A/N: To Riverwriter - who not only went through this monstrousity of a chapter but who helps keep me sane all days about everything - I love you. And to quitethesardonic - your enthusiasm for this story is 3 and i thank you for it - love you 3 To everyone else who reads this - thank you. It's my favourite thing to write at the moment and all I can say is sorry for what you are about to read.
"What on earth are you doing?"
Hermione startled and dropped her bag at the sound of her best friend's voice. She could still hear her phone ringing. Could feel it vibrating from inside the bag but she hadn't seen Harry in almost three weeks. Not at all since she'd had her argument with Ginny and so she left her phone where it still was deep in the recesses of her bag.
"Harry," she greeted, smiling brittlely up at him and turning in her seat to look at him. "What are you doing here?"
"James has swimming lessons too remember?" He said gently and Hermione nodded before she turned her head back to watch Alexander. He was a seriously strong swimmer. Much better than she ever was. "How are you?" Harry asked as he dropped into the empty seat beside her. Hermione resisted leaning into him and shrugged. She wasn't exactly sure where they stood. Wasn't sure what Ginny would have told him about their argument.
"I'm fine. What about you? I haven't seen you in a while?" And she hadn't. She'd seen Ginny almost everyday when she'd gone to pick Alexander up from school but the redhead hadn't so much as glanced in her direction once.
"I've been away with work," he said, taking one of the hands that she'd been twisting in her skirt, into his. "Hermione -"
"I'm sorry," she blurted out, cringing at the way numerous parents turned and looked at her. "Oh God," she muttered, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Harry chuckled beside her and pulled her into him.
"What do you have to be sorry for? I'm the one who should apologise."
"Well," Hermione began. Harry snorted.
"Well, Ginny," he corrected, smirking at her, "but still. I haven't exactly been supportive of you have I?"
Hermione turned away and watched Alexander as he swam lengths. "I just don't understand why she's, why you're both," she corrected, "so against me seeing Tom?"
Harry tilted her head back to look at him with a simple finger under her chin. "I'm sorry. I don't really have a reason that without your memories you'd accept. But it's none of our business. You're a grown woman Hermione. You can make your own decisions. I just want you to know that no matter what you decide we'll support you." Hermione nodded. There had never been a doubt in her mind that she would accept Harry's apology. There also wasn't a doubt in her mind that when the time came she'd accept Ginny's too.
"It's ok." She said.
"It's not but I agree that there's no point dwelling on it." Hermione nodded and Harry smiled at her for the first time in weeks. "How have you been?"
"Ok. Tired." She smirked up at him. "I never knew how exhausting it was having two kids. I don't know how you cope with three."
Harry laughed. "And Malfoy? Tom?"
Hermione could feel the blush blossoming in her cheeks. "They're good," she rasped. Harry nudged her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that," he teased.
"They've been taking me out on dates."
"Separately I hope?"
Hermione elbowed him. "Obviously."
"And?"
"And it's been nice."
It had been nice. Both of them had been taking her out on two date nights a week for the past few weeks. Hermione couldn't remember a time she'd ever been wined and dined so thoroughly. Nor a time when she'd spent so much time with Pansy, who was nothing but happy to look after Alexander and Olivia whilst she was out.
It was even better when they all spent time together. Tom had a habit of arriving to pick Alexander up from school unannounced and then whisking them away for an afternoon drive and a nice dinner at a pub in the countryside. And Draco was no better. He'd showed up a few times too and the four of them had ended up in Brighton one night, enjoying the seaside and the fair and-
It had been nice.
"Still no closer to picking just one of them then?"
Hermione groaned and dropped her head onto Harry's shoulder. "I'm pretty sure i'm in love with them both." Harry chuckled above her and Hermione thumped him in the arm. "It's not funny."
"Of course not," he replied cheekily.
"I'm meeting Draco's mother in a few days," she murmured quietly.
"Narcissa? You've met her before."
Hermione groaned. "Yes but I don't remember that do I? What if she hates me?" Harry laughed and Hermione made to thump him again but he caught her fist in his hand and smirked at her.
"She loves you. All mothers love you. Remember when you met mine and she spent the next year trying to convince us to date just so she could call you her daughter-in-law?"
