Chapter Two

As the sun rose slowly above the neat lawns of Privet Drive , the gentle hooting of a concerned snowy owl could be heard from Number Four.

Hedwig, as if she almost understood her master's need to escape the house, quietly coaxed the tightly curled lump on the bed of the smallest bedroom into the waking world.

Harry was most reluctant to wake up this morning. He was vaguely aware of how all of his plans from the previous evening were going to waste, but he found it atrociously hard to convince himself to wake up. Sleep wasn't a nice experience for Harry, but as rare as it was, it offered some sense of detachment from the real world. As he lumbered in the dregs of his pitiful excuse for sleep, Harry didn't want to let go of that detachment and face the world.

Despite what he may want though, that didn't coincide with his loyal owl Hedwig. Even as quietly as she was ruffling her feathers and hooting to avoid detection by the Dursleys, the noise was consistent enough to be very sleep-off-putting. It was so, with a growl of annoyance that Harry Potter threw his covers aside and climbed to his feet to appease his owl.

A quick glance at his salvaged alarm clock told Harry that he wasn't as far behind schedule as he had expected. Apparently the sun had decided to come a whole half an hour later than it should have done. Either that or his clock had finally reached the point beyond repair.

Clumsily feeding Hedwig some owl treats and stroking her coat gently, Harry glanced disparately around the smallest bedroom of Number Four, beginning to wish he was in his cupboard again. That way there wouldn't be so much ground to cover to get to his clothes.

With a quiet grumble he forced the sleep from his eyes and stumbled over to his trunk, decided he most definitely wasn't going to pretend to be a morning person if he happened to come across his aunt or uncle. Manners, even grudgingly given, he believed in, even to people like the Dursleys and Snape. Come this morning though, he doubted he would be able to give them very well, should he be put to the test.

Ten minutes later, having snuck into the bathroom to quickly wash, Harry was sat at his desk, quietly staring at the worn wood, and attempting to clear his mind. He knew what he was planning to do today was risky, especially since he knew that Voldemort was not in the best of moods with him thanks to his own personalized antenna. If he was caught outside of the protection of Privet Drive , he could count his blessings goodbye. There would be no help for him this time.

Despite this, Harry knew he was still going to go. He was oh so very tired of people ruling his life. He had been suppressed too many years at the hands of the Dursleys; he didn't want to experience the same from the wizarding world. It was time to take control, time to take action. He was going to take control of his own future, with the or without Dumbledore's permission. With that thought in mind, he stood abruptly, resulting in a reprimand from Hedwig. He gave her a pointed look before gathering up the essential items for the day. His wand was always on him nowadays, but for this occasion Harry also collected his invisibility cloak, Gringotts key, and remaining money, wizarding and muggle alike. As he let the slivery substance of his father's cloak close around him, he decided himself ready.

Getting out of the house was relatively easy. The keys to the front door were always kept on the shelf in the hallway - all he had to do was post them back through the letterbox when he was done. He doubted very much the Dursleys would be worried about his sudden disappearance from the house today. If he wasn't back in time to prevent the arrival of Mad Eye Moody to check up with him though, he was very sure they would be worried.

Mad Eye was a great cause for concern now. After learning he was watched very closely over during the summer, he had taken the precaution of using his invisibility cloak. He could only hope that Moody wasn't taking guard duty this morning, otherwise he would be caught before he even managed to reach the end of the street. That magical eye of his really was as bothersome as it was useful.

Fortunately, by the end of the street, Harry had not been stopped, nor had he heard any tell of any guard. He wondered vaguely if this was Mundungus Fletcher's shift, and what would happen to him if he was found gone on his watch. He certainly wasn't in anyone's high books thanks to the Dementor attack last year. For his sake, he hoped it wasn't his turn to watch him, or god help him if Mrs. Weasley caught wind of his outing. God help Harry for that matter as well if that happened.

After Harry reached the end of Wisteria Walk, he was beginning to scold himself for worrying so much about being caught. What was the chance really, of one guard catching him invisible, in an area as extensive as Little Whinging? More than likely there wasn't even a guard this early in the morning.

After travelling down a few more streets, and taking a few twists and turns to stave of his paranoia of being followed somehow, he stepped into a dark alley, and removed his cloak, tucking it under his grossly hideous jumper before flattening down his fringe and taking a breath. This was the truly worrisome part - finding the reliability of Stan Shunpike out.

Simply put, the Knight Bus was Harry's only option. While he found it rather ironic it ran all hours despite it's name, he didn't have anywhere near enough Muggle money to get him to London, and so was left with the option of wizarding transport. He could only hope that Stan was willing to keep his identity quiet, and that no one would recognize him on the way. The first thing he intended on doing when getting to London was spend what little money he had on a cheap cap to cover his scar, which would hopefully let him go largely unnoticed in Diagon Alley, where more appropriate methods to disguise himself could hopefully be found.

