Harry slowly looked up as shoes appeared in his sight.
"How is our Lord?" Abraxas stood panting before him.
"He's still inside," the Auror nodded to the emergency room left to him.
"He'll be fine. Our Lord's the strongest!" the blond said more to reassure himself than his cousin.
"If there's one person who always seems to be able to survive anything, it's Tom." Surprised Harry looked behind Malfoy to see Albus Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore, what are you doing here?" Malfoy asked surprised after he turned around to see who had interrupted them.
"Just visiting a family member, when I heard about Tom," Albus shrugged and Harry wondered if that was the same person he had been visiting all the previous times they ran into each other. Whatever he wanted to say next, fell dead in his mouth as the door to the emergency room finally opened.
"Mr Remus," the wizard immediately addressed the patient's fiancé. "Mr Riddle is out of immediate danger," he dropped the good news and a wave of relief seemed to hit the younger man.
"Immediate danger? Meaning there's still a chance something could go wrong?" Abraxas crushed his relief a little with a business like tone. The wizard hesitatingly eyed Dumbledore and the professor was quick to excuse himself.
"Electrification," the wizard started again when Albus had rounded the corner, "has damaged Mr Riddle's body unto the cell level. His cells are slowly being healed, but it will take time and with time comes the risks of complications."
"Then speed it up!" Abraxas called out and the man shot him a look.
"That would endanger his recovery even more." The Auror felt his hope sink as the tide could turn at any minute it seemed.
"How bad was he?" his voice sounded quieter than he meant and the wizard gave him a look full pity.
"His organs had started to shut down." A horrified expression appeared on Harry's face. "He wouldn't have had long if you hadn't brought him in when you did," the man continued sympathetic and the Auror felt a hand wrap around his elbow. Glancing sideways, his cousin looked ready to catch him at any moment.
'Do I look that frail?' he wondered silently. "Can we see him?"
"Only through a window, I apologize. We can't risk the enchantments surrounding Mr Riddle to be disturbed." Harry nodded in understanding. He just wanted to see Tom. Both of them followed the wizard inside and got directed to a magical window. With a tap of his wand the man made the glass transparent and the Auror's breath got stuck in his throat. Tom was laying on top of a bed with a greenish looking bubble surrounding him completely. Clear interactions could be seen with the other spells on the motionless body and reality hit Harry hard.
'I could have lost him… for good.' A shiver ran up his spine and unconsciously he grasped for the silver ball in his pocket. 'Such a small thing could have taken him from me.' It seemed such a preposterous thought.
"We'll be posting Aurors around this room twenty four seven," Abraxas decided while squeezing his cousin's elbow in comfort for a moment.
"Of course," the wizard nodded in understanding.
"Stay for a while. I'll be going back to the Ministry," the blond lowered his voice a little and the Auror nodded seemly in a trance. The medical wizard disappeared together with Malfoy and Harry didn't know how long he was standing there alone when suddenly arms wrapped around him. Surprised, he shot out of his thoughts and glanced backwards to see Ignatius. Blinking, his mind also registered the other two present and tears finally started to fall as Parkinson pulled him even closer.
"He'll be okay," Ignatius kept mumbling in his ear as Alex hid the younger man's crying face against his neck. Alistair's hand slowly slipped between the hair locks at the back of his head and started massaging is lightly.
-THTH-
With heavy feet, Harry walked into the Ministry and slowly made his way to the Headquarters of Defence. When he entered a dead silence spread in the hall and everyone was looking at him expectantly and a kind of fear. Harold and Martin immediately came over to him.
"How is he?" No name was needed.
"Stable," the younger man answered and the atmosphere around him immediately changed. Everyone seemed to have gotten a rush of adrenaline and quickly continued their work. "How did the second part of the operation go?" Harry changed the subject.
"Well, we've taken all the leaders in custody and it seemed our guess was right. Yaxley seemed to be the one leading Azac," Doyle answered.
"Most went with dignity, so there wasn't a lot of trouble," the oldest Potter continued.
