Chapter Three Nightmare Lane Via The Knight Bus
"Bump!" Harry felt solid ground, he warily opened his eyes. Yes, he was in the park again. "I'll never get used to Floo travel" he said, shaking his head. Remembering that it was really late, and he needed to be up early for the Hogwarts Train the next day, Harry fumbled in his pockets and brought out his wand. "Ah..." Harry thought, "What am I supposed to do? I should've asked Stan!" he told himself and he strained his memory back to the night he was stranded and saved by the Knight Bus... "That's it !" whistled Harry in relief, "My wand hand! I just stick it out..." and so he did, but quickly stepping back afterwards.
A giant purple monster of a bus, came to sudden halt, narrowly missing Harry's foot and a slim, pretty witch, with dreadlocks and dressed in a little purple top, and miniskirt and higher-then-necessary heeled boots appeared in the door. In a very tired voice and yawning she said,
"Good evenin' and welcome to da Knight Bus, for wizards, witches and magical-type peoples in trouble... emergency transportation...yada, yada, yada... Look kid....just get on...." and with a flick of her wand she lifted Harry's motorbike onto the bus, looking at it with surprise.
Whatever Harry had expected from Stan's cousin, it was not this!
"Nice bike small fry. So why use the bus... Er...?" she searched for a name as they both boarded the bus and it lurched back on course.
"Harry... I..."
"Harry Potter!" exclaimed Ernie, mouth open, "Great pleasure to meet you again... no need to pay of course...where do you want to go son?" He shook his head smiling "Oh, poor Stan, he really wanted to see you again..."
The conductress had been temporarily frozen, his eyes wide in disbelief, "Harry POTTER?!" she shrieked, trembling, "Please excuse me! I'm SOO sorry! You see my cousin and me..."
"Stan? Yes...he told me about that." grinned Harry, trying not to blush, " Don't worry" he said, "I'm cranky when I'm tired too" glancing at the dark rings "You must be Sally...Sally Skems"
"Oh.you know my name! And you met Stan.so he wasn't lying? Oh dear, he must feel really bad about no-one believin' him"
"Where do you want to go Mr Potter?" cut in Ernie, politely.
"Oh.just to 4 Privet Drive...but I think you'd better drop me off down the road"
"No problem" said Ernie
"Thanks Ernie...Sally...Say hi to Stan for me" Harry said, as Sally helped him with his motorbike. A dozen wizards and witches were waving frantically out the windows, may with their noses squashed up against the glass. He had felt quite claustrophobic in there.
"Harry...Mr Potter Sir...I mean...Could I.?" asked Sally meekly, clutching a camera.
"What? Oh, sure" blushed Harry
"Oh thank you!" gasped Sally in rapture, "Oi, Ernie! Take a pic would'ya?"
.
"It was great meeting you...bye!" Harry called after the retreating bus. He trundled his bike back to No 4 and knocked on the door.
"Get the door Dudley...it's probably 'him'...honestly Petunia! An hour or two indeed!" he heard Uncle Vernon complain.
Dudley opened the door and his jaw dropped... "DDDDAAAADDDD! Come quick! Look at THIS"
Harry heard thumps as Uncle Vernon ran to the door and panted, "What's he done now Dudders? Has...?" but he did a double take as he saw the bike "Where. Petunia come here" he whispered in shock.
"In a minute..." answered Auntie Petunia.
"Dad..."whined Dudley, "I want it..."
"It's not dangerous...?" quivered Uncle Vernon.
"No" Harry replied simply, "At least, I don't think so. I'll go and put it in the garage shall I?" he looked at Dudley's hungry look. "Oh Dudley...I don't know if you should touch it" meaning Muggles, as Dudley leapt back in fright. He pushed it into the garage with satisfaction. He heard Petunia ask curtly,
"Well? What is it?"
"Inside Petunia.you too boy" as he saw Harry return.
"But Dad...I want...."
"Shut up Dudley and go to bed!" commanded Uncle Vernon, "I'll be glad to see you go tomorrow" he added to Harry and stalked off. Dudley whimpered and retreated to his room.
Harry had a sudden thought, "How'll I get it too Hogwarts?" as he lay on his bed, his suitcase packed, just as Hedwig flew in. She had a note from Hogwarts. "What's this? Harry thought as he opened it and read...
Hello Harry! I heard about your special present from Snuffles and I've already got it at Hogwarts (from your garage)-
That was quick, thought Harry, but Dumledore really couldn't really suprise him anymore.
