Disclaimer: As always I own nothing other than a few names and my Beta is my better half.

It was a couple of hours before lunch the next day when the residents and guests traipsed through the house towards a lifeless dull door. "It's the door to the Lord's office." Augusta spoke softly, almost reverently before nodding to Neville. The chubby faced boy took a deep breath and grasped the door knob, a grunt escaped him. Emma gasped as she saw blood dripping from his hand. Life flooded back into the door, the crest standing proudly against the dark mahogany. As Neville removed his hand, Augusta started to move to heal him yet the walls almost seemed to tremble as the house itself healed him.

The sandy haired teen let his lips quirk as he recalled that it was a formal event and as he pushed open the door…He did his very best Malfoy impression, lifting his head, straightening his back and swaggering to the desk. Hermione had to bite her lip to stop herself from sniggering, Neville couldn't swagger; he'd managed to look more drunken than snobby. He looked down his nose at the parchment on the desk before looking at the group before him. "So," He tried to sound like Draco had the previous year, "I believe that you. Miss Granger wish for us to adopt you, of course that will mean that your birth parents retain all parental rights and House Longbottom will discuss any and all issues with them prior to making a decision." He took a breath, "The only exception being in a life or death situation."

The three Grangers voiced their agreement and it was with a very slight tremble in his hand as he lifted a silver letter opener off of the desk. However he didn't hesitate as he sliced his palm, squeezing his hand to drip blood into the ebony inkwell. A quick wipe of the blade and it was held out to the Grangers. "Dan, if you would do the honours." Hermione watched as her father took the knife, unlike Neville there was a slight hesitation before he cut his own hand.

It was with his clean hand that Neville held out a quill to Hermione, sliding a piece of parchment over towards her. She didn't hesitate to sign her name at the bottom, the instant the quill left the parchment the room trembled. Dan gasped when his hand was healed, and the room stood in silence for a moment before Neville spoke, "Well now that's done, can we have dinner now, Gran? I feel like Ron in the morning." Hermione couldn't stop herself it was like a bubble of tension had popped inside her and she burst into uncontrolled laughter.

"I don't know," A snooty voice reminded Neville that Draco had watched his impression of her past self, "If that was me it was a rather poor impression." Neville looked over, laughing himself when he noticed the twitch of her lips even as she looked down her nose with her best faux disdainful look. At his laughter, the blonde pouted before she couldn't hold her amusement in any longer and started to snigger, "You looked bloody drunk."

"DRACONIUS! Language!" Narcissa snapped, clipping her around the back of the head.

Neville and the girls were sitting at the informal table, thoroughly enjoying the small feast that had been put on when the house had informed the elves of its master's desires. Neville barely remembered his manners before he began to eat, just stopping himself from sinking to Ron's lack of decorum especially as he highly doubted neither his Gran nor Narcissa would allow it to go unchecked. He was stuffing his face finding that he was more hungry than he ever remembered being in his life. It wasn't until his third plateful that he became aware that the girls were all staring at him, although Harry and Draco looked more impressed than anything. He swallowed down the mouthful before speaking, "What?"

"Hungry?" The girls asked as one, he raised an eyebrow at them. The duo hadn't done that for a while and he wondered if their stopping had something to do with Occlumency lessons or if it was actually by choice.

"Something on your minds?" Narcissa directed the conversation away from Neville's apparent starvation and onto the girls. Like the Longbottom heir, she had noticed that they hadn't been speaking as one for a while and wondered what had brought it on.

The girls shared a look, Harry shrugging in response even as Draco rolled her eyes before she spoke, "Can Harry see Sirius before he goes off to be healed?"
"I could have asked!" Harry whined at the blonde.
"You've been wanting to ask since Mum told you he was at Hogwarts."

Draco raised an eyebrow at Harry's silent objections but whatever she had been about to say was cut off by Narcissa smiling gently at the pair, "Harry." The raven jumped slightly when the elder blonde spoke but gave Narcissa her full attention as she continued, "I had intended to take you before you return to school. I wasn't sure if you were ready yet…" She trailed off as Harry looked guilty.