"The group of wizards and witches found near the train tracks of the Hogwarts Express are being transported to the Department of Interrogation!" a woman's voice bellowed and Harry's eyebrows rose.
"So, there was back up for the Hogwarts Express."
"Yes," Harold nodded, "Tom and Alistair saved a lot of lives." It helped a little to know that.
"You two should get some rest," the temporary Head Auror suddenly said.
"Don't you need us here?" Harold questioned and Martin shook his head.
"No, with the backup captured, we should have gotten them all. I'm going to be sending everyone we don't need home."
"We could all use some rest. What about you?" the oldest Potter questioned.
"I'll be staying until Zanal shows up. I've already informed the Aurors here that he's still alive." Harry was surprised they had revealed that already, definitely with Tom temporarily out of the picture. "Your cousin decided we needed him back as quick as possible," Doyle explained. The younger man frowned before accepting that Abraxas was going to have to take charge while the Minister was out of commission.
"And we probably do," Harry sighed and Harold patted his shoulder.
"Let's go home. If you want you can stay over." Giving his grandfather a thankful smile, the younger man declined.
"Alex's made it very clear that I have to stay at his place. Ignatius will also be staying over." The oldest Potter nodded in understanding.
"You've got some great friends in those two," he lightly smiled and the other smiled back.
"I know." Harold pressed the button for the lift.
"I'm going to make a short stop at the Department of Science," Harry decided. He had come to the Ministry together with Alistair so he knew the scientist would be present.
"I'll join you," his grandfather clearly didn't want to leave him alone. As they entered the laboratory they found Lemauris glaring angry at Alistair who was heavily defending himself. It looked more to the two Potters that he was begging for the other to forgive him. As the two scientists noted them, Stromay immediately flew to Harry and pulled him in front of Lemauris.
"Marvolo, tell him our Lord and I didn't have another choice! It was the only way to save as much people as we possible could!" Alistair sounded desperate.
"As much as I don't approve of the way they did it, they did save a lot of people," the Auror admitted and Lemauris' glare took a turn for the worse.
"They should have sent two Aurors instead of going themselves!" Harry blinked and moved his eyes to his scientist friend.
"Yes, actually they shouldn't have been anywhere near the train station. What were you even thinking?!" Alistair wisely took a step backwards.
"Our Lord didn't take no for an answer and I couldn't let him go alone. Plus, I know how to use the magic absorber," Stromay defended himself.
"You should have reminded our Minister that it's his job to stay here and guide everything in the correct way," Harold added and Alistair looked like a cornered animal.
"Our Lord wouldn't have gone if he hadn't seen Marvolo..." Stromay stopped but he had already said too much.
"So, it's my fault," the younger Auror stated coldly. Alistair immediately started to shake his head and hands in front of his face.
"No, I'm just saying you know how our Lord gets when it comes to you!" Harry just groaned as reaction.
"We're trained for such situations, the Minister isn't," Harold defended his partner. "You should have done everything you could to stop him."
"You weren't there. We didn't have the time," the scientist mumbled and Harry took pity on his friend.
"It doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done." Lemauris gave him an unreadable expression. "And if this thing," the younger man pulled the silver ball from his robe, "hadn't started electrifying everyone, Tom wouldn't be so bad off." He handed it to Alistair, but it was Lemauris who took it.
"What's its purpose?" he asked interested.
"It's supposed to stun everyone in a radius of ten metres except the wearer of this ring," the Auror held up his ringed finger.
"He actually gave you a weapon as proposal?" Harold asked stunned and his grandson looked at his finger with a frown.
"Typical Tom," Alistair shrugged.
"We'll need your ring to find out what went wrong, but my guess would be the counter interfered," Lemauris said and slowly the younger man removed the ring from his finger with a heavy feeling.
"Find out for certain. I don't want something like this to ever happen again."
"You can count on us," Alistair assured him and with quick goodbye the two Potters left.