With this reassuring thought in mind, Harry stepped back into the light of the main road, and after making sure the coast was clear, quickly jabbed out his wand, jumping back immediately into the alley as a massive telltale explosion spoke of the presence of the Knight Bus.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for stranded witches and wizards. Just hold out your...hello?" Harry glanced around the alley, smiling weakly as Stan looked around in confusion.

"Stan!" Stan glanced his way in surprise at his violent hiss. His eyes widened in recognition, but thankfully he had enough sense not to say anything as Harry put his fingers to his lips. He glanced around for a moment in obvious confusion, before shrugging.

"What ya doing there hiding in those shadows Neville? You want the bus or don't ya?" Harry smiled in relief.

"Yes Stan, I want the bus, I...I'm just feeling shy." Stan grinned and gave Harry a small nod.

"Don't worry Neville, we won't lead you wrong. Come on me lad, on the bus. Now, where you heading?" Harry smoothed down his fringe again and glanced cautiously around, glad to find the bus apparently empty.

"Diagon Alley."

"That'll be three galleons that, hot chocolate costs more, I'm sure you remember." Harry nodded once, glancing at the bus driver who was staring at him curiously. Definitely not Ernie, this man looked much too clean and proper to be driving a bus.

"Diagon Alley?" Harry nodded again, being sure to keep his eyes averted. His mother's eyes were nearly as big a give away as his scar.

"Yes please. Where shall I sit?" Stan gave him a sideways glance.

"Here Neville, I'll show you." Harry smiled at Stan in thanks as the bus lunged into motion, nearly sending him violently to the floor. Stan grinned at him as they made their way down the bus.

"Gotta get used to it Nev. Don't mind Barmy, he's new, don't seem to like the job much either. Cursed a fella last week off the bus cause he were wearing a hood. Death Eater's might be out an about, but ain't none of 'em stupid enough to get on the bus in there get up now is there?" Harry smiled in what he hoped to be a friendly way before very gladly taking his seat at the back of the bus.

"You can't be too careful I suppose. Thanks Stan, I appreciate this." Stan nodded, his eyes alight with curiosity.

"What ya running from this time then Neville?" Harry sighed a bit, flattening his fringe down yet again. What he wouldn't have given to have a cap in the first place. If only Dudley hadn't burnt that last one...

"Oh sorry. I'm not really running...well, I suppose I am. I'm not supposed to leave the Muggles." Stan just nodded.

"Can't be no fun living with 'em all the time. Would have thought ya'd have ended up somewhere bit more posh." Harry winced.

"Yeah well...I just need to keep a low profile you know? Need some supplies from the Alley, and my friends won't approve of some of them." Stan glanced up at the front before leaning conspicuously closer.

"What're you up to?" Harry took a breath, laying out his options. Stan was harmless enough, but he couldn't see him not buckling under pressure. The fact that he covered for him didn't hurt though.

"Nothing I can really say Stan, but I think you can come to your own conclusions with Vold...You-Know-Who's return." Stan paled a bit, but nodded, a serious Harry didn't expect to see in his face.

"I read that article in the Quibbler; you ain't got half a mean summer to look forward to haven't ya?" Harry nodded weakly, glancing out of the window to see fields and cows.

"Got a lot of things to look forward to over the next year or so I expect. How long till London ?" Stan glanced at his watch for a moment.

"You can count of being there in fifteen minutes sharp. Barmy ain't no slacker. He's either there right smack on time, or ya know something bad's happened."

"Anything bad happening at the moment?" Stan looked around for a brief moment.

"Naught in the Prophet, but I hear things ya know, on this bus." Harry glanced at him wearily. He knew instantly he wasn't going to like this news.

"What've you heard?" Stan glanced back at the front, as if making sure they weren't being ears dropped on by Barmy. Harry hoped he wasn't trying to overhear them - all of his concentration should really be focussed on the road.

"A squib family were attacked few nights back. Mum and dad, and a daughter going on six. All killed. No Dark Mark, but the bloke swore on Merlin's grave he saw Death Eater's."

"No Dark Mark?" Harry asked softly. He knew better than to dwell on the small girl who never got to live. He had to stay strong, strong and focussed. This wasn't going to be the last murder, he knew.

"Nope, not a nillywinkle. I reckon he's going and keepin' it quiet. Heard you went and got his inner circle few weeks back, don't reckon he's gonna act all high and mighty till they're out and about." Harry shivered at the thought of Lucius Malfoy running free again, never mind any of the other's that were caught that night at the Ministry.

