Space Address: 3E - Union (In this case: adoption)

Word Count: 1597

Challenges: Short Jog; Click Bait It; Gryffindor MC; Ravenclaw MC; Slytherin MC; Ethnic and Present; Neurodivergent; Quiet Time; The Real MC; Tiny Terror

Bonus: Persistence Still

Warnings: Implied child abuse

~o0o~

The day finally arrived when Harry and Luna would get to meet their baby. There were still a few extra steps before they could bring her home, but they could finally hold her in their arms. When they arrived at the orphanage, Miss Lind brought them to the nursery where several babies in cribs were either sleeping or drinking from bottles.

"Here she is," said Miss Lind, bringing them to the one on the end. "Her name is Jasmin."

Harry and Luna leaned over to see a baby girl with beautiful brown skin and wide, dark eyes. She stuck her tongue out and cooed. Harry's heart melted as he fell in love instantly.

"She's gorgeous," said Luna, reaching down so Jasmin could hold onto her finger.

"Would you like to hold her?" Miss Lind asked.

"Oh, yes, please."

Miss Lind showed them how to pick up the baby and hold her properly. She was just so much younger and smaller than Teddy was when he came into their care.

Harry gazed at Luna as she cradled Jasmin.

"She's so curious," said Luna. "She likes us, but she's searching for someone else."

"Who are you?" a young voice demanded.

Harry and Luna turned around to see two children, the boy was about twelve and the girl was about seven, in the middle of the room. The seven-year-old was in a wheelchair that the older child was pushing.

"Declan, Amirah, we will discuss this later," said Miss Lind.

"What's going on here?" Harry asked.

"What's going on is that's our baby sister you're stealing!" said Declan.

"You didn't tell us she had siblings," said Luna.

"Well, very rarely do couples want to adopt siblings," said Miss Lind, "and couples don't typically want to adopt older children or children with… special needs."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "And yet you didn't see fit to tell us that we were taking Jasmin away from the only family she had left in the world?"

Miss Lind became flustered and started stammering her way through excuses before collecting herself. "Well, if this is going to be an issue, there are other babies in need of adoption."

"But we love Jasmin," said Luna. She turned to Harry and widened her eyes, pushing a thought towards him. Can we?

"Only if you're okay with it," he said. "You're the one who's home during the day."

We have Andromeda to help. I can see these children have been dealt terrible cards. I want to give them a good one.

"Okay," said Harry. He turned to Miss Lind. "I suppose we'll have to adopt all three of them, then."

Miss Lind started. "A-all of them?"

"Did I stutter?"

"W-well, there will be certain accommodations needed for Amirah," she said.

"We'll make them."

"You won't talk us out of it," said Luna. "You have Topaz-Eared Saolos whispering in your ear and clouding your judgement. We're adopting all three of them, and that's final."

"Please get the paperwork sorted, and we'll spend a little time with Declan and Amirah."

"O-of course," said Miss Lind. "You can use the meeting room next to my office."

Soon, the five of them were settled in a meeting room.

"Are you serious about adopting all three of us?" Declan asked.

"Yes," said Harry.

Declan eyed them suspiciously and rested his elbows on his knees.

"What's your stance on disabilities?"

"Luna is autistic, and so is my best friend, Hermione," said Harry.

"Society is not kind to those with disabilities," said Luna. "We will remove any barriers so Amirah can have the room to be a child."

Declan nodded. "What do you do for a living?"

"I am a detective," said Harry. "I also come from old money. My grandfather produced a line of hair care products."

Amirah giggled. Harry smiled and touched his curls. "They don't work on Potters I'm afraid to say."

"I'm an artist, and I write articles for a magazine known as the Quibbler," said Luna. "It's popular in certain circles. Do either of you like art?"

"Declan spray paints," said Amirah.

"Shut up!" Declan hissed, looking at Harry and Luna for a reaction.

"Wonderful!" said Luna. "We have a white fence that is desperately in need of some color."

"Do you have any other kids?" Amirah asked.

"Sort of," said Harry. "My godson, Teddy, lives with us. His parents died when he was an infant. Mine did too."

"Were you ever 'dopted?" Amirah asked.