-THTH-
"Why does it always seem that when death's in the picture nothing else matters any longer?" Harry questioned as he was sitting back in Alex's study. He had made a quick stop at home for some more clean clothes and to inform Dopper of what had happened.
"It gives us another perspective," Crabbe answered.
"I'm not going to forgive him! What he did was completely immoral! Just disgusting!" the Auror emphasized and Ignatius nodded beside him.
"Probably not the best moment to announce your break up," Alex continued and a groan could be heard as reaction.
"Even unconscious, Tom still keeps me by his side," Harry mumbled while lightly kicking the side of the couch Ignatius was sitting on. His friend just gave him a pitiful look.
-THTH-
Sighing, Harry stared at the motionless figure on the bed before him. Only the rising of the chest proofed the Dark Lord was still alive. The doctors had moved Tom to a regular room as chance of infection had decreased to a minimum. For nearly two months the Minister had been kept secluded and nobody had been allowed near him. Tomorrow, they had told him, he would wake up. The younger man was happy with the news, but also scared. It would be time to face reality. It was easy to pretend everything was all right between them without the other participant present. Slowly he raised his hand to Tom's and entangled their fingers.
'It will be a while before I can do this again. Maybe even never…' Another sigh. He had seen in the future that they end up together but that future seemed so far away right now. 'Plus we would be wed before my mother got born and I don't see us getting married any time soon.' He raised their entwined hands. 'Just how much blood is on these hands?' the Auror wondered and sneered a little in disgust while dropping the other hand on the bed again. 'To think he would torture someone and then come home and make love to me with the same hands.' The younger man shook his head and got to his feet. Staring down at the Dark Lord he wondered if he would come at all tomorrow.
"We'll see," he mumbled before turning away and leaving the room. Feeling empty he walked down the corridor and glanced inside the other rooms to keep his mind distracted. Surprised he suddenly stopped when he recognized Dumbledore. "Professor," his voice announced his present before he even decided if he really wanted to interrupt the man.
"Marvolo?" Albus turned around and gave him a smile. "How's Tom doing?"
"Good." The Auror entered the room and noted the man lying on the bed behind the professor. He immediately recognized Aberforth.
"Ah, this is my brother, Aberforth and this is my old student Marvolo," Albus introduced them and his brother gave the Auror a nod as greeting.
"Our Minister's fiancé." Harry just smiled before answering the professor's question.
"Tom should wake up tomorrow."
"That's great news... isn't it?" The younger man's face must have given his doubts away.
"Of course, it is." Albus frowned at his answer.
"Why don't you join me to the cafeteria? They have the best fruitcake here." Aberforth just rolled his eyes. "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning," Albus assured his brother before ushering the Auror outside.
"It was nice meeting you," Harry quickly said his goodbye and let himself be guided away. They walked to the cafeteria where Dumbledore got his fruitcake before leading them to a private garden Harry had no idea was here.
"I like it here. It's nice and quiet," Albus stated and sat down on the lonely looking bench. "Now, why don't you tell me what's bothering you," he smiled with twinkling eyes and Harry could see the Headmaster he would become in him. Taking his time, he sat down beside the older man.
"Do-do you belief that the future is fixed?" Blue eyes widened in surprise.
"I would think you would be the one, who could answer that question."
"You would think so..." the younger man sighed.
"You've seen it." It wasn't a question.
"And things aren't adding up any longer," the Auror confessed. "Things are changing and... I don't know if that future's still true." It was scary to say his fears aloud. It made them even more real.
"And you want that future," Albus nodded in understanding, which Harry found amazing if he could really comprehend.
"Harry," his real name made his heart skip a beat, "I believe that there are different main storylines of our future and our past decisions leads us too one of them." The younger man just blinked. "But every small decision can create a small drift that will eventually join back to the same storyline or move to another if the impact is strong enough," the professor smiled. "Those drifts can speed up or slow down the important moments of our lives." Harry took a moment to think about those words.
"Meaning that the future I want is still in reach, even if it gets delayed." Albus smiled and nodded.
