"Alfie wake up, our letters are here, we get to go to Hogwarts, get up!" Matthew shouted as loudly as he could muster while jumping onto the bed that his brother was sleeping on. Alfred's eyes shot oven once he heard his twins declaration, he jumped off making Mattie fall off the edge of the bed with a crash.
"Oops, sorry dude" the blond giggled slightly before offering his hand to the other. Matthew gladly took the help, his loving amethyst eyes meeting the glowing ocean blue of his brothers for a joyous moment. "Well, lets go open those letters" Alfie announced before taking hold of the younger twins hand once more to pull him down the stairs to the living room. "You two are going to be completely amazing wizards one day" their mother murmured to herself as she watched the pair of excited eleven year olds tear open the seal on their letters. The twins mother had long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes just like her oldest son. She found herself shaking her head towards her husband as the boys jumped up and down at from excitement. Their father smiled kindly at the pair, he was unbelievably proud of his boys.
"Well, I guess that we've got to go wand shopping them..." She trailed off, her sons eyes widened exponentially at the announcement, grins adorning their already blushing faces. "Mattie, we're going to be the heroes at Hogwarts" Alfie laughed as he grabbed both of his twins hands and let out a booming laugh. The two began dancing, with Alfred spinning Mattie in circles both of them continued to giggle like buffoons. Their father, named Joshua ended up taking multiple pictures of his sons with his wife, Adeline chuckling at their actions.
"Bloody hell, I think my arms broken again" a dirty blond haired boy grumbled as he broke into a house. He sat on the window edge, of his friend Kiku Honda. "You know that if my brother catches you here then he'll kill you right" the Japanese boy groaned at Arthurs recklessness.
"Well, I need your expertise in wound binding" the British boy replied flinching at the pain that was running down into his legs. Kiku reached out his hand to help the boy into his room before lifting Arthurs shirt to check the damage. "Baka, how long are you going to put yourself through this" the raven asked angrily. "Until, I break everyone out of that bloody house, my brothers can't be left to hurt people" the eleven year old shot back, thinking about his friend Lovino. For a moment Arthur found himself wondering if the Italian he'd helped escape even survived...
"Arthur, are you listening?" Kiku complained before just pouring the now stinging liquid on a gash that was down Artie's stomach. "Ah, wanker" the Brit cried out before glaring at the smirking raven. "I tried to tell you, this is a bad wound, got any more?" Kiku asked, knowing the answer but not knowing if the boy would let him help anymore. "Haven't I always..." Arthur trailed off, his mind wondering to the whip marks on his shoulder blades and back. "You could take a look at my back, I don't think it's infected but those twats left me to die when I got them, so they haven't been treated" Artie grumbled before pulling his top off completely.
Kiku gasped, he knew that his friend was skinny, but this was simply horrific. "Do you even eat?" The Japanese boy asked, gulping when a cold look crossed the Brits face. "I don't remember the last time I ate, to be quite honest with you" he mumbled. Kiku's face fell, he took a close look at the scaring marks along the other boys spine. "What have they done to you?" Kiku whispered, his finger tips gently ghosting over the wounds. Artie didn't reply, he knew that the Japanese boy cared for him (though he couldn't figure out why). "This is going to burn" the boy declared before once again adding the liquid to Arthurs burning back.
Tears broke from his emerald eyes, he quickly pawed them away. He'd felt more pain than this... Lot's more. But that's what happens when your entire family are death eaters and you decide that unlike them you're not an evil psychopath. "I'm sorry" Kiku muttered as he started to bind the cuts on the boys back. "It's fine, I appreciate this you know..." Arthur trailed off. He looked around at the Japanese boy who'd gone completely silent after Artie had decided to share his thoughts. "Please, just don't go back, stay here with me" Honda pleaded, his eyes becoming blurry with tears. Arthur reached forward and pulled the usually nonchalant kid into his arms.
"I'm sorry Kiku, I'm putting you in enough danger as it is, you're my only real family I can't lose you" the large eye-browed Brit told him, shaking lightly as he too got emotional.
