Age of Innocence

~~~~Age Of Innocence~~~~

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~~Croydon, Surrey, UK - December 23rd, 1924~~

'It's been a week Hawkins, where's the fucking dough?' a rough looking man said harshly, his hands wrapped tightly round the man's lapels as he was shaking him.

'I-I-I d-d-on't got it gov...I-I thought I-I had more t-time...' a small man stuttered fearfully, panic in his eyes.

'You thought? It's not you're job to think you piece of shite. I do the thinking round here got it see?' the first man sneered.

'Y-yes gov. Anything you say gov, I'll have it by tomorrow...I swear...' the man said, wincing in pain as the other man shook him again.

'Just so's you don't start 'thinking' again, I'll leave you a reminder what'll happen if you don't got it by tomorrow,' the first man said, and as quick as lightning the sunlight reflected a silver glint as something struck the second man on the cheek, drawing a fine line of blood. With a grunt he let go of the second man, and gave him a cold black eyed stare. 'You got 24 hours Hawkins. I don't see the dough, your wife's going to be picking you out of her tea cup tomorrow piece by piece,' he smirked, and before the other man could answer he'd left the small shop, slamming the door behind him.

'Trouble boss?' a tall, thin jet black-haired kid said lazily, glancing curiously at the shop.

'Bastard's a piker twice over I tell you kid. I bloody well know he's feeding me a line. He's got the dough stored up somewheres, I can feel it,' the man said angrily. Taking out a pack of fags from his waistcoat he lit one up, breathing in a long drag then exhaled it slowly, his cold black gaze eying the shop thoroughly. 'Let's blow this joint Jimmy and get back to the inn.'

'Sure boss. We coming back I take it?' Jimmy Norbury asked as the two men walked over to a motorcar that was parked at the kerb. It was a 1923 Crossley with alterations, and the best motorcar on the market to date. It had wire wheeled tyres, stylish black armour plating that already sported a few bullet holes, and it could hit speeds close to 75 miles per hour making it a perfect gunning down vehicle. The price tag had been dear at nearly £975 after the plating had been added, but well worth the cost.

'Same time tomorrow yeah. He don't got it by then...then his wife'll be enjoying a good cuppa at our courtesy,' the man smirked causing Jimmy to grin broadly.

It was a running joke about the man on the way he operated things. He didn't need a gun to get his point across even though he carried a nice piece, a Webley .39 caliber Mark 4, a 6 shot revolver. Instead his skill lay within his bare hands, temper and the silvery moon-shaped handle shiv that he carried, a gift from an old friend he had told Jimmy. It was ten times more silent and deadly when it was used by this particular person, and he knew how to use it well.

Jimmy hadn't know this man more than a couple of months now, but he admired him greatly for his strategy. He'd found out that the tea cup joke was started almost 16 years back when the man had joined up in the business. Apparently on one of his first 'victims' he had cut off the person's manacle finger and sent it in a tea cup to the person's wife as a message. In the end it had earned him the nickname of "Fingers", and to this day the name was a message of fear for those who crossed him.

As the two walked inside the inn, a voice off the side called out, 'Oi, Fingers, 'bout bloody time ya showed up. I've been waitin' 'ere for 'alf an 'our now.'

The man knew that voice well, one laced with sarcasm and dripping with authority, and right now also touched with impatience. In a non-chalant way the man walked over to the person who'd called him, his expression hard and his gaze dark. He wasn't about to be intimidated by this other man and he was going to make sure the other man knew it. 'What do you want Macnair? I ain't got time to punch the bag with pleasantries,' he said in a cool voice.

Macnair scowled at the dark haired man for a moment then relaxed all of a sudden and gave him a half smile. 'Eh now Black, just thought I'd stop o'er an' wish ya an' the kid a bit o' Christmas cheer an' all that,' he said in a voice that was now way too sweet for the man's liking.

The man, Sirius "Fingers" Black, looked at Aiden Macnair with a scowl so dark that it even surprised Jimmy who'd seen his boss in nearly every mood by now. 'Christmas is a time for saps and I intend to spend it on a toot. Now what the fuck do you want?' he said thickly.

