Little Boy, Lost
by Jeremie
Sa 13+


Hello everyone!

I'm Jeremie, and maybe you know me already, and maybe you don't. Either way, WELCOME! This is my first fic here, as you're most likely to find me on the RPG boards, though I also have a thread in The Snitchseeker 100 challenge: 100 Bits of Hogwarts History.

This story is Tibi's. Tiberius Pryce is currently a student at Hogwarts, though this story begins long before that. I'd wanted to really dig into his past, get under his skin, and see what was there. So, I hope you enjoy! Also, much admiration, respect and credit to JK Rowling for just about anything and everything you recognize. It's her world. I just play in it.

A note about the title: It is a nod to William Blake's "The Little Boy Lost," a poem which I think, in some ways, speaks to my character's experience.

Chapter Guide:

Chapter One: Arrival (this post)
Chapter Two: Family
Chapter Three: Promises




Chapter One: Arrival

This was not at all going to plan. Nearly two months early and despite being practically stranded in the middle of nowhere, the baby was coming, and fast. Tirion was suddenly immensely grateful that Susan had taught him to drive as he settled her into the sea-foam green and wood-paneled station wagon they had... borrowed... for their trip.

It was a warm August night, and as Tirion raced round the car to the driver's side door, he was aware of how clear the stars glittered in the sky when there were no city lights to outshine them. But as he climbed in the car and slammed the door, he realized that it also meant that help was a ways off. A long ways off. Fumbling with the keys, Tirion felt Susan put a clammy hand on his neck.

In a faint whisper that betrayed how weak she felt, she attempted to reassure him. “Breathe, love. Drive slowly and carefully.” Looking down at her belly, not yet as big as it should have been, she caressed it as only a mother can. “He'll wait.” And then, dropping her voice to a whisper for only her unborn son, she put both hands on her stomach and closed her eyes. “Do this for your mummy. Just wait a little longer.”

Tirion turned to look at her, as he jabbed the old key into the ignition, having finally found it, and listened as the engine attempted to turn over. Nothing. Eyes still trailed on Susan's face, he turned the key again. Her skin was ghastly pale, nearly as white as the summer dressing gown that clung to her sweaty skin. But the engine still did not turn. It simply sputtered and fell into silence. Unholstering his wand, Tirion resolved to break his promise not to use magic on this trip – this was an emergency – when, eyes still closed, Susan wrapped her hand around his and lowered the wand. With short, shallow breaths, she pried his fingers apart to force him to release it, the wood clattering against the stick-shift. Not here. With a gasp, she dragged his hand back to the key, her eyes opening wide at a sudden, sharp pain, and wrenched his wrist along with the key, the engine roaring to life.

***

The discolored clinic walls betrayed the neglect that the building had suffered. Staffed nearing midnight by only three people, the Pryces' arrival had caused quite a stir. After nearly an hour in the car, Tirion had rushed in, feet still slippered, carrying Susan, whose long brown hair was matted to her forehead. He looked at the three in the waiting room, unable to speak. Muggles, every one of them. Not that he should have been surprised; they'd been out here specifically because there weren't any wizarding communities.

“Please, I think my wife is in labor,” he pleaded, the three women still gaping at their appearance. “She's not due for another two months.” At the word 'labor,' the women had sprung into action, beckoning the man into the back room – the only delivery room in a hundred miles – and helped get Susan onto the bed. It quickly became apparent to Tirion that the women were one doctor and two nurses and they thought (and Tirion hoped) that they had everything under control.

The lights were hot, and perspiration ran down Tirion's neck as he clasped Susan's hand in his own, and brushed the hair away from her forehead with the other. She smiled meekly at him, her eyes heavy, as she squeezed his hand. “You're going to be a father,” she whispered before another wave of pain washed across her face.

“Almost there, dearie,” one of the nurses cooed. “Just give us a little more.”

“I love you,” Tirion whispered, before bending down to lightly kiss her forehead.

“I... AHHHHHHH,” Susan replied, squeezing Tirion's hand, his fingers going white as she cut off his circulation.

“It's a boy, loves,” the other nurse said, as the first nurse and the doctor spirited the child away. There had been no cry. Neither Tirion nor Susan had seen him. Susan's grip remained iron tight as she sat up, eyes darting around the room in concern. Tirion, for his part, stood, watching the door through which the women had exited. Where was his son?