"Kiku, bring Arthur down here right now, we know he's up there" came a furious voice from downstairs. Both of the boys released each other before gasping about being caught. It had been a long while since Artie had seen Yao, Leon, Yong Soo and Mei, too long in fact considering how many times he was actually at their house. Leon was the only other member of their family that he got along with.
The boy had a natural kindness, just like the Japanese boy though unlike the raven, he chose to hide it. Kiku clutched the Brits hand once he noticed that Arthur had began to shake. "Lets go together" the Asian boy smiled kindly. He was only ever like this with Artie and somehow just that thought made Artie smile. They managed to walk down the stairs without getting maimed so both of them thanked the stars they were still alive. Kiku walked through into the living room first seeing a stern looking Yao looking at him frustrated. "I am sorry brother, but Arthur is injured and I will not leave him to die" Kiku nonchalantly told the older man. Yao let out a sigh, knowing that he wasn't going to win a fight with his stubborn baby brother.
"Big brother is worried about the family" Mai cut in watching the scene with a bitter look. Arthur bowed his head at the four others in the room (besides him and Kiku). "I'm sorry, I know that I am putting you all in grave danger" the blond gently told them, knowing that he really shouldn't be coming to the people he cared about most. "This must be the last time, what if they find out..." Yao muttered, a small shiver moving up his spine as he mentioned the Kirkland brothers. "You will all be brutally killed and they will not show any mercy when they do it" the English boy told them, not sparing their feelings.
"I will not come here again, I promise" the Brit muttered, knowing that they might be killed just because he'd actually gotten there today. He couldn't lose them too, not after Lovino went. "Alright, well at least you wasn't at home when this arrived for you" the eldest brother told him before handing him and the younger Asian a letter. "Hogwarts..." Arthur trailed off, he'd never even thought about going to school, after all, they would never let him go. "You could go with me, and you'd be free" Kiku smiled, shocking his family. "Free..." Arthur wondered aloud before giving a dark chuckle. "That's just a pipe dream for me, Kiku, even if I got there everyone would reject me, I come from a line of monsters so I don't blame them" Arthur uttered, feeling his heart break.
"Like, you are so nice though, and like once they know you they will like you" Leon sighed breaking character for a moment to speak to the upset Brit. Arthur looked up into the younger boys kind-looking eyes. Yong Soo smiled slightly as the younger Asian showed affection for the blond. He quickly jumped up and hugged the upset boy, tightly pressing his head against the Brits cheek and rubbing his with the other boys.
"Please brother, let go of him your going to crush him to death" Kiku calmly announced before the other let go of a frazzled Artie with a sigh. "You're so mean, all I wanted was to cheer the little Kirkland up a bit" Yong Soo pouted while looking at the younger brother. Arthur looked shocked for a moment before a fond look passed across his face and he started to laugh gently. "I really wish that I'd been born into this family instead" Arthur grinned, his eyes gleaming with contentment. "Me too..." Leon murmured along with Kiku, almost silently.
"Are you going to Hogwarts then?" The only female in the room suddenly asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. Kiku's head snapped towards the blond to send him a pleading look. "You'd have to escape but I wouldn't mind you attending with Kiku" Yao Wang declared, seeing how much his brother cared for the large-browed British boy. "I'm there too, I could hug you every single day!" Added the joyful South Korean teenager.
Arthur looked momentarily confused before his face lit up with happiness. "Okay, I will try, I want to be with Kiku after all..." Arthur decided, sending the eldest of the group a worried look. "I'm sure I can steal some money to get all the stuff I need and maybe I can run there... though I've never heard of a 'platform 9 and 3/4's'" Arthur told them, recalling that he'd never seen such a place when visiting the station. "If you can get there, with all the stuff on the list then I will escort you for the train and get you the train ticket" the Chinese man told him, wondering if the boy could even achieve something that seemed impossible. "Good luck" the girl cried out before giving the Brit a hug.
