DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!!
Normal Life Doesn't Exist
A/N: Hello dear readers! I've got a new poll on my profile abou new stories. Can I be cheeky and ask you to vote? Thanks!
Chapter 9
He approached her, his goal the only thing in his mind.
Hermione looked up to see Abraxas approaching her and for the first time whilst around him, she was uncomfortable.
"Hermione, Voldemort tells me that you aren't planning on coming back to Scotland with us."
"Oh, god, not that again. Listen, the girls need-"
"Stability, yes. But wouldn't it be best if they were in an environment where they had both their parents with them at all times? I mean, if you stay here, Voldemort will have to keep leaving and coming back. Isn't it best if you're there with him?"
"They won't be safe there."
"You're less safe here. Our side is attacking muggle settlements everyday. If they attack here, you have no protection whatsoever. If you are in Scotland, you will have myself, Lucius, Voldemort and the Death Eaters to protect you. Isn't that why you're not going in the first place? Protection?" he smirked knowingly as she looked away. "And I need you. I need to be with you. I haven't seen you in 60 years. Lucius hasn't seen you in over 6. And Bellatrix has been trying to worm herself into Voldemort's bed; someone needs to put her right, love."
"Stop that."
"What?"
"Stop trying to change my mind. I'll do what I believe is right for my children."
"What about Voldemort? Are the girls not his children too?"
"Of course they're his." She snarled. "But he'll just want to move, so it's hardly fair. We'd be leaving so much behind. I have friends; the girls have friends; their school; the house..."
"I understand that there's a lot of pressure on you right now, love, but you just have to think; what would the girls want?"
Hermione paused, knowing she couldn't hold out much longer. "They'd want to be with their daddy." She said, crying a little. She didn't know why she was crying, maybe because she was losing the argument.
"Now, love, I'm not going to make you choose between your children and your husband and I'm not going to selfish enough as to demand that you go back simply because I want to be near you, but...I really think you should think about what the girls want."
Just as he said that, the bathroom door opened and the girls stepped out. Hermione turned to them and said, "Washed your hands?" it amazed and confused Abraxas how loving she could be to them but then the next, she was so cold.
"Yes, mummy." They said, showing her their clean hands and then held each others, as they always did.
"Okay." she said simply.
"Well, let us get back." Abraxas said, turning to leave but Hermione stopped him.
"Abraxas, I need to talk with the girls for a few moments. Tell them I'll be right back." she ordered, crouching down the girls' level. Abraxas nodded stiffly and then left. "Girls...Daddy's offered to let us live with him." The girls' faces lit up. "But we'd have to move very far away. You would leave school, leave your friends, leave the house, everything."
The girls looked at each other. "Would we get to be with daddy?" Merope asked.
"Yes. Yes, we would."
"Then we'll go."
Hermione really thought about trying to change their minds, but decided it would be too cruel. She sighed. "Alright." She stood up and led them back to the table. She sat the girls down in their seats and then walked to Tom. "Can I talk to you?"
"Of course." He said, sensing her discomfort. He left the table, put his hand on the small of her back and walked round a corner to an area that had no one seated in it yet. "What's the matter?"
"The girls want to move in. We're going with you." she announced with a heavy heart.
"Really? That's fantastic." He noticed her sad look. "And why aren't you jumping for joy?"
"I want to stay here. I mean, I love you, I do, but our lives are here. I have friends, they have friends...We'd be leaving everything behind. You'd be welcome to see us anytime you wanted; I won't stop you seeing the girls."
"Hermione, I'm going to be honest; I really want you to come with me. But the end word isn't mine, or the girls', it's yours. Just because they want to go doesn't mean you have to."
"No. We're going to do it. We're going to be a family."
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The next morning, Tom and Lucius were helping Hermione, Jane and Merope pack and prepare to move. Tom was in the kitchen with the girls, packing away utensils whilst Hermione and Lucius were stripping her bed and wrapping the sheets around piles of books. Hermione was hurrying, having a lot to do but Lucius was being purposefully sluggish. Hermione lost her patience. Turning to Lucius, she snapped,
"Lucius, I know you're upset with me but-"
"Hermione," he said, turning to her as well, "you have no idea how angry I am at you, but you also have no idea how happy I am to see you and know you're alright. I am ecstatic that you are alright and you've been fine for the past 6 years and have successfully started to raise two 5 year old girls. And I bet you could continue by yourself-"
"I fail to see why this explains why you're pissed at me."
"You left! You arrived back in the present for over a day and you never came to see me!"
"Well, I'm very sorry if I never paid a visit to my older love slash son of my latest lover whilst I wanted to be with my husband!" she screamed.
Downstairs, Merope and Jane heard shouts and looked at Tom questioningly. "Things that need to be said." He answered simply and put a wrapped up glass in a nearby box. The girls looked at each other, shrugged and continued packing. Back upstairs, Hermione and Lucius continued arguing.
"Sweetheart," Hermione began, holding up calming hands but had a nasty smirk on her face, "let's just admit this, shall we; the only reason you're annoyed at me not seeing you when I got back is that I didn't come and find you for a quick shag. Just admit that."
"I don't care about that! I just wanted to see you! 2 days after you got back, I hear a rumour that you were spotted with Tom in the grounds, rush to your room and find that you've gone. Just vanished. And then those times in Diagon Alley-"
She put her finger up and shook her head. "No, I was still living in fear then. I couldn't risk being seen by you because you'd tell Tom." She explained.
"Regardless. You've really hurt me, Hermione."
"Is that supposed to make me feel guilty? Because it isn't working. I make no apology whatsoever for my actions because I believed it was best for everyone." She shook her head a little and then just turned away. "Just go away. I can handle it here." She said, pulling a pillowcase of a pillow and wrapping it around a few books. Lucius just left, leaving her to her thoughts and tears.