"Hello, Theodore," Magnus said, offering a soft smile. "Your mother was one of the few true friends I have ever had. Now tell me, what are you doing in New York?"
"Our parents are dead," Adhara said quietly. "We have no one but ourselves."
"What's your name, little one?" Maryse asked.
"My name is Adhara Lucretia Malfoy, but everyone calls me Addie," Adhara replied. "I am four years old, and my little brother is called Draco. He is one year old."
"My name is Hermione Cassiopeia Potter," Mia added. "I'm the same age as Adhara, and my little brother's name is Harry. He's the same age as Draco."
"You can say that I'm the oldest," Theo said, looking at his best friends. "I'm going to be five at the end of November, and I don't have any siblings, but Addie and Mia are like my sisters."
"You already know me, but not the rest," Magnus said. "This is my husband and the youngest Consul of the Clave, Alexander Gideon Lightwood. He is a little grumpy, but don't take that into account. You can call him Alex."
"I'm Alec's little sister," Isabelle chimed in. "My name is Isabelle, but you can call me Izzy. And the one with glasses is my fiancé, Simon Lewis."
"I'm Clary," Clary introduced herself, smiling. "And the arrogant blonde is called Jace."
"You like my arrogance, love," Jace remarked with a grin.
"My name is Maryse," Maryse told the children. "I am Izzy and Alec's mother. Anything you need, you can talk to us."
"We need a place to stay," Theo said. "But we can't go back to London."
"Are you sure you don't have family looking for you?" Maryse asked, concern in her voice.
"Our uncles Moony and Padfoot are probably out there somewhere," Mia said thoughtfully and sadly. "But we don't know if they are alive."
"I can find out if you want," Magnus offered.
"I don't want to go back to London," Adhara whispered.
"But if your uncles are alive, they will want to know that you are safe and will want you to live with them," Izzy said, considering the children's relatives.
"I don't want to go back to London," Adhara repeated, her voice growing stronger. "My whole family is in this room."
Magnus and Alec exchanged glances, their silent conversation lasting for several minutes. Finally, Alec wore a small smile.
"We can adopt you," Magnus suggested hesitantly. "Alec and I, for obvious reasons, can only adopt if we want to start a family. It's just an idea, so think about it."
Mia, Adhara, and Theo huddled on Mia's bed and began to discuss the proposal quietly. They deliberated and then separated, gazing at the Shadowhunters who were waiting for their response.
"Who would each of us stay with?" Mia asked with a frown. "I don't want to be separated from my brother."
"Addie, you and Draco can easily pass as our children," Jace said as he got up. "My grandmother is going to scream when she finds out."
"Theo, Mia, and Harry, we can adopt you if you want," Alec said nervously, indicating his desire to start a family with Magnus.
"Do you live nearby?" Adhara asked in a soft voice. "Mia and I used to live close to each other. Our fireplaces were connected, and I could visit her whenever I wanted."
"Don't worry about that, Addie," Magnus said, smiling tenderly. "I have Alec's parabatai at home every day."
"What's that?" Mia asked, puzzled.
"We'll explain that to you later," Alec said, beaming at his daughter. His daughter
"We are going to train the next generation of Shadowhunters," Jace announced, raising his fist triumphantly. "They are going to be the best out of the entire Institute."
"My children are going to make yours bite the dust," Alec said, looking at his parabatai.
"I don't think so, Alec, may I remind you I'm the best Shadowhunter of our generation? My children will be the same" Jace countered, sticking his tongue out.
Clary and Izzy chuckled at their competitiveness. The entire Institute was aware of their love and rivalry. Fatherhood had introduced a new aspect for their competition. Mia, Adhara, and Theo shared knowing smiles; they were beginning to like their new family. They knew it wouldn't be easy, but they were willing to try. Deep down, they believed they had made the right decision. A fresh start awaited them, free from pain and memories, away from London.
"Guys, do you know what Star Wars is?" Simon asked excitedly, addressing the children.
Sirius paced around the room, his agitation evident. "How come you can't fucking track my nephews and nieces?" he asked, his frustration apparent in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Lord Black, but for some unknown reason, we can't trace them," the Ministry official responded.