'Temper temper Black, no need ta get into a lather wit' me, save that fer yer 'clients' eh? Lucius just wanted ta know 'ow things were goin' down this way. Oh, an' 'ere's a post from that quiff friend o' yers,' Macnair said whilst taking out a small envelope from his pocket and tossed it over to Sirius who deftly caught it mid-air.

However before Macnair could say another word Sirius had him hoisted off his feet by his jacket lapels, something that the 6'3 Sirius could do easily to the 5'7 Macnair. A look of pure hatred was on his face, and in a voice dripping so thickly with anger he said, 'If I ever hear you call him that again, I'll personally slit you tip to tip got it Macnair? Remus is a hundred times the man you are or ever will be.'

Macnair somehow managed to keep his cool though when Sirius dropped him back down with a thud, straightening his suit and tie with a sniff. 'Whateve' ya say Black. 'E's lucky 'e's survived this long bein' the dope addict 'e is. If it wasn' fer Snape 'e'd 'ave been dead long ago,' he said huffily.

Sirius had to silently agree on that point however there was no way he was going to let Macnair know it. Years ago the rumour got started that Severus Snape, Lucius's right hand man and 'Potion's Master' had began a closed door 'affair' with Remus. It had nearly killed Sirius when Petey had come to him and told him the truth. It certainly had been a shock considering that Severus had been enemies with Sirius, Petey, Remus and James back at school, and that 'relationship' hadn't improved after leaving it. In Sirius's mind even though Snape had improved on his looks over the years until now he was actually quite handsome, he would always be the slimy greasy haired git from Hogwarts that had the attitude of a dungbomb.

What Remus saw in him Sirius didn't know, but obviously there was something. At first Sirius had been angry, confronting Remus because he thought Snape was giving him some mind altering potion to make Remus like him, however Remus assured Sirius that wasn't that case. Now after nearly 12 years of the two of them bedding each other he wondered what it was that Remus and Snape really had. No one ever saw the two of them together at the club or in public, but yet somehow they obviously did find time to be together and enjoy themselves. Only Lucius, Macnair, Sirius and Petey however knew that it wasn't just a rumour, for which Sirius was grateful, he wasn't sure he could deal with anyone else knowing the truth.

'Don't you have someone you can go bump off or at least torture Macnair? I don't have time for this shite,' he scowled now, holding the post tight in his fist.

'As it 'appens no, I don' today. But seein' as 'ow you're not in the mood fer company excep' fer Scarface 'ere, I won' keep ya Black,' Macnair said giving Jimmy an odd look.

Macnair didn't know why but the kid bothered him. It's not that he was anything special, the strange looking scar on his face prevented him from even being handsome, hence why he'd earned the nickname 'Scarface'. It was just that the kid had a gaze unlike anything Aiden Macnair had ever seen, one that made even himself look away at times. The kids eyes had a way of slicing into one's soul, often times cold, aloof, and condemning even. However, it was when he looked at you deeply with that emerald green gaze of his you had to worry, for there was a power in them that could make your blood turn to ice. If Macnair didn't know that the kid was a Muggle through and through, he'd have said the kid was probably even more powerful a wizard than Lucius, if such a thing was possible.

'Beat it then. Jimmy and me got plans and you're in the bleeding way of them Macnair,' Sirius grumbled.

'Plan's eh? Sounds interestin',' Macnair said with a twisted grin.

'You got a sick mind Macnair, he's a fucking kid. I don't play with kids that way,' Sirius said angrily.

Macnair shrugged his shoulders and gave a small shake of his head. 'Ya should find a nice bloke an' settle down Black, do ya some good. Do ya remember when the las' time ya had a good shag was even?' he said lazily, as if discussing Sirius's sex life was commonplace for him.

'None of your fucking beeswax, that's when Macnair. Now bugger off before I make you,' Sirius said threateningly and stepped closer to Macnair with a dark look on his face.

'I don' doubt ya wouldn't at that,' Macnair said with a slight chuckle and turned to face Jimmy. 'Ya got yerself into a right mess when ya decided to 'ook up wit' this bastard kid. Ya certainly picked the wron' sort ta be mates wit'.'

Jimmy looked cooly at Macnair, his green eyes unwavering. 'I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself thanks,' he said in an icy voice.

'Suit yerself kid, don' say I didn' warn ya though,' Macnair said with a shrug, and with a nod at Sirius and Jimmy put his hat on and quickly left the small inn.

