Chapter 4
A bus ride
"Uh, London, Piccadilly Circus," said Harry. "Yes that's where I want to go."
The boy took his transit pass and looked for the meter.
Ernie looked at the pass then peered at him through his coke bottle glasses looking closely at the boy. He saw a pair of broken eye glasses perched on a very thin face with a black eye, a shock of long and unruly black hair going every which way, and wearing clothes that were at least two sizes too big for him. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well let's get on with it then, please take a seat, anywhere will do." The dog followed him on board and hopped up onto the bed Harry was sitting on and curled up with his head in the boys lap.
The driver got up and said, "Be just a minute I got to check on me passenger in the back."
The boy sat down and watched the driver shuffle to the back of the bus. An old man in a funny green coat and shabby top hat was slumped over in the seat. He seemed vaguely familiar but could not place him. The driver leaned over him and shook him gently. "Daedalus, wake up." The old man groaned.
"What do you want Ernie?"
"I need help. You won't believe who just got on the bus!"
"Go wake up Stan, the conductor."
"No, I need your help." He then whispered something in his ear.
"You been into the fire whisky again Ernie?"
"Look at him you fool"?
The old man looked around the driver and was shocked.
"What's "he" doing here?"
"How the hell do I know, he's in trouble and hailed the bus; you have to help me here!"
"What time is it Ernie?"
"2:00 a.m."
"Dam. Take the bus to the ministry. Arthur is working tonight. He'll surely help us."
The driver went back up front followed by the old man who sat down across from the boy who looked at him with open curiosity.
"Hello young sir. What brings you onto this bus?"
The young boy just looked at him and smiled.
"Not talkative are you?"
The boy just looked back at him and smiled again.
"Would you like a cup of hot chocolate?"
The boy's face twitched. Then he shook his head no even though he felt the man meant no harm.
"Well would ye mind if I got one for myself?" I feel funny drinking one in front of you and not offering, ya see."
The boy said: "Thank you, no, but you go right ahead".
"Well, I guess I'll pass as I don't like to drink alone".
"Next stop"; yelled the driver! "Here we are sir. How long will you be?"
The old man from the back got up and shuffled closer to the driver. "I'll be just a few minutes. Arthur needs help. He can't move very fast. I appreciate you waiting."
The boy watched the old man slowly walk into a phone booth and then he disappeared.
The boy was startled and rubbed his eyes.
The driver cleared his throat. "Oh you dropped off there for a few minutes. You were napping son. We're just waiting for a passenger. Just sit back and relax. Can I get you some hot chocolate?"
The boy rubbed his eyes some more. He didn't think he had fallen asleep but he did not know what to think. Did the old man really disappear? Was he dreaming?
A few minutes later the old man was at the door to the bus with a larger man with red hair with a receding hair line. Harry saw something silver flash and then fly down the street and disappear. He had no idea what he had just seen. They both got on the bus and the red haired man sat down next to Harry. The old man with the top hat went to the back of the bus and came back with a tray of hot chocolate for all of them including the driver.
The red haired man spoke first. "Ernie, take us to the Burrow. And mind you take it easy. I don't want to spill the hot chocolate."
Turning to the boy he handed him a cup. "It's Ok, you have some. It's very good;" and smiled as he took a sip. "My name is Arthur. How are you doing Harry?"
That got the boys attention. Looking over the rim of the cup he wondered how the man knew his name. He'd not said anything since he got on the bus. He felt that the man's emotions were of concern; but concern for what though?
"Thank you for the hot Chocolate sir. It was as good as you said it was sir." The boy was looking around, obviously nervous. "Please Mr. Driver I'll be getting out at the next stop sir".
"Now harry. No need to get off the bus. It's the middle of the night. Not the time for a young boy to go wandering around in the dark is it?"
"How do you know my name sir? I did not say it on this bus."
"Your name is Harry Potter and I knew your parents, Lily Evens and James Potter," said the red haired man named Arthur.
At this the boy dropped his cup which spilled all over him.
"Oh dear" said the Arthur as took a slender piece of wood and waved it over Harry. The mess was instantly cleaned up.
