The Little Thief in London
It took three days and four hours for Newt Scamander to arrive in London. It took thirty minutes standing in line to have his only luggage checked for any contraband. He had nothing to hide; muggle worthy, of course. Finally, it took him five minutes to be walking through the busy streets of London for his life to change dramatically.
The man was simply standing in the middle of the sidewalk, glancing at the daily newspaper, seeing if there was a place he could stay for a while. Of course, he could have simply set his case down into an alley, then spend his days in it. But, after the events in America, Newt wasn't too keen on going back into the suitcase out in the open.
He continued to read through the paper.
Richard Flood's Boarding House
Rent due every month.
Starting at: 160.55
Hilton Hotel
250 pounds a night
221A Baker street room for rent
Ruby Hudson, Available times:
8:00 a.m-9 p.m.
Rent: 200.52 pounds every two months
Newt's fingers snapped off the handle of his suitcase. The case fell onto the concrete, as Newt hissed in pain, clutching his fingers. "What on earth?"
Vigorous footsteps in front of him, caused Newt to look up. In almost a flash, a figure was running to him, as if someone was chasing them. As it sprinted, Newt's heart jumped into his throat as the figure grabbed his case, then retreated into the crowd.
Everything almost felt as if it was in slow motion, as Newt gathered his bearings. "Stop! Thief!" He yelled finally chasing after the person who had just stolen the single most important part of his life and work.
Several of the people strolling through the roads of London only glared at him as he pushed his way through the crowd. Newt continued to shout, hoping for anyone to stop the thief in their tracks; no one even had the audacity to help him chase after the criminal.
It was by a chance of luck, for a loose stone was on the road; causing the running person to trip over it, slowing them down as they picked themselves up. Newt instantly grabbed the handle of his case, and the two engaged in tug-of-war.
Newt won. It was only then did he realize how weak the thief was, when they fell roughly onto the concrete, letting out a small cry. As they lay sobbing, the small one hugged their legs to their chest, and covered their face with the longest hair Newt Scamander has ever laid eyes on.
The wizard's face fell at the realization; this was a child. He slowly knelt down to their height, and spoke softly; that was what always worked when comforting wounded beasts. "There, there, I hadn't mean to hurt you." He apologized.
He stuck his hand out to rest on their shoulder, but brought it back to his side.
Still refusing to look, the child shuddered at his voice, and hugged themselves tighter. A whistle close by made the child let out a scream.
Looking behind him, Newt stood up as a bobby approached him, a club in hand.
"I heard some commotion going on, and I couldn't help but investigate." He began, looking around at the small crowd beginning to form. "But when I heard the word 'thief!' uttered, I thought you might needed assistance."
Newt swallowed. "Certainly, but-."
"Ah, is this the little bugger?" The bobby used the tip of his club, moving a piece of hair out of the child's eyes. They gasped, and hid their face into the ground, trembling like a leaf on a fall day.
Newt stared at the child's terrified figure, then back at the bobby. "Yes, but by how she is right now, I believe the little girl has learned from her mistake."
The child mumbled incoherently into the ground, still hiding themselves. Slightly glaring at them the bobby crouched down to the child, and brushed hair out of their face. "What was that now?"
They only stared in fear, and refused to speak. The bobby sighed, then stood up, and turned to Newt. "I'll just leave this one off with a warning. Did they take anything?"
He flinched, and shook his head. "No, no, no they didn't."
"Fine then, stay safe. Alright, alright, there is nothing to see here, go on with your walking." The bobby called out to the small crowd, and it soon dispersed.
As all was clear, Newt, once again, knelt down to the still terrified child. "He's gone now, no need to fret."
With hesitance, the child slowly sat themselves up, and looked around at the surroundings. Finding nothing, they still kept their knees close to them, and gawked at the man in front of them.
He, attempted, a soft smile to the child; they only stared back at him, unmoving. Instead, Newt quickly noticed the child's abnormal body.
He stood on his feet. "Come on then," he said. "get up now. It's about time for breakfast."
The child glanced up at him, squinting their eyes in confusion. Newt only smiled slightly, and reached a hand out to them. "Come now,"
Finally, the child understood, and gently took Newt's hand. The man carefully lifted the child off the street, and let go of their hand after they balanced themselves.
"Is there any particular café you would like to go to?" He tried asking. The child didn't even respond with a nod or a shaking head.
Newt frowned at the lack of a response. He crouched down slightly. "Can you hear me?"
The child lazily looked at him, and nodded slowly. Newt forced a smile, and stood himself up. "Alright, I know the perfect place. I think you will like it."
After endless minutes of silence and walking, the child and adult made it to a fairly gray looking coffee shop. Newt frowned at the exterior; before him or Thesus were allowed in Diagon Alley, they always came here.
