Hush Little Baby

Chapter 6

Tom scream and cried throughout the entire process. He cried on the way to the ferry. He wailed on the boat ride across the dark, scary waters. His pitiful cries echoed through the dark hallways of the prison. The aurors were beginning to doubt their orders. A short few hours ago, the dementors had begun to return to their positions. A mere glance of one caused little Tom's cries to intensify one-hundred fold.

By time they reached the cell set aside for the baby, his throat was quite hoarse, yet still he continued.

Auror Pickering looked at his partner as they locked the door to the cell and went on their way. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?" He turned his eyes momentarily back to the child, who had buried his face in his hands. "He's only two years old. I don't care who he really is."

Maxfield, his partner shrugged. "We're only following orders, Picky. The minister seems genuinely concerned about this kid. After all, think about all he's done."

Pickering sighed. "Yeah, but for Merlin's sake, I'm a father. And I know…" Their voices trailed off as they turned a corner.

Tom looked up. He realized just how alone he was. He hugged his little knees to his little body and continued to sob. "Daddy…."

At the Burrow….

Rita Skeeter eagerly pulled out her quill. "So, Mr. Potter, what do you need me to write up this time?"

Harry sat at the kitchen table, opposite the bug-eyed reporter. "The ministry has had the audacity to arrest a two-year old."

Rita's eyes became sand dollars. "And I take it this child is somewhat important to you?"

Harry nodded. "That child is a boy I've been taking care of since the final battle. I know it's only been a day, but I've grown quite fond of him."

Skeeter's face grew dark. "This would be the child Voldemort would it?"

Harry grinned. "It would be. Something went wrong at the last battle and Voldemort was turned into a child. But, please, his name isn't Voldemort anymore, it's Tom."

Skeeter sighed. "He's still Voldemort to the many families he's either killed or ruined."

"That maybe, but he is still only two. I'm all he has. If I abandon him now because of the general public, I'll be no better than the ones who abandoned me in my fifth year because they thought I was insane or seeking attention." Harry looked at Skeeter with utmost sincerity. "I am going to adopt him. I can't let him be killed."

Rita shook her head in pity. "I'll write the article, but keep in mind, it's really not going to help. It'll just make the ministry impose a death sentence all the sooner. They'll totally bypass the Kiss and have him killed. You realize that, right?"

Harry shrugged. "I want them to know how far the Ministry has sunk in this war. Don't you worry, I have a phase two."

Rita nodded. "Fine. As long as you know the risks. Tell me everything."

The next morning…

MINISTRY COMMITS CHILD-SIZE ATTROCITY

Written by Rita Skeeter

Only days ago, the war that plagued us all came to a climatic end. Many witches and wizards were there when Harry Potter, the Chosen One, defeated You-Know-Who by inadvertently sending his mind and body back in time to the age of two. Out of a kindness that very few have ever known, Mr. Potter, our savior, decided to care for and raise this small child. But many are not so kind at all. Many would wish to see this poor darling baby rot in that hell-on-Earth, Azkaban Prison, if not simply kissed or killed outright, in revenge for the crimes he committed as an adult. This reporter finds it simply outrageous.

"To seek vengeance on a baby is low, to put it mildly, and downright sick!" Mr. Potter stated in an interview. "I don't care who he is, he's just a baby now."

Continued on Page A5

AN: I am going to try to finish this fic up in the next couple of days. I will type up all chapters I have finished tonight. And tomorrow will post the last of it.