-all ready for when you get here...I'm looking forward to school again and seeing you Harry...I have to tell you something. But until then have a fun journey on the train and I'll see you tomorrow, Dumbledore.
"Good old Dumbdore" sighed Harry before falling asleep on his bed.
A slow realisation crept on him. Harry was flying. He blinked. Looking down he found himself astride a gleaming black motorbike. Of course, it was Sirius'. He smiled, no, it was his now, and he touched it lovingly. He landed in a graveyard, and felt a drastic change from the pleasant wind that had played on his face in the warm sunshine only moments before above the clouds. Confused and shivering, he had seen too late the hand that came flying towards his head. Opening his mouth to yell, he watched the powerful silver fist collide with his face, before another hand with four fingers took the opportunity of his shock to drag him off the bike by his hair.
He struggled helplessly as the first stronger hand hauled him across the ground, and threw him at someone's feet. Don't look up, whatever you do don't look up. If he could have screamed this, he would, because he knew that if he raised his eyes to that face, it would be the last thing he would ever do. However, Harry felt the urge of the figure's gaze irresistible, and saw those red gleaming eyes. There was a pause, and an unmistakable hissing, before a stab of pain shot through his head, and he was clutching his head, not screaming nor crying, just clutching helplessly, his face screwed up in fear. Fingers that could now touch him reached down and wrapped themselves mercilessly around his throat, lifting him up with ease. Gasping for breath, it took him a second to notice the cold sweeping all over him, and through his entire soul, causing him to shudder uncontrollably, and the stench of death filling his nostrils. The now clammy hands trembled with excitement, and the cloak lowered, it's hood opening slightly to reveal a mouth that promised a kiss.
HA.! Harry woke with a giant gasp, and carefully touching his face he knew that he'd been sweating considerably. Not again.
"It was only a dream," he muttered, "Only a dream, just another of my dratted dreams". A soft rustle told him he was not alone "Hullo old girl.." he greeted the owl warmly, gently stroking her. She hooted comfortly, as if she could sense how she felt. "Don't worry Hedwig, just another of my dratted dreams" he repeated, as he tenderly rubbed his scar.
He glanced at his clock, it was 4am. Harry fed Hedwig and flopped into bed, too awake now to go to sleep and risk dreaming. He wrapped himself in his duvet to settle down for a good long think, and was still awake when his alarm went off. He had promptly gathered his things and got dressed, getting a lift to Kings Cross from Uncle Vernon.
"This day couldn't come quick enough" muttered Vernon, as Harry thanked him, before he drove away. Petunia and Dudley hadn't said a word to Harry.
Harry blissfully sank into a Hogwart's carriage seat, which are of course very comfortable - nothing like Muggle trains - and was all ready to have a quick snooze, then jolted at the thought of having another dream. Now determined to stay awake, he sat bolt upright. He was just re-living his first dream, getting to the climax, when the carriage door was yanked open, scaring Harry half to death.
"Don't do that Ron!" Harry gasped.
"Sorry Harry," apologised the freckly boy with the red hair, "I didn't think." He peered closely at Harry "Gosh Harry, you're really pale. Not enough sleep?"
"Yeah..." panted Harry, not totally recovered. "Don't mind me then, have a little snooze...I'll go find Hermione and-"
"No!" said Harry, startling Ron. "I mean, that's ok." he broke off.
"What's up?" asked Ron, "You sound really spooked...oh no. You did didn't you?" Ron realised.
"Yeah, I...I had another dream... two actually" nodded Harry, his voice barely more then a whisper. Ron shuffled uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. These sensitive kind of things were Hermione's department. Harry ignored Ron's silence, and covered his face with his hand because his scar had started twinging again
"What happened Harry?" Cho had walked in and was staring at Harry "Are you ok?"
"Nothing Cho, Harry's just really upset, I think he might want to be alone..." Ron said in his best imitation of Professor McGonnagall's no fuss tone.
"No Ron, Cho should know. Or people will start talking about this, as if I need more rumours about me going round" Harry intervened quickly.
Cho looked upset, "I wasn't going to tell anyone, honestly..."
"Yes you were!" said Ron angrily.
Harry butted in, "Look, let me finish, I never said that, I'm sorry if that's what you thought Cho, you're alright..." then, realising what he'd said, blushed bright red.
"Oh, erm. Well...what did you want anyway Cho?" Ron asked friendly, trying to make amends.
"Well..it was to ask Harry something actually...private" Cho said, blushing in her turn.
