Something Lost ((Roderick))

[darcie]

It was too loud and she didn't like it. Darcie Swann covered her ears and with a little sigh she climbed out of the small, cramped alley and stumbled out onto the streets of Diagon Alley. The streets were bare compared to how they were during the day, there was the odd group of people making their way merrily past her and into the bars but that was it. None of them noticed the homeless six year old stood with her hand out, hoping for a show of sympathy in the form of some change for food, a drink at least. Though by now she was used to going unseen, people seemed to go out of their way to avoid seeing her or even acknowledging her existence.

Cuddling her small, tattered and ratty teddy to her chest, Darcie sighed softly, her shoulders hunched slightly, hoping to keep herself warm. The weather was bitterly cold, but she was kind of used to it by now, she couldn't even remember what it was like to be warm...she was always cold, even during the last summer. The cold she could handle, even being hungry all the time, falling to sleep her stomach in pain due to never knowing where her last meal was coming from. She'd been sick for a long time now, always cold, she had a cough that hurt her entire body. Though this was her life now, she could barely remember the life she had before, almost too young.

Humming softly under her breath, the undernourished, small six year old made her way across the street and climbed up onto the bench. The once white frayed, and slightly torn cotton dress she wore was loose and baggy thanks to how small she had gotten, over that she wore a dirty pink hoodie, and then brown boots with holes in the bottom. Her young skin was dirty, all of this thanks to living on the streets for one long year. Tucking her legs beneath her she looked around, holding her teddy close to her chest, her hood pulled up. The sound of footsteps made her look up again and sitting straighter, she looked around and smiled, holding out her tiny hand, "Please?" her voice was quiet, soft before she coughed, a painful wince covering her face, as she looked towards...

[roderick]

The ground was still covered with snow, though it was pressed down and flattened into the grooves the path from a number of steps that had tread over it. But, for now the road was empty, only small clusters of groups here and there as they did something of window shopping. Christmas was approaching fast and most everyone were buying gifts for their loved ones and getting ready to spend the joyous day all together. But, there was one amongst them who held no such joy or desire. Roderick's steps were slow and heavy as he walked through the shops, hardly giving anything of a glance to the objects that were so delicately placed on display. A year had passed since that dreadful day at Hogwarts but the images, the memories were still raw and fresh in his mind. They never left him. The terrified look on his wife's face, the hollow, empty stare in her eyes when she had been killed...He had lost everything that day.

His wife and their unborn daughter were killed, simply ripping apart his heart. The man had yet to even begin to heal from the pain. And, it was because of that that he gave no care for the supposedly joyous holiday. For him, what was there to be happy about? Yes, he had gotten his nephew something for Christmas simply so the boy would know that he still cared for him, but the man would not go to the dinners. No, he would not partake in his family's usual festivities. He hadn't the heart nor soul to do so any more. The death of Marissa had taken every part of him and really it was a miracle that he managed to even function properly from the pain he held. But, he kept his position at the school, he continued to teach and pass on his knowledge in hopes that perhaps it would be useful to someone.

So consumed in his thoughts of self pity, Roderick almost passed by the small, outstretched hand of a small girl. Her voice was the only thing that jerked him back to reality, but it was her state that truly brought him back down to earth. The poor child looked so small, so helpless. Eyes widening, the man stood there not even sure what to say or do for that matter. The clothes that were draped over her small form were torn and soiled beyond belief and her skin simply seemed pale and sickly. What was she doing out here all alone like this?! It took quite some time for Roderick to regain his wits, lightly shaking his head as he knelt down to her level. "...what are you doing out here all alone like this,"

[/color] he asked, unable to believe that anyone could just simply leave her here.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[darcie]

Darcie retracted her hand to put it over her mouth as she coughed again, her lungs burning as she did. She clutched her teddy tighter to her chest in a comfort gesture, the bear itself was in worse condition than she was, it was missing an eye and was matted and dirty, really it had been one she'd found in a back alley just days after she'd ended out on the streets. Really the only things she had from her old life on her were the boots she wore. As she coughed she kept a cautious eye on the man in front of her, frowning a little when he crouched down in front of her, she was confused as to why he was looking at her with his eyes wide, had she upset him asking him for money.

Rubbing her nose she wrapped her fingers around her teddy, tilting her head a little as she looked at him. His question was strange but she shrugged her shoulders just a little bit, sniffing slightly, "...because..." she said softly, coughing just a little bit. Scratching her cheek she continued to watch him curiously, noting the scar on his face, like the scar on the palm of her hand. He had kind eyes though so it wasn't scary to her, at the sound of laughter she turned her head again towards a bar seeing drunk people stumbling out and she frowned. They were loud and she didn't like that, so held the teddy closer, though they were far enough away for her not to feel the need to run and hide.

Looking back towards the man she rubbed her eyes tiredly again, "...do you have any food please?" she asked, her voice small as she chewed on her bottom lip. She played with the ends of her her limp and tattered hair, surprisingly not scared of the much larger man in front of her, his eyes were kind and it was women who scared her...when they laughed...it gave her nightmares. Really she hadn't slept properly in a year and she was weak for a six year old.

[roderick]

Perhaps it was the fact that Roderick knew how cruel and unforgiving the world could be, or maybe it was because he had been through so much pain in such a short time that he felt a connection with this small child. Anyone who was left out here alone on the streets had to have had something horrible happen. People didn't just land here for no reason. But, the man could only wonder what it was that had driven her into such a state. What amazed him the most, though, was the fact that no one had thought of helping the poor thing. Was the world really that selfish? Of course. That was something he found ridiculous to ask. If it wasn't then he would still have his wife and his daughter and this little girl wouldn't have been forced out here in the cold. As a harsh cough shook through the child, Roderick felt concern shoot deep into him. Was she ill? How bad was she?

There were so many things that could have happened to this girl while she had been out here in the cold and there was no telling how long she had been out there to begin with. Running his tongue over his lips as he thought, the man ran a hand through his short, somewhat unkempt hair as he let out an uneven breath. After what had happened to Marissa, after he had failed to protect her, something had snapped in the man, something that had him beyond the normal protectiveness of any other sane person. A harsh sense of paranoia had developed along side it, but he was learning how to control both. But, as he continued to watch and listened to this small girl he could feel that sense of control slipping before he quickly rested a hand on one of her shoulders. "Why don't we go get you something then, yeah?"

[/color], he offered.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[darcie]

Darcie looked at the man in front of her, he seemed kind enough, her Mother had taught her to never trust strangers but then again her Mother was dead, she was alone now and she liked talking to people, it made her feel not so alone. Plus he seemed kind enough, his eyes were sad though, she could see that. Yes she was a child but an extremely perceptive one at that. She watched as he ran his fingers through his hair, blowing out a breath and she wondered what had him looking so bothered. Was it her? Was he upset that she had asked for money or food...she hoped not, she wasn't trying to be rude she was just hungry. When his hand rested on her shoulder she frowned lightly and looked at him, tilting her head to the side slightly.

Shifting slightly on the bench and clutching her teddy in her other hand she reached her free one out slowly, her little fingers touching the side of his eyes. He was sad she could see it, that look in his eyes, pain, pain she herself had felt. Sighing softly she nodded her head, pulling her hand back to cover her mouth as another cough tore through her body making her grimace in pain. "Okay, but we shouldn't go in there..." she pointed to the nearest bar, "...there are some bad people in there." she told him, whispering slightly as she shuffled forward, slipping off the bench. Rocking on the heels of her holey shoes and clutching her tattered and dirty teddy to her chest she held out her hand to the man and smiled a little.