Alexander stood there.

At the precipice of King Cross station. Dozens of people milling about, carefully keeping an eye on each other. Many of them equipped with masks, keeping a great distance from each other.

Honestly, Alexander had actually forgotten that Covid was actually a thing. With wizards basically able to cure it with already existent medicine. They simply had not had to worry about it. They had not had to worry about a lot of things.

He had not had to worry about a lot of things. But these days he worried, he had a lot more to be worried about. Things that he had previously not even thought about.

Food, clean water, warmth, shelter. Things that had all been provided by Hogwarts and at most places at no cost to him. But now he realized that now, he was without. Right now he was at the lowest he could possibly be. He was effectively an orphan, homeless, lost. A tiny mouse lost in one of the biggest Metropolis's of Europe.

And one that he had no actual knowledge of. He and his parents had lived in a nice suburban area in the west of London. Quite close to the city of London. Where both his parents had high-quality jobs. Where he had occasionally been alone and had to remain at daycare, but he had never had it truly bad beyond some bullying. Now... now he was about to be in a lot more trouble.

He took a deep breath and took a step, stepping onto the streets of London. On a nice temperate day, with only light clouds. Which would probably be quite ideal. He would only need some extra clothing during the night..... probably. He wasn't sure. He certainly didn't speak from experience.

Then he just went into a random direction and walked. He was not sure where to, but he knew that staying in the City of London was not a good idea. The place was too busy, too many residents, too many cops. There probably wouldn't be any good abandoned buildings. The City of London was the tourist attraction, the bright face of London he had mostly seen himself. But he had seen enough glimpses on his initial journey to London, that not everywhere was all sunshine and rainbows as the centrum. Then he had despised it and hoped to stay away from it.

Now years later he was walking towards it. Knowing that with what little money he had (some scholarship funds) he would certainly not be able to rent even a bad apartment. Which was neglecting the fact that even if he was able to rent an apartment, he was not legally allowed to. He was no expert in all the legal minutia in renting an apartment. But he knew that at the very least an adult guardian was supposed to be involved. And though Alex's technically had one, in practice he was basically an orphan. With no people to provide for him.

Ironically at this moment, it would probably have been more convenient, in that case, he could probably have had better housing. He could have gone to an orphanage or something like that. Though he honestly did not know how that kind of thing worked. Because of course, he had no reason to know, he had always been part of a good middle-class family leaving near the center of London. Never having to worry about anything beyond his own social situation. Perhaps in hindsight, it would have been better.

Alexander suddenly jerked up, realizing he had let his mind wander and was now already in quite a different place. Which clearly was not the city of London. Far more residential in nature, though there were still many shops of a commercial nature. And on top of that, the road was in far worse condition and was less well-kept. More bad posters everywhere and signs of graffiti could be seen on most bare walls.

He walked a bit tenser and looked around. Silently scolding himself for not being more aware of his surroundings. For all, he knew someone could have walked up to him and grabbed his purse. Which held a few British pounds. Most of his money was in Gringotts, of literally no use in the muggle world.

Suddenly he froze up. He had thought about the muggle world as muggle world. Not the 'normal' world as he would have when he went to Hogwarts. But truly, could he be blamed for that. Because there was a clear difference, which was especially clear as he saw how many people were occasionally walking with their phone. Something which he did not even have.

Well technically he did have one, but it was back with his parents. Who were god knows where. Maybe in their old apartment, but he did not imagine that to be likely.

As he stood there, he realized how little he actually knew.
With all that he had forgotten, and the general disconnect between magicals and muggles he had no idea what was going on. He remembered something about Brexit in 2016. A few years before he went to Hogwarts. At this point, it was probably old news. Probably handled sometime at the end of 2018. Negotiations shouldn't have taken too long.

He shook his head and kept walking. Making sure that no one was following him, even as he saw how the general quality declined. Eventually, he saw what seemed to be some kind of old factory. with its entrances fenced off with a large freight door, which seemed to bend a bit in the wind.

He eyed the building a bit and nodded appreciatively. It certainly wouldn't be nice, it would probably be cold, with much moisture and uncomfortable. But it was livable, at least until he found a better place. And there was clearly enough space at least, so there was something to work with. He could always use cardboard to make it a bit better.