Yong Soo joined them, and pulled Leon into it as well. Kiku, blushed slightly but also joined in, lastly the eldest wrapped his arms around the bunch. "I wish you all the luck in the world Arthur" everyone muttered before letting him go. "Thank you, all of you, I better be going" he announced before rushing out the door. Arthur silently noted that it was the first time ever that he'd left through the front door and not a window. With that thought he smiled.
Arthur decided that going home was a very bad idea.
It was in the mid-afternoon and he'd never gone out this long before and actually gotten away with it. His stomach growled in protest, reminding the boy of how long it had been since he'd put any sort of food into his body. "Let's see, I have 45 galleons... but can I spare any of this for food when I need to buy everything on the list?" He wondered aloud. Arthur decided that he didn't need any sort of pet, so he could definitely have to bring flying mint bunny. Before long he found his body making it's way down to the street to the entrance to the wizarding world. He walked through to the wall and opened the doorway.
The afternoon sky was painted a multitude of different vibrant colours. A vibrant orange, mixed with the golden hue of the setting sun. A bright glow of pink swarmed the colours, meeting a pastel blue, which was gradually fading as the day went on. The youngest Kirkland sighed tiredly as he walked down the street. Ollivanders was still open, a large sign on the door letting him know about the times that he closed. He gulped slightly as he decided to walk into the shop, his hands shook as he pushed it open the door that made a ringing sound as he feet went in. Arthur pulled down his hood to reveal his face as he etched a charming grin onto his lips.
"Hello there" a sweet voice came from beside him, making the young Kirkland jump slightly with a yelp. "Ah, sorry are you here to get your first wand too" the kind-looking blond asked, his soft violet eyes meeting Arthurs green ones momentarily. "Ah, I'm so sorry I didn't notice you there, yes but I'm not really sure what to do" the British boy told the Canadian with a warm tone in his voice. The boy blushed and let out a shy giggle.
"No it's alright, I'm usually not noticed, I'm not too sure what to do either, so how about we try together" the Canadian seemed very lovely Arthur noticed. "I would like that" Artie told him with a genuine smile for once. The gentle Canadian held out his hand to the British boy as an offer of friendship, Artie accepted it happily lacing his fingers with the other boys. "Well, I've never seen you two in here before" interrupted another person who was watching the two silently. Both of the eleven year olds nodded at the old man wondering who it was they were actually talking too.
"Matthew Williams-Jones" the elderly one spoke nodding towards the purple-eyed blond who looked wary for a moment. "Wow, your family is famous" proclaimed the green-eyed blond in response to the old mans words.
The Canadian gave a single shy nod before staring down at his feet like they were the most interesting things in the world. "Arthur Kir..." the old man whom Arthur guessed was Ollivander began. "So you must be Ollivander, the owner of this shop then!" The taller of the boys snapped, stopping the man from telling the sweet boy who he was. Ollivander hummed at the taller boy who glared urgently at the man. His eyes screamed 'please don't make him hate me', therefore Ollivander decided to drop the subject.
"Now, how about we start with you then Matthew" the elder man told the boys who nodded, though they were still frightened. Ollivander only took a moment to pluck a box from a nearby shelf, elegantly pulling the light container from where it lay. He walked back over to the boys with a kind smile. "Alder, 11 inches, with a dragon heartstring core" Ollivander informed Mattie who took the wand gently. He momentarily ran his fingers along a leaf that was expertly carved into the frame of the object. Mattie waved the wand slowly, only to feel a burst of magic explode from the wand. A bunch of boxes in the back of the shop blew up from the impact making both of the boys flinch. Matthew quickly dropped the wand back into the box waiting for the wand-makers reaction.
"Hmm, not that one then" the man declared as he shuffled off into the back of the shop to collect another wand for the blond to try. Mattie squeezed his new friends slender hand for reassurance before casting his worried gaze at the British boy. "Here we go, pine wood, with a unicorn core 9 inches" the elderly man recalled as he awaited the boys reaction. Mattie lifted the wand from it's casing, closing his eyes as he waved it.
