A/N

Another warning: this story will contain Corporal punishment; remember this is fanfiction and not real life. It will not however be the focus of my story nor will it ever be. It is also implemented very sparingly.

Disclaimer: All rights belong to JKR for the characters, storyline and name. I am just using them for the purpose of entertainment.

Harry Potter was absolutely fuming.

He glared back at the old white door that he had stormed out from only a few moments ago before marching his way to the street of Little Whining without a clue, or a care, where he was heading.

Barely a year had passed since he had received his warning from the ministry for underage magic; a warning that he should not have even gotten seeing as it wasn't his fault.

A house elf named Dobby had appeared in his bedroom and, after warning Harry to not return to Hogwarts that year and Harry refusing, the elf had performed a hover charm in the presence of the Dursley's and their dinner guests. Cake was splashed on the guests heads and the warning was swift and blunt.

Under no circumstances was he to perform any further magic in Privet Drive or face expulsion from the first place he could truly call home; Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry.

With only muggle money and his owl, Hedwig, for company, the teen struggled down towards the end of Privet Drive and turned a corner on to a road that he knew led to the small playing park.

One of Dudley Dursley's hotspots for terrorising the children of Little Whinging.

Approaching the area, eyeing a bench for sit down on Harry happened to notice sudden and swift change in the weather; what once was a clear night, full moon evident, lighting up the sky, was now nothing but dark clouds, loaning heavily overhead.

A blind man could see it was going to rain; another inconvenience to a day that had been cursed from the start.

The child instantly decided that he was to spend the night at the small park; perhaps attempt to get a few hours of sleep, while he formulated a plan on how to get to Diagon Alley tomorrow.

Diagon Alley was one of the first places he had been taking when he heard of his wizarding abilities; Hagrids, the Hogwarts games keeper had taken him to his vault where he heard learnt of the small fortune left from his Parents and Grandparents, all of which he would be able to access the following day, once he had formulated a plan on how to get there.

Rummaging around in his trunk, he remembered his father's invisibility cloak and decided that that would have to do for a blanket. It also served as a rather successful disguise so that if anyone were to walk by, they won't see him and wake him up.

He had just placed his trunk and Hedwigs cage in a near bush when his owl began squawking uncontrollably.

The teen felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as shivers flowed through his body for reasons he could not explain.

Turning slowly, he saw a large black dog making his way towards him. Harry whipped his wand out of his coat pocket and gripped it hard; so hard that his knuckles turned a pale shade of white.

As the dog ventured closer, Harry rationalised that if he was already about to be expelled for blowing up his aunt, he may as well defend himself, underaged magic or not.

The rain began to pour as there was a rumble of thunder overhead. The black dog was continuing to walk towards him and was now responding to Hedwig's racket by barking back. Harry began to gently walk back to the pavement when he tripped and fell hard on his backside.

The child thought whether he had hit his head during his fall as two bright lights blinded his eyes as he tried to open them, followed by the release of what sounded to be breaks.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, m' name is Stanley an' I'll be your conductor for this tonight'."

Harry blinked frantically to get his eyes adjusted to the new light. Opening one eye, followed by the other, Harry realised he was staring at a purple, steel vehicle, the mans voice he had just heard was standing just to his right.

"Choo want a lift or not?" The man asked again, dropping the queue card he had held in front of him to stare down at the child.

"Wha- a lift? What is this?" Harry managed to stutter in reply, as he began to stand up. One of his hands was grazed and his lower back was aching from his fall. He suddenly remembered what had caused his fall and looked round the back of the bus, over to where the black dog had once stood.

"The Knight Bus" Stanley repeated, "free transportation for stranded witches and wizards. Just say your destination and we'll take you there in –," Stanley paused as he looked down at the child who was clear pre-occupied, "wha choo looking at then?"

"There was a dog, a really big one. - It was barking at me - right before you came."

Stanley gave him a look of disbelief, "Well, let's get choo out of the rain before you are soaked to the core. No luggage?" the man questioned…

Harry looked down at the ground before he realised, "oh - yeah, I do - sorry."

Harry rushed to the bush where he had hidden his things, before picking up his trunk, he undid Hedwig's cage and let her out, instructing her to meet at Diagon Alley.

The white owl let out a hoot, Harry took this as her understanding as she flew off into the night, leaving the teen alone.

"Come on," Stanley called as Harry rushed back to the bus. "We haven't got all night son."

"Sorry," Harry replied as he followed Stanley back onto the bus and found a vacant bed.

"Now then, where do you want to go?" Stanley asked as he took a firm grip of the over head hand rail; seemingly unbothered at the pace in which the bus had just pulled away at.

"Diagon Alley please - it's in London," Harry replied as he attempted to stable himself to the best that he could on the beds, which were, for merlin knows what reason, on wheels.

"Choo hear that Ernie, it's in London" Stanley laughed as Harry felt his cheeks grow warm.

It was often that the teen forgot just how disconnected from the Wizarding World, especially while he lived with muggles all summer. Usually is trunk with all his school stuff had to be locked away in his old bedroom under the stairs, for want of a better word, but this summer, since being allowed to move to Dudley's second bedroom, Harry had managed to keep hold of this trunk and along with it, his wand, school books and some snacks he had stashed up.

His Uncle Dursley had been insistent on one thing however, that was that Harry's owl, Hedwig had to be kept locked away, through fear that their neighbours might suspect something freaky going on.

