A/N: pokes head out of hole and looks around cautiously, creeps out of hole and jumps into her computer chair, starts a program and types furiously, in hopes of getting this posted before someone actually makes good on his threats and offs her Hey all! Sorry about that! I took a little detour in life. Never knew that not posting to a story could garner so many death threats! I still jump at small noises! Anyway, I'm back, and should post every two weeks or so. I won't keep you waiting. On to the story! Sylvia
Harry shifted nervously next to Tom, wondering why he ended up back in a courtroom. He should just go into law, as he had been spending far too much time in the courtrooms of the wizarding world. Tom smiled at him and put an arm around his shoulders. Harry smiled back gratefully while they waited their turn in line for the court to officially approve his adoption. He looked to his left and saw Draco and Severus standing there, the pair also waiting their turn for adoption to be made official.
Harry toyed with the buttons on his shirt beneath his robes and sighed. Why did everything have to take so bloody long? He thought back to that weekend when Tom had asked him. They had been in Hogsmeade and Tom had pulled him aside as he and his friends had started up to the castle. To say that Harry had been surprised would be an understatement, but he was also immensely happy about Tom's wanting to adopt him. He and Draco would finally have someone to care for them officially and legally. Harry shifted his weight again and looked over at Draco.
Draco rolled his eyes at Harry and wiggled his thumbs. Harry almost burst out laughing at that gesture. Draco had motioned his sign for Harry's Gameboy. Harry wished he had it, but the blond also seemed to want one. Whenever he had become bored lately, he would wheedle it out of Harry. Harry made a mental note to suggest it to Severus the next time he was near him and Draco was not. Severus should buy a few gifts at Christmas, more than a few if Harry knew the man, and that could be an appropriate gift for Draco. Harry caught Severus's eye and saw his expression. On the other hand, maybe not. Severus usually knew what Harry was thinking in regard to Draco. Harry didn't want to incur the man's wrath.
"Next case: The adoption of one Harold James Potter, by Mr. Tom Marvalo Riddle." The bailiff stopped and stared at the parchment, as not believing what he had just read. He looked around and his eyes lit up when he saw Harry. The judge, too, looked perplexed about Harry being in his courtroom.
"Mr. Potter. Pleased to meet you of course." Harry nodded, casting a quick glance at how Tom was handling this. Tom looked indifferent. Good. "You wish to be adopted?" Harry nodded and said yes. "By Mr. Riddle?"
"Yes, your Honor." Harry said. The man smiled down at him.
"Well, looking over your case report and the representative's comments, I don't see any reason to not allow it. Any one against it?" He asked as a matter of procedure.
"I am against it!" A voice said from the door. A man started down the center aisle and came up to the railing. "Thank goodness I made it in time!" He said. "I was almost too late." Harry looked to Tom in confusion. There were no answers there.
"Who the devil are you?" The judge demanded. "Unless you have a very good reason for interrupting this case, you will be held in contempt." Harry looked to the judge for help.
"I'm sorry, your Honor. But it is a good thing that I did interrupt, as you were about to break a very important law in the Wizard Family Codes." The judge did not look happy to have the man tell him about any potential mistakes.
"And which law is that, Mr.?"
"Mr. Hashem, your Honor. I am the representative for the Ministry." Harry's hands balled themselves into fists. The Ministry was trying to meddle in his life again. He noted that Severus wrapped an arm around Draco in protection and flicked his wrist that would release his wand from its holster. This did not bode well. Hashem turned and looked at Snape. "I assume that you are Severus Snape?" Snape only glared at the man. "I'll take that as a 'yes'." He smiled. "Good, I can take care of two matters at once. The Ministry can not allow these adoptions on the grounds of violating the Children's Protection Act of 1723." The judge blinked.
"What of it?" He demanded. Tom and Severus exchanged looks, neither knowing what that was, and why a three-hundred year old law would prevent adoption.
"The law states that children whose lives are in danger cannot be adopted by anyone whom does not share a blood bond." Harry felt the word tilt sideways. Why did the wizarding world have to be so focused on blood? Why?
"I see. And how are these children in danger?" The judge demanded. "If you can not give me a good reason, I will approve the adoptions and relish the fact that you are in a cell!" Harry liked this judge.
"Your Honor, everyone knows that Mr. Potter's life has been in danger since the day that He Who Must Not Be Named gained a new leash on life." Harry rolled his eyes and let out a laugh.
"Voldemort's no threat." Harry said. Tom squeezed his shoulder and shook his head. Harry fell silent.
"Your personal feelings aside, the Ministry feels it necessary that you need someone who shares your blood to protect you." Harry started to step forward, but Tom held him back.
"Yes, let's send me back to the Dursleys! That worked so well the last time!" He snarled. He felt that Severus would be proud of that snarl. "My cousin may just kill me this time!" Tom pulled him back against him.
"Calm down, Harry. Yelling at him isn't going to help." Harry nodded and leaned against him. Tom brushed his hair back.
