It was a long walk up to the Headmaster’s office the next morning for Harry. He had no idea how he was supposed to tell Dumbledore that, instead of picking the two people who had always welcomed him and treated him like one of their own sons, he had decided to pick the Potions Master who had treated him worse than dirt for the first five years he had known him.

Harry had begged and pleaded with Snape to come with him and help explain, but the Potions Professor had been adamant that Harry do it himself. He had a point, Harry admitted; he needed to practice explaining why he had chosen Snape in preparation for the adoption interview. Snape had explained to him the process through which magical adoptions occurred, and it didn’t sound like it was going to be as easy as Harry first assumed. He’d been a bit bemused as to why Snape knew so much about magical adoptions, but he didn’t push his luck by inquiring about it.

Taking a deep breath to steady his squirming stomach, Harry turned to the gargoyles flanking the Head’s office. “Please?”

“Enter,” came the answer after Harry lifted the phoenix shaped knocker and let it fall. He turned the ornate handle and entered the large office, spotting Fawkes’ perch right away as the baby phoenix crooned at him.

“Fawkes must have burned recently,” Harry said in a conversational tone as he took the seat in front of Dumbledore’s large oak desk. He tried to avoid the man’s piercing gaze by focusing on the tiny version of the magnificent bird.

“Ah, yes indeed. Fawkes has been through a bit of stress lately, I’m afraid. Most phoenixes deal with heavy levels of stress by burning. Life is so much simpler when you’re an infant,” said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling as he ran a finger gently over the baby phoenix’s soft downy feathers.

“I take it you are here to give me your decision on who you have decided to ask to adopt you?”

Harry gulped as he nodded, reluctantly tearing his eyes away from Fawkes and meeting Dumbledore’s inquiring gaze. Here we go, he thought to himself. “Yes, sir, I’ve decided on who to ask. In fact, I’ve already asked and they’ve already answered. I just wanted to let you know who I’ve chosen. I reckon it won’t be what you’re expecting, but I believe it was the right decision.”

Dumbledore simply nodded with a look of innocent curiosity on his wizened face. He twirled his wand and conjured a tea service, allowing Harry to stall by preparing a cup of the scalding liquid and waiting for it to cool before taking a generous sip.

“I’ve asked Professor Snape to adopt me, and he’s agreed to do it,” said Harry without further ado. He felt a sudden weight lift from his shoulders and the knots in his stomach loosen considerably. He blinked owlishly, however, when all he received from Dumbledore was a knowing smile and a few words of congratulations.

“I think that was a wise decision indeed, Harry. He’s been informed of all the requirements, yes? I should like to start teaching yourself and Professor Snape the spell that will need to be done in order to activate the ward as soon as possible. Has the application been filed yet?”

Harry blanched, feeling the pressure starting to build once more. Dumbledore was obviously eager to get these wards in place; it made Harry wonder if he was in more danger now than ever before. Stupid thought, really; he knew he was pretty much screwed without the protection from his mother’s blood sacrifice while living with the Dursleys – during the summer hols, at least. Surely, the sooner everything was set into motion and the spells cast, the better off everyone would be.

“Not yet, sir; I only asked Professor Snape yesterday. He said he was going to pick up the application this afternoon, though. He’s probably filling it out as we speak.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it, Harry, I wouldn’t doubt it...”

S~S~S~S

“Single, married, divorced, widowed – I guess single is my only option, then. They frown upon single parent adoptions, though,” said Severus as he checked the box next to ‘single’ with his quill. He’d just gotten back from flooing over to the Department of Children Services and Adoptions to get an application for adopting Harry. Remus had met up with him for a bit of tea and was helping to fill out the application.

“They’ll frown a lot more if you put down that you’re dating a male werewolf, love,” Remus pointed out before taking another sip of his tea and reading through a pamphlet about magical adoptions that Severus had picked up at the Ministry.

Severus read through the questions about criminal history with a dark frown on his face, fearing this part of the application process more than the interview itself. “Mmm, true; but that doesn’t make it fair.”