Their questions and fears hung wordlessly in the air, blanketing the room in uncertainty. He was early. Was he alright? Where had they taken him? Could they see him? Tirion's heart thumped erratically in his chest, his head swimming. This was all wrong. All wrong. It wasn't time. Their son wasn't ready. They weren't ready.

But then, the door swung open, and the nurse returned, arms wrapped around a wriggling, gurgling bundle of cloth. “You can hold him for a little while, but then we need to take him back,” the nurse said softly as she approached the bedside, waiting for Tirion to come forward. “Come on, dad. Come meet your son.”

Susan released Tirion's hand, allowing him to take a few steps forward. As the nurse rested the bundle in his arms, Tirion couldn't help but marvel that the boy was almost too small to rest in the crook of his arm.

“You've got a fighter, there.” The nurse said as Tirion cautiously stepped back to the bedside and sat on the edge next to an exhausted Susan. “But, he's tiny and he's going to need some help. We can do that.” She smiled at the new family. “But he'll also need a whole lot of love.”

“We can do that,” Tirion said softly, never taking his eyes off his son. He wanted to memorize every bit of this moment. Looking up at his wife, his eyes glistened. “We didn't pick a name.”

Susan smiled as she raised a hand to run a finger along her son's soft skin. “Tiberius.”

Nodding, Tirion looked back down at his son, heart bursting. “Hello, Tiberius. I'm your daddy.”

Yayyyyy! This is amzing! You sure can write.
I got scared when there was no cry, even though you actually play Tibi now.
I love it, and I definitely can't wait for more *nuzzles*

Why did you not tell me that you had wrote this?

I knew you were good Jeremie, I didn't realise just how much until now.

Awesome beginning and I cannot wait to read more.

Wow! Jeremie... Simply wow. This has been added to my stalk list!

You know a story is good when you're so involved that you start mentally shouting directions at the characters and are itching to jump in and help.

Anyway, Jeremie, I loved your story so much! You're such an amazing writer! In just one chapter of writing, you really make the reader feel attached to the characters. Like Zoe said, when Tibi didn't breath- and the whole car scene too- I was like, glued to the computer screen. I knew Tibi wasn't going to die, and I knew his mom wasn't going to die, but I still couldn't help feeling extremely anxious. It reminded me of my little brother, only he was born late instead of early. I got this image of tiny Tibi in one of those baby incubators, drowning in all the little tubes.

I'd tell you what my favorite parts where, but that'd be hard, because I love it all! (though I really liked the first two paragraphs, especially the second. I liked the description of the stars, because I could picture it perfectly. It was something I, as the reader, could connect to it, and I think it made the story much more realistic and special for me.)

Ahhhhh- the ending was so sweet! I love it. But it made me depressed because I know the sad parts coming, and I don't want it to.

I'm drafting the next chapter now, so hopefully before Jan 1 you'll get some more. In the meantime, quotes!

Heh. ME TOO. *squishes his Tibi and keeps him safe.*

*blushes* I didn't tell you? Erm. Well, now you know.

Oo. A stalker. <3

Oh man, thinking about Tibi in the lil premmie incubators seriously makes me all mushy.

Spoiler: There's at least another chapter of happy... sooooo, dun worry about it yet.

I love this, but you know that! ('cos I got a sneaky peek - anyone jealous? )

The whole chapter was a heart in your mouth moment. I felt like I was there, with them in the moment. You got me to completely suspend my disblief, which is rare, no matter how much I love a story. I can't wait for the next chapter. s you!

Since I rave over msn I'm not going to repeat my comments here. But I love it you know that. Subscribed and rated!

Hi again. Thanks for the comments. I do enjoy knowing that you're reading and what you think.

And as always, most recognizable things are JK Rowling's and I'm just happy to play in her world a little.



Chapter Two: Family

Susan closed the laptop with a click as she peered over her glasses at her son. “Tiberius Reginald Pryce,” she chuckled softly, removing her glasses and resting them on the closed computer. “You know I can't fix that toy for you.”

Pudgy baby legs bouncing to an imaginary beat, Tiberius had once again pulled himself up in his playpen and, one hand on the wall to steady himself, was using his free hand to swat at the enchanted toys circling above his head. Snitches and dragons and figures on brooms whirled there, just barely out of reach. Well, almost. With a squeal and a giggle, Tiberius swung his hand at the same moment he extended his knees, making contact with a miniature Chinese Fireball and sending it flying across the room. Placing both hands on the edge of the pen, Tiberius bounced faster, laughing.

