Chapter 2 – Change Changes Everything
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Disclaimer: Again, I own nothing.
Vanessa wiped at the tears as she stared down on her sleeping child in her arms. She couldn't handle this, but she had to do it, she just had to. Everything had changed since she had fallen in love, eloped, and then had her only daughter. She closed her eyes and recalled all the most obvious signs that should have given everything away.
She had been walking in Diagon Alley on a bright sunny day. Her golden blonde hair was shining as she walked into a bookstore that was her personal favorite. Inside were several Hogwarts students looking for book, but she ignored them and walked around the counter and put down her bag and got ready for work. Quickly she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and took her place behind the counter with another witch. Her friend winked at her as her shift began.
Everything was working out fine, until he walked in. At first she didn't recognize him but as she stared at the young man the familiar face cropped out at her. She gasped, finished helping a customer, and ran to him. Without thinking she threw her arms around the man's neck and held him close. She couldn't help it, Vanessa let out a dry sob as she felt his arms lift up to hold her close as well.
"Tom," she whispered into his shoulder, "I can't believe it's you."
"Yeah, Vanessa, I can't believe it's you either," Tom replied in a gasp.
Vanessa let go and stepped back to examine him. She almost let her jaw drop as she saw that the color of his eyes had changed, and his nose seemed to be flatter somehow. Vanessa felt herself bite her lip and smile awkwardly. "Tom," she said, taking half a step away from him, "you've…you've changed."
"Well, I couldn't really fill everything out in letters," he laughed, looking away from her.
"I suppose not," Vanessa felt herself shudder, "why Tom? Why didn't you ever come see me?"
"I've been busy Vanessa," Tom said, definitely not meeting her eyes that time.
"Well, I just… I feel like I hardly know you anymore."
Tom bit his lip, "we've been writing letters, I still know you and I came in here partly to see you."
"Really," Vanessa asked stunned.
"Yeah," Tom said going red, "I want to get married. I've been thinking about it and I want to. Please marry me."
Vanessa let her jaw drop this time as she starred at him. She had never felt so happy and yet so nervous. She recalled her parents saying they didn't approve of Tom very much but at the same time she wanted to run off with him. Vanessa bit her lip then slowly nodded and said, "yes, Tom; lets do it. Let's get married right now!"
Tom twirled her around and then offered her his hand. Without even considering the fact that she was still working Vanessa ran out of the store with Tom.
Vanessa wiped at her tears. Several years had passed but now she had finally drawn up the courage to run for it. It felt wrong, but she couldn't stand being married to the man that was destroying the world. The baby cried in her arms and she quickly cuddled the babe, humming softly the lullaby she had sung to her child since the day she was born. Her life would be much safer somewhere else, somewhere so Voldemort (for that was what everyone called him now) couldn't find her. If her young one stayed with her and Voldemort found her then her child would die as well. Carefully she got up, put on a warm cloak, and walked out of her empty house with her baby.
She was numb but what kept her going was the words Tom had said when he found out they were having a baby. "I can't believe you'd want to have a baby and keep it. We'll have one of my death eaters kill it or something, just keep it out of my sight." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she walked faster the wind whistling in her ears. He wanted to kill her sweet little angel and she wouldn't stand for that. The many times she had wanted to leave, begged to be able to leave and now she was finally setting herself free.
She looked down at the little face in her arms as she stopped in front of the building she had been heading for. A little sign in the front yard read: Orphanage. The building was, to be blunt, old and looked as if it should just be torn down but Vanessa knew better. She ran a gentle hand up and down her daughters cheek then ran up to the door, placed her baby down with two sealed letters and knocked. Without looking back she ran until she was out of the light. Vanessa turned to watch someone open the door, pick up the bundle that was her child and go back inside. She let the tears roll down her cheeks before turning on the spot and apparating back to her home.
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