A/N The Phoney War, also called the Twilight War by Winston Churchill, was a phase in early World War II – in the months following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France in May 1940 – that was marked by a lack of major military operations in Continental Europe. The great powers of Europe had declared war on one another, yet neither side had committed to launching a significant attack, and there was relatively little fighting on the ground.

On the morning the Ministry people would come, Albus kept Tom with him. The boy had seemed distracted for days.

"Tom," the older wizard said, as the child wrestled with straightening his formal robes, "is there anything you want to ask me? Anything you wish to know? Has something been bothering you?"

Tom shrugged. "Alastor said…"

"Yes?" the Transfiguration professor prodded.

"Alastor was happy when his stepdad adopted him, but he still had his mother."

It took Dumbledore a little time to distill an actual question from this statement, but finally it clicked. He very nearly laughed, but realized in time that would probably be a bad response.

"You worry about what would happen if I were to marry?"

Tom attempted to dug his toe into the carpet.

"Tommy," Albus knelt in front of him, "I am not going to marry. But even if I were, I would never consider a partner who did not accept you. I want you to be my son, and that means that you come first."

"Albus?" the voice of Armando Dippet came from the door, "there are people from the Ministry here."

That morning, as a matter of civility, Albus had informed Armando Dippet on his plans. The Headmaster had not been pleased to be kept out of the loop, to say the least, but the man did understand that his own reaction to the boy from the very beginning was paramount to the distrust his Transfiguration Professor showed. That his Potions Master had known did not surprise him – Horace and Albus were close friends. Besides, as the child's Head of House, Horace would need to be informed.

A large, businesslike woman, a man Albus recognized (he had left Hogwarts a few years before – Ravenclaw, if he remembered correctly) and a younger woman carrying a briefcase entered. Tommy stiffened slightly as the older witch turned her attention to him.

"So, this is the boy, Mr Dumbledore?"

"This is Tom, yes," Albus replied calmly.

"You are his guardian, and now you wish to adopt him," the woman continued, "that is correct as well?"

"It is."

"And both you and he understand that by adopting him he becomes your son in every sense? That he will have rights as your first son, even if you later father children of your own?" the woman now sounded skeptical, as if she did not quite approve. Dumbledore felt Tom stiffen even more besides him.

"I do understand, which is why I want to adopt him."

"You understand then, that the name of your family will be carried on by a boy from such a family?" the dislike was clear now.

"Madam," Albus's patience had run out, "I wish to adopt Tom because he is a wonderful young man. Whatever perceived defects there are in his ancestry do not concern me, and neither should they concern you. If there is anyone's situation and ancestry you should research, it is mine, since you are here to judge if I am capable of raising a child."

He swore he saw the younger woman quirk a smile. The man looked a little wide-eyed. The older witch cleared her throat.

"Alright. We found no criminal record for you, though we did review your father's records. However, since they do not concern you, we decided to disregard them. Your brother also indicated no objection to you adopting an heir."

"We know you can support Tom," the younger woman cut in, "and his own family is not an option. However, I am curious what Tom himself thinks."

The boy's face was completely blank. "Ma'am?"

"Has Professor Dumbledore been a good guardian to you?" she asked.

Tom frowned. "Could you explain?" he asked carefully. Dumbledore nearly groaned. Tom was hiding again. Though it still could work out perfectly fine, he wanted to rid the boy of that habit. Then again, what child wouldn't be wary and nervous when faced with such an inquisition?

"Has he taken an interest in your life? Has he disciplined you if you misbehaved, without abusing you? Has he provided you with the things you need?"

Tom shrugged. "He grounded me when I broke his things. I have never wanted for food since he took me from the orphanage. I did not need it, but he gave me permission to join the Chess Club. He gave me my cat."

The recital of all Albus had done for the boy sounded rather dull, but the fact that Tom was giving them an answer longer than two words impressed the Transfiguration Professor.

"A cat?" the younger woman said with interest, "really?"