Hermione laughed. "She kept showing me your baby pictures and telling me how cute our babies would look." Harry laughed but Hermione sobered. "Merope hates me."
"Merope's a bitch though," he smirked and Hermione chuckled. They settled into a companionable silence as they watched their sons' swimming lesson. "It'll be ok you know," Harry murmured eventually. At Hermione's incredulous look he went on as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and dropped a chaste kiss to the top of her head. "Your memories. Whether you get them back or not, everything will be ok."
"I hope so," she muttered lifting her head and watching Alexander again.
"But I don't want to go!" Alexander yelled and Hermione closed her eyes and counted to three before she crossed the kitchen and lifted Olivia, who had not stopped screaming since Hermione had placed her into her highchair, into her arms.
"Please stop crying baby," she murmured, holding Olivia close to her chest and swaying. "Please stop."
"I." Stomp. "Am." Stomp. "Not." Stomp. "Going." Stomp. "I." Stomp. "Want." Stomp. "to." Stomp. "Stay." Stomp. "Here." Alexander screamed from the hallway and Hermione looked down at Olivia, whose face was scrunched up and red and covered in mashed banana and snot and tears, and felt like crying herself.
She walked into the hall watched, wide-eyed, as Alexander threw his tantrum. She was helpless to stop him as he tossed his school books from his bag, threw his wellies into the kitchen, and kicked the living room door repeatedly.
"Alex." She said, hoping to calmly stop him from his destruction without startling Olivia even more. Her youngest was writhing about in her grasp now and Hermione was gripping her tightly to prevent her from joining her brother in destroying the hallway.
"Alex please," she repeated quietly. She felt her phone vibrating from her pocket and slipped it out to find the unknown number that had been trying to get a hold of her for days calling again. "Please Alex," she said again, louder this time, "I'm on the phone."
"I don't care!" He yelled at her before he turned on his heel and stomped up the stairs. Hermione stared after him in shock as she bounced Olivia in one arm and answered the call with the other. "Hello?"
"Hello. Mrs Riddle?"
Olivia was still screaming. "Shhhh sweetie." She murmured, pressing the phone between her ear and shoulder so she could bounce Olivia with two hands. "Speaking."
"Oh thank goodness. This is Dr. Slughorn's office. We've been trying to reach you for quite a while now."
Hermione blinked and walked into the kitchen to boil the kettle. She glanced at the clock. Ten till four. "Oh," she replied, "sorry, I've been quite busy."
"Yes well," the woman sniffed, and Hermione decided she was going to find out her name and have her fired or reprimanded or something. Was this the way secretaries spoke to clients these days? "We're going to need you to come in as soon as possible. Your blood work has come back and Dr. Slughorn is quite insistent on seeing you again." Hermione pressed her forehead against the fridge door, carefully maneuvering Olivia so she wasn't agitated further by the cool metal.
"Ok," she muttered. "When?"
"An appointment has been made for you at four pm on Monday afternoon." Hermione grit her teeth. She honestly felt like telling this woman to go to hell and to shove her appointment up her arse but she really did need to see Slughorn. She pulled the milk from the fridge and turned around to find Tom staring at her. At her frazzled and obviously frustrated face and at Olivia who was still screaming bloody murder and then pointedly up at the ceiling where she could still hear, over all the ruckus in the room she was in, stomping around. She almost sobbed with relief when he crossed the room, lifted Olivia from her arms into his -where she immediately settled - pressed a kiss against her forehead then turned on his heel and began to make his way up the stairs. She took a deep breath.
"Monday at four will be fine."
"See you th-" Hermione cut the call and made herself a cup of tea before she collapsed into one of the dining room chairs.
Tom found her there twenty minutes later.
"Hey." She lifted her head to see him standing on the threshold of the kitchen, Alexander was stood between his legs. "Go on," he nudged their son gently and Alex walked the small distance between them until he stood before her, his eyes firmly on his feet.
"Sorry Mum."
She pulled him into her arms. "It's ok." She looked at Tom over his shoulder. Thank you, she mouthed.
"Ok," Tom interrupted. "Go and pack all your stuff up then come back downstairs and tidy the mess in the hall up."
Alexander nodded and pulled back from her. "Ok Dad."