"Are... Are they alive?" Sirius asked, fear tainting his words.
"They are alive," the official confirmed. "Otherwise, the Ministry's records would have changed. You would have noticed. After all, if the children had died, you would inherit both fortunes."
"I don't want the money," Sirius said, running his hand through his messy hair. "I'd feel like a thief."
"Since your brother has died, you are once again the heir of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black," the official explained. "You have the right to a seat in the Wizengamot. I need you to sign here below to make it official."
Sirius felt a wave of nausea. The thought of inheriting the Black family's wealth made him feel dirty. It should be Reggie signing those parchments, not him. He should be patrolling with James, not signing legal documents.
"Honey, are you okay?" Remus's voice brought him out of his reverie.
Sirius swallowed hard and with a heavy heart, he approached the table and took the quill offered by the official, signing the document.
"Thank you very much," said the official, smiling understandingly. "I'm sorry you're going through this."
Remus interjected, concern evident in his voice, "What's going to happen to the children?"
"Being the only living heirs of James and Lily Potter, and Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, social services cannot send them to foster homes. Our laws prohibit it," the official explained.
"My nephews and nieces will never set foot in a foster home." Sirius declared angrily. They are the heirs of two Sacred Twenty-eight families, two of the oldest houses in the wizarding world."
"Once the Potter and Malfoy heirs are located, we will not separate them," the official assured. "But I must inform you that they cannot be legally adopted by you."
Remus was puzzled, "What does that mean?"
"I don't know how to say this without sounding offensive," the official said, glancing nervously between Sirius and Remus.
Angrily, Sirius snapped, "What's the problem? Is it because we're gay or because my husband is a werewolf? Which of the two is it?"
The official replied calmly, "I do not make the laws, Lord Black, but due to your husband's affliction, you could not adopt the Potter or the Malfoy children. You could only be their legal guardians."
Sirius fumed, "You are all prejudiced. Remus is a person, and he is as much a wizard as you or me."
The official shot back, "Don't you dare call me prejudiced when you don't know me, Lord Black. It's not my fault. For the record, I'm a Muggle-born, and I have two mothers. I've grown up with insults all my life. I know perfectly well how prejudiced the wizarding society, especially the purebloods, can be."
"Sirius, apologize." Remus, seeing the tension escalate, intervened, "I'm so sorry, Mr...?"
"Graham," The official introduced himself, "Grayson Graham, but everyone calls me Sonnie."
"I'm sorry, Grayson," Sirius said, embarrassed by his earlier outburst.
Understanding the situation, Grayson spoke, "I understand how frustrated you must feel. My mothers didn't have it easy adopting me, and I've grown up hearing insults all my life. By the time I arrived at Hogwarts, the insults no longer affected me. I am proud of who I am and who my mothers are."
Intrigued, Sirius asked, "Which house did you belong to?"
"Which house do you think I belonged to?" Grayson asked, amused.
"Gryffindor suits you, but I'd say Slytherin," Sirius reasoned.
A little more observant, Remus spoke, "I'd say Ravenclaw."
"I was a proud eagle," Grayson confirmed. Sirius growled in defeat, and Remus laughed at his husband's attempt to guess.
"You can come by anytime," Remus said, laughing. "If anyone understands prejudice, it's us. And drop the formalities; you can call us Sirius and Remus.
Grayson appreciated the gesture, "Thank you very much, sir... Remus."
Sirius snorted, "My husband, if he hadn't been in Gryffindor, would have been in Ravenclaw. He's a bit of a swot."
"I see," Grayson said, standing up and extending his hand to Sirius and Remus. "Well, my job here is done. Again, I am very sorry for your loss, and I hope you find the rest of your family."
As Grayson prepared to leave through the fireplace, he extended his hand to Sirius and Remus. They shook it and watched him depart.
"He's a good lad," Remus commented, echoing Sirius's earlier sentiment. "He reminds me of James."
"You've noticed it too, haven't you?" Sirius asked, thinking of his best friend.
"Pads is stupid," James said, watching his best friends talk.