This time, a book shelf on the left side of the room exploded. Mattie and Artie ducked as the pages flew everywhere. Both boys slowly began to move back upwards only to catch a glimpse of the muttering wand-maker moving to the back of the store once more to grab another wand. "Does this happen a lot?" Mattie questioned, wondering how the man could be completely unfazed by the carnage that came from the incorrect wands. "Of course, after all the wand choses the wizard" Ollivander cheerily told them before placing a box in front of Mattie, a determined look plastered on his face.
Matthew took out the wand and gasped slightly at the design. A vine of wood was carved along the handle, reaching down in stems until they moved off into individual roses marked onto the golden wood. "This is a pear wood wand, it's eleven inches and has a unicorn core" the man told the boys as Mattie admired it. Matthew gave it a simple flick, when suddenly it began to light up, becoming a beautiful gold colour. Mattie felt a warmth move through his body as the wand connected with him. "There has never been a dark wizard to ever own a pear wand, since they are attracted to the warm-hearted and generous" Ollivander told them with a smile. "Thank you, Arthur it's your turn now" Mattie said as he turned to the fascinated blond beside him.
"Okay..." Artie sighed, not sure that he wanted to cause any more damage to the charming little shop. "Hmm, what would suit you" the old man pondered his thoughts for a moment before moving to another room in order to collect a wand. "Yew, 10 inches with a unicorn core" the man grumbled as he handed the boy his first wand. "It's lovely" Artie mumbled becoming overly aware that one of his brothers had a wand made of 'yew'. He closed his eyes lightly before flicking the wand, Arthur felt a surge of energy before he noticed a loud crash. The ladder had been pushed to the other side of the room, and Mattie gasped slightly at the mess, sending the Brit a guilty look. "No, definitely not" the man announced as he took the wand back to its spot on the shelf. He knelt down and picked up another box before returning to the boys sight.
"Larch wood, with a phoenix feather core, 13 inches" the man declared before standing back to watch the boy. Arthur liked the simple design on the warm coloured wood. He saw Matthew ready himself in the corner of his eye before waving the object and seeing a ton of wands be thrown from the shelves. "Not that one either..." Ollivander proclaimed, watching Arthur place the wand back into the box. Arthur turned to Mattie who was looking at him curiously. "What's wrong?" The taller of the two asked, slightly worried about the boy holding his new wand. "Ah nothing, it's just you are very gentle with the wands that you hold" Mattie revealed making Arthur blush. The Canadian seemed to realise what he'd just said as he looked down at his feet again, a crimson colour lighting up his cheeks.
A chuckle filled the room as another wand was placed in front of Arthur. "Rowan, 10 inches with a dragon heart string core" Ollivander stated as the green-eyed boy looked at it. The wand felt almost peaceful in his hands. Artie flicked the wand only to see one box fall out of the shelf, the wand didn't feel right to him though. "Hmm, this wand likes you but it isn't yours, I wonder..." Ollivander trailed off as the boys watched him pick up the box that had just been thrown of the shelf by the rowan wooded wand. "Maybe this wand wanted to help you find your soulmate" the elderly man concluded as he offered the box to Arthur.
The British boy lifted the wand before looking at it closely. The handle was littered with tiny stars that were carved into the wooden frame. It was curved around in a spiral shape and glowed slightly in the light. Arthur didn't even have to move the wand before it started to shine letting out a silver light instead of golden, as his initials made their way into the handle of the wood. Ollivander let out a contented sigh.
"Cypress wood, 12 inches with a phoenix feature core" the man stated before smiling brightly at the boys. "This type of wood only choses the brave and self-sacrificing, and they are usually unafraid to confront their inner darkness, now doesn't that truly suit you, that other wand really took a shining to you though" Ollivander laughed before taking the money that the boys were ready to give in return for their new wands.
