A.N- Hey, guys. This is an idea I had a few days ago, and I decided to write it. I hope you guys enjoy it, don't forget to read and review!

Disclaimer: Although some of the characters in this story say racist things and behave in racist ways, I don't condone racism personally. I'm writing this keeping in mind that the characters in it are not growing up in modern times, and they will be racist and homophobic and everything else.

So, for future reference, although these things may feature in this story, that does not mean I condone them in real life.

Chapter One

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Magnus asked, from where he sat near the window in Ragnor's kitchen. Well, Ragnor's current kitchen. They'd bought this house a few weeks ago, before the war started, and now they'd decided to open it up to young Downworld evacuees.

"Of course. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"

"Famous last words, old friend," he muttered. He stood up. "You know, I might not even mind if you weren't taking in so many of them. That's the one thing I've said all along, don't get too many, we won't be able to keep track of them all." Ragnor shrugged.

"There's only ten of them." Magnus's eyes widened. "Five warlocks, five vampires. We can take it in turns to look after them. It'll be fine." Ragnor looked at the clock. "I'd better go get them, actually. Tessa's brought them through, the train's due in a few minutes," he paused. "Do you want to come too? You can help bring them up to the house." Magnus thought about that for a second, and nodded.

"Alright, I don't see why not." He reached for his jacket. Ragnor looked at him for a moment.

"Drop the glamour on your eyes. It'll help the kids know you're one of us." Magnus blinked.

"Do I have to? Ragnor, you know I don't like doing that, I've told you enough times-"

"You don't have to, I just think it would be nice for them to see your mark. Like I said, half the kids will already have their own marks, and the ones that don't are vampires anyway. They aren't going to say anything about our marks." Magnus sighed, and dropped his glamour.

They walked down to the train station in silence. When they got there, Tessa was waiting, surrounded by ten Downworlder children. The oldest was about fifteen, and the youngest was about three. It was easy to see which ones were the vampires and which ones were the warlocks. Apart from the obvious signs, the vampires looked more energised, despite it being so late at night. Most of the warlocks looked about ready to fall asleep where they stood.

"Thank you for bringing them here, Tessa. Do you want to stay with us for tonight, seeing as it's late and everything?" Ragnor asked. One of the vampires spoke up at this.

"Yes, Mrs Herondale, don't leave! We don't know these warlocks, and honestly I don't trust the cat-eyed one very much." He frowned at Magnus for a moment, before looking away. Ragnor shook his head.

"That's not very polite. My name is Ragnor Fell. My friend here is called Magnus Bane, and I would appreciate it if you could show him some respect, he's a High Warlock in America."

"Wow, the standards really are slipping over there, aren't they?" The same vampire said, causing a few of the others to laugh.

"That is enough! What part of show him some respect aren't you lot understanding?" Magnus sighed, raising a hand.

"Ragnor, we can talk about this when we get to the house, alright? Now isn't the time or place." For a moment, Ragnor was silent. Then he shrugged.

"Alright, if you say so." He turned to the children. "Come along, everyone! Let's go!" They started to head towards the house. The vampire from earlier, along with a couple of his friends, ran ahead, knocking into Magnus as they went.

"Out of the way, cat-eyes," the kid hissed.

"Hey, that's enough! I've a good mind to lock you in the basement if you don't start showing some respect!" Ragnor bellowed. The kid just laughed.

"What's the problem? If he doesn't want people acting like that, maybe he should go back to his own country." He ran away, before anyone else could say anything. Magnus shook his head and continued walking. He didn't have the energy to deal with this just now.

"Why are they all so mean to you?" A small voice asked. Magnus looked down and saw that a little girl had appeared at his side. She had eyes like a cat too, but hers had more green in them.

"Why do you think?" It should be obvious, why they were picking on him and not Ragnor or Tessa. Even a child this young should have some idea.

"I don't know. I thought it might be because of your eyes, but mine look like that too, and they weren't mean to me."

"Well, it is something like that, but not quite the way you're thinking."

"Then I thought it might be because you sound American, but so does Mrs Herondale. And they didn't even know you sounded like that when they first saw you, did they?" Great, she was a chatterbox. He sighed.

"No, kid, it's not because I sound American. It's because I'm not white. They're judging me because I don't look like them. See?" He held out his hand. She held out her hand too, looking from one to the other.

"They're both different colours," she said, a small frown on her face. "Is that bad?"

"No, of course not. People can have all sorts of skin colours, and it doesn't make them any more or less of a person."

"Mama always says things like that. She says people are always going to treat me differently because of my eyes, and that I should try not to do the same to other people." Magnus smiled at that. Maybe mundanes weren't all bad, after all.

"That's a good way to look at things." She smiled, and reached up to take his hand.

"I like you, Mr Bane, even if the others don't. You've got pretty eyes like mine." She yawned. "Even if they aren't the same colour."

"I use a spell to cover them up most of the time, so you might not see them too often. I can teach you how to do the spell, if you want."

"No, I like them like this. Maybe another time?" He nodded. By now they'd reached the house, and the little girl rubbed her eyes. "I'm tired. Can I go to bed soon?" Magnus nodded.

"Once we get inside, we'll send you and the other warlocks to bed. Is that alright?"

"Yes, that's fine." She yawned. "I'm Sarah Jenkins, by the way. I should've said so earlier, but I forgot." Magnus smiled.

"Pleased to meet you, Sarah." He was about to ask if she knew any of the other kids' names, but just then Ragnor came up and unlocked the door, letting them all in. As the group of five vampires and eight warlocks crowded into the front room, Magnus wondered, not for the first time, if this was really a sensible idea, and if it would really work out. With a sigh, he decided he would have to wait and see.