"But that's just what I believe. Like how some people are just destined to meet. In one storyline they could be enemies while in another lovers," again the Auror's heart thumped, "or simply friends. Maybe they only meet twice, but always during those important moments." A silence settled over them as Harry kept thinking about the professor's words while said man enjoyed his fruitcake.
'Tom's life and mine are definitely entwined, no matter what,' he was certain of that. 'But I can't be lovers with him. Not now.' He sighed. 'And I can't imaging us as enemies. Not really. He's not Voldemort.' It felt great to be able to think like that. 'Friends?' Somehow that even felt wrong. 'Let's just start with being able to stay in the same room as him without being completely disgusted. We do still work at the same place.' He mentally nodded to himself and turned to the man beside him.
"Thanks Professor," he said and got a huge smile back.
"My pleasure, my boy. I'm certain you can find the correct path again."
-THTH-
A groan fell from Tom's lips, before he slowly opened his eyes. His head was killing him and the strong light didn't help. His muscles complained as he moved his arm to shield his eyes. Taking his time, his eyes got used to the brightness and he realized he was in a hospital.
'What-ah.' The memory of what happened resurfaced in his mind. 'Did we win? Is Harry all right?' He pushed himself upwards but stopped midway as a sharp pain spread through his stomach. Carefully touching the painful spot, he only felt smooth skin. 'This is where that piece of track pierced me.' He was glad he was healed up and reasoned that if the wound was still sensitive he hadn't been out that long.
'Now to let someone know I'm awake,' he turned his attention to the alarm sphere and ignoring his stiffness, slowly touched it. The sphere immediately started glowing and not a minute later a witch ran inside.
"My Lord!" she called out stunned. "You're awake!"
-THTH-
Tom got a shock when he found out that two months had passed already. Abraxas was the first to show up on the side of his bed and inform him of everything that had happened.
"How's Marvolo?" Tom interrupted the blond when he wanted to change subjects.
"Ah, he's well," Malfoy said while forcing an innocent look on his face and brown eyes darkened at him. A big sigh was heard before Abraxas answered. "He has rented a small apartment." Alarm bells went off in Tom's mind.
"What?! You should have stopped him! He has had the house all to himself!" He was slightly panting as the dreaded questions spilled from his lips. "Does-does everyone know? Did he really leave me?" Grey eyes widened and blond locks twirled around as the head quickly shook a negative answer.
"No, it's entirely secretive. Nobody knows you broke up!"
'Then there's still hope...' the Dark Lord reasoned.
"You will have to proof yourself to him, my Lord," Abraxas simply stated.
"And how do I do that?" the Minister muttered bitterly.
"Just don't do anything illegal and start small. Slowly try to become friends again and nature will do the rest," Malfoy said wisely and Tom wondered how long he had been thinking on that. Two months probably.
"Did he visit a lot?" he quietly asked and the blond hesitated.
"More so in the beginning," he eventually answered. Closing his eyes, the Dark Lord hoped his fear wasn't clear to see. "Like I said, just take your time," Malfoy reassured him, which somehow only made him feel worse.
-THTH-
Visitors came and went the entire day, but the most important person was still missing. Looking at the time, Tom saw it was only a half hour before visiting hours were over and let out a defeated sigh. 'He's not coming,' he sulked and aimlessly stared in front of him.
"You look well," the voice - he had wanted to hear the entire day - suddenly said and he turned his head so fast to the door that he hurt his neck. There his love stood, leaning casually against the door opening. The ability to speak seemed to have been lost by him. He could only watch the other come closer and pull a chair to his bed. "I'm glad you woke up," the Auror smiled softly and the Minister didn't like how calm he looked.
"You look good," and the younger man honestly did look great. Again that soft smile.
"It helps that I haven't been in a coma for two months." Tom had to give him that.
"Are you saying I look bad?" he tried with a playful tone and he succeeded in making the other chuckle.
