As it turns out, Credence fits in pretty well. Admittedly, everyone treats him as (another) dangerous pet and Harry has to have a long talk with the snakes about biting things that can kill them, but it slows down and settles.

Not that anyone seems to be getting along nicely per se, but Harry never has to step in again. At least not to stop a fight.

Credence didn't come out of his room for the next week after the incident except for meals when Harry called him down, and eventually it got concerning enough that Harry had to politely ask if maybe Credence wanted to spend some more time possibly in the library.

The boy is now regularly seen huddled in a corner of the library room, tucked between the ends of shelves that don't quite fit into the corner properly. Harry has moved several pillows into the space, plus some books for children (that he had to go out and buy because Merlin knows Tom and Gellert never read anything like that).

Harry genuinely doesn't remember how it started with Tom and Gellert but he's pretty sure the two very quickly ascertained how much of a pushover Harry was and then just settled themselves into the house and around each other quite efficiently.

It's not bad though, getting to know Credence slowly. It's almost nice, not having the conversation wrestled away from Harry, or being sped through a simple chat because they think so far ahead they're answering the Harry living in their heads before the real version can string a sentence together.

Credence never does come out of his shell -that's not a thing he does it seems- but Harry can manage a short conversation without Credence going quiet and staring at the ground so it's progress.

Credence shuffles a bit standing in front of the little corner he sits in because there's a new blanket and it looks magical. Credence doesn't know much about magical things but apparently there's a lot of snakes involved with everything.

Also magical children are scary, but the adults aren't too bad. Harry is nice.

Credence crouches down and strokes a hand over the shimmering fabric, one deep red edge is flipped up while the rest is invisible. He pets it for a while and then pulls it around himself. He sits down in the big pillow that appeared in the corner one day and pulls the rest of the cloak over his head.

Credence stares out at the towering shelves packed tight with books and curls up a bit tighter with the soft cloak. It feels nice. He feels safe.

The Evil God tilts its head from where its crawling across the bedroom ceiling on all fours. "Where did the new one go?"

Harry, planning out fun family activities while petting Schrödinger the inferi kitten, panics for a moment before he realises what's happening. "Wait, you genuinely can't find people who are under the invisibility cloak?"

"It depends how hard I'm trying."

"So if I hid your birthday presents under the cloak…?"

The Evil God sighs heavily. "I was never born, I don't want a birthday, I can't eat cake, balloons are stupid-"

"All I'm hearing is that you want Quidditch gear for your birthday."

"I don't want to," Tom states, reading on the window seat of his bedroom one afternoon.

"You have to make nice with the new one," Gellert points out, sitting on the bed and leaning back with his arms to prop him up.

"No, I don't. I only have to tolerate it."

"You're not going to win this," Gellert laughs mockingly.

"I am," Tom mutters, flipping a page with a sharp motion. "Because I'm more important to Harry than the Dark Lord's foster child."

Gellert still has a smile on his face but he narrows his eyes. "You think your petty, possessive feelings are more important to Harry than a lost, innocent child who just needs to be loved?"

Tom purses his lips. "Yes."

"Alright, fair." Gellert nods along easily. "And you think Harry can't make you play nice?"

Tom lifts his book slightly higher against his raised knees, pointedly blocking Gellert's view, done with the conversation.

"You're not going to win," Gellert says again. "Might as well get used to it."

Tom tsks and slams his book shut.

They find Credence, as usual these days, wrapped in the invisibility cloak and tucked away into his burrow.

"Get up," Tom says with his arms crossed.

Credence looks up, from Tom to Gellert, wild eyed at being cornered by them both.

Gellert clears his throat and smiles with dimples. "Don't mind him, Tom gets a bit grumpy," he giggles. "I don't think we really introduced ourselves properly-"

"Really?" Tom cuts in.

Gellert blinks. "Really what?"

Tom gestures to all of Gellert. "You're going to keep that up the whole time? You're deluded if you think this arrangement isn't going to be permanent. Albus knew exactly what he was doing – I mean, imagine asking for sanctuary for an Obscurus with a straight face."

Gellert pauses and then his body relaxes, eyes falling to a half-lidded gaze and smile slanting until it's razor sharp.

Gellert turns back to Credence and he starts again. "I'm Gellert, that's my darling brother Tom. You're ours now, I suppose - which isn't such a bad thing, don't make that face."

Credence's expression blanks perfectly like he's had a lot of practice.

Gellert tsks and shakes his head theatrically. "Tom and I have a lot of research to do. You don't have to learn so much, or do what we do, but at least know the basics so you can take over if we get busy."

Tom chimes in with, "I'm not getting my hopes up with you so whatever you want, whatever you like, that's perfectly fine." Tom pauses. "But you're going to love Harry, or we're going to have a problem."

Gellert chuckles. "That won't take long. You look like the weak sort - emotionally I mean."

"I am," Credence admits sadly.

"It's not a bad thing," Tom allows. "I presume you'll be here at home with Harry most of the time, if not you'll be following us. Gellert and I might need to start spending more time away for work soon so you'll need to hold the fort, as it were."

"Good thing you're a nigh indestructible guard dog," Gellert cheers. "Couldn't have asked for a better little brother."

Tom frowns at him and Gellert smiles back.

Credence worries the soft, silky cloth of the invisibility cloak in his fingers. "So...I stay here and spend time with Harry, and help if you need me?"

"Basically," Gellert answers.

"That sounds nice," Credence murmurs. "I like that."

"Get up," Tom says again. "We'll give you a proper tour of the house and the wards, then tomorrow I'll distract Harry while darling brother shows you all the hidden caches we've made around great Britain in case of emergencies."

"You know you're my favourite," Gellert insists, pouting at Tom. "I was just joking."

Tom looks Credence up and down. "You know, apart from the visceral disgust I feel from being in the presence of an Obscurus, I like how obedient and self-aware you are, little brother."

"Are we doing this right now?" Gellert complains.

Credence hesitates but there's enough of a gap in the conversation (while the other two stare each other down) that he speaks up. "Um, I-I'm older."

Gellert looks back down at Credence. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm older," Credence repeats. "Than…you. Or not. I ca – you can be older. If you want."

Gellert only starts smiling again when Credence has been successfully cowed into being a little brother. "Excellent! I'm glad this has been sorted out."

Tom narrows his eyes Credence. "Do you age?"

'Credence' is a technically a toddler, he doesn't what he can do.

Tom can clearly read that blank panic off Credence's face because he rolls his eyes. "You don't even know how to be wrong properly. But I suppose we'll work on that as well."

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A/N: Donate/spread the word about #teamseas. $1 = 1 pound (half a kg) of trash removed from the ocean!