With a smile, Susan bent down to retrieve the toy that had landed at her feet. Placing it on the table next to her, Susan made a mental note to ask Tirion to move them just a little higher next time. Rubbing the tips of her fingers along the soft leather of a photo album, Susan watched her son bounce. It was just as she'd imagined it would be. Well, not counting the magic. That she'd never imagined in her wildest dreams. Letting her mind wander, Susan thought back to the moment she'd met Tirion, but her reminiscing was cut short as she heard a soft cry that then built into a full wail.

Tiberius, emboldened by his dragon-swatting success, had bounced once more after a snitch. But, even as he wrapped his fingers around a wing, he'd lost his balance and fallen backwards. Despite it being a rather squishy landing on his diapered bottom, further cushioned by numerous stuffed animals, the tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, and he'd begun to cry.

Cooing at him as she stood, Susan made her way over to the playpen and scooped him up into her arms. Bouncing him a little, she rested her head against his. “It's okay baby boy. Shhhh.” Walking back over to the table, she used her free hand to grab the photo album. “Let's look at pictures, okay Tibi?” She made more cooey shushing noises at him as she settled into the rocking chair in the corner of the room. Tiberius, for his part, continued with staggered whimpers, but he'd become fascinated by the snitch that he was still holding on to.

Susan flipped the book open as Tiberius chewed on the wing of the snitch. The pictures themselves were woefully out of order, having been randomly placed there. Susan smiled, the first picture having been taken by a muggle tourist at a rest area off some tiny highway in the States. In it, Susan leaned against the green car, her pregnant belly jutting out obviously as Tirion stood next to her. “That's the day you were born, little man,” Susan whispered, resting a finger on the image. She chose to remember that trip for what it had become, not what it had started out as. But it hadn't been a vacation, that was for sure. She wasn't even sure why they'd had to go, but Tirion had said they had to, and so go she went.

Flipping the page, Susan face settled into a frown. “And those are your grandparents,” she said a little more coldly. Tiberius paid no attention, happily gnawing on the snitch. Susan had not seen her parents since the day before her wedding. They'd been opposed to Tirion from the start, and while they'd refused to have anything to do with her after they became engaged, they'd shown up to try to persuade her, one last time.

They did not know that they were grandparents.

Susan's thoughts were interrupted as Tiberius flailed the snitch around and placed his free hand on the page and pushed it. “Okay, a new picture,” Susan chuckled, moving her son's hand and turning the page. Wedding pictures. Tiberius giggled and flapped his arms at the pictures, slapping one with his hand. “Muma.”

“Yes, that's your mummy,” Susan chuckled. And then picking up his hand and placing it over a picture of Tirion, she smiled looking at her son. “And that's your daddy.” Tiberius giggled and squealed and flapped, the snitch still in his hand. Susan closed the album as it had clearly done the trick. She knew the rest of the pictures by heart. Small ceremony. Just them and Tirion's closest friend as a witness, no family on either side, and a 'just-married' broom ride that had simultaneously thrilled and terrified her. It was just them, then. And it was just them, now.

Placing the book on the side table, Susan held her squirming son. Who needed extended family, anyway? They were perfect, just the three of them. “You are the most loved little boy in the whole wide world,” she baby-talked at him, making kissy faces. “Yes, you...” But her words were cut off by the unmistakable sound of the floo. Tiberius had come to recognize it, and so let out a burbley baby squeal as Susan smiled and rose from the chair. “Daddy's home!”

“I could use some hands,” he called in from the other room.

Susan simply shook her head and placed Tiberius back in the playpen. “Let's see what daddy brought home this time,” she whispered as she straightened up. Tiberius bopped on his diapered bottom, both hands now furiously trying to jam the entire snitch in his mouth.

Tiberius watched the doorway through which Susan exited, happily gumming the toy. One might even have described it as watching expectantly.

“There's my big man,” Tirion chuckled, entering the room and setting some packages on the table before heading over to the playpen. Scooping up his son and hoisting him up over his head, he chortled as he noticed the drool covered toy still in Tiberius' hand. “You're supposed to catch the snitch, big guy, not eat it.”

“He did catch it,” Susan said matter-of-factly, leaning against the door frame as she reentered the room. “You need to move those toys higher.”

Leaning the boy against his chest, Tirion turned to his wife, eyes glimmering and full of pride. “He did?” Tapping Tiberius playfully on the nose, he turned his attention back to the boy. “That's my little seeker. Soon as your mother lets me, I'm going to teach you to fly.” He shot Susan a mischievous look.

