Severus sat across from Harry in the Leaky Cauldron, watching as Harry intently studied the menu. He already knew what he wanted, having been here enough to have a usual. Harry, however, had spent the last ten minutes looking over everything and trying to decide. Severus sighed, and took a drink from his tea.

               “We still have a couple things we need to do before the ritual,” Severus said. “Hurry up and pick something.”

               “Sorry,” Harry said, his cheeks reddening. “It’s just . . . everything seems so expensive and –”

               “Hold that thought,” Severus interrupted with a wave of his hand. “Is that what has you taking so long? Price is certainly not an issue; we are just out for a quick lunch. Besides, it’s just the Leaky Cauldron, it’s not like we are at some fancy, first-class diner.”

               “I know, but . . .” Harry frowned, glancing over the menu at Severus.

               “Let me see the menu,” Severus said, holding his hand out for it. Harry handed it over reluctantly. Severus barely looked at it before he said, “You’re getting the roast beef special, end of discussion.”

               “What? But that’s like the most expensive thing on the menu.”

               “You like roast beef and the two sides that come with it.”

               “How would you know? Do you watch me in the Great Hall?”

               “Does that surprise you?” Severus quirked a brow.

               “Well, not really, I guess. You’re always watching me, ever since I came to Hogwarts. Kind of creepy actually.” Harry muttered the last part.

               Severus snorted, but said nothing. After informing the waiter of their decisions, Severus thought over how he would proceed now. Just a couple more arrangements to make and they could perform the ritual tonight. He would not waste any time, even though he may have an entire week. He couldn’t risk the Ministry finding a way to speed up the law-making process. He needed to make a quick stop at his house before going back to Hogwarts and speaking with Dumbledore. One thing he hadn’t considered was if the headmaster would even approve.

               “Professor?”

               Severus blinked and looked at Harry. “Hmm?”

               “When you adopt me,” Harry kept his voice down, “what should I call you?”

               “What do you want to call me?” Severus asked. In all honesty, the name situation had never crossed his mind. He wondered what it would be like to be called “father” or even the more informal and personal “dad.” Finding it too odd to even think about, he focused on Harry as the boy stared into his glass of pumpkin juice.

               “I don’t know, Professor, I guess.”

               Severus snorted. “How very appropriate for someone’s soon to be adoptee. I must say, I did not picture our relationship going this far when I agreed to house you over Christmas break. If you feel comfortable with just calling me Professor, you may do so although I would not object to you using my first name if you’d like.”

               “Severus, right?”

               Severus gave a single nod. There was something odd about hearing the boy address him as such.

               “That’s a strange name,” Harry said before his eyes widened. “I mean – err – sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you or anything.”

               Severus snorted. Their food arrived then, and they were silent as the waiter set their plates down, muttering their thanks. When the waiter left, Severus spoke. “I did not take offense. I am well aware my name is strange, as you say. I am the only Severus I’ve met.”

               “Wouldn’t it be weird if I called you by your first name?”

               “As long as you never do so in class, I see no harm in you doing so.”

               “I wouldn’t. But still, seems weird.”

               “You do not have to decide on what you’ll call me tonight, Harry. We may continue as we have as long as you need until you find something that’s comfortable for you. And for myself as well. Now, eat your lunch. I need to make a quick stop at my house before we head back to Hogwarts.”

               “What for?”

               “You’ll see.”

               After lunch, Severus apparated them to Spinner’s End, walking to his house and holding the door for Harry. He led the boy to the second floor, at the end of the hall where the attic was. Harry paused as Severus pulled down the ladder.

               “Go on,” Severus encouraged, waiting for the boy to climb up first. “I cleaned up before break ended. But do not touch anything unless I give you permission.”

               Harry nodded, then climbed up the ladder, Severus right behind him. Harry stood near the entrance; his hands clapped behind his back. Severus allowed the boy to stand there as he walked deeper into the attic, searching for the rings he knew to be up here. Digging through some boxes, he found it hard to avoid some childhood memories. He shook those away as he found a box labeled Prince inheritance. He pulled the box down and dug through it, finding the small, black velvet box.

               “Come here, Harry,” he called to the boy.

               Harry was quick to obey, keeping his hands at his side.

