Disclaimer: I do not, never have and never will own Harry Potter or his friends (sniff).

RUNAWAY

Chapter Five

"You have Muggles with you?" James asked, confused. Maddy had just explained that her gang consisted of both Muggles and Wizards/Witches. But, didn't Muggles not know of Witches and Wizards, did they?

"Well, they don't really care. Ya see, 'ayley -Muggle- saws me wigglezin' me wand-tryin' to double some food-I hat to tell her, didin' I!" She exclaimed, "then see went an' told the rest o' the gang. Never liked her," she added after an after thought. "But likes I said, they don't mind; If your on the street, you's on the same boat as us."

She turned left into what looked like an old, red brick apartment building. It was crumbling in places and a few bricks were missing. It looked a like it used to be three stories, but was now only one. "Our latest home." Maddy stated, "come on!" she gestured for him to follow. She lead him through a creaky door, which hid what looked like a lobby, but had been decorated to make it more liveable. A small portable stove was in the middle of the room, with several mismatching chairs surrounding it. About eight beds ( or pillows and thin, holey, blankets) were place in the corner by a shattered window. On one of the beds, a blonde girl about his age (give or take) with a blue woollen hat was lying away from James and Maddy. James guessed she was probably sleeping. In another corner was a dirty fridge that looked like it was fighting a battle to live. A wooden door next to it was carved letters into it saying WC. A pile of dirty clothes were placed next to the beds.

"Alright ev'ry one," Maddy announced to a bunch of people James had not noticed, "I haves an imp'rtant anouncemen' to make. Where's Hayley?" she asked as her brow furrowed, looking around. As if on cue, the door marked WC opened to reveal a scarlet haired girl around James' age. She looked at him, then Maddy, and the first thing he realised was that she was wearing rose-tinted sunglasses, almost hiding her real eye colour, but a small fleck of green made its way through the glasses. "Rig't on cue 'ayley. Now, were was I? Oh ya, we's got a new member: James Potter."

"James Potter?" Asked a Chinese boy with black hair, a shade or two lighter than James', was staring at James in disbelief. Maddy smirked.

"'Mazin', ain't it? James, this is Lin-Kin Shi, sixte'n an' from a age ol' Chinese wiz'din' family." James gave him a small smile, to which he responded by giving a small, adoring whimper. "An' 'im, over there," she pointed to a tall, thin black boy, with hair so long it was in a ponytail halfway down his back. "Is Jack Hank, flirty lil' bugger. Them," she nodded to a boy and a girl, around twelve, with matching black hair and blue hair, with similar features. "Is Oliv'r an' 'Livia, muggle twins, masters in the ar' of thievery." They gave him matching, devious smirks. He made a mental note to watch out for them. Maybe ignore them completely. "'Ere," Maddy continued, pointing to the small girl James had seen before. The girl rolled on her side, exposing a small cut above her deep brown eyes. Her pink clothes were dusty, and she looked ill. James instantly felt an urge to protect her. "Is Nat. Poor girl's went through 'lot. Thrown ou' for be'n a squib." Pity was all James felt. " An' las' bu' not least," Maddy announced, as though eager to get off the subject of Nat. "Sammy 'ere," she pointed to a young ginger boy, who bore a striking resemblance to James' cousin Hugo, was searching through a pack of muggle cards. "'Nuther squib, kicked ou'," her brow wrinkled in thought, "four months 'go"

"And glad of it," Sammy said bitterly.

"Meez well," Maddy agreed, "from what you've tol' me. Anyway, this, James," she turned to face him, her hands spread out above her head for dramatic effect, "Iz your new family."

James gazed around him, looking at the dingy room and the dirty equipment, with bored (an two devious) looking children. And he smiled; This is home, he thought.

Yes, I'm not dead! Just experiencing severe writers block. I hope I still have readers out there…

So, I've been thinking, should I add some romance? If I should, send me some pairing suggestions!

Alas, I must flee...so long fellow readers!