"Yes," Tom replied, slightly more animated, "she is very smart. Do you want to see her?"

The older woman frowned again, but before she could object, the younger had nodded. Tom left briefly to retrieve Merope from his room, and the young woman took the opportunity to ask Dumbledore a few questions.

"Armando Dippet spoke of problems with him early in the year."

"Yes," the Transfiguration Professor steepled his fingers. "You must understand that Tom grew up in a Muggle orphanage. I do not know if you are aware of the severity of the problems in the Muggle world…"

The older woman was apparently oblivious, but the man and young woman nodded.

"Tom has – social issues. The matron of the orphanage he was at did her best, but she could not prevent the constant changes in the staff. As a result, Tom has grown up with difficulties relating to other people and severe problems building a relationship with anyone. He has made a lot of progress over the past year, but I fear it will take many years for him to heal completely."

"So, you want to take on an antisocial boy from a family of Dark Wizards."

"Mrs Ellerton!" the younger woman reproachfully said, "that is quite enough."

"Of course, Miss Harris," Mrs Ellerton grudgingly quieted.

Tom entered the room at that point, holding Merope in his arms. She had grown from adorable kitten to active, full-grown cat, but she still followed Tom around wherever she could.

"A kneazle," the young woman smiled in delight, "wonderful! I always had pet kneazles when I was young, they made such marvelous companions."

Tom nodded.

"Have you made friends at school?" Miss Harris asked, stroking Merope's fur. The kneazle purred and leaned into the hand. Tom relaxed marginally – if Merope liked this woman, she was probably safe. That was one of the things he had learned over this past year; his pet had an exceptional talent of picking out 'safe' people. She liked Alastor, too, though that might be because of the bacon Alastor kept sneaking her during breakfast.

"I talk to some people at the chess club. And I do homework and such with Alastor," Tom replied. He did not like the older woman. Merope seemed to keep an eye on her as well.

"Young Alastor Moody?" Miss Harris smiled brightly, "his adoption by his stepfather was the first case I ever did on my own. Of course, Alastor would be attending Hogwarts as well already – how time flies, don't you agree, Mrs Ellerton?"

Mrs Ellerton replied with something that with a lot of imagination might have been an affirmative; at least Miss Harris took it as a 'yes'.

"Well, I see no objections," Miss Harris happily ignored her grumpy colleague, "there is only one question remaining, then, I guess."

She turned to the boy. "Tom, do you WANT to be adopted by Mr Dumbledore?"

sssssssss

It was the most frightening moment of the entire interview. Albus thought his heart would stop. This was the question he had feared, the one he had hoped would be conveniently left out. Because he was sure Tom did not want to be adopted, period. The boy was hardly ready to acknowledge he wanted and needed such a relationship, even though he needed it desperately.

Tom stared at the woman. No, he did not want to be adopted by this man, and at the same time he wanted it very much. Professor Dumbledore frightened him beyond his wits with his ability to almost look into his mind. Tom, too, knew about the dark that lingered inside of him, the anger that overtook him at times, and he feared the man who had seen it. Who had taken it upon himself to free him from it.

At the same time, he had never gotten the kind of attention and gentleness that had been shown to him. He never wanted for anything. He had not even asked for a chessboard and had received one.

He thought back to all the times he had lost it with this man. Too many to count. And yet the Professor remained, holding him, caring for him, letting him be part of his life. Letting him know that he was wanted somewhere, just as he was.

"Well, if he does, and you like him, you might as well say yes," Alastors voice sounded in his head, "My Dad is the greatest guy in the world. I'm glad he adopted me."

I might as well say yes, Tom thought. Giving control of his life to Albus Dumbledore was terrifying, yet felt good at the same time.

"….yes," he finally whispered.

He could have sworn he saw his guardian's – no, his new father's – eyes mist over as the so far silent man took the parchments for the adults to sign.

"Tommy Dumbledore," his father put both hands on his shoulders, his eyes shining with pride and affection, "Welcome to our family, son."