Chapter Text
Jacob Clancy was five years old when his mother went into the bedroom and didn't come out for a few hours. Since his mum and dad said he was a good boy, Jacob played with his toy train which looked very similiar to the Hogwarts Express. His dad paced up and down the hallway, looking anxious, but giving a smile to Jacob every once and a while as he made his doll versions of Dumbledore and Merlin have the duel of the century in five year old Jacob's mind.
"Having fun there Jacob?" Peregrine Clancy asked, looking down at his son. Jacob smiled up at his father.
"Merlin and Dumbly-door are having a duel 'cause Dumbly-door took a cookie off Merlin!" Jacob said as he jumped up and bashed the dolls' heads together. "And Merlin is super duper angry at Dumbly-door!"
"It's Dumbledore, Jacob, but I'm glad you're having fun." Peregrine smiled. A cry emerged from his and his wife's bedroom as she gave birth to their second child, which Jacob had no idea to. Jacob looked around curiously. "Don't worry, must be Merlin and Dumbledore having their duel. How about we get you some food?"
"No cookies or Dumbly-door and Merlin will have a duel again." Jacob said solenmly. "I'll wait here for Mummy."
"She'll be in there for a while, Jacob." Peregrine said, trying to reason with the stubborn five year old. Jacob glared at his father. He sighed. "Alright, keep on playing but be very quiet. I'll get you a sandwich."
Peregrine walked down the stairs and Jacob was left alone on the landing of their vast house. Jacob's toys were scattered around the place - stuffed dragons, toy trains, dolls of various famous wizards and witches, wooden blocks and toy wands which emitted sparks of all colors of the rainbow. Mummy had been inside that bedroom for a very long time and another lady from St Mungo's Hospital had gone in with her. Was Mummy sick? Did she have dragon pox like Jacob's grandfather?
The lady from St Mungo's walked out of the room, a big smile on her face. She looked down at Jacob. "Hello there - you're Jacob aren't you?"
"Yes I am." Jacob said proudly, puffing up his little chest. "Are you helping my mummy? What's wrong with her?"
"There's nothing wrong with her." The Healer said gently. "Would you like to come in"?"
"Yes please!" Jacob said happily as he dropped the doll versions of Dumbledore and Merlin. Walking into the bedroom, Jacob couldn't help but stare at his mother. She was sitting up in the bed she and her husband shared, holding a bundle of blankets in her arms. She was smiling tiredly down at the bundle, but she looked worried as well.
"What's that Mummy?" Jacob asked in a hushed voice. Mrs. Clancy looked up at her oldest child and smiled sadly.
"Jacob Clancy." She said softly. "Meet Tommy Clancy. Your little brother."
Jacob tip toed over to the bed and climbed up with the help of the Healer. He stared down at his little brother's face. Tommy looked like Jacob even if he'd just been born - pale white skin, jet black hair and the same nose. As Tommy let out a tiny whimper, his eyes opened to reveal green emerald orbs indentical to Jacob's eyes.
"Tommy's so small Mummy." Jacob whispered.
"That's why you need to protect him." Mrs. Clancy said softly as the Healer left the room to get Peregrine. "See, Tommy is so small he might not be able to defend himself when he's older and goes off to Hogwarts."
"I'll protect Tommy forever and forever Mummy!" Jacob whispered proudly. "Can I hold him please?"
"Of course you can, just mind his head." Mrs. Clancy said as she placed her tiny infant into her five year old's arms. Tommy whimpered and cried but as soon as he looked up at Jacob, he fell silent and snuggled into Jacob's chest.
Peregrine walked into the room, his face pale as he looked anixously at his wife. "Does he have the curse?" He asked. "The baby? Is he cursed?"
Jacob grew angry at his father, but he had to be careful since he was holding his brother. "His name is Tommy." He said. "And he's not cursed. He's just very small."
Peregrine smiled, but seemed to ignore Jacob. "Is Tommy cursed then?" He said, giving his wife a pleading look as the Healer walked into the room again and busied herself with her bag. "Does he have ferventi sanguine?"
Mrs. Clancy nodded as she wiped tears away from her eyes. "If he lives to eleven, then he's out of the danger zone and on track to live a normal life until he dies." She said, thinking of the blood curse that had been passed down from male to male in her family - the Maguires - for generations since the 1600s. Most had lived long and fulfilling lives, but that had grown less common. Her father - also called Tommy - had two cousins and a brother called Jacob who died before they were able to graduate from Hogwarts. Tommy Maguire had died when Jacob was around three, and he hadn't even been old by Muggle standards.
"The least we can do is give him a happy life until then." Peregrine promised his wife as he gazed down at his two sons and wondered if the youngest would live to see the age of eleven.