Author's Note:
It has been a very long time since I have written a fanfiction, but I am ready to write again. So, I was recently listening to an audiobook version of "The Chamber Of Secrets," and whilst doing so, I was looking at the comments, one of which read: Definitely upsetting knowing all of the possible ways Harry and Ron could have made it to Hogwarts. The Knight Bus, disapparation, floo network, portkey, thestrals, a plane etc... and it got me thinking about the first suggestion. I imagined how the story would have gone with this happening. I hope this story looks as good on the internet as it does in my head.
All My Love
Sapphire
"It's gone," said Ron, sounding stunned. "The train's left. What if Mum and Dad can't get back through to us?
Have you got any Muggle money?"
Harry gave a hollow laugh. "The Dursleys haven't given me pocket money for about six years."
Ron pressed his ear to the cold barrier.
"Can't hear a thing," he said tensely,
"What're we going to do? I don't know how long it'll take Mum and Dad to get back to us."`
They looked around. People were still watching them, mainly because of Hedwig's continuing screeches.
"I think we'd better go and wait by the car," said Harry. "We're attracting too much attention."
Ron didn't answer him, and Harry turned to face him, an eyebrow raised.
"Earth to Ron?" He asked, waving a hand in front of his face. Ron shook his head as though to clear it, and smiled.
"Well, there are other options to consider, but I don't recommend the car. We could get into serious trouble for that, and no one's supposed to know that it can fly," he said, no longer panicking, before turning his trolley back towards the entrance and strode away.
A little perplexed, Harry followed quickly.
"Ron, please tell me what we're doing. I'm a little lost," said Harry.
"You know, there are other ways we can get to Hogwarts. Would you'd agree that we were stranded, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Well, of course I'd say we were stranded. We're stuck in the middle of London with no way of getting to school," Harry answered, as he followed Ron down a deserted alleyway.
"That's what I thought," smiled Ron, and stuck out his wand hand. "I only hope this works," he muttered.
No sooner had the words left his lips then there was a deafening bang. Harry leaped back in shock, his back hitting the brick wall behind him.
Ron grabbed hold of his arm and said, "I hope you've got some of our money. We're taking the bus to school." He was gesturing towards a triple-decker (in a rather garish shade of purple) bus with gold lettering reading "The Knight Bus."
"The Knight Bus?" Harry asked, perplexed.
"Yep," said Ron as a conductor in a purple uniform leapt out of the bus and began to speak loudly into the sunny morning.
"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 Stan Shumpike, and I shall be your conductor this morning."
"Hello, Stan. Can you please get us to Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
Stan looked at Ron, thoroughly perplexed.
"Woss that? 'Ogwarts? Why ain't choo on the train?"
"Well, the thing is, the gateway's sealed itself for some reason. We need to get to school, though. So please, can you get us there?"
"Course we can. One Galleon and two Sickles each should do it." Stan replied.
Harry pressed some gold and silver into Stan's waiting hands, before he and Ron helped place their trunks on board, before they got on themselves.
"You know, I've always wanted to ride on this thing," Ron said happily.
"I imagine it'll be different to a Muggle bus," said Harry glancing around with interest. It was certainly nothing like a Muggle bus, where the seats were placed in neat rows. Instead, it was crammed with an assortment of mismatched chairs grouped haphazardly around windows.
Harry and Ron climbed onto what seemed to be a park bench, and then with another BANG, the bus took off. As the bus rumbled around the streets, Harry, who had been thrown off the seat, picked himself up off the floor.
"Is the bus very safe?" He asked Ron, who shrugged.
"Dunno. But it can't crash into anything, look," he said, pointing out of the window.
Harry stared in alarm as the bus mounted the curb, and letterboxes jumped out of the way. Then, when the bus had passed, they jumped back into place.
"Can't the Muggles hear the bus?" Harry asked, as Stan went to inform a passenger that they'd soon be arriving in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
"Don't think so. But better that than a flying car," said Ron, and Harry nodded in agreement.
"So, why are we in Wales? Surely other passengers would have wanted to get off in England."
"Because they let passengers off in order of them getting on," said Ron, as the bus took off with another bang. As it did so, however, there could be heard a most audible snap.
"That didn' sound good," said Stan, stopping by.
It wasn't good. As Ron picked himself up for the second time, and moaning that he'd never get on the bus again, he noticed his wand on the floor by a kitchen table chair, and somehow, it had snapped.
"Oh no! My wand!" He cried, gingerly picking it up. The tip was dangling, held on by only a few splinters.
"Surely it can be fixed," Harry assured him. "If not, it's not really your fault, and maybe the teachers can take you to go and get a new one."
"Hmm," Ron agreed, and for the remainder of their journey, they bounced around in their seats, were thrown to the floor, and Harry let Hedwig out of her cage so that she could fly around and not be severely injured in her cage.
Finally, at long last, their stomachs growling (they had passed up on lunch not wanting to be violently sick ) they pulled up at the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Welcome home, Harry," Ron smiled, looking a little green.
Harry nodded, smiling back, before he and Ron, helped out by Stan, unloaded their trunks. Harry called Hedwig to him, but she hadn't enjoyed the bus trip at all, and didn't look back as she flew angrily towards the school.
Man, she's not happy with me, Harry thought glumly as he and Ron thanked Stan, and began to make their way towards the school, wincing as the bruises on their legs made themselves known.
They hadn't gone very far when a cold and very familiar voice called out, "Potter! Weasley! "
They glanced up to see, standing facing them with his robes rippling in the late afternoon wind and eyeing them suspiciously was Professor Severus Snape. He was Head of Slytherin House, cold and cruel, and was, without any doubt, Harry's least favourite teacher.
"So, the train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter? Wanted to arrive with a bang, did you, boys?" He asked coolly.
"Sir, the barrier wouldn't let us-," Harry began.
"Silence!" Snape spat.
Harry was about to say more, but before he could, his stomach started to slosh, and bitter-tasting liquid filled his mouth.
"Uh-oh," was all Harry could say, before opening his mouth, sending forth a stream of bile and remnants of toast. Beside him, Ron was also evacuating the contents of his own stomach, while Professor Snape looked on in utter disgust.
"I'm never riding the Knight Bus as long as I live," Ron moaned, holding his stomach as he retched over and over.
"Well, nice to know you didn't try to get to school by a more dangerous way," Snape muttered, just as Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, swept down the lawn to greet them.
"Good afternoon," he said pleasantly and vanished the muck on the grass with a wave of his wand. "Evanesco!" he said clearly.
Harry gave him a weak smile. "I'll have to remember that one."
"Yes, it's very useful. Now, why don't you and Mr. Weasley both come inside? You can go and see Madame Pomfrey for a Stomach Soother, and then come and see me in my office. The password is "Sugar Quills", and it's located on the second floor today." Dumbledore smiled.
"Only today, Sir?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Indeed, Harry. What with the ever-changing floor-plan of this castle, it changes all the time. Now, go and see Madame Pomfrey. I'll take if you like."
"No, thank you, Sir." Said Ron, as he and Harry made their way up towards the Hospital Wing located on the Fourth Floor.
