A/N: Sorry for the long wait guys, but here it is. Next one will be up in the next fortnight, life is pretty hectic at the minute, so I'm just trying to write it when I have the time. But, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review it, reviews really help to inspire, especially when I find that people like it. It makes me want to write it more ^.^
Chapter Three
It didn't take long for Draco to reach the city centre of London; he had left early morning and arrived at midday. He hadn't had the fastest pace; his mind had been racing over what he should do. He knew the location of Diagon Alley, but he didn't know what to do when he got there, and who he should approach. He had been missing from the Wizarding World for five months, or was it six? Draco wasn't entirely certain anymore. Would word have been spread about his disappearance? After all, he was only an ex-Death Eater; would the Wizarding World even care about him going? And what had his Father said or done about the whole thing?
These were answers that Draco needed to find out, so he headed for the location of the Leaky Cauldron. He rarely used the common entrance to Diagon Alley, he usually flooed in. He found the street easily enough, though he did get some looks from the London business men and the housewives. He looked like shit, naturally, living on the street would do that to anyone, so he paid no attention to it, and he had bigger things to worry about after all.
The closer he got the Wizarding pub, the more Draco felt uncomfortable inside. His heart was beating faster, but he put that down to nerves. Each step though seemed to make his heart beat faster, and faster. It was unsettling to the blonde, but what was even more unsettling was when he finally stood in front of the pub. He could see it, but at the same time, it was barely visible to him. It kept flickering in his eyesight, the buildings around it moving, the hidden charm on the buildings tried to hide the pub to the muggle, but at the same time try to reveal itself to the wizard. It confused the blonde; he didn't know what to make of it. It was as if the Wizarding pub couldn't make its mind up on if Draco was a wizard or a muggle. And still his heart kept beating harder and faster, tightening Draco's chest more. A slight dizziness started to arrive in the ex-wizard's head, and a nauseous feeling kept bubbling in the pit of Draco's stomach.
The Leaky Cauldron still kept flickering, but it seemed more vivid as Draco focused his entire mind on it, concentrating on the building as hard as he could. Soon it seemed real and solid enough and Draco quickly pushed open the door. The familiar surroundings comforted the blonde slightly, but tingling pain covered his entire body. He looked around, seeing Wizards and Witches all over the place. He could feel the magic surrounding him, filling his body up and the pain kept getting worse. He needed to get in the alley, he had too. Every step he took hurt though, the pain kept getting worse and his head kept spinning. Deep inside of him, his magical core felt like it was being removed and healed, but then quickly removed once more.
"Oi, you alright?" The bar tender called out as everyone turned to look at Draco. He glanced around, staring at every face. Auras surrounded them; he could see their magic, rising and falling, different strengths, and different colours. His head felt like it was exploding; his stomach felt like it was being wrung and tied in knots. He couldn't be around them, he couldn't be around magic. "Mate, sit down!" The bar tender called out again, pulling his wand out as he spoke and summoned a chair closer to Draco for him to sit down.
Draco saw the wand, he heard the spell and he could see the magic flow out of the bar tender's wand, but the pain become even more unbearable as the spell was cast. Draco screamed out, sinking to his knees as he grabbed his head, pulling on his dirty blonde locks hard. He HAD to get out, the pain was too much, and he couldn't be around magic. He stumbled to his feet and turned, falling out of the door back on to the Muggle side of London. He landed hard on the pavement, passing out as he did so from the pain. As he lost consciousness the Leaky Cauldron disappeared into thin air behind him, replaced with normal houses.
He awoke a few minutes later, people surrounding him. In the distance he could hear the wail of sirens from an ambulance. "Wait there, the ambulance will be here soon, you'll be fine, just don't move," He heard someone say, however the blonde had other ideas, although his body still hurt, he managed to get to his hands and knees. Quickly he grabbed his bag which had fallen off and he shoved his way through the crowd, running quickly, powering through the pain he was in to find a hiding place, he needed to get away and think over things.
He ran for ten minutes, putting the crowd and the Leaky Cauldron far away from him. He slowed down and ducked into one of the many alleyways that all major cities had. He threw his bag down and collapsed on to, using it as a seat as he leant against the brick wall behind him. "Fuck," Draco muttered as he realised how much pain he was in because of the magic and the spell. It was very obvious that Draco couldn't be around magic anymore, but it also seemed obvious that a small amount of magic remained in him, hence why the Leaky Cauldron had reacted like that. Despite this new knowledge, it didn't help the blonde in the slightest. He couldn't seek help from the Wizarding world. He couldn't seek help from Muggles either; they would presume he was mad. It seemed that Draco was well and truly on his own, no help would come to him. "Oh, Potter," He mumbled to himself, sighing heavily. "Where's the saviour now? Where's my fucking saviour!" His voice was bitter and angry, but his voice was also sad and pained. For the first time in Draco's life, he cried. He sobbed long and hard, his body shaking as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
Months passed once again. Spring became the sticky summer heat and soon enough the summer heat passed for the cool breezes of autumn. The air was getting colder each night, and still Draco remained on the street, managing to survive day after day, though it was getting harder and Draco was getting more desperate. He couldn't remember the last time he had been properly clean, he stopped in public toilets every now and then to clean himself up a bit, if he had the money he'd buy a razor to shave and to spruce himself up just a bit more. His clothes were tattered and worn, his trousers had holes at the knees, and probably only had another month of use in them. He could find clothes easy enough though, stealing being the best way.
