Chapter 5: In-Between Places

A/N: Writing this has been a bit awkward (and I'm sure it reads that way too) because Myles doesn't have strong characterization yet (his childhood leaves him in an awkward spot and with gaps of knowledge that aren't as relatable as Harry's, who we share a Muggle upbringing with) and much of the writing so far has been to lead Myles, in a logical way, to Hogwarts. We are finally approaching Hogwarts (the next two chapters are written) and, after this chapter, I think it gets better.

The Auror trainee, Philip, led Myles through the halls of the Ministry. The second floor, which housed the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, had descended into complete chaos. Clouds of paper airplanes flew overhead and wizards with frantic expressions on brooms flew headlong into them, scattering them and sending them reeling into the packed pedestrians.

Myles had always been slightly uncomfortable walking through the crowded Diagon Alley but that was nothing compared to the packed corridors of the Ministry's second floor. It only got worse as they approached the elevators and Myles was pressed in from all sides by the mass of bodies. His breath tightened, his heart began to pound in his chest, and his palms began to sweat. Seeing the faces around him, their expressions made of either panic or urgency, didn't help.

He tightened his grip on Philip's hand, his safety line in this river of people. Philip, for his part, had noticed that the elevators were ridiculously packed. They were still a distance away, and taking the stairs would be as fast as waiting on the crowd in front of them.

Philip led them to the other side of the traffic and they made much better progress by moving in the opposite direction. The crowd began to thin and Myles's heart slowly eased its heavy pounding.

"I've never seen anything like this. It's…." Philip trailed off. Myles didn't know what the Auror trainee had meant to say, but he knew that Philip wasn't really talking to him.

They reached the stairs and began to descend, the traffic dying almost completely after reached the fourth floor. Despite the chaos and overcrowded elevators, few wizards were using the stairs to travel six floors, from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the center of the chaos, down to the Atrium, where most of the magical transportation was.

Philip maintained a quick pace as they traveled downwards and Myles did his best to match him. The Auror trainee looked pained, seeing Myles pushed for breath and trying to keep up, but he didn't slow.

Eventually, they reached the Atrium, and the chaos returned, thought in the wide open room it was spread much thinner. Philip led him away from the mayhem and into a small nearly empty corridor.

"This is the back way to the general office. They'll be able to take care of you." Philip tried for a reassuring smile that was soured by the uncertainty in his eyes. Myles just nodded in response.

They entered the general office, walking past a number of offices and reaching the front, where a plump clerk sat, seemingly unconcerned with the chaos of the Ministry.

"Hello," Philip greeted the woman. "This boy, Myles, needs housing. He appears to be, err…" Philip paused, searching for the right word. "A ward of the state." he finally finished.

"Hmmm…" she said, eyeing Philip's name tag and noting his job. "I'll handle him, you get to work."

Philip looked to Myles and opened his mouth as if to say something, but he shut his mouth and gave him a nod before striding off. He walked with a purpose, forcing certainty in his step despite the fear clinging to him. Myles watched him go, as lost as ever.

"You can take a seat, boy." the woman said to Myles. "We won't be getting out of here anytime soon; we'll wait until the situation dies down. Don't want to get in the way of Aurors and enforcement."

So, Myles sat and waited behind the desk, watching the woman do menial work and the white walls. The chaos just outside, audible but muted by the walls, seemed surreal here at the front desk empty besides from him and the clerk.

Eventually the chaos died down to a manageable level and the clerk led Myles out. He asked about what had happened to cause the commotion but she knew little more than he did, telling him she knew there were a number of raids on manors and institutions but that she knew little else.

Myles was taken to what the clerk called the 'British prepubescent foster home." He didn't know what prepubescent meant, but the words 'foster home' reminded him of the Orphanage.

His worries, however, were for naught. The foster home was simply a house in the suburbs of Wizarding London, located in Greensburg, which the clerk explained was one of the largest residential communities in Britain. The features that made this house a foster home were two rooms, each with two bunk beds, and three children that the owner of the house, a wiry widow with a large nose but kind eyes, cared for.

