A Potion Induced Advent's Time
by Healer Pomfrey

Please refer to the content/warnings/disclaimer note above page 1.

December 24

Poppy and Severus turned to Minerva in surprise. "And why might that be?" Severus queried.

"Look at this," Minerva said in apparent disbelief, holding out a parchment to her colleagues. "He doesn't have the memory of his older self."

Poppy and Severus stared at the scrawled handwriting on the parchment.

'To Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape'

'Dear Minerva and Severus,

I am sorry for willingly de-aging myself. Oh well, I hope that I'll succeed. If I do, I won't have the memories of my older self. I will be one year old and remember nothing but the two of you. I want you to become my parents, raise me and give me the childhood that I never had. I'd appreciate it if you could make Hermione and the twins, or alternatively Poppy, my godparents. Sorry for the trouble I might cause in the future!

Harry

P.S. Severus, you have to admit that this one tops all the pranks, which you played during the last three weeks?'

The three adults looked at each other in shock. Poppy was the first to find words. "Well Minerva and Severus, I can only say Congratulations; you now have a baby."

"This indeed exceeds everything," Severus said, seemingly shocked. He looked at Minerva. "Minerva, I know that this comes all a bit sudden, but would you be willing to permanently live here together with Harry and me?"

"I will," Minerva replied, smiling when Severus leaned over and once again pulled her into a long kiss. "Do you mind?" she asked afterwards, seeing that Poppy observed them with apparent amusement.

"Of course not, Minerva," Poppy replied warmly. "In fact, I am very happy for the three of you. And now I will leave you to yourselves. Call me whenever you need my help."

メリークリスマス

Minerva and Severus spent the last two hours before the Leaving feast discussing their completely unexpected new situation, while they played with Harry with the teddy and the dragon, which Harry had made for them, when they had been two years old. From Harry's speaking abilities as well as his lack of response to their comments and questions, they realised soon that he indeed did not seem to have any adult memory.

"He must have cast a charm at the potion, while he was brewing," Minerva said thoughtfully, noticing that Harry repeatedly called them "Mummy" and "Dada".

"I hope he did; how else would he be able to understand that he all of a sudden belongs to us instead of Lily and Potter," Severus replied, smirking. "I suggest that we take Harry with us to the Great Hall and explain everything to the students. Considering that all seventh years already know about the Potions accident, we wouldn't be able to hide it and pretend that the boy was someone else."

"What I can't understand," Minerva said thoughtfully. "You said someone else made his cauldron tilt..." She slowly trailed off, glancing at the letter on the desk.

"Yes, but that's unimportant," Severus interrupted her. He already filled some of the liquid into a phial, and it would have had the same effect if he had consumed the potion."

メリークリスマス

At dinner in the Great Hall, Harry sat between Minerva and Severus at the Head table, happily munching the dinner that Severus fed him, while Minerva read Harry's note to the students. She noticed contentedly that most of the students were clearly shocked and added, "I understand Harry all too well, and I don't mind raising him together with Professor Snape. However, knowing who drove him over the edge to make him pull through with his decision, I take three hundred points from Gryffindor. I am very disappointed in you, Mr. Weasley." Glaring at her own House table she continued, "At the same time, I wish to award one hundred points each to Harry Potter and Fred and George Weasley for helping us out during the last few weeks. Thank you Messrs. Weasley."

In the morning, they invited the twins into Minerva's office for a conversation, and to their relief, both were immediately ready to become Harry's godparents.

"Professors, are you going to adopt him?" Fred asked curiously, causing Minerva and Severus to exchange a glance.

"We will," Minerva replied in a soft voice. "I sent an owl to Ms. Granger last night, and I just received her response. Therefore, we'd like to file the adoption parchments with the Ministry of Magic right away." She picked up a parchment from her desk and took Harry from Fred. "Please put your signatures here."

"Professors, are you sure that Harry really doesn't have his memory?" George asked.

"I can imagine that he only fakes in spite of understanding everything," his brother added, grinning.

tbc...

I'm terribly sorry for the delay, even if only for a few hours. Thank you so much for your kind reviews and messages. I wish you all a very happy Christmas, and I hopefully see you tonight with the final chapter :-)