On a desolate coast of the Isle of Wight sat a lonely double story farmhouse. The sun had just risen and an early autumnal breeze blew across the landscape as a boy slept peacefully in his bed.

For the last three years Y/N had moved around, a lot. Jacob had a number of safehouses across Britain, Ireland and Europe and they were always on the move. Never keep in one place to long. Never give them a chance to find you.

Y/N had no clue who 'they' were, Death Eaters probably, but he learnt long ago through pain never to question Jacob's authority.

Between moving between safe houses they stayed with others on the road- wizards and witches, not to mention half breeds, all of whom would assist in Y/N's training. But they had been in this house for the past fortnight and Y/N was grateful. At least this one had a bed.

Y/N was sleeping peacefully when suddenly he awoke to a shock. He was flung out of bed and across the room, magically pinned to the wall. He looked around angrily to see the source of his uncomfortable situation but none could be found.

"Merlin's beard Jacob could you just say good morning like a normal person" Y/N yelled.

Jacob emerged from the disillusionment charm he had cast over himself with a scowl on his face.

"Not good enough Y/N, not nearly good enough. You still sleep too heavily!"

Y/N was struggling against the magical bonds that held him in place as returned his brother's scowl.

"Yes sir... but most people would simply say happy birthday to their younger brother, not attack them when they are asleep" he grumbled.

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE" Jacob screamed at his youngest brother before there was the distraction of Y/N's bedroom door opening.

-~-

Dean and Penny had arrived at the small farmstead and looked around at the ruins in front of them. The place was warded heavily, any muggles who approached would feel the urge to run home, likewise any witch or wizard not granted access would feel sharp pains in their abdomen the closer they got to the home. Fortunately Dean and Penny were on the list to be able to enter.

It had been three months since they had seen Y/N. Jacob would occasionally stop by their apartment in St John's Wood, but when pressed as to Y/N's location they were always told 'he's training'.

"At least we finally get to see Cutie Pie" Penny smiled to her boyfriend as they entered the dishevelled home. Dean turned to answer before he was cut off by screaming from upstairs:

"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"

The couple looked at each other shocked before rushing upstairs. They stormed into the room, Dean yelling:

"What the hell is all this yelling... oh for fuck's sake Jacob. Put him down now".

Dean and Penny were both shocked to see the young boy magically pinned against the wall.

Jacob ignored his younger brother and continued to berate his young ward:

"You think our enemies will be so forgiving Y/N? You think they will wait til you are ready?"

The magical bonds tightened making Y/N grunt in discomfort as he looked down from Jacob's fierce glare.

"..... No sir" Y/N answered, trying to look anywhere but the sympathetic eyes of Penny.

Jacob continued to death stare the young boy before feeling a poke in the side of the neck.

"Release him. Now" Dean told Jacob sternly as his wand dug into his neck.

"You sure you want to do this Pip" Jacob sneered back at Dean.

"Jacob.... please" Penny asked softly, trying to diffuse the situation. She was more than used to the brothers devolving into conflict.

Jacob looked at Penny's pleading eyes and sighed. He'd always had a soft spot for Penny.

"Fine" he grunted, sending Y/N sprawling to the floor with an angered grumble.

Jacob turned to face the couple as he spoke:

"I need to see Moody for a couple of days, he's your responsibility til I get back"

With that there was a pop as he disapparated away.

"Fuck me" Dean groaned, offering his hand to his younger brother and asking "Are you ok Y/N?"

Y/N slapped Dean's hand away as he stood and snapped:

"I'm fine. I didn't ask for your help"

Y/N stood and stretched his back.

Penny could feel the tension building again, this time between Y/N and Dean, and being the Hufflepuff she was she moved to try and diffuse it.

She quickly darted across the room and engulfed the youngest brother in a big bear hug. She simultaneously peppered Y/N's head with kisses.

"We missed you so much. Happy 11th birthday Cutie Pie" she laughed.

"Penny" Y/N grumbled in embarrassment as she laughed.

"What?" Penny said as she looked back and smirked at Dean:

"I'm not allowed to hug my baby brother?" She asked innocently. Dean smirked seeing Y/N give up, Penny always had the boy around her little finger like no one else.

"No it's... fine"

Y/N sighed in defeat as Penny smiled victoriously.

"Happy birthday bro" Dean remarked as he crossed the room and held his hand out to shake.

Y/N looked at the hand then back at his brother before begrudgingly accepting it and returning the handshake, muttering "Thanks Dean" before turning back to Penny and asking:

"Little privacy while I change?"

"No problem" Penny smiled. "We will be in the dining room".

Y/N sighed as the couple left the room, closing the door behind them. This will be great Y/N thought to himself sarcastically.

There was always a tension between him and his middle brother. Y/N didn't know why. He didn't even dislike Dean particularly, but whenever he looked at him everything came rushing back. The beatings, the isolation, the pain. He shook his head as he tried to push the thoughts away.

"Don't give the bitch the satisfaction" Y/N grumbled as he got dressed and headed down to the dining room.