               Severus opened the box, revealing two peacock rings, the heads of the birds intertwined. He carefully pulled the two rings apart.

               “These rings belonged to my third great-grandmother,” Severus explained as he kneeled and took Harry’s left hand and slid the ring on the boy’s finger. “Don’t worry, it will shrink to fit you. The rings are an old tradition in several pureblood families. The fathers pass the rings down to their sons, while the mother’s pass theirs down to their daughters. They are Family Bond Rings, and usually represent the bond between parent and child. These were made for Prince family specifically, the peacock representing royalty.”

               “Why don’t you have your father’s?” Harry asked.

               “My father was a muggle, and I never knew my grandfather. Now pay attention. Remember when I told you if everything bonded to us, it would strengthen the blood adoption? Well, if these bond to us, this adoption will be at its strongest.”

               “Why would they bond to us?” Harry looked at the ring on his finger dubiously. “We aren’t even family.”

               “Blood may be thicker than water, but love can be stronger,” Severus said, entwining his left hand in Harry’s so the rings were side by side, the heads of the peacocks touching. After an intense silent half-minute, the peacocks lifted their heads and touched beaks, tapping each other. Harry smiled excitedly as the peacocks wrapped their necks around each other before growing still.

Severus finally smiled himself, growing a bit misty eyed at the sight of the rings. It was truly remarkable. Realizing he was becoming sentimental, he tried to discreetly wipe at his eyes.

“I saw that, Professor,” Harry smirked.

“You saw nothing,” Severus scoffed. “It’s dusty in this attic. I hardly clean up here.”

“Right,” Harry said, the smirk growing. “Very dusty.”

Rolling his eyes, Severus pulled the rings apart despite the protesting birds. He turned Harry and gave the boy a gentle swat to his bottom. “Take your cheeky self back downstairs and wash up. We will be heading back to Hogwarts shortly.”

Harry nodded, grinning. He looked at the ring on his finger and began to slide it off to hand it over.

“No,” Severus said. “Keep it. It is yours now. Besides, you’ll need to wear it for the ritual.”

“Right,” Harry said, sliding it back on with a smile. “I’ll go wash up.”

               Severus waited until Harry had gone down the ladder before he glanced down at the ring. He closed his eyes tightly to hold back any more emotions as he traced the patterns of the peacock. He recalled a distant memory from the back of his mind . . .

               “Mum, what’s this?” six-year-old Severus asked as he lifted a velvet box off his mother’s shelf in her private study room (which was presently Severus’s lab). He opened the velvet box, revealing two rings intertwined together.

               “Put that down,” Eileen had told him without looking up from the book she was reading.

               “What are these?”

               “Rings, obviously. They’re from my mother.”

               “Why are the rings like this?” Severus continued to ask. This was the most conversation he had had with his mother all day. And in the last week. Usually, she gave him short orders to do schoolwork and be quiet. Seen but not heard.

               “They are Family Bond rings, that’s why. I put one on and you put one on and then the peacocks hug each other. They just show the relationship between us, telling us we are mother and son. Though usually, the mothers give to their daughters and the fathers to their son, but it can work between any parent and child.”

               “Do these still work? Will they bond to us?”

               “Of course, they still work and bond. We are mother and son. Why wouldn’t they? Come here and let me show you so we can be done of this bothersome conversation.”

               Severus excitedly brought the rings over to his mother where she sat in her chair, handing the box over. He watched as his mother pulled the rings apart and slid one on her finger, giving Severus one to do the same. Then, Eileen interlaced her fingers with Severus’s, so the rings were beak to beak.

               They waited.

               For nearly three minutes.

               Eileen licked her lips and snorted. Severus looked up at her mother, wondering if the rings were working or not. Could she feel something he could not? The next words Eileen said scarred a place in the young boy’s memory for years to come.

               “I guess blood isn’t thicker than water, now is it?”

               Severus opened his eyes and stared at the ring. He had never seen the rings actually work, and he had been nervous that they would fail him once more. He smiled softly; glad he had kept the heirlooms despite the only memory he had of the rings. He’d create new ones. And he knew the symbolism of the items would mean a lot to Harry. Even if they hadn’t worked.

               “Professor!” Harry called up the ladder. “I’m all set!”