"Hi," Hermione mumbled when Tom dropped into the seat beside her.
"Hi yourself. What the hell was that?"
Hermione looked up from her tea to him and shrugged as she rubbed a hand over her face "I have no idea but I hope it never happens again. Where's Olivia?"
"She's asleep." He reached across the gap between them and pulled Hermione into his lap. He was nuzzling his nose along the swell of her breasts when he spoke again. "Who was that on the phone?"
She ran her fingers through his hair and gripped the roots in her fist as she angled his head up to look at her. "The doctor's. I have an appointment on Monday afternoon."
He hummed. "For your head?" Hermione shrugged.
"He took some blood last time I visited too. I'm assuming he just wants to give me a once over."
"I'd like to give you a once over," he mumbled into her neck. Hermione laughed and he smirked up at her. "Want me to take you?"
She blinked down at him. "Won't you have work?"
He shrugged. "I'll take the day off. We can take Alexander to school, then me, you, and Olivia can spend the day together."
"Only if you're sure?"
He grinned up at her and Hermione's heart fluttered. "I'm sure. It'll be a good chance for us to spend some quality time together. As a family ." She rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Ok then. Thank you."
He dropped his eyes again to the swell of her breasts. "Do you have to go tonight?"
She felt her face fall and made to move off his lap. He held her tighter. "Tom-"
"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "That wasn't fair."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "No. It wasn't."
"I just want you all to myself." She simply shook her head and nudged him until she was free of his grip. "Fuck," he grabbed her by the wrist and stood with her. "I'm sorry. It's just hard."
She frowned up at him. It was hard for her too. Didn't he think she'd like to have her memories back? Would like to know what the hell was going on in her head and her heart? To be with just one of them without thinking about the other?
"I know," she muttered, choosing instead to wrap her arms around his waist and hug him. "I know," she repeated and he sighed heavily as he pressed a kiss against the top of her head.
"I should go grab the kids and let you get ready." She nodded but didn't pull away and when he cupped her jaw and angled her head so that he could kiss her, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leant into him. His tongue swiped the seam of her lips and she parted them, sighing into the kiss which was quickly becoming heated.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked, reluctantly pulling away from him. He flashed her a grin as he walked out of the kitchen and made his way upstairs.
"Yeah."
She watched him, and his bum, and when he was out of sight she dropped her head into her hands, slumped back into her seat and groaned at the prospect of re-meeting Draco's mother in a few hours.
"Are you ok?" Hermione's eyes snapped up p from looking at her hands to meet Draco's. He was frowning at her and one of his hands was reaching across the table for hers. She unwound her fingers and took his.
"I'm fine," she replied, smiling shyly at him. "I'm just nervous."
Draco squeezed her hand. "It'll be fine. My mother loves you." Hermione hoped that was true. She had a terrible track record of meeting mothers, regardless of what Harry said. There was just something about her that rubbed them the wrong way. Merope had always made it quite clear that she'd never thought Hermione had been good enough for her baby boy.
"I know. But it's just odd. I'm not even good at organising my own life. Never mind an extravagant party."
The Malfoy's Annual New Years Eve Party. That's what she'd apparently signed up to help Narcissa organise. Months ago. Before she'd lost her memory and been thrown into the carnage that her life currently was.
She was interrupted from thinking any further on the matter by the flurry of activity that signalled the arrival of Mrs. Malfoy and she suddenly felt incredibly underdressed in her navy blue short sleeved dress with low cut neckline. Narcissa Malfoy was the most put together and glamourous woman she'd ever met in her life.
"Darlings," she cooed, grasping her son by the shoulders and, surprisingly, pulling him in for a firm hug before she turned to Hermione. She stood shakily from her chair.
"Hello Mrs, Malfo-"
"Oh gosh no darling," she smiled, "Narcissa. You call me Narcissa"
Hermione nodded and smiled wanly. So far so good. And it was, good. Narcissa Malfoy was everything Hermione had always hoped Merope would be. Loving of her son and accepting of his relationship with her. The conversation flowed easily. Narcissa asked about her children, whom she'd apparently met on more than one occasion and adored.
