His black hair rustled gently in the breeze, and Merope didn't think she could possibly love him more than she did in that moment. His eyes landed on her, and he graced her with a beautiful, loving smile that was as much of a lie as the comfortable atmosphere that hung in the house. They were a family, a family with a secret that only one of them knew.
It was nothing like the Gaunt shack, nevertheless. There was no anger, no hatred, to screams at how useless she was; Tom only smiled, gently nudging her away if he saw her struggling to do it himself. She didn't have to struggle to force unwilling magic out of a wand that resisted her, and she knew that she wouldn't be hit because of it.
She knew those sweet lips sprouted nothing but lies. Her lies, because he didn't know what he was doing. Every word that came out of his mouth was a product of the Love Potion she still fed him; Tom didn't really love her. He might after long enough, and she hoped that she could continue feeding the potion to him until then.
But Merope's resolve weakened with every confused glance he sometimes sent her way when he thought she wasn't looking; the guilt was beginning to eat her from the inside, just as their child was growing within her, seemingly right beside the ball of guilt.
Merope didn't want to think about what Tom would do if he ever found out (or if she ever stopped feeding him the Love Potion), but she knew nothing would be worse than what she had escaped from. Besides, Tom was a good man. He wouldn't abandon his own child even if he did find out.
Family meant a lot to Tom, and he often mentioned his regret at leaving his parents as he had — something that only made Merope feel even more guilty than she already did. Merope often asked Tom if he wanted to go back, knowing that his parents would do their best to convince Tom not to return to her, but Tom always refused with a small smile playing on his lips, as if he knew of her fears.
"Merope, love. Come here; sit with me. You can continue wiping those plates later," Tom said, a gentle fondness in his voice. Being as ugly as she was, Merope had never heard that tone directed at her before, and it still surprised her sometimes. Tom's eyes tightened slightly, and Merope knew that he had noticed her surprise.
His arms wrapped around her gently, and he placed a kiss onto the top of her head as she leaned into him. Her arms fell awkwardly around his waist, but he only gave her a one-armed hug in return. Merope could feel Tom's head resting on her own a minute later.
Even if it was fake, Merope thought that this was what true love felt like, and she was glad to experience it in her lifetime. No matter how much longer she would have it for.
Written for
Quidditch Pitch: She knew those sweet lips sprouted nothing but lies
Hunger Games: #20