Hey you all! :) Thank you so very much for the comments and Kudos! :) I appreciate all of you! :)
I am planning to post the last chapter on New Year's Eve, and it will include a 2 years later epilogue, first time I wrote one :)
Next will be my other story, Transforming Thomas, which will have 15 chapters as well and will be about a very spoiled Tom getting deaged by Gryffindor and how he deals with being a child again (spoiler: he does not handle it very well). I am planning to post it in January, and I will post a more detailed summary when I post the last chap.
WARNING: Dumbledore's punishment is...gruesome.
"Now, where would you boys like to go?", Salazar asked, "I need to get the robes I ordered from Twilfitt and Tattings first."
They were standing close to each other in a corner of Diagon Alley, surrounded by busy wizards and witches getting their Christmas shopping done. Christmas was in two weeks, and they had come here for the boys to figure out what they wanted to put on their wish list for Christmas.
"I'll come with you, Dad", Aurelius replied, "I meant to get some new robes as well."
"I would like to go to Flourish and Blotts!", Sirius announced, "they have some new books about Quidditch I'd like to look at, especially since we are going to see the finals this weekend," and he did look forward to that- a lot.
"Well, I need to go to Gringotts and make a deposit", Gryffindor told them, "which means…"
"I could go with Sirius to Flourish and Blotts, Daddy", Tom hurried to say, "and then we could meet here after."
Godric frowned, but before he could say something, Salazar spoke, "I think that is a great idea, Tommy", his voice was warm, "how about we all meet at Ollivander's when we are done? In thirty minutes?"
"Sounds good, Dad", Tom replied, beaming. This was the first time his parents let him do something without being supervised by them or Aurelius, and he was proud to take care of his younger brother by himself for a while.
Gryffindor exchanged a look with his partner, and sighed, "alright. Thirty minutes, boys- and if you are late, you will both be holding my hand for the rest of the afternoon, understand?"
"Yes, Daddy", they answered simultaneously, both of them smiling with anticipation.
"Come on, Sirius, we better hurry", Tom told his brother, taking his hand, "we are going to look at the Quidditch books first, and then we'll look at the books about dogs. I need to find a book that tells me how to teach Bacon some tricks."
"Okay, Tom", Sirius easily agreed, taking his hand, "see you later, Dad", he winked at his dad, and then they carefully walked across the street to Flourish and Blotts. It was snowing, and it has gotten cold, but the boys were warm and comfortable in their long winter coats and leather boots.
Gryffindor was watching them walk off, and he sighed again, "do you really think this is a good idea?"
"I do- Tom is ready for some more responsibilities. He wants to take care of his little brother. Look at him", they all watched Tom holding the door open for Sirius, and then they could see them enter the big storeroom through the windowfront.
"He'll be fine, Dad", Aurelius said, "he's been doing really well since the meeting- it definitely matured him in a way. He's not half as wild as he used to be."
"I guess you have a point there", Gryffindor grudgingly admitted, "he's…growing up. I…it's hard to get used to that", they were still watching the boys through the window, observing how Tom patiently handed his little brother book after book about Quidditch, and he had to smile, feeling proud of his boys.
"He is still your little boy, Godric", Salazar told him softly, "he still needs you- just not as much as he used to."
"I hope you are right", he mumbled, and then he forced himself to look away, "we should probably get going- see you at Ollivander's soon?"
They split up, and when Tom and Sirius arrived at Ollivander's twenty minutes later, and Godric saw the proud look on Tom's face, it made him smile.
"Good boy, Tommy", he told him fondly, ruffling his hair, "did you had a good time at the store?"
Tom smiled back at him, "yes, Daddy- I found a book to train dogs for my Christmas wish list. I want to…would like to teach Bacon to find things."
"What things?", Aurelius asked, amusement in his voice, "things you lose, baby bear?"
Tom flushed, "all…kinds of things."
That made everyone laugh, and then they went inside the store, Ollivander almost getting a heart attack by seeing the royalty of the wizarding world in his establishment, "it's…an honor", he stuttered, bowing deeply, "how may I help you, Sirs?"
"I am looking to get my boy a wand", Gryffindor replied casually, and he saw Tom's eyes widen in surprise, "I was thinking of something with a phoenix feather...may I see some samples?"
