Hush Little Baby
Chapter 5
Harry walked up the path towards the Burrow. His step was lighter than it had been when he'd left that morning. In his hand, he held the sheath of legal documents that would make Tom his. He opened the door, expecting to be bowled over by the little boy. But what he got was utter chaos. An army of aurors was holding a kicking, screaming Baby Tom. Yelling at each other were Arthur Weasley and Minister Scrimgeour.
"It's unthinkable! You can't do this! He's just a baby!" Arthur shouted.
Scrimgeour smirked. "I can and I will."
It only took Harry all of two seconds to cross to the aurors who held Tom. "What is going on here?! You're scaring him!" He pried the crying boy from them. "Minister, explain!" Harry demanded.
Rufus Scrimgeour eyed Harry Potter. "Ahhh, Mr. Potter, the wizengamot convened and decided that Voldemort must be dealt with. I and my men have come to take him to Azkaban to await a more suitable sentence to be decided upon."
Harry clasped Tom tighter to him. "You will do no such thing! He's not Voldemort anymore. He's a two-year old BABY! You can't punish him for crimes he can't even remember!"
Tom was crying. "Papa, don't let them take me!" His tears saturated Harry's shoulder. He was soooo scared. "Don't let them take me!"
Harry stroked Tom's hair soothingly. "Don't worry, I won't let take you, I promise." He glared menacingly at Scrimgeour. "He's just a baby!"
"I agree, Mr. Potter, that he is a baby. But until just a little over twenty-four hours ago, this baby was a vicious murdering fiend. His current size does not excuse all that he has done. The wizarding world needs retribution, and they shall have it. Men, take the brat!"
One auror moved to take Tom from Harry's comforting arms. Harry took a step back and shoved the auror away. Another tried to take them from behind but Harry kicked back. It was soon a battle between him and at least six other aurors. He was greatly outnumbered. They slowly managed to pry his arms from around Tom.
Harry felt his heart lurch as Tom was dragged from his arms. He was amazed with himself. Like Scrimgeour said it had only been just over twenty-four hours, and already he was unable to think of life without Tom, his Tom, in it. "NO! Let him go!" Harry dived forward to take Tom back. "LET HIM GO!!! He's just a kid! Just a baby!"
The aurors not fighting with Baby Tom had their hands full pulling Harry back. "Come on, Mr. Potter, just let go of the kid!"
Harry shouted. "NO! I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HIM!" He tried to grab back onto any part of Tom he could get. But all the aurors holding him back were too strong.
Tom tried vainly to reach for the man he had chosen as his daddy in this strange new reality. "DADDY!!!" He screamed, tears pouring down his face. He was scared, and these men were NOT at all gentle. They were mean and scary, and they weren't his daddy.
Harry looked at the minister. "It wasn't HIS FAULT!!! He's NOT Voldemort anymore! Let him GO!!!"
Scrimgeour simply shrugged. "I wish I could Potter, but my hands are tied, I'm afraid. Don't worry, whatever his sentence is, we'll be sure to carry it out as painlessly as possible."
Harry launched himself at the Minister, his wand drawn. "Let go of my SON!" He pointed the wand into Scrimgeour's neck. "Let him go, or mark my words, I WILL kill you!"
The Weasleys didn't even try to stop Harry. They understood how desperate he was.
Scrimgeour hid his fear well. "No Potter, you let me go, or else," He motioned for Tom to be brought into view and aimed his own wand at the baby. "I'll simply execute the brat now."
Harry looked at Tom with eyes filled with desperation. If he allowed Tom to be taken to Azkaban, there was the chance he could save his life. But if he went with his anger, Tom would die and there would be no such chance. He dropped his wand and Scrimgeour. "Forgive me, Tom." He reached to hold the little fingers of the frightened child.
Scrimgeour stood up. "For the last time, take the brat away!"
Tom's screams echoed as they took him from the Burrow. They pierced Harry's heart and soul. They were terrible, worse even than the sound of the words of the Killing Curse.
For what seemed like forever, Harry simply stared at the closed door. He kept expecting the door to fling open and Tom to come running back into his arms. What had happened to him? Little more than a day ago, he'd been all for getting rid of Voldemort. All he knew was thoughts of revenge and ending the war. He'd had no idea that the clashing wands would cause this to happen. He'd never expected to end up caring for the little baby that had come of it. And now look what had happened. He'd allowed that baby, his baby to be taken off to Azkaban, possibly to face the Dementor's Kiss or even death.
"Harry?" came the voice of his ex-girlfriend, Ginny. "Harry, are you alright?"
Harry looked at her. "No, Ginny, I'm not alright. They just took my son to Azkaban. I failed him, I promised I wouldn't let them take him…." He looked back at the door. "But I'll be damned if I'm going to let him be killed." He stood up and looked at them. "Hermione, will you send a message to Rita Skeeter, I need to do an interview."
AN: Yes, Scrimgeour is an ass. And if you're wondering why Harry was able to feel so close to Tom in such a short time, part of it is to do with the connection and part of it is to do with guilt.