He circled the building, only to see that one of the windows had not been fenced off and were open. Thus he shrugged and first looked at it. Looking closely to see if there were no glass shards still attached to the window or some other kind of things that could cause some injury. Then he jumped a little and pulled himself through the ground floor window. Which was done easily enough.

Immediately he could see that the building was quite empty. All the tools that were in here long removed. There were signs of trash and such, some rusty tools that was probaply too much effort to move and all in all nothing of value. Then, whilst watching his step to make sure that there was nothing dangerous on the floor he walked to what seemed to be the stairway.

Since it was probably safer to be on the second floor, less easily seen and would in the worst case give the advantage of high ground. As history and movies had shown, a most beneficial advantage.

Stepping on the stairs, he carefully tested them, but they were of concrete and seemed to be solid enough. Even with his full weight on it, the concrete did not creak. Alexander took that as a good sign and continued walking up, towards the second floor of the three-floor factory.

As he stepped through the doorway he could immediately see that the second floor was quite similar to the first floor. With the exclusion of some faint flaking point. Showing some kind of woman in old fashion clothes. Then, whilst walking to the right side of the floor he saw a mattress. One with a faint smell of piss and a bottle next to it. As well as a half-full bottle of Heineken beer. The can still open and the beer smell dominating.

Immediately his hairs went up, beer that had not evaporated, a still hanging smell of piss. This meant that the smells were still recent and that someone lived here already.

He immediately turned around, back to the stairway so that he could leave but he noticed that his path was blocked. Blocked by what seemed to be a male figure in rags. Grey beard and mustache, a woolen or cotton hat of some sort. But all of that was of a less paramount concern than the light that reflected of the cold metal of a knife.

He gulped.

Alexander backed away at the sight of the metal and the shabby looking figure. He rapidly looked around, trying to see how he could escape the man.

The stairway going downstairs was obviously blocked by the man, which meant that the conventional routs of escape were no longer viable. Thus, he briefly glanced around and noted one of the windows, with his eyes going to the mattress as well. He could potentially grab the mattress and jump through the window. It would hurt quite a bit at roughly 7-10 metres of jumping but it would probably not break any banes or incapacitate him too badly.

But that plan would rely on the figure not being able to catch up in time. To not interrupt him whilst grabbing the mattress and that was unlikely considering the distance between the stairway and the figure.

Adrenaline rapidly coursed through Alexander’s veins. As in the flash of a second he tried to come up with some kind of plan. Which was quickly cut off as he heard the figure call out in surprise. The Scottish voice resounding in the large (mostly) empty hall “Ey, yer not the ‘usual kind of bastard that comes ‘ere. What are ya doing at my spot ?”

Caught off guard, Alexander slowly and nervously responded. His voice clearly sounding unsure. “Just…. finding a spot of my own I guess….”

“A spot of yer own ! Yer just a kid. Ya shouldn’t hae ‘a spot of your own’.” The figure, now that Alexander looked at him, looked like a middle-aged Scott. Large tugs of grey/brown hair spread across the face, probably to keep himself warm. But what took up the most attention was a large scar of sorts that split the middle of his upper lip. Behind which, a set of yellowed (and some missing) teeth were present. Indicating that the man had probably not gone to the dentist in *quite* a while.

“Ya should be outside or inside doing whatever ya kids do. Like constantleh beeying behind yer phone.” Which was quickly followed by. “Uhm….. I don’t have a phone.”

This seemed to startle the probably homeless Scott even more. “What kind of kid are ya that ya don’t have a phone ?!!!”

Alex looked a little uncomfortable, then realizing what a shift had suddenly happened. "So..... are you going to put the knife away ?"


"Oh this ?" The man said looking at the dagger, as if only just now remembering that he had it. He then scratched the back of his head and put the knife back inside of some holster hidden behind his clothes. "But ya did not 'anser the question lad. Why do yer not have a phone ?"

Not sure how to react to the sudden change of the situation, with the adrenaline now suddenly gone. Unsure of what approach to take he decided to go for honesty. It was probably the best course of action. "Well.... I do technically have a phone. But it is with my parents."