Jimmy muttered a cuss word under his breath and turned to Sirius now, a questioning look in his eyes. 'Why do you put up with that wanker boss?'

Sirius sighed and started to head off towards the room the two of them shared on the first floor of the inn. 'Long story there kiddo. I don't like it anymore than you do, but I've got little choice in the matter at the moment. Someday though...someday revenge'll be mine kid, and that wanker along with all of 'em will pay,' he said darkly, though there was a trace of sadness in his eyes as well.

Jimmy didn't say more on the issue and withheld his curiosity, not wanting to upset his boss more. They got to their room and without saying anything Sirius went over, sat on his bed and lit up a fag, though he knew Sirius wouldn't bother to offer one to him. Jimmy didn't smoke like most other of the kids his age, for some reason it just didn't attract him. He could see Sirius was still holding the post Macnair had given him, and knew instinctively his boss didn't want to talk at the moment.

'I'm going to grab some grub, you want anything boss?' Jimmy said now, feeling the need to leave his mentor in peace and quiet.

'Nah, maybe later kid,' Sirius said quietly with a small shake of his head. Looking back up at Jimmy his eyes rested a moment on the kids scar, and for the thousandth time since he'd found the kid he wondered what could have caused such a strange scar like that. However now wasn't the time to get curious, he knew from the start there was a lot about the kid that he wondered if he'd ever find out. Especially why the kid seemed so familiar to him, as if he was a reminder of someone Sirius used to know. Perhaps one day he would try to figure it out, but not now, right now he needed to be alone.

Jimmy nodded at Sirius and without another word left the room, leaving Sirius to his thoughts. He made his way back to the ground floor where a small area was set up with some tea and assorted items like scones and biscuits. The inn provided a free tea time array for it's customers every afternoon, and though they'd only be there for the night, that still made them clientele of the inn. Therefore Jimmy had no problem taking whatever he wanted off the trays and pouring himself a cup of tea.

Taking his things over to a small table far in the back of the lobby, he was grateful no one else was about. Right now, just like Sirius, he needed his time to think on things. It had been almost four months since Sirius had found him lying in an alleyway oddly enough right here in Croydon, and had taken pity on him. He'd been bleeding, tired, hungry and half dead really when Sirius had picked him up gently and taken him to the Children's Infirmary on Elder Road in West Norwood, London.

How he'd survived was really a miracle, or rather a miracle by the name of Annie Elizabeth Healey, a nursing student at the infirmary. She had just started her training there this year, and had taken personal interest in the young half dead boy who'd been brought there by Sirius. She didn't know a thing about who Sirius Black really was at that point, far as she was concerned he was just another Joe who had brought in someone who needed help, and help she did. Jimmy remembered now the fortnight in which he had stayed at the infirmary, shuddering even as he remembered how they had leeched him, given him stinging baths and mustard plasters, stuffed him full of horrible tasting powders and syrups, but thankfully in the end he'd survived. What had gotten him through it all was the soft, sweet voice of Annie, and her loving touch and comfort.

At first Jimmy had recoiled, he didn't like to be touched by anyone, and it had taken days for Annie to get him to even speak to her. When Jimmy had finally decided to talk he knew he had to be careful as to what he said. He pretended he didn't know exactly what had happened to him, claiming he'd been beaten by someone he didn't remember, and even had gone so far as to give her a fake name. He didn't know why but the name 'James' had stuck in his mind over the years, somehow he thought it was his father's name, though he never had heard his father's named mentioned before in the house he'd been living in. It was taboo to mention either of his parent's names actually, and they were only referred to by 'those good for nothing parents'.

He gave her his name as Jimmy, the Norbury part coming from a town he'd passed through near West Norwood, and he hoped Annie wouldn't think that strange. Luckily she didn't, or at least never questioned him further, and by the end of the fortnight they had become very close. He even allowed himself to give her a tiny hug when he'd left hospital, which Annie had taken graciously knowing how hard that was for him. Jimmy still didn't like to be touched even now, and practically fled from anyone who would try it.