               Severus smiled before heading downstairs to take Harry back to Hogwarts and reveal his plan to the headmaster.

               “You wish to blood adopt Harry Potter?” Albus asked with raised brows. “Do you realize that Minister Fudge was here not even an hour ago explaining his plans to illegalize it? He already has the entire council on board for passing the law tomorrow morning. You’re risking Azkaban for this, Severus.”

               “That is why,” Severus explained, “I need you to cast the spell and help with the ritual tonight. You created the blood wards around The Dursley’s home, you can cast the blood binding spell between myself and Harry.”

               “You have all the items needed for this ritual?”

               “I do now.”

               “And you will be wearing Harry’s favorite colors?”

               Severus rolled his eyes. “And he, mine.”

               Albus snorted. “The law now does not say I cannot perform the ritual and cast the charm needed. You are pushing boundaries, Severus, but if the boy means that much to you, I will be happy to assist. I am sure you know that this may change certain things for the future . . .”

               “I will repay my debt to you, Albus. I know what I’m doing. Unless you’ve forgotten, I still bear the mark, and I practice my occlumency daily.”

               “If you are certain . . .”

               “There is nothing I’ve been more certain of.”

               Albus smiled. “Then let’s begin.”

               Later that evening, Severus finishing putting on his red cufflinks through his gold trimmed robe cuffs. He had to sneer at himself one last time in his mirror at his red robe. Shaking his head, he fidgeted with the ring on his finger, then brushed his hair back one last time. He couldn’t remember ever fretting about any event in his life, not even his branding as a Death Eater. He sighed, a soft smile spreading across his lips.

               “Professor!” Harry’s loud voice echoed through his quarters.

Severus groaned. He would have to work with the boy on indoor voices. He left his room, brush in hand, finding Harry in the room the boy had stayed in over Christmas break. It had very much so become Harry’s bedroom.

               “What is it, Harry?”

               “I can’t get these stupid things on.”

               Severus set the brush down on the boy’s dresser to aid him with his silver cufflinks.

               “First off, they are not stupid,” Severus said, weaving the cufflinks through the holes with practiced ease. “You need to practice getting the cufflinks on. But I doubt you’ll need to wear such things again for some time.”

               “Good,” Harry said with a pout as Severus finished. “Why did they have to be silver. I’m pretty much wearing Slytherin colors now.”

               “You are not,” Severus said, smoothing out Harry’s robe and frowning at the boy’s messy hair. He picked up the brush again. “Silver goes wonderfully with green. You cannot associate colors with the Hogwarts houses forever.”

               “Ow!” Harry said, trying to pull away from Severus as the man brushed at some knots. “I already brushed my hair.”

               “Not good enough.” Severus shook his head disapprovingly. “Your hair will be tamed when I’m through with it. Will you hold still? This will be easier and quicker if you stay in front of me.”

               “You’re pulling too hard,” Harry whined, reaching up try and swat the brush away. “It’s fine the way it is.”

               “You know, this brush has two good uses,” Severus warned, giving the boy’s thigh a firm tap with the back of the brush before resuming. Harry winced, then crossed his arms while Severus continued to brush the boy’s hair into a somewhat presentable look, using his wand to spray water on it a couple times. He huffed as he finished brushing, glaring at the few stubborn strands that stuck up despite all his hard work.

               “I guess that will do for now,” Severus said, banishing his brush back to his room. Harry looked back at Severus and smiled.

“Couldn’t you wear those robes at least once to class?”

“Absolutely not. Come, Albus is waiting for us in his office.”

Using the floo, Severus took Harry up to the Headmaster’s office.

“Welcome Severus, Harry,” Albus greeted with a large smile. “How are you boys? Lemon drop before we begin.”

Severus refrained from rolling his eyes while Harry answered with a polite, “No, thank you.”

“Let’s get started, shall we?”

               Albus lit the pink candle sitting on his desk and nodded at Severus and Harry. Severus kneeled on one knee in front of the headmaster, beaconing Harry to do the same.

Albus cleared his throat as he opened a worn book to a bookmarked page. “We are here today to appreciate the bond between a found father and son. By the power vested in me, I ask the magic and love in this room to unite Severus Tobias Snape and Harry James Potter as parent and child through the purity and strength of the blood they will share with each other.”