"What?" thought Harry in surprise. Maybe. maybe she wants to ask me out, he hoped, nightmares forgotten, fantasy beginning.
"I'll be going then shall I?" smiled Ron, before looking at them curiously, "I'll.find Hermione" and disappeared out the door.
Cho sat next to Harry and gave him a soothing look, "Harry...why are you so upset?" she asked. She paused. Harry said nothing. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked..."
"It's okay," said Harry, grabbing her hand. Cho went even redder and stared at her lap, but didn't remove her hand "I.I want to tell you. You know, sometimes I have premonitions in dreams.about.Vol- You-Know-Who"
"No!" gasped Cho.
"Yeah...and they...they are for real.I mean.they come true" he whispered, "And, I've seen my own death..."
"Oh Harry" whispered Cho. A tear fell down her cheek.
"Don't cry Cho. Anyway, what's worse, is that a friend of mine helped him...BETRAYED me! They handed me over to VOLDEMORT!" Cho flinched at his voice "But this is all stupid, it's probably nothing" he said determinedly, as Cho sat silently in horror, "What did you want.?"
Cho took a second to compose herself, and with a deep breath she looked Harry in the eye, "Well, it's about Cedric, what we were. I just want to sort it out. You know, make sure you know the facts. I think, and I'm really sorry if I got carried away and imagined it, but you like me don't you? At least, as a friend, maybe more?"
Harry watched her flush face in bewilderment, "Well, yes, I think so", he stammered, all too conscious of his sweaty hands, "But I always thought that you and Cedric. I mean, the Yule Ball, you-"
"I'm really sorry about that", said Cho shaking her head, "But Cedric asked me first, and I thought. well, I didn't know whether you would of gone with me if I asked you, so I said yes" in all her nervousness Cho gave a little giggle. Harry snorted and they both sat there laughing like mad. Wiping her tears away with the cuff of her robe Cho said, "Look at us. We're a right pair."
"That doesn't sound too bad", smiled Harry. He noticed, not for the first time, how kind the maturing girl sitting opposite him was, her gentle features, her raven black tresses tumbling carelessly around her shoulders. swallowing he leant forward. she blinking in surprise, but remained still.
**It's all smoochy! Oh my, I'd better stop this, it's sickening =P Do they kiss? Find out next week/year/millennium.**
"Bump!" Harry felt solid ground, he warily opened his eyes. Yes, he was in the park again. "I'll never get used to Floo travel" he said, shaking his head. Remembering that it was really late, and he needed to be up early for the Hogwarts Train the next day, Harry fumbled in his pockets and brought out his wand. "Ah..." Harry thought, "What am I supposed to do? I should've asked Stan!" he told himself and he strained his memory back to the night he was stranded and saved by the Knight Bus... "That's it !" whistled Harry in relief, "My wand hand! I just stick it out..." and so he did, but quickly stepping back afterwards.
A giant purple monster of a bus, came to sudden halt, narrowly missing Harry's foot and a slim, pretty witch, with dreadlocks and dressed in a little purple top, and miniskirt and higher-then-necessary heeled boots appeared in the door. In a very tired voice and yawning she said,
"Good evenin' and welcome to da Knight Bus, for wizards, witches and magical-type peoples in trouble... emergency transportation...yada, yada, yada... Look kid....just get on...." and with a flick of her wand she lifted Harry's motorbike onto the bus, looking at it with surprise.
Whatever Harry had expected from Stan's cousin, it was not this!
"Nice bike small fry. So why use the bus... Er...?" she searched for a name as they both boarded the bus and it lurched back on course.
"Harry... I..."
"Harry Potter!" exclaimed Ernie, mouth open, "Great pleasure to meet you again... no need to pay of course...where do you want to go son?" He shook his head smiling "Oh, poor Stan, he really wanted to see you again..."
The conductress had been temporarily frozen, his eyes wide in disbelief, "Harry POTTER?!" she shrieked, trembling, "Please excuse me! I'm SOO sorry! You see my cousin and me..."
"Stan? Yes...he told me about that." grinned Harry, trying not to blush, " Don't worry" he said, "I'm cranky when I'm tired too" glancing at the dark rings "You must be Sally...Sally Skems"
"Oh.you know my name! And you met Stan.so he wasn't lying? Oh dear, he must feel really bad about no-one believin' him"
"Where do you want to go Mr Potter?" cut in Ernie, politely.
