A.N. Sorry for the long wait here! I ended up moving to France for a job, so I've been pretty busy! I'm still not fully settled in, so be prepared for more waits!

Also, I was warned by someone on AO3 that I have a few errors in the story. I'm gonna have to wait awhile to take the time to look into them - I start my first week of teaching Monday, so I'm going to be busy! Be patient with me!

Chapter 4:

The first time Harry was propositioned, she all but scoffed at them and hurried away, cradling Teddy close to her for the extra warmth. Sherlock's shirt looked much too slutty, and that was what the men on the streets assumed she was.

A few days later, when she was still unable to get food for Teddy and the temperature grew so cold even Teddy was shivering, cocooned inside her shirt, she agreed. She was taken into a dark alley and she sat Teddy down in a dumpster so he wouldn't have to see anything.

It was cold, rough, and dirty, and so degrading, but Harry walked away from it with enough money to feed Teddy for a few days. She swore that would be the only time.

Another few days later, she accepted once more, Teddy hiding in yet another dumpster as she was taken roughly against an alley wall. This guy had a friend, who once the first guy was done, offered to pay her if he could have her as well.

Between the two of them, she was able to buy a blanket to wrap Teddy in.

Three weeks after running from the hospital, she started coughing. She willed with all of her magic for Teddy not to get it and her magic seemed to be keeping him from it.

It was approaching four weeks on the streets this time when the man propositioned her. Teddy was already in the dumpster waiting, so he could stay warm and she could keep him safe. When the man approached her and whispered a deep, "how much?", she'd given him the number and allowed him to drag her into the alley.

He wasn't rough, she noted dully. She held back her coughs, as she usually did. No one wanted her if she was coughing, and she had to be able to afford to feed Teddy.

He finished and instead of pulling out, zipping up his pants and tucking the money into her shirt pocket before disappearing, as they all did, he leaned against the wall, resting his head above hers.

"It's time to go home," he said, voice at a normal volume now.

And she recognized it.

Sherlock.

Her eyes widened and she looked up quickly, eyes meeting his. He was watching her, his eyes calculating. He tucked the money into her shirt, just like they all did, but he didn't pull away.

"Where's Teddy?" he asked her.

"In the dumpster," Harry said, holding back another cough.

Sherlock shrugged out of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, lifting her off the ground as he tucked the jacket entirely around her.

"Wrap your legs around me here. You're freezing," Sherlock told her. Harry dutifully did as she was told. She was used to orders by this point. Sherlock shifted her slightly before moving to the dumpster, swiftly opening it and pulling a wide-eyed Teddy out. Sherlock slid Teddy in between him and her before allowing her to lean her head back right under his chin.

Harry was more or less half asleep as Sherlock climbed into a taxi and took them away. Harry was tired – she could have tried to fight but she didn't have the fight in her at the moment. At the very least, maybe she could get her bag back from Sherlock and hole herself and Teddy up in a hotel for awhile.

The next thing she knew, she was being lowered into a tub, Teddy next to her. Sherlock helped her unbutton the shirt and laid it on the floor next to the tub along with Teddy's clothes before running the water. He then left the room, coming back in a few minutes with clothes in his arms.

Harry seemed to drift off, only waking up slightly when she felt herself being placed in a bed. And then it was only for a few moments before her eyelids slid shut and she curled up around Teddy, fast asleep.

As soon as Harry had fallen asleep in his bed, he dialed Mary's number. Him and Mary had been working together the last few weeks to get Harry back, ever since it became obvious that John's mood would not improve until Harry was returned. Within a week, Sherlock had gone out and bought both Harry and Teddy some clothes, placing them in his own closet so she'd have clothes once he found her and brought her back.

"Hello?"

"Mary. I found her," Sherlock said. Silence filled the phone.

"Was she where we thought she was?" Mary asked hesitantly.

"Yes. She appears to have turned to prostitution to keep her and Teddy alive," Sherlock said, a frown tugging on his lips.

"How did you convince her to come back?" Mary wanted to know.