               Albus flicked his wand at the candle and it brightened, eating away at half of the wax. Severus stood, Harry following his lead. Albus picked up the knife that was lying in front of the candle and held it above the flame. Everyone watched as the flame brightened, turning the blade of the knife red. The candle used up another half of its wax when Albus pulled the knife away, the blade returning to its normal black color. Albus handed the knife to Severus first, the straps of the knife wrapping themselves around Severus’s wrist.

               “May the blood of the father offer this child protection from all harm. By giving his blood, the father promises to love, care for, and provide for the child.”

               Severus placed the tip of the blade at the center of his palm and twisted it, pricking his hand enough to draw blood. Severus then held his hand over the flame of the candle, the wax melting more as the flame brightened. His hand continued to bleed as he handed the knife to Harry, who gulped and accepted it, the straps wrapping around his wrist.

               “May the blood of the child keep father and son forever together. By giving his blood, the child promises to love, care for, and when the time comes, to provide for the father.”

               Albus gave Harry an expected look, and the child closed his eyes as he placed the tip of the blade at the center of his palm, twisting the blade as he had watched Severus do, hissing as he drew his own blood. He reached over and held his hand above the flame, watching the fire grow bright and the wax melt more until just an inch of wax remained. The small hole in the center of his palm continued to bleed as he handed the knife over to Albus.

               “The actions of father and son today have proven their love for one another is true and strong. You may now share your blood.”

               Severus reached for Harry’s hand, the boy meeting him halfway. He gripped the boy’s hand tightly to ensure their palms touched perfectly. Albus held the knife underneath their grip, allowing the straps to warp around both their wrists. Then, the headmaster held the remainder of the candle under the knife, the blade turning red, heat from the candle finding its way through the straps, warming Severus’s wrist and Harry’s, he was sure.

               Albus held his wand over their handshake and did a small circular motion, casting a blood binding spell. It took all of ten seconds. The last of the candle melted away and the flame died, the knife restoring its black tint. Albus removed the knife.

               “Your blood has been shared, the charm has been cast, you are now bonded as father and son, truly and eternally. Congratulations.”

               Severus didn’t let go of Harry’s hand. Instead, he pulled the boy into his arms, kneeling slightly to hug the child. Harry gripped the man’s neck tightly. After a moment, Severus pulled back, smiling at the large grin on Harry’s face. Standing tall, he reached out to shake Albus’s hand.

               “Thank you, headmaster.”

               “I’m very happy for you, Severus,” Albus said.

               “Yeah, thank you, headmaster,” Harry said, reaching out his hand as well.

               Albus just smiled and pulled Harry into a hug. “I will break one of you out of this formality, I swear it.”

               Harry just laughed and returned the hug. Albus released the boy and ruffled his messy hair. Severus noticed that Harry had tears in his eyes. The boy lifted his glasses to wipe at them.

               “I can’t believe I’m adopted now,” the boy said. He looked at his palm, which was already healing. “So much has changed in one year for me.”

               Severus couldn’t help but agree, smiling down at Harry as he waited for the boy to collect himself. Harry suddenly frowned as he continued to look at his hand. “Wait,” he said, looking over at Severus with wide eyes, “does sharing our blood mean I’ll look like you now?”

               “Would that be such a bad thing?” Severus smirked.

               Harry’s eyes widened more, and Severus couldn’t help but let that chuckle escape his throat, Albus laughing as well.

               “Sharing blood does not change genetics, Harry,” Severus said, “no matter how much magic you throw into it.”

               Harry visibly sagged with relief. Severus rolled his eyes and clapped a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “It is late,” he said. “You may spend the night in your room or head to the tower.”

               “My room,” Harry quickly said. Severus wondered if the boy had just really wanted to declare the room as his.

               “Very well. Thank you, again, Albus.”

               Severus floo’d them both back to his quarters. Before he could even step into the living room, Harry’s arms wrapped tightly around his waist. Severus returned the hold automatically.

               “I love you, Professor,” Harry said.

               Severus smiled, smoothing back Harry’s hair to plant a quick kiss down on the boy.

               “I love you, too, my child.”