Right, I'm going to start this chapter off by thanking all those that reviewed. As with my other stories written under my own pen name I would thank you all individually but that is not the way this story under this co-authorship was written. So collectively I thank you all. This is probably going to be my last chapter for the year because soon I will be going on holiday and won't be having any access to the internet. I will though try and write the next chapter while I'm on holiday though.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. are copyrights and owned by Warner Bros. Inc as well as JK Rowling. The plot of the story was developed by Twisted Silver Dagger and myself Lost in A World of Pain. Pedro is the only character thus far owned by me.
Both Harry and Pedro were staggering through the alleyways. Harry was in a lot of pain while Pedro drifted in and out of consciousness. Harry could only wonder at what his evil uncle had done to poor Pedro. Having experienced first hand just what that insidious bastard was capable of he knew that it could not have been anything good. Pedro's poor appearance gave testimony to that. Harry stopped and looked about him and a cold chill ran through his body. He looked around again and then it dawned on him, he had absolutely no idea where he and Pedro were at the moment. He had just been blundering through the alleyways half carrying Pedro not really concentrating where on earth he had been going.
"Pedro knows where we are. Harry does not need to worry." Harry heard Pedro whisper near him, indicating that he was again amongst the land of the living.
"Where are we Pedro?" Harry asked feeling a small sense of relief to hear Pedro say this.
"Pedro and Harry are in the alleys. This is meaning that Pedro knows the way out of here because the alleys is Pedro's home." Pedro said and Harry frowned, mainly at the fact that Pedro had sort of answered his question while not giving him the answer that he had hoped for.
"Er, Pedro, can you tell me how to get us out of here?" Harry asked hoping this time that Pedro would answer the question directly.
"But of course Harry. Pedro can tell you. Yes he can. You see that large half torn up poster on the wall over across there?" Pedro answered and Harry looked in the direction Pedro was indicating.
"Yes." Harry tentatively said spotting the half shredded posted, which Harry was sure was an old Coca-cola advert.
"Pedro will tell you where to go from there Harry, let us get moving. Well, actually, no, we can't. Pedro needs to know something first." Pedro said looking at Harry as they were now sort of supporting each other.
"What is it Pedro? Why can't we go?" Harry asked anxiously feeling frustration starting to mount up within him.
"It is simple Harry, the reason Pedro can't get you out right now is because Harry has not told Pedro where he wants Harry to be taken to. So, where is it that Harry wants Pedro to take him to?" Pedro asked in a very calm and near unnerving voice.
"Oh, sorry about that Pedro. Well, now that you mention it, I've not given that much thought." Harry said his frustration ebbing away being replaced by a now building feeling of anxiety.
Harry thought for a few moments and then an idea struck him. If he could get to a street, any street, preferably a quiet and secluded street, then he could flag down the Knight Bus. But that presented him with a problem. How could he do that while Pedro was with him? There had to be another way. After a little more time of thinking Harry realised that that was his only idea and his only way of getting back to the magical community. Besides, both he and Pedro needed help and he was sure that the wizarding community wouldn't turn a person in need away. Plus, he was sure that the wizards could modify Pedro's memory if necessary.
"Pedro, can we somehow get to a quiet street where there is hardly anybody around?" Harry asked Pedro having now made up his mind.
"Pedro knows! Pedro knows! Pedro can lead you Harry, just follow Pedro's directions and both Pedro and Harry can get to the place." Pedro said showing a bloodied smile.
And so after following Pedro's directions Harry indeed found that both he and Pedro were now standing in a very quiet and secluded street. Night was now falling and there was only one dim street lamp that was burning and giving off any light at all. The street gave Harry an odd and eerie feeling. Both he and Pedro were sitting on the curb puffing and panting. Harry wiped his forehead and was about to pull his wand out when he decided that he felt a duty of responsibility towards Pedro. He had to tell him what he was doing and what was going to happen as well as what might happen. It was the least he could do.
"Well Pedro, the thing is, there is something I've got to tell you." Harry said still trying to figure just how he was going to say what he wanted to say.
"Pedro is listening Harry, what do you need to tell Pedro." Pedro said looking at Harry.
"The thing is Pedro, I, well, the thing is. Well. Hmmm. Let me put it to you this way, have you ever seen anything happen that just didn't seem real? Like, like maybe something that happened that you knew wasn't normal and shouldn't by any rational thought have happened?" Harry finally managed to say as he was still struggling with words.
"Pedro has seen many strange things Harry. Pedro has seen much, very much. People think Pedro is mad when he tries to tell anybody what Pedro has seen. Pedro has now stopped speaking about what he has seen. People say it is because Pedro is a child of the street and that is why Pedro sees such strange things." Pedro said with what Harry was sure was some sadness in his voice.
