Chapter 21.- Magical Adoptions

New Year's Eve came and went. A great feast in the Li Manor everyone enjoyed greatly. No more news had come about the fifth Supreme Sorcerer or Rose Midori, whom they suspected were one and the same; even if they didn't yet know just who that person was.

However, other decisions needed to be made before the group returned to Hogwarts, important decisions on which depended the future of the whole Western-Magical-Society,

Harry, Hermione and Draco were staring at the Asians in absolute shock, had been for quite some time now in fact.

"I think the offer really took them by surprise." Tomoyo commented with a playful smile.

"I would be laughing, as I really consider their expressions downright hilarious." Eriol added. "But they really have to make a big decision right away."

"I think this was really…shocking." Hermione was the first to come out of her stupor. "Could you perhaps…explain things to us a bit more?"

"What else is there to explain?" Shaoran asked, not really understanding why it was so hard for their friends to come up with an answer to the offer they had been given.

"They are just shocked by the offer Shaoran-koi, I think that's perfectly understandable." Sakura said sweetly.

She had taken it to calling her husband Shaoran-koi almost always, as she believed it to be better than Shaoran-kun.

"The Kido, Shin and Sheng Clans have offered you three magical adoptions." Shaoran explained to them as calmly as he could.

"We got that." Harry said seriously. "What I think we didn't fully get is, what exactly does a magical adoption means?"

"It doesn't change who you are, your past, your ancestors, if that's what you're fearing." Eriol told them right away.

"Xiefa-san, I believe you would be better at this kind of explanations than I." Shaoran said, giving up on forming a logical explanation on the subject.

And it was that, as sometimes happens; it wasn't easy for him to explain to others something that to him was so obvious just with the mere name. Xiefa, the oldest of his four sisters was better at giving proper explanations on all kind of events and customs, and she had more patience than him too.

"A magical adoption is an ancient ceremony that is well-known even if very rarely done." Xiefa explained. "It's used by the most powerful clans, when they want to bestow the greatest honor possible to someone; most of the time a war-hero. This is also done when a powerful clan finds itself without an heir to take the lead in the next generation. With this ceremony the leader of the clan bestows his blessings on the one they've chosen, granting him the strength of their clan, and a higher position in the magical society. Centuries ago this was done when the appointed bride to the Counci-Leader wasn't of an important enough clan; she would be adopted by a more powerful (both magically and politically) clan, that would help her get into her position in an easier way."

"Why wasn't this done with Sakura?" Draco asked.

"She doesn't need the strength of any clan to back her up." Tomoyo explained. "As she's strong enough by herself, being a Supreme Sorceress, the Card Mistress and all that. And even if she doesn't have a clan to back her up her magic-power is more than enough."

"Then why have these clans decided to give us such honor, to magically-adopt us?" Harry asked, still a bit confused.

"In your case," Xiefa took over the explanation again. "Being magically-adopted would give you the missing energy to become full-sorcerers. And there's also the fact that being a part of those clans, along with the friendship everyone knows you already have with the Li Clan would give you the rank needed to be considered officially as part of the Easter Council."

"But I thought women weren't a part of the Council…" Hermione said biting her lip.

"It's true that's it's not usual to see a woman as part of the Council." Shaoran agreed. "But that is changing even as we speak. Even with me as the Leader my mother still holds a very important and influential position as the matron of the Li Clan, as does my sister Xiefa-san as the eldest of my mother's children. Tomoyo-san is considered on the same level as Eriol-san, as a High-Leveled Councilor, as will be the reincarnation of Rose Midori-dono once she joins us. Naoko-san and you three have been offered positions similar as those of the rest of the members of the council."

"On more technical matters." Xiefa continued. "You would still be the same people you are now, though you would be considered officially as full sorcerers. Your clan-names would be added to your normal surnames. Or if any of you wish, your original surname would be substituted by the new one" at this phrase she turned to Draco "The last and probably most important thing is that you would be considered officially as Lords and Lady of the Magical Society, not just in Europe, but in the whole world. It would no longer matter whether you are what some like to call pure-blood, muggle-born or anything else, it will only matter the Clan you will be representing."

