The Love Story of Harriet Potter and Tom Riddle

Chapter 47 - Tom's Quest

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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Every day, Tom reiterated his plea to the Minister.

Every day, the Minister put him off.

The healing salve left behind by Britain's best healers proved to be useless.

After a month passed with daily use of the salve, little Mae's bruise only worsened.

It caused her parents a great amount of worry to watch the ugly, black spot slowly spread over the entirety of her miniature bicep.

Harriet made certain not to dress her little girl in any clothing with short sleeves whenever she took Mae out in public, fearing people would think the child had been abused.

While Tom worked, Merope and Harriet often enjoyed strolls through Diagon Alley.

Harriet delighted in the pleasant, honest conversations with her mother-in-law more than most people could understand.

Regardless, she began to envy other mothers and the relationships they enjoyed with their children as Mae aged.

Mae wanted to be held less and less, which broke Harriet's heart.

Harriet frowned whenever she saw a woman cuddling a small girl her daughter's age who seemed overjoyed to be snuggled.

One day, Harriet and Merope sipped tea in The Three Broomsticks while Mae napped in her pram.

"It's not like you to look so melancholy, my dear." Merope frowned as she studied the forlorn expression on Harriet's face while she gazed at her young daughter.

Harriet's emerald stare drifted over to Merope as she drew a deep breath.

"You can talk to me about whatever's troubling you." Merope frowned, "I'm a mother too, I'll understand. Believe me, the early years were very difficult with Tom. Not only was I alone, but we had no guaranteed way to get by. The government provided for us until I could earn enough to buy food and pay our rent without having to rely on community aid.....It nearly killed me, the hours and the work."

"That must have been very difficult." Harriet frowned.

"It was, yes......motherhood is never easy though." Merope smiled.

Harriet searched for the right question to ask before she frowned and spoke, "What was Tom like as a baby?"

".....As a baby?" Merope chuckled, "He was....He was beautiful, strong.........I would say stubborn, but I'll use the word 'determined' instead. How's that?"

Both women shared a laugh before Harriet pressed, ".........How was he with you?"

"What do you mean, love?" Merope blinked.

"I mean.....did he push you away? Did he not like being held?" Harriet frowned.

"Oh goodness, no!" Merope scoffed, "Tom wouldn't let me put him down. There were days when I went to work with him tied to my chest in a sling made out of an old towel. Not that anyone else was ever around to hold him......."

"May I ask you another question?" Harriet frowned.

"Certainly, dear." Merope said as she took a sip of her tea.

Harriet leaned across the table and whispered, "Did Tom......frighten you?"

".......Frighten me?" Merope asked incredulously as she narrowed her eyes.

Silently, watched Harriet give the slightest of nods towards Mae.

Merope laughed, "Oh, no! No, Tom never frightened me, really....He was quite demanding, I remember that. When he was still a nursling, he used to push his chubby face in between....well, you know.....during his naps. Adorable little thing, he was!"