Chapter Text
There's a gentle rapping at the front door and Jon knows that very few people in his life are aware of his address. The wizard rises from his armchair and heads to the door. There is a magical presence but it's weak. Too weak to be any former peers.
Jon opens the door and sees Petunia Evans standing there in a dark blue dress, her hands clutching to a wicker basket. Whatever mascara she put on was evidently not waterproof as long black streaks of it run down her pale cheeks. It's been a couple of years since they have last seen one another. Lily and James' wedding to be exact. The prim woman at the wedding is now broken in front of him. "Is there something I can help you with Petunia?"
"Can I come inside?" Normally Jon doesn't let people into his home but the way the woman's voice cracks makes him step aside. She quickly walks through and he shuts the door, locking it behind them.
The two head into his kitchen and his house elf appears. Jon quickly dismisses her - Petunia has never enjoyed the magical world and she's already upset enough as is. He sits her in a chair and begins making tea for them. That's when he hears it.
The quiet coos of a baby.
The wizard sets down the tea in front of her and sits next to her. "Petunia why do you have a baby in a basket?"
"It's Harry." She tearfully admits and Jon summons a box of tissues that float through the air before settling in front of Petunia. Doing magic in front of muggles is technically illegal but if the Ministry can't detect it then surely it doesn't really count. "I can't look after him Jon. You have to understand. Looking in those green eyes.."
Jon isn't the best at comforting people but he places a hand over one of hers. "Why have you brought him to me?" He hopes that he isn't expected to take Harry in. It's true that him and Lily were close to one another, and he's fairly certain his grandmother would have adopted her if she could, but Jon knows nothing about raising a child. He doesn't even like kids! They're too prone to danger and can't regulate their emotions.
"I need you to take him in."
"No."
"Please? There's nobody else and I have my own son at home." She pleads, wiping her face with tissues. Jon spots the ring on her finger and realises that the woman is married. "Please help me. I'll pay child support! Once I've processed everything, I'll enter his life as his aunt. Just please help me."
Jon knows he should refuse her again. It's only been five days since the Potter's passing and he still hasn't processed it yet. He stands and looks into the basket. Swaddled in a blanket that Sirius had bought the baby, covered in golden snitches, is little Harry Potter. Small strands of black hair cover the top of his head. A brilliant scar shaped like a lightning strike spreads out across the center of the baby's forehead. Those green eyes look into his own with such curiosity and innocence - blissfully unaware of what is happening.
"Very well." He finally breathes out, still looking into those green eyes. Lily's eyes but there's a mirth in them that reminds him of James. Jon gently strokes Harry's cheek and the baby giggles in delight. "I will take him in. Where is your husband?"
"Surrey." She answers then quickly adds on, "He's ever so busy with work that he couldn't come. I have a friend watching Dudley."
"There is a bathroom just opposite the kitchen door. Wash your face Petunia. We need to go to the Ministry."
"Why?" She asks but she gets up.
"To legally adopt him there are some papers we need to go through." Jon explains as he looks to her. "Legally to make him a Sims." Petunia nods and heads through to the bathroom as instructed. He looks back to the small, sweet face of his new heir. It's beneficial in a cold way to take Harry in as he no longer has need to produce an heir. "Guenivere." He softly calls the elf's name and she appears with a pop.
"Yes Mister Sims?" She looks up at him eagerly. "Is the lady in need of something?"
"Fetch me my royal belongings." Jon picks up the basket and heads into the hallway as Guenivere disappears. He looks into the mirror and smoothes out a few crinkles in his shirt then tugs his brown waistcoat into position. When the house elf appears so does Petunia emerge from the bathroom. The woman stares at the two as Jon sets Harry on the floor before putting on his cloak. He slips his rings onto the right fingers then looks to Petunia. "Guenivere fetch one of the sapphire cloaks and a matching brooch." The house elf disappears once more.
"Why are you wearing all of that?" Petunia stares at him in slight confusion. "We're just signing papers."
Jon slips on a gold circlet studded with emeralds. "My family is one of the royal houses. To adopt a child, especially one from another royal house, is a momentous occasion and must be treated as such." The house elf appears again and hands the cloak and brooch to him. He walks over to Petunia and wraps the cloak around her before pinning the sapphire brooch to her dress. "Besides, everyone will be watching us and expecting grace."
"I really don't feel this is necessary." Petunia says as she looks down in awe at the jewelry.
"I feel the same way entirely but wizards love tradition." He tilts her head slightly and moves a stray hair back into place. "You'll have to carry Harry until he's legally mine." Jon picks up Harry then hands the basket to Petunia.
"I'm nervous. I didn't think there would be so much to all this." She admits.
"The most difficult part is walking there and back." Jon softens his gaze in an attempt to reassure her. "You'll be fine." He offers an arm to her and they link together. The wizard guides Petunia to the apparation area and takes them to the Ministry of Magic.
