Harry bursts into the living room. "I've thought of a punishment! Every time you hurt each other; you will sit on this couch and hold hands until I say you can stop."

Tom frowns. "That's unproductive."

"You can read books and practice spells," Harry reassures. "But you must be holding hands."

Gellert puts a finger to his chin and tilts his head cutely. "You know, Harry, punishing us with physical affection will only make us more disinclined to seek it out in the future."

Harry feels like he's falling into a trap. "I was hoping it would get you used to it."

Tom shakes his head. "In fact, you've done well in this area because we reward you with hugs after manipulating you, and thus we've linked your hugs to the feeling of victory."

Gellert nods along. "It's okay, Tom and I will discuss this and get back to you with a list of appropriate punishments we're willing to submit to plus the conditions they will be used under."

"Yeah, okay," Harry muses. "Thanks."

Gellert hops off the couch and pats Harry on the arm as he walks by. "Communication is key, so tell us if you're having trouble."

Tom slips past as well. "I'll finish the chapter then come assist you with lunch."

It takes a full twenty minutes for Harry to realise the boys escaped their hand holding punishment. And that Tom has gotten too distracted by his book to help with the meal.

At breakfast the next day, Harry is holding a glass of water, peering inside at a tiny whale-Death who does a backflip to show off.

"Technically," Gellert begins. "All the germs are very much dead, so it would be especially pure water. Not that I'm encouraging you to drink it - I just mean, theoretically, it's an improvement."

Harry considers this.

"By the way, we're finished." Tom pushes his plate to the side and lays down a piece of parchment, sliding it across the table to Harry. "We have decided on two main punishments to keep it uncomplicated, one meant for higher disciplinary actions and one for lesser."

Harry puts down his glass after some more staring and picks up the paper. "Wait, why is this for me?"

Harry's punishments consist of staying in the house or being forced to study protection runes (which also coincidentally keeps him in the house).

"I also have our punishments," Tom says, holding up another paper. "But I thought we would start with you first."

Harry lowers the paper and stares at the two sitting across from him. "I'm sorry, what? Why am I being punished? I'm the adult."

"Yes, you are," Tom reassures. "And as the adult, you should make sure the rules are fairly imposed upon everyone in the household."

Harry slides the parchment back over to Tom. "I think we are having two very different conversations right now. Give me your list."

Tom hands over the second paper and the boys wait patiently. There are two punishments on there; must compliment or assist the mentally harmed individual, must figure out a way of bettering the livelihood of the physically harmed individual.

Gellert kicks his dangling legs. "For instance, I could help an old lady carry her shopping if I had also just pointed out how wretched her quickly dwindling life and decrepit form must be."

"I will get back to that," Harry warns. "But first, why are you forced to help people but I get imprisoned?"

Tom rolls his eyes. "You are grounded for a day, it's hardly Azkaban."

"The fine print says it can be extended dependent upon how dumb my antics are!"

"It does not say dumb," Tom argues. "You are not dumb, Harry, you just don't apply yourself nearly as much as you should-"

"The wording is 'self-sacrificial'," Gellert cuts in to side-track the argument starting up. "And that's if you do something really bad. We don't know what would fall under that category, but we put it down as a precaution."

"It's being struck off the list," Harry says firmly. "And saving people should not even need a punishment."

Tom frowns. "I feel like half of the things you disagree with should not incur a punishment either. We can both let it slide or we can both face consequences."

Tiny mermaid-Death rolls her eyes at the dramatics, hanging off the rim of Harry's glass.

Harry puts his elbows on the table and laces his fingers together in front of his mouth. "Okay. I see where you are coming from and I think we might just have to continue this conversation when it comes up."

"Agreed," Tom answers, Gellert nodding along, already going back to his porridge.

"As for the consequences of you running away," Harry continues. "I give you this ultimatum; we start up more park visits or we can go on a trip to the orphanage."

There's a sharp pause and a lingering silence filled with tension.

Gellert looks to the cupboard, wondering if he can switch out Harry's normal tea with the special mix in Gellert's drawers upstairs. Just put him to sleep until this can be fixed if Harry can't be convinced otherwise. Can't put Gellert into an orphanage if there are no orphanages.

Tom tilts his head. This must be anger at Tom leaving before, maybe for the filthy squirrel. Is Harry still upset? Is Harry going to bring another child into the house because he wants a normal one? Is he going to try and get rid of Tom?

"Not like that," Harry says quickly, holding his hands up. "Wow, okay. I mean you can make fake friends with the orphans and in turn I'll donate toys and money for their time and trauma."

Tom lets out a shuddering breath, makes himself let go of the holly wand, puts his hands flat on the table to ground himself. "Harry, you need to be more careful. I was going to do bad things to you for you to keep me."

"Ye-ah," Harry says, dragging out the word as he leans back. "I could see it in your eyes. Gellert, why did you look at the cupboard with my tea?"

Gellert turns to Harry with a cute smile. Giggles lightly. "No reason."

Harry purses his lips. "Maybe we should have a nice calm day in today."

.

A/N: Zero to sixty in the time it takes Harry to pronounce the word 'orphanage'.

Also, I just wrote in Credence and I'm so pumped, that's why the chapters are coming much faster.