"Good morning James, you're finally updated," Regulus said boredly as he observed his brother and his friend.
"Leave them alone," Lily said, appearing behind her husband. "They're hurt and they're grieving because we are dead."
"Aren't we going to talk about how our children have crossed an entire sea without the Ministry catching them?" Lucius asked, looking at his friends.
"This is all your fault, Potter," Narcissa shouted, pointing at James.
"I'm dead," James said with a puppy face. "I haven't done anything."
"You and your stupid genes," Narcissa said angrily.
"Tell him, Cissy," Lily said without any intention of defending her husband.
"I haven't done anything," James shouted as Narcissa chased him.
"I wish we were alive to kill you again, Potter," Narcissa shouted as she tried to reach James.
"They are intelligent, and Teddy is with them," Lucius observed, watching his daughter talk to her new family. "I wish I could hug Addie and Draco one last time."
"They're going to be okay, Lucius," Lily said, putting a hand on his shoulder as if to comfort him.
"They are strong, they have grown up surrounded by Gryffindors and Slytherins," Regulus said, smiling, watching his goddaughter play with Harry.
"I'm glad they found people willing to take them in and raise them despite not knowing them at all," said Narcissa, hugging Lucius.
"Where is James?" Lily asked.
"I'm here," James said, scratching his head in pain. "I thought that being dead, I wouldn't feel Cissy's blow. What are you all talking about?"
"We're talking about how your stupid Potter genes have caused my children, your children, and Teddy to travel to New York and be adopted by some people, who claim to be descendants of an angel named Raziel," Narcissa muttered angrily.
"My princess is a smart girl after all her mother is The Brightest Witch of Her Age," James said, putting an arm around Lily's shoulders. "I wish I had told Mia and Hazz that I loved them before... before Voldemort killed me."
"Lily and I told them for you, for all of you," Narcissa said with tears in her eyes.
"I wish I could hug them and tell them they're going to be okay," Lily said, crying silently. "My babies."
"They shouldn't know what it's like to lose their parents, almost their entire family at such a young age," Lucius lamented, hugging Narcissa.
"What house do you think they will be in when they go to Hogwarts?" Regulus asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Hello, guys," Peter's shy voice greeted.
"Wormtail," James shouted, running to hug his best friend.
"What are you all talking about?" Peter asked, approaching the group.
"We're making bets on which houses our kids will go to when they go to Hogwarts," Lily explained, excited to see Peter.
"What makes you think they will go to Hogwarts?" Regulus suddenly asked. "They're wearing untraceable bracelets, and the families that have just adopted them have their traditions and customs."
"It's their natural right, Reggie, it's in their blood" James said, pretending to be indignant.
"My children will be Slytherin," declared Lucius.
"My children will obviously be Gryffindors," declared James, just as seriously as Lucius.
"Teddy could be Slytherin or Ravenclaw," Narcissa commented. "I think Addie and Mia will be Slytherins, and Draco and Harry will be Gryffindors."
"I agree with you, Cissy," said Lily, nodding.
"Lily, how can you say that?" James asked indignantly. "Our entire family is Gryffindor, our best friends are Gryffindors, even my father was a Gryffindor."
"James Charlus Potter," Dorea's voice resounded. "And what about me?"
"Mom, what are you doing here?" James asked, surprised.
"Where did you want your father and me to be?" Dorea asked, rolling her eyes. "We're all dead."
"Dory, calm down," Charlus said, appearing from behind and greeting his family.
"I was a Slytherin when I was a student and proud," Dorea declared, narrowing her eyes at her son. "And if my granddaughter or my grandson is a Slytherin, we will all be proud, right, James Charlus?"
"Of course, Mom," James said, rubbing his neck in embarrassment as everyone laughed.
"They will grow up being spoiled, but above all, they will be happy," Charlus said, looking at his grandchildren talking to their new parents.
"They will grow up rich, spoiled, but deep down they will be broken," Regulus whispered softly so that no one would hear.
The family dedicated themselves to watching their children interact with their new parents. They wished them a happy life away from the pain and memories. And if that life was in New York, they would support them every step of the way until their children were ready to face their past.