Harry was gob smacked and sat staring in wonder at the man.
"Then you're a FREAK too. Just like me?"
Arthur twisted his head and sort of looked sideways. "Freak Harry"?
"Well that is what my Aunt and Uncle call me anytime something strange happens. And this is strange, it is just like magic!"
Arthur looked at him and had a very serious look on his face. Harry saw emotions flickering across his face as her tried to decide what to say. "Harry, I can assure you, that both you and I are not, "Freaks" as your relations may claim." I am a magical person Harry, I am a wizard. And you are one also!"
"What?"
The boy paused for almost a minute.
"You mean I'm a wizard? Really?" Magic is real?"
"Harry, have unexplained strange things happened to you, perhaps when you were scared or angry?"
"Mr. Arthur, did you really know my parents?"
"Yes Harry I did, and don't evade my question. You talk like my twins, Fred and George. They won't give me a straight answer either," said Arthur with a laugh and a big smile on his face.
Harry was reassured. He thought the man might yell at him. "Yes sir, strange things have happened. Like in the school yard when my cousin and his friends were chasing me to beat me up and I suddenly found myself on the roof of the school kitchen."
"Harry is that how you got your black eye?"
Harry reached up and touched his face and winced. "No sir, my Uncle gave me that when he threw me into the cupboard."
Harry saw the red haired man blanche white.
"Harry, what did you do that he hit you?"
"I made his toast a little too brown, but usually nothing. He looks for an excuse to hit me. See, I may not move fast enough, or he'd think I was cheeky or did not clean well enough or cook fast enough or breath too loud." Harry looked at the floor, his cheeks flushed red. He says "I'm useless sir, I don't matter to anyone, I'm just a waste of space."
Arthur continued, "Or you'd do accidental magic?"
Harry nodded.
"Harry, no adult should hit a child, especially for reasons such as you said."
"Mr. Arthur, Sir, you said you knew my parents. My Aunt and Uncle said they were drunks and killed themselves in a car wreck and they were stuck with me. Is that true? I try to ask my Aunt and Uncle about them but they get angry and put me I the cupboard, without supper."
Harry could see Arthur was getting very angry. He face was all red and his breathing was heavy. He was looking at Harry in way that made Harry nervous. He was getting the look his uncle got when he blew his top. Harry moved back into his seat and began looking around.
"Harry," said Arthur as he leaned forward. This startled Harry and he jumped. "Don't hit me Mr. Arthur!"
Arthur was quite taken aback. With a startled look of his own he said. "Harry, I'd never hit you. What makes you think I would?"
"You looked angry, just like my uncle when he would blow up and hit me sir. I left them because I'll never let anyone do that to me again, sir."
"Harry, my dear boy, I'm sorry if I frightened you. I was indeed angry, but with your Aunt and Uncle. They have lied to you about your parents for some reason. Lily and James were both wonderful people. A nicer young couple than I ever met. They were not drunks and did not die in an accident. They died protecting you from a great evil. I cannot image why they have treated you so."
Harry looked at the red haired man. "Are you telling me the truth about my parents? Did you know them? Is, is magic real sir?"
"Harry, yes I am telling you the truth and magic is as real as you or I or this bus. You say you were running from a gang and found yourself up on the roof of the school? That is called apparition Harry. It is amazing you did it at such a young age as most wizards don't have the ability and control to do it until they are about 17. Here watch me."
Arthur stood up turned on the spot and with a loud crack he disappeared and reappeared at the back of the bus. "Hi Harry!"
Harry looked on in wonder as Arthur did it again and reappeared right next to him.
"It's real then, we are not freaks?"
"Yes it's real Harry. We are both magical and my whole family is too."
Just then the bus stopped in front of the lane to the Burrow.
"Harry, it's very late and you have nowhere to go. This is my home and this women walking towards us is my wife Molly. Please stay with us while you sort things out. We won't mistreat you and we won't take you back to your Muggle relatives."
Harry looked at the women. She had a robe on, a pleasant face that looked like she just got up and red hair too. She smiled at Harry.