"Olivia," she sighed wistfully, as she cleared her plate of the lamb fillet they'd all enjoyed. "Is the absolute cutest." Hermione smiled. Her daughter really was. "Draco was too," she continued. "The curls on him. You wouldn't know it now of course but," she glanced at Draco, "he was beautiful. I can only imagine," Narcissa continued, but Draco interrupted sharply.
"Mother!"
"What?" She asked. "All I'm saying is that the pair of you would make absolutely adorable children." She had her hand over her heart and was looking at Draco with wide eyes. As innocent as the devil. Hermione looked between the two of them, her heart firmly in her stomach. Draco's eyes flashed.
"Don't." He grit out. She simply smirked at him.
"Of course darling," she muttered, bowing her head in apology but then she winked at Hermione from the corner of her eye. "So," she turned to face Hermione. "Let's talk about the party."
Ah yes. The Party.
"I'm afraid I don't remember much, if anything about it Mrs- Narcissa."
She tsked away her concerns. "Not to worry. I'll help with everything."
"I'm just going to pop to the loo," Draco said quietly after a few moments. Narcissa shooed him away with a perfectly manicured hand, but Hermione looked up at him in panic. He wasn't seriously going to leave her with his mother was he?
He stepped around the table and leant against her back, pressing a chaste kiss against the top of her head. "I'll be right back," he murmured lowly enough for only Hermione to hear. Narcissa was watching them both adoringly and as soon as her son was out of sight she scooted her chair closer to Hermione's and leant forward conspiratorially.
"I've missed you these past few weeks," she said.
Hermione blinked at her. "Well ammm the thing is," she stammered.
"Oh darling. I know. I know." She gave Hermione a sympathetic smile."It's just," she trailed off and sat back in her chair, nursing her glass of red wine. Hermione felt sick looking at it. She swallowed drily and took a sip of her water.
"Just what?"
Narcissa glanced at her from the corner of her eye. "Well. Draco was so looking forward to this party." Hermione stared at her, waiting. "He wanted to make an occasion of it." Hermione's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"I'm not sure I under-" Narcissa glanced sharply at her left hand- her bare left hand- and it struck Hermione like a tonne of bricks. "Oh."
Narcissa hummed. "Of course," she sighed, "I'm not sure he's going to go through with it now."
God I hope not Hermione thought. An image of Draco getting down on one knee flashed before her and, oh god, she was definitely going to be sick. She lurched back in her chair. "I just have to-" She trailed off and bolted for the toilets, leaving an incredulous Narcissa staring after her at the table and a bewildered Draco, who she bumped into as she rushed towards the restrooms, in her wake.
She heard him call after her as she stumbled into the ladies, but then she was kneeling over the toilet and all she could think about was not getting sick on her shoes.
"You're very quiet."
Hermione turned her head slightly to look at her boyfriend. He wasn't looking at her. He had his eyes firmly on the road ahead of them. But Hermione could see that his knuckles were white with the exertion of gripping the steering wheel and -
She looked away. "It's nothing."
He sighed and Hermione mentally groaned. Why couldn't she have one night out with either of the men in her life without it dissolving into a shambles.
"Dra-"
"It was my mother wasn't it?" he didn't wait for her reply. "I knew I shouldn't have left you alone with her," he mumbled.
"Dra-"
"I wasn't going to do it."
She gulped. "Do what?"
"Propose. Well," he cast a furtive look at her, "not until you got your memory back at least."
This was insane. They'd been dating for months. Her divorce from Tom wasn't anywhere near being finalised. For God's sake, they'd postponed the bloody thing until this whole mess was sorted out. She could only stare at him but he went on.
"She found me searching for my Grandmother's ring you see." He flashed her one of his dazzling smiles and she felt those all too familiar butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "And she knew - she knows," he corrected, "that I've been waiting a long time to give it to someone." He pulled into her drive. Hermione hadn't even realised they'd driven home so quickly, but her mind had been on the events of dinner, not her surroundings.
"I-"
He smiled ruefully across the dash at her. "You don't have to say anything." He leant across the console and cupped her jaw in his hand, his thumb caressing her cheek. "But now you know. And there's no pressure Hermione. I'm not going to ask you until I know for sure that you're mine again." She nodded and he leant forward to press his lips against hers. She opened her mouth to him when she felt his tongue trace across the seam of her lips and her hands, which she had been wringing together since they'd got into the car, wrapped around his neck. Eventually he pulled away and Hermione sighed into him. "I'll see you on Tuesday," he murmured.
