The Re-Education of Tommy Weasley

Disclaimer: We do not own any of these characters, JK Rowling does.

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Chapter 8

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Arthur Weasley breathed in the fresh January air as he stepped out of the Ministry building. He felt an almost giddy sense of anticipation as he headed toward the muggle electronics store. He had heard that they would be getting a new stock of campotors, top of the line too! He just loved going through that store, he could literally spend hours there, but he settled for using half his lunch break.

It was as he passed the bus station that he heard some very familiar cries. Arthur turned his head in the direction, fully expecting to be mistaken, and was shocked to see Tommy and Severus on one of the benches. He had forgotten that Severus would be taking Tommy to the muggle healers today. Arthur frowned as he heard Tommy cry and decided to investigate.

Arthur closed in on the pair, coming up from behind. "Tommy?" Arthur said to gain the boy's attention.

Hearing his name Tommy looked up, "DADDY!" He cried literally launching himself off the bench and at the man wrapping himself around his father's legs.

Arthur bent down to pick the child up. "Tommy? What's wrong, you've been crying." Arthur asked concerned.

Tommy clung to Arthur and then gulped suddenly not so sure of himself, if he told Arthur he had been spanked would he be in trouble for getting in trouble with Snape? But then he remembered what happened with the spilt pumpkin juice...

"`Nape `panked me!!" he sobbed. His speech becoming even more childish with his high emotions.

Arthur sighed; he wasn't terribly surprised that Snape would find reason to punish the boy. "What happened?" He asked.

"Your brat decided it would be a fine time for him to wander off, we missed the bus because of him!" Snape snapped at the man.

Arthur turned to Tommy. "Is that true? You know you aren't to wander off."

Tommy gulped and whimpered "N-Not meaned tooo!! My hat flew way and I hadda get it, Mummy made it fer me for Kistmas." He sniffled out.

Arthur frowned a little. "You still should have let Snape know what had happened, you could have gotten lost."

Tommy looked down, and whimpered. He was in trouble and his bum already hurt so bad!!! "I sorry Daddy." he said in a very small scared voice. "I in trouble? G-Gunna `pank me `gain?"

"We'll discuss this later." Arthur said in an ominous voice.

Tommy sobbed he didn't want to discuss it later, he didn't want another spanking!

The muggle woman who was still standing at the bus stop watching with concerned and somewhat confused eyes, it was apparent she had been mistaken about who the man with the little boy was and thought the father should know how harsh the man he had entrusted his son with had been to the little boy, decided it was time to speak up. The thought of the tiny one being spanked again after the spanking which she felt was bordering on abuse, made her sick so she stepped up to Arthur.

"Excuse me Sir, I really do not mean to involve myself where I don't belong but I am sure you want to know how your Nanny treats your son, I know I would want to know if the person I entrusted my children with abused them." She said kindly.

Arthur choked at the word 'Nanny' and couldn't help as his eyes were drawn in the direction of the feared Potions Master.

Arthur cringed at the sight of the angry wizard, as it looked like Snape wanted to murder the woman!

Seeing as it didn't seem the man was going to protest she continued on, "The child was simply following his hat, though why his hand wasn't being held is beyond me, and was rather terrified when I found him and brought him back here. Then your Nanny grabbed him and tossed him over his lap and was spanking the poor little thing right here. Now, I am not above giving my little one a swat or two when he gives me a fright like that but I would never spank that hard or long!! He was really wailing on his poor little bottom even baring him right here to the world. I had the threaten to call the police to get him to stop when the child's skin looked as if any more would bruise him." She huffed then pinned Snape with a glare of her own.

Arthur's eyes hardened upon hearing that. Holding Tommy protectively in his arms, he turned to Snape. "I think I'll be taking Tommy home, Severus. No need to trouble yourself further. I'll just take a half day from work."

Snape's mood changed from foul to completely black. "Fine! I didn't want to have to deal with that brat for even one more moment." With that said, Snape shoved the bag with the medication in at Arthur, who grabbed it with the hand that wasn't supporting Tommy, turned to walk out of sight of the muggles to apparate to Hogsmeade.

The muggle woman looking confused and aghast watched Snape stalk off. How could anyone leave his or her child with that man!

"Er, thank you ma'am, I'm sorry about Severus. He's an er... family friend, but he doesn't really like children much. We had a bit of an emergency and so he took Tommy here to the doctor." Arthur explained, trying to placate the woman before leaving, he didn't want her to call the please-man!

"Right, well I am sorry if I was a bit presumptuous but I couldn't just allow him to beat on the boy. What exactly does a caustic man like that do for a living?" She said her anger deflated.