“Fie,” Tiberius mimicked, flapping his arms. He let out a squeal as Tirion held him up high again and spun, the man's traveling cloak fluttering behind him.

“You know how I feel about the brooms, Tirion,” Susan said rather plainly, not having moved from the doorway. Though, watching her husband and her son, a small smile had crept onto her face. “I don't want him getting spoiled with easy magic thi--”

The shrill ring of the telephone in the other room interrupted her, and caught them both by surprise. It never rang unless it was Susan's boss, which was the only reason they even had it, and he'd already called that morning. Exiting the room quickly to go answer it, Susan left them to their playing.

Having stopped his spin at the ring, Tirion had Tiberius on his shoulder, the boy's head resting in the curve of his neck. Moving over to the packages, Tirion lightly bounced Tiberius as the boy sucked happily on his fingers, having finally abandoned the snitch.

“Now, I know Mummy said no more toys, but this one will be our little secret, okay?” Tirion whispered to the child as he unwrapped one of the packages with his free hand. “If she asks, it was in your pen all the time.” Tirion smiled at the thought of the two of them conspiring. Susan would notice, after all, but really, what harm was there in another toy.

Out of the package, Tirion lifted a simple brown teddy bear, notable only for the sweater it wore. Emblazoned on the front of the tan shirt was a Hogwarts crest. There were no charms or enchantments. Just a simple teddy bear with an embroidered sweater.

Sitting in the chair, then, Tirion rested Tiberius on his lap and handed him the bear. He spoke to him like he would to any other person, explaining things as if the child would understand. “I have a new friend for you, Tibi. He's a very special friend. That's a Hogwarts shirt he's wearing and one day, you'll go to school there. And you'll be a Gryffindor, like I was. And like my father was. And like his father was. And like...”

But as he held his boy and the bear, he'd looked up and saw Susan in the doorway, her face a mixture of confusion and worry, her hand clamped over the receiver.

“Susan, what's...”

“Tirion. The phone. It's for you.”

Oooh you've left us with another cliffhanger.

I reeeealllly like this. You are gooooood.

*gurgle* Tibi is a CUTE baby. I wants to snuggle his ickle face off.

This was a great update, and I can't wait to resolve the cliff hanger. We're only two chapters into the story and I'm all invested. *cling*

Awww Jer!! Too.cute.for.words.

Have I told you I don't like cliffhangers? Well, I don't!

I do love this though. There was a point in the middle where I wondered if Tibi was going to choke on that snitch.

I love the us against the world vibe. It makes them a very tight little family unit, can't wait to find out who could be ringing his father.

*blushes* I wrestled with this chapter a lot, so I'm glad that you like it. I like cliffhangers... well. I should say that I like writing cliffhangers. I absolutely hate when they're in something I read.

Whenever I visit my nephew, I come home saying 'I hope my kids are that cute.' I imagine there's part of me that also thinks that my kids should be as cute as Tibi.

I guess I must be doing something right.

It's like, all babies all the time with me lately.

*pets* I don't plan on doing it terribly often, but I do enjoy a good cliffhanger. The snitch bits were probably my favorite to write, cause gummy, drooly babies make me all melty. And, ugh. I love the three of them together, so for those of you who know anything about Tibi's family from the RP, you know what's coming. And it's gonna kill me to do it.

A cliffhanger and spoilers? Gah! You're going to kill me, you know that right?

Jer terrific work!! Love it bunches!!

I think I almost, almost almost started crying. But not quite. The eyes were definitely starting to sting a little.

Because, it's just so warm-fuzzy-cute! And and and I don't want it to go away.

BUT I KNOW THE BAD PART'S COMING!!!!



Listening to Tirion talk about Tibi being in Gryffindor was just like asking for the kleenex. I didn't know whether to love it or hate it. But what I do know is that all the scenes with Tirion and Tibi were my favorite part. ( This is a bad sign.)

And, is it just me, or despite all the happiness, there's this undercurrent of loneliness in Susan? I don't know, I just felt like that was what the tone was expressing. Just because she says she doesn't need her parents doesn't mean it's true. So for me, all the happy parts were overshadowed by sadness. Or maybe that was just me knowing that

THE HAPPINESS IS ABOUT TO BE OVER!!!!!



Anyway, I loved it. I could go on and on and on about how much I loved it, but then this post would get way too long.

