Leaky Cauldron.

My roommates and I sat in a compartment on the train back from Hogwarts. "So when are you doing the test?" Grant asked.

"In Two days" I answered. I tapped on the window; I wondered who my parents were and why they had left me; if they were alive, where were they?

"It'll be fine, mate", Tim said.

"yeah, I guess, anyway, I'm going to be around Diagon Alley for a few days before heading back to cokesworth for Christmas", I said. "I'll send you a letter with the information I find out", I said to them. "Whatever I find out, I don't want it to be shared."

"yeah, sure, mate, but you know if it's a famous family, it is going to be in the news," Grant said. "Daily profit loves, gossip." 

"Yeah, I know", I sighed. "I will know soon enough."

"What are your plans?" I asked Grant.

"My father's company has a Christmas party I have to go to," said Grant.

"Just Christmas with the family," Tim said.

Arriving at Kingscross, I grabbed my bag and guitar case. I only took a couple of sets of clothes and a few books, so it all fit in my bag. Hoping off the train, I stretch. "Tim Eddie, come meet my parents", said Grant. "Sure".

Grant lead us to a middle aged couple, the man was in a business suit he was fit blonde and wore glasses like Grant, his mother was beautiful and had a smile as we approached she wore robes. Grant and his parents hugged; they seemed like a nice family. "Mum, Dad, these are my roommates." He explained, "This is Edward Carter, and this is Timothy Mathers."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr and Mrs steward," I said.

"Hiya," said Tim.

Grant's father looked at Tim. "You are Douglas Mathers son?" He asked Tim.

"Ah, yes, sir?" Tim said worriedly.

"I wonder why he was in Kings Cross", Grant's father muttered. "Sorry, I'm Oswald Stewart; your father works as my head of legal." Tim and Grant were shocked.

"Well, we should go greet them. They were anxiously waiting near the gate." Mrs steward said. We started to walk off together outside of the gate. Back in the muggle world, we met Tim's parents, and they shared a laugh to find out his boss's wife was a witch and that their sons were roommates. They were a nice couple, one working in corporate law and the other as a criminal defence lawyer. The parents decide they should get coffee. "Ah, thanks, but I should head off", I declined. "See ya back at school, " I said to my roommates and headed out to the taxis.

--pov grant--

As I watched Eddie walk away, I could not help but feel sad. "Where's Eddie's parents," my mother asked. "Doesn't have any." I said, still staring at his fading back. "he has foster parents, but I don't know; they treat each other like landlord and tenant," I continued.

"Good kid, though?" My mother asked, I looked at her she was also watching eddie leave.

"Yeah, great singer and guitarist, too," I said.

"Maybe we can invite him over sometime." His mother said.

"Maybe I don't know if he would come through" I sighed. 'It must have been hard seeing our families, ' I thought. 'Don't worry, brother, you have a family.'

--pov tim--

'Mmm, pie', I thought as I ate the meat pie Dad bought me.

--pov eddie--

"Charing Cross Street", I said to the taxi driver after getting in.

"No problem," the driver said and started to drive. "Just in from holidays."

"Yeah, a boarding school in Scotland,", I said.

"Which house did you get sorted in?" the taxi driver smiled.

I looked at him in the mirror. And laughed. "Slytherin", I said.

"Really, I was a hufflepuff myself" he said proudly.

"Tell you the truth, I would love to be a Hufflepuff, too." I said "my and my dorm mates are like the oddest Slytherins, try to eat at another table other than slytherin."

"Yeah, they were always pratts, so am I dropping you off at the leaky cauldron?"

"Yeah, that will do thanks mate" I said to him. We chatted a bit more about castle life and his life. Frank was a muggle-born and couldn't find work on the wizarding world side, so they just became a taxi driver.

"Well here we are eddie" he said pulling up to the cauldron, I started to fish out some money "Ah don't worry about it, always good to see you wizards." He said

"Thanks, Frank." I grabbed my stuff and got out of the cab "have a merry Christmas" I said before closing the door. "You too, Eddie."

I entered the leaky cauldron and went up to the bar.

"I don't server under-age wizards mate" tom the bar keeper said.

"I just need a room for five days," I said.

"2 Galleons a night," Tom said. Pulling out a book, "Five Nights That's ten Galleons

I handed him ten galleons

"Name?" He said, picking up a quill to write in the book.

"Edward Carter," I said.

"Room 2B", he pulled out a key ", on the second floor, Mister Carter."