"Erm, well he's a school teacher at a boarding school." Arthur replied before the words registered. Deciding to leave before things got messy, he gave the woman a quick nod with another 'thanks' and walked away with Tommy in his arms.

The muggle woman was left wondering how in the world a man like that was able to get a job as a teacher her mouth slightly agape.

Tommy sniffled tears still trailing down his cheeks, after a few minutes he peered up from his hiding spot in the man's shoulder "Muggle Lady nice." He commented confusion evident in his voice.

"Yes, she was very nice. We should have thanked her more." Arthur agreed.

Tommy looked up at him still confused "But she a muggle."

"Yes, she was a muggle. But you know, muggles can be nice too." Arthur explained. Tommy gave a small nod his mind still trying to work it all out.

"D-Daddy?" he piped up again a few minutes later.

"Yes, Tommy?" Arthur asked.

"M-Mad a me?" He said in a small voice diverting his eyes as he pulled nervously on the hat that he was still holding in his hands.

"No Tommy, I'm not mad at you. True, you shouldn't have wandered off, but Severus really should have been holding your hand. If he had been he would have known that you needed to retrieve your hat." Arthur explained.

Tommy looked relieved and relaxed into Arthur laying his head on his fathers shoulder, he really didn't feel well.

"Y-You gunna..." Tommy trailed off and squirmed, just cuz Arthur wasn't mad didn't mean he would still spank him.

"Am I going to spank you?" Arthur finished for him. "No, I think that you were well punished for that. Probably punished too much, when we get home, we'll see about some healing cream for you bum."

Tommy looked up shocked at that. "R-Really?" he asked "But I was naughty." he frowned he didn't like to admit it but even he knew it had been naughty to wonder off but he hadn't thought about it at the time he had only thought about getting his hat back.

"Yes, you were. It was naughty to wander off, but if Severus was as harsh as I think he was, then you don't deserve such a sore bum. I might not fully heal your bum though, because I probably would have spanked you for that, just not as harshly." Arthur answered.

Tommy sighed and actually nuzzled his head into the crook of Arthur's neck "Sorry." he whispered though he was feeling an odd sense of guilt in him that went beyond even just having wandered off.

"I hurted `Nape." He said in a barely audible voice, a few moments later.

"You did? How?" Arthur asked, confused. How could a four year old with no magic hurt a full-grown wizard?

The little one whimpered and hid his face a moment before gathering his courage and peering out again "I c-cu cru cur..." He frowned and bit down on his tongue which refused to pronounce the word.

"You what?" Arthur had a better idea now, but he still needed to confirm.

Tommy cried, "Bad spell." He said hating that he had to revert to such babyish speech but he simply couldn't get the damn would out of his mouth.

"Are you talking about the crutias curse? You aren't talking about recently, are you?" Arthur asked as things began to click.

"N-No, `afore, when I was big n evil." he looked away unsure why all of a sudden he should be feeling as he was, he didn't like it.

While Arthur was pleased that Tommy was making the distinction between his current self and Voldemort, he knew that he had to help the child through the guilt. It may very well be a new concept for the boy.

"Yes, well, perhaps someday you should apologize. And maybe someday Severus will accept and forgive you." Arthur said, but even as he spoke those words he knew they were untrue, Severus would never forgive.

Tommy shook his head, he wasn't stupid and he knew Severus better then most people did. Even if he could manage to apologize, and he didn't think he could, the man would never forgive him.

"Alright, well maybe Severus will never forgive, but that is because that is the kind of man he is. But you still should apologize, it will ease the guilt if nothing else." Arthur explained.

"I not feel guilty!" The child protested indigently.

"Ah, of course you don't, my mistake." Arthur said indulgently. "But Tommy? If you did, it wouldn't be a bad thing."

Tommy wriggled a bit and hid his face again, coughing a bit and whimpering as it agitated his sore throat.

"I think we better get you home and into bed." Arthur said gently as he held Tommy tighter.

"Don't feel good." He complained in a scratchy sore voice.

Arthur rubbed the boy's back and then quickened his steps. "I know you don't son, we'll get you home as quick as we can."

Arthur was able to not only take the rest of the day off, but was able to borrow a ministry car to drive him and Tommy home of course only after putting a cushioning charm on the child's bottom to make the ride easier for him. Arthur was glad that Tommy fell asleep in the car, as it was an hour car ride after all, the boy had to be miserable by now with all the running about in the cold. Arthur then carried the still sleeping boy into the Burrow and up to his room. Taking care to unpack Tommy's little backpack and change him out of his many layers into his warm flannel pajamas, he tucked the boy into his bed with Jerry tucked under his arm, Lucas curled up next to him already snoring lightly now that his little wizard was home. He was just about to close the door when he remembered the medicine. With a sigh he took it out of his pocket and woke the boy up.

