"Maybe I can just morph into a house... and live in myself? Ugh no I wouldn't be very comfortable with that...an umbrella? It is rather rainy...but I could be picked up by a random stranger...even worse...the wind...then be stuck up a tree somewhere...NO!"
Zoe Hitzig stood under a lamp post, debating what to do now.
"You are no daughter of mine!"
"Get out, Zoe...just get out..."
"Zoe, we'll keep in touch. No matter what, we will not be forced apart..."
She couldn't help but smile at that last memory of her older brother consoling her. After the very heated debate, she had packed everything she could into her trunk and stormed off outside. The last thing she did was hug her brother and slam the door behind her.
It began raining a bit harder and the wind was picking up speed. It was blowing her long brown hair around, whipping her in the face every once in a while.
She let out a sigh and decided to start walking. But once she stepped foot on the road, two huge lights appeared right next to her. She let out a little squeal and realized it was a rather large bus. A purple triple decker bus.
Zoe stepped back onto the sidewalk in a daze. What was it doing HERE? In the middle of Godric's Hollow?
"You nearly ran me over!" Zoe yelled at the person stepping out of the bus.
"Well, luckily Ernie has his glasses on tonight, dontcha Ern?" a young man yelled at someone inside the bus. He looked to be about 20 and had large protruding ears with a very pimply face. He was tall and very thin.
"Who are you?" Zoe put her hand into her purse stealthily, clutching at her wand.
"I am Samuel Shunpike, that's my mate Ernie in there and this ol' beaut," he patted the side of the bus, "is the Knight Bus."
He made some sort of bow and took ahold of her luggage, "Make yourself at home there."
Zoe stepped into the vehicle and saw the person Samuel had talked to earlier. The man, Ernie, seemed to be in his late 40's with very thick glasses that made him resemble an owl.
"ello there!" he waved at her and grinned, "rainy night isn't it?"
Samuel had dragged her trunk inside, "Well then why don't we get you situated. Your bed is the one at the very end."
"Before I go any further, what exactly is the Knight Bus?" Zoe looked around at what looked like a hotel on wheels.
"The knight bus, my fair lady, helps those wizards in need," Samuel turned to Ernie, "All right Ern, let's get going then."
The bus gave a big jolt forward and Zoe had found herself stumbling backwards. There was nothing to hold onto. She hadn't noticed before but there were people sleeping in some of the beds that were scattering around.
"Sleeping? These people must be mad!" she thought to herself as she tried to make her way to the last bed without falling. Unfortunately, she was clumsy enough as it was and now there was a moving floor underneath her.
She finally managed to reach her bed. She sat down at the edge and looked at the window looking at the trail behind. The bus was moving rather fast and was dodging every object in its path flawlessly.
"So, where shall we drop you off?" Samuel eased his way through the beds and stood in front of her.
"Um..." she tried to think where she could go...somewhere she'd be welcome..."Mill Town!"
"MILL TOWN, ERNIE!" Samuel shouted to the driver. He walked back to the front, nearly being hit by a rolling bed.
The ride was rather short. She had finally gotten the hang of the movements when Samuel waved her forward.
"Here we are!" Samuel grabbed her luggage from her and walked out onto the street, "That'll be eleven sickles."
Zoe rummaged through her purse and handed the eleven sickles to Samuel, "Thanks for the lift."
She grabbed ahold of the handle on her trunk and wheeled it towards a pleasant looking home. She looked back towards the street and saw the Knight Bus had already left. As she was about to knock on the door, the door burst open.
"What happened?" a red haired girl asked loudly.
"Wha-how-uhhhhh..." Zoe still had her hand made into a fist in front of her.
"Craig called a few minutes ago," her friend's green eyes looked Zoe up and down, probably checking to see if she'd been cursed or anything.
"We had a phone?" Zoe put down her fist, "Can I come in? It's kinda raining..."
"Sure! Sorry I'm still in a bit of shock," the girl motioned Zoe in and closed the door behind her, "I've already let my mum and dad know you would be here. They're out right now, though. They're quite pleased. They also added that during the holidays you can come with us to the United States. We're going on vacation to Florida."
"That'd be amazing!" she smiled and added,"So, Lily, what would you like to know about the events tonight?" she walked over to the living room and sat down on a couch.
"Thinking about it now, I can only guess that they found out about you joining the Order and that's why they did what they did. And only a week before we go off to school again! THE NERVE!" Lily took a seat next to Zoe.
"Yeah they did...but hey they were going to find out about it sooner or later. I still say I could have gotten away with it for another year," Zoe sighed and threw her head back.
"I doubt it. Your sneaking abilities are not the best in the world, Zoo," Lily nudged Zoe with her elbow, "Want something to drink?"
"Yes please! I worked up a thirst with all the screaming." chuckled Zoe as she looked around, "Where's Toony?"
"Petunia is not rather fond of that nickname, Zoe. She's with her friends right now at the mall or something. She never tells me anything," Lily stood up and walked into the kitchen with Zoe trailing behind her.
"What's this?" Zoe grabbed a piece of parchment that was laying on the counter.
"Don't!" Lily lunged towards Zoe but she was too slow.
"I love you. Sincerely, James," Zoe read aloud, "That's it?" She turned it over to see if there was anything else.
Lily snatched it out of her hands and stuffed it into her jeans pocket, "It's very romantic!"
"I guess. Black must have wasted James' ink writing back to his adoring fans," Zoe sneered, "Anyways, still not talking to Severus?"
Lily grabbed some glasses and set them down on the counter where Zoe was fidgeting with a napkin, "No. I'm never speaking to him again."
She poured them some water and sighed, "He's tried apologizing but he made his choice when he let those awful words escape his stupid mouth."
"Isn't it kinda hard to avoid him though. He lives very close by," Zoe took a sip.
"Yeah but I don't really go out much anyway so I never really see him."
"That's good," Zoe gulped the water down.
"Jeez! Were you that thirsty?" Lily laughed.
"Yes, actually," Zoe set her glass down and laughed as well, "The water even tastes better away from my house ya know?"
They chatted and chatted about the latest gossip and James and the news...and James.
Zoe let out a yawn, "I'm really tired."
"Let me show you to your room. I decorated in a bit of a hurry after I got off the phone with Craig. Thank God for magic!"
Lily lead her into the basement and switched on the light. The room WAS the entire basement. The walls were painted green as they always had been but now there were posters of her favorite muggle bands and quidditch teams posted all over.
"It's rather impressive! I love it!" Zoe pushed her luggage into an empty corner and surveyed the room, her big brown eyes looking straight at the comfy bed, "Ugh...it looks like heaven."
She threw herself on it, "It feels like it too!" she closed her eyes and didn't open them.
Zoe didn't know when Lily had left. She didn't know when exactly it was that she had fallen asleep. All she knew was that it was very comfortable and peaceful where she was. Not a problem in the world. The world was perfect once more.