was a wanted murderer.

Wendy decided to make full use of Uncle Vernon's silence and get as much talked through with Harry as she could- with no interruptions. "So, about this godfather of yours, is he very supportive?"

Harry smirked at the Dursleys before replying. " Oh yes, very supportive!" 'Ok, so maybe I exaggerated a little, but it's true!'

Wendy seemed to be accepting Harry's word for it, but she still looked like she needed convincing of something. She sat there for a few minutes, apparently lost in thought.

'Lost is definitely the right word!' thought Harry and sniggered.

Having thought about whatever it was, the Barbie turned to Vernon Dursley who was slowly regaining the colour on his face. "What do you think about Harry's godfather? Do you believe that he will be able to stand by Harry and give him all the help he needs in raising Thomas?"

"BLOODY HELL!" Tom picked up a cushion and started to scream into it.

The Barbie turned to Tom as though he was about to ride through the streets on a dog naked, singing 'little brown jug' at the top of his voice!

Deciding he wasn't, she turned back to Uncle Vernon with a questioning look on her face as if to say, 'well?'.

Uncle Vernon opened his mouth to say something but decided against it after catching Harry's warning look. Harry was strangely satisfied to see Uncle Vernon at a loss for words.

'Yeah, well, for all he knows, Sirius could suddenly decide to turn up and do something 'freakish', couldn't he? And if he wants to think that, let him. It's not doing me any harm!'

Having had a moment to rethink his views, Uncle Vernon seemed ready to voice and opinion once again. He didn't, however, seem happy with what he was about to say. "I… Er… that is to say. I think the boy's godfather would be extremely supportive." The disgusted look on his face couldn't have got any worse if Sirius had marched in now and pole danced on the table! At this thought Harry was struggling to keep a straight face. It didn't help that Uncle Vernon's face was getting a shine from all the sweat he was producing.

The Barbie smirked as she asked the next question. "So, Mr Dursley, are you happy for this adoption to go ahead?"

The room went quiet: all the occupants eagerly awaiting the answer to the question. Aunt Petunia gave her husband the 'deer caught in the headlights' look. Dudley tries to cram as much of the food into his fat mouth as was possible to avoid having to send too much back to the kitchen, as he had been caught be his father. Harry leaned back on the sofa, already planning life with Tom whilst Tom was munching on another packet of crisps he had stolen while Dudley wasn't looking, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

After what seemed like and eternity, a rather resigned Uncle Vernon took in a deep breath and said the three words that changed the fate of the Wizarding world forever.

"Yes, I agree…"

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HaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!

Now that's evil! Don't worry, I've got the next chapter in rough, I just can't be bothered to type it up yet! Oh, ok, It'll be up tomorrow, ok?