"Tommy? Wake up, you need to take your medicine." Arthur said gently.

Tommy groaned and whimpered rolling over onto his sore bum when his father tried to wake him. He let out a little yelp and his eyes popped open. "OWIE!"

"Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry Tommy, I forgot about your bum. Roll back onto your tummy and I'll get some cream for it." Arthur instructed.

Tommy sniffled and rubbed his sleepy eyes a moment before rolling back onto his tummy.

Arthur left to retrieve the cream, and when he came back Tommy was nearly asleep again. He sighed and made his way over to the boy and bared the boy's bottom. He was dismayed to find how very red it was, and there were splotches of purple bruising. Arthur's original plan of leaving Tommy's bottom a little stingy vanished, the boy had already had to endure such a hard spanking, and he didn't want to add to that. So with that in mind he applied a generous amount of cream to the tiny bottom, and watched as it healed before his eyes. Once the bottom had regained it's previous white coloring, he pulled the boy's pants up and turned him over.

"Okay Tommy, you need to take your medicine, open your mouth." Arthur said as he poured a spoonful of the liquid.

Tommy wriggled and became more alert when the cold cream was applied to his burning bum. He relaxed when he felt the pain fade away and when he was turned back over and faced with a spoon full of medicine he opened his mouth obediently to take it.

The medicine was really gross and Tommy made a face "Ucky!"

"I know it doesn't taste good, but it will make you better." Arthur commiserated as he tucked the boy in nodded sticking his tongue out a bit before snuggling in under his blankets.

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Tommy spent the next day and a half sleeping and taking the medication, twice more he took the nasty stuff and twice more he was convinced the stuff made him more sick then healthy. It tasted so gross and made his stomach hurt really bad and he didn't want to take it anymore!!!

He had woken in the middle of the night again on the night going into his third day of being sick, he was starting to feel better and didn't want to take the medication anymore not when he was making him feel icky afterwards.

Knowing that everyone was asleep he snuck quietly into the bathroom. Standing on the toilet he climbed into the sink and opened the medicine chest and grabbed down the bottle with his medication in it. It was hard to open but he figured out how to push down and twist the top to get it to open and then he poured the red colored medication down the drain.

Frowning he realized he would be in a lot of trouble if they found the bottle empty and he remembered the fruit punch in the fridge so climbing down from the sink, empty bottle in hand he walked into the kitchen. Putting the bottle on the kitchen table he opened the fridge and with both hands grabbed out the punch, which lucky for him was nearly empty and easy to maneuver.

Carefully pouring the juice, managing to only spill a little, he filled the medicine bottle to where he thought it had been filled up to, with the juice. Recapped both juice and medicine bottle, put the juice back in the fridge and tip toed back to the bathroom to replace the medicine.

Coughing a bit from all the running around he crawled back into bed, Lucas curled up next to him, and fell back to sleep.

Arthur yawned as he headed to the medicine chest and retrieved the bottle of medicine for Tommy. Entering the boy's room he said "Tommy, time for your medicine."

Tommy moaned a little sleepily and sat up rubbing his eyes a bit. He fidgeted a little as his father opened the medicine bottle feeling a bit nervous about being caught.

Arthur frowned as he poured a spoonful of the liquid. Odd, it seemed like it used to be thicker, and the color seemed a little different. Arthur still held the spoon in front of Tommy to take though.

Tommy made no complaint simply opening his mouth for the spoon making the mistake of swallowing without making a face as he normally would have.

Years of parenting the twins had honed his ability to tell when a child was up to something, and Arthur's trouble alarms were blaring right now. Picking up the bottle he sniffed the contents, it smelled fruity. He covered the spout so that his finger was only coated when he turned the bottle. Tasting it confirmed his suspicions. He turned to the now very nervous boy. "Tommy, do you know how the medicine suddenly became fruit punch?" Arthur asked, he had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to give the boy the chance to own up.

Tommy bit his bottom lip and wriggled nervously as his father sniffed and then tasted the 'medicine' whimpering slightly when the question was asked... Oh he was so busted.

"I... well... um..." he whimpered again tears filling his eyes "I sorry!!!" he cried.

"Sorry for what?" Arthur asked, he wanted to hear from Tommy himself what had happened.

Tommy's bottom lip quivered as he started to recount his adventure of the night before.

When Tommy had finished, Arthur was silent for a moment to contemplate what to do next.

Tommy squirmed under his father's gaze, finally after what seemed like an eternity, Arthur spoke. "Tommy, I am very proud of you for confessing."

