Title: Take Him
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Merope Gaunt, Mrs. Cole
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 494
Summary: AU. Before Merope leaves Tom, she protects Mrs. Cole.
Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Two Week Drabbles Wars - International Woman's Day: Task Prompt - Write your character protecting someone from harm. : Dialogue Prompt - "Where do you get off on behaving that way with women you don't even know, huh? How would you feel if someone did that to your mother or your sister or your wife?" - Thelma & Louise

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Swoopstikes - Bronze - Prompts Used - Swoop, Rapid, Indication, Stanza

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: [Writing Club!] The Word Prompt Express - Prompt Used - 64. Bench

200 Characters in 200 Days: 175. Mrs. Cole

Merope held her baby close to her chest, stopping at the bench in front of the building to get her bearings. She looked down at the innocent face her child, and in one rapid swoop, she came to the conclusion that she was doing the right thing. She wasn't in the right mind to raise her son. If her mood lately had been any indication, she would be a horrible mother that eventually would end up hating the boy she gave birth to. And no child deserved knowing he was hated by his or her own mother.

Tom Jr. would be okay. He would be adopted and have a happy life with loving parents. Maybe he would even have a brother or sister. Maybe he would have a dog or cat. It was like a stanza in her mind that was stuck on repeat. She was doing the right thing. She was doing the right thing.

She walked into the establishment, only to see a man cornering two women. Both seemed frightened as his hands gestured wildly around him.

Something in her ignited and the embers quickly rose into a fire. She was tired of seeing men push women around. She suffered enough with that when it came to her own family. She didn't know who the man was, but he didn't have any right to be acting like this with the women.

She placed Tom in a basket by the door and put the basket on the chair.

She cleared her throat. "Where do you get off on behaving that way with women you don't even know, huh? How would you feel if someone did that to your mother or your sister or your wife?"

She didn't know if the man did or didn't know the women for sure, but in her gut, she didn't think he did.

The man turned to her. "Mind your own business."

He gripped the older woman's collar and nearly hauled her off of the floor.

Merope took her wand out of its hiding place and shot a quick stinging hex a him before quickly hiding her wand once again.

The man yelped and let go of the woman.

"You should leave," Merope hinted.

He didn't know where the pain came from, and he looked scared. He quickly left.

"Thank you," the older woman, the one seemingly the target of the man's ire, said. "I'm Mrs. Cole. Can I help you?"

Merope nodded. She took Tom from the basket and held him out to the women. "I can't take care of him."

Mrs. Cole took the baby. "Are you sure?"

Merope swallowed the lump in her throat as she gazed at Tom's peaceful face, his eyes closed in a restful slumber. "I'm sure. Please, take care of him."

She quickly left, afraid she was going to change her mind. Her body felt weaker, and she knew she didn't have much time left.

Tom would be alright. He would.