"Will we have any kind of obligation to those clans?" Draco asked.

"A few, though none too hard." Xiefa answered. "You would have to honor their traditions, most of which you've seen already. You'd have to assist to the Council-Sessions in which your presence is required. And if there ever happened to be a war in which your clans were involved, you would have to take your place as a part of their armies."

"You have to think carefully, if you wish to take up on this offer." Sakura told them. "We know it's not an easy decision, and a great part of your future will depend on it."

"You may take your time to decide." Eriol added. "Though I would suggest you don't take too long. If you decide to accept the ceremony must be done before we return to England and to Hogwarts, next week."

That was the end of the conversation, at least for the moment.

.---.

The door to Shaoran's and Sakura's studio opened while the two were busy sorting several documents, they had to leave everything in order before they returned to Hogwarts. (In fact they both had considered the possibility of not returning, but considering Voldemort's threat over the magic-school and all the Western-Magic-Society made them realize they couldn't take such a risk. They were needed there even more than in China).

The Li's turned to the door and found three certain English teenagers standing there.

"What is it?" Shaoran asked, not really knowing what they could want.

"We accept." Harry was the first to speak. "We'll do it."

For half 'a second Shaoran had no idea what the green-eyed young man was talking about, so immersed was he in his work.

"We'll go through the magical-adoption." Hermione continued. "The only thing we wish is not to change our present surnames, only to add the clan-name."

"That's for you." Draco added. "You and Harry like who you are right now…I don't. For me it's alright to get my surname changed definitely. I want to be a Malfoy no longer. I feel any Chinese surname you wish to give me will suit me much better."

"Alright." Shaoran nodded. "Both things can be easily managed. Harry-san and Hermione-san will each join a magic clan, yet they won't change their present surnames, only add the clan-name to your own. Draco-san, in the other hand, will become someone completely new." He seemed to check an agenda that was on his right before he added. "If it's alright with you the ceremony will take place two days before our departure. That way you'll be able to assist to the last Council-Meeting we'll have, the day before we leave."

The three English-teens nodded.

"I suggest you take this time to study a bit of the background of the clans that will be adopting you." Sakura added. "If you ask Eriol-kun or Shaoran-koi's older sisters I'm sure they'll be able to direct you to the right books. It would be a good idea for you to know a bit about your future clans before you're named as a part of them."

The teens agreed and left the studio to go to the library and search for the right books. As nervous as they might be of becoming part of important clans of the Eastern-Magical-Society, they knew they were choosing the right path.

.---.

Time seemed to passed by almost too quickly, and sooner than some may have expected the day for the "Magical Adoption Ceremony" came.

As it was mainly a private ceremony only the most important elders and members of the Council would be present, which included obviously the leaders, their friends and family and the Clans that would be 'adopting' one of the English teens.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in a small room next to the Golden-Hall where, due to the importance of the event, the ceremony would take place.

For the occasion they were each wearing their best clothes: Harry and Draco both wore dress-shirts, forest-green and silvery-blue respectively, as well as black pants and shoes; Hermione wore a creamy long dress that even though it wasn't too elegant, it looked good on her. They had been explained that after the ceremony the leaders of their new clans would give them each a set of ceremonial clothes the teens would be expected to wear in council-meetings, clan-gatherings and any other meeting that may require their participation.

As they waited, Harry and Hermione couldn't help but remember how, once again, Ron had been left behind.

Flashback

It had been three days since Harry, Hermione and Draco had been given the offer of being magically adopted by certain Chinese magic-clans; and as it had taken them almost a full day to make up their minds, they had been the last two days reading all kind of books and scrolls so they could learn as much as possible of what would be, in a sense, their new families.

