In McGonagall's office, Harry stepped cheerfully out of the fireplace and looked around the room. The headmistress was sitting at her desk, reading a note and stroking Muff idly. She looked up at the sound of Harry's arrival, a wide grin on her face.

"Potter," she said warmly, standing and moving around her desk. "Harry, it's wonderful to see you." She pulled him into a brief hug, then stepped back and gestured at the bird. "Your owl only arrived thirty seconds ago."

Harry bit his lip. "Sorry… I got a bit impatient."

"No matter." McGonagall sat back down at her desk and Harry sat down opposite her. "What can I help you with?"

"Well, we… hold on…" Harry looked nervously back at the fireplace. "Ron was right behind me – oh!" Suddenly Ron stepped out and into the room, brushing off some excess powder.

"Sorry, Harry… hello Professor." Ron walked over to the desk and shook her hand across it before sitting down in a chair next to Harry. "Sorry."

Harry smiled. "It's okay. I was just about to explain that we," he glanced over at Ron before turning his attention to McGonagall, "were thinking about adopting. Obviously, we would prefer a… a magical child, and we were hoping maybe you could tell us if there are any witches or wizards in Muggle orphanages."

McGonagall blinked, her eyes darting between Harry and Ron. "Adopting? You? You two? But… why?"

Harry's eyes widened slightly. "We… we want a family, Minerva… o-oh. Oh, you didn't know… oh, damn." He looked sheepishly over at Ron, who was blushing and inspecting a freckle on his thumb.

"Well, I'm a bit surprised." McGonagall adjusted her glasses in a business-like manner, but didn't disguise her approving smile. "However, I will try my best to help you boys." She stood and walked towards the door. "I'll only be a moment." Winking, she left.

"Harry, you're a git." Ron crossed his arms and stared at the floor.

"Oh, Ron, calm down. So she didn't know… she knows now and she's fine with it and she's going to help us." Harry spoke absently, his eyes searching the walls for Dumbledore's portrait. It was empty, and Harry sighed, disappointed. Snape's portrait, however, was not empty, and Harry could feel the dark eyes of his Potions master bearing down on him. "Hello, Severus."

"Weasley, Potter? Ron Weasley?"

Ron shifted angrily in his seat, but Harry ignored him and shrugged carelessly in the direction of Snape. "Something wrong with that?"

Snape tilted his head and watched the two of them carefully before rolling his eyes. "No."

"Good." Harry turned around as McGonagall returned. "Where is the list kept?"

McGonagall's eyes twinkled as she sat down. "I'm not telling you, Potter, especially not when you keep refusing to come work for me."

Harry smiled boyishly. "Someday, Minerva. But, not now… any luck?"

McGonagall's light-hearted smile faded a bit. "I'm sorry, Harry. There's nothing this year. I should have mentioned this earlier, but… there really aren't that many of our kind being left in Muggle orphanages."

Harry bit his lip and avoided looking at Ron. "Do – do you think there will be anyone next year?"

McGonagall sighed. "Perhaps… but you should know, Harry… Ron… there have only been two wizards taken out of orphanages since Voldemort, and that was over 70 years ago."

Harry sighed painfully, looking down at the scar on the back of his hand. "Well… thanks, anyway, Minerva. Really, I appreciate it." He stood heavily. "Come on, Ron."

"Potter…" Harry turned back to his former teacher. "Come and visit again, will you?"

Forcing a smile, Harry nodded and pulled Ron to his feet. "I will. Thanks for having us… thanks for helping." Dragging Ron behind him, Harry walked past the fireplace and out the door. The two of them walked silently through the halls of Hogwarts, making their way down to the ground floor and finally out of the castle.

"Where are we going?" Ron placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, but Harry shrugged it off and quickened his pace.

"I need a walk."

Ron trailed behind Harry for a while, not wanting to interfere with his thoughts. Then, without warning, Harry broke into a run. Ron halted and watched as Harry sprinted off the grounds and out of view. Sighing, Ron continued his slow walk away from the castle. When he was sure he was off Hogwarts property, he spun and Disapparated back home.