That was something to which Harry could truly relate. How much throughout his few years in Hogwarts have people doubted his sanity? How many people had accused him of being a liar? Even the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge, accused him of spinning stories just to try and garner extra attention. The Daily Prophet had published many lies and stories regarding him and questioning his sanity. The more he thought about it the more he felt disgusted. People who had thought the world of him had turned their backs on him, shunned him, without even allowing him to give his own account for the events.
"Well, then that will make this much easier for me to say Pedro. A lot of the things that you have seen, that didn't make any sense, most likely was magic Pedro." Harry said coming straight out.
"Pedro is not entirely sure what Harry means." Pedro said with a look of confusion on his face.
"I think the best way is for me to show you Pedro." Harry said and withdrew his wand.
Pedro looked on with ever increasing curiosity. Harry got to his feet, with some pain, and then gave his wand a little forwards flick, much the same way he did in his third year in Hogwarts.
"Lumos." Harry softly said and his wand shot out with a rather bright light that caused Pedro to fall over in surprise.
"Wow. Pedro wonders how Harry did that." Pedro said while having a very happy and excited look on his face.
"It's magic Pedro." Harry said and before he could say another word there was a clattering sound followed by a loud bang.
In front of Harry, just a little towards his right stood an enormous red double-decker bus. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as the Knight Bus stood before him. Pedro was now standing with his mouth hanging wide open.
"Pedro knew! Pedro knew! Pedro has seen this bus before! It comes out of no-where and then disappears!" Pedro said giving one hop of excitement and then stopping as this seemed to be giving him a considerable amount of pain.
Meanwhile the doors leading in to the Knight Bus opened and silhouetted in the doorway was none other than Stan, who still looked as pimply as ever and still wearing his purple conductors uniform.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand and ….and……. blimey! Neville! I, er, that is is say 'Arry! What on earth did 'appen to you? Blimey! You look in a bad way! Choo alright?" Stan asked as he rushed out of the bus to Harry's side.
"As well as can be expected Stan. Look, as you can plainly see my friend and I aren't doing well. We need to get to Saint Mungo's Hospital." Harry said suddenly realising just how sore he was feeling once more.
"Alright 'Arry. 'Ere now, your friend o'er there don look like no wizard to me. Ain't he a muggle?" Stan said as he hoisted Harry's trunk aboard the Knight Bus.
"Pedro has seen this bus before! Pedro has seen it many times! Pedro tried to tell people but nobody would believe him. Everybody said that Pedro was crazy and mad." Pedro said obviously missing the comment by Stan calling him a muggle.
"Oi now, e is a muggle! We can't let im onto the bus. E's a muggle." Stan said scratching his head looking at Pedro who was still looking wide-eyed (or rather one wide eye, the other was still mostly shut closed).
"Oh come on Stan, I'm sure the wizards won't have a problem letting him come on. He also needs help, plus, he helped me get out of that hell hole back there." Harry said becoming frustrated and feeling his pains begin to throb terribly.
"Oi! Ern, what do you think?" Stan called back to Ern the old bus driver.
Ern merely grunted something that neither Harry nor Pedro heard. An oldish looking wizard stuck his head out of the bus.
"Here now! Some of us have got places to go you know! We're…….. damn, what on earth happened to those two?" he said seeing Harry, who was leaning heavily against the bus, and Pedro who seemed to be swaying just a little bit.
"We were attacked and need help." Harry said, feeling dizzy as he realised just how tired he also was.
"But the other on is a muggle!" Stan said pointing to Pedro.
"Look here young man, these two clearly need medical attention! Take them on! It won't be difficult to do a memory charm if the other one's memory needs to be modified." The old wizard said.
Stan stood still for a few more moments before deciding that what the old wizard said did indeed make sense. With a sigh he motioned for both Harry and Pedro to come on board. Harry paid Stan but didn't order any extra hot chocolate, clearly recalling what happened last time he ordered. Plus knowing that Ern was still driving made him even more sure that if he did order hot chocolate then it would most likely end up on the floor of the Knight Bus.
"Easy does it 'Arry." Stan said as he helped Harry to one of the beds that were now littered throughout the bus.
Harry was grateful for the fact that they were placed on beds on the first level on the Knight Bus. Suddenly it felt as if all the world were spinning around him and his aches and pains were growing steadily worse. He lay on his bed, suddenly his scar flared up and a searing pain ricocheted through his body. It felt as if a hot poker was being pressed against his head. He gave a moan and then drifted into darkness.
Pedro on the other hand was too curious and happy by what he was seeing and experiencing to realise just how hurt and sore he was. A few witches a wizards muttered as they looked at the two beaten youngsters. The old wizard quickly went to the front of the bus to have a word with Ern the driver.
"I think you should push those two youngsters ahead of the delivery cue Ern, they need help and fast." He said before returning to his seat.
A/N And that is where I leave this chapter dear readers. I would like to thank you all for your renewed support in reading and reviewing the story. This is my last update for this story this year. I will endeavour to try and carry on updating as of next year. Happy holidays to you all and if this year hasn't been kind to you, I hope the next one will be kinder.
Cheers
Lost in A World of Pain