But if the next chapter's going to kill you, then it's most definitely going to kill me too. This is coming from the person who cries even during the happy movies. Ahhhh- I don't want to read it!

But I do!

I've only read the first chapter, but I love this. The way you write is great!

Thanks again to everyone reading and commenting and all that. This one's on the longer side.

Chapter Three: Promises

“Tirion, please.”

They'd been having this argument for months. It started the day that the phone had rung for Tirion. Susan could still recall the expression on her husband's face as he pressed the phone to his ear and heard his father's voice. It had been like a ghost had rung.

They never spoke of family. Susan's rejected Tirion and, as far as she had known, Tirion's didn't even know about her. But that had changed the day the phone rang.

The day the phone rang. It was destined to be a marker of time, whether they wanted it to be or not.

Tirion had refused to tell Susan why his father had phoned and had skulked around the house in a daze for nearly a week. It had been another three weeks before another call came. Again, his father. And again three weeks after that. And again. But then the calls became more persistent. First every other week. Then weekly. The calls were coming every few days now. And still, Tirion refused to tell Susan what was happening.

“Tirion, please.” Her voice was insistent as she followed him about the house, Tiberius balanced on her hip. “Stop walking away and talk to me. Tell me what's happening.” It was so unlike him to keep secrets from her but for months, he had been.

“Susan, for the last time, I can't.” His voice betrayed his frustration and he instantly felt remorse when Susan stopped in her tracks, spun on her heels and marched herself and their son into another room, leaving him there, kneading his fingers into his forehead.

* * *

“Don't pick it up.” Susan stood between Tirion and the phone a month later, face shifting between a stony resolve and a desperate plea. To her, the not knowing was worse than anything else that it could possibly be. But Tirion just kept telling her that he either couldn't tell her, or didn't really know what was going on. Perhaps, Susan though, it was sometimes both. “Stop this. Just... don't pick it up.” She mouthed a silent 'please.'

Months. Months and months of begging and pleading and kitchen standoffs, and Tirion dropped his shoulders and put his hands up in front of his chest. “Ok. I won't answer the phone today.” He paused, stepping closer to his wife and putting his hands on her shoulders. “Today.” He wouldn't promise tomorrow.

“I just don't understand it, Tir, I just don't. Why...” But Susan was cut off by the sound of the Floo. Standing in their fireplace, dusting himself off, was Max. Sheepishly, he stepped forward, and realizing that he'd interrupted a moment that was either tender or tense, or both, pointed to the living room.

“I'm just gonna go play with the lil guy until you're done. Erm. Yes. Sorry.” Just as awkward, but not nearly as gangly, as when he'd stood for them at their wedding, Max had made a rather sudden reappearance in their lives that, while not unwelcome, wasn't exactly a reappearance that put Susan at ease. It was clear to her that Max knew what was going on. And he was here to talk to Tirion about it. Again.

Susan watched as Max entered the living room and approached a playing Tiberius, moving to lean against the door frame, arms crossed in front of her chest.

“Unkka Mac!” Tiberius squealed as the man lifted him out of his pen, still clutching his Hogwarts bear.

“What do you have there? Is that a Hogwarts bear?” Max tickled Tibi's stomach with a single finger.

“Og-warz! Og-warz!”

“And what house are you going to be in?”

“Raaaaaarrr!”

As Max spun a squealing toddler around the living room, Tirion moved behind Susan, watching his friend play with his son.

“Promise me he'll go, Susan?” He slipped an arm around her waist. “No matter what happens, our son will go to Hogwarts?”

Susan looked back over her shoulder, eyebrows knit together in concern. Something about the tone of his voice had caused her heart to drop into her stomach. Shifting in his arms she turned to face him. “You say that as if you won't put him on that train yourself,” she whispered, it almost serving as a question. It hung there between them, Tirion refusing to meet Susan's eyes, his own focused intently on the squealing child in the next room. They stood there, Susan only able to hear the laughter of her son, and the frantic beating of her own heart.

“Ok,” she said, putting her hand on his chest briefly before turning back around. “I promise.”

* * *

The phone had stopped ringing.

In fact, if she thought about it really hard, Susan would recall that the last time the phone had rung was the day she asked Tirion not to answer it and he had listened. At first, she had been relieved. But then as weeks continued on, she sometimes caught herself hoping it would, just so there would be some sort of resolution.

