40 An Orphanage

It was easy to follow Alex in the crowds, however, it was much harder to do it, when they walked away from the commotion and meeting passersby was getting less and less frequent.

Draco curiously looked around as he followed the other boy. They were entering a dilapidated district, which looked to be quite poor. Alex didn't seem to be very familiar with his surroundings either. As they passed more and more houses, the Russian boy kept looking at the paper in his hands. Draco thought that it must be a map.

When they walked for over half an hour and Draco was starting to feel tired and cold (the warming charms didn't last forever, after all), Alex finally stopped before a metal gate. He uncertainly looked between the map and the building behind the gate a few times. Then he looked around.

Draco hurriedly hid behind one of the buildings further away. He counted until twenty in his head and only then dared to poke his head out again. However, when he looked at Alex's previous location, he couldn't see anyone.

"Why did you follow me?" a voice behind the blond boy suddenly asked.

Draco almost jumped a few meters because of the fright. He exaggeratedly grabbed the place, where his heart was supposed to be, and turned around to face the Russian boy.

"You scared me!" he shouted angrily.

Alex shrugged and his usually tranquil smile was nowhere to be seen. The Russian boy's cold as ice blue eyes stared at Draco with unwelcoming expression.

"Why did you follow me?" he repeated the question, but this time his tone was more forceful.

Draco decided to stop pretending and abandoned his over-exaggerated expression. His face was covered by a calm mask, indicating that he wasn't intimidated by the other boy. He casually leaned on the wall and, while inspecting his nails, answered:

"I was just a little curious about why you were so hurriedly abandoning me, and I followed you. So what?" Draco raised his eyebrow and smirked. It wasn't like Alex could do anything to him. The Russian boy was only a year older and didn't have Draco's experience. The other boy also wasn't much more advanced in magic or physical training, so there wasn't anything to worry about currently.

Alex's expression darkened. However, moments later it recovered and he once again was smiling at Draco.

"I wasn't 'in a hurry to abandon you'," he denied unconvincingly. Even if Draco suspected something, it wasn't like he knew anything for sure.

"Oh?" Draco's other brow also rose up. A second later, he cleared his expression and smirked. "So if I accidentally let Lord Sokolov know that you visited… what's this building - an orphanage? Anyway, if I let him know that you came here, you will have no problems with that, right?"

Alex's smile disappeared once again. Draco wondered, why the other boy even bothered trying to maintain it constantly.

"Alright," the Russian boy sighed in resignation. "My sister is a squib who was abandoned here, so I came to visit her. My family doesn't approve, so don't say anything to them – I will pay you back for this favor."

"A squib?" Draco repeated with astonishment. "But wait, don't pureblood families make sure that even their squib children have a bright future in the muggle world? Why would they abandon her here?"

Pureblood families were proud. While some killed off their non-magical offspring, others tended to make sure that they, at least, lived well in the muggle world. There weren't many cases of purebloods abandoning children in muggle orphanages because children were considered to be sacred. It would be better to kill them than leave them at the mercy of filthy muggles!

Besides, even purebloods were not coldhearted – they loved their children and wanted to make sure that they always had the best of everything. For example, Marius Black – Arcturus' brother – was a squib, however, he lived very well in the muggle world and was a rich businessman because the Black family ensured that he had sufficient money and good education over there. Even the proud and vicious Cassiopeia Black cared for her brother (though she tried to never mention him because it was a taboo topic to talk about a squib family member).

"Well, she's not really a squib," said Alex slowly. "My sister was magical, just like me. However, she resisted when the family wanted to adopt us after my father's death and, in a magical accident, she lost her ability to cast magic."

Draco sensed that the topic was painful for the other, so he didn't try to pry more. Even if he didn't necessarily like the Russian boy, he didn't feel comfortable bringing up hurtful affairs.

"Alright, you wanted to see your sister, right?" he asked and, without waiting for an answer, turned to go. "Come, we don't have too much time, so let's go and meet her!"

Alex stared at Draco for a moment. However, soon he snapped out of his daze and quickly followed behind the other boy. A minute later they once again stood before the iron gate which hid the orphanage.

"How do we get inside?" Draco asked with a frown. Two underage kids came to meet another kid – who, in their right mind, would let them in?

Alex didn't reply. He pushed the gate and entered the territory. Then he hurriedly went to the orphanage's door. Draco silently followed. If the other boy didn't hesitate – it could only mean that he had a plan. Wasting brain cells to try and help would be too unproductive.

The orphanage seemed to be in a rather poor condition. The building was grayish, with the paint on the walls peeling off and dirt gathering on windowsills. The windows themselves were quite dirty and small – it was impossible to see anything from the outside.

