Author's note

Dear readers,

Thank you for dropping by. I hope you enjoy. Your reviews are welcome and cherished, always ;)

CHAPTER 11

"He has been waiting for you," Melanie smiles and gestures to the window looking out to the playground. "Just over there."

Snape slowly walks towards it and Melanie stands up to join him. But the bench occupied by Harry just a minute ago is now empty.

"Wait… where is he? I have just seen him there."

Snape sighs, his head slightly dropped.

"Perhaps he has just seen me arriving."

Melanie glances at the man, feeling a twist in her heart. He is again keeping his promise to show up the moment the office opens. He doesn't look like he had slept last night.

"Please take a seat, Mr Snape. I think I will just go check on him real quick."

"Please don't push him to see me if he isn't ready yet, Madam," Snape says quietly.

"I won't."

Melanie opens the door, only to be taken by surprise.

Harry is standing right there, blocking the door with his little form and his trunk and owl cage. He slightly jumps but quickly regains composure and looks up at Melanie:

"Good morning, Madam Tirrel," he timidly greets.

"We said good morning already an hour ago Harry," Melanie replies. The smile comes back to her face. "Come in."

The boy slowly steps in, shooting a quick glance at Snape before start observing the top of his shoes.

Snape smiles. A true smile. He rises from his seat to approach Harry and crouches down to meet his eyes.

"Home?," he asks quietly.

Harry nods, flushing to the top of his ears. Snape stands up and gently ruffles his hair.

"Then say goodbye to Madam Tirrel. Did you already say goodbye to Miss Blackburn and Mr Warren?"

"No, sir."

"I suggest you go find them then. Leave your trunk and owl here, I'll keep them."

"Wait a moment, Harry," Melanie puts in. "May I have a word with you in private first?"

She guides the boy to the private guest room next to the office and sits down with him, looking him in the eyes.

"I'm very happy you are going home again," she smiles.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"I just want to remind you about the emergency contact," she picks at the object around the boy's neck. "I believe you still remember our conversation about how you chose to cope with your difficulties last time. Much as I understand your distress, I have to impress on you that it was not a good idea Harry. This object is placed here to prevent exactly that. We want to make sure no child has to run away on their own because there is no one to turn to. I want you to remember that a simple signal from you would have summoned us and we would have been able to assist you without you wandering off alone in the street. It's dangerous. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, you have said sorry for that. My point is I would like you to actually use it if any problems arise again this time. I promise we will be there for you and will respond immediately. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," Harry voice falls quiet.

"Do you trust us, Harry?"

Melanie grips his chin to raise his face so that he looks straight at her.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then can I have your promise that you will turn to us when you are in need?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Melanie nods in approval.

"How are you feeling now?"

"I dunno…"

"I see. I believe you can find Leila somewhere in the playground. There's a good chance Sam is there too."

"Yes, ma'am."

Coming back to the office, Melanie grabs a book from her shelf and hands it to Snape.

"This is my book," she explains. "I wrote down all my experience with orphaned children, many of whom were traumatised. That includes three of them whom I adopted myself. I hope you might find it helpful at some point."

"Thank you very much, Madam," Snape replies with a nod.

Soon enough Harry is back, energised by the running trip. Snape scans him from top to toe.

"Where's your jacket?"

"It's hot," he answers.

"But it's windy."

"It's not cold. We are going to apparate, aren't we? It'll take only seconds to reach home."

"Fine," Snape sighs and stands up. "Goodbye, Madam Tirrel. Thank you very muchyou're your support."

"Goodbye, Madam Tirrel," Harry follows.

"Goodbye. And good luck!," Melanie smiles at them both.

She sees them to the gate and watches them walking to the apparation point, Snape holding Harry's trunk in one hand and his little hand in the other. She prays that all will be well.

o0o

"Madam Tirrel?," Snape exclaims in surprise. "Miss Blackburn?"

"Good morning, Mr Snape," Melanie greets. "I guess you forgot that yesterday was the last day of you adaptation period, so we are paying a visit."

"Yesterday? Merlin, I forgot indeed. I apologise, Madam. Please enter."

