I don't own Harry Potter
Happy Holidays! As always keep reading and reviewing
Chapter 43
Tom went to bed and read the files. He went through every single detail of the murders. His father spared no detail in there. Tom was pragmatic. He liked to think that he was not easily driven by his emotions. In fact, Tom scoffed at those who were guided by their hearts. These files however made it impossible for him to dissociate the victims and their deaths. He'd always had a good imagination and it was as if he could see every single murder.
He then got to the French family. She looked like his mum. It only took that for him to throw up when he read how they died. Tom could envision every detail. He stood up and paced the room. His parents were from the future. They lied to him, there was an evil wizard more powerful than Grindelwald. His father killed that wizard years ago. He tried to occlude but instead saw red eyes and a pale face. That monster made his parents go back in time and risk everything.
His father was a killer. Tom rubbed his face and vanished the vomit. He needed a shower and he needed to think. He'd ruined everything. His mother was disappointed and his dad wouldn't look at him anymore. They were not supposed to know. He tried to think what could have been if dad didn't know. He shook his head. That was not an avenue that he could or would explore anymore. It would mean his mum and dad's death. Tom could never let that happen, not because of him.
The young man felt lost. He went to bed but did not sleep. He read and re-read the files until he knew every single word by memory.
The next morning was tense. His mother had to leave for the hospital for an emergency. The elves were still on leave. It was only him and dad. Tom saw him enter the kitchen. He was dressed for work. "Good morning." Tom said, the greeting was left unanswered.
He'd never experienced the silent treatment from his father. The older man poured himself coffee and left the room. Tom felt sadness and quickly finished his tea. He realized he could not stay home for the whole day. He had to go back. He needed a distraction. He needed Hogwarts.
Tom packed his belongings and went in search of his father. He found him in the study. His dad had on a radio while he wrote.
"I am going back to Hogwarts. I think is best if I stay the Easter break in the castle." His father did not look up from his work.
Tom felt as if his father stabbed him on the stomach. "Goodbye then." He said and left the room.
He carried his trunk and apparated to London. He went into the hospital in search for his mum. Tom followed a nurse and found his mum in one of the break rooms.
"Sweetheart, why are you here?" She said worriedly and hugged him.
Tom hugged her back tight, "I'm going back to school. I spoke with dad. I think it's best if I skip the Easter holiday."
His mum frowned, "no, why would you do that? I want you home with us."
Tom held her hand and looked down, "dad is very upset with me. He's not speaking to me and I think is best if I don't come home."
"Tom, your father is hurt. You have to give him some time." She said with sad eyes.
"Mum, I know, I understand, you have every right to be upset. He has every right to not want me near him or you anymore." Tom said and felt a lump lodged on his throat.
His mum kissed his cheek, "you are my Tom." She said. "Your dad will come around."
"I will pick you up from the train station in April." She kissed his hands. "Now go on sweetheart." Tom stood up and left for school.
He boarded the train and took a nap out of exhaustion. He arrived at Hogsmeade by dinnertime. He put his trunk on his dormitory and then went into the Great Hall. He avoided any interactions with his fellow Slytherins. He ate some food and locked eyes with Minerva. She looked away for a second and then he willed her to see him again. He wanted her to know that he needed her now.
Tom stood up after dinner and waited by the entrance. Minerva stood up and walked with another three girls whom Tom did not know the names even though they were in the same year.
"McGonagall, I have to talk to you." He said as she walked out.
The girl kept walking and he followed, "Minnie please." He said quickly.
"Do not call me that." She hissed. The other girls stayed by her side.
"I have to tell you something." He needed to tell her everything. He needed her.
"Moira, Lois, I will catch up to you later. I have to talk to Snape." The girls rolled their eyes and left.
Tom and Minerva walked to the Come and Go room. It was their usual room. "Well, what is so important."
"My parents know about me and Grindelwald." He began and told her everything except for the time travel. That was not his to divulge.
He shook by the end of it. "People like him branded my mum. I'm so sorry for all of it. Now, I've ruined everything." He said out loud for the first time.
"Oh Tom." She hugged him tight.
