A/N: Hello, fellow readers! I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to update in about a few days (10 to be exact). I hope you enjoy this long chapter!
Chapter Seven
Sirius realized that he was beginning to know no other way of living, than life on the streets.
He and Regulus were familiar with the different places that they could spend the night, without raising suspicion.
Their makeshift homes only lasted for several days, and they were far from snug.
Alleyways and public parks were always a popular destination. Unfortunately, the cold air was often bitter and harsh.
At one point, Sirius pulled Regulus into a public loo. The two boys used massive heaps of toilet paper to create a makeshift bed for Regulus. Sirius, meanwhile, sat on the sinks, keeping a lookout, as Shadow lapped at the toilet water.
It was Regulus who finally found the perfect hideaway. The young boy was chasing Shadow down the street, when the latter suddenly darted beneath a boarded up door of a rundown building.
Regulus immediately followed, crawling beneath the gap.
"Regulus, get back here!" Sirius ordered, frantically.
He looked around, making sure that no one had spotted them. Finally, he ducked into the building.
He was thrown into complete darkness. He groped around, before finding a light switch. He turned it on, and found that they were in a large room. A thick layer of dust covered the furniture and tacky floors.
Sirius eventually realized that they were standing in the lobby of an abandoned hotel.
"Blimey," he whispered.
Regulus started forward, but Sirius caught his shoulder. It was clear that the rest of the hotel was rundown and inhabitable.
Only the lobby remained in tact, though dustily so.
Regulus noticed a stack of lumpy, stained, mattresses in the corner. He pulled two out, grinning.
"This place is perfect!" Regulus cried, "No one will ever find us, here."
"I suppose not," Sirius agreed.
True to Regulus's statement, the boys spent the rest of their winter nights in the rundown hotel; coming out, only to retrieve food or news of the world.
Food was another large issue, but Sirius and Regulus were becoming skillful in the art of pick-pocketing. Their integrity was lost, but they did what they had to, in order to survive.
At long last, the trees began to bloom, and the grass began to grow. Sirius was beginning to feel optimistic about their situation. It wasn't ideal, but they were making the most of it.
Things were looking up.
Unfortunately, what goes up must also come down.
It's for this reason that Sirius wasn't surprised, when he woke up one morning, to Regulus's sniffling.
The poor boy's nose was runny, and he looked green with nausea. Sirius carefully put a hand to his brother's forehead. He felt feverish.
Sirius sighed, sympathetically. He opened his satchel, and was dismayed to find that the potions were expired.
Sirius gently led Regulus's over to one of the mattresses. He tucked his brother in, tenderly.
"Regulus, listen to me," Sirius said, softly, "I need to leave for a few minutes."
"You're leaving me?" Regulus lifted his head, horrified.
"No," Sirius said, sharply, "I'll never leave you, Reg. I just need to run a few errands. You're too sick to come with me."
Shadow pushed past Sirius, snuggling up next to Regulus.
"I'll be back within the hour," Sirius promised, "I need you to stay here. Don't answer the door for anyone, and don't talk to strangers."
Regulus looked confused, "Sirius, the door's boarded up and there's no one in here, other than us."
"Right," Sirius said, heat rising to his cheeks, "Get some rest, bro. I'll be back."
Sirius threw on his cloak, pulling up the hood. He shot his brother a worried look, before ducking out into the streets.
Sighing, Sirius set off across the city.
He walked into a dusty pub, nodding at the bartender. He then casually walked out into the courtyard, and waited for an older wizard to tap the wall.
The wall opened up, revealing Diagon Alley.
Sirius kept his head low, and stuck to the shadows. He knew that this place was dangerous. The Black's were immensely known in the Wizard World, and if anyone spotted Sirius, it would be trouble.
This was why Sirius had ensured that he and Regulus had stayed in London.
Sirius slunk into the Apothecary, taking several Pepper-Up Potions to the counter.
The storekeeper stared at him suspiciously, before accepting Sirius's money.
It was only when he gave a large exhale, that Sirius realized he was holding his breath. He quickly snatched the vials, racing out of the store.
He leaned against the wall, for several minutes, watching the hustle and bustle of the city.
He was about to leave, when he heard a sharp cry.
A boy was racing through the streets, being chased by several thuggish looking men. The boy looked both terrified and exhilarated.
They were coming towards the Leaky Cauldron. Sirius hesitated, taking in the stack of decorative cauldrons next to him. He leaned against them, causing the pile to topple onto the cobblestone road.
When the dust cleared, Sirius saw that he had divided the street. The thugs were on one side, and he and the boy were on the other.
The boy looked at Sirius, in awe. Sirius quickly pulled his hood back up. He shuffled into the pub, and back into the Muggle World.
He leaned against a streetlamp, measuring his stupidity. So much for lying low, and not drawing attention to himself.
He sighed, turning around, and found himself face-to-face with the boy.
"Thanks for that, mate," the boy said.
"No problem," Sirius said, quietly.
He went to walk away, but the boy was persistent.