They were going through some history that mixed the three clans they would be introduced to and the Li Clan when unexpectedly someone else entered the library.

"Hey guys, I finally found you." It was Ron. "I've been looking all over the place for you."

He received no answer.

"Harry…Hermione…" He called.

Still no answer.

"They are a bit embed in their reading." Draco was finally the one who answered him.

"Reading?" Ron asked. "But Harry had never been one to read much, unless Hermione is pushing him to study for some exam or another."

"Well, you could say this is something like that, except that Hermione didn't push him, he's here by his own free will." Draco replied. "We all three are."

"What exactly are you reading?" Ron asked.

It seemed like for the time being he had forgotten that he was talking to his great 'enemy' and just saw Draco as another young man just like him, exactly what the blonde had been trying to get since the redhead joined them.

"The history of our to-be-Clans." Draco answered. "It's all quite fascinating to tell you the truth. You wouldn't believe half of the things we've found."

"So you'll go through with this." Ron said in a low tone.

"Of course." Draco said as if it were obvious. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There's no way anyone in their right mind would let it pass. Such a great honor…"

"I see…" Ron nodded sadly.

And it was then that Draco understood.

"You feel you're being left behind." He said, it wasn't a question but a statement. "First the new powers and now this. You feel your two best friends are leaving you behind, especially because I am a part of it all as well."

"Surprisingly enough, it has nothing to do with you." Ron replied honestly. "Though for the rest…yes, I do feel left behind."

"I think I understand." Draco said. "When I joined them I felt strange as well. Like I wouldn't fit with them, like I was too different."

"But now you aren't. You're just like them." Ron told him. "And you'll be even more after this whole adoption-thing is done."

"Maybe magically we'll be on the same level, but we'll never be the same." Draco said. "I can't believe you don't see it. No matter what the future may bring, the past can't be changed. Even if I have been given a second chance now, that doesn't change what I did, what I was before. Nothing ever will." He sighed. "And just like that, nothing I, Harry, Hermione or any else do will ever change the fact that you are their friend, have been for years; you've known them since long before Sakura and the rest came into our lives, they won't forget you that easily. You shouldn't underestimate them so easily."

"Maybe you're right…" Ron admitted.

"Of course I am." Draco said with a grin.

"You had to go back to your cocky attitude…" Ron said with a dramatic sigh, though it was obvious he was joking. "Though, who would have imagined we would one day be chatting amiably instead of fighting?"

"Who would have imagined indeed." Draco agreed.

And that was the beginning of a strong, even if a bit strange and unexpected, friendship between those two.

End of Flashback

Harry and the others had also been explained that Ron couldn't join them; because there was just no way for him to become a sorcerer.

According to what Tomoyo had discovered, Ron had reached the level of a half-sorcerer due to external intervention (most likely from Rose Midori's reincarnation); and only thanks to the blessings of his benefactor and Tomoyo's his body had been able to handle the change. He just wouldn't be able to handle the power of a full sorcerer.

And it was that Ron was just too different from the other three English-teenagers. Hermione and Harry had been born as half-sorcerers, they just had needed to tap a bit into their powers and they had freed. Draco, on the other hand, had been given the power to be a half-sorcerer, but even then the potential had always been in him, that's why he had been able to handle the change so well; the Asians believed that hadn't Draco been turned into a sorcerer, he would have reached at least the power of a mage (the level of Dumbledore and McGonagall, more powerful than a wizard, but not quite reaching the sorcerer level) on his own, with just the right training and some time.

Ron had none of that, he was just an average wizard, with the usual power-level and potential. It had been hard enough to get him to handle the level of a half-sorcerer, anything beyond that would destroy him.

Right then the door opened and Naoko poked her head in.

"It's time." She told them.

Those words were enough to make all three teenagers nervous as hell. Xiefa had already explained them in detail what the whole ceremony would be about, and things seemed easy enough. What had them nervous was the idea that they would become such important people for the Asian-Magical-Society. And in the rest of the world as well, as they had been told their Clan-names would be official.

