Out of Time

Fatherhood

Tom was conflicted. He played the proud father at work and with Hermione, but inside he felt strange. This squirming baby seemed to like him. He could sooth her in between the schedules meals and sleep schedule his wife had set up for her. He liked how the baby took up most of Hermione's time. While he missed his wife's attentions, he had plenty of time to get things moving for his cause.

He had placed a few of his own people not only in his office but helped place them throughout the ministry. He took long lunches to meet with his friends. Though they  were reluctant to embrace his more lax views on blood purity. He finally got them all on the same page.

Several new policies were being written up to go in front of the minister for approval. Once they have the okay, they would be officially put before the Wizengamot to be voted on. It had taken several talks and multiple punishments for a few of the older (original) men to come on board. Tom was nothing if not persistent.

He wanted to empower wizard society, thinning their numbers and incessant inbreeding would only do harm. With Hermione being pregnant, she had studied up on genetics and Tom had learned a few things as well. The new blood would only strengthen the gene pool.

Magic is magic, the plan was simple enough, they would approach muggleborn witches and wizard families after the first bout of accidental magic. They would cajole the parents into letting their young, impressionable children to be fostered in the magical world as soon as they were to start primary school.

If they refused, the ministry would have full power to remove the child and obliviate the muggle parents. They small child would be adopted by a magical family. It was truly a fool proof plan. Well, once it was passed that is. He was sure there would be muggle loving wizards who thought it barbaric, but that's where he would come in.

Tom was brilliant with mind magics. He would simply use his many skills to persuade them to see his side. If he was unsuccessful, well, they would have to be replaced. He didn't think it would go that far.

He had mentioned it to his wife, leaving out the obliviating part. She seemed excited. The birth of their child seemed to make her more pliant. He liked the ease in which he could get her approval on anything he suggested. She took to being a mother well, the baby was growing, getting larger just as she had promised. The house was well kept and she'd even started to plan and cook meals.

Tom hoped she would return to work. Her brilliance would be wasted as just a housewife. She had made it clear she didn't want that. Tom didn't want that either. She was smart, she was powerful and if he wanted a wife who just took care of the house, he would have picked one.

He brought the subject up at breakfast.

"Hermione, do you know when you are going to start back at the ministry?"

She was feeding the baby as she ate her own breakfast.

"I'm not sure.  I thought it would be fairly quick, but I don't know when I will be ready to leave her."

Tom frowned. That hadn't been the answer he was hoping to hear.

She took a deep breath and let it go slowly. "I feel guilty."

That surprised him, "Why would you feel guilty?"

"If I leave her, have someone else help raise her, doesn't that make me a bad parent?"

"No."

She let out a watery laugh. "No?"

"You need to set the example for our daughter that women can be both parent and have a successful career." He knew he said the right thing when her face lit up.

"You're right."

"Of course I am."

She laughed as she removed their daughter from her breast and righted them both. He moved to hold the baby gently patting her back.

Hermione stood and started out of the dining area, "I need to send a letter."

Tom smiled, overly pleased with his wife.
"See how happy mommy is? That's what happens when you listen to daddy."

His daughter looked up at him, eyes wide and alert.

"Remember sweetheart, daddy knows best."

She smiled a toothless grin up at him. Tom smiled back, this parenting thing was easy. His daughter listened as he continued to speak about life lessons like she could actually understand him.

He knew it was rubbish, she was only a few months old, but he liked to think she might retain some of the knowledge. He'd also taken to speaking to her in Parseltongue when Hermione wasn't around. Her coos and gibberish sounded similar, and it would give him a leg up on talking with her if she could catch on early enough.

No luck yet. He paused his talking and looked at her. She could sit up with help and could roll around on her own. Her face had become chubby and her eyes had darkened slightly now a deep blue color. He wondered if they would continue to change. Her hair was still very dark, and still very curly he doubted that would change much.

She drooled constantly. It was one of the few off putting things about her. Tom frowned as he wiped the mess from her face.

Hermione came back into the room a smile on her face. "Is my Lucy ready for her morning rest?"

Tom sighed, poor child had a strict schedule. She didn't look tired. He relented letting his wife handle this part.

"Did you send your owl?" He asked as he watched her tend to their daughter.

"Yes, I'm excited to hear back." She hurried to lay Lucy in her crib.

Tom liked seeing her excited about something other than Lucy. It got him excited. He stood to follow her and waited just outside of the nursery.

When Hermione came back through he caught her wrist and tugged her closer to him.

"Tom" she laughed "what are you doing?"

He smiled, what was he doing? "I am kissing my wife."

He kissed her, and when she whimpered into the kiss, he felt the stirring of arousal move through him.

He pressed her hips into his and she gasped on his mouth. He deepened the kiss and moved his hands to lift her modest skirt.

She pulled away "Tom, the baby."

"The nursery is soundproof."

"Anywhere else, just not here."

He pulled back and thought about that. He decided and pulled her along to the loo.

"Really? The bedroom is just-"

He cut her off with a kiss, lifting her up and onto the edge of the sink. The cold surface caused her to shiver against him.

He popped her shirt open, kissing along the top of her much larger breasts. He pulled the cup down and brought his moth to her nipple.

His tongue was covered in a sickly sweet taste that he hadn't thought about before this. Her moan as he pulled again from her breast was almost too much.

He vanished her skirt and knickers and his trousers and pants. Her pushed inside her as he attached to her other breast.

It had been too long since he had enjoyed his wife's body, and he hadn't realized it until this moment.

Her hands raked through his hair and across his scalp. His movements harsh and unforgiving as he chased his release.

His wife's orgasm squeezed him, unable to stop his own release he shuttered as he came inside her.

His legs felt weak as he moved to kiss her.

"I love you."

He pulled back from the kiss at her words, looking at her hair, her flushed skin, leaking breasts all the way down to where they were still connected. He wondered if she could get any more perfect.

He smiled. "I love you too."