This is my first Fanfiction and I am really excited to get going. I am partnered with Trysomethingnew for this project. I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters or ideas. Those belong to J.K. Rowling and rightfully so.
Julian rushed through the smog shrouded London streets glancing frantically behind him. He could hear the shouts and curses of the officers slowly catching up as they crashed into trash cans and street curbs concealed in the fog, Obstacles which he deftly avoided.
After another quick glance behind him Julian skidded to a sudden stop. He could only just hear the shouts coming from in front of him as well. It took him a frantic moment to suppress his rising fear and to think clearly. That's when Julian noticed the opening of the alley to his side, an opening which he made quick use of and ducked into.
Silently he watched as first one then two officers ran past. After a few minutes he had counted nine officers. The most he had ever had chasing after him. It would definitely be the last time he decided to try the car parts lot for scrap metal. All he had done was ask the owner for a few scrap sheets of aluminum to work with and the ass had called the police on him for trespassing and begging. It's not like it would have hurt the fat fool to offer up some useless scrap metal.
What seemed like an eternity later, when no more officers had run by for a few minutes, Julian realized he was holding his breath and let it all out in a rush. He hadn't run that far for a very long time — he was having trouble catching his breath.
That's when he heard the chuckle coming from the concealing smog behind him. He spun only to get blinded by a sharp light shining into his eyes.
"Thought you could keep running from us forever did you?" said the hidden voice. He was obviously male due to the depth, a deep tenor or even a baritone.
He fumbled at his belt for a moment trying to reach his Swiss army knife but was stopped short by a big meaty hand on his. There was a loud pop right beside his head which was shortly followed by a crack. He tried to fight it but after a minute his vision vanished and he sank into oblivion.
The officer above him out away his baton and flashlight before calling to his dispatch over the radio and bending down to put cuffs around Julian's wrists
His father stared down at him from the railing of the second story landing. The disappointment in his eyes burnt even more then the leather belt in his hand ever could, even when it bit hard enough to take off skin or leave welts. He would never say a word during these occasions of anger, although he never needed to because his eyes spoke volumes. He felt like Julian was worthless and he was a failure as a father. But most of all he resented the fact that it was his child that had to be different from everyone else's. Even those of his tender wife who he had helped to raise seemed to behave like everyone else ought to in his opinion.
His father walked down the stairs slowly, never taking his eyes off of Julian. Each stair brought him one step closer to his son; closer to dishing out his 'fair and just punishment'.
As his father stalked closer step by terrible step he let the belt bang against his leg menacingly. Slap, slap, slap. Then at last he stood above the kneeling boy. Julian looked defiantly up into his fathers eyes as he raised the belt above his head. He tried as hard as he could not to let his father see him wince. CRACK!
The loud noise startled him awake and he leapt to his feet, only to fall back down again as the blood rushed into his head making him dizzy.
The cold stone floor caused him to look up again and get his bearings. He was in cell number 13 at the old wood street police station, a cell that he had visited on numerous occasions before.
Through the window on the far end he could see lightening streaking across the sky. The sight was beautiful but he knew what was in store for him tonight. It was going to be long and cold. He wrapped the tattered denim jacket he wore around him to try and cover some of the many holes and slunk into the corner.
The rattling of keys caused him to wake up to a bright morning light. The sky was clearer then it had been in weeks thanks to the storm the previous night and the sun cheered up his mood.
"I hope for once you actually learned your lesson Julian!" Daniel called into him through the barred door. "You spend more time locked up in here then you do outside." He reached forward and rattled his heavy metal key into the cell door. "Why can't you just stay out of trouble? If I didn't know better then to waste my time I would submit you to social services. Just get outta here." He shook his head grumpily.
Julian climbed up to his bedroom loft and lay down onto his mattress. There was a storm coming and it was causing his joints to start to hurt. A familiar tapping at the window caused him to jump up and rush over. As he opened it a grey lump rushed through to perch on the upturned crate beside his bed.
"VORIC your back!" he yelled rushing over and throwing his arms around his friend. The great horned owl nuzzled him for a brief minute then extended a leg to present the attached letter to him.
He took it and stroked Voric a bit before reading it.
Julian,
I've missed you so much! You didn't answer my last letter for so long, I was worried about you. "Did the muggle police catch you? Did some thug hurt you?" I know I'm not your mother, but ever since you told me your secret, I've been thinking about your safety. I understand why you say you must live on your own but I'm your friend so don't you ever isolate yourself from me okay?