Sirius oddly enough had come to call on him a few times during his stay at hospital. They had not quite become 'friends' or anything, but were amiable with each other all told. Jimmy didn't seem to even care that Annie had not really approved of Sirius when she'd found out he was a torpedo. When Jimmy was better and ready to go, Sirius offered a place with him, not doing any strongarm tactics, for Annie wouldn't have let him go if he did, but as a runner of sorts. Jimmy would do light errands and the like for Sirius, and in turn Sirius treated him well, asked no questions, and gave him safety.

Jimmy had now seen the life Sirius led, and though sometimes it did turn his stomach, that's the way it was these days. He'd only met a few of Sirius's 'associates', basically Sirius was a loner and only dealt with Macnair and the man named Snape who sometimes gave Jimmy strange black bags filled with phials of odd coloured liquids. Whatever they were Sirius knew what to do with them, and Jimmy wasn't even sure he wanted to know what happened when those liquids were used.

So far he hadn't even met the two men Sirius Black actually did call 'friends', Remus Lupin and Petey Pettigrew. He knew what they did though, but Jimmy wasn't going to judge them even if Remus Lupin was a dope addict and a male prostitute. There were far worse things one could be in this day and age, Jimmy knew that all too well. They were Sirius's friends though, and obviously meant a lot to him. He was a very very private man Jimmy had found out, and never spoke on his past except in very brief details.

Jimmy knew that when push came to shove, if it ever boiled down to a time when he himself would have to bump off someone he probably could. He had never thought he could do it, and he certainly didn't want to, but in the last few months since he'd met Sirius he had noticed strange feelings growing within him. He would never admit it to Sirius, Sirius would probably think he was going daft if anything and commit him to Bedlam, but Jimmy could feel a 'power' growing, a confusing, conflicting power, and it scared him honestly.

Back at the place he'd grown up in he'd been kept so beaten down in all ways that he wouldn't have noticed it if it had been there. Now however, with his new freedom and being in the life he was leading, it was growing quickly, and he didn't know what to do. Jimmy deliberately kept himself from getting too angry or too emotional because he wasn't sure what this 'power' would do, and the last person he wanted to hurt was Sirius if he did lose it at any time. A part of him though quietly hoped that whatever he was going through he would one day understand before something really bad did happen.

'Oi, dreamer boy, you Black's runner?' a voice drawled now causing him to nearly jump out of his chair.

He'd been so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed anyone had entered the inn, nor that anyone was near him. For half a second he was a bit put off, he didn't want to be bothered at the moment, specially during his tea time, and was half tempted to tell whoever it was to bugger off and that he didn't know anyone named Black. Sensing that whoever it was obviously was in no mood to be kept waiting however, he didn't even bother to look up at the person, keeping his gaze instead at his tea. 'Yeah, and? What do you want?' he said with a scowl.

'I have a message for him, is he here or not?' the person said icily.

Jimmy knew it had only been roughly half an hour since he'd left Sirius in the room now, and most likely he still didn't want to be bothered. Against his better judgement he decided to glance up and see who the person was speaking, since he didn't recognize the voice. He wasn't prepared however for what he saw. As he glanced up into the eyes of the person, another kid actually, he nearly did a double take and his breath caught in his throat.

He was looking into the oddest pair of stormy grey eyes he'd ever seen, in fact the only pair of grey eyes he'd ever seen in his life. For a moment Jimmy got lost in those eyes, their swirling, cloud-like gaze drawing him into a deep pool of random feelings. The odd thing was that those same grey eyes were locked on his now, and Jimmy could feel almost the same thing happening to the other boy, and with a start he blinked his eyes quickly, pulling his gaze back to get a better look at the boy.

It was blatant that this kid was important, most likely the son of one of the big cheeses as the dear custom fitted pin-stripped black Italian suit spoke that out in volumes. A cake-eater despite the fact he was probably not more than 17 or 18 at best, yet he had a maturity that surrounded him. His complexion was without a single mar, smooth though a touch pale, and he had the oddest cross of silvery-white hair. There was a slight smirk on the boy's lips now as he saw he was being observed, one that actually looked good on him.

Jimmy turned away then embarrassed as he realised how he had been scrutinising the other boy. He couldn't help it that this kid made him suddenly think things he probably shouldn't, for as far as he'd always known he'd never had these types of feelings. Not for male or female, but than he'd only had less than four months of freedom to really figure things like sex out. Jimmy knew before Macnair had even made his little comment earlier that Sirius was of the male oriented persuasion in sex, but it didn't bother Jimmy in the least because he was sure he himself wasn't that way. That was, until right this moment.

