Chapter 9

I don't believe you

Ginny used the calming drought Snape left to get herself to sleep that night. Tom's outburst had scared her, she wanted to be asleep when he returned. The next morning she woke up to another wave of nausea and ran to the bathroom to surrender what little food she had in her stomach. She washed out her mouth and sat on the floor leaning her head back on the tub, closing her eyes and rubbing her stomach in small soothing circles.

" Baby girl, please stop doing this to me" She whispered.

" You're pretty confident it's a girl then ?" Tom's voice came from the vicinity of the door. She didn't even open her eyes.

"Yup"

" And how did you come to this conclusion ?" Still she did not look at him.

" I just know" She couldn't let him know that Snape checked for her.

" How ?" Ginny sighed heavily. She knew he really didn't care, he would just annoy her until she lost her temper. He liked baiting her, She thought she would expedite the situation by blowing up now.

" I don't know Tom" She pulled herself off the floor, took a swig of her morning sickness potion and turned to face him. " Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm sharing my body with her. I know Ok, now leave me alone" She pushed past him to go back to the bedroom but her grabbed her arm and held her against the door.

" You might want to remember who your dealing with. You do not speak to me that way." He growled.

" Tom you're hurting me" She sobbed. His grip tightened.

" Just because you're carrying my child does not mean you get to disrespect me. Now get dressed, the healer will be here in an hour." He let go of her arm roughly and stormed out of the room.

Ginny took a minute to compose herself before choosing an outfit and sitting to read until Tom came back.

He banged opened the door roughly causing her to jump.

" Come on, The healer is in the drawing room." Ginny got up without saying a word and followed him down the hall. He paused just outside the door and turned to speak to her.

" Remember what I said Ginevra." She nodded her understanding.

" Healer Ilsa, this is my wife Ginevra." Tom said as a middle aged dark hair witch rose from her seat.

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Riddle." Ginny gave the woman a nervous smile.

" If you will just lie on the sofa and lift your shirt for me, M'Lord you are welcome to sit beside her if you wish." Tom sat on the sofa so that Ginny could lean against him. She did so reluctantly and lifted her shirt allowing Tom to see her bump for the first time. Tom could not hide his surprise. How did he miss that ? Easy he thought to himself, she wouldn't let me touch her.

" Ok honey, just relax. Is this your first ?"

"Yes, I'm quite nervous"

" I hope to put you at ease after my visit" She patted Ginny's leg.

The healer did a complicated spell and wand movements over her stomach. A moment later a pink orb with a vague outline of a growing child rose from her and a small thumping noise filled the room. Ginny took in a sharp breath.

" Thats your little girls heart beat" Ginny looked up at Tom and allowed herself a moment of tenderness, They locked eyes and to an outsider it may have looked like a silent declaration of love between two soul mates.

" Are they both healthy ?" Tom asked breaking eye contact with Ginny.

" I need to do a few more spells" She then took Ginny's blood pressure, weight and stress levels. She did a few things and a bunch of numbers hovered above Ginny, but she couldn't make any sense of it. Ilsa frowned and made a few notes in Ginny's chart.

"Is everything alright ?" Ginny asked anxiously.

" The baby is fine, Ginny however have you been feeling drained lately, tired and nauseous? "

" Yes, but thats normal for early pregnancy right ? Morning sickness." She said nervously.

" How long ?"

"She's been sick for weeks, before she finally told me." He said in a half irritated tone.

" Yes well it is normal, your about ten weeks along, You shouldn't be feeling that much nausea. You have to eat more, your under weight and your stress levels are way to high for a woman your age. The baby is perfectly healthy because she is stealing what she needs from you."

"Oh" Ginny said quietly, she was more afraid that Tom would scold her for not taking better care.

" Yea, She's gonna take what she wants, when she wants it. So take advantage and eat what you want, when you want it." She said in a playful tone.

" Just like her father" Tom said airily.

"You're going to have to take pre natal potion and get rest Ginny. I'm really worried about your stress levels, Baby can pick up on it. I'm going to leave these potions for you, take one in the morning with food, Eat and I'm going to recommend a weeks rest with calming draughts." She placed the two racks of potions on the table, made one final note in her chart and started to pack up.

" A week" Ginny protested. " I don't need to ..."

"Ginevra, you will do what the healer says"

" Floo if you have any questions or concerns" She said before floo away.

Ginny immediately extracted herself from Tom.

" Where do you think you're going ?"

" Umm I thought I was going outside to read"

" I don't think so, you will be having lunch with me and then it's off to bed with you."

"Tom please, She said rest. How stressful is sitting under a tree and reading ?" He gave her a stare that told her she better not press her luck.

" I don't want any of my death eaters bothering you." He took her hand and they walked to the dining room.

" Can't you just order then to leave me alone ? Please, I love going outside."

" Ginny" He said as he led to a seat and sat her down. "Why can't you just trust that I know what is best for you and our daughter. Why do you always fight me ? You know I love you, as your husband you should just do as I say."

" Tom I think you know me well enough to know I'm not going to be submissive to you." Tom let out a chuckle.

" I do love your passion Ginevra. If you wish after lunch we can take a walk in the grounds before you... go.... back... to... bed." He said slowly between bites of his sandwich.

" Tom ! I just want to sit and read"

" Take it or leave it Ginevra"

" Fine" She mumbled

"Good, now eat your lunch like a good little girl" He said with a smug smile.

" Don't call me little girl" She mumbled back.

" What was that Angel ?"

" I said don't call me little girl ! I'm pregnant I'm hardly a little girl." Tom just laughed.

Tom walked Ginny all around the grounds after lunch. He wouldn't let her go. He insisted on placing one are around her waist and holding her hand with the other.

"You don't have to help me walk."

" I know, but I like holding you." Ginny snorted at this. Tom stopped walking, halting her as well.

" What's wrong ?" She asked.

" Nothing" He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his hands over her stomach.

" You've made me so happy. I'll take care of you both, Do you believe that ?"

" yes" She whispered

" I love you Ginevra, When I win this war you will sit by side as my queen. And our daughter will be our princess. And you will give me a son." Ginny pulled away from him and turned to look at him.

" We are having more children Ginevra."

" Why can't you be happy with what we have, You always try and find a way to upset me."

" It upsets you that I want more then one child ?"

" You don't want more then one Tom, I know you. You want a boy. How do you think it makes me feel when I'm pregnant with your daughter and all you are thinking about is how you want the next one to be a boy." She said crying, she started to walk off but turned to speak to him again.

" You know I'm trying really hard to accept my position here and I know that you love me and you know that I can't help loving you, so the fact that you don't want the child that I'm carrying and that I desperately want really hurts me." She turned on her heel and went towards the house.

"Ginny wait" Tom said running up behind her and grabbing her arm, she pulled it away.

" No Tom. I'm supposed to be resting, your presence only upsets me"

" I don't only want a son from you Ginevra. It's not true, I want our daughter. Do you believe that ?" She looked up at him through teary eyes.

" No, I wish I did but I don't." Tom sighed heavily.

" Do you want to go for a nap ?" She nodded and he watched as she made her way back to the house.