Returning Home I

Unbelievable. . .

There were only two people in the entire building - one guard and the receptionist. Apparently everyone took the day off because it was the 24th.

Even if this situation is advantageous for me. . . Still. . . This is a government building with highly confidential files you know?! What would you do if I was a criminal set on stealing something very important!?

Probably because it is the day before Christmas and they are still working, that the only two employees didn't even greet or talk to me.

It is because of this situation that I had no problem passing through the building and stepping through the doors that divide the muggle and wizard worlds.

When I looked back at the building, I was surprised to find that it was the Woolworth Building. This can only mean that I am now in New York. About 2800 miles from Malibu.

This. . . This is . . .

I did not notice that my eyebrows had furrowed.

For a moment I considered going back into the building and finding some sort of interstate floo, until I remembered that Stark towers was also in New York. If I go there then Jarvis could do the rest.

I have neither a map nor a working phone and I can't risk using magic, so I'll just have to rely on people.

Since I can't use magic to look older or have adults start 'worrying' about me and take me to a police station, hospital, or orphanage. . .

I grimace at what I was about to do but it is the only way to prevent people from overly associating with me.

I turn a corner and disappear into the shadows between the two large buildings.

Bins fell to the ground, disturbed by a stray cat. The dead silence of night breaks with the crash or metal on the concrete floors as paper and plastic waste spill out, filling the air with a rotting stench.

How foul. . .

My lips curve downwards in disdain as I use one hand to cover my nose and mouth.

There is no other way.

I take off my enlarged scarf and cancel the spell before wrapping it around the lower half of my face. Slowly I bend over and swipe my hand on the greasy, mouldy, soot covered floor.

I internally gag as I wipe it on my face, hair, and clothes. I repeat this process until I was fully covered with it and ruffled up my hair.

Merlin's saggy pants. Breathe Draco. breathe

A hot burning liquid raced up my throat as the rancid smell enters my nose. Wrong place to breathe!

. . . wait. . . I can't cast magic but I can use one of its disciplines.

You stupid, idiotic, half-witted clot! Why didn't I use divination?!

I cover my eyes with the palms of my hands and grunt.

I glance at the putrid rusty bin and sigh. I try to focus on my sense of touch rather than the unpleasant smells as I dig into towers of rubbish.

"Gahhhh!"

I just touched something soft and slimy. What sort of horrid repulsive substance did I touch?!

I shook my head to forget whatever that thing was and dug through the rubbish once more. Soon, I found everything I needed. A paper cup, a half full bottle of questionable but clear water, and an old bag of tea leaves.

I washed the cup of any remaining impurities and filled it halfway with water before ripping open the teabag and dumping the fine tea leaves into the cup. I look up at the sky and identify the position of the stars and planets.

Andromeda is-. . so north is . . Cassiopeia . . . there Ursa Minor. Mars and Jupiter are at 5 and 4:30, Saturn is . . . there at 5:45

It must be 3:40 then so I must rely on the energy of Mars.

I inhale deeply and breathe-out magic into the cup. The leaves slowly whirl into figures as I turn on my spot. I stop when the image gets clearer. A falcon facing 1 o'clock.

I run out of the alley like a crab to prevent the cup from turning and cough deeply, expelling the putrid air from my lungs.

I didn't immediately run forwards as there was a shocked man standing stiff with a hot cup of coffee on one hand and a briefcase on the other. He must have been shocked when a child ran out of a dark alley before the sun rose.

After I blinked a small scowl appeared on his face before moving past me saying something about a dirty runt. A bubble of anger formed in my chest but it quickly diminished as I thought of the more important thing I have to do rather than waste my time to teach that muggle a lesson.

As I run, I spot an abandoned skateboard. I guess now is a good time to learn. I snatched it as I ran by and place one foot on the board like I have seen in those highschool movies.

I'm coming dad, and that terrorist had better be ready for a world of pain.