Life on the Streets Chapter Two The boy walked cheerily down the street, his dog padding along beside him, "Well, boy," David said complacently, "do you have any idea where we can go? Not an orphanage, mind!" he said firmly, "I want somewhere where I can get a good job and some money." The dog whined at him and continued walking down the street beside him. David sighed, "I can read and write," he mused to himself, "and I taught myself simple mathematics. I suppose I could work in a café, but I'd have to look a bit more posh-like if I war to do that." He grimaced and decided to just follow the dog, who'd pulled ahead, and if they came across some posh clothes shop he'd grab what he needed. Both of them walked, Indian file, through the crowded streets towards the edge of town. David frowned, "Whoah, boy. Where do you think you're going?" he asked, "We live in London, buddy." Whining, the dog continued, and David shrugged, "I suppose a walk in the country would be a nice idea." he said finally, and followed the dog who seemed to give a smile (of the doggy variety). They didn't travel far, before the dog veered off the main road and into a driveway. David followed, tentatively, but assumed that the dog obviously knew these people. It was the strangest driveway he'd ever seen. The garden was barren in some places, but thick and luscious in others. The house itself was rather dull and boring, but David wasn't complaining. If the Dog knew the people, then it was more than likely they'd take him back and offer some food or something in recompense. The dog bounded forwards and David followed at a slow run, "I hope you know what you're doing, dog," he said quietly. 'huh' the dog seemed to say as he turned his face back to David, 'don't doubt me, David. I know exactly what I'm doing,' David rolled his eyes, 'sure thing, buster.' The dog began to scratch at the door, as though he was trying to get inside. David began to get worried, damaging the door could get him into serious trouble and he didn't want to deal with the authorities. Being placed in an orphanage was more than he thought he'd be able to handle. He began to pull the dog away, "come on, boy. You can't scratch the door. That's not polite, and you might get into trouble." "Oh, I don't think that'll be a problem," said a soft, friendly voice from behind David. He turned around to see a thirty year old man with a cheerful face smiling at him from behind a short crop of sandy blonde hair, "I think that I know this dog." "Really?" David asked, "He's been living with me for almost three years. Turned up out of the blue. He's made a really good friend." The man smiled, "That's good to hear. Padfoot is much like that. I'm Remus Lupin, by the way. And you are?" "David." "David.?" Lupin probed for a last name. "Just David," he said firmly, "will you be wanting Padfoot back, then?" he asked, really wanting to get back to town and look for somewhere to stay. "Yes, David," the man sighed, "I'm afraid I will. I was very fond of him before he left." The dog rolled it's eyes and padded inside, Lupin followed him, "would you like a cup of tea, David?" he asked, pulling the boy inside, "just give me a minute to get Padfoot set up in his bed again, and give him something to eat, alright?" David shrugged, "Sure." The older man disappeared around the corner that Padfoot had gone and after a few minutes he heard shouting, "Sirius, this is unbelievable! You can't just waltz in here and expect me to believe your stories!" "Moony! I'm telling you! It's him. Prongs' son!" "Oh, please!" the other man said, "We all know that he disappeared after he was dropped off at the Dursleys!" "Exactly!" the first man said, "Ask him how long he's been on the streets!" "But-" "What harm is there in asking some questions? The worst that will happen is we'll find out he's not who we think he is, and we can set him up somewhere and he can live his life free from any doubt." A man came back in, the one who called himself Remus Lupin, with a three cups of tea and handed one to David. "Here you go," "Uh, Thanks," David said, the word feeling foreign to his mouth, "Who's the third cup-" "Sirius. You haven't really met him, yet." David shrugged, "Yeah." When all three men were sitting down, Lupin turned to the other adult who looked quite haggard and ill, "David," he said, "This is Sirius. An old acquaintance of mine. He's staying with me for the moment. We, well-" "You reminded us of someone we knew," Sirius interrupted, "and we wanted to ask you a few questions, to see if you are him." "But wouldn't I know you?" David asked. "No," Lupin shook his head, "you remind us of his father, who died. The last time we saw this boy was fifteen years ago." David blinked, "I s'pose it's possible, then," he shrugged, "I appeared in the street mebbe fifteen years ago, on April 24th, nobody knew how though." The two men exchanged a meaningful glance and Sirius spoke up, "How did you get that scar on your forehead?" he asked. Shrugging, David sighed, "I dunno. I don't know anything except that I appeared on April 24 fifteen years ago, and that's been me birthday ever since. I don't even know me real name." "What!" "I don't know my real name. Spence gave me David coz he needed something to call me." "Can I see the scar?" the man called Lupin asked. David shrugged and pulled his long hair back, tying it into a loose pony- tail. The two men pulled back, "I'm going to call a friend of mine," Lupin said, "and he's going to find out if you really are who you say you are." "But-" "Just a minute," he said cheerily. David and Sirius sat in silence until there was a 'pop' and Lupin walked back in with two other men. One was old, with a piercing blue gaze and a longer beard than David had imagined possible, and the other was younger but had a sharp, sallow looking face with a pointed nose and extremely greasy hair. "David," Lupin said kindly, "this is Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, they knew the people we think were your parents." "Umm," David was beginning to panic, "look, I didn't mean to be a bother or anything. I really just followed the dog. He seemed to know where he was going, and I thought if this was his home then I'd better return him. I know how it hurts to lose something you love." Snape nodded sagely, "of course you would, Potter." "Yes, I'll be going now," David nodded nervously, "thank you for the tea, Mr. Lupin. Give my love to padfoot and if you ever don't want him, then just send him down Copelan drive and he'll find me." And the boy positively fled from the four men who stared after him in surprise. "Well," said Snape, "I never expected James' son to be quite like that." Sirius blanched, "you would never believe some of the things he's experienced, and done. I'm not surprised he's like this." Suddenly three wands were pointing at Sirius, "You should be in Azkaban!" Snape hissed.