"I'm so sorry Minnie. I swear I am." Tom said near her ear. They stayed hugging for a long while. Minerva kept rubbing his back. Tom kissed her cheek and they separated from their embrace.
"What happens now?" Minerva asked him.
Tom rubbed his eyes. They were sitting on a sofa, "I give back all the pamphlets and stop all contact with Rosier and the others."
Minerva nodded, "I will help you." She said and kissed him gently. Tom kissed her back. It was nice kissing Minerva. Soon they were touching each other. Tom grew bolder and reached for her thigh, under her skirt. Minerva gave as good as she got and tried to unfasten his belt. She touched him over his trousers and he hissed.
"Should we stop?" He asked her. Tom looked into her brown eyes. She kissed him and rubbed him. Tom felt he had permission to touch her too. His hand went up the skirt and into her knickers. She was soft and wet. He touched her lightly.
Minnie moaned which turned him on. He opened his trousers and lowered his pants too. He wanted to have her hand over his skin. Minerva's eyes rounded.
"I've never seen one erect." Minerva said and touched it.
Tom smirked, "well, how many have you seen? Erect and otherwise." Minerva hit him on the stomach.
"I grew up with brothers." She said and then touched him without any reservations. Tom hissed when she touched him and then touched her breasts. They fit inside his hand, "wet your hand." He kissed the side of her neck. He watched as Minerva spit into her hand and rubbed him. Tom lost control after a few strokes and came all over himself and her.
He kissed her and his hands went inside her knickers, "I want to make you feel good too." Tom began to finger her gently. She directed him on what to do. He was a quick study and found that Minerva liked two fingers while he rubbed the button above. She writhed while he fingered and rubbed her. He felt her spasm around him. Her hips bucked and she moaned deliciously.
Tom breathed harshly and so did Minerva. "I liked that." She said and kissed him once again.
"Me too." Tom was pleasantly distracted.
"We have to go. It is very late." She said and fixed her skirt, blouse and hair. She looked at him, spent, shirt half unbuttoned, cock out and hair askew. "I will see tomorrow at the library."
Minerva left and Tom stayed for another ten minutes recovering from this newfound activity.
He fixed his appearance and made his way to the common room. Rosier waited for him in their dormitory. Tom nodded at him. He gathered all the pamphlets and arranged them neatly on a box.
"This is for you. I no longer can be part of this." Tom said honestly.
Rosier laughed, "whatever do you mean?" He asked.
"I said, I am out of it. I no longer wish to associate myself with your cause." Tom stated clearly.
Rosier laughed once more, "it's all of our causes. We are fighting for a better world. One where we don't have to hide anymore. The muggles will be in their right place."
Tom looked at him, "where is that place? Where do the muggles go? We don't ever ask that question."
His classmate frowned, "they continue their lives and we guide them to a better future."
"How? What happens when we show them magic? There will be war once more."
"We can easily win. They are no match for us. We will make them learn."
"You want open war. That's what Grindelwald wants. I am not willing to do any of that. I will not kill or torture people."
Rosier scoffed, "they are not like us. They are muggles."
Tom saw it for the first time, very clearly, what his father said about pureblood mentality, "I am part muggle. My mum is muggle born. She heals muggles."
Rosier made a face, "we know about her but your father. He's a Prince. He's one of us."
Tom frowned, "my father is also a half-blood. Both my grandfathers were muggles."
"You do not have to bring it up. We are more than happy to let you lead with us. Do not be stupid. This is your opportunity. You can leave all that behind. No one will care that your mum is a mudblood." Tom saw his mum's burned flesh and remembered her screams when that faceless witch pinned her down and tortured her.
He waved his wand and petrified Rosier, "never say that word again. I told you, my days with these are over." He said and drew the curtains around his bed.
Tom closed his eyes and pretended to sleep until he finally slept. He went through the motions of school that week and met with Minerva in the Come and Go room twice. They did not have a sofa anymore but a bed.
He was not embarrassed when it showed. Minerva blushed and tried to hold up decorum but it was clear that they would be more comfortable. They did not go all the way. He wanted to, but Minerva was unsure. Tom realized he wanted to see her naked but Minnie would not go for it.