Remus refolded the pamphlet and set it back on the coffee table beside the tea service. He turned to look at Severus and noticed the troubled look on the man’s face as he continued to read through the application and check boxes here and there.

“Well of course it isn’t fair, Severus. With the new Regulations in place, being a werewolf is nearly as bad as being a Death Eater these days.” Remus winced sharply, wishing he could take that comment back immediately at the dark scowl on his lover’s face. “I’m sorry...”

With a deep sigh, Severus sat the application aside for the time being. Remus’ timing could not have been worse, but he was determined not to take out his ire on the werewolf. “Don’t be; I know what you meant. You’re right, though; they’d be mental to let the adoption go through with my history.”

“That’s not what I said at all, Severus. Do not put words in my mouth like that. You’ve never been convicted of anything, and Albus has vouched for you since you turned your back on Voldemort so many years ago. Do you not think he’ll vouch for you now when the caseworker undoubtedly asks about you? You don’t give yourself enough credit; you’re no more a Death Eater now than I am,” Remus said firmly, reaching out and cupping Severus’ cheeks in his hands, forcing the man to look him in the eyes so he would know he wasn’t being dishonest at all.

Severus trusted his lover enough not to take the obvious offer to Legilimize him to search for honesty. His eyes fluttered shut as he tried to absorb some of the strength and confidence that Remus was pouring out to him, and was grateful when the werewolf captured his lips in a passionate, yet reassuring kiss.

They broke apart after a while, both desperate for air, as neither one of them had wanted to break the kiss early to breathe. Severus leaned his forehead gently against Remus’, reaching a hand up to card through the man’s greying locks. His warm amber eyes were flecked with gold, evidence of the approaching full moon. It sent a shiver down Severus’ spine.

How was it that he was so lucky to have Remus there beside him, helping him through this and everything else he’d been through that summer? From being rescued by the man like some damsel in distress, to pushing him away and still getting a second chance – Severus had definitely taken his relationship for granted, but not anymore. It was time to come clean, to allow what he’d denied himself from the beginning; someone to love.

“I love you, Remus,” Severus whispered, holding his breath as he waited for either a rejection or a declaration in return.

Remus gasped, quickly pulling away so that he could look Severus full in the face. He didn’t detect any jest or reluctance, nor had he seen such an open display of emotion on the Potions Master’s face before. A smile spread slowly across his face as he leaned forward and kissed his lover once more, trying to keep his emotions under control.

“I love you too,” Remus whispered back as he pulled away from the kiss and smiled warmly at the man who was truly his lover now.

That, of course, was the exact moment that Harry walked into the dungeon quarters, his book bag slung over his shoulder and a stack of books held under one arm. He stopped in his tracks as he saw that he had obviously just interrupted some sort of tender moment between his prospective father and honorary father figures.

“Er, I’ll just go start on my homework, then,” he said awkwardly as he trouped down the hall to his bedroom and quickly ensconced himself at his desk, setting out the things he needed to finish up on a few essays set earlier in the week.

Harry couldn’t help but feel a thrill of happiness, seeing Snape and Remus together like that, but he wasn’t sure if the two Professors were ready to be open about their relationship in front of him. Maybe after the adoption went through and things got settled once more, they’d be willing to allow Harry to see into their relationship, but he wouldn’t push them; Merlin knew he wasn’t ready to go public with Draco yet, and he’d hate it if someone tried to force them to go public.

A soft knock on the door made Harry look up from his essay; the one he hadn’t even started on yet. He smiled as Remus peeked his head in and gestured for the man to come in. “Hey Remus.”

“Hello, Harry. Can I talk to you real quick?” the Defence Professor asked as he came fully into the room and closed the door behind him. He settled himself at the foot of Harry’s bed and motioned for Harry to come sit beside him rather than across the room from him.

“Yeah, sure. Where’s Severus?” Harry asked as he sat down on his bed, folding his legs underneath him and getting comfortable. He had a strong feeling this little chat was going to be about what Harry had walked in on, and Snape’s absence made him think he wasn’t quite comfortable with the entire situation just yet.