Blinking to clear his thoughts, he turned his eyes away from the lad, gazing back down into his tea cup again instead. In a voice he hoped was cool enough he said, 'He's here, but he's busy. You'll have to wait or come back later.'

'Hmph, you really expect to keep me waiting eh?' the boy said coldly, his grey eyes flashing with a subtle anger.

'Look, I already told you, he's busy. When he's not busy I can guarantee he'll come looking for me. If you want to see him you'll have to wait 'till he comes and gets me, plain and simple,' Jimmy said back just as coldly.

The boy gazed shrewdly at Jimmy for a moment, then made a decision and sat down with a huff in the chair opposite Jimmy's. For a few moments he in turn gave Jimmy the once over, and a sudden surprised recognition came across his eyes, but it was so fleeting a look that Jimmy wasn't sure he believed what he saw. 'So, you're the one they call Scarface eh? Now I can see why they call you that,' the boy said.

'It's a bloody scar, no big deal,' Jimmy muttered and brushed his fringes over to cover the offending mark. Daring to risk it he looked back up at the boy again and said, 'Who are you anyway? What do you want with the boss?'

Raising an eyebrow at him as if unbelieving that Jimmy didn't know who he was, the boy decided not to answer right away. Instead he pulled out a pack of fags from his waistcoat and lit one up, offering out the pack to Jimmy who declined. With a shrug the silver haired boy put the pack back in his pocket and after taking a long drag said, 'What's it to you what I have to tell your 'boss' eh?'

Jimmy gave him a slight glare and said, 'Cause I don't want him to get more upset than he already is at the moment.'

The boy frowned a moment and looked pensive, then it dawned on him what Jimmy meant. 'Ah yes, that's right, Macnair was here earlier wasn't he. Father did mention it but it slipped my mind I'm afraid,' the boy said taking another long drag and exhaling slowly. 'Those two don't get along too well do they.'

Jimmy snorted. 'As if anyone could get along with that wanker. He's nothing but a high hat who thinks he can step on everyone,' he said coldly.

The boy actually chuckled a bit then stubbed out his fag in an ashtray that had been on the table. 'He's an egg all right, but he's good at what he does. Father thinks highly of him anyways,' the boy said with some amusement.

'You're father must be a right git then to think that,' Jimmy muttered, not even caring what the other boy would do to him if he got lathered up about that.

The boy however didn't get angry, instead he actually laughed at that comment, and Jimmy thought that it was a pleasant laugh for someone who seemed so cold. 'Yeah, my father can be a bit of a git sometimes, but he knows who to trust. Don't know why, but he does.'

'And who do you trust?' Jimmy asked before he could even stop himself.

The boy looked at Jimmy with a thoughtful gaze for a moment then said, 'No one.'

'Not even yourself?' Jimmy asked in surprise.

'Especially not myself. I'm my own worst enemy...but then that's not surprising considering what goes on round me.' the boy said.

'What's that mean? You're just as much a cold hearted bastard like everyone else in this 'business'?' Jimmy asked mockingly.

The boy sniffed and shook his head, focusing his gaze on Jimmy. 'It's the life we lead kid, you know that by now. Being a tough guy is the only way to get the respect. Killing is the only way to solve the problems,' he argued.

'That's a bunch of shite if I ever heard it. How do you expect to survive in this life if you don't trust someone? Killing isn't an answer either, only a temporary solution,' Jimmy argued.

'Think what you want kid, but it's all the same thing. It's easier not to trust, no one gets hurt that way. I don't get hurt that way,' the boy said quietly.

Jimmy was surprised to hear such a soft tone of voice from this cold boy. 'Perhaps you're right. Maybe it's better not to trust....but maybe it's also the worst thing you could do as well,' he said back thoughtfully, and found that without him even wanting to, he was drawn back to gazing into those storm grey eyes.

How long they sat there looking at each other neither knew, but it was clear something far more was going on beneath the surface of the two boys. It wasn't until a loud bang from something outside the inn broke their gaze that they even moved. With a start the silver haired boy gave Jimmy another quick glance, then quickly rose from the chair. He reached into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a letter, throwing it onto the table.