"Of…of course, Sir!", Ollivander almost fell over by rushing to get the samples, "I have…just what you need, Master Gryffindor!"
"I'd hope so", the Founder answered drily, and then he shifted his attention to Tom, who was still looking shocked, "giving you your magic back without a wand to use it does not make much sense, does it, Tommy?"
"I…I guess not", the boy stammered, "are you…really doing this for me?"
"You deserve it, baby bear", Gryffindor pulled his boy into a hug, "you have been a very good boy lately and I think you are ready for this, hmm?"
"Yes, Daddy", the boy whispered, sounding happy, "and…I get to use it at home?"
"Under my supervision at first, but yes- you might."
The boy snuggled closer, "are you still going to teach me wandless magic, Daddy?"
Gryffindor had started the lessons a couple of days ago again- the meeting had been ten days ago, but they had spent the first days after Salazar had been cured just focusing on the family. They had enjoyed taking long walks in the snow, playing games together, having dinner together again, and snuggling by the fire with some hot chocolate at night.
"I am- you have made amazing progress, and I think soon you will be able to teach your little brother a lesson or two, hmm?"
"Yah, that would be awesome!", Tom blurted out, "what do you think, Sirius?"
"I cannot wait!", Sirius sounded just as enthusiastic, but before he could say more, Ollivander came rushing back with several samples of wands. Tom tried about half a dozen, until they decided on a wand similar to the one he had owned before- in a previous life, very different from this one.
After that, they had lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, and then they all went to Sugarplum's Sweets Shop to get some confections, and Tom was happily munching a Liquorice Wand when they left the store, expecting to apparate back home now.
As it turned out, his Daddy had one more errand to run.
"I have to go to the Ministry to check on someone", he told his family, "I will meet you back home later- Tommy, would you like to come with me?"
The boy blinked, slowly chewing his candy, "are you…you are going to check on Dumbledore, Daddy?", he sounded hesitant.
"Yes, Tommy- and I think it would be good if you got to see what has become of him."
"Why, Daddy?"
"For closure, Tommy", his voice turned soft, "you still have nightmares about the meeting, and I would like my little boy to sleep peacefully at night, without having to come into his Daddy's bed almost every night."
Tom hung his head, blushing, "that's…it's not just…because of the nightmares, Daddy", he whispered, embarrassment in his voice, and Godric exchanged a look with Salazar, who seemed amused.
He mouthed a quick told you so in his direction, and Godric playfully rolled his eyes. He was secretly glad that Salazar had been right- he needed his boy to stay his little boy for some more time.
"I know, baby bear- and you can still do that, just without waking up and crying in the middle of the night", he told his boy, and Tom carefully lifted his head, "o…okay."
"Does that mean you'll come with me?"
"Yes, Daddy", he reached for his hand, needing the safety and protection of his Daddy right now, and Gryffindor gladly provided it, holding him close, "my brave boy", he mumbled, fondness in his voice, and then he gave him a soft kiss on his forehead, "let's go then. It won't take long."
"You will be back for tea time, I assume?", Salazar asked, and Godric nodded, "we will- and then we will decorate the Christmas tree together."
"Yay!", Sirius grinned from ear to ear at that, "you better hurry then, Dad!", and he squealed when Godric tickled him, loving that he could be so playful and teasing with his Dad now- something that had not been possible for some months.
Soon after, Salazar, Aurelius and Sirius apparated back to Gryffindor Manor, and Godric took Tom to the Ministry. He had been waiting with transferring Dumbledore to Azkaban, making sure everyone who had once been supporting him was able to see what had happened to the former headmaster by holding visitation hours at his cell every day.
Jones had been sentenced to two years in Azkaban for helping Dumbledore with the bet, it was not more than that since he had helped them find the cure, and he had had a nervous breakdown when Gryffindor had forced him to see Dumbledore- it was a sight that left most people shattered and distressed.
Smith and Huntington had been kicked out of his inner circle, but they had not been sentenced since they both had not been aware of Dumbledore's plan. Gryffindor had restructured his inner circle, working closer with the Ministry and Harry Potter's army at Hogwarts now, and Salazar had been a big help, instantly taking over some parts of his job, which left him with even more time to spend with his boys.