Remus sighed as he swept a lock of hair out of his eyes. It was clearly obvious that Harry had grown quite attached to the Potions Master. Well, they shared something else in common, then. “He’s in the sitting room filling out the adoption application still.”

Harry couldn’t help the smile that traced his lips, or the sense of relief he felt at those words. He hadn’t realized he was so afraid of Snape pulling out of the deal before then. “So he did go get the application, then?” Harry asked, sounding more earnest than he had intended.

“Of course he did, Harry. I’ve been helping him to fill it out for the past half hour or so. Did you think he wasn’t serious about all of this?” Remus asked, a frown forming on his face. Severus had been apprehensive about Harry actually wanting this, but he never expected Harry to feel the same about Severus.

“I guess I was kind of scared he would have changed his mind. It seemed almost too easy for him to agree. Draco’s right, I don’t give Severus enough credit,” said Harry, feeling that familiar guilt pressing against his chest again. He needed to have more faith in the man who would soon become his adoptive father.

Remus wrapped his arm around Harry’s shoulder, smiling indulgently. “It’s alright, Harry; Severus doesn’t give himself very much credit either. Now I don’t think he would be too happy if he knew I was talking to you about this, but Severus is worried. He’s afraid the Ministry won’t approve the adoption because of his past history in regards to the Death Eaters and Voldemort. A valid fear, yes, but he’s beating himself up over it.”

Harry felt his stomach squirm. How could he have forgotten about that? It was obvious how much Snape had changed when Harry started to forget the man had once been a part of the movement actively trying to murder him. But things were different now; Snape had switched sides many years ago, and Dumbledore trusted him. The Headmaster would stick up for Snape again in this, Harry was sure of that.

“Dumbledore wouldn’t let the Ministry keep Severus from adopting me because of that. If he defended him enough to allow him to teach a bunch of children, then he’ll defend Severus in trying to adopt a child.” Harry paused, a bemused look on his face. “I just called myself a child, didn’t I?”

Remus chuckled at the expression on Harry’s face. He looked so like his father, sometimes it made his chest hurt. Thinking about James made him think of Sirius, which in turn made him think of what Harry had walked in on.

“Severus is not a very expressive man, Harry. It is rare that anyone gets to see who he truly is, to see and know how he feels. When he allows his emotions to show, it is only because he trusts you a great deal.

“I’ve been lucky enough to see the real Severus Snape, to be let in. I know he’s been much more open with you than any other student, besides perhaps Draco, but there are some things he’s just not ready to let you in on yet. He will be, in time. Just please don’t feel offended or shunned if Severus does not wish to be open about mine and his relationship just yet.”

Harry was looking over Remus’ shoulder at something Remus apparently couldn’t see. When the werewolf turned to investigate, he felt his heart jump as he saw Severus standing in the doorway, his back leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed loosely over his chest. Remus’ first instinct was to prepare for a chewing out, but the soft smile on Severus’ face threw him off a bit.

“It is a shame the Umbridge laws are still in effect. You’d make a much better father than I ever could,” Severus said, moving further into the room to stand at the foot of Harry’s bed.

Just as Remus was about to admonish Severus for his lack of faith in himself once more, Harry cut him to the chase.

“Stop that. You’re not exactly my father yet, but you’ve been doing a damn good job so far. I might not have very much to compare you to, but you’re certainly a million times better to me than Uncle Vernon was. Don’t just assume you’re going to be bad at it, Severus. I, for one, think you’re going to be an amazing father.”

Harry’s little speech struck Severus and Remus both dumb. Remus had not expected such a passionate defence, and Severus had not expected Harry to comment at all. The boy was right; it felt good to be needed.

“I’m glad you think so highly of me already, Harry, but...” Severus trailed off, not sure how to finish that thought without sounding weak or foolish. He was afraid to disappoint his would-be son already, and it was a very strange feeling indeed.