"I didn't. I propositioned her and once she was done, I told her we were going home. She was cold and tired, and the pneumonia's gotten worse. She knows it. She didn't fight me. I helped her bathe and slipped her into the new clothes before putting them both to sleep in my bed. I'm going to have Molly bring over some medicine for her. Tell John in about an hour?" Sherlock suggested.

"If I tell him in an hour, you can expect him over at the house in an hour and five minutes," Mary warned him.

"See you then," Sherlock finished before hanging up. He called Molly as well and she agreed to bring the medicine over.

He was just about to head back to the room to check on Harry once more when there was a knocking on the door. Sherlock peeked in the room, content to see that Harry was still asleep. Teddy was up, though, and staring at him. Sherlock picked up a marker and wrote, "He's safe. He's with me," on her hand before scooping Teddy up and walking back into the living room.

Standing at the door was a woman and much younger man. Not husband and wife, Sherlock noted. Mother and son. The son was unmarried, appearing to be around twenty. The mother was young as well, a young mother – had the son right out of school. Both were rich – extremely wealthy family. They also seemed uncomfortable in their clothes – as if they were undercover and wearing clothes below their social status.

"Your landlady said we could come on up. You are the detective, yes? Sherlock…Holmes?" the woman asked him. Sherlock nodded, stepping aside. Both walked in, eyeing the place with barely concealed distaste.

"If you don't mind waiting one moment, my son just woke from his nap. I have to get him some food," Sherlock said. The woman nodded, a small smile tugging onto her lips.

"Yes. I do remember that age. Always hungry. Right terrors if they aren't fed as soon as they get hungry," she said. Sherlock nodded, making his way into the kitchen. On top of clothes for them, Sherlock had also gotten all the baby stuff he would need. A high chair and food being part of that. He knew they'd be back sometime – he wanted them to be, so he'd make sure of it. He settled Teddy into the high chair. He quickly found some food and placed it on the tray, not quite sure how to handle it.

He rolled the chair backwards into the main room, sitting down in his chair with the high chair next to him. Teddy stared down at the food dubiously, as if he didn't know what to do with it.

"What are you looking for?" Sherlock asked. They had to be looking for an object. They didn't appear to be searching for a person, unless it was a suspected affair of the husband. The son looked like he'd been through an ordeal lately, but the mother seemed entirely too calm.

"You might want to break the food up smaller. He'll choke otherwise," the woman suggested. Sherlock turned to Teddy, noting that he was tearing up his own pieces slowly.

"He's got it," Sherlock said with a shrug. And he did. Teddy must've seen Harry do it enough and realized it had to be like that for him to eat it. He was a bright child.

"We're looking for someone, actually," the woman said.

"Right, Mrs…." Sherlock drifted off. Most of the time, the people introduced themselves earlier on. Sherlock didn't like having to prompt them.

"Black. Narcissa Black. And this is my son, Draco Black," she said smoothly.

"Wrong," Sherlock declared.

"Excuse me?" Narcissa asked, looking highly insulted.

"Your son's name. It doesn't blend as it would if that were his birth name, and he looked uncomfortable when you mentioned it," Sherlock observed.

"We recently changed both of our names to my maiden name. We were the last branch of the family left and wanted to take it over but had to revoke my marriage to my husband to do so. It was of no concern. We were already wanting to rid ourselves of him," Narcissa said with the wave of a hand.

"This person you're searching for. It's not the former husband?" Sherlock asked for clarification.

"Indeed it is not. We know where he is," Narcissa said calmly. Draco looked uncomfortable at the words.

"Prison," Sherlock supplied. It was a guess, but judging by the looks of surprise on both of their faces it was a correct one.

"Yes. The person we're looking for is…family," Narcissa said delicately.

"Family is stretching it," Sherlock pointed out.

"Yes. It is. We're looking for a woman my son's age, and the child she's in charge of," Narcissa said.

Sherlock's blood ran cold.

"Child she's in charge of? Is it not her child?" Sherlock asked, feigning interest as he tried to figure out where to lead the conversation.

"No. It's her godson. The godson is my nephew. She is not of our blood, but he is. The two have been on the run for over a year and a half now. We only just realized they were not safely hiding away as we had presumed," Narcissa said.