Yet before she could say anything, Draco leant over and said something which none of the adults heard. Harry's head tilted and her expression looked intrigued, muttering something back which again Narcissa didn't catch but Draco nodded. Harry smirked slightly, "Okay. Can we go later?"
"We're thinking we'd like Pansy and Ron over tomorrow." Draco added.
"A big group wouldn't be good for Sirius." Harry nodded.
"We're not mean enough to leave poor innocent Nev..."
"….with the dangerous and dashing…."
"…Ronald Weasley." The girls finished together before sniggering

Hermione and Neville shared a look sighing loudly even as the sandy haired boy wondered if he would be better or worse off if he got permission for Susan and Hannah to come over. He quickly decided that he would be worse off with four evil witches than he would be with just Harry and Draco to contend with. "Hermione was the only sane one," All the eyes turning to him caused him to realise that he'd spoken out loud and he felt himself turning red. "What? She is."

Hermione blushed, "Neville, you do realise you are including yourself in that…"

The boy flushed his face as red as Ron's hair, his old shyness coming out as he stuttered slightly, "My experiments aren't always the sanest…"

Harry was a bundle of nerves as she walked towards Madam Pomfrey's domain, her fingers were twitching and she resisted the urge to twist her wand between her fingers. Augusta had nearly killed her when she'd been twisting it and about to tap it against her leg, fully and graphically with the aid of pictures explaining why she shouldn't. None the less, she needed to do something which was how she came to be twisting her fingers as her anxiety rose.

A soft sigh and a hand slipping into hers caught her attention, identical eyes were filled with concern as Harry looked over. "I'm fine."

Fine fair eyebrows were raised and a scoff escaped, "I can tell. You're just a bundle of joy and happiness." The words were thick with sarcasm.

Harry rolled her eyes, "I know." She looked down, twisting her lips, "I'm just scared." She ran a hand through her hair, "What if he doesn't like me?" Her response was a squeeze of her hand and a soft hiss which got narrowed eyes from Narcissa and an amused giggle from Harry. Whatever Draco had said, had gotten through to Harry, although Narcissa was going to have words with the girls about it. However now wasn't the time as she pushed open the door, softly telling the girls that Professor Snape was still recuperating, so they needed to be respectful and quiet.

Draco grinned at her mother with a mischievous expression, "Aren't we always?" Narcissa couldn't respond before the blonde had bounded over to the man's bed with a loud shout of "Uncle Sev! Your favourite goddaughter has come to grace you with her presence." A grown escaped the curtains, a wide grin was spreading over her lips as she dived through and moments after she vanished a loud grunt escaped the area. "You pleased to see me?"

Narcissa looked torn between rescuing her friend and taking Harry over to meet her father, however Harry smiled "Go ahead, save Professor Snape. I'll be alright!" Narcissa still hesitated, clearly not wanting to leave Harry alone despite the raven's words but with a small smile Harry pushed her towards the bed. Watching Narcissa vanish behind the curtains, as she took a deep breath and with slightly shaking hands parted the curtains to the other bed.

Pansy dashed into her Father's office, "PAPA?!" His black hair was streaked with grey and while he had been frowning at some papers, he smiled at his daughter when she burst through the doorway. It was a rule that he'd made when she was little, if his door was open then she could charge straight in and if it was closed she had to knock and act like a proper heiress. He would always wait until she had calmed down and told him what she wanted rather than asking as her response would be completely impossible to understand. True to form, Pansy took a deep breath, "Can I go to the Longbottom's for the day tomorrow?" While she was still talking quickly, it was at least slow enough for him to understand her.

Pansy shifted from foot to foot impatiently as her Father quickly signed the papers he was working on, "No." Her eyes widened and without missing a beat, she made her lip quiver opening her mouth to reply but closing it again when he raised his hand before speaking again, "Your mother was planning to spend the day with you by the pool." Pansy hung her head, she remembered that and found herself torn. While she wanted to spend time with her friends, she did miss her Mother while at school. Reluctantly, she nodded giving him a weak smile, which got her a contemplative look, "I'll speak with her. I'm not allowing you to go." Her heart sunk again but her Father smiled, "Perhaps she would enjoy having Emma, Lady Longbottom and Narcissa over." Pansy blinked, "Don't worry about responding to your friends, I'll speak with the adults."

