Chapter 9- Adoption
"Come on Dennis," Colin said, ready to go outside and practice. "Harry just gave me some tips we need to think about."
"Hold on, hold on," Dennis said putting his guitar back into its case and throwing the pick onto his night stand. He grabbed his broom, "okay, let's go."
"Took you long enough," Colin antagonized. They walked out to the pitch and got out the beater bats and one of the bludgers. "Good job!" Colin shouted to Dennis.
"Thanks," he said, waiting for the bludger to come back towards him again. They went back and forth hitting the bludger until an unexpected guest arrived.
"Colin," Julia shouted and waved up from the stands.
"Can I aim it at her this time?" Dennis asked, flying toward him so only Colin could hear.
"No," Colin said back, but started to land. Dennis followed suit, not this again, he thought. Colin caught the bludger, being hit to the ground, and Dennis helped him put it back into the case. While they struggled with the ball Julia came down on the pitch in a flurry.
"Are you okay? That must have hurt," Julia said. Her hair was curled into ringlets and put up into a ponytail. Dennis noticed she had a fresh layer of lip gloss on.
"I'm fine," Colin said, not turning to her.
"Haven't seen you in a while," she said. "Thank you for the journal," Julia added with a smile, her eyelashes fluttering.
"Sure," Colin shrugged. "Dennis could we have a few minutes."
"Fine," Dennis said, feeling the old anger running through himself. Can't believe I thought he'd changed, Dennis thought as he went toward the castle. He had left the box of Quidditch balls on the pitch, but was just fine allowing Colin to do it all by himself for once.
Dennis stormed into the common room where Harry and Ron were playing a game of chess in the corner. He sat in one of the big arm chairs across from Hermione. She looked up from her book and blushed a bit remembering that Dennis had been there with Professor McGonagall the week before. "Hi Dennis," she said, then looked back to the pages of her book for refuge. Dennis didn't even respond, just sat there in a huff, arms crossed wishing that he could at least do something with DJ.
"Hey Dennis, you just ditched me," Colin said, coming into the common room.
"Right I ditched you," Dennis retorted. "What about Julia?" he asked with a nasty emphasis on the name.
"I broke it off," Colin said, somewhat disappointed.
Dennis felt guilty all of a sudden. "Sorry, I didn't know," Dennis said, still trying to act bitter, but having a difficult time doing so.
"I know," Colin said, pulling up a chair next to his brother. "So, did you want to play a game or something?"
"Sure," Dennis answered, and left to get his set of exploding snaps. It was the one game Dennis had yet to beat Colin at.
"I'm sorry to interrupt class," Headmistress Falson said from the door of the grammar teacher's room. They had started school up again that previous Monday, and DJ was just adjusting to Muggle class subject, though she wasn't far behind the rest of the class. "I just need to see Drina Prewett."
The grammar teacher nodded, and DJ got up to follow the Headmistress to her office, thinking it would be another 'therapy' session. When she entered the light and airy room, however, DJ saw someone besides the psychologist. It was the brunette haired lady again, though now DJ saw her eyes as she didn't have the sun glasses on inside. "Drina, this is Ms. Tonks. She is wanting to adopt you," Eve said after DJ had sat down. Eve was facing DJ, and while it couldn't be seen, Tonks lifted her jacket enough to show the concealed wand, though since Tonks had called her by her initials and not her name, DJ had figured this already. "We normally wouldn't adopt until we knew what had happened, but if you want to go to a home, I'll try and work things out."
DJ didn't know what to say. She didn't want to stay here, but she didn't want another home either. The only thing she ever wanted was her original home, her home with her mother and father… and David. DJ didn't respond, but looked between Tonks and Eve. Tonks was smiling at her with a glint of knowledge in her eyes. Maybe I'll just be going back to Hogwarts, she thought. DJ nodded her head, just to see where this was all going. Eve smiled, happy that DJ had finally responded to something. The small nod from DJ made her all the more determined to make adoption possible for this Ms. Tonks, even if she was single. Eve understood that most children DJ's age didn't get adopted at all, and was grateful that someone who had heard this story wanted to help.