Because of Hedwig being stored away, Harry wasn't able to communicate with his best mates Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ron was a pure-blood wizard from a large family and so muggle technologies were not something he was used to. Harry cringed at the memory of when Ron tried to use the muggle telephone to speak to Harry a few weeks ago.

Hermione on the other hand, was a muggle born and was often, for good reason, described as the brightest witch of her age. Hermione had suggested that they try and communicate through muggle post this summer but Harry hadn't received any such letter; he suspected that the Dursleys had been confiscating the letters before they reached him, like Dobby the house elf had done so last summer.

"What did you say your name was then son," Stanley questioned, running his fingers on his chin as his eyes squinted slightly at the teen.

"I didn't, but its – Seamus." Harry replied shortly, quick to hide his real identity.

"Well, Seamus, what brought choo to be walking bout these streets at this time?"

"I don't know, just bored." Harry lied rather bluntly. The mans questions were getting nothing short of irritating; considering the day he'd had, he just wanted to get his head down for some rest.

"Choo want to be careful; especially in these times..." the conductor warned as he turned around to head up to the front of the bus with the driver.

Harry couldn't find the energy in his to muster up a reply as he felt nothing short of pleased that the man seemed to have got the unspoken message that the teen wanted to be left to himself.

Harry decided that it was best to try and catch a little bit of sleep before arriving at Diagon Alley where he was also almost positive that aurors were on their way to tell him he had been expelled and his wand snapped.

The child let scenarios float around his head, each time attempting to come to the conclusion that he wasn't about to be expelled; occasionally thinking that Dumbledore might let him stay on Hogwarts grounds like Hagrid...

He lay down on his assigned bed and slowly closed his eyes, his breath evening out slightly as his attempt to fight the itchiness in his eyes, from his lack of sleep, ceased to exist.

"The Aurors have taken care of the situation, the Dursleys memories have been modified and the boys Aunt has been taken back to her home."

"Thank you Severus, it is very much appreciated." Dumbledore replied as he moved around to sit at his desk.

"However, the Dursleys have refused to accept the boy back, even for next summer. Potter also left the house and is currently being tracked by the aurors on the Knight Bus, headed for Diagon Alley." Snape explained.

"I'm sure Harry's aunt and uncle will change their minds by next summer Severus, there is no need to panic."

Snape let out a loud huff of annoyance at the Headmasters lack of understanding about how serious the situation was. "Albus, Petunia made it explicitly clear that she, nor her husband, want any more to do with the boy. I can hardly blame them."

"Harry cannot live with any other relative, Petunia made a promise to look after him. The wards are the only thing keeping the boy safe. You and I both know, if Voldemort returns, Harry will not be safe living anywhere else but the house where a blood relative resides." Dumbledore stood from his seat, arms out stretched either side of him.

"The boy his out of control Albus, living with his muggle relatives is likely the blame. Not only has he managed to blow up his Aunt, but he was also ran away and put himself in harms way, especially with the outbreak of Sirius Black. He needs a parental figure, now more than ever." Snape went rather red in the face, explaining his grievances that seemed to be falling on dead ears.

"And who exactly do you suggest?" Dumbledore questioned. "McGonagall is much too old for such an active young child, myself likewise; you are already managing Slytherin house and if he returns, it would be almost impossible to keep up your double role. It would not be safe."

"He could be a ward of the ministry," Snape suggested, knowing full well that Potter being a ward of the ministry would do far more harm than good to anyone involved in the insufferable child's life.

"You and I both know that that would be in Harry's worst interest to be looked after by Fudge."

"I suppose you are correct." Snape replied, "And I am sure the Weasley family already have far too much on their hands without another child."

"Not to mention that they are currently out of the country Severus." Dumbledore mused over the thought. If anyone would be willing to take Harry, it would have been Molly Weasley, however it would be just another child to add to the woman's pressure; certainly not a perfect match for a child so adventurous and mischievous as Harry was.

"I know you are not found of him, but Remus Lupin may be an option in this situation. He is due to start as professor here in September, Severus."

"Lupin would only let the child run riot, more than he already does. Besides, the two have never even met - such an idea is preposterous, Albus." Snape attempted to argue back but saw the twinkle in Dumbledores eyes return at the mans own idea.

"Remus knew James and Lily far better than I am sure any one of us did. Furthermore, he knew Harry as a young child. I hardly think that such an idea would be inappropriate." Dumbledore sat once more.

"Of course, I would like them to get to know one another first before an decisions are made final, but Remus may just be our only choice Severus."

"Talk to Potter first, explain the situation and then suggest the idea of Lupin. However, do not come back to me when the boy remains just as out of control as he is currently. I refuse to play any part in this." Snape responded in his no-nonsense tone that he often used when a first year was messing around in his class.

"I will not Severus, thank you for your assistance this evening; it is, as always, much appreciated" Dumbledore commented as he stood from his desk and walked over to the fireplace.

"Now, I must go and meet Harry at the Leaky Cauldron so we will speak more in the morning. I shall bit you goodnight, Severus."

"Albus," Snape nodded as he headed for the door as Dumbledore disappeared through green smoked fireplace…

I am in the process of rewriting these first few chapters as the writing is of poor standard.

Please do not let these first few chapters put you off reading the rest of my story as I do believe my writing gets better. :)

Edited - 03/04/2021