The Magizoologist's Son

A Brave Stand

Tom looked around and he found himself back in the cold dark hallway with stairs leading up to the rooms. Bobo twitched and rose his head out of his coat pocket. "Just stay hidden," he said. "If that monster finds you, she'll squish you,"

Bobo ducked back inside. Tom looked ahead and he saw the door which led to the cellar where he had been sentenced. But he was not going back down there. With the pitch-black walls and the creepy rats and bats, it would be a cell of horror and torture. He tiptoed quietly across the creaky floorboards to the cells. He trod up the staircase with caution looking up ahead to make sure there was no sign of his caretaker who would abuse him the moment she laid her eyes on him.

He made it to the first level and to his luck, no one was awake. He tiptoed over to his room which he shared with Credence. To his delight, the door wasn't locked. He entered the small bedroom. He saw his brother asleep on his simple bed. He smiled. But his smile dropped when he saw blood and splinters on his hands. Mary Lou had given him another awful treatment. How he hated her even more.

He looked behind and he closed the door shut again. Then he pulled a large box in front of it should Mary try to enter their room before they'd awaken. He walked over to his brother's bed and pulled the blanket further over him. "I will never ever leave you," he vowed.

He came over to his bed and reached for a box underneath. He pulled it out and opened it revealing tiny but meaningful mementoes from his birth family. Photos of himself and his parents. An empty hexagon-shaped packet which said 'chocolate frog' on the front. A glass orb with a golden rim. A small telescope-like item. And a silver chain with a triangle symbol with a line and a circle inside. He picked up the pendant and put it around his neck. He cradled it tenderly as he closed his eyes. How he missed his parents dearly. He closed the box and pulled off Newt's coat. He changed into his pyjamas and little Bobo was lifted out of the coat pocket. Tom was about to pack the coat into an old suitcase but he realised he couldn't.

The kind Newt Scamander had given it to him so he didn't feel alone. Like whenever he wore it, he could always feel Newt's warm arms engulfing him, keeping him safe. He put on his coat and once again felt like he was engulfed in the warm-hearted man's arms. He hopped into bed but didn't pull the blanket over him. He was warm enough in that simple piece of dressing. As he laid his head against the pillow, Bobo hopped off his shoulder and laid against his puffy cheeks. "Good night Bobo," he said. And he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Tom flickered his eyes and woke up slowly. He saw Bobo above his head, touching his cheeks with his soft tree fingers.

"Good morning Bobo," he said. The Bowtruckle squeaked affectionately. "Better hide before someone sees you. And I don't wanna freak my brother out,"

Bobo squeaked 'yes' and as Tom sat up, he hopped into his coat pocket. Tom turned towards his brother's bed. To his surprise, he wasn't there. The bed was tidy. "Credence?" he swung his legs over the bed and sat up. He turned to the door and saw the box and chairs in front of the door still in place. They hadn't been moved at all. Tom turned towards the window and saw it was still locked. He rushed over and unlocked it. He peered outside but all he saw was an empty alleyway down below.

He peered out desperately, trying to find his brother. But just then, he heard voices coming from the right. He glanced down and he saw his brother talking with a tall man with shaved black hair. He saw him holding out his hand and the man waving his hand over his sore hands. He narrowed his eyes but he couldn't see very clearly.

Suddenly he heard a loud banging noise from the door. Tom turned in a flash and he saw it shaking. The chairs and the boxes shuffled back from the impact.

"Wake up Credence! Wake up!" Mary's loud cruel voice shouted from outside. "Why is this bloody door shut?!"

Tom rushed to his bed and started pulling the sheets in place. He pulled off Newt's coat and stuffed it into the old suitcase. He couldn't let her take away his gift. Bobo poked his head out.