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The first order of operations, after their great escape from Hogwarts, was Gringotts bank to set up the last of their business affairs. After that, they went directly to the ministry. Fred and George shared a glance while in the elevator. They had some... Business with the family services division.
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A week and a half after the Weasley twins left Hogwarts with a bang, Harry got a letter from them. Well, actually, Harry got two letters, a letter from Remus, which was a clever disguise for the letter from the twins, involving the same passphrase as the Marauders Map, and a letter from the ministry, which was explained by the letter from the twins from Remus.
Dearest Ikle Harrykins,
You should, at this time, have received a letter from the family services division at the ministry. We would have talked to you about this before going through with it, but we thought it best to act as soon as we legally could, instead. We want you to know that we have the utmost respect for your parents, and in no way are we trying to replace them—we'd be very poor replacements, in all honesty, your father was a legend, and your mum was bloody brilliant with a wand—we just want you to have a better home life than the one you do now, and we're tired of waiting for the adults in our lives to step up and step in. We have tried so many times to get mum or dad to lodge an inquiry or sue for custody, but they never took us seriously, and for that, we're truly sorry. They lost out on the chance to gain a truly spectacular—stupendous—extraordinary—yeah, alright, you get it, wonderful son like you. Instead, they'll get the shock of a lifetime, with their twin seventeen year old sons giving them their first grandbaby. Congrats, mum, it's a boy!
Harry, we want what's best for you, but we want you to trust us most of all. We know you struggle with authority figures, and we know there's a very good reason for that. You don't have to call us anything specific, simply using our names will do, but we're open to anything you'd be comfortable calling us. If you'd prefer more of a brotherly relationship over anything paternal, well, we certainly have more than enough practice with that! Either way, we will have to set and enforce certain rules, no matter what, though the what and how would be better discussed in person than over post.
We also want you to be prepared for a potential eruption of Mount Molly when we come to pick you up from the station, we haven't exactly told mum that we adopted you. We've only told Remus, Snuffles, and Bill, who helped ward our shop as part of our deal with the FSD for being allowed to adopt, "Someone of such standing while so young," hope you don't mind.
Anyway, if you want to tell your muggle relatives that you've found alternative housing for the rest of your schooling, you may want to do so soon, or you can simply write Remus back that you'd like your mischief managed and one of us will take care of it instead. Whichever you'd prefer, though honestly, I think Bill is planning on checking out those supposed blood wards on the place no matter what you say, just so you know.
We hope we haven't stepped too far out of bounds. We hope that we haven't broken your trust in us, or think we don't trust you for not talking to you about this before we left. Honestly, we thought of this idea right before we walked into Gringotts, so there wasn't time to talk to you beforehand. While it was somewhat spur of the moment, we do not and cannot regret adopting you, only the lack of discussion between us about it.
Hoping to talk again soon,
Gred and Forge
Before Harry knew it, he was in tears. He was beyond glad he'd taken the letters to bed with him and read them in privacy, or he'd have to explain to Ron and Hermione, or, Merlin forbid, the whole House, that he was fine, better than fine, even. His friends, his brothers, had seen him struggling to stay afloat, and instead of patting him on the head and telling him it was okay, they bloody well made him a life preserver and tied the other end to themselves. He legally never had to go back to the Dursley's ever again, the letter from the ministry confirmed it. Fred and George were his legal guardians, no one could force Harry to go anywhere without their say-so.
Hastily, and somewhat quietly due to the sleeping state of most of his roommates, Harry rushed to find a relatively intact piece of parchment to write his reply. He never wanted anything to do with his relatives again. A sob ripped out of his chest as it fully sunk in. He was free.