-~-

"What are we going to do Dean? Jacob's hurting him" Penny asked sadly.

"I'll go to the Ministry tomorrow, the Department for Magical Orphans. See if-"

"Hey there birthday boy" Penny smiled sweetly, cutting Dean off as Y/N entered the dining room.

"How does it feel being a big eleven year old?" Dean asked, following Penny's lead.

Y/N rolled his eyes at his brother and grumbled "the same as it did being a ten year old".

Dean chuckled and placed a large package on the dining room table as he spoke:

"Happy birthday bud"

"Happy birthday Cutie Pie"

The couple wished him well and smiled as Y/N cautiously approached the large heavily wrapped present. Dean smiled:

"It's from both of us, we think you'll like it".

Y/N tried to hold back a smile but struggled to as he looked down at the gift.

"What are you waiting for? Open it" Penny giggled to the boy.

Y/N tried his hardest to show the stoic restraint Jacob had drilled into him as he opened his present. Unfortunately he failed miserably, much to Penny and Deans delight.

"I don't believe it... is this a Nimbus 2000" Y/N asked as he looked at the pair in shock.

"Yes" Penny giggled.

"Eleven's a big birthday Y/N. Needs a big present" Dean chuckled and smiled at his baby brother.

Y/N's face was lit up in a joy neither of the adults had seen before, before he suddenly turned serious as he looked at the pair and spoke:

"I can't accept this, it's too much"

Dean just sighed as Penny smiled and shook her head:

"Sorry but that's not how it works Cutie Pie. You have to accept it. We want you to have it. We know how much you love flying"

Part of Y/N's training was learning to fly. Even Jacob admitted that Y/N was a natural. Quidditch ran in the family- Thomas had been a three time champion as Gryffindor's seeker and Dean was a part of six championships in a row for Slytherin.

Y/N considered Penny's words momentarily before rushing into Penny and wrapping her in a big hug.

"Thanks Sis, thanks so much" Y/N smiled as Penny squeezed him back even tighter and replied:

"You are most welcome"

Y/N released the hug and turned to his brother, instinctively reaching out his arms. He stopped himself quickly though before composing himself and offering a handshake.

"Thanks Dean" Y/N smiled.

Dean smiled back at his little brother.

"You are very welcome little man".

The brothers released the handshake and Dean spoke again as he glanced around the room:

"I'm sorry mate, I'm not sure where Jacob's present for you is"

Y/N replied nonchalantly with a straight emotionless face:

"Jacob doesn't believe in celebrating my birthday. Says it's a useless indulgence that will contribute to my weakness".

Dean's mouth dropped open, he looked at his younger brother desperately trying to compose himself as the rage inside reached boiling point. Dean didn't want to blow his stack and scare his little brother but was struggling to hold it in.

Penny could read her man like a book and knew a distraction was required quickly.

"Tell you what Y/N, why don't you go practice on your new broom for a while?" she smiled.

"Ok" Y/N replied happily before giving her another big hug.

"Thanks again for the present Pens, it's amazing" Y/N spoke with a grateful tone as Penny kissed the top of Y/N's head and giggled:

"You are most welcome, now go"

She pointed to the front door, the boy losing his usual composure as he smiled and ran out the door.

As soon as he was gone Dean let rip with what he had barely bottled up, Penny quickly throwing up a silencing charm.

"How fucking dare he the prick! He's a fucking kid, what the hell is wrong with him?"

Penny wrapped her boyfriend in a hug before kissing him gently on the lips.

"I know sweetheart, I know. At least he is having fun now. It's so nice to see him be a little boy again"

She smiled again as she looked out the window. Y/N was doing a loop de loop on his broom before racing back and forth as quickly as he could.

"He's going to be a natural at Quidditch, just like his sexy big brother" Penny giggled before turning serious.

"How bout we take Y/N back to our place once his owl gets here, take him away from this for a few days, give him a break and some family time before we go to Diagon Alley?"

"That's a great idea sweetheart" Dean replied before smiling widely.

"Did you see what nearly happened?" He grinned again at Penny, barely able to hold in his happiness.

"I did" Penny smiled sweetly at her lover. "He almost hugged you"

-~-

Y/N smiled to himself as he soared high in the air before racing down and pulling up at the last moment, inched from the ground. He felt the adrenaline rush in his veins, the wind blowing against his cheeks and through his hair- the freedom he experienced while flying. There was nothing like it.

As he pulled up and turned facing the house he noticed an owl fly in the kitchen window. He smiled to himself:

"I hope that's it"

He flew towards the house, dismounting in a jogging stop before running into the house.

"Congrats bro" Dean smiled to Y/N, holding out an unmistakable Hogwarts letter to his younger sibling.

Y/N's face lit up as he opened the envelope offering him a place to the school he always dreamt of attending, if nothing else to get away from the constant training and fighting he had to do.

"I'm finally going" Y/N smiled at his elder brother before he looked towards Penny.

"Are you crying Pens?" Y/N asked as she laughed and wiped away a few tears.

"You're growing up so fast Cutie Pie" Penny grinned as she wiped more tears.