| Notes � I don�t like this chapter cause it�s where Duo founds out about his past and stuff like that and I think it�s pretty boring, so if you fall asleep it isn�t my fault! *Grins sheepishly* Bye Chapter Two Duo laid thinking for some time on his bed before he sat up. He ran a hand through the bangs that hung over his face and his little finger traced the thin scar along his forehead and he stood up. Duo banged the front door shut and paid no notice to his aunt as she shouted at him from across the road where she was talking to the neighbours. He ran up the street, his long hair flying behind him. The letter was clutched tightly in his hand and he headed back towards the coffee shop, the train station and sure enough the guy was still sitting there. Duo lumped down on the seat opposite Howard and sighed. "Ok. I believe you. Now what?" Howard raised an eye. "That's for you to decide." Duo's eyes narrowed. "Well, I need to be told how? What? Why? And I also need to shop." "For school supplies?" "Suppose so." "I know just the place. Come on." Howard stood from his seat and walked off. �Hang on I don�t have any money! And my uncle isn�t gonna give me any.� �Stupid muggles. Don�t worry Duo your parents left you money.� �What you call um? Muggles?� �No magical folk. Coming?� Duo was about to follow when a women stepped in front of him. "That will be �7.55 please?" Duo climbed on to the train after Howard. "Where are we going?" "Diagon Alley. Best place in London." Duo nodded. "Right." "I know this has been an very large shock for you young Duo but you need to know." As the train pulled from the station for the hour trip to London Howard begun. "About twenty years ago there was a wizard. You see this wizard was very powerful and he started to get followers. Some joined him for the power and some joined him 'cause they were scared of him. But the more that joined him the more that fought against him. But those that tried to fight him always ended up dieing you see. His name was... Oh I don't like saying it." "Can you write it down?" Duo asked trying to be helpful. "No, can't spell it. Just the once mind you, don't make me say it again. Ok... deep breath... Shinigami... there you go that's his name. Well you-know-who started to kill people for no reason. And one day he decided to kill those closest to Professor Khushrenada." "Professor Khushrenada?" "Aye, he's the headmaster at Sank. Best it's every had I say. He's the only one You-Know-Who was scared off." "So why did Shi-Sorry I mean You-Know-Who go after Khushrenada?" "You haven't been listening boy! You-Know-Who didn't dare face Professor Khushrenada yet but for some reason he decided to try and angry Professor Khushrenada. One night, about 12 years ago he paid a visit to a small village, to your parents house." Duo's eyes widen. "What? He killed my parents?" Duo asked. "Solo and Hellene Maxwell, one finest witch and wizard around." Howard said softly, grazing sadly at Duo. Duo lowered his gaze and closed his eyes trying to fight back the tears that threaten to spill. "It's alright to cry you know." Howard said gently resting his hand on the back on Duo's head but Duo shock his head. "Men don't cry." Duo whispered. "Real men do." Howard replied and Duo raised his head to met Howard. "Real men do." Howard repeated in a whisper. "So he killed my parents. Why not me as well?" "Now not even I am sure about that. He tried but there was something 'bout you that he couldn't figure out. He tried to kill you Duo but the spell didn't work and he himself nearly died. He fled. No one knows where he went that night. You're the first person to survive against him. Once You-Know-Who decided to kill someone that was it." Howard lent back on his chair and watched Duo's face as Duo did a reply of the conversation in his head. Finally Duo nodded. "So what's Dragon Alley?" "Diagon." Howard corrected Duo. "You'll see." "How will I pay for everything? I don't have any money." Howard laughed. �You don�t think your parents left you nothing do you?� Duo shrugged. �Just you wait kid.� Howard lead the way through a block of people. He had to hurry to keep up with Howard. He wasn�t scare of losing the large man, he was more scared of being left in the middle of London with no money and no way to get home. He was taken down street after street until Duo was utterly and complete lost. �Do you know where we are going?� �Trust me Duo, trust me!� �Yeah, we are lost in the middle of fucking London! OUCH!� Howard glared at Duo. �Watch your mouth! We aren�t lost.� �Then where are we?� �London.� Duo sweatdropped. �Where in London?� �The middle.� �No shit. The middle of London where?� �The Black Cauldron.� Howard swept his arm towards a grubby dingy street corner pub. �Sounds cheerful.� Duo nodded his head as he followed Howard into the small pub. �Um Howard?� �Yes?� �I thought we were shopping?� �We are.� �We�re in a pub.� Duo pointed out. �Welcome Howard! Your usual?� The pub tender smiled at the tall man but Howard shook his head. �Can�t Tom. Sanq business.� Howard clapped a hand on Duo�s shoulder and the tiny silver haired man bent forward and looked closely at Duo. �Oh My! Mr Duo Maxwell you�re back! Welcome Mr Maxwell.� Duo shrunk against Howard as the whole pub feel silent and turned to stare at the braided boy. Tom hurried around the bar and grabbed Duo�s shaking hand. �It is an honour sir. A true honour.� That started the whole pub off and in the next ten minutes Duo found out everyone�s name in the pub. A tall man with a turban on came forward and Howard introduced him. �Duo this is Professor Barton (1), he�s a teacher at Sanq.� �Maxwell huh? Be-be-ett you�r-re off to b-b-buy your scho-ol b-b-ooks huh?� �Yes Professor. What do you teach?� �D-d-efence agains-s-st the Dark Arts. No-t t-that you need it-t hay Max-x-x-Well.� Duo shook his head and felt a hand press into his shoulder. �Well we must get on. Shopping to see too.� Howard pushed away through the large crowd and out onto the back of the pub. Duo looked around and sow three dustbins and a tabby cat. The cat hissed at him before running away and Duo looked up at Howard to see him beaming down at him. �Told ya you were famous didn�t I?� Duo blushed red. �Howard you say and the people back in there say I�m famous but what am I famous *for*?� �You�ll understand more later.� Howard pulled out a umbrella and counting three up and two across and tapped three times on the brick he landed on. Slowly before Duo�s eyes a brick arch foamed. Through the gap Duo could see bustling crowds and colourful colours. Howard stepped through with Duo be side him and chuckled when the braided boy spun round to watch the brick wall reform itself again. �Welcome Duo, to Daigon Alley.� TBC� (1) Dekim Barton not Trowa Barton. I needed an evil guy but couldn�t think of anyone else! |