Blood is Red

Blood is Red

by J&M Ink.

Disclaimer:  I take credit for this plot and my own characters, but everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Note:  Special thanks to the caste system of India and my 8th period History class...had I not been paying attention, I never would’ve caught this remarkable little plot bunny.  I don’t know if I’d call this an A/U story...it just completely disregards the canon.  Cheers.  - J

Prologue

                As I lay dying, I took the child in my arms and smoothed the tuft of silky hair.  With a ragged breath and a shaking hand, I quieted her cries and held her close against me.  Watery eyes stared up at me in pain, and my heart broke at the life I was leaving in her hands.  What had she done to deserve such a future?  Was entering this world such a terrible sin?  Why must my wrongdoings decide the life she leads?  Even now I could see the fire burning inside of her, yearning to blaze, to astound, to render speechless all who gazed at its radiant beauty.  Who were they to extinguish such a soul simply because her ancestor’s blood was diluted?  She possessed a gift that had rejected us who came before her.  She was worthy where we were not, and for the little life left in me, I would not let them destroy her. 

                I laid the slumbering babe on the crude blankets and slowly got to my feet.  I felt the blood running down my legs, steady as the ocean current, warm as a summer’s breeze.  I swayed and the room swam before my eyes, but I could not collapse now.  This was to be the last thing I was to do in my lifetime, and I was determined to leave no stone unturned.  As quickly as I could, I went to the desk and scrawled a hasty note, my bloody hands leaving crimson stains over the ink.  I then went to the window and flung the glass panes open to the starry night.  Not a body was to be seen on the walks below, save the young man who extinguished the street lamps at 10 o’clock each evening.  Seeing as he was a good distance away, I held out of arm and waited.  Beneath the confines of my chest, I could feel my heart pound as it strained to keep me alive for these next crucial minutes.  The river flowing from between my legs would not ebb, and I dared not look behind me, knowing I would see the path I had just walked highlighted in my own blood.  I felt the weight on my arm and the gentle clench of talons on flesh before I actually saw the owl.  I steered it inside and attached the scroll to its leg.  It gazed at me with its large eyes, and I knew there was no need to tell it to whom I wanted the message delivered.  Its white wings spread gracefully as it turned on my wrist and leapt swiftly into flight.  I wanted to watch it disappear over the dark horizon to make sure it reached its destination, but my weakening body would have none of it.  I went back to the bed and took my sleeping baby in my arms, then settled down against the pillows and closed my eyes. 

                My functions were beginning to slow down and my skin tingled warmly as Death came to claim me as his own.  I resisted at first, wanting to know that my daughter would be in good hands before I went.  He consented and we waited in the silence.  I vaguely registered the tiny form in my arms, and even with hardly any life left in me, my heart swelled with a mother’s love and pride in her.  She would grow to change the world, to liberate mankind, and I would smile down on her from above.  Death tugged at my soul, coaxing me to follow.  Somewhere in the distance I heard the telltale gunshot-like pop, and with my final breath I released a sigh and let go of my life.  All would be well.