"Why are they on the run?" Sherlock asked. It would be nice to know this information, he decided, so long as he could keep them from suspicion.

"Our…village…turned on them. There was a man who killed a few people, and when he was killed the town started rounding up anyone who was ever near him and arresting them. My son was arrested through this, as was my husband. My son was only just released. The town turned on the girl, though, because she killed the man. I believe they wanted to deliver justice to him themselves. A dear friend of ours disappeared to escape being wrongfully accused, and she disappeared around the same time. We assumed he had taken her with him, but when we contacted him upon Draco's release from prison, we found out he lost her soon after they separated," Narcissa said, hands crossed primly in her lap.

"I have heard of this incident. I heard it was an entire community, in place of a village," Sherlock said. Draco's eyebrows shot up.

"So you've heard about it?" he asked in disbelief.

"A friend's fiancée explained a good deal of the situation to me, yes. This friend of yours. How did he loose contact with her? When did it occur?" Sherlock asked.

"It occurred eighteen months ago. She was sent off to hide in London with a communication device, but when our friend attempted to contact her he found that the communication device had been broken. She had money, but no way of using her identity," Narcissa explained.

"And what do you plan on doing with her upon finding her and the child?" Sherlock wanted to know.

"Deliver her to our friend. He has her identity lined up, and a safe home for her in France. I have been working in the ministry of our community and trying to misplace anything to discriminate her so she can come home to Britain as soon as possible. We just want them safe," Narcissa explained.

"And what are their names? Do you have a photo?" Sherlock asked. Narcissa opened her purse and pulled out a photo, handing it to Sherlock.

There was Harry, smiling at the camera as she held a tiny Teddy up. Only it didn't quite look like Teddy. The child had bright blue hair and brown eyes. Still, most of the facial features were the same as Teddy's.

Which was not a good thing.

Sherlock examined the picture for a moment before looking up at Narcissa, then Draco.

"The child's features are too nondescript to find. He has the same facial features as both of you. But he also has the same features as I do. And my son," Sherlock pointed out, hoping to drag any possible suspicions away.

"Of course he does," Draco said, as if it was common sense.

"What my son means to say, Mr. Holmes, is that it is a very distinctive set of features. You and your son have them because you are also part of the family. Your grandmother, I believe, was disowned for the family due to a certain character trait that developed over time. You have Black blood in you as well," Narcissa explained.

So his branch of the family was disowned, just like John's had been. This was very fascinating. He couldn't wait to start investigating this.

"So this child is actually related to me? The one you want me to track down?" Sherlock asked for clarification.

"Yes. The child is – the girl is not," Narcissa informed him. Sherlock glanced over at Teddy for a moment, noting that all the food was gone and he was sucking on his hand, eyes glued to Sherlock.

"Are you still hungry?" Sherlock asked him. Teddy's eyes went wide and he continued to stare.

"Would you like me get you some more food from the kitchen?" Sherlock tried rephrasing it. Teddy slowly nodded, as if he was unsure if that was the correct answer.

"Pardon me," Sherlock said, hurrying into the kitchen and coming back with a bowl of fruit from the fridge.

"Your son is very well-behaved," Narcissa commented when he reentered the room.

"Yes. He is," Sherlock said, setting the food down in front of Teddy. Teddy started eating, but held out a piece of the fruit to Sherlock.

Sherlock could bet that that was the only way Harry had eaten any food in the last month. And Teddy was smart enough to realize that. Sherlock took the food and, hiding his grimace, stuck the strawberry in his mouth. Teddy seemed content at the gesture and started eating himself.

"He seems very…aware. And concerned," Narcissa added, almost looking worried.

"Unfortunately, I have a habit of not eating when on a case. His mother is similar. Theo's very observant and has decided the only way we'll eat is if he feeds us," Sherlock said.

"Anyway, you never gave me the names," Sherlock pointed out. Narcissa glanced at Draco, who sighed.

"Just tell him their names. He can't do anything if he doesn't know who he's looking for," Draco pointed out, irritated.