He gestures them into the small and old house in the deserted muggle neighbourhood. As they step in, they hear the staircase shaking under bouncing steps.

"Walk, young man," Snape addresses the boy who has just bounced all the way down the stairs. "Look who have come."

He steps aside in the narrow hallway to reveal the visitors.

"Madam Tirrel! Leila!," Harry exclaims cheerfully.

"Good morning, Harry," Leila beams. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. Why are you here?"

Melanie notices Snape open his mouth but then shuts it and thinks for a moment before opening it again.

"Why don't you go and make us some tea, Mr Potter?"

He reaches the boy, gently removes his jacket and puts it on the hanger. Harry beams:

"Yes, I will."

"And walk."

The boy ignores that and bounces into the kitchen. Snape shakes his head.

"Please come in, Madam Tirrel and Miss Blackburn."

They enter a small living room covered in books in all dimensions. Snape takes a wooden chair, leaving the two worn-out armchairs for the guests.

"Are you about to leave for somewhere?," Melanie asks.

"We are departing for a shopping trip, but it's not urgent. We can go later. I apologise again, Madam. I shouldn't have forgot to come yesterday."

"It's alright, Mr Snape," Melanie raises a hand to stop him. "You are not the only one. People tend to forget it."

In fact, most of the adoption cases forgot to come for the appointment at the end of their adaptation period. That is more often than not a good sign; when things have fallen into place people just forget about the adoption and only remember that they are a family.

Harry comes back with a tray of tea, his tongue sticking out as he concentrates hard on the business.

"May I talk to you a little, Harry?," Leila asks.

Snape gives Harry a nod:

"Perhaps you can take Miss Blackburn to your room? He has a little living space there, Miss Blackburn, I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, Mr Snape," Leila waves him off. "Come Harry, show me your room."

With her wand Leila levitates two cups of tea along with them when they go upstairs. Melanie turns to Snape:

"So how has it been, Mr Snape?"

Snape pauses for a moment. It has been another three weeks; he is now much relaxed and again composed.

"I guess it's not too much to say it has been well."

"That's great," Melanie smiles.

They talk more over the progress the new family have made. Melanie is well satisfied. Some awkwardness is still there; there is still things to improve, but that applies to most families, adoption or otherwise.

"I am very glad where we have arrived at, Mr Snape," she twinkles her eyes.

"It's very much thanks to your support, Madam. Without your help we could not have made it."

"You are very welcome. Can I see Harry's room and collect Leila from there?"

"Certainly, Madam."

Melanie follows Snape upstairs, wondering how such small and old stairs could survive an eleven year old's bouncing day in day out, which seems very likely. Well, but Snape is a wizard.

She steps in a simple but cozy room. There is not much decoration and all the furniture looks very old, but it is well-organised and lively nevertheless. Harry and Leila are sinking in two grand pillow sofas on the floor, facing the fireplace.

"How are you two doing?"

"We are doing great," Leila smiles. "Are we leaving?"

"Yes," Melanie replies.

She steps further into the room. Harry stands up.

"Everything well, Mr Potter?," she gently asks the little boy.

With a timid beam, he nods:

"Yes, Madam Tirrel."

Once back at her office with Leila, Melanie sits down and opens the case's folder while absentmindedly asks:

"Any report from your part?"

"Things are well," Leila answers. "Harry is relaxed and happy. Finally he has the chance to be his age."

"That sounds quite optimistic."

"The only thing he is concerned about at the moment is the approaching school year. He is afraid the other kids will accuse Mr Snape of playing favourite on him and some other things along that line. I asked if he trusts Mr Snape can handle it for them both, and he said yes."

Melanie nods to herself.

"Case closed, I assume?," Leila eyes her with a soft smile, placing the emergency contact portal on the desk.

"Case closed."

As the stamp falls onto the first page of the case's documents, a photo conjures itself, joining the crowd of photos on the wall. Melanie quietly views the new image of a young man with a stone cold expression wrapping a loving arm around the back of a brightly smiling little boy.

They have arrived.

They are home.

THE END