They entered the Ministry, and made their way to the prison cells in the basement. Dumbledore was the only one here right now, Gryffindor had wanted to get all the trials done before Christmas, and everyone who had been sentenced was at Azkaban now, and a few people had gotten away with different punishments than prison, he had actually shown mercy to a lot of them, blaming it on the holiday spirit.
Dumbledore's cell was at the end of a long hallway, guarded by two wardens at the entrance of the hallway. They bowed their head as soon as they saw Gryffindor, and Tom swallowed, holding on tight to his Daddy's hand, "it's…cold down here, Daddy", he told him, "and a little spooky."
"That it is", Godric sounded amused, "we'll be quick, my boy- and then we will go home and have some tea."
"And cake?"
"And cake, baby bear."
Their footsteps were echoing from the walls when they went down the hallway, and Tom bit his lips, shuddering at the icy coldness down here, "Daddy?"
"Yes, Tommy?"
"It's…so quiet, why is Dumbledore not…screaming or something?"
For some reason, that made his Daddy laugh, "you'll see, Tommy."
They kept walking, and finally, they reached the cell at the end of the hallway. It was a small cell, furnished with nothing but some hay on the stone floor, and there was Dumbledore, laying on the hay, not moving.
Tom stepped closer to the bars, curious, "why is he not moving, Daddy? Is he sleeping?"
"No, Tommy- he cannot move."
Tom kept watching the former headmaster, noticing that he looked thinner- and his hair and beard were a filthy mess, his glasses broken. He was wildly moving his eyes, and Tom understood.
"The Stupor spell?", he guessed.
"That's part of it, yes", his Daddy answered calmly, and Tom blinked, "part…of it?"
"I'll show you", Gryffindor casually opened the bars with a wave of his hand, and they entered the small cell.
Tom realized that there was something attached to Dumbledore, something that looked like a feeding tube.
He stepped closer, leaning over the former headmaster, but there was no recognition in his eyes when he saw him, his eyes were staring at him blindly.
"He…cannot see me", Tom whispered, and suddenly the horror of what his Daddy had done to Dumbledore sank in, "he…he stays like that forever, right? Trapped?"
"Trapped in his mind- without being able to see, hear, talk, or even smell- and without being able to move", Gryffindor said, sounding completely unaffected by the terror of his words, "he has a feeding tube that provides him with a bland meal three times a day- just enough to keep him alive. He gets water the same way. Just water, nothing else."
Tom shuddered again, and this time, it was not from the cold, "and…he can never move? How does he go to the bathroom?"
"He does not go anywhere anymore- he will spend the rest of his life laying on a cold floor- I cannot even imagine the torture that must be for his back and neck", Gryffindor replied, and now he seemed amused, "and for the bathroom- well, he has learned just to let go- the wardens use a cleaning spell on him twice a day, and if he goes right after, he has to lay in his filth and wait until they clean him again."
"That's…he can't feel anything?"
"He can feel one thing, actually", Gryffindor waved his hand, and Tom noticed how Dumbledore's expression changed, it became even more ghastly.
"He can feel pain", Tom whispered hoarsely, staring at Dumbledore's eyes who were moving so fast only the white parts could be seen, "does he…does he even know we are here? Does he know who is hurting him?"
"No- but I am sure he has an idea it's me. It's either me or the wardens, he gets crucioed at least once a day, but he never knows when- which means he gets to anticipate it all day long without being able to do anything against it."
"That sounds worse than being dead- why does he not kill himself?"
"He can't, Tommy- the feeding tube provides him with enough nutrition and water, and if he tries to stop breathing for too long, literally the only thing he can do to end his life, an alarm gets set off, and the wardens simply use an oxygen spell on him."
"Has he tried that before?"
"He tries it every ten minutes or so."
Tom was at a loss for words, seemingly stunned, "I guess…there's not much else to do for him anymore", he eventually said, and Gryffindor chuckled, "there is not- but he won't escape this. I am planning to let him live like this for at least another five years."
Five years. He could not even imagine spending five minutes like this.
"Do you want to talk to him, Tommy?", Gryffindor now asked, ending the torture spell, "I won't take you here again, and he'll get transferred to Azkaban soon- where he won't even have any hay on the floor, and where it's even colder than here."
