Age of Innocence

~~~~Age OfInnocence~~~~

~~~~Chapter Six: What Comes Round Goes Round~~~~

~~Godric's Hollow, Wales, UK - Oct, 31st, 1908~~

'Oh...oh no...no...no...can it be true?' a female voice said in a hushed tone, a sob issuing from her lips. 'Are they...really...gone?'

'Yes...I'm afraid so. There is nothing more we can do now. It is a good thing that the item Voldemort sought was not here. I wonder however whom he trusted enough to take it?' a man's voice said curiously as he gazed sadly down at the body of a man with short messy black hair.

'Yes, I wonder on that myself. I suppose now we might never know, I just hope it is safe wherever it is. What of the child though? What will become of him now?' the woman said quietly as she gazed down at the small angelic looking boy that was sleeping in her arms.

'He is going away from all of this. He will never have to know the horrors of what has taken place this night,' the man sighed.

'Is that wise? He will be a hero to our people...is it fair to deny him that right?' the woman asked in surprise.

'Time and circumstances will make people forget who he is, and that is what is needed now. There are new threats on the horizon, the child is not safe as long as he stays in our world. No, I fear this is the only option. He will go to the Muggles,' the man said quietly but firmly.

'And what happens when his powers start developing? Then what? Who will be there to help him learn?' the woman asked.

The man gazed down thoughtfully at the sleeping child, a sad smile on his face. Closing his eyes he put his hand on the boy's forehead, right on top of a jagged wound that now resided there. The man muttered a few well chosen words then, words unknown to the woman but were clearly in an ancient tongue. The boy's wound glowed slightly and the man pulled his hand back drained. The child didn't wake but seemed to sense something and gave a tiny cry of pain before settling snuggly back into the woman's arms. Opening his eyes the man said in a soft voice, 'When the time comes only the combined power of truth, love and friendship will be able to help him. He is the bearer of an ancient magic, but I have no doubts such a time will come in which it will manifest itself. Until then it will be his protection.'

'And when will that time be?' the woman asked softly, gazing down lovingly at the child.

'He will know when that time comes, and then we shall be there again to guide him. Now we must leave, the Aurors will be here shortly, they must not know the boy survived. Only his family and ourselves will know that he lived, and I'm sure they will never reveal it,' the man said. Oddly enough he glanced off at something in the distance, almost as if he thought he saw something there, but wasn't sure.

'From what I remember I doubt that will be a problem. They are the worst sort of Muggle's I've ever laid eyes on. How that woman could be related to...to,' the woman began scornfully, but she was unable to finish her sentence as she glanced at one of the bodies nearby, her eyes softening and misting over again.

'It is not our place to judge. It is not her fault she was not blessed with the same gifts, and therefore was jealous of her sister all these years. Time cannot heal all wounds. Come, we must go now,' the man said, and led the woman and child away.

The woman however turned back to gaze upon the rubble of what was one the proud ancestral home of the Gryffindors. With a tear in her eye she held the young child close and whispered, 'May you never know what your parents were child, only that in the end they realised their errors and sacrificed everything for the hope of a better world....'

As the man, woman and child disappeared into the night they didn't know that there had actually been another person at Godric's Hollow. Another pair of eyes had been watching everything, and waiting to see what would happen. When the three had silently left, the man stepped out of the shadows to reflect on what he had seen and heard. The people who now lay cold and motionless on the ground what was left of the house had been foolish this man thought, but not without good intentions. Though they had not quite been friends, the man had shared a common interest with these people who had defied the Dark Lord.

Taking a small package out of his robe he untied the rope string and unwrapped the item carefully, his dark eyes glittering at what was revealed. Rubbing his fingers delicately over the shimmering object he sighed, it seemed a pity that the two people had lost their lives for such a thing, even if it was worth far more than it appeared. Carefully folding back up the item he placed it inside his robe pocket and stepped back into the shadows as the Aurorsbegan to descend on the Hollow.

With a last glance at the ruined home the man made a vow, one he had every intention of keeping. He was not going to wait until the 'right time', rather he would start protecting the boy who'd been taken away now. He would do it not for himself, but because like the child's parents, he also believed there was still hope for the future. A hope for peace and to make things right again, and he knew the child was going to be a key player in achieving that.