"I haven't seen you around here, before. What's your name?"
Sirius stopped, "You don't know who I am?"
"No?" the boy said, confused, "Why, should I?"
"No," Sirius said, relieved. He hesitated, before holding out his hand, "M'name's Sirius Black."
"James Potter," the boy grinned.
Sirius returned the smile, half-heartedly, "So, what did you do, anyway?"
James snorted, "I threw a Dungbomb at them."
He held up the small prank-device. Sirius stared at it, longingly. There had been a time where he had at least half a dozen Dungbombs in his pocket.
That was, until one accidentally detonated at the breakfast table.
Sirius absentmindedly touched his arm, remembering the beating that he had received.
"Are you okay?"
Sirius shook himself out of his flashback, noting that James was staring at him with concern, "I'm fine."
"Do you feel up to an ice-cream?" James said, bracingly.
Sirius shook his head, "I haven't any money."
"It's my treat," James reassured him, "After all, you saved my skin."
They went to a Muggle vendor, buying two cones.
Sirius hesitated, before whispering, "I hate to ask you this, mate. Do you think that I could have a small cone for my brother? I'll pay you back, of course."
"No problem," James grinned, purchasing one.
Sirius stared at the frozen treat, practically drooling, "Blimey. It's been years since I've had an ice-cream."
"Your parents don't take you?" James asked, baffled.
"I haven't got those," Sirius muttered.
James gasped, "I'm sorry, mate. I didn't mean to…"
"It's fine," Sirius sighed, "I suppose I best be off. My brother's sick, and he needs some Pepper-Up Potion."
"Where is your brother?" James asked, quietly.
"He's resting at our hideaway," Sirius said, quickly, "I've never left him alone before, which is why I need to get going."
Unfortunately, he couldn't ignore how James's eyes widened, "Blimey! You two have your own hideaway? Can I see?"
"No," Sirius bit.
James looked hurt, "Hey, come on. You can trust me."
And for some reason, Sirius did, "Oh, alright then. You can't tell anyone, though."
James nodded, and followed Sirius through the city. They finally stopped outside the rundown hotel.
"Wicked!" James grinned, as Sirius helped him through the small hole.
Regulus was still in bed. His fever appeared to be broken, but he still looked simply miserable.
"Sirius, where have you been?" he bleated, before spotting James, "Oh, hullo."
"Hi there," James said, almost diffidently.
Sirius crossed over to Regulus, helping him to his feet.
"You've been gone for over an hour," Regulus whimpered, "I was afraid that something had happened. I thought that you had left."
Forgetting that James was there, Sirius pulled his brother into a tight hug, "Regulus, I promised you that I wouldn't ever leave you."
James stared at the two boys, in wonder. Shadow nudged him, and James crouched down, petting the dog, lovingly.
Sirius let go of Regulus, before handing him the ice-cream.
Regulus stared at it, hungrily. He wolfed it down, getting more on his face than in his mouth.
Sirius laughed, then pulling a vial out of the satchel, "Here you go, little brother. Drink up."
Regulus wrinkled his nose, but took a large swig.
"Not all at once," James said, hastily.
It was too late. Steam rushed out of the poor boy's ears and nose.
Sirius and James laughed at Regulus's perplexed look. Within moments, the steam had cleared, and Regulus was looking like his old self.
"So, you two live here?" James finally asked, looking around.
"Just in the lobby," Sirius explained, "The rest of the hotel is nearly caved-in."
James looked horrified, "Is it safe?"
"I reckon it's safer than living on the streets," Sirius shrugged.
James nodded, but still looked troubled. He turned to Regulus, "Are you sure that you don't want to go to a doctor, mate?"
Regulus shook his head, frightened of the thought of a doctor.
Sirius suddenly had an idea. He pulled the familiar book out of his satchel, "The only doctor he needs is Doctor Seuss."
James grinned, "Hey, I know that book! My mum used to read it to me."
Sirius raised an eyebrow, "Your mum's a Muggle?"
James snorted, "No, we've been purebloods for centuries. My mum just enjoys Muggle literature. Do you mind?"
He took the book, opened to the ribbon, and began to read:
Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!There are points to be scored. There are games to be the magical things you can do with that ballwill make you the winning-est winner of all.
Regulus slumped against Sirius, in a heavy doze. Sirius tried to keep his own eyes opened, but they were as heavy as lead.
Slowly, he allowed them to droop.
The lobby was dark when Sirius's eyes flew open once more.
For a moment, he wondered if everything had been a dream.
Then, he saw the empty vial of Pepper-Up Potion. Next to it was a box, which contained everything from Galleons to food to new robes.
A note was next to it:
Sirius & Regulus
I know that you two will end up going places beyond anyone's imagination.
Hopefully, this will help with your next adventure.
I'll see you soon.
Really soon,
James
Sirius smiled, laying back.
He allowed his dreams to take control of him. For in his dreams, he could, in fact, go beyond anyone's imagination.
A/N: James will be back, folks. Not for another few chapters, though.