He was also going to change Dumbledore's cleaning- instead of twice a day, in Azkaban he would get cleaned once every other day, forcing him to spend more time laying in his excrements.
Gryffindor knew that this was brutal- but Dumbledore had not only tried to rule the wizarding world as a dictator, he had also betrayed them- and he had put Salazar through hell for months, he had humiliated his son in public, and he had made a house elf spy on him in his own house. He was not feeling sorry for Dumbledore, not even one bit.
"Yes…I'd like to talk to him, Daddy", Tom now said in a clear voice.
"Alright. Tell him whatever you want, he will be able to hear you, but he won't be able to talk. I am not going to let him insult you again", he waved his hand, deactivating the part of the spell that made Dumbledore deaf, and the former headmaster would have winced if he could have. Now all he could do was roll his eyes in the dark all day and night long, while being forced to lay in his own filth, and he could do nothing against being fed by the feeding tube three times a day, never having anything in his mouth to chew or to swallow, not that he was able to move his mouth. His back and neck were sore and burning from being forced to lay on the hard floor, the hay provided almost no comfort. The silence around him was a torture of its own- he could never hear anyone approaching, he never knew when they would come to clean or feed him or to use the Crucio on him again, so he was in a constant state of stress and anxiety.
Now the silence suddenly stopped, and he heard noises, but when he realized that it was Gryffindor saying something, the man who had put him into this living hell, he wanted to scream and rip the Founder's eyes out, he wanted him to endure this, too- but he could not even flinch.
"Can you hear me, Dumbledore?", someone else now said, and it took him a couple of seconds to understand that it was Voldemort talking. The nerve of that brat to show up here! He had liked him better crawling on the floor like a dog.
Of course I can hear you, idiot.
"I just…wanted to tell you that I am happy now. We all are happy", he heard the boy say, and he really felt like snorting- or spitting in his face.
Who gives a shit about your happiness? I hope you die in misery soon.
"You did not win, Dumbledore."
Tell me something I don't know, bastard.
"Dad has been doing great- he is able to run again, and we had a snowball fight yesterday and he won. It was Dad and Sirius against me and Aurelius."
Shut up! Just shut up!
"And I am really excited for Christmas this year", the brat kept going, and he wished he could be deaf now- how he missed the silence suddenly.
"We are going to decorate the tree later, and Daddy said I've been a good boy, so I'll get lots of presents."
All you should get is a knife stabbed through your disgusting little body.
"You know, in a way I guess I have to thank you, Dumbledore", the boy now said thoughtfully, "without the bet, I'd never have a family now- and I would not have my Daddy."
I wish I could throw up.
"Tommy…I would have adopted you at some point, just not at that time", Gryffindor now said, his voice all soft and sickly sweet, and now he really felt like vomiting.
"Because you were too busy being all grumpy and mean", the boy concluded, and Dumbledore could hear the smile in his voice.
"Don't push your luck, baby bear."
The boy actually giggled, and Dumbledore decided that this was the perfect time for another suicide attempt.
"You gonna spank me?"
"You know I will if you are being naughty."
"Nah, I think you are just saying that- you love me too much."
He heard Gryffindor laugh, "that is true- now, I'd like to have a word in private with Dumbledore- could you go and wait by the door for me? Where the guards are?"
"Yes, Daddy", the boy replied, sounding somewhat relieved, and the he heard footsteps moving away from him.
He anticipated a Crucio at any second now, desperately trying not to breathe again- which was harder than it sounded. As soon as he was getting close, his self-preservation instinct kicked in, and then usually the guards came running with that fucking oxygen spell, and they had started to punish him for his attempts by torturing him- not very creatively but effectively- by burning him with hot water that they poured over his legs and arms.
The spell did not prevent him from feeling pain, which was the worst part about it. He would feel a lot calmer if he would not have to anticipate to get tortured every second of every day- not even mentioning the agony of his sore muscles and neck. He cursed at himself when he heard an alarm seconds later, confirming his thoughts that the guards got noticed whenever he tried to stop breathing for too long.
"Taking the coward's way out? How fitting for a coward like you", Gryffindor's voice was pure venom, and Dumbledore wanted to roar with fury when he felt the oxygen getting pushed into his lungs, and he knew that he had lost again.