Saying a final silent farewell to the two people within the home he Disapparatedback to whence he came from, content in the knowledge that the last of the Gryffindor bloodline was still secure. For now he had plans to make, and though it would be incredibly dangerous they had to be done. In the future, when the time came, he alone would tell the boy what really had happened on this fateful All Hallow's night, even if the others chose to gloss it over. Sometimes the most valuable lessons in life are the harshest ones, something this man knew all too well.

In the meantime he would do what he could for the child, for unknown to anyone, he too knew of the Muggle's location where the child was now headed off to. The man wasn't a master of subterfuge, lies and deceits for nothing. Yes...he too would be watching...waiting...and secretly helping...no matter how long it would take.

~~Gravesend, Kent, UK - Dec. 24th, 1924~~

'Boss? You all right?' Jimmy said quietly, concern in his voice as he watched Sirius.

Sirius only grunted and tipped back the drink he'd been holding, or more or less, had been staring into for the past five minutes. 'Fine kid, wha' makes ya thin' I'm no'?' he said gruffly, his slurred words clearly showing he was already well past drunk now.

'Err, well that's your ninth drink tonight boss, that's all. You don't usually drink this much at one shot,' Jimmy said nervously. He didn't want to get this normally quick-tempered man upset, but he was getting quite worried about him now.

'I tol' ya I'm fine kid,' Sirius said thickly, and motioned the bartender to bring another drink his way. 'What s'matter...bloke can' get a lil' bent durin' the fucking holidays?'

'Only when they got nothing better to do then feel particularly grummy on Christmas Eve for something that wasn't his fault,' a voice said sarcastically from behind the booth.

Without even batting an eyelid Sirius snorted and turned towards the person who'svoice they'd heard. A person who was now coming round the booth and staring Sirius straight in the face, with a none too happy look at that. 'Tak' it yago' a beef wit' this Petey?' Sirius said harshly and glared at the smaller man.

'As a matter of fact I do, Sirius. It's not getting you nowhere to keep doing this to yourself. When are you going to stop blaming yourself and end this shite?' Petey said glaring right back at his friend.

'When Hell freezes ove', good 'nufffor ya? Beat it, I ain' in th' mood for ya lectures tonigh',' Sirius growled, though he turned his gaze away from his friend almost guiltily.

Petey sighed deeply then shook his head sadly before turning to Jimmy. 'Take a hike for a little while kid. This is 'tween me and him right now. In fact...' he said then brought out a gold money clip, took out what seemed like a lot of notes and threw them on the table, 'go and find yourself something to do for a couple hours. I'll make sure he gets back to the Yard safe and sound, promise.'

Jimmy knew now this was Sirius's friend Petey Pettigrew, one of the only two friends Sirius really had. Wearily he eyed the pounds then Pettigrew, debating what he should do. Turning to Sirius, who now had his tenth drink in his hand, he gave him a questioning look. 'Boss?'

Sirius tipped back his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then made a small grunting sound again. 'Get a wiggle on kid, tak' th' jack an' scram. No reason ya hav' ta be stuck in a juice joint wit' a couple o' ol' gits like us on Christmas Ev'. Go hav' some fun eh?' he said gruffly with a nod.

Jimmy nodded back though he wasn't really thrilled at doing things this way. It's not that he didn't trust Petey Pettigrew, but after these many months Sirius was like a father to him, and he felt very overprotective of the man, especially when Sirius was completely half seas over. 'Sure, boss. I'll see you back at the Yard then,' he said quietly, then turned to Petey, 'you better take good care of him.'

Petey was surprised at how much the kid seemed to care for Sirius, but nodded in affirmation. 'Sure kid. Don't you worry,I think I can handle a rummy like him tonight. Go on and have some fun,' Petey said.

Jimmy picked up the pounds from the table and with a short nod at Petey silently left the small club called 'The Jazz Band', another one of Lucius'splaces. It was named for the main type of entertainment, that being of course jazz music and now even a few of the 'big bands' had started playing there. It was the only speakeasy in North Kent as well so it was quite popular with the locals, including Jimmy and Sirius.

Due to the fact Sirius moved round in his business dealings so much he really didn't have a place of his own persay, but Gravesend was as close to 'home' as it got. From what Sirius had told Jimmy it was here in Gravesend that Sirius was born. His parents had died long ago and they'd only hired out the house they lived in, and very little had been left for Sirius to inherit. Certainly not a house, however Sirius had said there was some money set aside somewhere for a rainy day if Sirius needed it, not that he did at the moment with the amount of money Sirius made for his services.