"I'll leave you two alone for a bit to talk," Eve said, smiling with hopeful thoughts that this might work out for DJ. She closed the door behind her.
"Wotcher DJ," Tonks said, sitting in a chair across from DJ.
"Who are you?" DJ asked.
"I work with Dumbledore," Tonks said.
"So you're not really adopting me?" DJ said very emotionlessly, though inside she had always hoped someone cared enough to do so.
"Actually I am, but you don't have to stay with me if you don't want to," Tonks informed DJ, lifting her spirits. "I agreed with it partly because I was the easiest to get into the Muggle records, since my dad filed some anyway. There was a man who manipulated those records to make me a prospect for adopting."
"What's the other part?"
"I thought it might be fun to adopt you," Tonks said honestly. "I work a lot, but can get time off, but like I said, if you'd rather live at Hogwarts still that's your choice. Seems you've been making enough of those on your own for quite some time."
DJ didn't respond, not having anything to say. "So what do you say we bust you out? Well, legally of course," Tonks added. DJ nodded.
Later that afternoon
Kingsley Shaklebolt sat at the table in the Weasley's dining room. "I'm sorry they haven't called yet," Kingsley said, referring to the call he was awaiting from the Muggle orphanage, to verify employment of one Miss Nymphadora Tonks. She had written down a more business-like profession, but Dumbledore had made arrangements for the Weasley's phone to be used (as Arthur had already helped by 'mending' Tonk's records) and for Kingsley to help with whatever questions they had. He had in front of him a list of conversions just in case they asked about Tonk's salary by month, year, or any other time period he thought they might want to know.
"That's quite all right, we just want to help," Molly said. "Would you like another cup of tea?"
"No thank you," Kingsley declined politely. He was flipping through the pages of Modern Wizard when the phone rang. Arthur had already taught him how to use the contraption, and had warned him to speak in a normal tone. "John Dinglehammer here," he said, using the alias they had set up for him. Common enough to sneak in some basic records, but Kingsley had to stifle laughter the first time he heard it. "Yes, Nymphadora does work for me," Kingsley stated, wishing Tonks had been here to hear him use her first name.
"She's been employed with me for the past five years," Kingsley stated and continued answering their questions.
One week later- Muggle courtroom, London
"This is a hearing for the custody and adoption of Drina Jinibelle Prewett," the judge of the hearing stated, opening his file. DJ was out in the hallway while Tonks stood in front of the judge, just hoping not to trip over her own two feet. Sitting nearby was Eve Falson to represent the orphanage. Kingsley was also in the hall, just in case they needed a character witness. "You are Nymphadora Trinity Tonks, is that correct?" the judge asked.
Unfortunately, Tonks thought, but said aloud, "Yes, your honor."
The judge took some time looking over the file. The adoption proceeding had been pushed through quickly by Eve, since she felt it would be in DJ's best interest. Tonks had already had her flat looked through (after freezing all the pictures and making sure every sign of magic was hidden), paperwork had been filled out, and this was the last step in the process. "Are these files correct in stating that we still don't know where Drina was for the past four years?" the judge asked, looking above the rims of his glasses toward Eve.
"Yes, your honor, but we have made a compromise that Ms. Tonks will inform us of anything Drina says that we might find pertinent," Eve answered, standing up.
"What about therapists?"
"They haven't appeared to have any effect, Drina won't talk to them, and she doesn't eat much, if anything, at meals. Drina seems to respond agreeably to having Ms. Tonks as her guardian, and I think it might be in her best interest to have the one on one attention that an orphanage cannot provide."
"All right, can we bring the child in?" the judge said, not realizing how far from the title of 'child' DJ could be considered.
The bailiff opened the door and called for DJ to come in. She entered the room, nervous, but her head held high determined not to show her nerves. She was directed to stand between Tonks and Eve before the judge addressed her. "Drina, Ms. Falson has informed us that you like the arrangement of living with Ms. Tonks," he said. DJ nodded. "Could you state it out loud for the court?" he asked patiently.
