*Discontinued* No Longer

A New Day

Era Damon White**

As soon as Tom began thrashing, Era tried to wake him. Shaking him was to no effect, and neither was calling his name. He was dead to the world, and making pained moans now as his limbs flew.

Pinning the smaller man down, Era sent a pulse of magic to his mind, and brought him back to consciousness.

"Tom, Tom, TOM!" Era kept saying, eventually shouting to be heard.

Crimson eyes flashed wide open in fear, and he forced himself to gentle his tone and say, "Sweatheart, I need you to calm down. Focus on my voice. Only on my voice. My name is Era, and I am your mate. I am not going to reject you, or judge you. You've had a really hard time of it honey, and I'm here to help sort things out.

"Now, would it help to talk about your dream? *shake of his head* Is it alright if we go back to cuddling then? I was rather enjoying it. *nods* That's very good sweetheart, thank you."

Era released the confining grasp he had and changed positions so that they were once again nestled together.

___

One hour later. . .

___

"Okay, I understand you might not be ready yet, but we need to talk about some things. You're in the body of the Hogwarts' Defense teacher. I know you're smart enough to do the job far more justice than Voldemort, but I'm not sure that's what you want.

"With Dumbledore around *winces at name* it would make sense for you not to stay in the teaching position, and it's not like anyone would be surprised if you just didn't show up for work today.

"I'm able to give you some options, first option is, you can stay in my personal quarters at the nightclub I own. Second, you can stay in my quarters with me until I need to leave and you can stay with my familiars instead, or, some of them, anyway. Third, you could just stay with my familiars. Fourth, you could stay on my property with my. . . Tenants I suppose you can call them, but I have the highest degree of trust in them and you'd be safe and supported there. Fifth, you can stay at the defense position.

"And the last option I am able to present you with is to stay with my other mate. You do somewhat know him, and he you, although he wouldn't recognize you as you appear now. We could leave your identity a secret or reveal it, that is your choice to make, though only if you were to go with that option.

"I don't mean to pressure you into making any hasty decisions, there is still some time to contemplate, but it would make me feel better knowing that you were somewhere safe."

"Why," Tom started in a whisper, "Why do you want to help me? You know that I- that I've hurt people, killed them, even, why are you being so nice to me?    

"Tom," Era said in a firm but kind way, "What happened is not your fault. None of the things that happened were caused by you, they were caused by Dumbledore. He took control of your body and used that control to break your sanity. That means that after that, everything you did until I put your soul back together, was done when you weren't yourself."

"But what if it wasn't? What if I really would have done all those terrible things if I hadn't been controlled?"

"Tell me, do you still have any impulse to hurt anyone else, kill them, wreak havoc, or dominate the world?"

"No, but-"

"No. No buts. You aren't the one who wanted those things then and you aren't the one who wants them now."

Tom looked adorably disgruntled at Era's insistence, but still had to give in to the larger man's logic. He may be many things, but dense wasn't one of them.