Harry stood up and moved towards Snape, shaking his head slowly. This had to be resolved before the interview for sure; he and Snape needed to be absolutely sure about everything before a caseworker interrogated them.

“There’s no ‘but’ about it. I know you’re probably a bit scared and overwhelmed by all this; I know I am. But I’m willing to go through all that, or I never would have asked you to be the one to adopt me. If I wanted easy agreement and acceptance, I would have asked the Weasleys. Just...please don’t give up on me because you think you’re not good enough, because you’re wrong.”

Severus had never felt quite so exposed before. He clenched his eyes closed as he felt the emotions trying to take him over. He hadn’t allowed himself to lose control in a very long time, but he couldn’t seem to stop the tears from prickling behind his eyes. He let out a deep sigh as he opened his eyes and saw that Harry’s eyes were just a tad bit bright as well. Deciding he’d have to get used to opening up to Harry anyways, Severus reached out and pulled Harry close to him, wrapping his arms around him in a protective, affectionate embrace.

“I won’t give up on you, Harry. I promise,” Severus whispered, feeling the boy shudder against him as the emotions finally took over and caused them both to cry.

He looked over Harry’s head and saw Remus watching them both, tears streaming down his own cheeks. There was a wide, warm smile on his face though, and when Severus met his gaze, the werewolf mouthed:

‘I love you’

Severus smiled lightly through his tears as he rubbed small circles on Harry’s back. ‘I love you too,’ Severus mouthed back to his lover. Maybe things would be a bit difficult to get through, but he knew with Harry and Remus by his side, everything would be ok.

S~S~S~S

After a long exhausting day of classes, all Harry wanted to do was go see Draco and curl up with his – boyfriend, he supposed? They’d not really made it official yet, but they were certainly acting like a couple, as far as Harry was concerned. He knew he should probably clear things up with Draco, but he was afraid that, if he were to say the wrong thing, he might just scare Draco off. The Slytherin still had spectacular mood swings, thanks to his amnesia and the sudden snippets of memory he regained.

When Harry entered the infirmary, he was nearly knocked over as Draco slammed into him in a tight hug. Harry instinctively wrapped his arms around Draco, letting his bag fall to the ground.

“Nice to see you too, love,” Harry said with a chuckle as Draco extracted himself from the hug, a wide smile on his pale face.

“I’m getting out! Madam Pomfrey said there’s nothing technically medically wrong with me, so I can leave the hospital wing and start tutoring! She said I might even be able to attend classes again soon,” Draco beamed, nearly shaking from the excitement. He’d been bursting with the news all day, but he’d had no visitors yet to vent to.

Harry smiled back at Draco, knowing exactly what a relief it was to finally be released from the hospital wing. He had spent quite too much time there himself in the past. He was slightly confused, however. “So, are you going back to the Slytherin dorms?”

Draco shrugged as he led the way back over to his bed, where’d he flopped down hard enough to make the bed springs squeak in protest. “Not sure yet; Madam Pomfrey said she still needs to talk to Severus about the details first, but I should be out by the end of the week.”

“Oh, ok,” Harry said with a nod as he joined Draco on the edge of the bed after picking up his school bag and depositing it on the chair beside the hospital bed. He felt slightly disappointed that he’d no longer have the daily visits in the hospital wing with Draco. Would the Slytherin push him away for his other friends once he moved back to the dungeons, or would Harry still get all his time and attention? Harry reminded himself that Draco had no idea who his old friends even were, which made him feel slightly better, if just a tad guilty.

“What’s wrong, Harry?” Draco asked softly as he reached over and swept a lock of messy black hair behind the Gryffindor’s ear. He could tell Harry was struggling with something, but he wasn’t sure if it was what Draco had told him, or something else.

Harry shook himself out of his reverie, not wanting to ruin Draco’s excitement about finally leaving the wretched hospital wing. “What? Oh, nothing. Sorry, I got a little lost in my head there.”

Draco wasn’t quite convinced, but he let it slide. He had something he wanted to ask Harry anyways. “So, I had this really vivid dream last night, but I don’t know if it was a memory, or really just a dream. I was hoping you’d be able to tell me if it was real or not?”