'Give that to Black for me, tell him a reply is expected, he'll know what to do. See you round kid,' the boy said, and started to walk off.

Jimmy eyed the letter for a moment then looked back up quickly and called out, 'Wait, who should I tell him gave it to me? You didn't say your name.'

The boy turned back to Jimmy and there was a strange half smile on his face. 'It's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. And I think I'll be seeing you again soon...Harry...very soon...' he said in an odd voice, and before Jimmy could answer he walked out of the inn.

It took Jimmy a moment till he realised what the other boy had just called him, and grabbing up the letter he fled out the front door of the inn in hopes to catch Draco. However the boy was long gone already, though he didn't see how that was possible. It was almost as if Draco had just disappeared, since he didn't even see any fresh tyre tracks in the snow where there should have been some.

Shaking his head he went back inside the inn, glancing at the letter. It was written in a upright yet elegant hand, probably Lucius Malfoy's own hand at that. Deciding to risk bugging Sirius, he headed back towards the staircase to their rooms on the first floor. His mind was whirling at what had happened, and the feelings that were returning as he thought of the boy named Draco.

As he got to the door of the room he stuffed all those thoughts back however, right now wasn't the time to deal with it. How Draco had known his real name he couldn't be sure, but somehow he had the feeling that Draco knowing wasn't a bad thing. Whatever the case was, obviously knowing who Jimmy used to be was something only Draco knew, and Jimmy found a bit of comfort in that thought. For all the conversation they had just had, it was almost a strange sort of 'trust' that Draco was giving him in letting Jimmy know he was keeping his secret. Without a doubt now Jimmy knew he was going to look forward to the day in which he would meet up with Draco Malfoy again.

He didn't know why, but he had a good feeling that Draco was going to be someone very important in his life from now on. And if anyone had the answers Jimmy had been seeking lately, it was going to be the mysterious silvery-haired boy.

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Ahh...vocabulary time! :grin:

piker - a coward or a cheapskate

feeding me a line - giving a false story

shiv - a knife

manacle - wedding band/ring

punch the bag - small talk

sap - a fool or idiot, very common word in the '20's

on a toot - a drinking binge

get into a lather - get worked up/angry

quiff - a slut or cheap prostitute (no wonder why he got so angry eh? Poor Remy)

bump off - kill off

beeswax - business (as in none of your business)

Beat it - pretty much what it sounds like...move along, get lost type thing

wanker - err....pretty much what it sounds like heh...not a nice term nope

torpedo - a hired thug or hitman

dear - expensive

cake-eater - lady's man

high hat - a snob

egg - a person who lives the big life

The Crossley was a well built top of the line British Motorcar back in those days, starting at roughly £850 on up depending on extras. They also built racing cars.

The Webley was a classic gun of the times in Britain as well. Easy to use and 6 chambers made it convenient not to have to keep reloading incase of a miss aimed target.

The Children's Infirmary, Elder Road in West Norwood and Annie Elizabeth Healey were real. Annie started her nursing in 1924 there and left on 5.10.1927. From there she went on to her SRN training on 21.10.1927 and finished her training on 21.10.1930. Hospital conditions were horrid at that time, and practises such as leeching were still commonplace. Anyone who'd like to read the article I found on her is free to visit http://www.internurse.com/history/oralhistory/oralhistory.htm it's halfway down the page.

Bedlam was actually named St. Mary's of BethlehemHospital in London. It was considered even back in it's heyday a 'tourist' spot in respects. For a penny people could walk in and view the 'inmates' or 'lunatics' and tease and taunt them to no end if they wanted to. To be put in Bedlam was considered the last resort for most, once you went in, you didn't check out normally.

Today Bedlam is part of the MaudsleyHospital, and in far better conditions of course. However even today mental illness is sometimes shunned and considered a stigma, and for those who suffer from it, it can be just as bad as living in 'bedlam'...with little hope for a way out. Even today there are places where we lock in people who aren't 'normal', shutting them aside from the world behind gates and locked doors, stuffing them with medicines that create more harm than good. In some views we've come no further to helping and treating those 'lunatics' then we were centuries ago sadly.