"Oh.just to 4 Privet Drive...but I think you'd better drop me off down the road"
"No problem" said Ernie
"Thanks Ernie...Sally...Say hi to Stan for me" Harry said, as Sally helped him with his motorbike. A dozen wizards and witches were waving frantically out the windows, may with their noses squashed up against the glass. He had felt quite claustrophobic in there.
"Harry...Mr Potter Sir...I mean...Could I.?" asked Sally meekly, clutching a camera.
"What? Oh, sure" blushed Harry
"Oh thank you!" gasped Sally in rapture, "Oi, Ernie! Take a pic would'ya?"
.
"It was great meeting you...bye!" Harry called after the retreating bus. He trundled his bike back to No 4 and knocked on the door.
"Get the door Dudley...it's probably 'him'...honestly Petunia! An hour or two indeed!" he heard Uncle Vernon complain.
Dudley opened the door and his jaw dropped... "DDDDAAAADDDD! Come quick! Look at THIS"
Harry heard thumps as Uncle Vernon ran to the door and panted, "What's he done now Dudders? Has...?" but he did a double take as he saw the bike "Where. Petunia come here" he whispered in shock.
"In a minute..." answered Auntie Petunia.
"Dad..."whined Dudley, "I want it..."
"It's not dangerous...?" quivered Uncle Vernon.
"No" Harry replied simply, "At least, I don't think so. I'll go and put it in the garage shall I?" he looked at Dudley's hungry look. "Oh Dudley...I don't know if you should touch it" meaning Muggles, as Dudley leapt back in fright. He pushed it into the garage with satisfaction. He heard Petunia ask curtly,
"Well? What is it?"
"Inside Petunia.you too boy" as he saw Harry return.
"But Dad...I want...."
"Shut up Dudley and go to bed!" commanded Uncle Vernon, "I'll be glad to see you go tomorrow" he added to Harry and stalked off. Dudley whimpered and retreated to his room.
Harry had a sudden thought, "How'll I get it too Hogwarts?" as he lay on his bed, his suitcase packed, just as Hedwig flew in. She had a note from Hogwarts. "What's this? Harry thought as he opened it and read...
Hello Harry! I heard about your special present from Snuffles and I've already got it at Hogwarts (from your garage)-
That was quick, thought Harry, but Dumledore really couldn't really suprise him anymore.
-all ready for when you get here...I'm looking forward to school again and seeing you Harry...I have to tell you something. But until then have a fun journey on the train and I'll see you tomorrow, Dumbledore.
"Good old Dumbdore" sighed Harry before falling asleep on his bed.
A slow realisation crept on him. Harry was flying. He blinked. Looking down he found himself astride a gleaming black motorbike. Of course, it was Sirius'. He smiled, no, it was his now, and he touched it lovingly. He landed in a graveyard, and felt a drastic change from the pleasant wind that had played on his face in the warm sunshine only moments before above the clouds. Confused and shivering, he had seen too late the hand that came flying towards his head. Opening his mouth to yell, he watched the powerful silver fist collide with his face, before another hand with four fingers took the opportunity of his shock to drag him off the bike by his hair.
He struggled helplessly as the first stronger hand hauled him across the ground, and threw him at someone's feet. Don't look up, whatever you do don't look up. If he could have screamed this, he would, because he knew that if he raised his eyes to that face, it would be the last thing he would ever do. However, Harry felt the urge of the figure's gaze irresistible, and saw those red gleaming eyes. There was a pause, and an unmistakable hissing, before a stab of pain shot through his head, and he was clutching his head, not screaming nor crying, just clutching helplessly, his face screwed up in fear. Fingers that could now touch him reached down and wrapped themselves mercilessly around his throat, lifting him up with ease. Gasping for breath, it took him a second to notice the cold sweeping all over him, and through his entire soul, causing him to shudder uncontrollably, and the stench of death filling his nostrils. The now clammy hands trembled with excitement, and the cloak lowered, it's hood opening slightly to reveal a mouth that promised a kiss.
HA.! Harry woke with a giant gasp, and carefully touching his face he knew that he'd been sweating considerably. Not again.
"It was only a dream," he muttered, "Only a dream, just another of my dratted dreams". A soft rustle told him he was not alone "Hullo old girl.." he greeted the owl warmly, gently stroking her. She hooted comfortly, as if she could sense how she felt. "Don't worry Hedwig, just another of my dratted dreams" he repeated, as he tenderly rubbed his scar.
He glanced at his clock, it was 4am. Harry fed Hedwig and flopped into bed, too awake now to go to sleep and risk dreaming. He wrapped himself in his duvet to settle down for a good long think, and was still awake when his alarm went off. He had promptly gathered his things and got dressed, getting a lift to Kings Cross from Uncle Vernon.