The room was old but comfortable. It was late afternoon, so I decided to go get some dinner at a restaurant in the alley. While the Leaky Cauldron is a pub, its food isn't the best. I found a little restaurant with outdoor seating. It was a nice evening, so I sat outside and ate. My thoughts ran like a train; couples and families were also eating, laughing and having a good time. I hadn't felt this alone in a while. I patted my guitar case, drumming my fingers on it in thought.

"Hey, kid, can you play?" A man asked me. I looked at him and nodded. "Here's a Galleon; play us something." I looked at it, then him; he was in his mid-twenties, and it looked like he was on a date. I unclasped my guitar case and pulled out my guitar. I guess I was a busker now. A song came to my mind when I thought that. I pulled out my wand and cast <lumos saltare>. A little orb of light leapt from my wand and hovered around me; putting my wand back, the orb stayed. This was a spell Professor Flitwick taught me at the request of Professor Snape because he could see how I struggled while holding my wand and playing music. The dancing light spell Professor Flitwick had called it, mine really danced, however.

I strummed the First few cords. It was a slow, lovely song. As the first lines came out of my mouth, a smile came to my lips. •Fast Car by Tracy Chapman•Passenger's Cover is also great•

♫You got a fast car

And I want a ticket to anywhere

Maybe we make a deal

Maybe together we can get somewhere

Any place is better

Starting from zero, got nothing to lose

Maybe we'll make something

Me, myself, I got nothing to prove♫

I started to sway as I played, and the little light started to waltz around the table slowly. The restaurant growers looked over at me.

♫You got a fast car

I got a plan to get us out of here

I've been working at the convenience store

Managed to save just a little bit of money

Won't have to drive too far

Just across the border and into the city

You and I can both get jobs

Finally, see what it means to be living♫

By this time, the staff had stopped and also were watching me. The little light was picking up tempo softly, letting off a yellow light like that of a candle.

♫See, my old man's got a problem

He live with the bottle, that's the way it is

He says his body's too old for working

His body's too young to look like his

Mama went off and left him

She wanted more from life than he could give

I said, "Somebody's got to take care of him"

So, I quit school and that's what I did♫

I saw that the couples had grown closer and started to sway with the music.

♫You got a fast car

Is it fast enough so we can fly away?

Still gotta make a decision

Leave tonight, or live and die this way♫

The orb jumped from the table, landed on my shoulders, and danced up and down my arm, leaving a trail.

♫So, I remember when we were driving, driving in your car

Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk

City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder

And I, I, I had a feeling that I belonged

I, I, I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone♫

As the tempo picked up, the light spiralled upwards into the sky. To slowly float down like a falling leaf during the next verse.

♫You got a fast car

We go cruising, entertain ourselves

You still ain't got a job

So I work in a market as a checkout girl

I know things will get better

You'll find work and I'll get promoted

We'll move out of the shelter

Buy a bigger house, live in the suburbs♫

People on the street had stopped to watch the performance, too. Some light kids were watching the light with awe. That made me smile.

♫So, I remember when we were driving, driving in your car

Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk

City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder

And I, I, I had a feeling that I belonged

I, I, I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone♫

The light now danced in front of the kids, shifting hues.

♫You got a fast car

I got a job that pays all our bills

You stay out drinking late at the bar

See more of your friends than you do of your kids

I'd always hoped for better

Thought maybe together you and me would find it

I got no plans, I ain't going nowhere

Take your fast car and keep on driving♫

The light turned blue, returned to me, and started swirling around my guitar neck.

♫So, I remember when we were driving, driving in your car

Speed so fast, I felt like I was drunk

City lights lay out before us

And your arm felt nice wrapped around my shoulder

And I, I, I had a feeling that I belonged

I, I, I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone♫

The light danced through the crowd and returned to me.

♫You got a fast car

Is it fast enough, so you can fly away?

You still gotta make a decision

Leave tonight, or live and die this way♫

The light softened and faded with the song. There was a very pocket clap from the audience; the kids were enthusiastic in their clapping, and everyone else had smiles, but it seemed like it would be rude to cheer after that song.

"That was brilliant, kid. It was the best Galleon I've ever spent." He said in a whisper. I left the Galleon on the table and packed my guitar away. I waved to the waiter who served me the check. A Galleon should cover the cost of my meal.

-A/n-

Another longish chapter.

I had a few comments about using the whole song; I tried it here, so comment if you like it or not. Also, regarding under-age magic, the trace only detects magic activity around under-age wizards, not those who cast the spell. The ministry wouldn't even bother checking since he's in Diagon Alley with a bunch of adult wizards.