"Just really scruffy," Harry said honestly before biting his lip a little. "I wanted to let you know that I'll be moving out." Brown eyes widened and all the previous alarms started to ring again. He hadn't expected the other to bring up that subject so quickly.
"You don't have too," Tom said just above a whisper and the Harry's smile turned sad.
"You know I do." A tense silence fell between them and brown eyes caught sight of his ring.
"Why are you still wearing your ring?" he questioned, honestly curious. The Auror looked down in surprise before raising his hand in front of his face.
"Because it's easier to protect you as your fiancé," he answered with a blank look before eyeing the other again, "when you can't do it yourself." Warmth spread through the Minister's chest.
"Abraxas could have."
"But not as good as I could," the younger man smirked. "You might have acted reckless, but you still saved a lot of peoples' lives, including mine. This was the least I could do."
'A last thank you to not feel guilty,' the Dark Lord could only see it like that.
"When will you announce it? Our... separation," he couldn't say the words break up and green eyes widened in surprise.
"I'm not going too." Brown eyes narrowed in confusion. "I won't let them make this into some media circus. They'll figure it out eventually; let's not help them." Tom couldn't help but find that an odd reasoning. Of course, for his career it was better the people kept thinking they were still together, but somehow it also seemed perfect to give idle hope.
'And maybe that just what he's doing.'
"I should get going." The Dark Lord immediately wanted to reject that idea, but Harry had already gotten up. "I'll see you around," the younger man said a little uncomfortable and the Minister could only watch him go.
-THTH-
Silently, Tom sat down in the public area of the court room. The day had finally come for the process of Yaxley, which he wasn't going to miss. He got greeted by a couple of wizards and witches, but was glad they weren't coming over to talk. He wasn't in the mood. He hadn't been since he woke up and only one person could change that, but he had only seen him from afar for the last three months. His eyes automatically moved over every head present, but the Auror was nowhere to be seen. Sighing, he leaned backwards and closed his eyes for a moment. Hearing the chair beside him move, he mentally groaned before opening his eyes to see who dared to sit beside him and got the shock of his life. Harry was sitting beside him with Harold and Martin on the other side.
"I wonder what they are going to use as defence?" the younger man said aloud and actually turned to the Minister for an answer. Tom's heart was beating wildly. He knew the people around them where watching their every move as rumours of a possible break up had been making the rounds, but with them still wearing each other's ring, nobody was certain. And just like Harry had said, they themselves also weren't reacting to the questions about the state of their relationship. The Dark Lord knew especially Elladora was curious, but it didn't matter. She didn't stand a chance.
"Tom?" the Auror asked when the older one just stared at him. Getting pulled out of his thoughts, the Dark Lord felt stupid.
"It won't matter, the evidences against him are too strong," he quickly replied and heard someone sit on his other side.
"Seeing the two of you together is a real attraction," Abraxas chuckled and brown eyes quickly swept their surroundings. Everyone was very openly watching them and Tom didn't like it.
"Ignore them," Harry stated. He had probably seen the look on his face.
"They could be more discreet," he mumbled as the judge entered the room. The wizard called for everyone's attention before announcing the offender's entry. The process went by slowly with multiple witness' statements from both sides. Zanal had to explain why they faked his death and Dern how he infiltrated the organization. Tom was scheduled for tomorrow and he would make certain Yaxley got what he deserved with only the use of the legal system. The old wizard had done enough that that wouldn't be difficult. He just needed to word it the right way and that was just what he was going to do.
-THTH-
Harry couldn't help but stare at the man sitting in the witness stand. 'He looks good,' his mind supplied and a frown settle on his face.
'I just haven't really looked at him in a while!' he defended himself as his green eyes travelled over Tom's face. The Minister was explaining in great detail how they had figured out that Yaxley was the leader of Azac. 'Why would he need Dark Magic if he can be this persuasive?' the younger man wondered as he eyed the jury. The twelve wizards and witches seemed to be eating out of his hand.
"He's always been good with words, hasn't he?" Harold whispered beside him and his grandson nodded.
