This chapter as always is dedicated to my amazing Alpha and friend MissRissa81! Thank you for always encouraging me with all of my writing and not just this story! I love you xo

Thank you to everyone who reads this story! This is for you xo

October 5, 1939

Dippet had sent the message with one of the Slytherin prefects earlier in the day and lunch time was the only time he could get away from everyone— stating the password to the gargoyle he walked up the stairs and waited for the Headmaster.

"Enter," came from inside and Tom opened the door.

"Tom, my boy. How are things going?" He asked before gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

"They are going alright, sir. Why do you ask?" Tom asked.

"I wanted to see how you are feeling after the Notts and Averys took over your care, are they treating you well?" Dippet asked.

"Yes, they have been nothing but kind to me and have set about getting me everything that I need," Tom said happily.

"That's great, Tom," Dippet smiled and continued, "I had assumed that they would treat you with love and kindness but I just wanted to double check I made the right decision on helping them adopt you."

"You did sir. Thank you so much for all you did for me before they took over my care. I really appreciate it," Tom responded.

"You're welcome, now you may go. That is all," Dippet said bowing his head.

"Thank you sir," Tom said, standing he left the office and made his way back to the common room where his family was waiting for him.

"What did he want?" Aldrich asked as soon as Tom sat down.

"He wanted to see how I was going since I was adopted," Tom said.

"Why would he want to know that?" Theodore asked.

"So that he knows he made the right decision, right Tom?" Hermione said.

"Yeah, he wanted to know that I was happy with the situation," Tom said.

Nodding, Theo pulled out the books he had borrowed and said, "Now that he's happy with his decision and there's nothing we need to worry about let's get back to reading."

November 30, 1939

Tom received a letter from the Ministry of Magic before breakfast and couldn't stop smiling— his adoption papers had finally come through and he was officially apart of the two families now. No more fear they would change their minds and send him back to the orphanage. He was a Nott-Avery family member and he couldn't be happier.

He hadn't told anyone else yet. He knew that their parents would want to tell everyone— and as he watched the Nott and Avery parents walk up the center aisle of the tables in the Great Hall to Headmaster Dipper, he knew he was right.

"Why are they here do you think?" Hermione said starting to panic that something was wrong. Her parents never came to the school unless it was an emergency.

"Probably nothing to worry over, Hermione," Aldrich said patting her on the back.

They all watched on as Dippet nodded and then stood leading their parents over to them, "Children, your belongings have been packed with the holidays only a week away we will allow you to leave early as long as you complete your homework before returning."

"They will Headmaster," Astraea Nott said smiling, "Come children we have something exciting to celebrate."

She then glided out of the Great hall with everyone following her, the children exchanging curious looks except Tom who just smiled.

Once they reached the gates and their parents instructed them all to hold onto one of the adults they were apparated into the main den of the Nott family Mansion— where house elves and their siblings were waiting with butter beer for the children and elf wine for the adults.

"The adoption papers arrived this morning," Annalise said.

"You're officially apart of the family, Tom. Congratulations my boy," Theodore Snr. said pulling him into an embrace.

Hugs were shared and the family celebrated all day— ending the day with a feast in Tom's honour and Tom receiving gifts from their parents.

From the Notts he received a Nott family ring and from the Avery's he was given a chain with their crest on it. Both charmed so if he needed any help he would simply have to say, "Family" and it would call whichever parents he touched the jewellery of.

Tom went to sleep peacefully that night knowing it was all real— he was no longer an orphan.

December 19, 1939

Hermione woke up and stretched out before looking at the clock— it was only five in the morning and yet the house was bustling with activity. Jumping out of bed and placing her nightgown and slippers on, she rushed downstairs to where her mother was directing the house elves for a large breakfast and pack their trunks.

"Oh, hello Hermione dear. Sit down, breakfast won't be long. I wasn't expecting anyone up for hours yet," her mother said as she noticed her daughter.

"What's going on?" Hermione questioned around a yawn.

"Your father, the Avery's and I have decided that we are going away for Christmas, I think it's just what we need to do as a family," she responded happily.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Paris mansion. We haven't been in a while and it's the perfect size for everyone to have their own space," Astraea said placing a full English breakfast in front of her daughter and continued to bustle around collecting things they would need.

"Oh, I do love the Paris mansion, there's just something about it in the winter." Hermione said, getting excited for Christmas now that they were going away— not that she wasn't excited before but being in Paris just added to the excitement.

"Go and place whatever you wish to take with you on the bed after you've eaten and the elves will pack it for you," her mother said.

"When do we leave?" Hermione asked.

"This afternoon, the Avery's have some things to do before they can go so we thought we might wait and all go together," her mother explained.

"Oh I bet Aldrich can't wait for this, he loves it when we go to Paris," Hermione exclaimed.

"He did sound a bit excited when he overheard us discussing it last night," Her mother chuckled.

"Can I go wake the boys up and tell them?" She asked.

"Maybe wait until a bit later, love. They had a late night last night. Your father had them helping him with polishing the gold," her mother smiled at her daughter.

"Why couldn't he just leave it to the elves?" Hermione asked.

"Because dear, our gold is precious and we must take care of it ourselves," Astraea said before leaving the room.

Hermione ran back up to her room and picked all of the outfits she would need for the trip and placed all of the presents with them for the elves to pack.

By the time she had finished Tom and Theodore were up and had breakfast and had been told of the upcoming trip.

Aldrich came over at lunch time and Hermione launched into a discussion of all they could do in Paris while they were there.

Theo and Tom rolling their eyes at the excitement bouncing from the other two.

It wasn't long before Aldrich's mother and father arrived and they headed through the Floo network to the mansion.

Hermione couldn't wait to see what other books they could find in this library to research the Founders.

Christmas would be the best yet now that Tom had joined their family.

December 31, 1939

Tom was awoken by Hermione and the boys with presents on his birthday, they had been allowed to have a camp out in the cottage out in the main yard of the Nott Mansion in Paris so that he could have a nice birthday wake up.

"Come on Tom, the house elves have already delivered breakfast and then we can open your presents before playing a small game of Quidditch," Hermione said bouncing as she talked. She always got so excited when it was Christmas or one of their birthdays.

She loved the idea of giving presents and nothing more could distract her. Since he had become apart of the family everyone had acted this way, it wasn't only Hermione anymore and he loved feeling as if he mattered to the people around him.

"Alright, alright alright. I'm getting up," Tom said and followed the three over to the breakfast table that was filled with every single one of his favourite types of breakfast foods and a smile spread over his face. Nothing was better than this.

Scoffing down their food, they opened his presents. Hermione and the boys didn't even allow him to unwrap them by himself. That was how it was with these guys but he didn't mind.

Books on founders, ancient scrolls on the founders and a new book box to hide it all in was what he got from Hermione, Theodore and Aldrich.

Their parents had gotten him new sets of robes, fifty galleons and some of his favourite candies.

Tom smiled and pushed his friends out to play a four hour quidditch game before they met at the main mansion for dinner and to go to bed before heading back to school in the morning.

Tom and the others weren't too in a rush to get back to the school, enjoying their time away from the prying eyes of Dumbledore their research into Hufflepuff went a lot quicker than it normally would have and they had a starting point on where to look for the next clues when they got back to Hogwarts.

Thank you for reading hope you enjoy xo