"Strange though. Now that Fudge has announced he's back, I didn't think he'd lay as low as he had been doing."

"Maybe he's scared. Ain't no school boy ever taken down a Death Eater before, never mind a whole bunch of them!" Harry flushed.

"I had help from friends...a lot of friends actually." He sobered, remembering how in the end the Order had to rescue them, and yet despite how they had finally outnumbered the Death Eater's a turn or so over, someone had to die.

"Still ain't no mean feat. I hear things on this bus, I tell ya, and I heard some other bloke praising ya. Said ya were teaching students Defence at Hogwarts last year when that hag Umbridge were sticking her nose in everyone's business. Takes a hell of a lot to teach, and a hell of a lot more to get the kids to listen to ya. You gotta have some mighty thick stuff in ya to get kids your own age to take ya seriously enough to learn from ya." Harry flushed again, but was actually pleased this time. The one thing he could truly say he was proud of was the DA. He doubted his own teaching ability, but he knew that the effort everyone had put into it had truly been something. Neville particularly, he was extremely proud of. He couldn't bring to mind anyone who brought out Gryffindor qualities as clearly as he did the past year.

"My friends understood how serious the situation was." Stan nodded solemnly.

"Ain't going be sunny days much longer now I don't reckon, now he's back, but we ain't going to take him lying down, just you watch. You ain't the only one who thinks the git needs a good comeuppance." Harry couldn't prevent his smile at that. Stan definitely knew how to express himself, though he had an idea that if he stopped to realize he'd just called Voldemort a git he'd be horrified.

"Oh he'll get that. Dumbledore's most definitely not lying down."

"No he ain't, and from the looks of it, neithers you. Ain't got nothin' to worry 'bout with the two of you up 'gainst him." Harry stared at him for a moment before lowering his head and muttering to himself. What could was he against Voldemort? The last time they'd met, the only thing he'd managed to do was stand in the way of a killing curse.

"Now don't ya go and look like that. You were the one who went and got rid of him when ya were a mere baby, and if any of the stories are true, you ain't half a pain in his backside. Give ya a year or two of training and we're all set, you mark my words." Harry laughed weakly at his enthusiasm. He really wished he could say the same thing. It'd be nice to have everything over and done by the time he left school, but he doubted that would happen. He doubted he would even live that long at times.

"Nice to hear that Stan." Stan nodded, not appearing to notice to defeated tone in his voice.

"I ain't much in a fight, but I ain't takin' nothing standing down. I'll help in me own way, even if it is just listening in on the bus." Harry smiled kindly at him, vaguely surprised at the transformation from his vibrant speech, to his own self-security.

"That may help more than you know. Not every war is on the battlefield. Do you think you could owl me if you hear anything interesting? If nothing else, I can always pass it on to Dumbledore." Stan's eyes set alight at that.

"That's what I'll do! Ain't no man getting past my ears I'll tell ya. I'll give ya the goss second it passes through this bus, and 'opefully you'll use it to do He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in." Harry smiled again at the young man's vigour. In a way he reminded him a bit of Ron when he was talking about the necessity of food at anytime of the day.

"Hopefully the war won't become what it was before I was born if we have people like you willing to help." Harry wasn't really sure if he said this to simply appease the man, or to himself as an afterthought. It struck him into a silence, wondering on the truth of the words. From what he had learnt, it was because of broken friendship and suspicion that the previous war had escalated so. Making ties definitely sounded promising.

"That's it in a nutshell. Heard your Sortin' Hat went and said something of the likes. You don't just not listen to summit like that." Harry smiled a bit, wondering vaguely when the sorting hat's message had leaked from his mind. He could remember feeling troubled by it at the time, but then Umbridge must have gained priority in his thoughts. He truly hoped she was where she deserved to be - behind bars.

"Diagon Alley! Get yourself up here Stan! It isn't your job to make gossip with the clients!" Stan's face darkened, and he muttered some choice words that would have shocked Harry if he didn't spend so much time around a certain Ronald Weasley. He hid his smile as he carefully climbed to his feet.

"Thanks Stan, you've given me a lot to think about." Stan snapped out of his thoughts and grinned.

"Anythin' to help Neville. I'll owl you at first sign of trouble." Harry nodded and on impulse shook his hand, before turning and blushing, wondering what on earth had made him do that. It was much too...formal. Stan didn't seem to think it out of the ordinary though as he led him to the front of the bus. With one last wave, Harry stepped of the bus and watched it disappear with a bang, the raised voices of Stan and Barmy arguing in the wind even after they were gone.