The main section of the ministry is bustling with people trying to sort out the war trials. He's fairly sure that the Lestrange couple are on trial today but that's not something Petunia needs to be aware of. Jon strides over to the main reception desk. The young man behind the desk immediately stands up upon recognition and bows deeply to them both.
"Lord Sims, to what do we do owe such an honour?" The receptionist asks as he stands up again.
"An adoption of Harry James Potter into the royal house of Sims." He curtly responds. The shorter this is kept the less time Jon has to spend in the wizarding world. The receptionist immediately writes down a note and folds it into the shape of a swan before it flies off to whichever department they have to go to.
Petunia spots a discarded Daily Prophet and reads out a headline, "War Trials continue today." She looks to Jon. "Trials?"
"The remaining Death Eaters are on trial to see if they'll go to Azkaban, receive the kiss, or be let free." Jon rips out a small piece of his inner cheek and tastes the blood slowly drip into his mouth. Knowing that just a few floors below them are former friends and peers being sentenced to death or life imprisonment makes him feel sick. The metallic taste of blood in his mouth soothes him slightly along with the dull pain.
Petunia just nods as the two wait at the desk. If Jon really wanted to, he could just walk into the department and demand to be seen but that would quickly give him a poor reputation as the new Lord Sims. Eventually a paper swan swoops down and lands on the desk. The receptionist opens it. "If you just take a lift to the third floor and someone will see you my lord."
"Excellent." He escorts Petunia to an empty elevator and shuts the doors before anyone can squeeze on. Jon hits the right button and they begin to make their way up the Ministry. They stop at the second floor, much to his annoyance, as two aurors get on. The two bow to him and Petunia then face away.
Petunia stands a little closer to Jon, "How safe are we?"
One of the aurors, a bright eyed woman with short red hair, turns and answers for him. "Very safe my lady. Aurors are working around the clock to keep the Ministry secured."
"We're not married." Petunia quickly corrects and the young woman's face goes as red as her hair.
"Terribly sorry Ms." The auror looks at Jon with fear in her eyes. "You have my deepest apologies my lord."
"It's fine." Jon replies, not particularly caring. The sooner he can get this transaction over with, the better.
When the elevator arrives at the third floor, the two get off and are immediately greeted by the head of the adoption department. "Pleasure to meet you my lord." The wizard holds out a hand to Jon which he briefly shakes. "If you'd just like to follow me." They walk off and Jon follows with Petunia still linked to him. Harry has been quiet throughout the trip so far which surprises him. Babies usually cry after apparation. Then again, Harry managed to survive a killing curse so really Jon should not expect normalcy from the child.
The office they step into is made up of rich mahogany furniture and the agent heads behind their desk to sit in the chair. Jon and Petunia also sit with the basket staying on the latter's lap. "Now if I understand correctly, Lord Sims is adopting Harry Potter?"
"Precisely." Jon looks to the agent. "I'd like to make this a quick procedure."
"Of course sir." They produce a long scroll and some quills with ink. "I'll leave you to discuss this with one another." The agent leaves and shuts the door.
Jon unravels the scroll revealing it to Petunia that it is blank. "Don't question it. Now then obviously I'm adopting Harry. What role do you wish to have in his life?"
"Aunt. I want to be seeing him once a month." Ink slowly appears on the scroll, defining the conditions so far in legal jargon. "I can provide financially for him." More appears but Jon waves a hand and it fades.
"That is not necessary. Any other conditions you need?" Petunia goes to protest the removal of her financial aid and Jon gives her a sharp look. "To offer money is an insult to my family and me. Any other conditions?"
"He has to visit during the Christmas and summer holidays until age ten then it's up to him if we continue that." Petunia nods and more ink appears on their forming contract. "I don't have anything else."
"Neither of us are allowed to hide anything about his parents' death." Jon says and the final part of the contract is written for them. Two lines appear and the two adults sign their names. The scroll snaps shut and seals itself with the seal of the Ministry.
The agent enters the room once more with a certificate of adoption. "If you could just put his new name on the certificate for me sir and we'll be all done here. Jon plucks it from the other wizard's fingers and scrawls out:
Harry James Potter-Sims
The ink becomes golden in colour as it sets into the paper. The agent takes it back and smiles. Jon takes the basket from Petunia and the two leave the floor, heading back to the main area. It feels odd to now be carrying Harry knowing he's now legally the infant's father. He wonders if Lily and James would approve of this. Although, he might be one of the few remaining friends of the late couple.
Journalists with their photographers from whichever paper or magazine are roaming the area like cockroaches. Upon spotting Jon with the basket and Petunia, they immediately swarm around them to holler questions and take photographs of them together. Like before, he strides through with Petunia by his side to clear the way and allow them to pass through.
"Lord Sims is it true you've adopted the boy who lived?" A familiar voice squawks out. Jon glances to see Rita Skeeter in a poison green dress standing there, eagerly waiting for a response. They're still friends in a way despite the obnoxious nature of the woman.
"Yes it is." He answers. "From this day forth, Harry is now a Sims."
