A Child of Black I Harry Potter fanfic

Coming Home

Water splashed as she ran through a puddle. She made a sharp right and then left. The way she ran may seem like random choices to anyone who did not know the streets of London the way she did. She kept her arms wrapped around herself, holding onto the bread that was tucked under her shirt. She took a chance and glanced behind her, the baker was no where in site. She smiled and turned right. She reached the fire escape and climbed up faster than any child her age ever could. She jumped through the third story window and quickly shut it behind her.

She stopped, not daring to even breathe as she listened. No sound came from the bedroom down the hall or anywhere else in the tiny apartment. Once she was sure she was alone, Jamie Black let out a sigh of relief and took out the loaf of bread. She plopped down onto her bed and bit into it. Jamie glanced around her messy room. She would have to start packing soon. September 1st was tomorrow, and she hadn't thrown a single thing into her trunk.

The front door slammed shut, shaking the whole apartment. Jamie quickly stuffed the rest of her bread into her dresser, not wanting to be forced to share. She climbed under her bed, deciding it might be best he didn't know she was home. Orion Ward was not a kind man, especially so when he was drunk. The smell of whisky and the sound of stumbling footsteps told Jamie he was just that.

Her bedroom door opened, and the man stepped into the room. Jamie held her breath. Orion grunted and then left, closing the door behind him. Once she heard his bedroom door shut Jamie climbed out from under the bed and got out her bread.

She finished eating as she packed her things into the old dirty trunk. Maybe this year she could learn a spell to clean up the damn thing. Jamie finally finished packing well past midnight. She decided a few hours of sleep would be a good idea and climbed into her bed.

Jamie jumped at the sound of someone banging on her door. It busted open and Orion stepped into the room.

"Good, you're packed. We leave in ten minutes." He grunted before leaving again.

Jamie scrambled out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. She took a shower, trying to scrub off the dirt of the streets as fast as she could. Keeping Orion waiting was like waiting for a death wish. Barely drying herself Jamie pulled on a pair of semi-clean jeans and an old sweater before dashing into her room and putting on her shoes.

Jamie grabbed her trunk and pulled, causing the handle to break off. "Oh, come on!" She groaned. She grabbed the trunk by its sides and dragged it to the living room.

"What are you doing!" Orion boomed. "Stupid girl, you're going to scrape up the floors!" He shoved her aside and picked up the trunk himself and carried out of the apartment and down the stairs. Jamie got to her feet and quietly followed, ignoring Orion's grumbles on how he should have thrown her out on the streets years ago. Jamie didn't bother to mention that besides being allowed to sleep in a bed she practically did live on the streets.

The walk to Kings Cross Station may be a fifteen-minute walk away, but Orion was most definitely not going to pay for a cab. That would mean less money for his whiskey. So, they walked.

Upon arriving at the station, hot and sweaty, Orion dropped the trunk at the door.

"You have your ticket?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you can stay at the school for Christmas?"

Before Jamie could respond Orion's, hand hit her face. Her right cheek stung but she said nothing, continuing to hang her head.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you," He growled. Jamie obeyed. "Better. Now, can you stay at the school for Christmas?"

"Yes, sir."