Harry and Elizabeth Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

by Wishmaster 17

Harry and Elizabeth have so far had difficult time at school. Not because people hated them, far from it. It was just that for the past two years Harry and Elizabeth have had to deal with one of the worst Wizards of all time. Can the two survive a third year at Hogwarts? (Sequel Harry and Elizabeth and The Chamber of Secrets) full summery inside.

3. The Knight Bus

Chapter 3 The Knight Bus

It was several streets away before Harry collapsed onto a low wall in Magnolia Crescent, panting from the effort of dragging his trunk. Turning around I stare at my brother worried. He sat there quite still, anger still surging through him. Walking over and resting with him I placed my hand on his left shoulder squeezing it slightly.

His hand reached up and clutched mine.

We sat there in silence alone in the dark street for ten minutes. The only sound was our breathing. "We did it this time, Elizabeth." I nodded. Leaning over and resting my head on his shoulder closing my eyes to think.

We were stranded, alone in the dark Muggle world, nowhere to go, and worst of all we had done some serious magic. It could only mean that we would be expelled from Hogwarts. We had broken the Decree for Restriction of Underage Wizardry so badly; I was surprised the Ministry of Magic representatives weren't swooping down on where we sat.

I could feel Harry shivering next to me, he was looking up and down Magnolia Crescent.

"Harry…"

Harry looked down at me as I played with my wand staring at the carvings.

"Whats going to happen to us?"

"I don't know," I sighed sinking further into the ground holding onto him as we sat in silence again.

"I'll think of something though." I gave off a feeble smile.

I'd give anything to see Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, heck even Draco. Harry and I were in serious trouble. I wasn't sure if we'd be arrested, or even outlawed from the wizarding world. I'm sure criminal or not Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, and maybe Draco would want to or even try to help us now. But there were abroad.

With Godric gone I had no means to contact them. I didn't have Muggle money, I had a bit of wizarding gold in my trunk but that's it. The rest was at Gringotts Wizarding Bank over in London. My parents had left Harry and I a small fortune so that we would be taken care of in the wizarding world. But with our heavy trunks there's no way we'd be able to drag them all the way to London.

"I have an idea…"

Looking up I indicated that I was listening.

"If we're actually expelled, using a bit more of magic won't hurt right?" I stare at him waiting for him to continue. "We have the invisibility cloak from Dad. What if we bewitched the trunks to make it feather light, tied them to my broomstick, cover ourselves with the cloak and fly to London."

Was he crazy?

"Are you crazy?" I asked standing up in front of him.

"Even if we are expelled we can't break the law even more. We are underage. The Ministry of Magic will find out and we'll get in even more trouble than we are in now. Even if we did use the feather light spell on our trunks and got to Gringotts. What then? What would we do then?"

"Do what other wizards do as an outcast?"

"I think this is a horrible idea. But we better get moving or else we'll have to talk to the Muggle police and explain to them why we're out in the dead of night with a killer on the loose and a trunk full of spell books, and a broomstick."

He sighed nodding his head "You're right, but what should we do it's not like we can…" he paused mid-sentence standing up looking around once more. I shivered rubbing the goosebumps off my arms.

"Whats…"

"Shh!"

I waited patiently for him to finish his scan. The street appeared to be deserted, no lights shone from any of the large square houses.

"I could have sworn someone was watching us." He whispered bending over to grab his trunk. He shot back up wand in the hand keeping himself in front of me in case there was something. I watched him squint at the garage and fence across the street.

"Lumos," he muttered, a light appeared at the end of his wand, almost dazzling. He held it high over his head, and the pebble dashed walls of number two suddenly sparkled; the garage door gleamed. Between them I saw something. It distinctly looked like the hulking outline of something very big, with wide, gleaming eyes.

Harry stepped backward, his body crashing into mine. He tripped. His wand flew out of his hand as we fell. I cringe as the gutter's hard cement crashed into my back, along with my heavy twin brother landing on me. I broke his fall.

There was a loud BANG, I cringe curling into his neck to shield my eyes against a sudden blinding light.

I felt Harry roll us back onto the pavement, just in time too. A second later a gigantic pair of wheels and headlights screeched to a halt exactly where we had just been lying. Blinking a few times to get adjusted to the light I noticed that it was a triple decker, violently purple bus. It had appeared out of thin air. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled 'The Knight Bus'.