Harry shrugged and nodded. He knew he wasn’t supposed to tell Draco anything extremely important, but he figured it would just be something non-consequential. “Yeah, alright; I’ll try.”

“Well we were both standing in a corridor, and it looked like we were fighting. I said something about making you pay for what you did to my father, but then Severus came and separated us. I have no idea if that actually ever happened or not, or what you possibly could have done to my father,” Draco said with a very bemused look on his face.

Harry felt his stomach drop and his pulse speed up as he tried not to show his panic outwardly. This was one topic Harry knew he should definitely not talk to Draco about without Snape’s express permission, but he couldn’t exactly refuse to answer without making Draco suspicious, and if he lied about it now, Draco would be hurt and angry with Harry when he finally did learn the truth. He was torn.

“I...Draco, I’m not supposed to talk about your parents; I’ve told you that before. I think maybe you should ask Severus about that dream,” Harry said, feeling extremely guilty as Draco frowned at him, a mixed look of anger and suspicion on the blonde’s face.

“What is so terrible that you can’t talk to me about? I’ve already pretty much assumed my parents are either dead or in Azkaban, since they haven’t shown up to see me once since I woke up. Please, Harry...I need to know one way or the other. Where are my parents?” asked Draco, his voice sounding very strained as he turned pleading grey ones onto Harry.

Harry bit his lip, knowing that he was going to have to tell Draco; he couldn’t deny him an answer now. Besides, Draco didn’t know just how very close he was to the truth with his assumptions. “Severus is going to kill me...” Harry swallowed hard and nodded his head slowly, finally meeting Draco’s eyes.

“That dream was actually a real memory. It was at the end of last year, after your father had been sent to Azkaban for essentially trying to kill me and five other students, as well as breaking into the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry.” Harry paused, waiting for some sort of reaction from the blonde. He knew this was going to be a lot of hard information to take in; hence why he had started on explaining the absence of the parent that was, at least, still alive.

Draco dropped Harry’s gaze as he stared down at his hands. His father was in Azkaban, for trying to kill Harry and others of his classmates? He knew his father was a dangerous man, but he never thought he’d end up in Azkaban.

“And mum? I bet she’s devastated without my father there with her...” Draco said quietly, feeling his stomach twist painfully. If his mum wasn’t in Azkaban as well, why hadn’t she come to see him? He felt suddenly very ill. “Oh Merlin...Harry, please tell me my mum is ok?” Draco said, making it sound more like a command than an actual question.

Harry turned away from Draco, releasing a shaky breath as he heard Draco whimper beside him. He turned back, his own eyes bright as he tried to keep control of his emotions. He knew Draco was going to need him to get through this. “I’m so sorry, Draco,” was all Harry had to say before Draco dissolved in tears, his thin shoulder shaking with sobs.

Harry gathered the blonde in his arms, holding onto Draco tightly as he clutched his robes like a drowning man. He felt tears slide down his cheeks as Draco wailed in despair into his shoulder. Harry didn’t know what to do other than just hold Draco and murmur that things would be alright. That is, until Snape walked into the infirmary and made a b-line straight for the teens.

“What in Merlin’s name is going on, Harry?” Severus asked, sitting down on the other side of Draco and reaching over to rub his godson’s back soothingly. He heard the boy’s heart-wrenching cries from nearly ten feet down the hall and quickened his pace, wondering what could possibly make Draco cry like that.

Harry took a deep breath, not wanting to repeat anything in front of Draco, but knowing Snape would not allow him off without an explanation. “Draco had a dream that was actually a memory, and asked me about it. It was about his father. I couldn’t avoid it anymore, Severus; he’d already assumed the worst anyways. I’m sorry,” Harry said in earnest, hoping that this wouldn’t stop Snape from going through with the adoption. He’d not even considered that before, but now that he had, he was sure Snape would tell him to ask someone else.

