Chapter Forty: The Knight Bus
A quick note from the author: Sorry for the long delay in updates, but I was having a bit of writer's block, but I sure hope that you enjoy it though.
Just as scheduled Harry and his family went to go see Petunia, Marge, and Dudley over at Petunia's house for supper. Harry had also brought his dog Patches, while Marge had brought her bulldog Ripper. Ripper was a lot more spoiled than Patches was and Harry loved his dog like he was his own child, neither of the two dogs seemed to like each other very much though. Which that was just fine with Harry, because nobody in his family really liked Ripper or his owner.
"Hey Harry, want to go play videogames?" Dudley questioned him.
"Sure, anything to get out of here." Harry muttered underneath his breath but unfortunately for him, it wasn't quiet enough for his mother not to hear him.
"You better watch your mouth young man." She warned him as she pointed a stern finger at him before the boys went into Dudley's bedroom to play videogames.
"I don't like teenagers." Marge began. "Except for my nephew Dudley they're all extremely hot tempered and undisciplined." She finished.
"What about me?" Tobey inquired. "I'm only eight and I'm a good boy." He told her as she simply just looked at him.
"Yes,.. I'm sure you are." She replied even though she didn't seem all that convinced of it herself and it was probably because she hated his parents while Lily silently reflected on the fact that in another few years it would be Tobey's turn to go to Hogwarts with his two siblings.
…..
Evie and Gia stared down at the food down in front of them in complete and utter disgust. "I hate spaghetti!" Gia snapped. "Me too!" Evie exclaimed and that's when their mother looked at them rather cross.
"Girls that's enough." She began. "And Evie since you're older than her it would do you well to set a good example." She told her before Sarah opened up her mouth.
"Yuck! I can't stand garlic bread." She said with a shake of her head and that's when Lily looked over at her and glared at her.
"Alright that's it, the next person that says something will just have to go to bed without any supper." Severus threatened.
"At least somebody in this family knows how to show some discipline." Marge said. "And this man is a lot better than the last bloke that you were married to. What did you say the man did Petunia?" She wondered but Petunia just simply shook her head.
"Nothing, I didn't,.. he was unemployed." She lied.
"Ah I see, and he was a drunk too no doubt?" Marge inquired before Harry quickly leapt to his feet in a sudden rage of anger.
"That's a lie! My dad wasn't a drunk." He growled while glaring over at her as she picked up her drinking glass but that's when it shattered into a million pieces.
"Harry,.. calm down sweetheart." Lily told him as Petunia gasped and widened her eyes as she turned to look over at Marge.
"It's alright, I just have a very firm grip." She told her before she turned to look back over at Harry. "Hey, you, cleanup." She instructed while pointing down at the bits of broken glass. When Harry didn't respond his father turned to look at him really seriously.
"Do what she says." He growled and Harry quickly nodded.
"Yes sir." He replied and he went to go sweep up the broken bits of glass with a tiny broom.
"You know that boy of yours is so much like his father, lazy, arrogant, and very snobbish,.. not to mention there seems to be something wrong with that one over there." Marge said and gave a slight head gesture over at Lily which was finally the straw that broke the camel's back for Harry.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Harry hollered angrily when suddenly the power started to flicker on and off and Patches started to bark while Harry's mother continued attempting to try to calm him down softly and soothingly.
"Right, let me tell you." Marge began as she pointed a rather stern finger at Harry but that's when Harry widened his eyes in shock and disbelief as her finger started to swell up and before he knew it her whole entire body was expanding as well. Dudley shared the same shocked look that Harry had. "Petunia, Petunia do something!" Marge cried out as her necklace began to shatter and a couple of the beads wound up hitting Dudley in the face.
"Are you okay?" Harry questioned him out of concern as Dudley silently nodded and Patches quickly darted out of the way dodging a bead himself. As Petunia started to float up towards the ceiling Harry's heart started pounding frantically against his chest and that's when he ran out the back door and Patches ran after him.
"Harry!" Lily cried out while Severus didn't even notice as he was too busy trying to help Petunia get Marge down as she started floating towards the front door. As he walking down the street that's when suddenly a couple of bright headlights shone inside his eyes and as his eyes widened and he prepared to finally meet his biological father, the purple triple-decker bus directly in front of them slammed on its brakes.
"Oops, sorry about that." A young wizard began as he stepped out of the bus. "Welcome to The Knight Bus, I'm you're conductor Stan Shunpike." He said as Harry scooped Patches up inside his arms.
"The what?" He questioned while scrunching his face up with confusion.
"The Knight Bus, we'll take you anywhere through the city of London." Stan began while he glanced over at Patches. "And although we usually don't take pets, I think we can make an exception since he's a cute little guy." He said as he reached out his hand and started scratching him behind the ears.
"Thank you." Harry began. "Can you take me to The Leaky Cauldron?" He asked him.
"Sure, climb aboard." Stan replied before he allowed Harry and Patches onboard.