I asked my parents, and they said since we have to go into Diagon Alley to get our school supplies soon, if you came to meet us you could come and stay with us until school starts! Please say you will, my cousins are all coming too, and I'll go crazy if I have to deal with all of them without you around to keep my head together.
Also, I thought you might like to help me with a mystery. A letter arrived the other day by owl, but this owl was the biggest and darkest color I'd ever seen. It was from a man named Viktor Krum, you ever heard of him? Dad got kinda upset when he saw it, and Mum read it and her face looked funny and she threw it into the fireplace. The flames shone a bright pink! Before I could ask any questions Mum sent me out to bring Hugo in for dinner. I have to know what's going on, I've never felt so curious before in my life, it's like something is drawing me to that letter. But anyways, please, please, please say you'll come to my house!
Sincerely and as your truest friend,
Rose.
P.S. PLEASE!
Julian read the letter over a few times before turning to his books in search of an answer. After twenty minutes of searching he gave up and grabbed his writing supplies.
Hey Rose.
I've been caught by the muggle police a few times but they just let me go every time. I couldn't find anything on this Victor Krum figure. He sounds kinda shady to me. I would love to help you figure out what the heck is going on. I will meet you at Flourish and Blotts on the twenty third. That way I can check the new book list for this year! Well I will see you soon, I am sooo Excited!
Julian.
P.s. PLEASE give some treats to Voric when he arrives. He deserves them.
He stood up and walked over to Voric. "Are you up for one more flight tonight?" He asked giving him some fruit treats. "It's just over to see Rose. Then you can stay there and relax until I get there myself.
Voric jumped over to the window sill and with a swift click of his beak, soared away. Having finished with the letter he decided to turn in for the night.
Julian woke with a start as a commotion started outside the warehouse he lived in. He got out of bed slowly and crept over to the only window in the small warehouse loft he lived in. As he looked down into the alley lit by the sunrise, he could just make out six figures in dark wizards robes. They seemed to be having a very heated argument and were gesturing widely. They kept making gestures about an object roughly the size of a quaffle. Maybe they were arguing about a Quiditch match? Try as he might though Julian could not make out any of what they were saying.
The sound of a muggle siren caused the six wizards to look up and clear out of the alley.
Julian sighed realizing that going back to sleep would be useless at this point. He had a long day ahead of him and he was not looking forward to it.
The back alleys of muggle London were always full of scrap metals like aluminum and tin and occasionally even some old gold jewelry. Julian spent two to three hours of each day hunting down the choicest of these finds.
He made what meager living he could by melting these down and making trinkets, chains, and jewelry out if them to sell. It was a hard process that took him a lot of trial and error to perfect. But in the end it provided for what little it required him to live off of.
Today he managed to find a handful of aluminum washers that would melt down easily and pour into a cast well. As well as some bad copper wire and a pile of tin in the form of cigarette cases. Filling the denim sack he carried with him with his finds he went to his caster. It was a home made caster made out of cement, an old propane torch, and iron pipe. He had the back end of a hollow iron tube about two inches in diameter as a crucible.
Getting his torch fired up, he placed the washers into it to melt. While waiting he went over to his molding bench and designed the pattern he wanted to create in the sand. This particular pattern was a simple triquetra.
Once the aluminum was melted he picked up the crucible with a set of tongs and poured the molten metal into the mould. It crackled and settled for a while before actually starting to harden.
He spent all day repeating this process until it started to get dark. By the end of the day he had a whole stack of different shapes and sizes. Which would be tomorrow's project; sanding them down and making them wearable.
As always the steep set of rickety stairs leading up to his loft seemed endless. As he unlocked his door he got an unexpected surprise. Sitting on the edge of his mattress was a very proud looking snowy owl. As he entered, the owl chirped and fluttered off the bed to pick up a very thick wax sealed envelope. He knew it on sight; the Hogwarts symbol was always the part that stood out the most. It was his Book list.
He stroked the owl for a few minutes before taking the letter and giving her some Eeylops treats. Then he eagerly ripped open the seal.
Three large folded pieces of parchment fell out and onto the floor. Bending down he retrieved the first and opened it.
Dear Mr. Lilith,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the 1st. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station Platform 9 ¾ at eleven O'clock. Third years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade at certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent of guardian to sign.
A list of books and supplies for next year is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
M. McGonagall
Headmistress
Julian gave a heaving sigh and put the letter back into the envelope. He picked up the other two and set them down on the crate beside his bed. It was going to be a very hard year for him.
He stroked the owl some more wishing desperately that he had Voric back to hold onto while he struggled to make it through the night without crying. When she began to grow impatient he carried her over to the window and let her begin the long journey back to the castle, and home.