CHAPTER 3
It was late. Harry could guess that. His Aunt and Uncle, along with Dudley would have been in bed an hour ago. He had all his things neatly packed in his trunk, which he had dragged down the stairs as quietly as he could. Now it was safely in the hall, so he raced back upstairs to collect Hedwig's cage and slip a cloak on. Then, pocketing his wand went back downstairs.
As he stood on the footpath with his possessions next to him, he searched his brain to remember how to call the Knight Bus...
---~ "Did you say it goes anywhere?"
"Yep, anywhere you like, long's its on land. Can't do nuffink underwater. 'Ere, you did flag us down dincha? Stuck out your wand 'and dincha ?"~--- A: N/ This is the conversation Stan Shunpike and Harry have in Book 3.
"Yes that's it" Harry muttered to himself. Wondering if the bus would come or not, he stuck out his right hand in front of him while holding his wand. Seconds passed, then minutes, but no bus came. Harry tried it again, but to no avail. He sat down wishing there was some sort of Yellow Pages for Witches and Wizards. Harry remembered the night he had run away from the Dursleys after blowing up his Aunt Marge like a balloon. That night he had found himself in a situation similar to the one he was in now. Alone, in the streets of the Muggle world, at night. Harry's mind wandered to what had happened after. He thought he had seen a Grim in Magnolia Crescent. But it was only Sirius in his Animagi form. Harry blushed at the recollection of himself being scared and then falling over..
"Wait a minute!" Harry said aloud. "I fell over and dropped my wand and THEN the Knight Bus came!"
---~ "Stuck out your wand 'and dincha?" ~---
Harry stood up grinning and desperately hoping this would work. He walked to the curb and stuck out his right hand. Instantly there was an almighty BANG! And right in front of him was the familiar, violently purple, triple-decker Knight Bus. A conductor in purple uniform jumped out, but it was not Stan Shunpike.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Florean...
"Fortescue!" Harry finished. "Hi Florean, what are you doing here on the Knight Bus? Why aren't you at your ice-cream parlour? He asked in surprise.
"Well, if it isn't Harry Potter! Missing my free sundaes are you?" Florean Chuckled.
"I sure am!" Harry replied smiling. The Florean's expression turned melancholy and his eyes sad.
"I'm sorry to say Harry that about 4 weeks ago a small group of Death Eaters burnt it down. I had forgotten to replace the fire-repelling charm that I usually put on my shop at closing time, but that day was exceptionally busy and I didn't remember." He said mournfully, with his eyes staring at the floor and starting to seem a bit watery.
"I'm really sorry to hear that" Harry said feeling the lurching feeling return to his stomach.
"Not to worry, Not to worry young Mr. Potter, the past is history and we cannot change it." Florean said, straightening up.
"And right you are." agreed a familiar voice. Harry looked up to see Ernie Prang, the bus driver who he had first met two years ago on his first Knight Bus ride.
"Hello Ernie, Diagon Alley please" Harry said walking up the steps with his cage while Florean got his trunk. After he paid his 11 sickles, Harry looked around and the entire first floor was full. Then as Florean took him up to the second floor he noticed it was full as well.
"Full Bus?" Harry asked.
"You could say that, but the third floor is empty, well except for the..."
Harry froze. As he and Florean climbed the last of the steps, Harry had looked up to see a familiar shaggy, black dog.
It was late. Harry could guess that. His Aunt and Uncle, along with Dudley would have been in bed an hour ago. He had all his things neatly packed in his trunk, which he had dragged down the stairs as quietly as he could. Now it was safely in the hall, so he raced back upstairs to collect Hedwig's cage and slip a cloak on. Then, pocketing his wand went back downstairs.
As he stood on the footpath with his possessions next to him, he searched his brain to remember how to call the Knight Bus...
---~ "Did you say it goes anywhere?"
"Yep, anywhere you like, long's its on land. Can't do nuffink underwater. 'Ere, you did flag us down dincha? Stuck out your wand 'and dincha ?"~--- A: N/ This is the conversation Stan Shunpike and Harry have in Book 3.
"Yes that's it" Harry muttered to himself. Wondering if the bus would come or not, he stuck out his right hand in front of him while holding his wand. Seconds passed, then minutes, but no bus came. Harry tried it again, but to no avail. He sat down wishing there was some sort of Yellow Pages for Witches and Wizards. Harry remembered the night he had run away from the Dursleys after blowing up his Aunt Marge like a balloon. That night he had found himself in a situation similar to the one he was in now. Alone, in the streets of the Muggle world, at night. Harry's mind wandered to what had happened after. He thought he had seen a Grim in Magnolia Crescent. But it was only Sirius in his Animagi form. Harry blushed at the recollection of himself being scared and then falling over..
"Wait a minute!" Harry said aloud. "I fell over and dropped my wand and THEN the Knight Bus came!"
---~ "Stuck out your wand 'and dincha?" ~---
Harry stood up grinning and desperately hoping this would work. He walked to the curb and stuck out his right hand. Instantly there was an almighty BANG! And right in front of him was the familiar, violently purple, triple-decker Knight Bus. A conductor in purple uniform jumped out, but it was not Stan Shunpike.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Florean...
"Fortescue!" Harry finished. "Hi Florean, what are you doing here on the Knight Bus? Why aren't you at your ice-cream parlour? He asked in surprise.
"Well, if it isn't Harry Potter! Missing my free sundaes are you?" Florean Chuckled.
"I sure am!" Harry replied smiling. The Florean's expression turned melancholy and his eyes sad.
"I'm sorry to say Harry that about 4 weeks ago a small group of Death Eaters burnt it down. I had forgotten to replace the fire-repelling charm that I usually put on my shop at closing time, but that day was exceptionally busy and I didn't remember." He said mournfully, with his eyes staring at the floor and starting to seem a bit watery.
"I'm really sorry to hear that" Harry said feeling the lurching feeling return to his stomach.
"Not to worry, Not to worry young Mr. Potter, the past is history and we cannot change it." Florean said, straightening up.
"And right you are." agreed a familiar voice. Harry looked up to see Ernie Prang, the bus driver who he had first met two years ago on his first Knight Bus ride.
"Hello Ernie, Diagon Alley please" Harry said walking up the steps with his cage while Florean got his trunk. After he paid his 11 sickles, Harry looked around and the entire first floor was full. Then as Florean took him up to the second floor he noticed it was full as well.
"Full Bus?" Harry asked.
"You could say that, but the third floor is empty, well except for the..."
Harry froze. As he and Florean climbed the last of the steps, Harry had looked up to see a familiar shaggy, black dog.