She nodded and, unbuckling her seat belt, slipped out of the car. "Tuesday," she agreed, then she closed the door and watched him drive off into the night.
She was woken up by the sound of Alexander shouting for her. "MUM!" He yelled. Her eyes snapped open and she was stumbling out of bed and into his bedroom to calm him down when she realised his bed was empty and his room was tidy and then she remembered that he was with Tom and -
"Alex?" She replied, walking to the top of the stairs in only one of Tom's old football shirts, which she'd taken to wearing almost every night. "What's wrong? Where's your dad?" She asked at the sight of her son looking up at her.
She almost collapsed with relief at the sight of her husband walking out of the kitchen, Olivia babbling happily in his arms. "Oh good," he said, still looking at their daughter. "You're awake."
She scampered down the stairs towards the three of them and scooped Olivia out of Tom's arms and into hers. "What are you all doing here?"
"We thought we might go for lunch." She glanced at him, one eyebrow firmly lifted knowingly and hummed. "Well I thought ."
"That sounds more likely," she laughed, smirking at him but she handed Olivia back to him and leant up on her toes to press a kiss against his cheek. "Give me twenty minutes."
He grinned down at her and Hermione blushed as his gaze traveled the length of her. She was only wearing her knickers beneath his shirt. "I think you look lovely," he said. She snorted and thumped him in the arm.
"Fuck off," she muttered, but as she climbed the stairs, she did it with a bit more sway to her hips than she normally would have, grinning when she heard his groan.
"So, where are we going?"
They were all packed into Tom's Range Rover. Hermione was slowly beginning to love this car. It was perfect for them. They all had plenty of space to stretch out comfortably and -
"Nana's," Alexander said and Hermione blanched. She glanced at Tom but his eyes were firmly on the road ahead before she looked at her son in the rearview mirror.
"What?"
"We're going to see Nana," he repeated.
"Tom?"
He sighed heavily. "I have some work things to sort out tomorrow and well, I always take the kids to see my mother on the weekend and-"
"But I haven't seen her in -"
"Years." He confirmed. "No."
"You could have picked me up afterwards."
"I know."
"Tom," She began hesitantly. She really, really , did not want to go and see Merope. Narcissa had been so lovely last night and now she'd have to see the woman, who probably knew all about Hermione's relationship with Draco and - God this wasn't fair.
"It'll be fine," Tom said. She pursed her lips and stared out of the window ahead of her.
It would not be fine. Merope hated her.
Fucking arsehole , she thought as they drove on.
To Merope's credit, it took her a full seventeen minutes to even notice her daughter-in-law. Hermione stood at the door of her room and watched as Alexander clambered over his grandmother - despite Tom's protests to go easy - laughing and joking with her. And Merope smiled at him, indulging him thoroughly. It was only when she asked after Olivia and spotted her granddaughter sleeping in Hermione's arms that her mood turned sour.
"You!" She spat. Hermione stiffened where she stood and glared at Tom before she stepped forward, careful not to jostle Olivia too much.
"Merope," she greeted. "Good to see you."
The older woman cackled and Tom gripped his mother's hand in warning, but she was undeterred. "Oh no you don't," she mumbled, ripping her hand from Tom's and turning in her bed to glare at Hermione. "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited."
Merope snorted. "Not by me."
Hermione glared at her. "I-"
"Don't you think you've done enough to my poor son?" Hermione gaped at her. "Hurt him enough?"
"I never."
"Oh, don't lie to me child," she replied, staring Hermione down. "I know exactly what a harlot you are."
"Mother!" Tom protested, jerking back from her and standing. "Don't speak to her like that."
Merope turned her icy glare on him. "Why not? That's what she is, is she not? A Harlot."
"She's my wife." Tom grit out, gathering Alexander up into his arms and making his way around the bed towards where Hermione stood with a now awake Olivia.
"Not for much longer she's not. Thank God you've seen sense and are divorcing the little bitch."
Hermione stared at her open mouthed, stunned by her vitriol. What had she ever done to deserve this woman's hatred?