"So, Mr. Hashem, what does this mean? I cannot adopt Harry? What about legal guardianship?" Tom asked. Harry had to admit that something was better than nothing at this point.
"I'm afraid that the Ministry will be taking both Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy into custody once school lets out, for their own safety, of course, until the threat of You-Know-Who is gone."
"What?" Two teenage voices said at once. Mr. Hashem nodded and smiled.
"That's right. You'll be taken to a safe home for all school breaks until You-Know-Who is destroyed." Harry felt something strange as he fought for air. It felt familiar. Oh great, a bloody panic attack in the middle of a courtroom. He thanked his lucky stars that no reporters were present.
Tom pulled Harry into his arms and spoke into his ear. "Just breath, Harry. Everything is going to be alright. I promise. Nothing bad is going to happen. Just breathe, son." Harry latched onto Tom as he fought for air. Everything was going wrong. He was supposed to leave the courtroom today with a father and a hyphenated last name. Draco was supposed to leave with a brand new last name and a father. This wasn't supposed to happen!
Harry heard Tom's instructions and calmed down a bit. He stood, wondering how the pair of them had ended on the floor in the first place, and leaned against Tom. "I'm sorry. That happens sometimes." He explained.
"You do realize that Mr. Potter is under very precise care for what happened while he was under the ministrations of the Dark Lord? What of that? It will not be over by Easter, of that I am certain." A snarky and extremely pissed off Potions master demanded as he handed Harry a calming potion. Harry downed it gratefully and wrapped an arm around both Draco and Tom. Mr. Hashem waved Severus's concerns away.
"Not to worry about that, Mr. Potter will receive the best care possible while he is under the protection of the Ministry." Harry looked at the judge, pleading for the man to say that all of this wasn't true, that the Ministry couldn't do such a thing. His hopes died as the man sadly shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. There is nothing I can do." Harry went numb and dropped his arms. He stood; completely unaware of how much something like this could hurt. He took a deep breath and tried to keep from crying. He didn't dare look at Tom, for if he did, he would start crying. Draco stood beside him, just as shocked.
"Dad?" he said, looking at Severus for an idea of what would happen now.
"The Ministry has arranged an escort for the two boys to be escorted back to school." Mr. Hashem said as two Aurors came into the room.
"Dad?" Draco said again, as Severus pulled him into his arms. Severus locked eyes with Harry. He and Harry had talked about this, a plan to keep Draco safe. Harry was used to having his life in danger, and felt that he could successfully deal with whatever threatened him. Draco, however, was not used to others trying to kill him. Or protecting him. Harry nodded the slightest bit. Severus whispered to Draco as the Aurors approached. Harry knew he was the distraction. Severus placed his hand in his pocket.
Harry dropped to the ground in a very good imitation of a panic attack. The Aurors and Tom rushed to him. Harry felt rather than saw Severus and Draco portkey to safety. Tom pulled Harry into his arms and started talking Harry down again. Harry whispered back that he was fine, but could Tom just hold him for a few minutes before letting go? Tom happily allowed it and let go with a reluctant smile.
"Where did they go? Why in the world wasn't this room warded against portkeys? I could have you disbarred for this, your Honor!" Mr. Hashem blustered.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't aware that so many of my cases carry portkeys on them. They're usually happy to be here, not fighting to get away." The judge returned. Harry smiled as Tom pulled him to his feet.
"You little scamp." Tom whispered, smiling at Harry. "You two had it all planned." Harry could only smile sadly. He felt the two Aurors behind him. One placed a hand on his shoulder. Obviously, they weren't taking any chances with him. "Take care of yourself, son. We'll beat this and you'll be home before you know it." Harry nodded and allowed himself to be led away. Hashem scoffed a bit at what Tom had said.
"I highly doubt that, Mr. Riddle." The two Aurors were surprised when Harry lunged for Hashem. "My God!" he said when he saw Harry trying to attack him. "Keep that boy under control!" He ordered.
"Harry, stop it!" Tom admonished. Harry stopped and hung his head. "I know you're upset, but attacking him isn't going to help a thing. You have to go back to school."
"I'm sorry." Harry said to the room at large and allowed the Aurors to lead him from the room. Mr. Hashem wiped his forehead.
"Never saw a child with so much anger in his eyes. They almost glowed. Well, I must get to the office and issue a warrant for one Severus Snape on the charge of kidnapping." Mr. Hashem said, gathering his cloak and briefcase as he swept towards the door. Tom waited until the man had left before sitting down.
"I am sorry about all of this, Mr. Riddle. I can see how much Mr. Potter means to you." Tom nodded. "You can appeal their decision of course, on the grounds of what is in the child's best interest, but it is a long shot at best." The judge offered. Tom nodded again, thanked the man, and returned home, only to wander up the stairs to stand in Harry's doorway for a few hours, wondering why his son was not there, and how to bring him home.