.---.

Inside the Golden Hall the most important Elder were seated in their places, along with the main part of the Kido, Shin and Sheng Clans. To a side sat Yelan, Xiefa, Eriol and Tomoyo as High Councilors; behind them sat the Grangers, Severus and Sonomi, as the closest relatives (either parents or godparents) to the teens; at the other stood Wei, Ron and Naoko, ready to assist in anything that may be necessary; Sakura and Shaoran stood in the middle.

"Sorcerers from the Eastern Council." Shaoran called in his serious and strong voice. "You've been summoned here to witness a ceremony that hadn't taken place in many years. Three magical adoptions will take place today; English half-sorcerers that will be given the blessing of three important clans from our society and turned into full-sorcerers. What say you?"

"Let us see them, see their auras and potential." Declared the leader of the Elders.

With that Shaoran made a signal to Naoko, who went to open a side-door and called the three teenagers inside.

Silence reigned as the three teens entered their room and took positions in the middle, some feet in front of Sakura and Shaoran.

"Are you the teenagers who have been offered the blessings of magical-adoptions?" The Elder asked them.

"That we are." The three answered in unison.

"Have you been explained the privileges and obligations such ceremony will lay on you?" Another Elder asked the teens.

"We have heard, understood and accepted." The three declared, once more in unison.

"Do you believe you deserve this honor?" This question took the three off-guard.

For a moment it seemed neither of them knew what or how to answer; none of them had been told they would be asked that.

The Asians knew such a thing would happen, but they had been told not to warn the other three about that question, because they weren't allowed to be prepared for it, the half-sorcerers had to answer what they felt with total honesty.

"Maybe not…" Harry was the one who spoke. "But we'll do our best to become worthy of it."

Hermione and Draco immediately expressed their total agreement with that answer.

That seemed to leave the Elders satisfied, it hadn't been a conceited answer, or exceedingly humble; and it had sounded really honest, which was what they wanted.

"Very well." The Leader of the Elders nodded. "Then you have our approval to proceed with the ceremony."

"May the very essence of magic bless and guide your steps in this new stage of your journey." The Elder-leader's wife added.

That was the first time the councilors wives got involved in such events; and they seemed to welcome the change rather well.

"Then let us begin." Shaoran declared. "Kido Clan."

With that the clan-leader and his wife stepped to the center of the room, while the rest of the clan present just stood in their places; at the same time Harry and Hermione went to a side, leaving Draco in his spot.

"I, Kido Mi Suan, am here to offer you a position as my son and heir to my clan." The man declared in a stern voice. "What say you?"

"I, Malfoy Draco, feel honored that you've chosen me to receive such an honor." Draco said. "And I'll be honored to give up on my name and everything it implies, to take what you offer me here and now."

"Let Draco's relative step forward and speak his mind." Yelan ordered.

With those words Severus stood from his place and made his way to the other two.

"I, Snape Severus Thaddeus, godfather to Malfoy Draco, am here today to give my consent and blessing to this adoption."

"Recite your oaths." Shaoran indicated.

"I, Malfoy Draco Lucius, hereby declare I'm a Malfoy no longer, I'm the son of Lucius no longer. I'm here and on only Draco, the man, the wizard, the sorcerer; and, with your blessing, will be also your son and heir to your clan, honored to carry on the history and tradition the Kido surname implies." Draco said seriously as he got on his knees.

"Then I, Kido Mi Suan, grant you the name of my family, the power of my clan, to be your family, your name from this day on." The adult declared as he touched Draco's forehead with his hand. "Raise now: Kido Long, mi son."