I clutched onto Harry with all my might to ignore my pain. Think about anything else. Being alone with Draco on Christmas. That helped. I remembered vividly our first kiss was in the middle of the hall after he gave me a handmade necklace.

It was in my trunk. I'll wear it tomorrow, if I ever get the chance. Shaking my head I stare at Harry worried he was hurt. He shot his head up startled to see a pair of legs hop down from the bus.

Finally looking up at the man in a purple uniform looking down at a note card jumping down from the bud.

"What…what happened?" I mutter rubbing my head confused. I stare at the man who looked maybe a few years older than myself. He looked maybe eighteen, nineteen years old.

"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 Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this eve…"

Stan stopped abruptly. He caught sight of Harry stumbling off me looking down "You okay Lizzy?" he muttered softly. I nodded giving off a pained smile.

"What were you doin' down there?" Stan said dropping his professional manner.

"Fell over," Harry said standing up before helping me up.

"'Choo fall over for?" sniggered Stan.

"He didn't do it on purpose." I snapped, rather annoyed. My back was aching and a dampness from my shirt.

I saw Harry looking at the alleyway between the garage and fence. The Knight Bus's headlamps were flooding it with light. And it was empty.

"'Choo lookin' at?" asked Stan.

"There was a big black thing," Harry said pointing uncertainly into the gap. "Like a dog…but massive…" Stan's mouth was slightly open. With a feeling of unease, I saw Stan's eyes move to Harry's forehead.

"Woss that on your 'ead?" Stan said abruptly.

"Nothing," I said quickly gaining his attention.

"He hit it a few days ago, on a door." I lied. Harry was flattening it over his scar. If the Ministry of Magic was looking for us, we didn't want to make it too easy for them.

"Woss your name?" Stan persisted.

"Neville Longbottom,"

"Lavender Brown,"

I met Harry's gaze before he went back to changing the subject.

"So, so this bus, did you say it goes anywhere?"

"Yep," Stan said proudly, "anywhere you like, 'long it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater." Stan started to look suspicious again. "You did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out your wand 'and, dincha?"

"Yes, now how much would it be for us to get to London?"

"Eleven Sickles each," Stan said. "but for firteen you get 'ot chocolate, and for fifteen you get an 'ot-water bottle an' a toofbrush in the color of your choice."

Rummaging in our trunks, we pulled out just the right amount of money and placed the gold into Stan's hand. Harry and Stan then lifted Harry's trunk, with Hedwig's cage balanced on top, up the steps of the bus. Then it was repeated with my own trunk and Godric's cage.

Unlike regular muggle busses, the Knight bus had no seats. Instead there was a half dozen brass bedsteads stood beside the curtained windows. Candles were burning in the brackets besides each bed. Illuminating the wood paneled walls. A tiny wizard in a nightcap at the rear of the bus muttered "Not now, thanks, I'm pickling some slugs," and rolled over in his sleep.

"You 'ave this one," Stan whispered, shoving Harry's trunk under the bed right behind the driver, who was sitting in an armchair in front of the steering wheel. I bounced on the bed beside Harry giving him a smile looping my arm through his.

"This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This is Neville Longbottom and Lavender Brown, Ern."

Ernie Prang, an elderly wizard wearing very thick glasses, nodded to Harry and I. Harry was nervously flattening his bangs again.

"Take 'er away, Ern," Stan said sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's.

Another tremendous BANG, and the next moment I let out a frightened yelp as I was flung backwards by pure speed of the Knight Bus. Pushing myself into a sitting position I stare over Harry out the window and see as he were bowling along a completely different street.

Stan must have been watching us because he spoke with great enjoyment.

"This is where we was before you flagged us down," he said "Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?"

"Ar," said Ernie.

"Whoa…" Was all I could say.

"How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?" Harry asked for me.

"Them!" Stan said contemptuously. "Don' listen properly, do they? Don' look properly either. Never notice nuffink, they don'."

"Best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan," Ern said. "We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute."

"This is incredible." I muttered looking all around stunned.

