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Snow on the Sidewalk
Chapter 4
Sirius walked slowly with Regulus trailing behind him as they made their way through the alleys toward the suburbs. They had been on the streets for months, shelter was hard to find and food even more so.
With the realization that winter was coming fast Sirius knew he couldn't take care of both Regulus and himself. Trying to think of what to do without letting Cygnus know they were still alive, Sirius had spotted a lovely muggle family. They immediately caught the boys attention two daughters, a mother and a father walking along past the shops. There had almost been a glow of warmth and love around them; Sirius began to make a plan. A plan that depended on that family.
Sirius followed them and discovered to his delight that they lived not far away in the London suburbs that he and Regulus were now heading to. It was dark and they stuck to the alleys and shadows to keep from being seen. Sirius looked around cautiously to make sure none of the neighbors were out, then he lead Regulus to the front step.
"Ok Regulus. You're going to stay here for a while, you understand?" By the look he was given Sirius could tell his brother didn't understand at all.
"No." The boy pouted and held on to his sleeve. Sirius sighed, took the smaller boys hand and held it in his own. "I don't want to leave you Reg...but it will be cold soon and I can't take care of you anymore. I've been watching these people there really nice. I promise you'll be happy here." When Regulus shook his head and began to cry Sirius sat beside him hugged the boy and searched for the warmth within himself he knew was his magic. As he concentrated he felt Regulus get heavier as he grew tired. Sirius laid the boy on the stoup and took out the note he had written on old newspaper and placed it in his brothers hand. After doing so he ran out to the road and grabbing the biggest rock he could find he threw it with all his strength an shattered a window. Not waiting for any thing else he ran as fast as he could through the allies and back towards the heart of the city.
Christopher Evans shot up in bed when he heard the glass shatter. Grabbing his old baseball bat he hushed Samantha and made his way quietly down the steps, passing the girls room where he was unsurprised to find Lily, only five-and-a-half but standing bravely in front of her sister with an old doll as a weapon. He smiled and knelt down to the girls level "You two stay up here, ok? Don't worry every thing will be fine," he whispered as he smoothed down the frightened Petunia's hair. Lily nodded and with a determined expression continued to wield the poor little doll like one would a mace. Quietly he continued down to the sitting room where the noise had come from. All the time he was aware how eerily silent it was. After searching and finding only a stone on the floor he angrily made his way to the door threw it open, and nearly tripped over the child sleeping there. "Chris, what was-oh..." Samantha walked over and picked the boy up. He woke and sleepily rubbed his eyes as he shivered a little, noticing the note he handed it to Samantha.
Unfolding the letter Samantha rocked the boy back and forth as she read the childish scrawl aloud:
"Sorry about your window. I didn't know how else to get your attention. Please take care of my little brother. Our Mum and Dad died recently and I can't take care of him myself anymore especially now that it is getting cold. And please don't tell anybody. I can't say much but someone is after us and he'll hurt him if he finds him. I brought my brother here because I figured he would never look where muggles are. Thank you."
Samantha looked at her husband who could only shrug just as confused as she was. Holding the boy close to her she stepped in side, soon followed after by Chris who went to the telephone and called the police. After months of searching and finding no traces of the boy's family, Samantha and Chris had decided to adopt the boy. Whoever had written the letter to them that night had never been found, though Samantha kept the letter in hopes that if the boy they decided to call Reggie wished to find his biological family some day the letter might help.
Samantha smiled as she watched her children playing. Lily had taken to Reggie right away though Petunia seemed indifferent to the boy. She hoped it was only a phase, as Petunia hadn't liked Lily at first either and the girls constantly argued still. She was a little surprised at how fast her youngest daughter and the boy had bonded. It seemed like the two had some secret they kept between them. Turning to finish washing the breakfast dishes she never saw Lily her brows furrowed in concentration levitate one of her dolls off the floor, nor did she see the smile the two children shared afterward.