Die, Gryffindor, die!
"Everything okay, Sir?", someone else asked, and he could only guess that it was one of the guards- he hated being blind.
"I got it under control- I just don't like the fact he lets you come running all ten minutes", Gryffindor sounded annoyed, "you are not his servants, yet he treats you as such. I think it is time for me to research some oxygen spells- and that way, he would get provided with oxygen automatically."
Fuck you! Fuck you!
"That would certainly help, Sir", one of the guards said, sounding grateful, "we have to work in shifts now to make sure he does not stop breathing- and last night after he got his daily dose of Crucio, he tried almost every five minutes. It was exhausting."
"I apologize", Gryffindor sounded grim, "I was going to get him transferred to Azkaban soon anyways, and they will have no patience for his little games- they will simply punish him until he stops playing the fool."
"We tried that- used some nice hot water on him last night, but it just made him piss himself."
Humiliation washed over him in waves, and he knew that Gryffindor took satisfaction in the fact that he could hear them talk about himself like he was not even there.
Burn in hell, Gryffindor! BURN!
"I'll arrange for him to get transferred tonight, so you don't have to put up with his games anymore. Feel free to let him know how it makes you feel to come running in here all the time until then."
"We will, Sir, thank you, Sir", they both sounded gleeful, and he rolled his eyes in despair, knowing that he was going to suffer all night- until they send him to the next hell, Azkaban.
"Don't worry about cleaning him- the wardens at Azkaban will take care of it. There is no point in pampering him with daily cleanings anymore- someone who is rotting in Azkaban does not need to smell like flowers."
A cleaning spell takes two seconds! What the fuck!
"Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir", the guards now said, and then he heard them leave, chuckling to themselves, probably already imagining how to torture him until he got transferred.
Gryffindor chuckled as well, "not how you imagined to spend the last years of your life, am I right, Dumbledore?"
SHUT UP!
"I had to send my boy away- some things are just too gruesome to discuss", Gryffindor kept talking, sounding all casual, which was unnerving, "I just wanted to let you know that this will be my last visit- I simply don't have time to waste with talking to scum like you anymore. I have a family to take care of."
Finally some good news- I won't be seeing or hearing you bastard ever again.
"Don't worry, the wardens at Azkaban have gotten explicit instructions from me- and they will make you miss this cell fairly quickly", he laughed, "maybe I will visit you again- for New Year's, to wish you a very Happy New Year", his voice was pure mockery, "or maybe I won't- whatever I feel like. Did you know I could let you live like this for the next ten years?", he could not, but Dumbledore did not need to know that, "but maybe if you are showing me how obedient you can be in Azkaban, maybe I'll kill you in six or seven years- or maybe I won't."
Nooooooooooooo!
Gryffindor was not surprised when Dumbledore's eyes stopped rolling- telling him that the former headmaster had passed out from the terror he had put in his mind. Well, time to go then. He had a Christmas tree to decorate, and three boys to spoil with cake and tea at home.
"Merry Christmas, Dumbledore", he laughed again, waving his hand to make sure the former headmaster was deaf once more- and then, he left. After all, he had Christmas to prepare for- and he was determined to make it perfect for his boys.
And two weeks later, Christmas started early. Very early.
"It's morning! It's Christmas, it's time for presents!", someone was jumping up and down right next to him, and when Godric groggily opened his eyes, his two youngest boys were staring at him, looking excited, "it's Christmas, Daddy!", Tom declared, "gonna go open presents!"
He sighed, "what time is it, boys?"
"Presents time!", Sirius told him earnestly, and he could hear Salazar chuckle, "it's five in the morning. A little too early if you ask me."
"I agree", Godric gently pulled his middle son down until he was laying right next to him, "a couple more hours, sweet boy, and then you get to open your presents, hmm?"
"Wanna open them now, Daddy!"
He softly patted his butt, "only good boys get to open presents- boys who listened to their fathers, and naughty boys have to wait even longer."
"I'm a good boy, Daddy!"
He had to smile, "I know you are- and I think you are still tired, hmm?", he tightened his grip, and just like always, the fidgeting instantly stopped, and his boy went completely still in his arms.