Tommy who had had his head hung popped it up to look at his father with wide eyes.

"It's not easy to admit when you've done wrong, and I am proud of you for not lying and trying to get away with what you had done." Arthur continued.

"N-Not mad?" the little one asked nervously.

"No Tommy, I'm not mad. But I am disappointed that you frivolously wasted the medicine that you need to take to get better not only that but Severus went through so much trouble to get it for you. For that you will be punished." Arthur said firmly.

Tommy hung his head again, he hadn't thought of it like that! "No Daddy I sorry!!"

"I know you are son, but you have to learn to think about these things beforehand, rather than being sorry afterwards." With that said, Arthur plucked the boy out of his bed and sat down, placing the child over his lap face down.

"Nooo Daddy noooo peaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I sorry!!!" he cried miserably.

Arthur ignored the child's pleas and undid the buttons on the drop-seat of the boy's pajamas, baring the child's bottom. Without saying anything he brought his hand down sharply on the bared target. SMACK!

Tommy yelped and wriggled "I sorry Daddy not do it `gain!"

Arthur rained down several hard smacks to Tommy's upturned bottom. "You had better not! I don't want you fussing over your medicine again. If there is any repeat of this, I'll take the slipper to your bottom!"

"OW OW no Daddy!!! I wont OWWIEEEEE no more!" He pleaded crying.

Arthur spanked Tommy until his bottom was a dusty pink before pausing for a second. "Why are you being spanked?" He questioned.

Tommy wriggled and squirmed "C-Cuz I tried n fool you an spilled my menacine out." He said through tears.

"That's right! What you did was very naughty and wasteful." Arthur said bringing his hand down on Tommy's sit spots.

Tommy sobbed and kicked his legs when Arthur targeted that sensitive area "Sooorrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy"

Arthur brought his hand down four more times on the same stop before stopping. Tommy was crying like it was the end of the world, but all things considered, this was the lightest spanking the boy had received so far.

"Shh... It's okay now, it's all over." Arthur said gently as he rubbed the boy's back.

Tommy yelped and sobbed out as the last swats fell, this was the first time he had gotten into trouble where he really and truly had control and done something naughty to warrant the punishment. With Snape he hadn't meant to get lost and it was as much Snape's fault as his own for not holding his hand and when he tried to hurt Harry he hadn't really felt all in control of himself and back during that first day when he colored on the wall, well he was going to be spanked anyway and he had not been very accepting of his situation, not as much as he was now, this was the first time he had really and truly been naughty on purpose.

When Arthur lifted him up he hid his face in the man's chest and just cried.

Arthur simply held the boy and whispered reassurances until the boy's sobs subsided.

"S-Sorry." he sniffled out and brought both fists up to rub at his eyes.

"You've been punished, so it's all forgiven now." Arthur said gently.

Tommy sniffled and then let out a yawn "G-Gunna tell Mummy?" he asked, Tommy may have been new to the Weasley family but he wasn't stupid, he knew Molly was a force to be reckoned with when angry and though Arthur gave most of the spankings she could lecture his ears off.

"Yes, I don't hide things from Molly. But I'll talk to her and let her know you've already been punished." Arthur explained.

Tommy sighed and pouted "Mummy gunna yell a me." He said resignedly.

"No, Molly usually doesn't yell if you've already been punished. She might scold you a little though." Arthur admitted.

Tommy frowned but nodded resting his head against Arthur's chest and yawning again. He had to admit the sting in his bum was already almost gone, he didn't know why he had cried so.

Arthur stroked his head and rocked him a bit, he had to admit it was pretty miserable having to be spanked when you were sick and really he had been more relieved then cross with the boy for his antics for it showed he was really starting to settle into being a four year old.

Tommy's eyes were starting to feel heavy. It was still rather early in the morning, Arthur had been on his way out to work. It was decided that he would administer the early morning dosage so that Molly wouldn't have to wake up so early. So for the last few days Arthur had been giving Tommy his first dose of the day and then he would go off to work and Tommy would back to sleep. Arthur sighed, their routine had been thoroughly derailed by Tommy's act of naughtiness and the subsequent spanking.

Arthur continued to stroke the boy's hair and rock him as he began to hum a lullaby that had always worked for his other children. It didn't take long for the boy to drift off into a restful slumber. Arthur then tucked the boy in, resting the child on his stomach and then after dimming the lights, quietly left the room.

Arthur sighed as he felt the currently filled with fruit punch bottle of medicine. He'd have to go the muggle chemist on his lunch break, hopefully they could re-fill the prescription.

Arthur's face then lit up as he realized that it was right next to the muggle appliance store. It was with that happy thought that he left for work, only a few minutes late.