The next day her father slept late into the morning, drunk off of his success and the liquor it had brought. Eponine snuck out quietly, her mother briefly looked up from whatever mundane task she was doing but did not seem to care. As Eponine entered the streets the sun felt warm on her skin, this would be a good day. She headed off towards the public square where most of the boys of the streets congregated during the day; it was the easiest place to find charity from the more fortunate Parisians and the visitors from out of town.
It didn't take her long to find boys running around as if they owned the place. She grabbed the arm of a passing boy who obviously called the street his home and asked him if he knew any Gavroche. The boy turned around expectantly, most likely hoping for some small coin or bit of charity but once he saw that Eponine was not much older than he and no less poor he wriggled out of her grip and ran away. Eponine tried this approach for hours wandering the streets of Paris but the response was always the same.
As it grew darker Eponine was starting to lose hope, she didn't know what to do, it wasn't as if she could go to the police and tell them that she was looking for a lost child. She began pacing aimlessly through the streets that she had covered many times that day. Her feet were starting to ache and the hollowness in her stomach was growing larger than normal. But despite all of this she didn't want to go home, she had told herself that she would find her brother and she wasn't going to go home empty handed.
As she was wandering she saw a group of boys, some of whom looked to be younger than Gavroche and the oldest who seemed to be around Eponine's age. The boys seemed to follow him around as if he were the emperor himself, which seemed appropriate as he did wear an exceptionally large hat. It was unlikely that they knew anything but at this point Eponine was desperate and willing to chase down any lead. As she approached the group 'Napoleon' whispered something to the younger boys and they backed off as he alone approached Eponine.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"My name is Eponine and…"
"I didn't ask you who you were I asked you what you wanted"
"I'm looking for my brother"
"Sorry, I can't help, I don't know anyone who looks like you"
"No wait please" Eponine's voice was full of desperation and something about it made the boy turn around. Seeing that she once again had an audience Eponine continued, "um…his name is Gavroche, he is four, I think he arrived in Paris around three months ago"
"You think?"
"He arrived in Paris three months ago" Eponine said again, trying to sound more sure of herself.
"You don't even know if he is in Paris do you?" asked the boy, giving up on Eponine again.
"No he is here, please I know he is here, he is my brother I just want to make sure he is okay"
"If you care so much then why has it been three months?"
"I…it's complicated…look can you help me or not?" Eponine desperation was starting to turn to annoyance and this Napoleon was not being helpful at all. She decided to try one more time, addressing all the boys this time.
"Please, do you know a Gavroche or not?" One of the boys stepped forward.
"I might know a Gavroche" He mumbled under his breath.