"Sleepy, Daddy…", the boy yawned, and he gave him a kiss on his tousled hair, "shhh…quiet time now. Close your eyes, baby bear", he looked over to his partner who had pulled Sirius into an embrace, and the smaller boy was already sleeping soundly, a smile on his lips.
Salazar winked at him, "let's hope they sleep for another hour."
They both chuckled quietly, and then they fell asleep, too- cuddled together with their two youngest sons, and they were cozy enough to sleep for another three hours- waking up at eight in the morning.
"Merry Christmas, Daddy", Tom grinned from ear to ear, "may I please open my presents now?"
He had to laugh, "look at that- what a good boy you can be if you want something, hmm?", he sounded amused, "go take a shower and get dressed- and then we'll have a quick breakfast and then you get to open your presents."
"Yes, Daddy", his boy said softly, scrambling to get out of the bed, "come on, Sirius, let's go- we have to take a shower first."
"I'm coming!", Sirius hurried to follow his older brother who he had started to adore just as much as they both adored Aurelius, and Tom was proud of the fact that his parents let him take over more and more responsibilities for Sirius- while letting him be more independent at the same time.
They went and showered, got dressed, and had a quick breakfast- pancakes- and then, it was finally time to open the presents.
Tom's eyes were shining with wonder when he unpacked gift after gift- he got books, candy, new clothes, a sled, more candy, art supplies, and plenty of toys. He looked over to his brothers and watched Sirius shriek with joy at his skis and a bunch of stuffed animals, and he saw Aurelius smiling about a brand-new Quidditch uniform.
"You gonna play Quidditch, Relius?", he blurted out, walking over to his older brother, and the boy looked at him in amusement, "try again, baby bear."
"Are you going to play Quidditch, Relius?", he obediently said, it had gotten rare that his parents or his older brother needed to correct him, he only fell back to his old way of speaking when he was excited or nervous.
"Good boy, Tommy", he pulled him into a hug, "and yes, I am going to play Quidditch- we all will I believe."
"I got a new Quidditch uniform, too!", Sirius announced, "and a new broom! Now I don't have to use your old broom anymore, Relius!"
"I am glad to hear that, baby boy", Aurelius ruffled Sirius' hair, "Tommy, why don't you open your other presents over there? That one suspiciously looks like a broom."
That made Sirius giggle, "did you get a Firebolt, too, Tom?"
"Let me check!", he hastily tore off the wrapping paper, and when he saw the Firebolt, his whole face flushed with happiness, "I got one as well, Sirius! We can have a race!"
His Dad came closer, smiling at them, "I am glad you like your brooms, boys- but those are for school, not for playing with at home. You will have to use Aurelius' two old brooms if you want to race."
"Okay, Daddy", Sirius easily agreed, but Tom frowned, "what does that mean…school?", he wanted to know, "what school?"
"Hogwarts, Tommy", his Daddy had come closer as well, "I was going to tell you boys later- Salazar and I have agreed that it would be best if you all go back to Hogwarts after Christmas break."
"Yay! I cannot wait!", Sirius yelled, jumping up and down, "it's going to be so much fun!"
"It will be fun- but I hope you will also study hard, Sirius", Salazar remarked, and Sirius hurried to nod, beaming.
"We will be back in time for the Quidditch tryouts for the second half of the school year, too", Aurelius sounded pleased about that, while Tom just bit his lips, staring to the floor.
"Something wrong, Tommybear?", Gryffindor's voice was mild, but he felt the tension radiating from his boy in waves, sensing an argument.
"I don't want to go to Hogwarts- I want to go to Belvedere!", his boy eventually said, his voice angry, "you promised me I could go!"
"I did, Tommy- when you are ready. You are not ready right now, and that's why you are going to Hogwarts with your brothers after Christmas break", Gryffindor told him calmly, "I do believe you might be ready to go in a year or two- but not now."
"I am ready! This is not fair!", his boy stomped his foot, his eyes sparkling with fury, "I'm not going to stupid Hogwarts! I am not!"
"You are- and if you keep throwing a temper tantrum, you will also go over my lap for a spanking, Tommy", Gryffindor's voice was still calm, "acting like this is showing me exactly why you are not ready to go to Belvedere- you are behaving like a naughty little boy right now."