"Actually," Tom said, his voice deathly still as he turned his head back over his shoulder to glare at his mother. "We've put the divorce on hold."
He didn't give her a chance to respond and simply swept his family from the room. They didn't speak as they made their way back to the car, even Alexander, who was normally beyond chatty, was quiet.
"Where should we go for lunch?" Tom asked when they were all safely strapped back into the car and driving away from Merope's care home.
Hermione said nothing. The thought of food was sickening. All she wanted to do was go home and lie down. They'd only been out for an hour or so and already she felt like she'd been put through the ringer.
"Just take us home," she eventually mumbled, not looking at him. She felt his eyes on her as she continued to stare out of the window.
"Hermione-"
"Don't Tom. Just," she sighed wearily and looked at him. "Just take us home."
"The kids need something to eat."
"It's a good thing there's a fridge full of food at home then," she muttered.
He huffed but didn't protest further for which Hermione was thankful. She felt sick enough - an argument with her husband was the last thing she needed. When they pulled into the driveway, Hermione wasted no time in jumping out and gathering Olivia out of the car and making her way into the house.
"I'll see you on Monday then," she said when she'd put Olivia down in the living room and come back into the hall to find Alexander and Tom talking quietly. Tom opened his mouth but Hermione didn't let him get a word in. "Since you have work tomorrow you won't have time to come around," she added pointedly.
"Hermione." He said. Hermione could hear the exasperation in his voice but she was in no mood for it. Her head was pounding and all she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and lie down. She flashed her eyes at him and he closed his mouth, his lips pursed in a thin line. "Fine." He stepped forward, presumably for a kiss goodbye, but Hermione turned her cheek and his lips landed there instead. "Monday then," he muttered, turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him.
Alexander scampered off but Hermione stood there, arms folded across her chest as she listened to him drive off.
Sunday passed in a blur and before Hermione knew it Alexander was shouting for his school shoes and Tom was walking through the front door, dressed smartly in a crisp suit. Hermione faltered as he stepped into the kitchen. The spoonful of ready brek she was feeding Olivia hanging from her hand.
"Dada!" Olivia squealed, startling Hermione.
"Hello baby," he smiled, making his way into the kitchen and pouring himself a cup of coffee. Hermione could feel his eyes on her her, particularly her bare legs. She really needed to stop wearing her husbands football shirts and only his football shirts to bed, especially if he continued to show up first thing in the morning before she had a chance to make herself presentable.
She cleared her throat and went back to feeding Olivia. "Morning."
She felt him come up behind her and sighed, relieved, when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his face into her shoulder. He nipped tiny kisses along her neck and she shuddered. "Morning gorgeous," he murmured into her skin.
"I'm sorry," she eventually said, when they'd both taken a seat and Alexander had joined them - fully dressed thank god- at the breakfast table. Tom glanced away from making faces at Olivia towards his wife.
"It's ok."
"It's not. I was out of line and-"
He snorted. "No. My mother was out of line. You were completely right and," he turned in his chair and looked at her properly. "I should have listened to you."
She smirked. "It's nice to know that some things haven't changed after all this time."
He rolled his eyes. "Go and get ready," he said standing from the table. "I'll take Alex to school to come back and pick my two girls up."
"Jesus Hermione," Tom muttered when the shop assistant came back out of the storeroom with a Trolley filled to the brim of toys. Hermione snapped her eyes to him.
"What?" She protested. "It wasn't me." He raised an eyebrow at her and she narrowed her eyes at him. "You know what I mean."
He did know what she meant, but if Hermione was honest, she too was shocked by how much she'd apparently spent on Christmas presents for their two children. She'd received an email telling her that her order was due to be collected and Tom had brought her to do so. Hermione couldn't believe how much there was. Surely she hadn't changed so much that she need to buy the affection of her children.
They exited the shop, trolley of toys and Olivia in tow, before they made their way towards the food court.
"You're not hungry?" Tom asked as he dove into his own dinner - medium rare rib eye and chips - and Hermione fed Olivia. She shook her head and met his eye.
"No."
He frowned. "Don't you need to have bloods taken this afternoon?" He asked.
"No. They took some the last time I was there with Harry. I should just be getting my results today."
Tom nodded. "And your head? You haven't gotten any of your mem-"
She cut him off with a sharp look. "No."