Draco had learnt enough to get by; he had also learnt that he was a fast runner if he needed to be. And he often had to be, stealing was a good way to get food, and clothes, though for clothes he only stole from run of the mill shops, nothing expensive. If it was expensive, chances are he'd only be mugged for it later on in the night.
He'd learnt he was good looking enough to succeed with begging most of the time. He'd pick a patch in the heart of the city centre, and he'd beg his heart out, he'd grovel, he'd sing, he'd plead. It only provided him with enough to eat most of the time though. Housewives were always good at sparing change, business men not so much, they were too busy rushing around and being late for meetings; but if he did spare some money, it was usually a good couple of quid. Students, however, were useless at sparing money, Draco worked that out rather quickly, he'd often be left with joke things, condoms, chewing gum, a coupon for 'Buy one get one free' at Domino's. Draco never really saw the funny side to that though, his belly only panged with hunger as he tossed it aside. Occasionally Draco felt a strange feeling in his stomach as a Wizard or Witch went by, whenever that happened, he kept his head down, not wanting to be recognised. But they were often the best at sparing change, and he'd thank them quietly as they walked away.
The blonde also learnt that his arse was good, it was tight and pert. Men loved his arse. If he had a decent amount of money saved up from his begging, he'd shave, he wash, he'd change his clothes and he'd wait in the red light district of the city. He'd never have to wait long, men would spot him a mile away hair due to his blonde hair, which luckily when washed was still as shiny and perfect as it used to be on a day to day basis. They'd pay him well for an hour or two hour service. He would then wank, suck, fuck or be fucked for a decent pay., which then often got spent on his next discovery.
Draco also had learnt about cannabis. It was expensive, but if he had had a customer the night before he could usually afford at least two grams. He learnt about how it soothed him, and the pain. How it eased his mind, making him forget his worries for the brief time that he had drug. But best of all, it helped the time pass; it helped him sleep through the cold nights, which had made him develop a bad cough, which often woke him up. The downside to smoking cannabis though, was Draco now needed to buy tobacco and had now being a regular smoker, which didn't do well for the small amount of money he worked for. He now often went a day without eating, sometimes two.
But yet, the blonde kept surviving; he kept living and staying out of as much trouble as he could. Inside, however, he was losing all hope, he was becoming more and more depressed with each day and he started to believe he was going to die like this, just another troubled homeless person dying in the gutter, that's what he thought he was destined to become. He couldn't have been more wrong though as to what his future held.
It was nearing the end of October, Draco was certain about this as shops were filled with Halloween themed stuff, costumes, sweets and pumpkins was all that could be seen in shop windows. Not that Draco would be celebrating it. In a few more months Draco would have been living off the street for a year, a year since his father had punished and exiled him from the Malfoy family.
He had set up his pitch in the city centre as usual, he knew he was close to the Ministry of Magic, but he was far enough away not to feel the pain of being so close to magic, though he felt wizards and witches pass him more than usual. He was back to his dirty self; he was hoping he could clean up tonight and head to the red light district, that was his plan anyway. He clutched on to a half smoked cigarette which he had rolled from the dusty tobacco he had. He needed another pouch soon, but soon he would also have some weed, that would help him feel better. He had shrunk into a tall ball, trying to keep warm as he held his jacket closed with his free hand. A small tin bowl sat in front of, only a few pound coins lay in it. This morning had been slow; he was hoping it would get better. People weren't so giving in the cold weather, they wanted to get to their warm destinations, and of course, they were 'saving for Christmas' so not much could be spared.
Draco pulled a large toke on his fag, looking up bleakly at the passing crowd before looking back down. He felt a strong presence near him. It seemed like a wizard or witch was stopping to donate. He was aware of two people in front of him, both magical, though one was definitely stronger than the other. "Any spare change?" Draco asked quietly, exhaling the smoke from his lungs. "You got a penny for the poor?" He added, still not looking up.
"I think that is mate," One of the people said, and Draco wasn't sure, but he thought he recognised that voice, "Sounds just like him." The person said.
The tingling pain started appearing on Draco's body, but it didn't bother the blonde too much, he had gotten used to the light pain that he felt when around magical people for a while. The one was okay, but two started the pain off, especially when one of the wizards felt as strong as they did. But Draco was getting tired of them just standing there looking at him. "Either you money you can spare, or you haven't!" The blonde snapped, looking up at the two. His eyes widened quickly as he realised he did recognise the voice, he knew them both. And both of them seemed as equally shocked to see him.
"Malfoy?" The famous Harry Potter asked, taken a back.
Draco nodded, "Potter, Weasley?" He questioned back, his voice full of shock.