They kissed and touched each other over their clothes. It was fun to see her flushed, hair in disarray. She had beautiful brown straight hair. They snogged for hours until he placed her hand over his crotch. Minerva grabbed his and placed it on hers. He smirked and they touched each other until they came. Tom escorted her to Gryffindor Tower.
Minerva pecked his lips gently, "Good night."
Travers happened to see them. "Is it because of the half-blood bitch?" The third year said when they walked to the dungeons.
"No, and do not call her that." Tom had faced questions from almost every Slytherin. He refused to engage and had to stop some of their hostility.
Tom focused on school and getting into Minerva's pants. He spent most of winter trying to convince her to go all the way.
Minerva shook her head every time but the lines were getting blurry. They were seeing each other naked now. They had bubble bath together and she let him kiss her down there. It had been so arousing to listen to her boss him around and then come apart.
They were in bed after one of their sessions. He kissed her neck and touched her bum when she stood up. "I have to go. I promised Mary to help her with her herbology homework."
"Stay, you are rubbish at Herbology." He said and played with her hair.
"No, this was fun." She stood up and righted her skirt. Tom followed her out of the room when they came face to face with some Slytherins.
Travers, Rosier, Nott and two fifth years that he could not remember. They attacked first. Minerva and Tom defended themselves. Tom got hit with a jelly leg hex while Minerva tried to petrify Nott. Tom stood up and was about to do some damage when Dumbledore arrived.
He stopped them in their tracks. Minerva helped him up. All of you to my office. Headmaster Dippet and Slughorn were there for the reprimand. Minerva explained what happened while Rosier and Travers defended themselves. It was decided that his classmates would serve detention with the caretaker while Minerva and him got a reprimand.
"They were having sex." Nott then said.
Minerva frowned while Tom remained composed. "Where is your proof? McGonagall and I are friends. We were patrolling when you attacked us."
"You and her meet almost every day in the room on the seventh floor." Travers countered. "I have seen you two. You disappear for hours on end."
The Headmaster frowned. "I cannot have my Head Boy and Head Girl setting such bad example. From now on you make your patrols separately. Albus have the seventh floor warded. I will not have any of you consorting in such a manner."
The old man then addressed them directly, "You will each take a sixth year from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. I will write to all of your parents. You are all dismissed."
Tom stood up and went to the Slytherin common room. "Well, at least we have stopped you from dirtying yourself with that cheap slag." Rosier said as they passed by.
Tom hexed him with a powerful vomiting spell. The rest went away. Tom could have sworn that he saw Dumbledore's eyes follow him.
His mother wrote to him the next day. "I am happy that you defended Minerva from those boys. Your father and I expect you for Easter break next week. We will pick you up from the station."
His father usually handled discipline. Tom knew he was still upset. He wrote back a simple reply. He would go and face them.
Minerva and him saw each other the next day. They did not snog that day or for the next three days. It was Saturday night late and they were snogging in an old classroom. He wanted to do more but Minerva pushed him away. "Not here." She said as she continued to kiss him.
"Well, where?" Tom liked the distraction from all the prying eyes. He needed Minnie to focus on other more pleasurable aspects of his life.
"I don't know." She said frustrated and looking out for any intruders that may come. "You warded the room."
"I did but we just learned about them." Tom replied trying to have her sit on his lap.
"I miss you and I want to touch you." He rasped and grabbed her hip.
Minerva kissed him again and bit her lip, "do you remember the disillusionment charm?"
Tom nodded, "I do."
"Do it." She said. Tom did and it was perfect.
"Walk behind me." She said and so he did. Minerva took him to Gryffindor Tower.
"Password?" A portrait of a very fat woman asked.
"Blue walnuts." Minerva said and the portrait opened.
"You will not be able to touch the steps or the sides. Other boys have tried." Minerva said.
Tom frowned and nodded. "How am I going to get there? "Watch." Minerva said. They waited until a first year boy went up the stairs to his own dorm. Minerva went up the stairs and conjured a ladder to the side, "You see. These were not invented when the founders were alive. Muggles are ingenious."