"My nephew's name is Teddy Lupin, and the girl is Harry Potter."

The words had only just left her mouth when the door was wretched open, Molly standing there with a stick pointed at them, her bag in the other hand. Both Draco and Narcissa pulled out sticks as well, pointing them at her.

"What do you want here?" Molly spat at them, eyes narrowed on the two.

"It's none of your concern. We were here in disguise. Thank you for breaking the statute of secrecy," Narcissa said scathingly.

"How am I supposed to react? You're dangerous. You were on You-Know-Who's side!" Molly pointed out. Sherlock filed their words away to be analyzed later. What he was picking up on was that the sticks were weapons of some sort. And his gun was across the room.

Teddy was trying to climb out of his seat, Sherlock noticed. He kept an eye on both groups and undid the buckle, settling Teddy on the ground. He turned to fully face the two as a light seemed to come out of Molly's stick at Narcissa. Some other light came from Narcissa's stick, causing Molly's light to bounce off of some sort of shield.

And head straight for an oblivious Teddy.

Sherlock wasn't sure what the light was, but he knew it couldn't be good. He needed to protect Teddy from it. And he couldn't quite do that by jumping in front of it. He needed something to shield them, like what had shielded Narcissa.

Something warm inside of him spread through his body at the thought and the light stopped inches from Teddy, vanishing into nothing. Sherlock was on the floor in an instant, quickly checking to make sure Teddy was alright. He just stared up at Sherlock, as if not comprehending what the big deal was.

"He's a bit young to be producing accidental magic to that degree," Draco said uncomfortably.

"He wasn't even looking. Theo didn't react at all. He didn't do it," Narcissa said, eyes glued to Sherlock.

"Sherlock? What did you do?" Molly asked, her voice small.

"I didn't do anything. I wanted it to hit an invisible shield like what happened to Narcissa, without it damaging Teddy or myself since I had no clue as to the effects of being hit by such a light," Sherlock stated, lifting Teddy onto his hip.

"I thought you said he was a squib!" Draco hissed at his mother.

"Has…anything like that happened to you before?" Molly asked. She was having a hard time getting words out, Sherlock noted.

"Science usually answers any questions I have about the going-ons around me," Sherlock said drily. Molly turned to Narcissa, wand still up.

"What do you mean, you thought he was a squib? His family's muggle," Molly hissed.

"His family is a disowned branch of the Ancient and Noble family of Black," Narcissa said, straightening her back even more as she did.

"That explains the attitudes," Molly murmured before shaking her head.

"Now, I have some questions, if you all wouldn't mind sitting down," Sherlock ordered. The lot of them didn't look very comfortable but did as he said.

"Now, from the information I've gathered, I'd wager that being a squib causes people to be cast out of families in your community. I can't say I know what it is, but it must be similar to that of a Muggle, who has no connection to your community," Sherlock deduced.

"A squib is someone who doesn't have magic, despite being born in a family with magic. A Muggle is someone without any magical heritage and no magical power," Narcissa said coolly.

"Magic?" Sherlock scoffed. Narcissa waved her stick and caused a book on his table to turn into a flower.

"Yes. Magic," she said flatly. Sherlock picked up the flower and started examining it intently. It looked exactly like a flower.

Teddy squealed at the sight and reached for the flower. Sherlock kept it firmly out of reach – only for the flower to float out of his hand and into Teddy's. It wavered slightly but made it to him. Teddy wasted no time in shoving the flower into his mouth.

"No!" Sherlock commanded briskly, tugging the flower from Teddy's mouth.

"What's on his wrist?" Draco asked.

"I don't know. His mother put it on him. Said it stays on," Sherlock said honestly.

"It looks like a suppressant. I'd say a magical suppressant," Narcissa said.

"How long have you known the child's mother?" Narcissa asked suspiciously. She seemed to be making connections.

"She's my friend John's sister. You see how big Theo is. I'd say I've known her about three years," Sherlock said drily.

"And you didn't know Theo could do magic?" Molly asked in disbelief.

"You should know I don't see them often," Sherlock pointed out.