"This day couldn't come quick enough" muttered Vernon, as Harry thanked him, before he drove away. Petunia and Dudley hadn't said a word to Harry.
Harry blissfully sank into a Hogwart's carriage seat, which are of course very comfortable - nothing like Muggle trains - and was all ready to have a quick snooze, then jolted at the thought of having another dream. Now determined to stay awake, he sat bolt upright. He was just re-living his first dream, getting to the climax, when the carriage door was yanked open, scaring Harry half to death.
"Don't do that Ron!" Harry gasped.
"Sorry Harry," apologised the freckly boy with the red hair, "I didn't think." He peered closely at Harry "Gosh Harry, you're really pale. Not enough sleep?"
"Yeah..." panted Harry, not totally recovered. "Don't mind me then, have a little snooze...I'll go find Hermione and-"
"No!" said Harry, startling Ron. "I mean, that's ok." he broke off.
"What's up?" asked Ron, "You sound really spooked...oh no. You did didn't you?" Ron realised.
"Yeah, I...I had another dream... two actually" nodded Harry, his voice barely more then a whisper. Ron shuffled uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. These sensitive kind of things were Hermione's department. Harry ignored Ron's silence, and covered his face with his hand because his scar had started twinging again
"What happened Harry?" Cho had walked in and was staring at Harry "Are you ok?"
"Nothing Cho, Harry's just really upset, I think he might want to be alone..." Ron said in his best imitation of Professor McGonnagall's no fuss tone.
"No Ron, Cho should know. Or people will start talking about this, as if I need more rumours about me going round" Harry intervened quickly.
Cho looked upset, "I wasn't going to tell anyone, honestly..."
"Yes you were!" said Ron angrily.
Harry butted in, "Look, let me finish, I never said that, I'm sorry if that's what you thought Cho, you're alright..." then, realising what he'd said, blushed bright red.
"Oh, erm. Well...what did you want anyway Cho?" Ron asked friendly, trying to make amends.
"Well..it was to ask Harry something actually...private" Cho said, blushing in her turn.
"What?" thought Harry in surprise. Maybe. maybe she wants to ask me out, he hoped, nightmares forgotten, fantasy beginning.
"I'll be going then shall I?" smiled Ron, before looking at them curiously, "I'll.find Hermione" and disappeared out the door.
Cho sat next to Harry and gave him a soothing look, "Harry...why are you so upset?" she asked. She paused. Harry said nothing. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked..."
"It's okay," said Harry, grabbing her hand. Cho went even redder and stared at her lap, but didn't remove her hand "I.I want to tell you. You know, sometimes I have premonitions in dreams.about.Vol- You-Know-Who"
"No!" gasped Cho.
"Yeah...and they...they are for real.I mean.they come true" he whispered, "And, I've seen my own death..."
"Oh Harry" whispered Cho. A tear fell down her cheek.
"Don't cry Cho. Anyway, what's worse, is that a friend of mine helped him...BETRAYED me! They handed me over to VOLDEMORT!" Cho flinched at his voice "But this is all stupid, it's probably nothing" he said determinedly, as Cho sat silently in horror, "What did you want.?"
Cho took a second to compose herself, and with a deep breath she looked Harry in the eye, "Well, it's about Cedric, what we were. I just want to sort it out. You know, make sure you know the facts. I think, and I'm really sorry if I got carried away and imagined it, but you like me don't you? At least, as a friend, maybe more?"
Harry watched her flush face in bewilderment, "Well, yes, I think so", he stammered, all too conscious of his sweaty hands, "But I always thought that you and Cedric. I mean, the Yule Ball, you-"
"I'm really sorry about that", said Cho shaking her head, "But Cedric asked me first, and I thought. well, I didn't know whether you would of gone with me if I asked you, so I said yes" in all her nervousness Cho gave a little giggle. Harry snorted and they both sat there laughing like mad. Wiping her tears away with the cuff of her robe Cho said, "Look at us. We're a right pair."
"That doesn't sound too bad", smiled Harry. He noticed, not for the first time, how kind the maturing girl sitting opposite him was, her gentle features, her raven black tresses tumbling carelessly around her shoulders. swallowing he leant forward. she blinking in surprise, but remained still.
**It's all smoochy! Oh my, I'd better stop this, it's sickening =P Do they kiss? Find out next week/year/millennium.**