"What are Muggles?
"That's what we call non magical people Harry."
"You sure you won't try and send me back to my Aunt and Uncle? I won't go there and I won't stay here if that is what you are going to do."
Molly said: "Come in with us, we won't hurt you. I have children your age. You will have someone to make friends with."
Harry looked intently into her eyes. He could feel she seemed concerned about him. He did not know what to think. He seldom felt this with anyone.
"Can Paddy stay with me too? He's my friend."
With that the dog got up and walked up to Molly and licked her hand and wagged his tail and looked at her with pleading in his eyes.
"Sure Harry, Paddy can stay too."
With that Harry abruptly stood up and took Paddy by the scruff of his neck fur. He stopped by the bus driver.
"Thank you for the ride Mr. Ernie Sir. I appreciate you stopping for me."
He then walked Paddy off the bus.
"Please show us the way Mrs. Molly, mam."
"No Harry, my first name is Molly. You can call me Molly or Mrs. Weasley, which ever you're comfortable with."
Harry walked with Arthur and Molly up to the Burrow. Harry could not see much in the dark and he was a little nervous. They entered the kitchen and Molly asked, "Harry, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"
"No Mrs. Weasley, mam, I'm just tired. Where can I lie down and sleep? Harry was looking around. "Is this OK?" Harry asked as he went to the kitchen broom closet and opened the door?"
Molly's face turned ashen. "No Harry, why would you think I'd let you sleep in a broom closet"?
Harry face turned red. He looked at the floor and whispered: "It's where I sleep at my Aunt and Uncles. In a cupboard under the stairs. Uncle says; "Freaks like me don't deserve a bed, or a room and I belong out of sight."
"Harry," Molly said as she knelt down. "Children sleep in a bed. And that's where you are going to sleep when you're in my home." Follow me young man. She grabbed his hand and walked him up to Ron's room. "We have to be quiet. You're sharing a room with my son Ronald. He's your age."
They slipped into the room. Ron was curled up on his side with the covers pulled up over his head so that the only thing poking out was a thatch of red hair. Molly turned down the bed next to Ron's and picked up a pile of clothes. "Harry, this way please. She led him to the bath room. Go to the bathroom before you go to sleep. Here are pajamas to change into. Make sure you wash your hands and face. Here is a new toothbrush so you can brush your teeth. Leave your clothes in there so I can clean them. I'll be waiting here."
A few minutes later Harry came out. He took his stuffed dog out of the backpack. Molly helped him into the bed. She picked him up and hugged him. Harry was shocked. He stiffened and began to cry. Molly was taken aback. "Did I hurt you Harry?"
"No. Mrs. Molly, mam, I just don't remember ever being hugged before."
Harry was looking down at his lap. Molly gently embraced him again. "Harry, I don't know why you've been treated the way you have, no child should be treated that way, but here you will find it different."
She had felt something in his arms when she hugged him but did not see anything. She looked at Harry and pulled out her wand and said "Finite" and a stuffed dog appeared.
"My Harry, that is a nice stuffed dog you have. It looks like your dog Paddy!"
"You can see it?"
"Yes I can Harry. How did you put a disillusionment charm on it?"
"I was afraid that my Aunt and Uncle or cousin would take it if they saw it so I closed my eyes and held it and wished real hard for it to be invisible."
Molly pulled the blankets up to his chin.
"Well you don't have to worry about that here. Rest well Harry, we'll see you for breakfast and introduce you to the family then."
Just then Paddy trotted in, looked at Molly with sad eyes and curled up on the floor right next to the bed.
"Good night Harry."
"Good night Mrs. Molly, mam."
Molly left thinking that there was no way she would let Albus Dumbledore put him back with his relation's. He would have to deal with her now.
Harry looked around the room and was startled to see the posters on the wall for something called the Canons. The people on the poster moved around throwing a ball. This is really strange. He fell asleep soon after wondering if he was dreaming, if he really was in a bed in a home with people who were kind to him. And she hugged me, marveled Harry as he fell asleep clutching his stuffed black dog.