'If only that was the only thing he was good at…' His eyes moved back to the witness stand to see the Dark Lord getting dismissed and walk back to his seat between the public. 'He lost weight,' Harry thought absentminded and promised himself to talk to Dopper about this. Tom had actually allowed the house-elf to also serve the Auror in his new apartment, with clear hours the elf was expected to be at his mansion.
"Our shift is going to start," Harold pulled his attention and with a nod the younger man silently stood up. Being as quiet as they could, they left the hearing.
-THTH-
"We've found Timothy Yaxley…." the jury member pause to add more tension to the whole situation, "guilty of high treason." The judge nodded in understanding and with a straight face thanked the jury before announcing the punishment.
"Hereby I sentence you to a lifetime in Azkaban," he declared and closed the case with a thump of his gavel on the sound block. A huge smile appeared on Tom's face as the old man got dragged out of the court room with his head held high.
"I can't believe its over," Harry mumbled from beside him and the Minister glanced down at him. He didn't like it that he wouldn't find the Auror sitting beside him any longer. It was only for show, but he had started to look forward to those short moments they would sit together. It were the only moments they would be near each other anymore.
"He got what he deserved," Abraxas sounded satisfied and Zanal agreed with him.
"It's only justice that he got the heaviest sentence of them all." Slowly the court room started to empty and they were ones of the last ones to leave. As they separated, Tom could only stare at the retreating back of Harry, who was walking beside Alistair and a sigh fell from his lips before he followed Abraxas to his office.
-THTH-
"So, it was the counter's fault?" Harry repeated and Alistair nodded.
"Yes, the frequency it was sending out changed the structure of the spell on the silver ball."
"Making it electrify everyone instead of stun." The Scientist nodded. "But how is that even possible? We use spells together all the time without any interference," the younger asked confused.
"Because the spell on the ball is really unstable. We still haven't figured out just how it sticks to the ball in such a condition."
"Is it dangerous?!" the Auror frowned and Stromay was quick to shake his head.
"Not as long as it's closed and you wear the ring when opening it."
"And it can't just open on its own?" Green eyes looked worried.
"No, somehow it registers when a living being touches it and only then can it be opened. And the spell itself can't push it open as it only gets activated by opening it," Alistair shook his head and sighed.
"It just needs the warning: 'keep out of reach of children' then," the Auror reasoned and the other nodded.
"I can only say that whoever made that silver ball and ring, was one hell of a smart and talented person."
"Which can be a blessing or a curse," Harry mumbled and the Scientist shrugged.
"Let's hope we never have to find out."
-THTH-
"Are you certain?" the Minister asked as he eyed the file in his hands. His right hand man had immediately thrusted the papers in his hands when he met up with him in the corridor.
"Yes, this person is claiming to be the heir to Grindelwald and is demanding all of his assets." Tom frowned as his eyes fixated on the previous Dark Lord's name.
"Grindelwald's still alive. He needs to give permission and clearly isn't-" A bump against his legs interrupted him and confused he looked down into a pair of widened brown eyes.
"What's a child doing here?!" Abraxas called out angry, but instead of getting angry, the Minister's expression relaxed the moment he noted the familiarity in the little boy's face.
"James," his voice came out to his own surprise and the boy looked hopeful up at him.
"James? You know this kid?" Malfoy stated confused as Tom kneeled down.
"Where's your father?" he asked as nicely as he could and James just blow up his cheeks while swaying from one side to the other. The Dark Lord couldn't help but smirk at his behaviour. "You sneaked away, didn't you?" he chuckled and the little Potter's eyes betrayed himself.
"Do you know your way back?" Suddenly panic appeared on the little boy's face.
"Should I take you back?" James immediately started nodding his head and took hold of the Minister's robe with his tiny hands before pulling at it. Tom blinked surprised at the behaviour and heard Abraxas sigh beside him.
"He wants you to pick him up," the blond explained and the boy impatiently pulled at his robe again.