As she sat across the kitchen table from Tirion, she studied his face. Deep wrinkles creased his forehead, much deeper than even a few months ago. His eyes were intense, softening only for Tiberius. As she considered him, hands wrapped around her mug, her thoughts wandered. If there was anything to be said about Tirion in those weeks, it was that he was inordinately devoted to his son. Every spare moment playing or telling stories of his days at Hogwarts. Toys were enchanted and stories were play-acted. Susan would curl in her rocking chair and watch them, feeling just the slightest bit apart.

They would have their magic. Something she could never be part of.

The owl tapping on the glass brought her back to reality, as Tirion stood to open the window. Unrolling the piece of parchment, he closed his eyes briefly, before pulling out his wand and destroying it. “Susan, I...” Tirion pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers as he leaned against the windowsill. “I have to go for a few days.”

“Not without telling me why,” she said plainly, not bothering to look up from her breakfast.

“It's about the calls,” he began, hesitatingly. “And why they stopped. I have to go make sure he's ok.”

Susan looked dumbly at her breakfast, willing herself calm. She'd never met the man, and as far as she knew, Tirion hadn't seen him in years. And yet, he was dropping everything. “Tir, I just don't understand what this has all been about. All the calls, all the secrecy. I just don't understand.” She looked up at him. “And I know that there's a lot I just don't get about your world, and maybe that's part of this, but you haven't even given me a chance to try.”

Pushing away from the window, Tirion stood behind Susan and bent down, pressing his cheek to hers as he hugged her. “I know. I'm sorry. I was doing what I thought was best. When I get back, I'll tell you everything. But right now, I have to get ready. Max will be here soon.” He kissed her cheek lightly, before straightening up and heading to the stairs.

“Promise you'll come back and tell me.”

“Promise. On both counts.”

Susan followed Tirion with her eyes as he disappeared from her sight, before standing and clearing the table. She didn't even look up when she heard the Floo in the next room, but did when Max sought her out, instead of Tirion.

“Is he ready to go?” Max's voice betrayed an impatience, almost an urgency, that Tirion had not expressed.

“Max, whatever this is, talk him out of it. Please.” Susan wasn't sure if it was simply foolhardy or dangerous, but she thought she'd rather not find out.

“I can't do that, Susan. Even if I thought he'd listen, which he wouldn't. He's a lion, through and through.” He paused, softening at Susan's expression, both wary and weary. “He wouldn't be the man you married if he didn't go do this.”

Susan had opened her mouth to reply when Tirion came back down the stairs, broom in one arm and son in the other. “Look who I found awake and ready for his day,” he chuckled, bouncing him. Turning to Max, Tirion nodded, getting serious. “Good, you brought your broom. We can fly.”

“Fie. Boom. Tibi fie boom.” Tiberius clapped his hands together and the adults fell silent. Tirion's eyes glimmered at the boy's words as Max and Susan exchanged glances, Max's saying 'we don't have the time,' and Susan's 'this buys me some time.'

“What do you say, Susan? Can I take Tibi up on the broom for his first ride before I go?” He smiled at her sweetly, before turning to Max. “Ten minutes won't make that much of a difference.” Not waiting for a response from either of them, he hurried out the back door, tossing the camera from the side table behind him to Susan.

“Just be careful!” Susan hurried out after him, Max following behind her.

When she reached the yard, they were already up in the air, flying zigzags over the yard.

“Max!” Tirion called down to the two of them standing there. “Get the camera from Susan and get up here and take a picture!” He zoomed off to the nearby woods, Tiberius' shrieks of excitement echoing all around them.

Max mounted his broom and looked back to Susan, as if to ask if she wanted a ride, but she simply shook her head. He kicked off and followed the others to the woods where they could fly with more cover. Susan watched them go, before sitting on the ground, knees pulled up to her chest, and waiting.

She wasn't sure how long they were gone, but when they landed, Susan instantly collected Tiberius and held him to her chest, leaning into Tirion as she did so. “Please don't go. Please. You can fly with him any time you want, just please don't go.”

“I love you, Susan. And you too, Tibi.” Tirion hugged them both close to him. “That's why I need to do this. I'll be back soon.”

“Pom-is?”

“I promise, little man. I promise.”

With two more quick kisses, Tirion mounted his broom and kicked off, turning back just once to wave to a wife fighting back tears and a two-year-old boy clamoring to fly again.

