AN: Slight HP crossover, not directly referenced.
Arthur had removed the shackles and the collar but kept several monitoring spells up. America was in severe pain. It broke Arthur's heart. He sent Matthew to retrieve the tome and mage staff that was made from several different sacred American woods, bound and purified in the flames of the White House long ago and covered in spells written in the blood of the fallen soldiers. He would be using a very dark spell to right the wrongs of the past. He would ensure that America wanted nothing, spoiling him rotten. He made an unbreakable vow to care for and protect the young nation, plotting the best solution. He sent a text to his brothers, who opened the floo network for the entire family to come through for the ritual.
Matthew was as quick as possible, not caring if it would have bad consequences for America. He just wanted his brother back. He couldn't tell Maska that he remembered him and just wanted his cub to have a happy childhood. Matthew felt guilty for what he was about to do. It would be the only way to save his little brother and make absolutely certain that no one could hurt him again. His resolve was strong, absolutely certain that it was the only way to secure the safety and wellbeing of Alfred. He handed the tome and staff over, letting a new chapter begin for his very little brother. He turned to Arthur, his Lord Father, with a question in his eyes.
Arthur tipped his head in acceptance, recognizing the steel in Matthew's eyes at the task at hand.
"America, I'm so sorry to do this to you. It's the only way." Matthew's voice was gentle, mixed with magic. It was purple, restraining and almost crushing his brother. The body was almost floating three feet off of the ground, wrapping around every limb and sinking into the American's mind. Cracks appeared, leaving behind a younger, weaker America in its place. America was truly stuck with the visage that Arthur had changed him to, looking almost peaceful as mind magic wiped him of every memory he had, leaving a totally blank mind behind.
Arthur started to prepare the last step as the older of his children came down to help with the spell. They had not been informed of who exactly America was, just thinking that America had hidden away from Arthur for all these years. Arthur wouldn't correct them as they didn't need to know about the irrelevant information. America's magical inheritance test showed only what had happened at the hands of the American Government, anything else had been wiped clean, name and age were revealed. At least what Ian had refiled at the Minestry.
"Name: Alfred Fredrick Slytherin-Lefaye-Pendragon-Kirkland
Father: Arthur Igvictus Slytherin-Pendragon-Kirkland
Mother: Martha Morgana Slytherin-Pendragon-Lafaye-Kirkland
Age: 4 (physical and psychological)/~400
Species/Creature Inheritance: Personification/Neutral Thunderbird.
Etc." Ian had read aloud after entering the room. Arthur was floored. America had become his blood child without any ritual required, which confused the Kirkland brothers. His older children also looked shocked. They all had been expecting for Alfred to take a blood binding potion along with a blood adoption that would have to be repeated at least five times, like it did for them. A sigh escaped Matthew at the revelation. He had done the correct thing.
The gathered personifications knew what had to happen. A golem was created to replace America, the way he looked before the ritual had started, in his government with the instructions to help in the relief efforts. Speech and behavioral patterns had been created from the usual routine that they had been able to observe from several of the surveillance cameras now that they knew who and what they were looking for. It was given orders to return to the White House where it would die in a few weeks from complications. The American government knew that a weakened personification could die from a tragedy so no one would ask about what happened.
The main spell was very dark. All the ward stones had been updated, not allowing the magic to be sensed beyond the ritual room. A single thought was shared amongst the family that went something like: "He's the baby now. Gotta keep the baby safe."
America would become the baby of the family, protected by the entirety of the former British Empire and all of the former and current commonwealth, magic flowing into the staff and the ritual circle. The tome Arthur was using opened to the correct pages as needed.
America couldn't fight back, his magic long since sealed away. The magic took, wrapping his entire being in pulsating magic from his most sacred places. There was a sudden wave of all consuming magic, red and black, that completely engulfed the world power. Screams and bones snapping were heard, the room filled with images of war and smoke as Matthew's magic allowed the dark ritual to stick quickly.
His entire being shifted into that of a four year old, blood red runes and symbols sunk slowly into the perfectly smooth skin. The child was free of all the scars and tribal tattoos that once covered him. Alfred was no longer what he used to be, free of the pain and suffering. The child that lay in the middle of the circle was deep in sleep, breathing lightly when the circle started to glow akin to the very sun itself. The glowing stopped, a single blue star appeared on Alfred's neck. A matching star appeared on Arthur's magical ring, allowing Arthur to feel the pulsing of America's magic which matched the little one's heart beats. Arthur smiled, a genuine one as he waited for the circle to dissipate to collect his youngest son.