'Oh…' the Dark Lord wondered and carefully put his hands under the boy's armpits before awkwardly raising him.
"You clearly don't have any experience with children," his right hand man chuckled and got a glare as reaction. "My Lord," Malfoy quickly added to be polite. "Lean him against your body and put an arm around his back and under his buttocks." Abraxas was quick to move behind the little Potter and make certain he didn't fall as he directed the Minister's arms to the appropriate places. "There you go," he smiled as he took in the picture before him. "Looks good, it's like you're carrying a little Marvolo," Abraxas teasingly smirked and even if Tom tried his glare wasn't scary at all.
"Let's take him to the Auror's Headquarters. I'm certain his father is looking everywhere for him," the Minister quickly decided and the blond simply went ahead to call for the lift as Tom took a moment to stare into the brown eyes taking in his entire face. A warm feeling spread in his chest as Harry's father actually smiled at him.
"You know Uncle Mar'olo?" It was cute how he couldn't pronounce the v.
"Yes, I do," the Dark Lord tried to smile, but he was certain it looked sad. "He's my most important person." James eyes widened.
"Like mama's to papa?" The smile turned more genuine.
"Yes."
-THTH-
"Where is he?! Marian's going to kill me!" Harold was running from one desk to another. Seemingly hoping his son would just magically appear out of nowhere.
"Calm down, he must still be on this floor," Harry tried to comfort his grandfather, while his own heart was beating widely. 'Where the hell is he?!' The oldest Potter rapidly turned to him with a panicked face.
"James was pushing all the buttons in the lift."
"You don't think he-" his grandson gave him a disbelieving look, which slowly changed to doubt. "If he stands on the tips of his feet he could maybe reach the call button," Harry mumbled thoughtful and Harold was already sprinting towards the lift.
"Did you see a little boy running around?!" he asked anyone he could reach and with the lift still two meters away from him the doors opened. Harry seriously thought his heart stopped when he took in the picture inside the small quarters. Tom was holding James like he was the most precious thing in his life, while the little boy was squealing in happiness, wiggling from side to side.
"Papa!" he yelled as his eyes fell on his father and immediately started making grabby hands at him.
"James, where have you been?!" the oldest Potter sprinted towards his son and quickly took him in his arms. "I told you to stay close to me!" he scolded the child before addressing his lifesaver. "Thank you, Tom, I wouldn't have known what to do if something happened to him. Thank you!"
"Why is he even here?" Abraxas suddenly showed himself from behind the Dark Lord. "This isn't a day care-" The Minister signalled him to stop and looked expectantly at the Auror.
"Ah, the lady of the day care had an accident and was rushed to the doctor. Marian's making a trip through Europe for her work, so I didn't have any other option. It was to short notice."
"What about your in-laws?" the blond pointed out.
"I tried, but they didn't accept my Floo. I left a message and am still waiting for them to return it," Harold explained while patting the back of his son's head.
"The situation is understandable," the Minister started and got a shocked face from his right hand man. "But this is no place for a child." Malfoy got his usual smirk back in place. "Ms Grelyon would have no problem watching him." The smirk fell and the disbelieving look reappeared.
"Seriously?" Harold asked stunned and the Minister simply nodded.
"This one time, like Abraxas said: we aren't running a day care," Tom added and his eyes glanced at Harry for a moment.
'Just because he's my father,' the younger man couldn't help but smile a little. 'It's too obvious.'
"I'll take you to her," the Dark Lord turned around and the oldest Potter was quick to follow him with his little one on his arm.
"Can you believe that?!" Abraxas called out stunned before turning to his cousin. "He would never allow Lucius to stay!" Harry couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Lucius has a mother and two sets of grandparents and an entire household to watch him. James doesn't have that luxury," he pointed out and greyish eyes narrowed at him as a pout formed underneath them.
"He's playing favourites," Malfoy huffed before following the others. The younger Auror watched him quickly jump in the lift with the others and got a little peek of Tom smiling fondly at his father before the doors closed.
R&R