Stan passed the bed Harry and I occupied with a small smirk on his face and disappeared up a narrow wooden staircase. Harry looked nervous. Ernie didn't seem to have mastered the use of a steering wheel. The Knight Bus kept mounting the pavement, but it didn't hit anything; lines of lampposts, mailboxes, and trashcans jumped out of its way as it approached and back into position once it had passed.

Stan came back downstairs, followed by a faintly green witch wrapped in a traveling cloak.

"'Ere you go, Madam Marsh," Stan said happily as Ern stamped on the brake and the beds slid a foot or so toward the front of the bus. Madam Marsh clamped a handkerchief to her mouth and trotted down the steps. Stan threw her bag out after her and rammed the doors shut; there was another loud BANG, and again we were off, thundering down a narrow county lane. Tree's leaping out of the way.

I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to. Rolling onto my side I saw that Harry was worried. Reaching over I laid my hand on his chest, I could feel his heart hammering in his chest a million times a minute.

"Hey," He glanced at me.

"It'll be okay. We'll be okay." He squeezed my hand in thanks.

Stan had unfurled a copy of the Daily Prophet and was now reading with his tongue between his teeth. A large photograph of a sunken-faced man with long, matted hair blinked slowly at me from the front page. He looked strangely familiar.

"That man!" Harry said shooting up from the bed. Slowly sitting up I stare at Harry. "He was on the Muggle news!"

Stanley turned to the front page and chuckled.

"Sirius Black," he said nothing, nodding. ""Course 'e was on the Muggle news, Neville. Where you been?"

He gave a superior sort of chuckle at the blank look on Harry's face, removed the front page and handed it to Harry.

Looking over Harry's shoulder staring at the headline as Stan spoke again. "You oughta read the papers more, Neville."

BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.

"We are doing all we can to recapture Black," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, "and we bed the magical community to remain calm."

Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis.

"Well, really, I had to, don't know you," said an irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breath a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And lets face it- who'd believe him if he did?"

While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a king of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacure like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

Staring at the man with shadowed eyes of Sirius Black, it was the only part of his sunken face that seemed alive. Just staring at the picture you could assume he resembled a vampire but something about him seemed familiar.

I couldn't place it. He just looked like someone in my dreams. I couldn't tell Harry this, he'd think I'm crazy.

"Scary-lookin' fing, inee?" Stan said. I jumped I hadn't realized that he was watching us.

"He murdered thirteen people?" Harry said handing the page back to Stan, "with one curse?"

"Yep," Stan said, "in front of witnesses an' all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?"

"Ar," said Ern darkly.

Stan swiveled in his armchair, his hands on the back, the better to look at us.

"Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-'Oo." He said.

"What, Voldemort?" Harry said without thinking. Looking over wide eyed I did what any logical person would do. I smacked him on the arm.

"Don't say it!" I remember how Ron got all terrified of the name and pretended to act that way. And judging by the look on Stan's face he was terrified as well.

Ern jerked the steering wheel so hard that the whole farmhouse had to jump aside to avoid the bus.

"You outta your tree?" yelped Stan. "'Choo say 'is name for?"

"Sorry," Harry said hastily rubbing his arm from the sting. "Sorry, I, I forgot…"

"Forgot!" Stan said weakly. "Blimey, my 'eart's goin' that fast…"

"So…so Black was a supporter of You- Know- Who?" Harry prompted apologetically.

"Yeah," Stan said still rubbing his chest. "Yeah, that's right. Very close to You-Know-'Oo, they say…anyway, when little 'Arry and Izabeth Potter got the better of You-Know-'Oo." Harry started to flatten his bangs again. "all You-Know-'Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they, Ern? Most of 'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-'Oo gone, and they came quite. But not Sirius Black. I 'eard he thought 'e'd be second in command once You-Know-'Oo 'ad taken over. Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand and 'e blasted half the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. 'Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?" Stan continued in a dramatic whisper.

"What?" Harry and I asked simultaneously.

"Laughed," said Stan. "Jus' stood there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, 'e went wic em quiet as anyfink, still laughing 'is 'ead off. 'Cos 'e's mad, inee, Ern? Inee mad?"

"If he weren't when he went to Azkaban, he will be now," Said Ern in his slow voice. I stared up at Stan clinging to every word he spoke.

