Skills for Life
A/N: I actually am stealing a teensy weensy bit of this from Annie. Just the gist of the Regis. 179. Brings a tear to my eye!
Chapter Nineteen
Hermione's mouth hung open. The tension in the room was at least a few inches thick. The Regis' turned to Hermione, still smiling. Hermione's mouth turned into a frown. She hesitantly sat down across from Draco. Their eyes connected and they made a connection.
"Where is Olivia?" Hermione asked right away.
"Liv is with the Potters." Draco replied quickly. Hermione nodded and turned to the couple.
"You want to adopt Olivia?" It was a question, but it sounded like a statement.
"Yes ma'am. We miss our little Olivia." Mrs. Regis simpered. Hermione's eyes narrowed as she caught on to the slip up.
"Your little Olivia? Have you met the child before?" Hermione asked coldly.
Mrs. Regis had a silly noise, a noise that rang distant bells in Hermione's head. "Mrs. Klein didn't tell you? Olivia is our daughter."
Silence ensued. It was Mrs. Klein who cleared her throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Regis were..uh, under watch of the Death Eaters. Y-You-Know-Who was anxious to get them. They faked their deaths..apparently."
"No, I saw the death certificate! Donovan and Katherine Carson died in a fire." Hermione was adamant. She whacked her palm onto the table in anger.
"Miss, we faked our deaths for a good reason." Mr. Regis said shakily. Hermione sneered.
"Oh yeah? Then why didn't you claim Olivia after the war ended? Why didn't you come out of hiding?" Her voice was sharp like the crack of a whip.
The couple glanced at each other. "I'm sorry miss, we was in Rome for a while. News didn't spread to us."
This time, it was Draco who piped up. "Actually, I was in Rome over the summer. News of Voldemort's demise was everywhere."
Mr. Regis' stared at him icily. "I believe we said news didn't spread to us. The whole of Rome's population is of no worry to us."
Draco clenched his jaw in irritation. His eyes flashed in annoyance. Hermione stepped in quickly. "How can we prove that you're Olivia's biological parents?"
They glanced at each other. "When our little Olivia was born we gave her a locket."
Mrs. Regis tunneled on. "Olivia went into the orphanage with the locket, and we kept its sister."
She reached into her cleavage, resulting in a look of disgust from Hermione. The Mrs. pulled out a heavy locket. "We realize it's a bit too big for our baby girl to wear."
Hermione wordlessly stood up and moved to her bedroom. Inside her trunk was a box with all of Olivia's important things and information. Sure enough, there was a locket inside. It was ornate gold, decorated with a blue gem S. She clutched it in her fist, trying not to cry. Hermione walked back into the kitchen and dropped the locket on the table with a thunk.
"It was in her things." Hermione said hoarsely. At the moment, she felt completely at a loss. Hermione had always been the girl with an answer, a plan. Now she was the mother who was about to lose her child, and was powerless to stop it. Draco stared at her, his face panicked.
"B-But, we have to finish our project. We have three more weeks left." Draco said fiercely.
Tori shook her head sadly. "I'll just have to grade you on these past few weeks alone. You can continue living here if you wish..."
Hermione cast her eyes downward. She didn't want to continue living there, in fact she couldn't even bear the thought of living anywhere without Olivia. She had become a permanent fixture in their lives. She couldn't let her mind stray to the thoughts of those.
"You cannot take her." Hermione spat. She crossed her arms and legs in a defiance. Hermione locked eyes with Draco, who's own eyes were hard and cold.
"I'm sorry miss, but we can." Mrs. Regis said. She tried to sound sincere but failed quite clearly.
"Save it." She bit back.
"Alright children. Mr. and Mrs. Regis, we still have to clear you. Until then, the child will remain in their custody." Mrs. Klein stated matter-of-factly. That did little to ease the young couple's qualms. Anger slowly ebbed away, replaced by fear. Fear for loss, loss that was undeserved.
The guests were shown the door quickly. Hermione numbly sat at the table, her face unreadable. Draco went to the Potters to get Olivia, who was oblivious to the chaos that was impending. It was late by then, too late for much of anything except dinner, bath time, then bed.
