When I walk into the Great Hall, I immediately notice that I'm the only student that's arrived this morning. Then again, I do faintly remember Ellie saying how awkward she felt once for being the only student at breakfast. Well, I guess it's just my turn to be the awkward one. I take a seat next to Hagrid and quickly grab myself a muffin.

A few moments later, I watch Snape slip into a seat between the headmaster and Professor McGonagall. Both smile pleasantly at him, which he acknowledges with a slight bow of his head. I can still see the aftereffects of his duel with Professor Sinistra last night. He's still moving a bit stiffly as he grabs a piece of toast. His dark eyes then dart towards me before giving me a pointed look that I know is his 'what are you staring at, Potter' look.

"Merlin, Severus, what on earth did you do to your hand?" Professor McGonagall exclaims suddenly, making both of us glance towards her.

"I'm afraid that's my doing, Minerva," Professor Sinistra says with a faint smile hid expertly behind her silver goblet. "We were dueling last night, and I hit him with a stray curse."

I then glance from Professor Sinistra back to Snape. His face doesn't give away his emotions or if he even heard her. My eyes dart back to her. Honestly, I don't know why I'm finding them both so fascinating still. Maybe he's right. Maybe I am trying to gain a mother for my new family. If Hermione were here, she'd probably agree with Snape or at least scold me for being so pushy.

"So, Mr. Potter, how are your studies going?"

"Um, fine, ma'am," I respond quietly. "I'm at Acceptable in Potions."

"Hmm, so far so good then," Professor McGonagall says with a smile.

Numbly, I nod. The stifling silence reenters the Great Hall. I quietly eat my breakfast and hear the others doing the same. It seems as if time as slowed to near nothing, which I know is an exaggeration. My eyes glance around as I try to see if the owls have delivered the post yet. They haven't, which seems to be much to everyone's disappointment.

"Ah, yes, how silly of me," the headmaster mutters under his breath. "Professor Sinistra?"

"Yes, Headmaster, is something wrong?"

"Nothing, my dear," he replies with a pleasant smile. "I only wish to inform you that if you would rather duel tonight in the Great Hall, you are more than welcome to it."

"Oh, well, thank you, Headmaster, but it is only a demonstration for my class. I do not believe that I need such a large venue for it."

"I had thought perhaps the entire student body that is here would perhaps enjoy the chance to see two of their professors dueling. The last time was not exactly much of a duel, I believe."

I grin widely as I remember my second year when Snape blasted our DADA professor, Mr. phony Gilderoy Lockhart, with an extremely powerful casting of Expelliarmus. Ron and I had thought Snape was bloody brilliant that day. Snape must have known what I'm remembering because he snorts softly before taking a drink of his coffee.

"Well, I have no objections, but—"

"Neither do I," Snape interrupts glancing at Professor Sinistra. "Perhaps the dunderheads will actually learn something about what constitutes as an actual duel instead of that farce they were subjected to with that idiot Lockhart."

"Excellent, most excellent," the headmaster says with a wide grin. "I shall make it mandatory then so that all of our summer students attend." He then glances at me before glancing back to Snape. "Unless you have objections to that, Severus?" he asks.

"I have none."

"Ah, yes, I had thought not," he replies before glancing at me one last time. He glances over his spectacles at me before turning back to his own breakfast. He knows something.

However, before I can focus anymore on it, I hear the loud screeches of the owls as they fly into the Great Hall. I watch the majestic birds glide down onto the tables. I immediately recognize Ron's owl Pig as he ruffles his feathers in front of me with a package and several letters attached to his leg. I quickly untie the string and glance at the letters. Ron, Hermione, the twins, even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley have written letters to me. My grin then widens at the last two letters.

"Quite a number of post you have there, Mr. Potter," the headmaster says glancing at me with a knowing smile. "One would think it's your birthday by the number."

"It's not, sir," I reply, not taking my eyes off the letter from Sirius in my hands.

"Oh, we know, Mr. Potter. Every child in our world knows your birthday," Professor Sinistra drawls before glancing towards Snape, who is staring at a letter in his hands.

"Hmm…even Severus has a large amount of post this morning," Professor McGonagall states. "One would think something big happened last night. Would either of you like to share?"

"I believe a person is still entitled to his privacy, is he not, Minerva?" growls Snape.

I glance at him. He's angry about something, but I don't understand why. I then notice the Ministry addressed envelope is still on the table in front of him. However, he is glaring at a badly yellowed letter in his hands as if he wishes it would just disappear. He then angrily throws it down onto the table, which somehow ends up sending the letter my way. His dark eyes catch mine as it lands in front of me, and we just stare at each other for a few moments.

I am desperately trying not to look down at the letter, but my curiosity takes over. I glance down at the letter and then glance back at him. The letter is from his mother. I silently fold the letter back up and hand it back to him. He instantly snatches the letter from me before shaking his head angrily. I watch him stuff the letter back into the envelope before violently shoving it into the inner pocket of his robes. I can't understand why he'd be so angry with me over it.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Potter, I'm not angry with you," he growls before drawing in a deep breath. "I'm not angry with you, Harry," he repeats a bit softer. "Who are your letters from?" I can tell he's trying to make up for losing his temper with me so I respond.

"The Weasleys, Hermione, Remus, and Snuffles," I answer quietly.

"Oh, Sirius wrote you?" Professor Vector exclaims.

