AN: This is it, the final chapter. I am amazed by how many people there are actually reading this. Hopefully, this last instalment does not disappoint.

Chapter XXVIII

I had just landed in the headmaster's office; it was as bright as Albus' technicoloured robes, however, clearly not his personality at the moment. Instanctly I was glaring at the older wizard and for once he was glaring back.

"I must say, Severus, I was expecting you hours ago."

"He stays with me."

"And who are we discussing, my boy?"

"You know precisely who we are discussing and it is not the dark lord."

"He could be if you trained him."

"Even I am not that dark to train a child how to kill and torture, Albus. His own parents knew that much about me." I threw the wills unsealed and partially open onto his desk. I could see the headmaster paling. "So the goblins were right. You did not look. Why?"

"I did not want it to be real." This was such an honest and whispered responce that I had no reaction to it. "The fact that they choose to let their only child go to someone who was a death eater, and notoriously hated children; over his own flesh and blood who had a child his own age to grow up with. A single man over a family; his family." I looked disgustedly at the headmaster.

"You really do not have a clue how families work do you?"

"Families love each other. It is that simple."

"I have no idea who you have been introuduced to but ironically the world is not so black and white, sir. Nor is good or evil all there is to it. Families do not always love each other; Lily and Petunia are a case in point, Sirius and his entire family; my parents and me. We all hated each other, Black was disowned; Lily's son has borne the brunt of his aunts' ire for the last six years..."

"And you? I heard your father died in mysterious circumstaces."

"Died? No, it was only his body that I burnt. He died of liver and kidney failures. Not uncommon in an alcholoic, so I have been told."

"Your mother was murdered was she not?"

"I am not going to dignify that with an answer. We are not here to discuss me."

"Harry must stay with his aunt and uncle, there are wards in place..."

"And there are not in my place of residence? Come on Albus, Harry does not even like it at his aunt and uncle's; besides I have seen better-treated house elves at the Malfoy Manor and we both know what Lucius is like towards the `servants`."

"He stays with his family."

"He stays with me. I have officially adopted him, I am his family. He Stays With Me."

"But Severus..."

"He Stays With Me."

"Your role?"

"Damn my role, Albus. Harry James Potter is staying in my care as his legal guardian and there is nothing you can do about it."

"You're my member of staff..."

"I could easily resign if you think that would help." Albus' jaw was opening and shutting like a goldfish. "No? Then leave me and Harry alone for the next part of ever and you can keep your potions master. But, if I get so much as a whiff of you around my son..." I glared at the headmaster ominously. "There will be hell to pay do you understand?" The old man nodded.

"I understand."

"Very good, and sir?"

"Yes, Severus?"

"Harry stays with me." I threw floo powder back into the headmaster's fireplace which immediately turned green and I was gone; back to Harry and home.

I was hopeful that Albus would be less inclined to get involved with our lives for the next few years. Maybe I could convince Figgs to have Harry while I taught up at the school. There was no reason why I could not just floo home of an evening or at the weekends. It had been done for other teachers who had young families and could not or would not travel. But I was me and Albus was well Albus; I would just have to wait and see. Regardless this was my chance to hope.