As soon as the two boys entered, they were greeted by loud sounds. There were many unwanted children in the orphanage. They were all dressed in old and faded clothes, their faces were mostly frowning and unhappy. The noise came not from the children, but from matrons, who were loudly commanding the kids to clean the floors, windows and other things properly, as well as do other similar stuff.

Soon, one of the matrons noticed the two well-dressed boys, who stood out in the poor surroundings.

"Can I help you?" she came forward and asked with an unpleasant expression. Draco suspected that she thought they were abandoned and came here in hopes of finding where to live. Looking at the surroundings, he estimated that there were too many children and too little space, and provisions for them all. Two additions would have certainly been unwelcome.

Alex stepped forward. "Madam, I found a book from the orphanage abandoned in a playground. It was signed by Anastasia Orlova, so we came here to return it. Can we meet her?" he asked with a smile, looking like an angel who just descended from Heavens to do good deeds.

Draco felt distaste at the obvious act, however, seeing that the matron threw a glance at him, as if to confirm the story, he also smiled angelically and nodded.

"Anastasia is no longer in the orphanage, so I suggest for you to leave. However, I do thank you for returning our property," said the matron and motioned with her hands for the boys to go.

Alex's smile widened. "Legilimens," he whispered suddenly.

Draco hurriedly looked around to make sure that no one was watching them. He was relieved to see that most people were minding their own business while others, who were curious, were too far away to see or hear anything suspicious.

The blond boy turned back and observed as Alex examined the matron's memories. By the Russian boy's expression, it seemed that he found what he wanted, but the findings weren't pleasant. Soon the boy stopped his probing and severed the connection. As soon as the matron was free from Alex's influence, she staggered unsteadily. Draco hurriedly came forward to support her.

"Madam, are you alright?" he asked with fake concern. The older woman gripped her forehead, indicating pain, but her other hand motioned that she was fine and for them to leave.

The two boys didn't show any hesitation and exited the building. After walking a few steps Draco turned to face Alex and asked:

"What did you find?"

The other boy's expression was both, furious and grieving. His smile was nowhere to be found. Alex's face showed struggle, as though he wanted to say it but, at the same time, was hesitating. Finally, after a short silence, he revealed the matron's memories' content.

"Apparently, my sister, who is only thirteen, committed suicide a week ago."

"How can that be?" questioned Draco with astonishment. "What happened? Was she bullied by others?"

Alex snorted and stayed silent. He wanted to say something but couldn't seem to get it out. He walked a few steps and Draco followed until they left the orphanage behind.

As they strolled back to where they came from, Draco thought back to the atmosphere in the orphanage. When Alex mentioned his sister Anastasia, the matron's expression didn't flicker. The suicide was recent, but the older woman wasn't affected. So it could be concluded that she wasn't surprised over the recent events. Since the matron didn't show much concern, what was happening in the orphanage seemed to be something usual. Some kids could take it, while others couldn't.

"Was she harmed by an adult?" asked Draco cautiously. He started to suspect something, but saying it directly without evidence was too callous. However, it seemed that his suspicions were true.

"She was raped. She was raped by some bast*** and a lot of girls, who are over the age of ten, suffer from the same fate! This orphanage – it's just hell, and my adoptive father and grandfather sent her here, probably knowing that she will be unable to survive!" Alex shouted angrily. He said everything in English because he didn't want for others to overhear.

"Why would your relatives want her to suffer? Even if she's a squib, it's not like she could do any harm to them, right?" Draco wondered. He didn't know the whole story, but it just seemed too strange. A thirteen-year-old girl, who doesn't have any magic was schemed against by wizards who were five times her age.

Alex took a few deep breaths and calmed down.

"You may not know it, but I and my sister are… were… half-bloods. My father, Lord Sokolov's younger brother, fell in love with a muggle and married her. He was, of course, kicked out of the family and had to live in the muggle world. However, the family wasn't satisfied that he lived happily and even had a daughter – my sister Anastasia. They tried to make his life difficult in many different ways. My father and mother went into hiding, changed their surnames to Orlov – which was my mother's maiden name – and lived peacefully for a few years. I was born at that time."

Draco listened and didn't interrupt.

"Russia is quite strict when it comes to half-bloods. The ones, who have to take responsibility, are the parents. Rasputin's policies allow marriage between purebloods and muggle-borns (although it is looked down upon). But any mention of the marriage between a muggle and a wizard and the whole family is disgraced! The Sokolovs are, of course, a very old and proud family. They made sure that my father is in hell because they wanted him to abandon his muggle wife and take us back. However, my father didn't give in and, in the end, died."

Alex stopped for a moment. It was difficult for him to talk about his life, but he understood that he had to let Draco know his circumstances if he didn't want for the matter of them visiting the orphanage to be known to others.