"Papa." Pansy spoke again biting her lip, "I think Ron was supposed to be going as well."

Lord Parkinson froze, his daughter had looked so hopeful but clearly didn't expect him to allow a Weasley into his Manor. "So? If your mother feels up to having company, obviously that would include him." Pansy's face lit up and she dashed over giving him a tight hug, yelling her thanks into his ears before charging off again. He smiled after her figuring his daughter's delight was worth having to speak to the Weasley's.

Sirius had been lightly dozing, remembering the many full moons when Moony and he had been chasing James, hunting him, pouncing nipping at his haunches before vanishing back into the undergrowth of the forest. He had actually been enjoying his memories before his dozing was broken by a loud shout of 'Uncle Sev'. He had still been a bit fuzzy and he'd only fully opened his eyes when the curtains moved. A wavy mess of black hair was pulled back into a rough pony tail, the rest framing the aristocratic cheekbones but his eyes were drawn to the uncommon eyes and he found himself smiling hopefully. "Harry?" His voice was croaky and he coughed slightly.

His response he got was a nod and the clearly nervous teen stepped inside, moving to pour him a glass of water. "Hi." She spoke quietly smiling as she bit her lip nervously.

He beamed pushing himself up as he took the glass, he was lost for words, he'd had so much he wanted to say but now that she was standing there awkwardly. He didn't know where to start. "Why don't you take a seat?" Harry dithered over whether to sit in the chair or on the bed, Sirius noticed her hesitation and patted the bed, she looked relieved settling down staring at her hands. "…I'm sorry pup."

Harry jolted out of her musing, a frown on her face, "Why?"

"I wasn't there for you." Sirius looked lost for a moment, while Harry just looked confused.

"You didn't know and you weren't able to be there." She shrugged with another small smile, "but Mum said even though you were really sick you managed to make your way to Scotland to try to protect me."

Sirius' eyes softened, "I went to Privet Drive first," Harry's head snapped around blinking in shock, "I was desperate to see if you were alright before I went chasing after the rat. I was going to follow you but I'd scared you." Grief made its way across his face for a moment before he grinned at her, "You are now though. You and your friends saved me." He didn't know if Narcissa had told them yet and judging from the shock on Harry's face, she hadn't. "My being so weak had gotten me stuck in my animagus form," He watched to see if recognition would show on her face, "I was found by a kind young witch and taken to Hagrid."

Harry jumped slightly her face lightening, "Mr Snuggles?" His bark like laugh caused a pink hint to spread across her cheeks before she started to laugh as well. All tension seemed to vanish as she told them about what it had been like since the accident, Sirius' face brightening and soon loud laughter was filling the area. Before long though Harry asked the question that had been on her mind since she'd found out about her parentage, "…what would you have called me?" Sirius looked confused, although even he wasn't sure if it was the change of subject or the question itself. "I…mean…" Harry looked thoughtful, unable to meet his gaze, "…I mean if I'd been born your daughter." She managed finally.

Sirius looked thoughtful for while clearly thinking about the question, "Hela Aurora Black." He said finally. Harry's contemplative look made Sirius speak again, "why do you ask?"

Harry bit her lip, toying with the end of her pony tail, "I don't feel like Harry fits me anymore, I never liked the fame and…" She looked away wearily, "I…I feel like Harry Potter is a lie."

The still weak man reached out gently untangling her fingers from her hair, "Then perhaps you should think about it." Wide eyes met his, as he continued, "Don't rush into it, think seriously about it and give it time. I…" He sagged slightly, "I was thinking that if you wanted you could change your last name in the summer."

Harry beamed, "You mean so the whole world knows you're my dad?" Sirius nodded clearly expecting rejection but the teen's grin widened, "That would be amazing!" She bit her lip before speaking far softer than before, "….Dad."

Sirius froze before a wide smile grew across his lips, "…ca….can you say that again?"