Tom undid the illusion and climbed the ladder. He jumped to the landing and took Minerva's hand. "I share with Moira and Lois." She said while they entered the room. It was more spacious than the dungeons. Minerva's bed was at the back of the room by a big window which gave the illusion that she had more space. Her bed was bigger than his too.
"You have all this space." Tom said while inspecting her room.
"Since first year. The class that graduated before we came in had five girls." She said as she undressed.
"Get in bed." She said and Tom did not need to be told twice.
"Put up the charm." The silencioed the perimeter around the bed while Minerva glued the curtains shut.
"What if they wake up and open them?" Tom asked while he shimmied out of his trousers and underwear. Minerva undid her brassiere and was left in knickers.
"They won't." She said, "I use the same charm when I touch myself."
She may as well have licked his cock given his reaction. "I've never seen you so hard."
He basically attacked her, "well, I didn't know you touched yourself and now you've given me wanking images until I'm forty."
Minerva laughed and touched him. He helped her out of her knickers. They were hot and heavy when Minerva stopped him from rubbing himself against her.
"We have to stop." She whispered.
Tom frowned, "why?"
Minerva sat up. "I don't love you."
Tom looked at her, he loved her. Minnie was his only friend but was he in love with her? He did not think so.
"I'm not in love with you either." Tom said honestly.
He kissed her once more. "Have you done this before?" She asked him.
"Of course not. You're the only girl I've seen naked." He replied.
She kissed him quickly. "I want you." She whispered and rubbed against him. Minerva sat up and mounted him.
He touched her thighs, "we are best friends." She said and kissed him once more.
Tom would have agreed to anything she asked him. "We are."
"I researched something earlier." She said and grabbed her wand.
Tom knew what it was because he also researched it. He looked for it weeks ago, when they first began snogging and touching each other. It was a contraceptive charm; it would prevent his sperm from reaching her eggs.
Minerva frowned and descended over him. She hissed and slowly eased down. Tom clenched his eyes and tried to remain perfectly still. She felt amazing over him. It was incredible. He knew he shouldn't move. Minnie had chosen this because it was easier for her.
Soon she moved slowly. Tom rested his hands over her hips and then sat up when she moved faster. There was friction but Minerva kissed him and moaned quickly. Tom would not hold it anymore and exploded inside her.
Minerva gasped and fell on his chest. "Did you come?" He asked her. Minerva nodded and kissed his cheek.
"That felt amazing." He said and felt sleepy. Minerva nodded and moved to his side.
They slept until early morning by which time Minerva shook him awake. "You have to go." She said sleepily. "It's almost day break."
Tom kissed her for a bit. Minerva however valued her sleep more and waved him away. Tom stood up and dressed. He made sure that her dorm mates were still asleep and disillutioned himself. He conjured the ladder and went on the side.
Tom left through the portrait hole and walked back to the dungeons. He saw Dumbledore almost by the time he reached the potions' classroom.
"Mr. Snape, making early patrol I see." The older man said.
Tom smiled, "yes sir." He replied. He was doing nothing wrong. There was no rule about waking up early.
"I saw your father yesterday night. He sends greetings." The man said and walked away.
Tom frowned, Dumbledore, it was him. His dad learned about the meetings and his affiliation to Grindelwald through him. The knowledge annoyed him to no end. He said his goodbyes.
He entered the dorm and undressed. There was no use in crying over spilt milk. There would be no more Grindelwald for him. Tom slept late that Sunday. He felt better than ever before.
He saw Minerva that same afternoon and they used the prefect's lavatory to their hearts' content. They had sex with him on top of her that time. He performed the charm on himself.
Minerva liked a slow pace and became undone after he moaned his pleasure. They spent the week before Easter break having sex in her room and in the lavatory. They were about to leave Hogsmeade for London when the attacks began.
Hell descended, there were people apparating and others attacking the younger students. Minnie and him worked to get all the students into safety. Tom looked to his left and saw his father. He waved his wand at three wizards and they dropped to the ground. His father came to him, "Tom, listen, board the train with the rest of the children. Minerva and you are in charge of them." Tom nodded and had every last of the kids inside the train.