He looked down at the child. "Well, it might not be like how I remembered it, but let us go in."
So they did.
The inside was a bit better, but it wasn't the most cleanest. In fact, only a few people were there; not counting the employees.
The two made their way to the counter, and a woman with curly hair smiled at them. "And what could I get you for this lovely day?"
"Oh, I'm not eating today. I will only take a small cup of green tea."
She scribbled the order on a notepad, then looked up. "Anything else?"
He glanced at the child. "Pick anything you want." He whispered.
"Oh! I didn't notice you there, sweetie." The woman giggled, but her smile dropped as she saw the raggedy look of the child.
The little child pressed their face against the glass, filled with more pastries than they could ever imagine. Soon, they sound of their finger tapping onto the glass became apparent, and the lady at the counter grinned. "You want F/P?"
For the first time, the child smiled, and continued tapping the glass.
"Would you like anything to drink?" The lady asked.
The child's smile fell, and they leaned away from the glass. "Chocolate," they whispered, "hot chocolate." Newt glanced at the child, surprised at how quiet their voice was.
The lady swallowed. "Okay, now why don't the two of you have a seat, and I'll bring your breakfast to you. Is that alright?" She asked, mostly towards the child.
They nodded, and waited patiently, staring at Newt. The man slightly nodded to the child, then turned back to the woman at the counter. "Thank you very much,"
She smiled, and the child and wizard sat down at a petite table, facing each other. The child rested in the chair, but their face told otherwise; they were enveloped in paranoia.
"What is your name?" Newt asked quietly.
The child glanced at him, then hesitantly moved their lips. "Y/N."
He nodded, looking down at the table. "Mine is Newt Scamander."
A smile perked on their lips. "Like the lizard?"
Newt looked up from the table, and managed to chuckle. "In a way, yes." He was almost surprised at how much the child was smiling now; as a second ago, they were afraid of their own shadow.
"Why is your name funny?"
"I have a fascination with animals. Besides, I doubt anyone would want to call me Newton." He grinned slightly.
"I would,"
His smile slightly grew, until his eyes dropped to the child's bare feet. "Do you own any shoes?"
Y/N's smile dropped, and they shook their head. "Too much."
He titled his head in concern. "Too much what, Y/N?"
"Money," they spoke. "But mama makes handmaid shoes with dresses."
"Really?" He asked again, and the child nodded. "Well then, we'll have to change that." He declared, and grabbed his napkin, laying it in his lap. When he looked back up, he was met with Y/N's confused eyes.
"Why?" they whispered.
"What?"
"Why helping me?" The asked softly.
He looked over the child's figure, already noticing their almost visible ribs. He finally replied after a bit. "How old are you?"
"Y/A" They said with no hesitation.
Newt's eyes grew. "Y/A?" He repeated. They looked almost too small to be that old.
The child nodded, growing slightly afraid at his reaction; but, they quickly asked him. "How old are you?"
Snapping out of it, Newt answered. "Oh, I am twenty-nine."
Y/N squinted their eyes. "You're old."
Once again, a smile on his face was inevitable. "I guess I am getting quite older than I anticipated."
"Alrighty then!" The waitress cheered, brining over their food. "I hope that everything is in order. Is there anything I am missing?"
Newt took the food and drinks off the plate. "No, I believe that is everything."
She smiled. "Just call me over if any of you need anything." Then, she retreated back to behind the counter.
Passing the F/P and hot chocolate to Y/N, the child soon began shoving the food into their mouth almost too quickly.
"Okay, okay, it isn't a good idea to eat like that. Take it slow, there we are." Newt slightly scolded the child, and they (surprisingly) listened, eating slowly. For a while, they two just drank and ate their breakfast in silence. From time to time, a new person would come in, and someone would leave.
It was after several minutes, that Newt began speaking again. "Y/N," he asked.
The child gazed up from their meal, the food and drink staining their lips.
"What do you mean that your mother makes shoes with dresses?" He asked again.
Y/N wiped their mouth, and swallowed before slightly smiling. "She rips her dresses up, and ties the dead part onto my feet. She calls them my 'special shoes'."
"The-the dead part?" Newt grew puzzled.
"The part that's ripped off the dress."
"Ah," Newt pursed his lips, then drunk his tea. "and what does your mummy do during the day?"
Y/N sucked in their lips to think, then responded. "She wakes me up in the morning, then she goes to work at the stinky dress factory for a long time, then she comes back home really late at night. But that means I get to make dinner for her."
The wizard continued to stare confusedly at them. "What about your father?"
The child's smile disappeared, and they kept glancing down at their breakfast. "I don't know."
