Author's Note: The next couple of chapters are going to be short, but they'll get longer once the story progresses.
Chapter One: Baby On the Doorstep
"This isn't just any baby," Arthur said quietly, refolding the letter and replacing it in the envelope. "This is Harry Potter."
As Molly gasped in shock, Arthur walked over to the fireplace.
"I'm going to contact Albus," he said. "He'll probably want to consult the Ministry about what to do, now that his Muggle relatives have rejected him."
"I'll get a bottle ready," Molly said, carrying Harry into the kitchen. "He's probably starving, poor child."
Removing a clean bottle from the cupboard, she added, "While you're talking to Albus, ask him what he could have been thinking, leaving poor Harry with those horrible Muggles. I'd give him a piece of my mind, but I have children to take care of."
Recognizing his wife's incredible protective streak, Arthur winced in sympathy for Albus. He was sure that as soon as she had a free moment, she would take him to task for his actions regarding Harry. He was just glad that he wasn't going to be in the man's shoes.
Taking a handful of Floo powder, he threw it into the flames and stepped inside, calling for the Headmaster's office as he did. A few seconds later, he stumbled out of the fireplace grate that Albus had in his office, coughing to clear the dust from his lungs.
"Albus?" he called out, and a second later, the wizard appeared.
"Arthur!" he said, jovially. "What brings you here?"
"Harry Potter," Arthur said, briskly, and Albus's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"What about him?" he asked.
"His Muggle relatives abandoned him on our doorstep sometime during the night," Arthur told him.
"Dear me," Albus murmured. "I hadn't anticipated this. The blood protections-"
"Are no good if he's not with his blood relatives, I know," Arthur finished, impatiently. "But, they don't seem to want him. They apparently don't even care if he lives or dies."
"How could you have left him with them?" he demanded a few seconds later, as Albus remained silent.
"They are his sole remaining blood relatives," Albus said, quietly. "I had thought that Petunia, at the very least, would feel some connection to him."
"Apparently not," Arthur said, dryly.
"I'll have to contact the Ministry, immediately," Albus said, after a moment. "They have a vested interest in where Harry ends up-and their own opinions of where that should be, of course."
"Let Molly and me adopt him," Arthur said, suddenly, as an idea seized him. "He'll be in a safe, loving environment with us, and I doubt you could wrench him away from Molly, now, anyway."
"Yes," Albus said, eyeing him slowly. "Yes, I think that I could manage to convince the Ministry to allow the adoption."
"Albus, you could convince a tree to pull up its roots and dance," Arthur said, wryly. "I'm sure one group of councilors will prove no problem."
"Before you go tell Molly of the joyous news," Albus said, as Arthur was starting back to the fireplace, "would you like to tell your sons? I think they'd just be getting out of classes, now."
As Arthur walked back to the Headmaster's desk, Albus gestured, summoning a house-elf into the office.
"Girt, if you would get Charlie and Bill Weasly, please?" Albus asked.
"Yes, sir," Girt squeaked, disappearing with a popping sound. A few seconds later, she popped back in, Bill and Charlie's wrists gripped tightly in her small hands.
"Here they are, sir," she squeaked, disappearing before anyone could say a word. Arthur smirked at how literally the house-elf took her orders.
Bill, rubbing his sore wrists gingerly, was the first to notice Arthur standing there, hiding a grin behind his hand.
"Dad!" he exclaimed, startling Charlie into looking up.
"What are you doing here?" Charlie asked, as both his sons hugged him tightly. "Is something wrong at home?"
"Not at all," Arthur said, smiling. "In fact, it's quite the opposite. How would you boys like to have another brother?"
"Mom's pregnant, again?" Bill asked, peering down at his father from his latest growth spurt.
"No," Arthur told them. "We're going to see about adopting a baby about Ron's age."
"Who is it?" Charlie asked, suspiciously, knowing his dad had something up his sleeve.
"Harry Potter," Arthur said, after a long moment. "He was abandoned on our front stoop sometime last night."
"That's awful!" Bill exclaimed, angrily. "How could anyone just abandon a baby?"
"I don't know," Arthur admitted, honestly. "You boys honestly don't mind? It'll mean less to go around," he cautioned.
"We don't care," Bill said, even as Charlie spoke up.
"It sounds like Harry needs us, Dad," he said. "We have to help him."
"Good, boys," Arthur said, feeling tears spring to his eyes at his sons' unselfishness.
"We need to go," Bill said, suddenly, looking at his watch. "If I'm late for Potions, Professor Snape will give me detention, again."
"Professor McGonagall's going to have my hide," Charlie added, looking nervous as well.
"Notes," Albus said, producing two pieces of paper with a flourish. "This should be sufficient for your teachers."
"Thank you, Headmaster," the boys chorused, dashing out of the office and down the stairs.
"If you'll excuse me," Arthur said, after he watched his sons leave, "I need to get back to Molly."
"I'm sure she's going to be thrilled to have a new son," Albus agreed.
Arthur nodded a brisk farewell to the other man before stepping into the flames, and disappearing.
XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXThree days later, the entire Weasly family, plus Harry stood before the Minister of Magic. Millicent Bagnold smiled as she saw the eager looks on everyone's faces.
"I understand you are here with a petition to adopt Harry Potter?" she asked.
"Yes, Minister," Arthur said.
"And you have speakers present?" she continued.
"I speak for them," Albus said, stepping forward. "I speak for their goodness and their strength of character, and offer, as proof, their children, who stand before you happy and healthy."
"As do I," Minerva McGonagall spoke up, adding her presence to the Headmaster's.
"And I," Severus Snape echoed, lazily, an addition that had surprised and shocked everyone involved in the adoption proceedings.
"Very well," Millicent said. "I have reviewed the petition you filed, as well as all other pertinent documents, and I have reached my decision."
Pausing for dramatic effect, she leaned forward and locked gazes with Molly and Arthur.
"The adoption is approved," she said, clearly.
She had more to say, but she was drowned out by the joyful cheers that filled the room.