"I think it's finally happening." Minerva said. Tom looked confused for a second and then realized it. Dumbledore and Grindelwald would duel.
They left the station and went back to the castle. Tom saw his dad fight another figure and followed him to the Great Lake. Dumbledore and Grindelwald faced each other at last. "Go inside the castle now." His father hissed.
Tom and Minerva went unwillingly, forced by the imperius curse. His father took another three wizards while Minerva and him joined the rest of the people in the castle. Tom saw his father waved his wand around the two wizards and then run to the castle.
He did not look at him. His father joined headmaster Dippet. The duel lasted almost an hour before Grindelwald went down. They could all watch but could not hear any of the curses. Tom watched silently as professor Dumbledore attacked Grindelwald. The foreign wizard counter attacked fiercely. It was a worthy spectacle. He could not see which one was winning. It was impossible to determine until professor Dumbledore waved his wand one last time. Both men appeared tired, ready to give up. The professor stretched his hand and suddenly Grindelwald was disarmed.
Tom did not notice the ministry officers until they surrounded Grindelwald. It was over. Tom stayed on his spot next to Minerva. They were both speechless.
"Ms. McGonagall, we will take you to your home." His father appeared next to them. The walk to Hogsmeade took longer than expected due to the amount of people walking alongside them.
His father looked at him once very briefly and then acted as if he did not exist. They apparated near Minerva's home. "I will see you in a week." Tom said and squeezed her hand. Minerva nodded and kissed his cheek.
Tom turned to see his father disappear. The young man apparated near the manor. He went straight to his room and showered. He felt sleepy. Tom woke up the following day. His mother readied for the day as he descended to the kitchens.
"Good morning." She said with a smile. She looked very tired.
"Where is dad?" He asked while his mother kissed his cheek.
"Ministry, has been there all night. He owled and said he would be back tonight. This whole Grindelwald situation has changed everything. We'll have dinner together." She replied.
"Does he know that dinner involves me?" Tom asked with a frown.
"Yes, please do not take that tone when your father is around." His mum said quickly.
Tom frowned, "I apologized. He acts as if I do not exist anymore."
"Give him time. I have to go to the hospital." She said quickly.
"I could have stayed at Hogwarts." Tom said for the hundredth time.
His mum frowned, "I will ask you please to try, even if only for my sake."
Tom nodded and saw her leave the manor. He decided to read a book and then venture to London. He needed a distraction. Tom visited Diagon Alley and learned all sorts of rumors. Grindelwald was dead, executed by Dumbledore. Grindelwald escaped to South America. Grindelwald was in the holding cells, about to be given the Dementor's kiss. Grindelwald would actually go to Azkaban and serve a life sentence.
He had lunch at the Leaky cauldron and then went into muggle London. The city was grim but there was an energy in the air. Everyone said it would be soon. They all said Germany would soon surrender.
Tom went back to the manor during the late afternoon and owled Minerva. He asked to see her the day after. He invited her to the manor.
He heard the apparition sounds and looked up to see his mother. "What a day." She whispered and sat by him. They talked about her day and then he told her about his outing. She pursued his lips.
"What do you think should happen?" His mother asked him with a voice that tried to be casual.
Tom would not lie to her, "well, there would be two answers. The correct one would be have him tried for his crimes."
His mother nodded. "Many countries in the East would ask for his extradition. One of them would imprison him." He continued, "there is also the other option. The one that would avoid any further difficulties." He looked at her unflinchingly.
"It would be easy to kill him while in custody. The chain of command could break. There would not be a Grindelwald. You know what will happen, you must have read it in your history books."
His mother nodded, "He will be on trial and sent to Nurmengard Tower where he will complete his life sentence. I think that he will serve it in full now that the Dark Lord is dead."
Tom agreed. There was an uncomfortable silence until his mother spoke once more. "I realize that you have a lot of questions about our past. I need you to understand that all your father and I ever wanted to do was protect you."
Tom looked at her, "why? Why did you pick me?" He needed to know.