Despite having no real home, Sirius was still drawn back to Gravesend, and years ago had taken up residence in a boarding home called 'The Backyard' or as Sirius just called it, the Yard. When Jimmy had joined up with Sirius they hadn't had another room available at the time so they had been forced to share a room. A few weeks ago however one of the OAP's had died off in the room across from Sirius's, so Jimmy now had his own place to call 'home'.

It wasn't much really, a bed, a nightstand with a small gas light, a wardrobe and a small window with a fire escape he could sit on if he wanted, and that was it. The toilet was communal, and baths were usually nothing but cold water in the washstand. Still though, for the first time in Jimmy's life he had somewhere that was his and his alone. With the money Sirius was paying him, basically a pound a week, he managed to buy a few things over the past few months as well to make things more 'homey' feeling.

He'd taught himself how to read from one of his cousin's old primers years ago, though till now he had never owned his own books. Now his room boasted three books, and though it might take him forever to finish them, he was enjoying them immensely. Right now the one he was reading was called 'Oliver Twist', and it reminded him a lot of himself, though Sirius was hardly Fagen. The other two books were about a man named Sherlock Holmes, one was called The Study In Scarlet, and the second one was called The Sign Of Four, and they were the very first books ever written on Holmes. Jimmy admired Holmes passionately, and he planned on buying the next volume, A Scandal In Bohemia, as soon as he was able to.

The other things that he'd picked up was a new set of clothes, two sets actually. Nothing fancy like what the boy yesterday had been wearing, he wouldn't ever dream to wear such finery, but for Jimmy what he wore now was just right. Non-descript black pants, shirt, waistcoat and shoes, plain things all told, but it didn't make him 'stand out' in anyway and they were just perfect for a runner. Jimmy knew runners were the lowest of the low in this business, but Jimmy didn't mind in the least. He enjoyed the benefits of being the runner of Sirius "Fingers" Black. He got discounts at the bookshop, market and even at the clothing store when they saw Sirius waiting for him. It seemed they all knew Sirius Black, and feared him, though Jimmy certainly didn't.

Right now however he wondered what he would possibly do on Christmas Eve alone. Glancing down at his hand he realised in shock that Petey had given him five pounds at one shot. Five whole pounds! That was a month and then some pay for Jimmy, and his heart was nearly bursting with joy. Now he could get that next Holmes book! The only draw back however was that being Christmas Eve, everything was closed, not to mention it was also now 5 o'clock at night, which meant really Jimmy hadn't a single place to go.

Making sure no one was round him, he quickly put the pounds in a place that was safe and secure. Sirius had taught him how to hide things in a 'fake' sown in pocket inside his waistcoat, and Jimmy was grateful to have the hiding place right now. Five whole pounds he certainly didn't want to lose to anyone else, though anyone who would try to attack the runner of Sirius Black had to either be a sap or asking for death. Everyone in the business by now knew of the kid called 'Scarface', even though Jimmy himself didn't even know it.

With a sigh he realised there really wasn't anything more he could do on Christmas Eve except maybe go back to the Yard and wait for Sirius and Petey to come back. He could do it though and go read more of his book, but right now he wasn't actually in the mood for that. Instead he decided to headed off to a small park nearby to think on things, which right now he really needed. He'd found the park near the club last month when Sirius had gone off somewhere on his own to Jimmy's surprise, usually Sirius never left him behind. That day however he had, and he had been left to his own devices for the day, and thus had found the park.

As he made his way to the small park his mind wandered back to yesterday and the boy he'd met. Draco Malfoy. A name that had rolled of the boys tongue with grace and style, like honey and wine. He wondered again why the boy had made him feel such odd things at the time, and he questioned himself if he really could be interested in that particular way in the boy. By the time he got to the gate of the park it was clear that he definitely had felt an attraction to Draco, enough so that even now thinking on him his heart fluttered and his palms sweated.

With a sigh he tried to shake off the thoughts, no matter how much he did want to see Draco again he was sure it was a one sided affection. People as important as Draco Malfoy were not interested in other men, it just didn't happen. Only lower ranks had that particular affliction as Harry though on it. Of course what Jimmy hadn't know was the interest of one Severus Snape, and if he had known it might have made his heart not quite so heavy. As it were, as Jimmy entered the small park his mind was in turmoil, and trying to shake off the thoughts wasn't happening.

