Chapter 5: Home
Bobby spent the next three weeks just getting by in London. She spent nights inside a trash bag when it rained to stay dry, thankful that the weather was warm again. She stole food and asked for it behind restaurants, becoming a regular at Gianna's, an Italian place. She searched for any hint that there was a community that existed like the one in Manchester—just a few kids who stick together to make it. It would be nice to have something like a family again.
She thought of Jack, Gaby, Fatz, and Wes, and her throat ached. She hated being all alone.
After three weeks, she was sitting in her trash bag when a stranger told her about house that let kids sleep in the basement. She ran, but was too late to get a spot on a bed and curled up in a corner. In the morning, she heard a toilet flush and waited until the teenage boy left before going in herself. She carried in her backpack, used the toilet, and washed her face.
Someone knocked on the door, only as a warning since he walked right in. He was maybe a year or two older than she was.
"Hullo," he greeted her before starting to take a piss. She looked away, embarrassed.
"Morning." She tried to get her hair to lie flat.
"Yeh're new." He said, before flushing.
"First night here, my name's Danny." She decided that there were other names that could be both girl and boy names and that she ought to use one. Like, Charlie for Charlotte, Danny for Danielle, Sam for Samantha, or Joe for a number of female names. She chose Danny at the last minute.
"Peter. Yeh planning on living here or yeh just a one off?"
"I'm on my own, so I'm looking for a permanent place. Are we allowed to shower here and stuff?"
"Yeah, there's soap and shampoo, usually someone nicks some and replenishes the stuff. There are plenty of towels to use. Just grab one." He gestured to the number of towels hanging on the door and the bar across from the toilet.
"There is a second bathroom in the backroom. Just don't be too greedy with the hot water."
She nodded. "Thanks."
"We usually have someone grab a pizza or something each night, think you're up for it?"
"Sure, for how many?"
"Usually two larges will do. See you around six then?"
She nodded.
"Enjoy the shower, yeh need one."
The next day, it rained and Danny found Peter playing video games on the main floor with two other boys, who looked a little younger and closer to her age. She met Sam, short for Samir, who ran away from his Uncle just last year. Winston, who was dark-skinned and as short as she was, hung out at the house while his mother worked and went away. When she asked where he just shrugged.
She had never played the game but caught on after a few tries and jokes made at her expense. She glared and kept working at it, surprised at how quickly the day went by.
"I'm hungry," Winston said after they had finished a level. "Let's get some food?"
"What do yeh have in mind?" Peter asked, the oldest of the group. She learned that his mother had lived there and when she died, her housemates tried to take care of him.
"I nicked a few soup cans yesterday," she offered. Winston's nose scrunched in distaste.
"I'm a growing boy, I need real food."
She offered an alternative: "This Italian place, Gianna's, gave me pasta when I asked at the backdoor."
"Huh," Peter said. "I never thought to do that. What if they call the police?"
Danny shrugged, "Run."
The four boys went to the back of the restaurant and Danny stepped forward when a young man exited.
"Hullo, do you have any leftovers tonight?" The man noticed her and waved, "How's it going?"
She shrugged, "Hungry again."
"Yeah, that happens. I'll see what I can find... who's that?"
She waved at the other three and they stepped out.
"This isn't a charity, kids. Four of you?"
"Whatever yeh can spare, we'd appreciate it." She told him.
"Wait here."
They waited for what seemed like ages, playing thumb wars and bragging about video games.
She heard a whistle and the young man was carrying a bag with four to-go containers. She ran up to grab it and thanked him, he nodded and told her to scram.
The four enjoyed a big dinner of various pasta dishes and Danny felt that she had proved her value.
Another rainy day, Danny told a version of what happened to her, including the men who tried to kidnap her in Manchester.
"You set them on fire?" Peter asked. She shrugged and decided to show off her powers. She cupped a fire in her hand and watched their faces.
"How did yeh do that?" Sam asked.
"I don't know, the first time, it was an accident. But I finally got the hold of it and I can set things on fire like that," she snapped a finger.
"What else can yeh do?"
"In desperate times, I've made other weird things happen, but nothing I've been able to control."
"Wow, you're like, superhuman."
"Or maybe an alien," Peter offered
"Yeah, did your parents have powers?"
She shrugged.
"I— I don't know anything about my parents. I'm— I actually don't have any memories until like, not even a year ago."
"Wicked!"
"How is that wicked?"
"Don't you see? This is how superhero movies start! You're like, Superman or something."
"Or, maybe you were bit by something, like Spiderman."
"Maybe you're a demigod."
"Or a science experiment gone wrong, so they had to wipe your brain and get rid of you."
She looked back and for the with each suggestion, not sure what to make of them.
"Maybe before this, yeh lived in outer space or something." Danny didn't really know, he could be right, so nodded.
"So, what are you going to do about your powers?"
"I don't know, all I can do is make fire."
Next time they saw Winston, he was equally amazed. "She's an alien." Peter told him.
"Really?"
Danny showed off her new fire trick and blew it out her mouth.
"Danny the Dragon," Winston called her and the other two repeated it. "Danny the Dragon!"
"No one is ever going to mess with us," he said.
The four made mac and cheese that night and played video games until late in the morning. Breaking a rule, they slept on the couches and laughed as Winston started snoring.
Two weeks later, the clock chimed, indicating a change of Ariana's hand. Ginny ran into the kitchen. The new chiming feature was added by a magical carpenter. The hand now settled on "Home." Ginny ran to the front door and searched the house, calling her name.
"What is it?" Harry asked, running down the steps.
"Aria's home! Aria!" She shouted again.
They looked around, but nothing.
"Maybe she's found a new home," Harry offered. Ginny shook her head, "She's here, she has to be here." She started searching cupboards in the kitchen.
"Gin, she's not hiding with the china." Ginny collapsed in a heap on the floor, sobbing. Harry's eyes pricked with tears too. He had failed Aria, failed his family. He knew that she was missing because of him, because someone wanted to hurt him. Aria's twin sister, Lily, whom she looked nothing like, was now crying in the doorway.
"Aria's not home?" She asked Harry. Harry scooped her up, taking in how very small and fragile she was, and how she was wholly unable to take care of herself. She hoped that Ariana was safe at a new home, well-fed and taken care of. It was the most he could hope for.