Severus pursed his lips, obviously displeased that Harry had not asked him about telling Draco first, but he knew the boy was right; they had already gone far too long without telling Draco what had become of his parents. He was bound to come up with his own ideas about where they were.

“I reckon it was time he was told, anyways. I’m to blame for keeping it from him for so long. I thought I could, perhaps, save him a bit of heartache while he tried to recover. An old man’s mistakes, yet again,” Severus said quietly as he continued to rub Draco’s back in small circles, listening to the boy’s cries turn into soft snuffles against Harry’s chest.

Harry grimaced at Severus’ word choice, feeling an unpleasant crawling sensation go up his spine. “You sounded far too much like Dumbledore. You’re not old, Severus, and it’s not really anyone’s fault. We knew there was going to be no easy way to break it to him.”

“I am still here, you know,” Draco grumbled in a muffled voice, his face still pressed against Harry’s chest as his tears began to dry and his sniffles subsided. He sat up and wiped his face, knowing he must look a wreck. “Does that mean you have custody of me now, Sev?” he asked as he turned to look at his godfather.

Severus nodded as he pulled his hand away from the boy’s back, seeing that his godson was trying to pull it together. Even in the face of all this heartache and confusion, Draco still managed to stay strong. Severus admired him for it. “Yes, but only until June fifth, which is your seventeenth birthday. After that, you’re of age and no longer require a guardian.”

“Well, that’s just awkward on a whole new level,” Draco answered, confusing both Harry and Severus in one go. They both cocked an eye brow at him simultaneously, the look so familiar and similar it made Draco chuckle. Harry was obviously spending a lot of time with the Potions Master.

“What do you mean, Draco?” Harry asked, bemused by Draco’s comment and subsequent giggling. Maybe the shock of finding out about his parents had finally sent him round the twist.

“Well, Severus is my legal guardian right now, and when he adopts you, he’ll be your father, legally speaking. So that essentially makes us sort of brothers,” Draco said with a grimace, even as Severus let out a surprised bark of laughter.

“Oh, ew! I’ve been snogging my brother!” Harry exclaimed exasperatedly as Draco chuckled.

“You’ve been what?” Severus snapped, rounding on both of his charges with narrowed eyes. He knew they’d been making eyes at each other, but he had no idea they’d since moved passed the little pecks he’d already witnessed. Dear Merlin, what else had his godson and son done together? Good thing he was never planning on officially adopting Draco.

Both Harry and Draco were rolling around on the bed, collapsed in a fit of giggles at the look on Snape’s face. They laughed even harder as the Potions Professor rolled his eyes and shoved them both playfully, a mock glare on his face.

However, the laughter stopped abruptly as the doors to the infirmary slammed open, admitting Ginny, Ron and Hermione, all looking extremely upset. Harry and Draco had sat up and moved slightly away from each other, though it was clearly obvious they were a little more than friends.

“Harry...Dad’s in St. Mungo’s. He’s dying,” Ron croaked, his face screwed up in misery as Hermione wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug, Ginny joining in from the side and creating a tearful group hug.

Harry’s jaw dropped as he felt his heart plummet and settle somewhere near his toes. Mr. Weasley was dying...and he never got the chance to apologize. He stood up slowly and made his way over to the other two-thirds of the Golden Trio and Ginny, feeling his throat constrict painfully.

Ron looked up from Hermione’s shoulder, his eyes blood shot and watery, and met Harry’s gaze. They stood staring at each other for a long time before Harry broke the tense silence.

“I’m so sorry, Ron.”

Ron pulled away from Hermione and, before Harry knew what was happening, he threw himself into Harry’s arms, crying on the shorter teen’s shoulder. His lanky frame shook as he cried, holding tightly to his best mate. “I’m sorry too, Harry. I’m sorry...”

Harry tightened his grip around Ron and allowed his friend to sob into his shoulder, feeling tears slide down his cheeks. He felt Ginny come up on one side, then Hermione on the other, then was encased in the centre of another tearful group hug. Harry was extremely sick of crying already, but he had a feeling he’d be doing a lot more in the near future.