There were, it was explained, very few unadopted orphans in the wizarding world (though it was implied there were quite a few adopted ones) and those over the age of eleven lived year round at Hogwarts, which Myles, he was told, would be leaving for in only a few days after a ministry official did a magical test on his blood, confirming he was of British descent (free schooling was only provided to British citizens) but revealing little else.

Mrs. Elmer, the widow who ran the house, was nice enough but focused her attention on the other three children, all of whom were years younger than Myles. He would, after all, be leaving the house soon. It suited Myles just fine. He spent his time sitting on the back porch, sometimes reading from Mrs. Elmer's small collection of stories and old textbooks or watching gnomes in the backyard, but often just wondering about the men who had chased him in Diagon Alley, the chaos in the Ministry, Hogwarts, and, most of all, Mrs. Lenore.

A letter arrived for him, delivered by a dark black owl who pecked at the window. Mrs. Elmer opened the window, but the owl flew past her, landing on the chair Myles sat on. The owl dropped the letter above Myles's hand and he caught it.

The address labeled on the front had been crossed out several times, leaving little room for the legible text that described the location of Mrs. Elmer's house. It was addressed to him, Myles, with no surname attached. Curious, and made even more so by Mrs. Elmer's knowing look, he opened the letter.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minevra McGonagall

(Order of Merlin, First Class)

Dear Myles,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I apologize for the lateness of the letter. The Recording Quill, created by the founders of Hogwarts and used to track all potential British students of magic, has been known to err on rare occasions.

Enclosed with this letter you will find a list of all necessary books and equipment. Due to the nature of your situation the textbooks and equipment will be provided on your arrival. Your current guardian, however, will be expected to provide the robes and winter cloak.

Yours' Sincerely,

Filius Flitwick

Deputy Headmaster

"I'll take you to get your clothing tomorrow." Mrs. Elmer told him with a smile.

"Thank you," Myles said, uncomfortable relying on the kindness of strangers. "Can we visit St. Mungos too?"

"Of course we can stop by." Mrs. Elmer replied before spotting Charles at the other end of the table. "Charles, no! Don't put that in your mouth!"

They went to Measely's Pre-Owned Fashion the next day and Mrs. Elmer bought Myles two sets of robes to go with the robes he was wearing, which he had gotten from Malkin's, and a winter cloak. Myles felt even more awkward than he had when Ms. Lenore had bought things for him and apologized as he thanked her. Mrs. Elmer just waved it off, saying it wasn't really her buying the clothes but the Ministry, as they provided her with an allowance to care for each child. In fact, had Myles been paying close attention as she explained that, he would have noticed the widow looked a bit guilty about it and saw the way she redirected their conversation towards St. Mungo's.

Since Measely's was a ways away from central Diagon Alley they passed "Beth's Potions & Healing" on the way. Myles stopped, looking at the shop that now had a sign stating it was closed for emergency reasons. Mrs. Elmer said something then, looking back at him, but Myles didn't hear it so he just shrugged and walked to catch up.

They took the recently added direct ally, "Gunore's 'A Better London Pathway'", from the end of Diagon Alley, just past the Leaky Cauldron, to St. Mungo's, Mrs. Elmer commenting that the spellwork required to make the pathway was "really something." Ms. Lenore, however, was no longer at St. Mungo's. The clerk at the front desk informed Myles that she had left the previous day, having recovered enough that she was capable of taking care of herself. Mrs. Elmer said it was great news, and Myles agreed, though it did little to reduce the guilt and loneliness that tied up his stomach.

Their outing complete, they Flued back to Mrs. Elmer's house where Charles, in a bout of accidental magic, had exploded the sink, leaving the babysitter to, somewhat successfully, staunch the torrent of water the piping had released. Myles stepped out of the chaos by walking outside, his mind on Hogwarts, which the letter and purchased robes finally made Myles's future attendance there feel real.