-=Jenea C. owns Echo Desiree, and J.K.R. Owns the other characters. Don't sue, please.=-

AN/ Jenea sent me Echo, so Echo could have wild adventures in the fandom. For my part; I'm having a great time. Cheers!

Abandon

Giving Up the Ghost

The rhythmic thump of the passenger train over tracks soothed Echo. She didn't have to take the train, but she'd never ridden one. Most of the trains where she was from carried coal, auto chassis, orange juice from Florida, soy and military vehicles. There were a spare few passenger trains, and they came at a premium. Riding on the train was just like she'd imagined it, except when she had imagined riding on a train; she envisioned herself riding in a freight car with her little knapsack and po'k'n'beans. Echo laughed at herself. That was another time, in another country. For a while she stared at her reflection in the glass as the train rushed onward. An amorphous shadow crept across her cheek, she stiffened in her high-backed seat. "Go in peace," Echo urged. Scrunching her eyes closed, she hoped it would pass quickly. I'm sorry. The train whistle screamed as they entered London's Euston station.

/-\

Echo knew she was out of her element, and she needed to check her directions so she went into the restroom. Checking her list of instructions, checking the time again. The Headmistress suggested that she take the Knight Bus for Witches and Wizards. Tucking her directions back inside her riding leather coat. Everyone she had encountered so far spoke English but she was hard put to understand them. I 'spect that goes with the territ'ry. Thrilling to be in a new circumstances. Things are bound to change, though the fright she had back at the café in Manchester an again on the train had sufficiently tempered her optimism. "Bes' not count yer chickens before they hatch, I 'spect." Her lazy drawl attracted the attention of others nearby. Echo couldn't decide if it had been her accent or her talking to herself. She had an ingrained habit of talking to herself, ever since she was a kid. It wasn't that she liked hearing her own voice, as some have said; only it gave more life, more certainty to her thoughts. Echo needed to be certain.

Outside the train station Echo searched for a private place to summon the Knight Bus. No one's around. Echo pulls out her wand; hawthorn and white wolf hair. Horns blasted as a big purple nightmare came hurtling at her. Frozen in terror she closed her eyes hoping it'd be a quick death. "Wotcher! Oy, you there."

Echo relaxed herself from the defensive posture she had assumed. Opening her eyes, only to be met with an odd sort of man about four inches from her face. "What's the idea, y'all tryin' to kill a person?" The stranger backed up slightly. Echo pressed her hand to her chest hoping to stop her heart pounding.

"Uh, Miss you did signal us? Right?" The skinny stranger chanced.

"Yeah, Knight Bus right?" She slid her wand back into an inner pocket.

"One and the same. I'm Stan, Stan Shunpike, I'll be your conductor." She followed him on to the purple contraption. "Where you headed?"

Pulling out her instructions again, "Leaky Cauldron, London."

"Say you ain't from round here? You sound kinda foreign, you know." Stan studied her for a long moment.

"Ahead of the class were ya? Yeah, I'm new here. How much?" Reaching into her pocket. What an idiot.

"Nuffin', this one's on us, 'sides it'd take us all of a mo' to get you there." Nodding her thanks she took the first available seat. Echo groped for a seatbelt, and found none. "Say somefin' foreign." Stan leaned toward her in anticipation, as she was rocked, jostled and jolted.

"Something foreign?" Stan nodded vigorously. "You want English or Bad English?" Stan anxious chivied Echo on. He must be touched in the head. "Y'all never meet Americans?"

Stan pointed excitedly, "that's real good, say somefin' else." Echo grabbed hold of the chair as they came to a screeching halt.

"This here the Leaky Cauldron?" Pointing to the sign.

"Wow, that's great. Wish I could talk foreign, you Ernn'? You wanta talk foreign like...what you say your name was?" Stan adjusted his hat importantly.

"Echo Desiree." Careful not to make any sudden moves, she stood to go before he jumped on her.

"I don't fink I can say it, pretty though. Call us any-time Miss. Name's Stan, like'ta show you 'round." She waved him off, stepping onto the macadam. With a deafening bang, the Knight Bus shot off into mid-afternoon traffic.

~*~

Checking the time again. Round about two hours to spare. Stepping into the dim interior, it took several moments before her eyes adjusted. Moving toward the bar, trying to minimize her accent. "How do I get to Diagon Alley from here?"

Tom smiled. "Come with me lamb, I'll show you. Pretty accent you have, what is it?"

"Suthu'n. I'm from Geo'gia." Echo blushed at the smiling Tom.

Reaching a hand out in greeting, "name's Tom. I'm the Innkeeper."

"Echo Desiree. Pleased to meet you Tom. I'll be back in a couple of hours, I'm meeting someone from Hogwarts, the letter didn't say who. Guess they're going to draw straws." Her mouth quirked in good humour. Odd spot. Echo took in the garbage cans and brick wall.

Tom held out his wand to tap the bricks to open the portal. "When you come back through it will automatically open for you. See you in a bit Madam Desiree." Tom bowed her through.

The little cobbled Alley was crammed with little shops on both sides. Echo started down the thorough faire until she saw a bookstore. Flourish and Blotts. "Books," she moaned.

AN/ Tell me what you think, I eagerly await your missives! Varity