"Then they came. My new adoptive father and real grandfather. They Obliviated my mother right before my sister's and my eyes and took us to Sokolov mansion. They even adopted us, expressing that they are such a good family, who cannot bear to let their own blood suffer!" Alex snorted with derision and continued.

"I was only three at the time, so I don't remember much… I don't even remember my mother's face. However, my sister knew everything. She was very intelligent and, even without any tutelage, she didn't have problems with using magic. Anastasia made up a plan to escape with me (I was already five at the time), find our mother and figure out a way for her to regain the Obliviated memories. In the end, we were caught. In a moment of panic, my sister released her magic. She was desperately attempting to escape, but the magic was rebounded and struck Lord Sokolov's wife. She was pregnant at the time and the accident resulted in her miscarriage. My sister lost her magic and was Obliviated. Then she was sent to this cursed orphanage."

"And then you came to find her six years later?" asked Draco.

"It wasn't easy," acknowledged Alex. "I barely remembered anything of the incident – I was only five and there was much confusion. One day my sister was there, while the next day I am told that she went back to live with our mother. I knew that I couldn't show any hate or resistance to my grandfather and adoptive father. I made sure to seem pleasant, agreeable and nice – like someone, who is easily manipulated. Behind my family's backs, I investigated the matter of my mother and sister. I found out that my mother's Obliviation was so strong that she had to be admitted to a psychiatric clinic because she forgot who she was."

"Then what about your sister?"

"Anastasia was also Obliviated, but she had been, once upon a time, magical. Her latent magic resisted and she, somehow, knew that she had a little brother… me," Alex was thoughtful for a moment. There was a small smile on his face and it seemed genuine and sad, making the boy look more real than ever before. "She wrote me a letter through muggle post and asked to meet me. I wanted to escape together with her, but now… I want revenge!"

Alex's fists clenched and unclenched, and his eyes burned with rage.

Draco sighed as he looked at the Russian boy. He understood the other better now. Alex was a person, who didn't mind the use whatever means necessary to achieve his goals – just look at his casual use of Legilimency on a muggle. He also hid his nature deeply and Draco didn't believe that Lord Sokolov didn't know that his brother's son wasn't as obedient as he appeared on the surface.

Draco felt the Russian boy's hidden depths from their first meeting. If anyone tried to convince him that Lord Sokolov, who was well in his seventies and had many experiences, didn't know a thing, Draco would be the first to laugh with incredulity. Alex was still too inexperienced in the matters of life.

The boy also revealed everything to someone, whom he met only two weeks ago, on the first presented opportunity – Draco didn't even have to do much to make the other confess his whole history. The blond boy also didn't doubt the other's words' authenticity. After all, he was also quite proficient in Legilimency and could tell when someone was deliberately lying or making up stories.

Even though Alex could use Occlumency and Legilimency, he didn't have the Malfoy family's natural talent in this area or Draco's ten years of experience of working with shrewd adults in the business and finance world. A child's lie wouldn't escape his eyes and Alex was only eleven.

As Draco stood silently thinking about the Russian boy's story, Alex suddenly turned around and walked to the gate of the orphanage with determination.

"Where are you going?" Draco shouted in alarm. He quickly caught up with the other and tugged on his arm.

Alex turned around and vigorously shook his arm, making Draco let go.

"I am going to kill all those, who caused my sister's death – directly or indirectly! First, I will start with muggles and then I will destroy the whole Sokolov family! They will rue the day that they decided to make us suffer!" he shouted in agitation at Draco and resumed his determined walk back to the orphanage.

Draco stopped the other boy once again.

"You are intelligent, you should be able to tell the consequences if you really kill them now," he said quickly. He was afraid that Alex wouldn't listen, however, the other blond stood in place and thought over Draco's words. Draco hurriedly continued, "Lord Sokolov will definitely find out and you won't be able to cause him any harm anyway. You will only make him more cautious. You haven't even started your magical education! What can you, as an eleven-year-old kid, actually do?"

Alex seemed to have calmed down. His expression was tranquil as he was thinking of something important. Draco also stopped his persuasion. Although it wasn't a matter where he could help or even wanted to get involved in, he didn't want for any accidents to happen in his host's family during his and the Blacks' stay there. A day later they would all go back to Britain and, if Alex wanted to make his own life miserable, Draco would be the first to wash his hands off this matter.

He didn't want to get involved in any disputes and he wasn't some hero, who would help all people, who were in need. He wasn't a saint and it was best to stay uninvolved in these affairs.

Finally, Alex nodded and Draco could release a sigh of relief.

"Let's go back to McDonald's. If we try to play two cute kids, I am sure that the adults will let us through," he said with some cheer. Draco still hadn't lost his hope to have a taste of those burgers.