It startled him then when he realised he wasn't alone in the park, there was someone else there as well, sitting as it happened on the bench that Jimmy usually claimed for himself. What was even odder about the whole thing was that it was a girl sitting there, from the looks of it possibly round Jimmy's age, and the girl certainly didn't look too happy. In fact, she looked downright miserable, crying in fact.

Going over to the bench he stood there a moment, not wanting to frighten her or anything and cleared his throat to let her know he was there. The girl looked up startled, but then sighed and recasted her eyes downward, obviously not intending to leave. Jimmy decided to risk it and sat down next to her on the bench, looking at her for a few moments. She was pretty in a way, though she didn't make his heart flutter like Draco had. She had long brown curly hair with a red pomp-pomp hat on, and a red coat as well.

'I can leave if you want me too,' Jimmy said now, though he was curious about the girl he didn't want to invade on something that was obviously bothering her.

The girl shook her head and sighed again, though this time she looked up at him. He could see the tears in her eyes now and he felt sad for her. 'No, that's..that's all right. You can stay.'

Jimmy reached inside his coat and took his handkerchief out of his pocket, handing it to her. 'Here, looks like you could use one,' he said quietly.

The girl sniffled and took the handkerchief slowly. 'Thank you. I didn't think to bring one because I ran out of the house so fast,' she said and dried her eyes with the square cloth. Turning to Jimmy she looked at him curiously and said, 'I didn't think anyone would be here being Christmas and all.'

Jimmy smiled at her. 'Well let's just say I didn't have other plans for the night. It was the park or back to my room at the Yard and I wasn't in the mood to read my books right now,' he said, and he noticed she had strange coffee/dark chocolate colouredeyes that matched her hair perfectly.

The girl's eyes seemed to light up at hearing the word 'books' and said almost excitedly, 'What are you reading? I love to read myself.'

'Oh, err...well right now I'm reading Oliver Twist, and a couple Sherlock Holmes books. His very first two,' Jimmy said proudly.

'Oh! I read Oliver Twist a bunch of times now, I love it! I felt so bad for poor Oliver being treated so badly though. In the end it all works out, I won't say more though so you can find out for yourself,' she said with a dimpled smile.

'Copacetic! I'd hate to think he ends up as thief and a scallywag his whole life. I'd be right grummy by that,' he said almost happily.

As the girl heard the words he had used she looked at him specutively, giving him sort of a once over now. Suddenly her eyes fell on his scar and she gasped in surprise. 'You're...you're one of them aren't you,' she said, though it wasn't an accusation, more a statement.

Harry tried to yet again cover the offending scar but it was too late and he knew it. With a sigh he turned away from the girl and said in a tone harsher than he meant, 'Yeah, so? What if I am?'

'Hey...it's not that it's a big deal...I...I guess I was just surprised is all. You don't seem like...er...a killer...' the girl said softly.

Jimmy snorted and crossed his arms over his chest, wondering now if that's what everyone did think he was. 'I'm not a thug. I work for one, but that's all.'

'So...in a way...you're a bit like Oliver Twist then,' the girl said in a more amused tone of voice, causing Jimmy to turn back to look at her in surprise.

He grinned then and said, 'I was thinking that same thing actually just a bit ago. Yeah, I guess I am like him, 'ceptI don't have the 'happy ending'...yet anyway. But now that you've told me there is a good ending, I'm going to hope that there's one for me too.'

'It didn't just happen though...for Oliver I mean. He had to really want it, and earn his freedom and happiness. He had to work hard for it, defying people to get it,' she said quietly, almost reflectively.

Jimmy thought on that as well then said, 'Then I will too. Work at it I mean. I don't want to be a thug like my boss is, not really. I could if I had to, but I don't really want to. Sometimes it makes me sick actually what my boss does to get what he wants. I don't know how he does it.'

The girl shook her head sadly, and gave Jimmy an sad look. 'Sometimes people just are that way. They can't help it. Maybe something really bad happened to him and this is how your boss deals with it. You work for Sirius Black right? I've heard of him...and you...well...the scar, no offence, is a giveaway,' she said hesitantly.

Jimmy sighed and nodded, subconsciously brushing his fingers against his scar. 'I hate this thing, and what it means. All it is is a scar,I got it from a tram accident. My parents died in that accident...and I end up with this. Pathetic really, 'cause now it's causing me more problems than it's worth,' he muttered.