* * *

When word finally came, Susan and Tiberius were spread out on the floor playing with his toys. Her heart racing, Susan leaped to her feet, not bothering to put Tiberius in his pen, and raced to the door.

“Daddy!” Tiberius cried out, giggling, as he tried to push himself up to his feet.

Susan wrenched open the door to find a somber looking Max standing on her stoop.

“Daddy!” Tiberius toddled over to the hall, trying to get to where his daddy was supposed to be, his still little legs not moving nearly as fast as he wanted to move.

Max's eyes were sad, and perhaps his cheeks a little tear-stained, as he extended his hand and placed something in Susan's. She looked down, hoping that her eyes would tell her something other than what she felt. They didn't. It was Tirion's wand.

“Daddy?” Tiberius repeated himself, this time perhaps a little more puzzled as he saw Uncle Max in the door giving something to his Mummy.

“No.” She whispered, looking back up. “No!” She lunged forward, beating both fists against the man's chest, her body wracked with sobs. “You wouldn't talk him out of it. Your fault. Your fault!” As he placed his hands on her shoulders, she stopped her assault, dropping her arms to her side. He stepped away, then, and, the charms on the house no longer there, disappeared with a pop. Susan closed the door and put her back up against it. “No.” Thump. She hit the door with her fist. “No.” Thump. Her body shook and, slowly, she slid until she was seated at the base of the door, still thumping, still crying, gasping desperately for air.

“Daddy.” Tiberius had finally made it to the door and to Susan. He looked up at the door and down at his mum, some awareness of her sadness showing on his face. “Daddy,” he repeated, not quite a question, but not quite a statement. “Daddy. Home.” It was almost insistent.

Opening her eyes, Susan used the back of her hand to wipe them, still gasping for breath. With her other arm, she grabbed her son and pulled him into her lap. Cradling and rocking him slowly, her own body still shaking, she choked out the words that she had feared the most.

“Daddy's not coming home, sweetheart. Daddy's not coming home.”

Oh dear me! Jeremie you so often reduce me to tears that it is pathetic. My heart just broke for Tibi! I want to squeeze him and never let go. It is beautifully written and very touching. I love it

Oh gosh Jer.

That was...that was...really beautifully written.

I have tears in my eyes. Poor little Tibi, I just want to hug him.

I'm so mad at you right now! I'm crying!

It was wonderfully writen, but I'm still mad at you.

I...didn't cry.

Instead, I felt the urge to punch Max in the face.

I mean, maybe Tibi and Susan needed some alone time, maybe that's why he chose to leave. But, he just abandoned them. First of all, he apparated, and I think that's a bit below the belt, seeing as Susan had no way to follow him. He didn't offer an explanation, which he owed them. He didn't say he was sorry. He didn't try to redo the protection spells. He didn't say ANYTHING. Plot device or not, Max is a coward.

I mean, how do they even know he's going to come back?

He could of at least promised them that.

I don't trust him.

Anyway, emotions aside, I thought this was very beautifully written (as always)! I especially loved the last four paragraphs. The way you used the "thump" word was as pretty as it was heart wrenching. And also, Tibi's response to being in Gryffindor. That made me laugh.

I found two tiny typos, though, and I thought you might want to know about them: Otherwise, I think it's perfect.

Goodness me!

That was beautiful and tragic at the same time. It's Susan who I want to hug, poor woman.

Will we be seeing Max again? hmmm

Fabulous as ever

Thank you all. Really. I get all flustered thinking about you all reading this and actually liking it.

I totally cried last night after I posted it. I'd made that decision right when I created Tibi, but something about posting it made me feel like the worst person imaginable. Stole that poor boy's daddy from him.

Thank you. And don't you, though? I just want to make sure he has nothing but good things... but then I put him in these miserable situations.

Yeah. I'm mad at me, too. I wrote the end of the chapter before I wrote the rest of it, and I just... didn't want to finish because then I'd have to post it and then ugh.

One - THANK YOU for the typo stuffs. That's what I get for 'editing' after midnight. >.<

As for Max... yeah. What a jerk move, right? Like, he could have at least offered to do.. I don't know.. something. Leaving a distraught woman alone with her two-year-old? Classy, man.

I'm learning a lot about Susan, actually, as I work on this. And how some of that affects her and Tibi now, which has been interesting.

As for Max... maybe from afar. For now. He may weasel his way into some Tibi rp stuff, actually, since in IC time, he's starting to get really curious about digging up stuff about his dad, and dad and Max went way back.