Chapter 11
August 1st, 1944
Tom had received his Hogwarts letter that morning and he had locked himself in his room since breakfast time. I was worried about him, I had no idea what was wrong and all I wanted to do was comfort my little boy.
“Kandi? Everything alright, luv?” Bucky asked as he entered our apartment.
“I’m worried about Tom. He’s been in his room all day.” I told him leaning heavily into him when he sat behind me. He wrapped his arms around my lower stomach, laying his head on my shoulder.
“Do you want me to talk with him? Or we could have Steve talk with him when he gets home.” Bucky murmured. I hummed turning to bury my nose in his neck.
“If he doesn’t come out for dinner, I’ll go talk with him. I think he’s scared about going back to school.” I answered. Bucky hummed. We stayed in that position until Steve came back an hour later. He had paused just inside the doorway to smile when he saw us. I had been dozing against Bucky while Bucky had been playing with some of my hair that had come loose from my braid.
“I’m home.” Steve said softly jolting me to awareness while Bucky grinned at him. I sighed, shifting in Bucky’s arms before shoving myself up.
“I’ll go talk to him. Catch Stevie up for me please Buck. We should be out when dinner’s ready.” I said softly. I gave both of my men a kiss, Bucky’s on his crown and Steve’s on his lips, before leaving to try and coax my son into speaking with me.
I glanced at the different pictures that littered the wall surface between the living room and the bedrooms. Tom featured in all but five of the pictures; one was a picture of Steve and Bucky before the war started, another was of Steve and I during the bonds tour, a third was of the Howling Commandos shortly after forming and another of them in relaxing in the field, but the last picture was of Steve, Bucky, and I only a few days after we had become a triad. All of the remaining pictures had Tom in them, usually with Bucky, Steve or I but Peggy was nearly as frequent with Howard, one or all of the Howling Commandos occasionally making an appearance as well.
When I finally reached the door to Tom’s room, I knocked on his door and waited for an answer. When a minute had passed without a response, I opened the door and saw Tom sitting on his bed, eyes blank and his knees were pulled up to his chest.
“Tom?” I asked moving closer to him. Tom’s only reaction was to curl in closer to himself. As I approached him, I saw his letter on the floor with what looked like tear-blotched ink on the front. Leaving the letter where it lay, I came to a crouch in front of him by his bedside.
“Lytling, what’s wrong?” I asked him softly.
“I’m still Tom Riddle to them… I’m still considered that man’s son, but I’m not… he never wanted me. I don’t want to be Tom Riddle anymore.” He said brokenly. My heart ached for him, but I wasn’t entirely sure how I could make it better. My boys and I had discussed the possibility of adopting Tom, but we hadn’t fully decided yet, worried about what would become of him if we didn’t survive the war.
“Ri, do you want to go to Diagon Alley with one of us?” I asked softly. He nodded his head jerkily.
“Is there anyone else you would like to join us? And do you want me, Steve, or Bucky to come with you?” I asked with long pauses.
“You and Peggy?” He replied softly. I gently cradled his face in my hands, brushing the remaining tears from his cheeks.
“Of course, Ri. Dinner’s ready, if you want to join us.” I told him.