This is a Bigger World: A Harry Potter fanfic

CHAPTER 6

Harry had run out of tapes. He had run out of time, and he no longer had that dratted need to go back to the Dursleys. He wound back the tapes with the help of the trainer, and gathered them all up again. He walked to the back of the station, and went through a maintenance door. He decided to hide there just a little bit longer to see if he could find anything after the stores shut down for the night that he could use. He definitely wanted some jeans, and he could get something for Joe. And maybe Duffy the dog. He didn't know, he just didn't want to get caught stealing. Harry ran down the maintenance hallways, looking for a place to hide. He found some boxes that were partially empty, and when he transferred the items into one box, he had enough room to hide. Time passed by fast, and before he knew it, one of the janitors passed by him, thinking out loud how it was nine, and he had to go home to his wife. Harry knew that his time had come, and he was ready to rumble. Fashioning a mask out of the blanket, he slunk into the first store that he found. When he emerged through the back entrance, his nose was bombarded with sweet smells. There were stacks of soap, candles, and lotions all around. Reading the small print on the packaging confirmed Harry's first thought: this was Bath and Body Works. Harry knew the only thing that he and Joe would need was hand sanitizer and candles. Grabbing a small array of candles, as well as some of the Pocketbacs virtually guaranteed that he and Joe would have a small amount of light into the evening, as well as staying slightly clean. Grabbing some cash from the register, Harry made his way into the next store. This one made tailored suits, which Harry knew that wouldn't be useful on the streets. Passing by more doors, he found something that would definitely interest him. It was REI. Filled with things that the homeless would dream of having. Tents, rope, knives, even military emergency rations. This was one store that Harry could actually appreciate. Harry immediately sourced out the food, prepared to take his fill. Swiping another backpack so that he could carry more, Harry started emptying the shelves of all the food items he could. After the first backpack couldn't hold anything anymore, he piled more in the second, and then he discovered the battery asle. Grabbing several that would fit into his walkman, he made his way out of the store, and onto the next.

Checking the time from a watch he stole from a businessman, Harry realised that it was 1 am. Joe would be worried about him. Leaving the final store through the back exit, Harry emerged in a labyrinth of passages, with no sense of which way was out. Suddenly, a Security guard rounded the corner. Spotting Harry, the guard started running towards the small boy. Harry started running, but he was unable to reach top speeds with two backpacks on him. With the guard gaining on him, Harry had to find a way out. If he could make it to the streets, he would be safe. "Hey kid! Get back here!" Harry started running even faster. The tunnels twisted and turned in front of him, with steep ramps and doors to other stores, and no chance of escape. With Harry getting desperate and tired, and the guard not letting up. Harry knew that he had to escape. A door that he recognised emerged in front of him. With the familiar blocked red lettering on it, it read KEEP OUT, DO NOT ENTER, TRAINS IN MOTION. Harry had seen this door from the other side of the subway tube, one of Joe's hideouts before he moved into the abandoned building with Harry. Joe had shown Harry all the ins and outs of the subway that he could in the short time that they were there, and Harry knew that he had to remember the way out. Tugging desperately at the door handles, Harry knew that the door was locked. In a fit of pure desperation, he screamed loudly, in almost a metal-like grind, and the doors suddenly sprung open. Jumping onto the side of the tracks and running into the shadows there, the security guard never stood a chance with his stomping boots and blinding flashlight. A train flew by, Harry nestled closer into the alcove that he had found. When the train passed, the doors were shut, and the security guard was nowhere to be seen. Harry started looking for signs that there was an opening around him. The tunnel was pitch black, with the only light streaming through the cracks in the door. Harry started rummaging around in his backpack to feel for the reading light that he had stolen from the bookstore that he had raided. Along with food, he had also picked up a book on proper Olympic running, and also a thick number on mythology that he thought Joe would like. When he located the small light, he clicked it on, letting it's faint glow light the way. Looking carefully for signs of the typical markers that the homeless made to get out of the tunnels, Harry started out, heading back into the concrete jungle of buildings where he belonged.