Draco, or Long, did as he was told, and the moment he straightened up once more his casual clothes disappeared, leaving in its stead a ceremonial outfit; the same style as Shaoran used, except that in a dark gray with white details. In the back, embroidered with silver thread was the image of a dragon with its wings open, holding a sword in each of its front paws. Then on his wrist hung a chain with a strange-looking pendant; when he concentrated and called on his new clan it would transform in his new weapon, a new rapier.

Mi Suan and Long both bowed to each other, then to the leader, and then the 'father' guided his new 'son' to his wife.

"Welcome to the family." The woman told him with a soft smile as she embraced him.

It was so strange to Draco, to be embraced by a woman he could consider as a mother; and yet it felt so right…

"Shin Clan." Shaoran called.

The leader (not the one that went crazy during the Crests' Trial but his son) approached the center of the room with Seika herself (as her mother had died); Harry went to them.

"I, Shin Kai Sho, am here to offer you a position as my son and heir to my clan." The man declared in a stern voice. "What say you?"

"I, Potter Harry James, feel honored that you've chosen me to receive such an honor." Harry said, he knew his answer would be a bit different from Draco's. "And I'll be honored to take what you offer me here and now, to gain another father and mother, even if my own shall still remain as a part of me."

"Let Harry's relative step forward and speak his mind." Yelan ordered.

With those words Sonomi stood from her place and made her way to the other two.

"I, Black Sonomi Kasumi, godmother to Potter Harry James, am here in this day to give my consent and blessing to this adoption."

"Recite your oaths." Shaoran indicated.

"I, Potter Harry James, son of Potter James and Evans Lily, without ever forgetting my past and my ancestors, hereby offer myself as a man, a wizard and a sorcerer, with the hopes of gaining your blessing, and so become your son and heir to your clan, to have bestowed the honor of carrying on the history and tradition the Shin surname implies, the way I do with the Potter name already." Harry said seriously as he got on his knees.

"Then I, Shin Kai Sho, grant you the name of my family, the power of my clan, to be your family, your name from this day on; though never forgetting where you come from, the name you carry from your birth." The adult declared as he touched Harry's forehead with his hand. "Raise now: Potter-Shin Harry Guo-Wang James, my son."

Harry, now Harry Guo-Wang, stood as he was told, and then his outfit was magically changed from the casual clothes to his new ceremonial outfit. A very dark green (much darker than Shaoran's), in a style that seemed very much like Eriol's own outfit, with details in silver too. In his back was made in thread an image of a bird, one that seemed very much like a phoenix, except that instead of red and golden it was a very light green and silver, it was the legendary Thunder-bird. Hanging from his wrist was also a chain, with a bolt of lighting hanging from it, a pendant that would transform in his sword, the one that had been given to him as a gift the previous year.

Kai Sho and Harry both bowed to each other, then to the leader, and then the 'father' guided his new 'son' to his daughter; now Harry's foster-sister.

"Welcome to the family." Seika told him with a soft smile as she embraced him.

Harry wasn't sure what he should be feeling. Even if it was true he he'd never before had any siblings, as the Weasley's had acted as his surrogate family ever since meeting him, for a long time he had considered them almost like sibling. Yet now, now he had someone that officially was his sister and it felt…different.

"Sheng Clan." Shaoran called.

The leader of the Clan, sub-leader of the Council (the one who usually spoke in their name to the Leaders or the Elders), stepped forward along with his wife. Hermione joined them in the center of the Hall.

"I, Sheng Foru Kuo, am here to offer you a position as my daughter and heiress to my clan." The man declared in a stern voice. "What say you?"

"I, Granger Hermione Jane, feel honored that you've chosen me to receive such an honor." Hermione said, reciting the words she had learnt by heart. "And I'll be honored to take what you offer me here and now, to gain another father and mother, even if my own shall still remain as a part of me."

"Let Hermione's relatives step forward and speak his mind." Yelan ordered.

With those words Emma and Herman stood from her place and made her way to the other two; they'd just been explained what to say and hoped not to mess things up.