"Lord Sims what are your thoughts on your former partner Barty Crouch Jr going to trial next week? Will you be attending?" Another journalist asks but Jon doesn't respond. He may be friends with Rita but the woman is cut-throat so it's best to make sure she's the only correspondent he speaks to. Also, if he speaks about that man Jon might be sick or do something regrettable. Throwing away his life at twenty one does not sound like a good plan.
Jon keeps making his way through the crowd and they head back to the apparation point. Quickly he takes them all back to his family's apartment before another question gets asked.
They head back into the kitchen where lunch was already awaiting them. He sets Harry down on a chair and grabs the baby bottle his elf prepared then takes Harry out of the basket. Jon slowly feeds the infant and looks down at his new son. Harry is so very small and fragile in Jon's arms. Unable to speak or communicate unless he cries for something. The wizard really has no idea what to do with a baby but he has taken on the responsibility and will rise to the task. Harry needs a family and Jon will be that for him.
"You're really good with him." Petunia quietly comments as Jon rubs Harry's back to make the baby burp. "Can I ask a question?"
"If it's to take in your son too, the answer is no."
"Not quite. Who is Barty?"
Jon sets Harry back down in his basket. "He was my partner. Fiancé to be exact. I ended things when I learnt that he was a Death Eater." The wizard has always cursed himself mentally for being so blinded by love to not see what Barty had become. Ravenclaws are supposed to be clever yet he was a trusting fool.
"Will you be attending his trial?"
"And leave the baby alone? Don't be ridiculous." Jon mutters. A part of him wants to go to get some form of closure but he knows that he will regret every second of attendance. It's not like Barty's family will want him there in case it triggers something. "If I am invited then I will have to go but I have no plans to attend of my own accord."
It's Petunia's turn to comfort the man as she takes him by his hands and squeezes. "If you need someone to talk to, I can leave my number with you along with my address."
"I would appreciate that." Jon lets go and the two eat lunch together. They talk about her marriage and son Dudley. At one point, Petunia asks for a story about Lily in school and Jon recalls the time she stuck the Marauders to the ceiling of the Great Hall in a prank war. They both laugh throughout the story as he describes the love-stricken look on James' face once he was on the ground again. He tells a few more about sneaking around at night and late night trips to the kitchens when neither could sleep.
"The one thing I'll miss the most is her laugh." Petunia says wistfully. "That awful snort that will always follow after it."
"I remember when I first heard it. I thought someone was using a spell to make the noise." Jon adds as his mouth settles into a soft smile. Lily and James were the perfect pair and would have been the perfect parents. Now it's up to him to take on the mantle for Harry's sake.
Petunia leaves around four in the afternoon, putting down her details on a piece of paper for Jon. The two hug and the wizard promises to call if he ever needs her and she does the same. Once the front door shuts, Jon heads back over to Harry in the kitchen.
Guenivere had decided to take the initiative and begun feeding Harry. She looks up to Jon and immediately begins to apologise, "So sorry Mister Sims. I just wanted to feed the baby and hold him."
"It's quite alright. Is the nursery set up?"
"Yes Mister Sims. I cleaned it all up!"
"Wonderful." Jon bends down to the house elf. "Now then I want you to understand this is not me giving you clothes but tomorrow I want you to go clothes shopping Harry. Get him some books and toys too." Guenivere smiles widely at the orders. Jon knows how much she likes to go shopping on his behalf in the wizarding world. "That means your uniform must be pristine."
"Yes Mister Sims!" Guenivere eagerly nods her head then hands Harry to him. She disappears and Jon begins to rock Harry in his arms.
Those green eyes look up at him with joy as Jon carries him up to the stairs carefully. The wizard is terrified of dropping his son or hurting him in any capacity. Babies are so easy to damage and cause injury to. He's certainly not clumsy or careless but that fear still persists that Jon will do something wrong and ruin everything before it can even begin. When Harry is old enough to understand, he'll tell him all about his parents and the Marauders, the adventures and pranks, and his parents' love story. Jon will try not to be sickly sweet about the affair with Harry as he remembers how disgusted he'd be by his grandmother explaining the love story of his parents.
Jon twists open the brass doorknob of the nursery. He makes his way to the rocking chair and holds Harry in his arms as they gently begin to rock. "You know your parents are heroes. They were so brave and kind." Harry makes a gurgling noise and Jon continues. "It's true. James and Lily were the most beautiful souls to walk the earth and they made you. I shan't go into the details but those two made you and now I look after you." Jon bends down and kisses Harry's forehead. "I'm going to do the best I can to look after you, Harry. You have my word." Harry grabs a coil of Jon's hair and tugs. "Ow!" Jon gently removes his son's hand from his hair. "No hair pulling."
Harry reaches up and grabs another lock of hair, twisting it around his fingers and pulling. Jon untangles the infant's hand from his hair and gives him another kiss on the forehead. "Honestly Harry, what am I going to do with you?"