"So she must have magic as well, and is trying to keep it from you. I'd say his bracelet needs updating if he's still able to do magic without it," Narcissa finished.

"John's from a family like mine. A squib family off of a wealthy family – I'd guess they are magical as well, since his father was disowned without John knowing the reason. They died twenty-one years ago," Sherlock said.

All three of them winced.

"So it is connected. Fascinating," Sherlock murmured. He turned to Molly.

"You should go check on Harry. When John gets here, he's going to want to see his sister and we won't be able to get the medicine in her then," Sherlock said. He watched Narcissa and Draco out of the corner of his eyes as he said it. Both sets of eyes widened.

"Not the same Harry, mind you," Sherlock told them. He pretended to think for a moment.

"However, we are pretty certain that she is related to the Harry you're searching for. For a moment I'd thought the photo is of my Harry. This Harry. I noticed in your photo she was wearing glasses. No contacts?" Sherlock asked, mind whirling.

"We don't know exactly what those are," Narcissa said delicately. Sherlock nodded.

"I see. My Harry wears colored contacts. Said she saw someone similar to her years back and thought green would look better on her than her hazel eyes did. So she's recently switched to colored contacts," Sherlock said with a smile.

"That is quite the coincidence," Narcissa said, but Sherlock could see she was not believing him.

About that time, the door burst open once more. John stormed in, Mary following behind him. Her eyes widened at the sight of Narcissa and Draco, even more when she saw the sticks they all had out. Sherlock had deduced by that point that the sticks conducted this magic they spoke of.

And Mary knew about it, yet she didn't pull a stick out. Perhaps she was also from a squib family.

"Where is she?" John asked angrily.

"She's sleeping. Molly's giving her some medicine to get rid of the pneumonia. She'll be fine," Sherlock said. John stared at him, calculating.

"We have a new case," he said, gesturing to Narcissa and Draco.

"What is it?" John asked suspiciously. He assumed Sherlock was trying to switch the subject. And he was. Just not in the way John was expecting.

"Remember when Mary told us about how Harry had a doppelganger that looked just like her in the community Mary was explaining?" Sherlock asked. John's features shut down at the words.

"Yes?" he asked.

"They want us to find her for them," Sherlock said.

"I'd rather we didn't. If she's our cousin, as I suspect, I'd rather not drag her back to be punished," John said drily.

"They claim they're trying to help her into hiding," Sherlock said.

"I'm sorry, but I'd rather we spend our time helping my sister," John emphasized.

"I agree, Sherlock. You may not realize it, but Harry's been through a traumatic time," Mary said gently.

"I do realize it. Her and Theo need time to adjust to living here. After all, no child of mine is growing up on the streets," Sherlock said with a tone of finality. He bounced Teddy slightly at his words. John seemed to catch on quickly to what he was saying. Surprisingly quickly, considering it was John.

"Why were they on the streets in the first place?" Draco asked, eyes drilling into them.

"I made a grave error. Harry is a bit afraid of commitment, what with her father dying on her when she was young. I asked her a question she was not ready to hear," Sherlock said.

"What kind of question?" Draco pressed.

"I asked her to marry me. It was too soon," Sherlock said, shaking his head. He didn't get a chance to act often, but he sure enjoyed it when he did.

"You did what?" John asked, staring at him.

"Do you see why I wouldn't tell you the details?" Mary asked. Sherlock had to admit, Mary was very good at adapting.

"I think we all know you're lying." Narcissa's cool voice cut through the group.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sherlock said, keeping his eyes on her.

"We are only trying to get Harry to safety. Our friend enlisted in our help for this," Narcissa argued.

"As I don't have any proof behind your outlandish theories, I must ask you to leave. I have a soon-to-be fiancée to nurse back to health if I'm in any hopes of making her my wife. Good day," Sherlock said firmly. The two of them reluctantly rose and headed for the door.

As soon as they left, Sherlock turned and all but skipped into the kitchen with Teddy.

"Sherlock, you don't believe that nonsense, do you?" John asked him in disbelief.

"I believe I've got a lot of experimenting to do," Sherlock said gleefully as he held up a hair from Narcissa and another from Draco.