"I'd blow meself up before I set foot in that place. Serves him right, mind you…after what he did…"

"They ad' a job coverin' it up, din' they, Ern?" Stan said. "Ole street blown up an' all them Muggles dead. What was it they said 'ad 'appened, Ern?"

"Gas explosion," Ern grunted out still disturbed by what Sirius Black had done.

"An' now 'e's out," said Stan, examining the newspaper picture of Black's gaunt face again. "Never been a breakout from Azkaban before, 'as there, Ern? Beats me 'ow 'e did it. Frightenin', eh? Mind, I don't fancy 'is chances against them Azkaban guards, eh, Ern?"

Ernie suddenly shivered. "Talk about summant else, Stan, there's a good lad. Them Azkaban guards give me the collywobbles."

Stan put the paper away reluctantly. It looked like he wanted to continue but would stop for Ernie. They seemed to have a nice bond.

Turning around to face Harry I saw he had his head pressed against the window of the Knight Bus. Flopping over I laid halfway on his chest, halfway on his shoulder. His eyes traveled over to my own and I could practically tell what he was thinking.

He was thinking that Stan would be telling everyone else he traveled with what had happened tonight. "'Ear about that 'Arry and 'Izabeth Potter? Blew up their aunt! We 'ad 'em 'ere on the Knight Bus, di'n't we, Ern? They was tryin' to run for it…" was what he was thinking more or less.

"Hey, you okay?" He let out a sigh. Shifting his body so that I was laying on his front.

"We're like Sirius Black…" he whispered so Stan or Ernie didn't hear.

"No we aren't." I whispered back.

"But we are, we broke wizard law just like him."

"Harry I doubt accidently inflating Aunt Marge is bad enough to send us to Azkaban." I stated softly. I know he's upset but Azkaban is for the bad of the bad.

"But how do you know?"

Forcing a smile to my lips I gave the best answer I could. "Because, Draco's aunt is there. He told me all about Azkaban. So I don't think we'll be in that much trouble."

Looking back up front I noticed Stan was staring at us again. Very suspicious now.

"Gettin' rather comfortable Lavender?"

I snickered slightly "We're best friends." I spoke smiling at Harry happily.

He shrugged before looking back at the newspaper to relieve his boredom.

Harry wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer to him, I did start to wonder about Hagrid. He was stuck in Azkaban for two months last year because the ministry thought he was the one who released the basilisk petrifying the students.

I was so glad Hagrid could be free of that place, I hated the look of pure terror on his face at just the thought of going there.

The Knight Bus rolled through the darkness, scattering bushes and wastebaskets, telephone booths and trees. We laid in our bed, Harry was restless and miserable. I could feel him tossing and turning about and it was hard to sleep. After a while, Stan remembered that we paid for hot chocolate, but had poured it all over our pillow when the bus moved abruptly from Anglesea to Aberdeen. One by one, wizards and witches in dressing gowns and slippers descended from the upper floors to leave the bus. They all looked very pleased to go. I honestly couldn't blame him.

Finally it was just the two of us as the only passengers left.

"Right then, Neville, Lavender," Stan said clapping his hands, "whereabouts in London?"

"Diagon Alley," Harry said for us.

"Righto," said Stan. "'Old tight, then."

BANG.

They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Harry sat up and watched buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Bus's way. The sky was getting a little lighter. We would have to lie low for a couple hours, go to Gringotts the moment it opened, then set off, where we didn't know.

Ern slammed on the breaks and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small shabby looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley.

"Thanks," Harry said to Ern.

"Thank you for explaining to us about Sirius Black, Stan." I gave him a smile. "Thank you for the ride Ernie." I said hopping off the bus with ease.

Stan helped me lower my trunk and Godric's cage onto the pavement before helping Harry.

"Well, bye then!" Harry said.

But Stan wasn't paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the bus, he was goggling at the shadowy entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.

"There you are Harry, Elizabeth." Said a voice.

Before I could turn, I felt a hand on my shoulder. At the same time, Stan shouted. "Blimey! Ern, come 'ere! Come 'ere!"

Glancing over my shoulder to the owner of the hand. I felt my body go ridged with fear. Beads of sweat started to form around my face as I stare at Cornelius Fudge…the Minister of Magic. My stomach twisted and turned. I was going to be sick.

