Chapter 55: A cousin in need

Doctor Michael led Tom and Natasha towards Hermione's room, stopping short of opening the doors. He faltered a bit and cautioned, "The girl had just lost her parents so she might still be out of it. Be a bit patient with her, alright?"

Regaining his bearings, he was about to open the door again but this time, Tom stopped him by grabbing his forearm.

"Why do you care so much?" Tom asked, finding his behavior a bit odd. A kind doctor the man might have been but he should have been dealing with similar cases quite often so his almost personal approach, in this case, was weird.

Doctor Michael sighed and wistfully shook his head, "I knew her parents. Impressive dentists. It's a pity to lose them so soon."

Tom distractedly let go of Michael's forearm, showing a sour expression.

Dentists...

Same as in the story.

Tom's hopes for Hermione only to have the same name as her story counterpart were quickly diminishing, making him inwardly curse. Maybe it was foolish to be in such denial but a man could still hope.

Taking care of the girl would mean getting involved in the Wizarding World. That would mean getting involved in all the bigotry bullshit. Tom could already see all the problems the Wizarding Ministry would give him by default because according to their definition, he is a muggle despite being capable of using magic.

After all, he does not possess Wizarding Magic and therefore was worthless!

Was there any wonder every other supernatural faction just scoffed at the mention of these backward overinflated wastes of air and decided to altogether forget about their unimportant existence?

On the other hand, the girl was his blood and did need help as she had no one else. It was a tough decision... but Tom spent more time cursing his bleeding heart and attachment to his mother than actually deciding. For him, it was obvious what he would do. Even if he personally didn't like the trouble it would bring him.

"I see." Tom nodded in understanding, letting the doctor open the door.

...

The despondent Hermione heard the door opening and looked up. Her eyes instantly landed on a lean man with messy brown hair, clad in well-fitting black stylish trousers, a white shirt, and a black blazer, who confidently walked in as if he owned the place, followed by a red-haired woman, clad in a secretary-like outfit, who instantly subtly checked the room for any sort of threat.

It was the same kind of caution Hermione observed from Harry, but much more professional. Instead of a secretary, Hermione inwardly labeled the woman as a bodyguard or something like that. Despite everything, Hermione could be observant if she wanted and that woman... She gave her dangerous vibes.

Normally, she would probably care more about it but after she was told her parents died, her world came crashing down on her, and right now, Hermione couldn't muster the will to truly care. She was barely keeping herself from crying and even that was mostly because her tears were all dried up and her eyes too puffy to shed another tear.

Doctor Michael walked into the room after the two unknown people who were silently observing Hermione, making her a bit uncomfortable, and spoke to her, "Hermione, this is your cousin, Thomas Prest." The Doctor introduced the man while gesturing at him.

Before he could introduce the woman, Hermione couldn't help herself and burst out with a question. "Cousin? I... I don't have a cousin." She warily looked at Tom, clutching at her sheets.

"My mother was your father's sister. They just lost contact long before you were born." Tom nonchalantly shrugged as he explained his circumstances.

He could see the inquisitive and searching look in her eyes, making him inwardly smirk. At least she was a bit cautious. She no doubt already knew why Doctor Michael brought them here.

"Ah." Hermione weakly let out as she remembered her father mentioning something about having a sister on multiple occasions.

He tried to find her multiple times but whenever he tried to visit the address she was supposed to live at, he couldn't find her house and his letters were never answered. Now that Hermione thought about it, that was certainly weird.

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The past tense Tom used when referring to his mother was noted by Hermione and she bit her lips, stopping her almost knee-jerk question of where Aunt Grace was. She just ducked her head in dejection.

While Hermione was deep in her thoughts, Tom turned toward Doctor Michael and asked, "Would you mind giving us some privacy?"

"Hm? Oh! Sure, sure." The Doctor nodded. He looked at Hermione, and seeing that she was fine with that, he turned around and left the room.

Silence resounded in the room as the three people stared at each other.

Eventually, Tom decided to break it and pointed at Natasha, "By the way, this is Natalia, my darling. If you come with me, she will also be a part of your life." He nonchalantly spoke, which earned him an elbow shove into his side by Natasha and a pointed look.

Hermione slowly nodded, not knowing what to say to that. Her lips, nevertheless, slightly curled halfway to smile. In the end, she just decided to introduce herself, "I am Hermione Granger. Will you… really take me in?" She bowed her head as she asked, tearing up a bit.

Her situation reminded her that her parents died and...

Tom heavily sighed and walked closer to her bed, seating himself on the edge, "Look," He wryly started, "I can't promise you a family nor am I trying to tell you that I can provide you a new home. I am too busy, too young, and too handsome to be a parent. Especially to a teenager, don't you agree?" Tom quipped, giving Hermione an infectious boyish grin that made her weakly smile before she even realized it.

Before his words could bring her mood further down, Tom continued because what he meant to convey needed a bit more context, "But we do share blood so the least I can do is make sure you have a roof over your head, are properly fed and watered, and won't miss money for education or whatever you kids need nowadays." Tom took Hermione's hand into his and his jovial tone softened, "It's what my mother would want me to do."

And he meant it. He couldn't promise familial love to Hermione. He didn't know her. Nor would he play a parent for her and look after her 24/7. But he could make her situation easier and give her some stability instead of sending her to an orphanage.

It wouldn't cost him almost anything other than a bit of effort so... why not?

Hermione sniffed and wiped the tears that spilled out of her eyes while Tom was talking. She took a second to calm her urge to cry.

"I don't want to be a burden." She quietly whispered, subconsciously squeezing Tom's hand.

The emotional and reluctant part of Hermione's mind didn't want this. She wanted her parents back, not to go live with someone she met for the first time just because they shared blood.

But the rational part of her mind knew she had no better option.

Weasley's might take her in but they had enough problems with their own number of kids. Plus, she had had enough of being there for one or two weeks during the holidays. She would probably go crazy if she had to live there.

"Well, if you keep that kind of attitude, you won't be." Tom chuckled. He expected her to be unreasonable, emotional, and bratty. He would even understand it. After all, she had just lost her parents.

This sorrowful but rational mindset was a welcome surprise for him. He could live with that. That's why he liked high IQ people. They had problems acting on their emotions but that only meant less trouble for those around them!

Not having to treat her as if she was some unruly kid was a massive boon in Tom's books.

"Come on, let's ask the Doc if you can be discharged." He threw the girl a reassuring smile, realizing he had to take the charge due to her disgruntled reluctance.

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