The homeless man then looked Alex up and down and approached him, seemingly kindly with a small sympathetic but sad smile. Alexander edged away but the adult's greater step lead him to being faster as the dirty arm went behind Alex's back and softly patted him. As Alexander flinched at the conflict and tried to get away the man held him and softly said. "It's alright lad, nea one is going to hurt ya."

Alexander's face twisted into a look of confusion. As he said in an unsure tone. "What are you talking a-" The Scott then patted Alex on his back and said. "Ya don't have to worry lad. Yer safe now" Now understanding what the man was implying Alexander hastily responded. "Oh no my paren-" "You don't have to lie lad. Come, sit down." The man then pointed to sit on the wet matress and Alex reluctantly complied, as the older man sat next to him.

The man then spoke in a warm and comforting voice. Or at least tried to, it sounded relatively raspy."Alright, so what's yer name lad ?" Alexander swallowed before responding. "Uhm.... Alex" "'ello Alex, my name is Donald. Can you tell me why you are here and not with your parents ?"

Alexander sniffed a little. "My.... my parents think I am dead." "Yeah I am dead to my parents as well. They're disgusted by me" "Bu-" "Shush lad. It's alright, it's not the end of the world."

The old man looked at Alex"Why do yer parents think ye're dea ?"
Alexander scratched the back of his head and said. "I can't remember." The old man nodded sympathetically. "It's not your fault lad, you're parents probably just had something else going on. Frustrated, and did not know how to deal with a kid." The man then let out a sigh of his own.

Having regained some of his bearings Alexander took a little more initiative. "Do ya have any kids of your own ?" To which the old man gingerly nodded. "Aye, two little daughters." He then looked at Alex with a sad look in his eyes. "They're probapeh around yer age." Alex fumbled a little awkwardly, Donnald noticed this and let out a sad laugh. "Don't worry lad, I am not their father."

Alexander looked confused again and said. "Bu-" "To be a father I need to have been there for them. Raised them. And I 'ave not. " Alexander then sat there, a little akwardly as Donnald reminisced. After a few seconds Alex spoke up. "Maybe you should speak to your daughters at some point ? Reconnect ?"

Donald then let out his second sad laugh. "I am afraid it is too late fer tha. I am homeless and up to mah neck in debt. They are better off without me" Donnald then shook his head. "Anyways, what I am trying to tell ya, you should not do things like me. I am at the end of my rope, I have made many mistakes. Ya should not follow mah path and live on the street."

A little unsure of the pacing and the sudden jumps in logic Alexander grumbled a little. "Well I am at the end of my rope too." He then felt rough hands on his shoulder as Donnald forced Alexander to look into his eyes, which now looked angry. "Ya don't get to say that lad ! Things might look down now, but ye are young, ye have life in you. Ye have all the oppertuniteh you want."

Trying to deflect Alexander said."But how did you ge-" "IT does nae matter how I got here. Wheter I did the right or wrong thing, got 'ere by bad luck or mah own damn fault. My story does nae matter, it is already written. Ya can still do a lot. Go to yer other relatives, call child protection services or something. But don't just walk away"

Donnald then tugged ALexander at his shoulders. "Do ya promise me not to walk away lad ?" Alexander nodded. Donnald kept staring Alexander in the eyes"Do yer promise ?"

Alexander then nodded for a second time and said. "I promise."
"Good, now get away lad, I want to sleep." Alexander's face twisted in confusion for the third time. "But it's no-" "SHUSH LAD , GO !!!" The man then shoved Alex off the matress and lay down and Alexander muttered.

"Donald are you............. wait you're ACTUALLY SLEEPING !!!" Alexander shouted a little as he heard a heavy snoring. One which did not get broken off by his shout.
Alexander shook his head and let out a sigh.

Though......... this was a very strange encounter. The man had a point, he should not run away from his problems, in the end it does not work out.

As such he closed his eyes, took in some air and breathed out. Steeling himself.
His eyes now opened a layer of determination though also anxiety in them. Even if he did not like that, he was not going to run away from his problems.

Thus he made his way down the stairway, on to confront his problem.