Stan leapt onto the pavement beside us.

"What didja call Neville and Lavender, Minister?" he said excitedly.

Fudge, a portly little man in a long, pinstriped cloak, looked cold and exhausted.

"Neville? Lavender?" he repeated frowning. "This is Harry and Elizabeth Potter."

Yup I'm going to throw up.

Harry grabbed my hand squeezing it to help.

"I knew it!" Stan shouted gleefully. "Ern! Ern! Guess 'oo Neville and Lavender is, Ern! 'E's 'Arry and 'Izabeth Potter! I can see 'is scar!"

"Yes," Fudge said testily, "well, I'm very glad the Knight Bus picked Harry and Elizabeth up, but we need to step inside the Leaky Cauldron now…"

Fudge increased the pressure on my shoulder, I found myself being steered inside the pub. A stooping figure bearing a lantern appeared through the door behind the bar. It was Tom, the wizened, toothless landlord.

"You've got 'em, Minister!" said Tom. "Will you be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?"

"Perhaps a pot of tea," said Fudge, who still hadn't let go of my shoulder.

There was a loud scrapping and puffing form behind them, and Stan and Ern appeared, carrying our trunks and Hedwig's cage and looking around excitedly.

"'Ow come you di'n't tell us 'oo you are, eh, Neville?" Stan said beaming at Harry. Ernie's owlish face peered interestedly over at us.

"And a private parlor, please, Tom," Fudge said pointedly.

"Bye," I said sickly while Harry said miserably to Stan and Ern as Tom beckoned us toward the passage that led from the bar.

"Bye, Neville! Bye Lavender!" Stan called after us.

Fudge marched Harry and I along the narrow passage after Tom's lantern, and then into a small parlor. Tom clicked his fingers, a fire burst to life in the grate, and he bowed himself out of the room.

"Sit down, Harry, Elizabeth," Fudge said, indicating the two chairs by the fire.

I sat down, goose bumps rising up my arms despite the glow of the fire. Fudge took off his pinstriped cloak and tossed it aside, then hitched up the trousers of his bottle green suit and sat down opposite of Harry and myself.

"I am Cornelius Fudge, Harry. The Minister of Magic."

I already knew that. I've seen Fudge once before but it was when I was under the Invisibility Cloak at the time, Fudge wasn't to know that.

Tom the innkeeper reappeared, wearing an apron over his nightshirt and bearing a tray of tea and crumpets. He placed the tray on a table between Fudge and Harry and myself before he left the parlor, closing the door behind him.

"Well, Harry, Elizabeth," Fudge said pouring out tea, "you've had us all in the right flap, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's house like that! I'd started to think…but you're safe, and that's what matters."

Fudge buttered himself a crumpet and pushed the plate toward us.

"Eat, you two look dead on your feet. Now then…You will be pleased to hear that we have dealt with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley. Two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department were dispatched to Privet Drive a few hours ago. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her memory has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at all. So that's that, and no harm done."

Fudge smiled at Harry over the rim of his teacup, rather like an uncle surveying a favorite niece and nephew. Harry was opening his mouth and closing it again. He was like a fish.

"Huh?" I on the other hand wasn't. I voiced my confusion.

"Ah, you're worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?" said Fudge. "Well, I won't deny that they are extremely angry, but they are prepared to take you back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Easter holidays."

"We always stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Easter holidays," Harry explained. I nodded in agreement. "and we don't ever want to go back to Privet Drive." I nodded again.

"Now, now, I'm sure you'll feel differently once you've both calmed down," Fudge said in a worried tone. "They are your family, after all, and I'm sure you are fond of each other…er…very deep down."

"So all that remains," Fudge said now buttering himself a second crumpet, "is to decide where you're going to spend the last two weeks of your vacation. I suggest you two take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron and…"

"Hang on…" Harry blurted out. "What about out punishment?"

Fudge blinked. "Punishment?"

"What Harry means to say is…" I started speaking up again. "The Decree of the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. We broke the law."

"Oh, my dear children, we're not going to punish you two for a little thing like that!" Fudge cried waving his crumpet impatiently. "It was an accident! We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!"

Harry spoke up again still confused.