They turned on their heels, thanking the man kindly for his assistance. Arthur couldn't help but inspect the others new wand and neither could Matthew as they giggled at the others curiosity. "Their both beautiful, are you going to start at Hogwarts this year?" Mattie suddenly blurted out as if he'd forgotten to ask before. Artie nodded in response as Matthews face lit up. "Me too, we can be friends... Oh is that too forward of me, forgive me" the Canadian stared to tell himself off wordlessly when Arthur pulled him into a hug. "I would love to be your friend, but I must warn you I'm a..." The Brit stared to tell the boy his true name when a loud, energetic voice cut him off.
"Mattie, bro you got your wand yet, let me see" a boy with the exact same face (but with different eyes) yelled as he stormed over to the pair. The blond quickly picked up his brother and spun the boy around while giggling. "Both of you need to calm down" another person's voice rang out. A beautiful blond woman was walking over to them with a brunet male. "But mom look at how cool his wand is" Alfie boasted for his twin, making the shy twin blush at the statement. "Mine is fourteen inches, dragon and made of cedar wood, yours?" Alfie grinned excitedly awaiting the others details.
"Umm, Pear wood, eleven inches and a unicorn core" Mattie told him quietly, the other twins eyes shined at the knowledge. "That's so cool bro" Alfred grinned broadly before leaping at his mother in a warm hug, pulling his twin with him. Arthur watched the scene, deciding it was time to slip out of the space and go and find a place nearby that he could sleep. There would probably be a corner that he could sleep in, on one of the smaller paths. His feet began to move when he felt someone tug on his arm, making him turn around in shock and letting his eyes widen at the presence of the other person. "Hey wait, you were going to tell me something" the Canadian smiled softly, Arthur looked up to see the adults watching curiously and the other 'Matthew' looking frazzled. "Ah, I was just going to say goodnight" the Brit lied, bowing slowly to the boy whose eyes widened considerably.
"Wait, Arthur" Ollivander shouted stopping the boy from walking off once more. "I really should be going" Artie wanted to snap but he found himself unable to do so in front of the new friend he'd made. "I'm locking up soon, but you may rest here for the night I don't want you sleeping on the street" Ollivander told him quickly, knowing the response he would most likely get. Arthur ignored the questioning looks that was sent his way by the family in front of him. "Thank you for the offer, but I'd much rather find somewhere less easy to destroy, I wouldn't want anything to happen to your shop" Arthur told him with a warm look in his eyes. Ollivander sighed, this was typical of someone with a cypress wand, he'd always sacrifice his happiness for others.
"Then you must be careful my boy, get on that train and be free" the elderly man announced with a determined grin, Arthur's eyes widened before he hugged the man. "I'll make sure of it" the Brit squeaked before letting go of the bewildered person whom never got hugged for something so little. "Goodnight" he murmured to the child before disappearing from sight. Matthews mouth was agape when the man went missing.
"So, your sleeping on the street?" Mattie asked, worry overtaking his features. Arthur nodded in reply not wanting to give too many details in front of the boys parents who were looking at him like he was a kicked puppy. "Wait, why did you say no to sleeping somewhere warm like the shop then?" Alfred asked, he'd never seen anyone who was homeless turn down shelter before. "Because, I don't want anyone to get hurt by harbouring me" the Kirkland brother muttered before, giving them a quick 'goodbye' and scurrying off.
"I don't get it, how would someone get hurt from him being in a safe place?" Mattie asked his mother who was still watching the young boy disappear from view. "Probably because someone dangerous is looking for him" she replied honestly, not wanting her son to be clueless about what was going on. "I've seen that boy before" Joshua (their father) gasped as he remembered that same face. "Lovino..." the man trailed off, as his wife's head whipped round to look at him in fear. "He's involved in what happened to Julius's grandson?" She asked horror flooding her voice as he nodded slightly at her.