Ron landed in the living room. Harry wasn't there. He wandered through the kitchen and then upstairs, where he found Harry in the bedroom, standing by the window. Silently, Ron walked across the room and wrapped his arms protectively around Harry's waist. Harry sighed deeply and leaned against Ron's chest.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Ron whispered, softly kissing Harry's temple.

Harry nodded and sniffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "Me too."

Ron squeezed Harry tighter and rested his chin on his shoulder. "We'll work something else out, mate."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Ron." Harry sniffed again, trying to restrain his emotions. "I thought for sure," his voice cracked and he swallowed quickly, "for sure that the Hogwarts list would work. I've never had a family, a real… real family. The Dursleys… hated me, Sirus… died, your parents… your family is the closest thing I've known to a real family. I want… a family of my own, a family with you. I want my child's grandparents to be the people who are the closest thing I've ever known to parents. I want to give another child a real family."

Ron felt a strong tugging on his heart, and he leaned his face into Harry's neck, trying to bring them as physically close as he could. "I know, love, I know. I love you so much. I'm so sorry." Harry turned in Ron's arms and buried his face in Ron's chest, choking out a sob. Ron held Harry as tight as he could, pressing his face into Harry's soft black hair. "We'll go back next year, and the next, and the next, until they have someone, okay?" He felt tears stinging at the corners of his eyes, and when he blinked, they escaped and ran down his cheeks.

Harry shook his head and sniffed loudly. "No, Ron," his voice cracked again, but he ignored it, "you said you wanted a lot of kids, and… and even if Hogwarts finds one, it'll only be one, and I don't want you… to have to adjust your notion of family any more."

Ron held Harry away from him and looked into his broken green eyes. "Harry, that's ridiculous. One child is better than no child and I'll adjust my stupid notion of family for whatever we come up with. You shouldn't let me be so selfish." He pulled Harry back and kissed the scar on his forehead lightly. "I promise we'll work something else out. Okay? I love you."

Harry nodded and wiped his eyes again. "Okay. Yeah. Thanks. I love you." He stepped away from Ron and sighed shakily, trying to compose himself.

Ron reached out and caressed Harry's wet cheeks. "What can I do to help you keep your mind off it?"

Harry smiled weakly and rolled his eyes. "You're the randiest bitch I know."

"Hey! I'm not a bitch. You'll pay for that." Ron pushed Harry against the windowsill and dropped to the floor, tugging Harry's jeans down with him.

Harry glanced over at the owl cage, where Muff and his brother, Mel, were staring curiously up at him. "Ron, this is kind of awkward…"

Ron laughed and kissed Harry's thigh. "They've seen us fuck, Harry."

Harry didn't respond, because Ron had started kissing along his cock, sucking and licking it into a stiffened state. Harry watched, breathing heavily, as Ron took his still-growing cock into his mouth. Harry moaned contentedly and gripped the windowsill edge that his arse was pressed up against. He relaxed his neck and let his head hang down over his chest as the tip of Ron's tongue played with the head of his cock. A shiver ran through Harry's body as Ron's warm hands cupped his balls gently and rolled them between his fingers. Moaning quietly, Harry remembered the previous night and the ridiculous state Ron had been in from the wine, and the way that Ron's pleas had ripped the orgasm right out of him. He was brought back to the present with a gasp from his own throat as Ron sucked roughly on his cock. Harry whimpered and gripped the windowsill tighter, thrusting his hips slightly. Ron's hands held Harry firmly in place against the window as he moved up and down his cock, down quickly and up slowly, swirling his tongue around the tip before plunging back down.

"Ron!" Harry grabbed Ron's shoulder with an unsteady hand. "Ron, I'm… close… yeah, yes, yessss, oh!" Harry bit down savagely on his bottom lip and grunted roughly as his body shook. He came into Ron's mouth, rolling his eyes back in his head with the sudden pleasurable release.

Ron swallowed and licked Harry's softening cock clean, then stood and kissed him deeply, entwining their fingers.

"I love you, Ron." Harry smiled and nipped playfully at Ron's bottom lip.

"And I love you." Releasing Harry's hands, Ron reached around and groped at Harry's arse as they kissed again.