"Last year, we got an official warning just because a house elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house!" he told Fudge frowning. "The Ministry of Magic said we'd be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there!"

Fudge started to look awkward.

"Circumstances change, Harry... we have to take into account… in the present climate… Surely you don't want to be expelled?"

"Of course I don't." Harry said.

"Well then, what's all the fuss about?" Laughed Fudge. Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I got and see if Tom's got a room for you two."

Fudge strode out of the parlor and I stared after him. There was something extremely odd going on. Why had Fudge been waiting for us at the Leaky Cauldron, if not to punish him for what he'd done? Surely it wasn't usual for the Minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic?

Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper.

"Room eleven's free," Fudge said. "I think you'll be very comfortable just one thing, and I'm sure you'll understand…I don't want you two wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And you're to be back here before dark each night. Sure you'll understand. Tom will be keeping an eye on you two for me."

"Okay," Harry said slowly, "but why?"

"Don't want to lose you again, do we?" Fudge said with a hearty laugh. "No, no…best we know where you two are… I mean…"

"You mean because Sirius Black is out there…" I spoke up. Fudge's grey eyes travel over to my own.

"What's that? Oh you've heard, Yes, its very dangerous for anyone to be out late nowadays." He explained.

I nodded in understanding.

Fudge cleared his throat loudly and picked up his pinstriped cloak.

"Well, I'll be off, plenty to do, you know…"

"Have you had any luck with Black yet?" Harry asked going back to my question.

"Well, no, not yet, but it's only a matter of time. The Azkaban guards have never yet failed…and they are getting angrier than I've ever seen them."

Fudge shuddered slightly.

"So, I'll say good-bye."

He held out his hand, I shook his hand and watched him move to Harry.

"Er… Minister? Can I ask you something?"

"Certainly," said Fudge with a smile.

"Well, third years at Hogwarts are allowed to visit Hogsmeade, but our aunt and uncle didn't sign the permission form. D'you think you could…?"

Fudge started to look uncomfortable again.

"Ah," he said. "No, no, I'm very sorry, children, but as I am not your parent or guardian…"

"But you're the Minister of Magic," I said eagerly. "If you gave us permission…"

"No, I'm sorry, Harry, Elizabeth, but rules are rules." Fudge said flatly.

"Perhaps you'll be able to visit Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's best if you don't…yes…well, I'll be off. Enjoy your stay, Harry, Elizabeth."

And with a last smile and shake of Harry's hand, Fudge left the room. Tom now moved forward, beaming at Harry.

"If you'll follow me, Mr. Potter, Mss. Potter," he said "I've already taken your things up…"

Harry and I followed Tom up a handsome wooden staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it, which Tom unlocked and opened for him.

Inside was two very comfortable looking beds, some highly polished oak furniture, a cheerfully cracking fire and, perched on top of the wardrobes…

"Hedwig!"

"Godric!"

The snowy owl clicked her beak and fluttered to Harry's arm. Godric hopped soared shortly and landed on my shoulder cuddling into my head affectionately.

"Very smart owls you've got there," chuckled Tom. "Arrived about five minutes after you did. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Tom gave another bow and left.

Harry sat on his bed for a long time, absentmindedly stroking Hedwig. I laid on my own bed petting Godric affectionately. "Where have you been?" he hooted and fluffed out his feathers as if telling his own tale.

The sky outside the window was changing rapidly from deep, velvety blue to cold, steely gray and then, slowly to pink shot with gold. I could hardly believe we left Privet Drive only a few hours ago, we weren't expelled, and we're free from the Dursleys for two weeks.

"It's been a very weird night, Hedwig," he yawned.

I watched Harry slump over without removing his glasses and fall asleep in his pillows. Standing up with Godric on my shoulder he cuddled closer.

Lifting Harry's glasses off his face and placing it on the table beside the bed.

"Ready for bed Godric?" he hooted flying to my own night table and fluttered his feathers as I slipped under the covers. It didn't take long before I passed out. If only had I looked closer I would have noticed that Godric's feathers were shinier than they normally are. Probably pampered while at the Malfoy's house with Bubo.

That's it for this chapter, so sorry for taking forever to write for a while. I need to write more. Work's been super crazy and as well as family so I don't know when this'll be a weekly updates, more like maybe once a month at the very most.