A/N: A woman shows up on the doorsteps one fateful night. Eugenia is the name I chose for Mrs. Cole.

Submission for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Charms Assignment #12 - Write about Merope Gaunt

LIFE: caution

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Eugenia drew her shift closer around her as she carried the lantern before her, lighting her way as she padded across the long hallway. At this time of night, everyone was already asleep, just like she had been, but she had heard a soft noise, a weak knock on the front doors. If it hadn't been for the slight lull in the storm, she would have never heard it from her room on the floor above.

She opened the door just a crack as she pushed the lantern forward. "Who's there?" she asked, softly. It was better to exercise caution, for it wasn't safe to open your door to anyone in the middle of the night.

Then she gasped as pale hand fell into the sliver of light. "Help me," the person said, in a voice even softer than hers. "Please."

Eugenia opened the doors wider to see a small woman lying across the wet stone steps, her eyes fluttering as she tried to look into Eugenia's face. Then her hand moved to her swollen stomach and she grimaced in pain.

Eugenia bent low, placing the lantern on the ground as she lifted the woman's head. She looked further down the woman's body, finally noticing the darkening spot between her legs, which was growing by the second. "Are you-"

"Help me, please," the woman repeated, her voice barely a whisper as another wave of pain flowed through her.

Eugenia shouted back down the long hall, "Margaret! Darla! Catherine! Someone help me!"

The labour was intensive. Eugenia could still remember the woman's screams reverberating around the room, the whiteness of her knuckles as she gripped the edges of the bed.

But now, the room was quiet. Her screams had faded away into nothing. She had survived the birth, but she was weak and she had lost so much blood. There was nothing they could do. With her final breath, she had named her son and given him all the love in her heart, before she too faded away.

Eugenia held the small newborn in her arms, watching as he slept unaware of his mother's death. "It'll be alright, Tom," she said, as she placed him in a vacant crib, rubbing a soft hand through his short black hair.