"We, Andrews Emma and Granger Herman, parents to Granger Hermione Jane, are here in this day to give our consent and blessing to this adoption."

"Recite your oaths." Shaoran indicated.

"I, Granger Hermione Jane, daughter of Granger Herman and Andrews Emma, without ever forgetting my past and my ancestors, hereby offer myself as a woman, a witch and a sorcerer, with the hopes of gaining your blessing, and so become your daughter and heiress to your clan, to have bestowed the honor of carrying on the history and tradition the Sheng surname implies, the way I do with the Granger name already." Hermione said seriously as she got on her knees.

"Then I, Sheng Foru Kuo, grant you the name of my family, the power of my clan, to be your family, your name from this day on; though never forgetting where you come from, the name you carry from your birth." The adult declared as he touched Hermione's forehead with his hand. "Raise now: Granger-Sheng Hermione Di-Qiu Jane, my daughter."

Hermione, now Hermione Di-Qiu, did as she was told, and just like with the guys, her dress changed to a ceremonial outfit. Very much like Sakura's, except that the skirt was a slightly shorter, and the clothes were the color of the amber, with the details in a radiant coopery tone. The seal embroidered on her back was that of a true Phoenix, with sparkling scarlet feathers and eyes of gold. Her hair was in a perfect bun, held with some clips; and a stick went through it, a stick that with a special word became Hermione's cane.

Foru Kuo and Hermione bowed to each other, then to the leader, and then the 'father' guided his new 'daughter' to his wife.

"Welcome to the family." The woman told her as she embraced Hermione.

For Hermione the effect wasn't as strong as with the guys, as she had always had her parents with her; but still, there was no way she could shake off the honor she felt at being included in a family as important as the Sheng's.

"Now you have them as part of your families, three English teenage half-sorcerers, turned into full sorcerers and part of our own families." Shaoran declared. "In the name of the Li Clan and the whole Eastern Council I welcome thee."

"May the spirit of magic bless you: Kido Long, Potter-Shin Harry Guo-Wang James, Granger-Sheng Hermione Di Qiu Jane." Sakura called in a vibrant voice. "May the magic bless us all!"

And so the Ceremony of the Magical-Adoption came to an end.


I'm Back!!! Finally!!! After so long…Yeah, I know I shouldn't have taken this long to update, that I may have lost a lot of my readers by now…I'm sorry! Believe me when I tell you I'm honestly sorry; but my muse just wouldn't help me with this. I wrote some chapters in other stories, but this just wouldn't come to my mind. But that's why now I did my best to bring you a longer chapter than the ones I usually write.

Now, as you've seen in the story Draco and Ron have finally settled their differences and became friends. And everything's ready for the group to return to England. Many things happened in this vacation, changes will take place in the long run. You've seen the great honor some clans decided to bestow on Harry, Hermione and Draco. That's all just part of a greater plan that will take great importance in the rest of the story. We're more than halfway through already!

Now for the explanations…Draco has now definitely changed his name from Draco Malfoy to Long Kido, though more likely than not the Asians will call him Ryuu (it's the Japanese version of his name), and some of those in Hogwarts might still call him Draco, at least until they get used to the change. The other two have added names to their original ones; the surnames will only be used when they in something official that concerns those clans or something of the council; the Chinese names will also be used only in those circumstances; I might make the Asians call them by the Japanese version of their names, just like with Draco, but I haven't yet made up my mind on that matter (you may give your opinion about that).

For those that may be wondering about the names…the Clans are clans that I've mentioned as important throughout this fic; the names are Chinese names that I took based on the meaning of their original names.

And now for the future: In the next chapter, the last council before our friends return to England, and the new full-sorcerers will be present and taken into account in the same way every other member of the council (even Hermione). This council meeting might also give one of them an idea on 'something' that may help in Europe…

That's all for now, I won't promise you a date for the next chapter, it will all depend on my muse and how much she decides to cooperate; but I can tell you I will do my best.

Matta ne!