"Don't you remember the drawings that he'd do for us?" Joshua asked grimly, flinching at the memory of Lovi looking so broken. "I see, boys I don't want you to interact with that boy" Adeline firmly told her children, before watching the younger twin glare at her. "No, I can feel it, Arthur is not a bad person and I won't ignore him" the Canadian sulked, his eyes however, were unrelenting. "Fine, I understand but if you talk to him, be sure to keep your brother close" she gave in.
"He's Arthur Kir..." Joshua began to tell them when the purple-eyes twin placed his hands over his ears. "No father, if he wants me to know who he is, then he shall tell me himself, I think he was going to before Alfie came up to us, but you frightened him and he decided not to tell me" Matthew observed allowing his forgiving and understanding nature to cloud his judgement of the British boy.
Both of the parents shook their heads at his stubbornness but watched the brothers as, the older twin put his hand around Mattie and kissed his forehead. "You're too nice, Mattie but if you want to be friends with him then count on me to be the hero!" Al exclaimed with a smug smirk, which made the other laugh in amusement.
Arthur found a place to sleep, in a little cobbled corner near the pub that held the gateway between the muggle and magical worlds. He shivered slightly as the cold night nipped at his skin irritating his wounds. The boy curled into a wooden gate that he was using as a pillow allowing the warmth of pain overtake him as his wound rubbed against the hard surface. The boy looked up slightly acknowledging that the dark clouds that were slowing forming overhead were going to rain down on him. He sighed slightly before tensing up at the shock of a particularly painful mark rubbing against the gate. "Bloody hell, it's just my luck" the Brit grumbled before crushing his eyes closed and forcing his body to shut down before he died of exhaustion and hunger...
'Damn it, I forgot what I actually came into diagon alley for" Arthur inwardly cried as his stomach seemed to start communicating with him right at the moment when he needed it least. An icy pellet fell from the sky hitting his exposed skin before he allowed the lull of the rain and the burning feeling of hunger pains to pull him into a dreamless sleep. He whimpered in his sleep at the nightmares that forever decided to haunt him, wherever he went plagued him once more.
Luckily for Arthur his whines and cried were drowned out by the loud clashing of the raindrops on the cobblestones and shop roofs. In the end only the footsteps of late night drinkers and the loud slashing sound of the endless rain could be heard, and for another night Arthur found himself freezing to death, alone in the cold unforgiving outdoors.
Matthew stared out the window, not knowing that somewhere out there another figure by the name of Honda Kiku was doing the exact same thing. Silently gazing out of the window, worrying wholly and completely about a certain blond-haired Brit who unfortunately was never given a break.
"Mattie, don't worry I'm sure that kid's fine, lets go to bed I want to stay with you tonight" Alfie cried snuggling his body close to his twins who, chuckled at his antics. "Alright, alright but I do hope that he's alright..." Mattie mumbled while allowing his body to be pulled close to his brothers under the warm, cozy sheets of their bed.
"I hope so, too" Alfie agreed, wondering how his brother felt about the person that he barely knew the name of. "Hey bro, do you like that boy?" Al asked with a smirk on his face, Mattie blushed violently before stuttering out a muffled reply.
"He's a friend" ended up being the only answer that the boy could get out without being embarrassed. "Are you sure you don't like him more than that?" Alfie asked smugly while watching his brother squirm. "I've only just met him..." Mattie trailed off after that, not really answering his twins questions. Al looked closely at the younger boy and noticed that he was asleep.
"Yeah, I really do hope that he's okay Mattie, I mean it..." Al looked conflicted for a moment before placing a small kiss on his brothers cheek and cuddling him close in order to find his own way to sleep.
"Honda, lets go to sleep, you'll see him soon" Yong Soo yawned as he snuggled into the nonchalant Japanese boy. "He'll be asleep on the street tonight though, and in this rain too" Kiku explained looking more worried by the second. Leon quickly moved over to the futon that Yong Soo and Kiku were apparently sharing.
"Like, he's so strong so like he'll be okay" Leon offered as he cuddled his brothers. Kiku found himself smiling before wrapping his arms around the others and falling asleep.