Newt squinted his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Mama never told me about him."
He slightly nodded, a look of guilt in his eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"Why?"
"For-for," he stopped himself, then attempted to change the subject. "When you are done with your breakfast, I'd love to take you elsewhere."
They slowly grinned, then ate a few more bites. After a bit, the child took their napkin of their lap, and stood up. "I'm ready,"
Newt also got up from the chair, while leaving the amount of money and tip on the small table. Soon, the two were out the door, and sauntered through the busy streets of London.
"Go along," he told the child as they entered the closest shoe store. "pick one that you like."
Y/N gaped at all of the boxes around them. In a flash, they were off; running through the store, taking several boxes off the shelves. The child tried on all sorts of shoes; flat shoes, tall shoes, small shoes, and big shoes. Almost none of them seemed right to them, until they slipped on shoes that reached their claves, with strings.
"I found them." They whispered when they finally found the tall man in the funny, blue coat.
He turned around, and his eyes traveled down to the child's unlaced boots. He crouched down, and started tying them.
"What are you doing?" Y/N asked.
"Lacing them; you'll trip and fall if you wear them down." He answered, trying his best not to tie the knots too tightly. When he was finished, he stood up, and smiled. "Is that alright?"
They cocked their head to the side. "The shoes?"
"Yes,"
They looked down. "They don't hurt." He nodded, and he paid for the boots, and then they both left.
"Can I go home?" Y/N asked as they were on the sidewalk.
Newt glanced at the child next to him. "Of course you can. Do you know where you live?"
" 'Course I do! I'm not stupid." They snapped.
Newt flinched at the sudden change of tone. "I never said you were." He defended, then retreated a few steps away, before turning back. "Take care of yourself, Y/N."
The child stared at him, then grew regretful. "I'm sorry, Mr. Newt."
He shook his head. "It's fine, just promise me you won't steal anymore."
Y/N continued to look at him, then slightly nodded. Newt nodded his head back at the child, and offered one last smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Now being left alone, the child sprinted in the direction of their home. They couldn't remember the last time they wore real shoes. Maybe it was two years ago? All they could remember was outgrowing them, and then mama selling them for only a few pounds. But, the new boots gave Y/N wings, and they ran faster than they ever thought they could.
The child was more than overjoyed to see their mother walking along the road just as they were almost home. The neighborhood was possibly the most filthy one in London, but it was home to Y/N and her mother.
"Mama!" Y/N cheered, sprinting towards her. The mother was caught off guard, snapping her head up to see her child running to her.
A small smile pulled onto her mouth, and she held her arms out for Y/N to be embraced in. As the child was nuzzling their face, the mother took the moment to drop her smile, and stare at the ground, full of melancholy.
"Did the dress factory give you a day off?" Y/N asked, pulling away.
"Yes dear, and many others." The mother rested a hand on their head, and softly brushed it.
"How many?"
There was a pause. "I do not know,"
Y/N stared into their mother's eyes, then rested their hands on her cheeks. "Don't cry mama, we'll be okay."
She smiled at her child, then embraced them once again. Once they broke apart, the two began walking up to the house. Until-.
"Now, Grace L/N. Why is it that you are home so early?"
Y/N's mother sighed, and turned her head around to the blonde woman, casually smoking on her rusty porch. She spoke. "I believe that is none of your concern, Angela. Now please, let me and my child enter our home in peace."
The woman shrugged, and continued to puff smoke. Before the mother could shut the door as they both entered, Angela spoke one last time. "Who were you caught wanking off with this-?"
Grace L/N slammed the door before she could finish, then collapsed onto the single bed in the small house, and groaned into the pillow. Seeing their mother's anguish, Y/N marched to the window, and looked outside at Angela King. The child glared at the woman through the window, feeling themselves shaking uncontrollably with anger.
"Don't ever think about doing that again." Their mother pulled them away from the window, and commanded them calmly. As she was tugging the child to the small table, she looked down and noticed the boots.
"Where did you get those?" She asked, almost breathless.
Y/N pursed their lips, and confessed. "A nice man."
"A nice man?!" Her face paled.
"He got them for me. And he also got me breakfast."
The mother's face fell, and she hugged her child for the hundereth time that day. "Oh Y/N, oh Y/N, oh Y/N. Please, you can't do that again."
"Why?"
"Bad things could have happened to you today." She choked up. "I-I don't know what I would do if I knew that you were-." She stopped.
Y/N looked up. "Gone?"
Grace L/N nodded. "Yes sweetie, if you were gone."
"Like papa?"
The mother's eyes grew, and she pulled away, gaping at her child. "What?"
"Mama," Y/N began. "what happened to papa?"