"Sure." Harry was still talking quietly, "Dad…I…" She hesitated, "…I am allowed to call you Dad right?" Sirius nodded quickly multiple times, struck dumb for once in his life. The raven haired girl, hesitantly leant over slinging her arms around her father. Sirius brought his arms up and wrapped them around her, tears running down his face.

Arthur was back at work, while like many ministry employees with children at Hogwarts he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about it that didn't change the fact that he enjoyed his job. He'd been going through his department's paperwork, the festive season was always the busiest time for him and Perkins as many drunk wizards tended to cause problems for muggles. He was near the bottom of his in-tray when a paper aeroplane zoomed in and landed before him. He unfolded it with a slightly annoyed expression, fully expecting it to be yet another mission for his department and with Perkins out of the office chasing biting toilet seats, he would have had to go himself leaving whatever was waiting for him until later. His heart sunk upon realising that it was in fact a request for him to go the Minister's office at his earliest convenience.

His feet felt like lead as he made his way to the Minister's office, trying to think how they would manage if he was about to be fired or even if he was about to lose his department head's bonus. He didn't even manage a cheery hello to a few workers that he knew as he headed on up. Before he could dwell too long in his worry, the lift stopped, doors opening and feeling as though he was walking to the Dementors. Something the poor witch who worked the desk definitely didn't deserve that comparison, she gave him a friendly smile and told him that the Minister had said to let him go straight in.

It wasn't just the Minister waiting for him, Amelia Bones was there as well and he blinked for a moment, hesitating in the doorway. Unsure if he should come back later when Minister Fudge noticed him standing there and smiled widely, "Mr Weasley! Come in! Come in!" He sounded exuberant and over excited. Something which Arthur didn't think was particularly polite if he was about to be fired, Arthur step inside closing the door behind him before waiting for the man to speak. "I'm glad you are both here." Arthur blinked, Amelia didn't know what was going on either? Fudge continued seemingly without noticing Arthur's mood, "After my conversations with Narcissa…" He paused dramatically, "I have come to the decision that the Miss-Use of Muggle Artefacts department needs to be gotten rid of."

Arthur's heart dropped if anything further, so this was it, the day Molly had been thinking would come. He was getting fired or at least demoted, he was however glad that this new Fudge had at least decided to tell him to his face, "…and what will happen to the work that we do?" He wondered if that was why Amelia was there, if Fudge intended on dumping his work onto her department, after all he already worked closely with hers.

Fudge blinked looking confused, "It will be brought under the new department, Muggle Relations!" The pair froze, confusion rife in both of their faces. Amelia wondered just what Fudge was up to now, "Muggle Relations will deal with all that the old Miss-use of muggle artefacts did, working closely with the DMLE to prosecute those who target our close neighbours as well as removing those artefacts from circulation. Improper use of Magic Office will report to both head's and as another responsibility of Muggle Relations will be checking on all Muggleborn and Muggle-raised children as soon as they exhibit magic." Arthur gasped, had Lucius finally gotten to Fudge making him push the pureblood agenda? Arthur started to protest but Fudge held up his hand, "Please allow me to finish Arthur." He got a nod in response, perhaps it wasn't as he thought. Fudge continued with a smile, "This isn't to take the child away, and instead it's to ensure that the parents don't mistreat their child out of fear or jealously. In short, while we still need to work on the system, Muggle Relations will work closely with the Muggle Social Services. I intend to discuss it with the Muggle Prime Minister to see how we will actually get it up and running." He paused, noticing both of their shock, "It will also be investigating accidental magic done once the student has entered Hogwarts, in some cases it could possibly be due to fear of what their relatives will do to them and no child should be punished for that." After what Narcissa had told him about Harry and the Dementors, he'd investigated Harry's situation with her relatives and discovered that they were utterly despicable people. It was that which had truly been the spark for his plan. More ideas came as he spoke, they sounded sensible enough so he didn't bother stopping them and "I would like for it to also work with Madam Pomfrey of Hogwarts. To ensure that all muggleborn and Muggle-raised have had their vaccinations. Should I get permission from Headmaster Dumbledore? I hope to also get her to give them a full check-up at the time, under that guise to alert your departments to possible abuse while also checking that they don't have any underlying issues." He stopped speaking for a moment, taking a quick drink as he hoped that they didn't think his ideas were stupid, "As you can imagine I will be needing both of your support in this and hope that you can work together as equals. Arthur, I hope I'm not being presumptuous in asking you to head this new department. It will of course be extra work and with that extra pay." Seeing Arthur's dumbfounded expression, he mistook it as worry over staffing, "You will get proper assistance with hiring and please promote whoever you wish to head the new sub offices."