"Mommy?" Olivia whispered sleepily into Hermione's shoulder.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Yes baby?"
"I love you." She muttered. Hermione's heart jumped into her throat and her stomach dropped. How on earth could she be so blessed, and yet so cursed? It did not add up, but then again nothing ever did.
Hermione kissed her forehead, read her a story, then retired to her own bedroom. Draco was sitting up, reading a Quidditch magazine. Neither of the two were in the mood to talk. Hermione put on her pajamas and got in on her side. She read her novel for a few minutes, but stopped due to lack of concentration. Draco flicked off the light and they laid back. Instead of falling asleep in each others arms, they laid on opposite ends of the bed not facing each other.
For the next week, the tiny family was on edge. Hermione threw herself into two things: school work and Olivia. Draco did the same, except he put most of his time into Quidditch. He was trying to teach Olivia to play the sport. Hermione was furious when she found that out. During the course of the week, Draco and Hermione's fighting had only escalated. They bickered and ranted so much that Olivia took to hiding in her closet. That caused them immense heartbreak.
"Hermione." Draco shouted.
The young witch was in the living room with Olivia. She was watching a television show, while Hermione was doing her Transfiguration essay. Reluctantly, she stood up and walked into the kitchen. Draco's usually pale skin was an unusually stark pallor now. He clutched a piece of parchment in his hand. She lunged toward him and snatched it out of his lank hand. Her eyes flitted across the ink.
Dear Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger,
As of 5:23 pm on Thursday, January 21st Mr. Roger Regis and Mrs. Gianna Regis have been confirmed as the biological parents of Olivia Avery Carson. They will be at your home at six o'clock to retrieve the child. Thank you for your cooperation.
Hoping you are well,
Annabelle Klein
Head of London's Children Orphanage
Her breath hitched in her throat. She closed her eyes and her legs weakened. In an instant, she was on the ground. Draco's eyes bore into her own.
"Come on, we have to get her stuff." He said frostily. Hermione took the offered hand and stood up. She reached the living room quickly and scooped Olivia up in her arms.
"Mommy, I'm watching Barney!" She protested. Hermione shook her head.
"Sweetheart, people are coming to get you." Hermione said hoarsely.
"Why mommy?" She asked innocently.
"Because baby girl, they are your real mommy and daddy. And they want to take you home. So, I want you to be a brave little girl. Can you do that for me?" Her eyes began to leak tears of sorrow. Draco appeared, back in hand. The clock was nearing six.
"But, mommy you and daddy are my real mommy and daddy!" She protested. Hermione shook her head.
"No baby, we're not. But we love you like your really parents do. Remember that, okay?"
Olivia began to cry, big fat crocodile tears. She clutched Hermione for dear life. An eerie silence settled upon them. Until a knock broke the silence. Draco moved and threw it op. There stood the Regis'.
"Great." Draco muttered, loud enough for them to hear. He allowed them to entered the living room. Mrs. Regis sniffed her nose in distaste at Hermione. The young witch glanced at her reproachfully, but there was something...off about the pair. Hermione had a bad feeling looking at the two.
"Hem hem." Mrs. Regis uttered. "We'd like to get a move on. If you please, Olivia."
Hermione looked utterly horrified as Mr. Regis came over and plucked the three year old from her arms. "P-Please...sir...don't do this! Please."
Draco moved to his girlfriend and gathered her in his arms. The Regis' bid the young couple goodbye. Olivia howled as she was carried away. Draco literally felt his heart break as the love of his life wept in his arms.
"We'll get her back, Mione. We will." He vowed.
A/N: Oh my lawd. Mkay, so the next chapter is gonna be intense. Review me to 200 to get it quickly! I want you to review me your thoughts on these:
Who do you think Mr. and Mrs. Regis are?
Clue: They are my own, fictitious creations
What is going to happen to Draco and Hermione?
Clue: Nothing good, but nothing bad;D
Finally, Are they going to get Olivia back?
Clue: Ha, you don't get one.
Review me to 200. that would make my Halloween. :)