The girl reached over and was about to touch Jimmy but he flinched and backed away so she didn't, but she did give him an odd look. 'You were hurt bad by someone too weren't you,' she said softly.

Jimmy stared at her in shock, nearly sliding all the way over on the bench away from her. 'W-what makes you say that?'

'Don't take offense, I didn't mean to upset you. It's just I want to go into err..well a form of the medical profession you could say, and I happened to take a tour of a hospital err...in London. There was a young child there, maybe not more than nine or ten. His father had beat him daily. He would scream when he was touched, and wouldn't let anyone even near him. The had to sedate him so they could treat him. It was horrible, but...well...when you flinched like you just did...it reminded me of the young boy,' she said quietly.

Jimmy looked the girl a moment then sighed, then nodded his head slowly. 'I rather not chat on it. It's...it's not my boss though if that's your thinking. My boss is the best bloke I know, he's really not so bad as people think he is...even if he is a thug. He's got a good heart, and he would never hurt me. Just don't let anyone know that 'bout him all right?' Jimmy said firmly.

The girl smiled slightly and nodded her head in understanding. 'I won't, you're secret's safe with me,' she said. A clock chimed somewhere in the distance striking the new hour of 6 o'clock and the girl looked up startled. 'Listen, I hate to do this but I have to go, I'm sorry.'

Jimmy nodded, got up off the bench and slightly bowed to her, letting her know he was still a gentleman if nothing else. 'Thanks for the chat, it was actually a bit inspiring. Now I am in the mood to go finish reading Oliver Twist actually so I'm going to head back to the Yard. You've given me hope that maybe someday I will find the same happiness as he did,' he said with a smile at the girl.

The girl smiled back and thought on that for a moment. 'You know what, I came here miserable because I have to do something today I really don't want to. Now that I've talked to you though, I feel a lot better. I'm going to make my happiness too, no matter how hard it will be. I don't know if we'll ever meet again, so take care of yourself won't you?' she asked.

Jimmy nodded. 'You as well, and good luck to you,' he said, then to his surprise the girl got up from the bench, stood on the tips of her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Before Jimmy could even react however the girl was speeding towards the gate, and he quickly ran after her catching up to her as she was walking out of the park. 'Wait! What's your name?' he called out to her.

The girl looked back startled that he'd followed her, but she gave him a dimpled smile and said, 'It's Hermione, Hermione Granger,' she called back and with a quick wave she got into a motorcar and he watched as it headed off.

He stood there at the gate for a few moments, thinking back on their conversation. He had felt comfortable round the girl surprisingly, now that he thought of it. He put his hand up to his lips in wonder at her tiny kiss, it had been the first kiss Jimmy had ever gotten in his life however, so he was going to treasure it.

As he made his way out the gate and back to his room he was in far greater spirits than he had been, and was now looking forwards to getting back to his book quickly. He hoped Sirius was all right and not still drinking, but when he got back he saw the door to Sirius's room was closed, so that meant he was back at least. However just as Jimmy was about to knock on the door he heard a second voice in the room, and he decided after all not to bother Sirius and whoever it was he was with. He suspected however it was probably Petey Pettigrew, and in that case he truly didn't want to bother them.

He made his way to his own room, turned on the small gas lamp then put his coat on the hook behind the door. With a smile now he eagerly grabbed up his book, and went to lay down on his bed, anxious to know how it all ended. As he began to delve back into the realm of Oliver Twist he wondered now on the kiss again. Strangely enough he began to wish it hadn't been the girl who had kissed him, but the elusive and mysterious Draco Malfoy.

All of a sudden the day started to catch up with him and putting the book down across his chest he closed his eyes for a moment, intending only to relax. He started to drift off however, and in his mind he was back at the park, but not with the girl. It was Draco he was with on the bench, and in his dream like-state the kiss that he'd received hadn't been only a secondslength. In his dream the kiss was far more lasting, deeper and much more meaningful, and he knew he didn't wanted it to ever end.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aha...words recognition time folks! :)

grummy - depressed

jack - money

juice joint - a speakeasy

half seas over - drunk

Get a wiggle on - get a move on

rummy - a drunken bum

OAP's - Old Age Pensioners (British word, not Jazz Slang)

copacetic - excellent

I've got two links for you for the slang 'dictionaries' enjoy!

http://www.louisville.edu/~kprayb01/1920s-Society-3.html#F

http://home.earthlink.net/~dlarkins/slang-pg.htm