Captain Haddock hadn't seen Tintin ever since he had finished dinner. He was probably investigating every nook and cranny of the giant mansion. That lad sure was adventurous. He shook his head when he remembered what Tintin had said the moment food was served: "Is this really all for me?" What kind of a father starved his son, a four year old no less! Captain Haddock walked to his room when he heard an agonizing scream that made his blood run cold and his hair stand up. It was coming from the basement. He quickly grabbed his wand and apparated.
The first thing Captain Haddock noticed was that Tintin was curled up in a ball on the floor, his chest heaving as heart-wrenching sobs shook his body. Captain Haddock looked up and did a double take. Another Captain Haddock stood in front of the four year old, his face red with fury, his eyes black orbs of hatred. Shards of an empty firewhiskey bottle lay in front of him. Captain Haddock guessed that it had been thrown at Tintin.
"I HATE YOU!" the other Captain Haddock yelled, making the boy wince. "YOU'VE RUINED MY LIFE, AND I'M GIVING YOU BACK TO YOUR FATHER SO THAT I WON'T HAVE TO EVER SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!" Captain Haddock deduced from the open wardrobe behind the other Captain and from Tintin's reaction that this was a boggart. He opened his mouth to say a spell when the boggart pointed its wand at Tintin and said, "CRUCIO!"
Tintin's body arched backwards as the poor boy let out an unhumanlike scream that echoed throughout the house. He convulsed and clenched his fists tightly in a futile effort to lessen the torturous pain. The boggart's eyes narrowed maliciously as it cackled, intensifying the curse.
Furious, Captain Haddock pointed his wand at the boggart, sending it back in the closet and locking it inside. Tintin lay on the floor, too weak to move. His breathing was ragged, his face glistened with sweat and tears, and his palms bled from where his nails had dug in. Captain Haddock cradled the trembling boy in his arms as he said "Shh, it's okay..." and rubbed comforting circles on Tintin's back as he sobbed in the Captain's shoulder.
"I'm s-s-s-sorry," the boy stuttered hoarsely as he took a shuddering breath. "I promise I'll be good, just please don't kick me out..."
"There's nothing to be sorry about." Captain Haddock said. "It was just a boggart. I would never kick you out, no matter what."
"I'm a bad boy." Tintin whispered.
"No, you're not." Captain Haddock replied.
Tintin shook his head. "One day, Daddy said 'Crucio' and it hurt a lot. It didn't stop, and he kept laughing at me. I felt weird and then there was a big booming noise and Daddy fell down the stairs. Later someone told me that there had been a lot of blood and that Daddy almost died. Good boys don't try to kill their daddies..."
"He deserved it. Good daddies don't hurt their sons." Captain Haddock replied.
There was no response; the exhausted boy had fallen asleep. Captain Haddock lifted up the boy gently and carried him back to his room. He lay Tintin on the bed and tucked him in, kissing him on the forehead. As the Captain started leaving the room, he heard Tintin murmur, "Good night, Dad."
Dad. He had just called him Dad. "Good night son." he replied. Captain Haddock caught a quick glimpse of Tintin's wide smile before he closed the door.