DJ looked at Tonks, who gave her an encouraging smile, and then answered, "yes sir." It was a strange thing to actually speak after almost two and a half weeks of silence. DJ had realized that morning that she had missed three days of school, at Hogwarts that was.
The judge sat with the paperwork in front of him for several minutes, though it had felt like more to all of the others in the room, and finally closed it. "This adoption will be considered final, under the condition that any further information concerning Drina's disappearance or anything of importance to our records be reported."
"Yes sir," Tonks said, smiling.
"Then this case is dismissed," he said, hitting his gavel on the podium while everyone stood and waited for the judge to leave the chambers.
They went into the hallway, Tonks excited, Kingsley relieved, Eve full of hope, and DJ… no expression upon her face, and emptiness filling her heart.
"You let us know if there's anything we can do for you," Eve said, shaking Tonk's hand.
"I will do," Tonks said.
Eve turned to DJ, "I know of a lot of little girls who are going to miss you." DJ looked down at her feet. "Don't stay a complete stranger all right?" Eve nicked DJ's jaw with her curled index finger, and started to walk away.
When she was halfway down the hall Tonks handed DJ's bag, which she had given DJ to pack with, abruptly to Kingsley, "wait, I just thought of something!" Tonks said, making her way down the hall, almost sliding into the wall from running. Down at the end of the corridor Eve had waited and talked with Tonks away from prying ears, though DJ didn't really care what it was about.
A/N: A few things… I don't know about the London adoptive process or how long it would actually take, so if you're thinking of adopting don't use this as a reference on the steps you should take in doing so. (Sarcasmo strikes again). I know the fact that this only took two weeks or so is going to bug some people, but I really don't care… I care about what you think, but that's one thing I won't change, so don't try and make me, that's all I'm trying to say, so I'll just shut up now and hope you still will review =) Don't worry, we still aren't done here, because let's face it DJ has some real problems that are going to have to be solved =)
Colin's finally back to being the Harry worshipping Colin we all know and love... hehehe, he just was a bit too preoccupied worshipping Julia...or was that Julia's tongue... just kidding folks! I think Dennis needs to lighten up a bit and not jump to conclusions, but hey, that's part of the story right?
If you like this tell others to come and read PLEASE, and I would always appriciate if you checked out some of my other work!
Thank you:
Josephine Sawyer: Wow... nothing? At all? I'm sure you'll have lots to say to this one, especially pertaining to the speediness of the adoption, but as I said above, that's for the story purposes. Anyway, I still have to go in and fix that problem. It's funny because there have been MANY times I almost did the same thing in the other parts, but always caught it first. slaps fingers I like DJ's reaction too, but you have to understand the reason that song means so much to her (which isn't a difficult thing to figure out) to why she cried, as apposed to just appriciating the gift.
LeoKing: When it comes to Eve Falson, yes she is very patient, and I have given that as a full quality to her, not just with 'problem children'. I think she's also looking at it in the sense that something terrible must have happened to DJ to make her not even want to talk about it, so I think that's where her patience with DJ comes from as well. It has been proven that it is more difficult to find people to adopt older children, though it's a sad case, it's often true that the older kids are raised in an orphanage or by foster parents, though not always the case.
These days, however, most orphanages won't adopt one child to a family if their sybling won't be adopted as well, so that doesn't exactly follow reality either. I think, though, that her previous orphanage probably looked at her as a problem, and that could have contributed to her not being adopted. I felt it too long, as I judge it by how much my eyes can handle in one sitting, but then again I think I might need glasses. Yes I am a reviewer, what would make you think otherwise? The best writers are always the biggest bookworms (not that I would fall under 'best writer' catagory, but hey, what can you do?)
JamieBell: You made it up? All by yourself? Really? lol I love Julie Andrews, and I wish she could still sing. I lost a little bit of respect for her when I found out she once did a musical on Broadway where she had to perform nude... on stage! Other than that, though, I think she's an amazing person and a wonderful actress. I don't think most of you caught why DJ cried, but that's alright... I think I might have her explain it in the next chapter. No I don't think LeoKing watches THAT many movies, not more than any other person at least... Hope you like this chapter, and as always thanks for reviewing!