"This is all I ever wanted for you. For both of us."
"It's beautiful."
Hermione was really starting to feel better again.
Tom would go with her to her doctors visits.
They'd discussed parenting techniques they'd heard of before.
Before bed, they'd lay together and talk about possible names.
Tom wanted something original, but Hermione wanted a nice classic name.
It was everything Tom dreamed of. He always fell asleep with his arms around Hermione and he woke up with her wild curls in his face.
Sometimes though, while she was asleep, he held a hand to her stomach and wondered what could have been.
Or yet, what could happen if she found out.
His uneasiness grew when they happened upon a clothing store that caught Hermione's attention.
He followed her in and saw the small clothes all over the room.
The realization kicked in then.
Yes, they had spend most of their free time talking about the baby, feeling the baby over Hermione's growing stomach, and they'd even seen pictures of the baby, the doctor carefully pointing out it's little head and beating heart.
It had all felt so real, but this was on another level of real.
The clothes were miniature versions of regular clothes.
Tom stood silent beside Hermione. Tom hadn't been around many kids, he'd only maybe walked past some, and pointedly ignored them.
Most kids, Tom thought, were just people half his size who constantly forgot their manners or social cues.
And now, he was going to have one around all the time.
Hermione held up a pink frilly dress. "A person is going to fit in this," she sounded just as amazed as Tom was feeling. She had been smiling at the dress and then turned to Tom and teasingly grimaced. "That's kind of insane. We are going to have an actual child with us."
Tom loved when she said the word 'we'.
"You know we still haven't bought them anything."
"Is it weird if I say it hasn't really started to feel real until now?"
Tom didn't have the chance to answer before a cheery teenager interrupted them. "Can I help you with anything?"
"We're just looking for now, thank you," Hermione murmed back, her cheeks slightly blushed as she put the dress back on the rack.
The employee noticed and smiled, "Having a girl?"
"We're not sure yet," Hermione answered shyly.
There that word was again.
"Our baby is being a bit stubborn and evasive," Tom wanted to try referring to themselves as a couple too.
Hermione beamed at him. "I wonder who they take after."
And that was the moment he realized how content he was.
This was how he wanted to be. His hand around Hermione's, her happy and at ease.
But for that to be a guarantee, he had to cut all ties with their past lives.
They weren't who they were last year, and they couldn't let any of that affect them now.
They were going to be happy and they were going to be together.
It may be small comfort, but I am convinced [he] has done what he honestly believes is best for you.
Harry was the one who broke the news to Hermione.
"I don't understand," she felt the same old anxiousness creeping up on her. "How did he get away?"
"They're going to get him back, Remus already has a few leads. Quirell isnt't someone who can… let's say blend in too well. But in the meantime, he wants you to be careful."
"We can go out of state, it'll be like a vacation," Tom tried not to smile, he really did. But he could feel the corner of his lips curl up, he hoped it looked more like a comforting smile.
"I don't know, with all the doctor visits and-" Hermione felt her chest tighten. She was just starting to feel at home. How was this going to work.
Tom petted her hair back, "This is nothing to worry about. I knew Quirell for a long time, he's not very bright. But he does have a well enough reason to not like me," Tom smirked at that. "At most, he'll come looking for me, won't find us, and he'll leave. He acts on impulse, he doesn't think things through, he won't have any motivation to keep going after us. They'll catch him in no time."
Hermione didn't look convinced but she liked the attitude Tom had.
There probably was nothing to worry about.
"So, we'll just be away for a bit?"
Not if Tom could help it.
"Of course," his voice was comforting.
"Okay."
And before long, Hermione and Tom were packing up their clothes. Cissa had helped with finding them a house to rent, Tom had arranged for their stuff to be moved, and all Hermione had to do was follow Tom's lead.
It was an easy enough life.
On the long car ride to their new temporary home, Tom even let Hermione drive a few hours. It almost made her feel like they were both on the same level of control.