"You okay, kid?" One of the Aurors said as they led him down the hallway. Harry shrugged. "I know you've had a rough day already, but we can at least be friends." Harry shrugged again.
"Leave him be, Winfield." The other Auror said as he stopped Harry and put his hand in his pocket. Winfield drew his wand and looked around before stepping close to them. "Portkey, Mr. Potter." Harry reached out a hand and touched the old newspaper. "Portus!" Harry felt the familiar tug behind his navel and noticed that they were just outside the gates of Hogwarts. "Let's get in there." Harry lead the way up the path to the school, wondering if Tom was okay and how he was going to get out of this.
Dumbledore met him at the front door, a worried expression on his face. "Harry?"
"Protection from the Ministry." He said, gesturing to the two Aurors. "Professor Snape disappeared with Draco." He saw Dumbledore's eyes twinkle.
"Did he now? Looks like I'll be teaching Potions until I find a substitute." Dumbledore wrapped his arms around Harry. "I can only imagine how disappointed you must be." Harry returned the embrace and sighed.
"I think that I would like to spend the night in the hospital wing tonight, Headmaster." Dumbledore nodded.
"That can be arranged." He looked up at the two Aurors. "Why, Atticus Poling! So nice to see you!" Harry guessed that the elder of the two Aurors had gone to Hogwarts as children.
"And you, Headmaster. Winfield and I begged for this assignment. We figured that Mr. Potter could use friendly bodyguards instead of those behemoths they wanted to send." Harry looked up in confusion. "We're in the 'old crowd', Mr. Potter. We're usually so deeply buried that even the headmaster forgets we're apart of it." Poling explained to Harry. "I know that you're upset. However, while we're your bodyguards, we'll be with you. I also know that you have some free time, and a very evil wizard is trying to kill you." He shrugged. "You do the math." Harry realized what this man meant. Training! They would train him!
"That would be great. Not tonight, but tomorrow?" Poling nodded.
"Patrick and I are ready whenever you are." Poling said.
"Call me Paddy, though, and I'll do Voldemort's work for him." Harry smiled at the younger Auror and shook his head. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Easter was a few months away. He and Tom could think of something before then, he was sure.
Severus and Draco landed in the middle of a living room. Severus's wand searched the room before releasing Draco. "Don't move." Severus told him as he searched through the other rooms of the dwelling. Severus came back just a few minutes later and put his wand away. "It's safe."
"You weren't kidding!" Draco said. "What you said about kidnapping me to keep me safe, you weren't kidding!"
"When have I ever led you to believe that I was jesting about that?" Severus said as he folded himself into a chair.
"Where are we?" Draco asked. "This doesn't look like any regular house."
"We are in a Muggle dwelling." Severus told him. "I found it last week and rented it for a year, just in case." Draco sat down on the couch. "As to where we are, precisely, I can't tell you. For your own safety. I will allow you to write to your friends, but I don't want you leaving them any clues as to where you are, just in case those letters are intercepted."
"What about my education? It's not that I'm not grateful to you for keeping me away from the Ministry, but I'll fall behind without my books." Draco said. Severus raised a hand and pointed. Draco's trunk sat in the corner. "Oh. That's alright then." Severus looked over to Draco. "At least we'll be able to spend some quality father/son time together." Severus smiled and moved to the couch, wrapping Draco into a hug.
"You are my son. Even without that piece of paper." Draco nodded. "How would you like to see your room?"
"Is it blue?" he asked. Severus looked offended.
"How could I forget your favorite color?" Severus said standing and pulling Draco along behind him down a hallway. He opened a door with a dragon on it and motioned Draco in. It was blue. Draco smiled and looked around. He froze when he saw something lying on his bed.
"Is that what I think it is?" he asked Severus. He reached out and picked up the Gameboy. "Thanks, Dad!" Severus rolled his eyes.
"I have the full curriculum from your teachers, and if I find the slightest bit of tardiness in any of your schoolwork, that will be banished." Severus threatened.
"No worries there. Harry won't know what hits him when we go home." Draco put the Gameboy down on his bed and went over to Severus. "Thanks, for everything." Severus returned Draco's hug and sighed. Anything to keep his child safe.
"Hungry?" He asked. Draco nodded. "Let's go to the kitchen then." Draco stared at him.
"You can cook?" He asked in bewilderment. "In a muggle kitchen?" Severus shot him a glare. "Okay, so you can cook. Can't wait to see this!" Severus rolled his eyes as he led Draco to the kitchen. This was going to be an experience.
A/N: Well, that's it for now! Remember my creative writing teacher? She said I'm one of the stronger writers in the class. Didn't see that one coming. Honestly, I thought she didn't like my work at all. Speaking of which, I have a paper, three poems, and another paper for several of my classes. I wonder if all the professors get together and plan how to give all their major assignments at once, just to see how we deal with the stress. Now that many of you have been appeased, I'm going to get something to eat! Bye for now! Sylvia