AN. Monkey Shoes, PantherGuide, ERMonkey Burner of Cookies, Me The Cat, Mrs.johntracy and Mystical Witch, thank you for your reviews. I thought I always went to a next line when someone started speaking, if that isn't enough I'll change that into paragraphs. And I don't think Harry would want to adopt a child while still at Hogwards and besides, he's not yet 18, so… You'll find out who 'Mione is going to adopt and what the child is like in this and coming chapters, but I'll tell you the child has the same thrist for books as our dear 'Mione has.

Disclaimer: I forgot the disclaimer of the story last chapter, so I'll give it here. Except the idea for the adoption law and the children adopted, everything is owned by J.K.Rowling!

The Adoption Center

The next morning Hermione woke up early. They had decorated the tower they were now living in and moved all their stuff, but still Hermione felt slightly desorientated, as the room did look quite different from her old one in the Griffindor rooms.

She blinked a few times and slowly – as she woke up completely – everything came back. She dressed in robes after a quick shower and pushed her door open to walk into the halls of their tower.

It really was their tower, for they had the complete tower – from bottom to top – to use. Behind the portrait that led into the tower was a big commonroom with couches, chairs, fireplace, low tables and floor-cushions. It had taken quite some time yesterday to get it finished, as a lot of people had to like it. The floor above was for the children. It wasn't really filled as they all had wanted the older children to have a say in it as well. There were however already some games and chairs.
The third floor was a combination of a library and a study and this was only public part not everybody had helped with during the decorating. All floors above were the rooms. Everybody had his or her own room, with a portrait, bathroom and an extra bedroom for the child they were to adopt. Hermione had decorated hers blue and left the extra bedroom undone, except for a bed and a wardrobe.

Hermione was beginning to get quite nervous. She had grown used to the fact that she had to adopt someone, but now that she would actually have to do it, she was really nervous. She walked towards the Great Hall and thought that this would be the last time she would do that alone. After today she would always have a child with her when going to dinner – they would still eat in the Great Hall, only one a separate table.
She was early, but to her surprise Harry and Ron stood waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. Quickly she tried to calm her breath and heart and then she walked straight to them.
"Ron! Harry!" shecalled out, after a view secondsand they both turned and ran up to her to grab her in a fierce hug. She hugged them back tightly and then pulled back, only to pull them towards the Great Hall for breakfast.

She was to nervous to get anything in, and played a little with her food while trying to eat at least a bit. All around the Hall similair scenes were seen, though not only at the house tables, but also at the head table. The only teacher who was totally relaxed was Professor Dumbledore, although that probably was because he was, together with Professor Flitwick, the only teacher who didn't have to adopt a child. Even Flitwick, although not having to adopt a child, could hardly eat, although that had to do with the fact that he really was very excited about the fact that so much children were going to come to the school.
None of this however, went noticed by Hermione, as she only sat looking at her food, playing with it nervously, while Harry and Ron tried to encourage her to eat.

After about half an hour of sitting like this - all students that had to adopt a child were here by now - Professor Dumbledore stood once again.
"Will all students that have to adopt a child please gatherin the Entrance Hallwhen they are finished eating? Professor McGonnagall will lead you and all the other professors except Professor Flitwick and myself will accompeny you to the adoption center. Good luck with finding a child!" When Professor Dumbledore was seated again, through the whole Hall sounds could be heard of people standing up and moving to the Entrance Hall. Clearly everybody was finished eating.

Nothing was said while everybody was gathering and everybody stayed silence when Professor McGonnagall turned and opened the doors. Everybody followed her quietly and only when they had reached the gates someone spoke up."Professor, how are we going to the center?" While everybody could apparate, not everybody knew - or actually, most didn't know - where they were going, which was particulary unhandy when apparating. Professor McGonnagall pulled a long rope from her pocket before she replied that they would be going by portkey. Some people growned, while all reached for the rope.

When everybody touched the rope, it turned blue for a second, before everybody felt a pull behind their navel and they were of in the spin of colours that accompanied using a portkey. Mere seconds later - although for them it looked like minutes - everybody landed in the hall of the adoption center. Most people stayed up, but some of the less lucky ones were splayed all over the floor.

"Ah, there you are. Goodmorning all," a happy looking lady said. "Will you all just follow me?" All the unlucky ones that had fallen down after arriving with the portkey quickly scrambled up and everybody followed the women to a door at the end of the hall. Behind the door everybody could hear the sounds of children in there. Some playing, some crying. Of course some were quiet, but as they couldn't see the room, they didn't know that.

"Well, as you know every one of you has to adopt a child. Inside this room and all ajoining rooms are the children. Go in and choose your kid. When you have chosen someone, please come back to me to fill in the nessesarry papers and to let me perform the adoption charm - which will make the child take a few of your characteristics in looks and in character." She said some more things, but Hermione zoned her out and looked around at the other students (and the teachers) who had to adopt someone. Everybody looked a bit uneasy to say at least, and most were definitly nervous about what they would find on the other side of the door.

Suddenly Hermione was shocked from her thoughts and musings when the women opened the door and the sounds of children playing intensified. She followed the rest inside and immediatly saw the diffenerence between the children. Some were quietly playing by themselves or with others, some were playing quite loudly, some sat sobbing and some were just quietly reading.Hermione - who loved reading - quickly walked towards those children, letting the others be and so not noting that some of the professors and Ravenclaws followed her to the reading kids.

Some of the kids looked up for a second, but mostly they just stayed reading, clearly not noting the new adults, or not willing to stop reading. The adults just stayed where they were and looked on to the kids, trying to decide who they liked.

AN.: The next chapter will be about the chosing itself. Hope you guys like this chapter and I hope for more reviews than I got on the last one. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, I'm hoping the next chapter will come faster. I now have a beta-reader, but it isn't beta-read yet, so I'm sorry for mistakes.