Tom stifled a sob, "not fair!", he repeated stubbornly, knowing he was on thin ice right now, "I won't go to Hogwarts, I am gonna go to Belvedere by myself! You can't stop me, you…"
"Enough", Gryffindor's voice had gotten firm, "I do not want to punish you on Christmas, but I am not going to have you talk to me in such a disrespectful tone- go stand in the corner, facing the wall. If I hear one sound from you, it's a spanking. Do you understand me, Thomas?"
Tom swallowed, knowing that he had pushed his Daddy too far, "yes, I understand, Daddy", he said quietly, slowly making his way to the corner. He felt humiliated for being disciplined in front of his younger brother- something that had not happened in weeks.
"You get fifteen minutes, Thomas", his Daddy told him, and he hung his head. He hated corner time, and knowing that he was on display now for his whole family to see him getting punished was horrible. He could hear his parents and brothers talking quietly in the background, and he had to blink back his tears. He did not want to go to Hogwarts- he liked being at home with his brothers, studying together, and he was not ready to face everyone at the school, and besides, he wanted to draw, he wanted to go to Belvedere!
"Time's up, baby bear", his Daddy finally said, and he waited until his Daddy came over to end the punishment, "there's my good boy- now, do you have anything to say to me?"
"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Daddy", he whispered, shame creeping up his neck, "I just…I don't want to go to Hogwarts, please, Daddy."
"Tommy…you cannot stay here forever, you need an actual education, and Hogwarts is the best school for that. It will be good for you to be around other children, too."
"I don't need other children, I have Relius and Sirius!", the boy argued, and Salazar, who wanted to keep the peace for Christmas, hurried to step in, "how about you boys try out your new sled, Tommy? You still have two weeks until break is over, and we don't need to discuss all of this now, do we?", it sounded like a question, but Tom knew it was rhetorical, "that sounds fun, Dad", he replied quietly, "I'll go and get my boots on."
"Good idea, Tommy", his Dad answered, smiling at him, "and I am sure Sirius is dying to test his new skis, right, baby boy?"
"Yes, Daddy!", Sirius responded, eager to help his brother out, "come on, Tom, let's go play outside!"
"Okay", Tom refused to look at his Daddy while he followed Sirius to get his coat, hat, mittens, and boots on, and soon they were playing out in the snow, taking turns sledding and skiing, and it did not take long for Tom to forget about what happened, thrilled about his new sled. When it got too cold, they went back inside for lunch, hungry and exhausted.
"Do you want to go back out after lunch, Sirius? We could try to sled down the hill by the rose garden", Tom suggested, happily munching on his sandwich.
Before Sirius could respond, Gryffindor did.
"I think you boys should take a nap after lunch- you got up early, and I know you want to stay up late tonight to watch the fireworks", he informed his two youngest sons, and while Sirius seemed relieved about that suggestion, Tom did not, "I don't need a nap!", he replied, a hint of defiance in his voice, "Relius does not need to take a nap either!"
"Your brother is not only three years older than you, he also did not play as much as you and Sirius did, Tommy", Gryffindor told him calmly, but there was an edge in his voice, and Tom knew he was pushing it again. He really did not want to get spanked on Christmas, though, so he decided to give in- for now. He was tired of getting treated like a little boy, and he would show his Daddy that he did not need a nap.
I'll just stay awake, that will show him that I don't need naps! I am tired of being treated like a child!
Pleased with his plan, he finished his lunch, and then Aurelius brought them upstairs for their nap.
"Would you like to snuggle with Bagel, Tommy?", he asked him, holding up the stuffie, while handing Sirius Blacky.
Yes!
"No, that's…okay, I…I don't need him", he told his older brother, trying hard to sound as mature as he could, "I am not…tired anyways."
Aurelius did not say anything, he did not have to- he just raised an eyebrow, giving him a look, and Tom swallowed, staring at the floor, more determined than ever to go through with his plan.
I'll show you all that I am a big boy now!
poor tommy ;) there will be spanking in the next (and last) chapter, and an epilogue, aaaand dumbles will appear again as well! ;)
Please let me know if you liked it! (or not)
Happy Holidays!
xoxo,
Antonie