He reached for her hand and linked their fingers. "It'll be ok." She jerked her head. "I promise." She didn't take her eyes off of Olivia's happy face as she scooped her noodles up with her hand. "I love you." He said finally.
She looked up at him then. She could feel tears pooling in her eyes and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand when one fell. She smiled wanly at him and gripped his hand tighter.
"I know."
"Shhhh sweetie," Hermione murmured into Olivia's head, even as her daughter continued to scream. She could feel the eyes of the other patients waiting in the doctor's surgery glaring a her, but what did the want her to do? Smother her to death?
"Here," Tom said, stepping forward and reaching for Olivia. "Let me take her." Hermione passed her to him and though she did not quieten down completely, she did settle a little. Hermione continued to rub her head in as soothing a manner as she could.
"I think she might have a fever." She said but Tom shook his head.
"I think she's just tired."
Hermione bit her lip and looked up at him. She had no idea. She had no idea at all what a fever looked like in one of her children - in any child at all. She couldn't remember this. Couldn't remember looking after either of them when they'd eve been sick before but Tom - Tom did remember. She wrung her hands together and looked up at him.
"You're sure."
"Hermione," he smiled at her, taking her hand and pulling her towards their chairs. "It's ok."
She was crying again but she allowed herself to be pulled into his arms. "Is it?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Of course," he murmured quietly. "You know there's something wrong with her because you're her mother. You just don't remember how to spot exactly what it is."
"I hate this. I hate not knowing. I'm so angry that I lost my memories."
It took her a few moments to realise what she'd said and when she did -
Tom was looking down at her, his eyes wide and her heart lurched. "Oh God, Tom," she rushed, clutching at his shirt, "that's not at all what I meant it's just-"
"Frustrating." He finished for her. She nodded. "It's ok. I understand."
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I'll always be thankful that we got to have this second chance."
He nodded and pressed his lips to hers for the first time in days. "I know love," he murmured. "I know."
"Mrs. Riddle?"
Hermione looked up at Tom. "Go," he encouraged. "I'll stay out here with Olivia and make her a doctor's appointment of her own just to give you peace of mind that there really is nothing wrong with her."
She stood from her chair and nodded. "Thank you."
"Go," he repeated.
She pressed a quick kiss to Olivia's cheek and smiled at him before she turned and followed the receptionist who led her to Dr. Slughorn's office. God she was sick of seeing this room. He had various specimens of organs - hopefully human - in jars lining the walls and Hermione felt chilly as soon as she stepped into the room.
"Mrs. Riddle," he greeted, standing and shaking her hand as she settled into one of the chairs. "I've been trying to get a hold of you to come back in for a few weeks now."
Hermione nodded. She had missed quite a number of calls. "I know and I'm sorry. Being thrown headfirst into a whole new life hasn't been easy."
"No, no," he said quickly, clearly alarmed that he'd implied otherwise, "I completely understand. How have you been getting on?"
Hermione shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I haven't remembered anything though, well," she added, "nothing substantial."
"But you have remembered some things?"
Hermione frowned. "Yes and no. It's hard for me to determine if these are actual memories or if they're dreams?"
He hummed and began scratching notes down on an empty notepad. "That must be confusing."
Hermione snorted. "Just a bit."
"And what else. How else have you been feeling?"
Hermione sat back in her chair and stared thoughtfully at the elder man. "Nauseous." He nodded. "Exhausted." He scratched down another note. "I can't stomach the thought of coffee anymore."
"And your period?" Her head snapped up. "You don't recall the date of your last period?"
Oh no. No. No. No. No. No.
She shook her head. The corner of his lips lifted in sympathy. "And you haven't had a period in the weeks since your accident?" Her head shook again and her lips trembled.
"Please no," she whispered.
"I'm so sorry my dear."
She lurched back from her chair and wrapping her arms around herself stepped back from him.
"No." She said defiantly.
"Yes."
"It's not possible. I was on the pill. I found my prescription. I -"
"My dear. I'm sure you know that the pill is not 100% effective."
"No."
He just continued to nod and slid a piece of paper towards her. Hermione stepped forward and lifted it. There printed in black and white she saw for herself.
Seven and a half weeks pregnant.