My head whips towards her with my mouth dropped. No one is supposed to know about Sirius. She only rolls her green eyes at me before shaking her head in amusement. Her light-brown curls bounce freely against her shoulders.

"As if we didn't notice you strangely receiving mail after Sirius escaped," she drawls. "How thick do you think we are, Mr. Potter? Oh, and then there's the fact that Mr. Weasley's rat strangely disappeared around the same time that Sirius escaped. Yes, well, it isn't that hard to figure the rest out for ourselves."

"You mean, you know?" I ask before glancing at all the professors. "You all know about Sirius?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter, we do," Professor Vector says before taking a drink from her goblet. "In fact, I know that he is currently available."

"Oh, dear Merlin, not this again," Professors Sinistra and McGonagall groan.

"I'm just saying that I would not mind dating with Sirius. Granted, I'm sure Azkaban didn't do wonders for his sanity, but he is still extremely handsome. And those tattoos of his—"

"Harry, pay no attention to that loon," Professor Sinistra interrupts with a pained expression.

"Oh, come on, Aura. Like you haven't dated Sirius," Professor Vector drawls.

My mouth drops before I glance at Snape. He looks torn between laughing and growling. Granted, during this summer I have heard Professor Vector reveal things before she should not have said, but this one takes the cake.

"That was only two hours, Septima. I'd hardly call that dating, and I am sure that our dear student here does not want to hear anymore about this," Professor Sinistra hisses.

"Why? We all know that as soon as Snape works up the courage, you're going to be Mr. Potter's stepmother. Personally, I think he needs to know about his soon-to-be adopted parents' sordid histories."

"And, personally, I think you should die…slowly, Septima," Professor Sinistra sneers in a very Snape-like manner. Her eyes are the darkest that I've ever seen.

"You know about the adoption, too?" I ask softly.

"Well, Albus has been grinning to himself all morning, and there are only two reasons why Aurora would be glowing this morning. Since I know that she was patrolling with me last night, it wasn't hard to narrow it down. Plus, if you add in the quaint fact that Severus and Sirius nearly hexed each other the other day, Severus adopting you is the only plausible answer."

"Oh," I say quietly.

"Wonderful, Vector, perhaps you would like to divulge the Headmaster's secret while you're at it too?" Snape drawls with a low growl. "I'm sure Harry would just love to hear that secret."

My eyes glance at Snape and then to Dumbledore. The headmaster meets my gaze before shaking his head slowly. He still looks rather amused strangely enough.

"Nonsense, my boy, I have no secrets. If Harry wishes to know that particular fact, then all he must do is ask. After all, I doubt it is much of a secret. I am fairly obvious at times."

"Um…that's all right, sir," I reply. This whole morning is so odd.

"Ah, yes, before I forget again, congratulations, Harry. It is always a wonderful feeling to know that you are a part of a family and loved." Dumbledore then sighs contently before grabbing a letter from his stack and reading it.

I take it back. This whole morning is beyond odd. It's just plain weird. I then glance at Snape and notice him opening the Ministry letter. He quietly hands me the certificate of adoption, but continues to read a letter that someone has enclosed. I watch his eyes narrow before he glances at me.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

"No," he replies before handing me the letter to read.

Dear Severus Tobias Prince:

It has recently come to my attention that you have recently filed paperwork with us to adopt a child. One of my employees brought your petition of adoption to me. I must say that in all my years at the Ministry, I have never seen such a filthy defiled petition of adoption as the one that we have received from you. Merlin, have mercy on that child you have adopted. Quite honestly, I'm surprised either of you bothered to send it in to us. While I will not even hazard a guess as to why the document was so badly burned, I can only suggest that from now on you treat all official Ministry documents with the respect they deserve or you will face our severe consequences.

As I can see from the address enclosed on the envelope, you reside at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While I am sure that under the direction of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore you are used to sending such disgraces, one would hope that you would take better care of this document than you did with this one. Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself for burning such an esteemed document.

If you ever chose to adopt another child, Merlin forbid, do not burn it before sending to us. We need no more of your hostility. We at the Ministry are doing nothing to receive such disrespect from you and your school. In fact, if you and your school continue this hostility, you will force us at the Ministry to take action against the severe falling of standards that we have seen thus far from Hogwarts. Once again, Merlin, have mercy on that poor child you have adopted.

Sincerely,

Dolores J. Umbridge

Madam Undersecretary of the Minister of Magic

I glance at Snape and notice his look. I then look back at the letter. Shouldn't Snape be mad at this Umbridge lady for insinuating that he burned it on purpose? I then glance back to Snape. He doesn't look at all angry about this letter.

"Why does she think Hogwarts is disrespecting the Ministry by our petition being burnt?"

"Because she's an imbecile," Snape drawls. "She'll attempt to misconstrue anything related to Hogwarts so that it makes the Ministry look better."

"Ah, did our esteemed Undersecretary write us yet again, Severus?"

"Yes, Headmaster, she has. She believes that you are still attempting to overthrow the Ministry."

"Hmm…there are days where I wish it were true. I presume that the Ministry did in fact still accept your petition for adoption."

"It has."

"Then there is some good news at least." Dumbledore glances towards me before smiling. "I fear next term will be rather interesting if our dear Minister has his way. Luckily, we have the entire summer before then, though. If you'll excuse me," he says before standing up and walking out of the Great Hall.

Glancing at my certificate, I think Snape's right. Strangely, I do want to show it off to everyone.