His mum grabbed his hands, "we saw you, those kids bullied you. You had a picture of a house. Tom, you reminded me of my friend. He was an orphan. Your father and I knew that we needed you then. We were lost and we found you."
"Did you know about my magic?" He asked her.
His mother nodded, "it would have not mattered."
Tom had heard that before. He smiled at her, "tell me about the future."
She laughed, "I did not know you. I don't know what happens to you. I never heard your name before coming to this timeline."
He chuckled with her, "no, tell me about you. What were you like? Which house were you in? let me guess. Ravenclaw?"
Mum shook her head, "the hat thought about it but it decided on Gryffindor."
Tom rolled his eyes, "of course it did."
"Do you know which house dad belonged to?" Tom wanted to hear the confirmation.
"Slytherin." Mum said quickly. "He was head of house too."
Tom frowned, "was he your teacher? Mum, that's disgusting."
She shook her head, "it was not like that. We fell in love that year when I was away with my friends. He was never interested in me while I was in school. That would be wholly inappropriate."
Tom shuddered, "tell me more about your time at Hogwarts." Mum told him.
"You were as obnoxious as Minerva is." He said while laughing.
They heard the pop of apparition but it was not his father. There were three cloaked figures with their wands at the ready. Tom drew his while his mother hexed one of the figures. There was a flurry of hexes and suddenly he was gripped by the most intense pain he'd ever felt in his life. He was paralyzed and tried to get up and help his mother. He crawled to his mother. She continued to hex the other wizard but there were two more coming in through the floo. Tom hexed another wizard and saw a witch aiming at his mother. He felt the cruciatus once more. It had to be.
His mother screamed and was on the floor, a wizard tried to get on top of her. Tom screamed and stood up. He aimed his wand and said the words clearly, "Cruccio." The wizard fell in pain. The three wizards witch looked pointed at him once more. His mother was on the floor. He aimed his wand once more as the wizards circled them. He covered his mother and tried to hex them with everything he got. He saw the green light coming their way and rolled away while taking his mother with him. It must have been two minutes before he saw his father apparate.
A force slumped him back. He looked at his mother and tried some healing spells they taught him during charms. He held her and then looked at his father, there was only one wizard standing and then he saw as his father waved his wand and the wizard fell.
His father rushed to them. Tom looked at him and then at his mum on his arms. She was pale, "I tried healing spells." Tom said while holding onto her.
His father took her in his arms and opened her dress. He began to whisper and hover over her belly, the cuts repaired themselves. His father then uncorked dittany. "Go to the laboratory. Get me the blood replenishing potions, two vials. Now." He hissed quickly.
Tom ran downstairs and almost knocked a simmering cauldron. He grabbed three just in case and ran back.
He gave the potions to his father. "Hold her head." He said carefully.
Tom did as he was told. His dad opened his mum's mouth and poured the potions. His mother gurgled but his father forced her to swallow the liquids.
"Why isn't she waking up?" Tom asked agitated.
His father grabbed his mother's hand and squeezed. "She needs rest. She'll come to in a bit." The man stood up and placed her in one of the sofas.
His father then looked at him and hugged him. He kissed him on the forehead. Tom trembled and looked around there were five bodies on the floor.
He looked at his father. He killed them, "dad, what are we going to do?"
His father grabbed his face, "do you understand what happened here?"
"They attacked us. They tried to kill mum and me."
His father nodded, "they would have killed you both."
"They're dead, dad, what happens next?" He said scared that they would take him away, to Azkaban. Mum would not resist it. She would die if dad were away from them.
"You will do nothing. They are not dead Tom. I will fix this. Look at me. I am proud of you. Do you understand? I am proud of you for protecting your mother." He said and hugged him once more.
"Dad, what are you going to do?" Tom said.
"Do not concern yourself with this. Help me get your mum upstairs." Dad carried her and Tom followed along.
They were in the master bedroom. "Sev, what is happening?" Mum said tiredly. "I'm dizzy." She said when he put her on the bed.
"Nothing my love, just a bad dream. Our boy is here. He will take care of you." Dad shushed her.
Tom sat by her, "stay here. I will be back soon." Tom nodded and watched him go.