"I was taken care of by my aunt and uncle," said Harry. "You will never meet them."

Luna adjusted her hold on Jasmin and squeezed Harry's hand gently.

"Do you have any other questions for us?" she asked.

They made idle chit-chat until Miss Lind entered the room.

"Okay," she said. "I just need your signatures and one more at home check will need to be done to make sure you have the proper accommodations."

"We'll call you when we're ready for the home check," said Harry. "We've got friends in architecture and they'll work fast."

"Wonderful," said Miss Lind. "Well, I will just take Jasmin back so you two can get on that."

Harry had taken over holding the baby and was both pleased and saddened when she fussed about leaving him. Jasmin scrunched up her face and started crying until Declan took her from Miss Lind.

Harry and Luna went home where they immediately wrote a letter for Barnabus the owl to deliver to none other than Blaise Zabini. Blaise and Luna had become friends through an art club. He was the most coveted magical architect in Western Europe and was sure to make their home ready for a wheelchair bound child and give enough space for four children to spread their wings.

"I think Amirah has magical powers," said Luna. "I know Hermione can feel magic, so I'd have to ask her to be sure, but I'm almost certain. Miss Lind seemed overcautious to not anger her."

"Either way, those children will need to know about magic," said Harry.

"Yes, but let's wait until they're home," said Luna. "I don't want the wrong person overhearing and stopping this whole process because they need everything shoved under their nose to believe it."

"Of course." Harry wrapped his arms around Luna and pressed his cheek to hers. "This is all exciting, isn't it? Expanding our family."

Luna smiled and leaned into his touch.

The next morning, Harry and Luna were awoken by Blaise standing at the edge of their bed.

"Hello, Blaise," said Luna pleasantly. "How did you get in?"

"Andromeda let me in," he said. "I rearranged my entire schedule just for you, Luna, but I have my work cut out for me."

"Have a seat, Blaise," said Harry.

Blaise sat down on the edge of their bed and crossed his legs. "Your house is cute and everything, but you need to pick a theme. Are you going back to your Punjab roots or are you going to be a coconut? Brown on the outside, white on the inside?"

"I know what a coconut is," said Harry.

"I don't think it would hurt to have more color," said Luna.

"Listen," said Harry. "Why don't I take Teddy to meet the kids while you and Blaise get this all sorted out? I trust your opinion."

"Okay." Luna kissed his cheek. "Maybe you two can start planning for a welcome home party. I know Teddy would love that."

"Good idea."

As soon as Harry got up, Blaise took his place and opened up a book filled with floor plans.

One week later

Luna and Harry finally finished signing the paperwork as well as the adoption certificates so they could bring home Declan, Amirah, and Jasmin.

"Now, I hope you don't mind," said Luna on the train ride home, "but we invited our closest friends over to meet you. If you get overwhelmed, you can feel free to leave the room at any time."

Soon, they were finally home. Blaise had gone all out with the redecorating, claiming that if he had to walk into one more minimalist house, he was going to lose his mind. Harry didn't want to see the forever-calm Blaise Zabini lose it as he imagined it would be quite terrifying. So, that meant more jewel tones as well as elements from Harry's culture from India downstairs and Luna's Greek culture upstairs. It was a mishmash of everything that made them unique, tastefully styled in a way that made them both comfortable and at-home. He even managed to install a lift for Amirah's wheelchair so she could have an upstairs bedroom and Andromeda would have an easier time getting around. The children each had their own room with the nursery being closest to Harry and Luna's room.

They had gone with greens and whites and Luna painted a beautiful mural of a blooming meadow on one wall. Amirah and Declan would be able to change the colors of their rooms should they so choose, so most of the walls were an off-white while one would be a solid color just to give a possibility.

"This is our house?" Amirah asked. "It's more like a castle! It has a tower and everything."

"That's the library," said Harry. "It's both a literal and figurative island of knowledge."

The five of them entered the house to find Harry and Luna's friends crowded in the living room with a big banner that read: Welcome Home, Potters!

"Welcome home," said Harry, giving Declan and Amirah giant hugs.

"Home…" Declan murmured. "Didn't think I'd have one of those again."