Arthur could just blink, staring shocked at the Minister, Amelia laughing softly caught his attention and he realised that they were both waiting for his response, "It would be a pleasure. I believe I know someone who might be able to help as a consultant if nothing else." He was thinking about asking Hermione's parents for advice, knowing that they would have a better idea of how the muggle world worked. Although thinking about the Granger's made him wonder if one of them had a squib in their history.

"The delightful Mr and Mrs Granger?" Fudge asked, he had met the pair at the New Year's ball and had thoroughly enjoyed his conversation with them, as had his wife, Sylvia.

Arthur nodded, "They will know how the muggle system works for one." He paused thinking, "I would also like to create a small sub-department within it which would investigate if any of the muggleborn witches and wizards are born from a squibbed line." Fudge looked at him in surprise so Arthur continued, "There are several vaults laying unused in Gringotts, if we find heirs and they get claimed. We might be able to work towards better relations with the Goblins as well?"

Both looked amazed at his ideas, Fudge agreeing with a beaming grin. Arthur left far lighter and with plans for another meeting in a couple of weeks, he couldn't wait to tell Molly that he'd gotten a promotion.

Molly had been rather surprised when the twins came running into the kitchen to tell her that a well-dressed wizard was walking down the path. Apparently he looked like a proper snobby pureblood, Molly didn't have time to scold them for being rude as there was a knock at the door. With a scowl at her sons, she wiped her hands on her apron and headed towards the door. Upon opening it she was surprised to see that the man the pair had described was none other than the Lord Parkinson, in a rare show of pureblood etiquette she dropped a low curtsey holding out her hand, "Lord Parkinson. Welcome to The Burrow, Home of house Weasley."

His smile became more genuine as he took her hand bowing over it as he kissed it, before straightening up, "Lady Weasley, I thank you for your welcome. Might I intrude on your hospitality for a little while?"

Molly hesitated for a short moment before she stepped to the side welcoming him inside, the Burrow wasn't set up for formal visit so she led him into the kitchen, "Might I offer you refreshments?" She hadn't used the Old Ways for a while and had to admit that she was more than a little rusty.

"If it isn't too much trouble, I would love a drink." He had begun to relax slightly, he hadn't encountered House Weasley magic before but standing within the centre of their family, the gentle relaxing magic washed over him, "Might I speak informally?" He found himself asking.

Molly blinked, she hadn't expected him to ask that, but as she bustled about making tea and levitating a cake over to the table, she spoke "Of course." She smiled, bringing the tea over.

"Thank you. My daughter Pansy was hoping that her friend Ron would join the others in coming over tomorrow, I believe the original plan was to go to Longbottom Manor but her mother was hoping for her daughter to have a day by the pool with her." He took a bite of the rather large slice of cake which Molly had placed before him, eyes widening for an instant, "I must say, this cake is divine!" He sipped his rather hot tea, "My apologies, I got distracted," He smiled with a soft laugh, "We came to a compromise, rather than everyone going to visit the Longbottom's, they could all come to ours instead." Molly blinked, was Lord Parkinson seriously inviting her son to his manor, it was rare that Mrs Weasley was dumb struck but this was one of those occasions. Hoping he wasn't misreading her silence, he continued, "Acacia is looking forward to getting to speak to the lovely Lady Granger again as well as spend some time with her old friend, so if you were concerned about adults. I assure you that there is going to be a fair few, I believe Lady Longbottom was planning on going as well."

"I will ask Ron," Molly smiled, finally over her shock. Although her expression became a bit more irritated when said teen stuck his head in and told them that he'd love to go. "RONALD!" She snapped before she thought it through.

Lord Parkinson laughed, "My goodness, no wonder him and my Pansy get along so well!"