-1ACCIDENT

Chapter Two: El Nuevo Amigo.

Saturday dawned a bright day, and Harry was content because he would be able to see Hermione again, even if Ron didn't show.
Suit himself, thought Harry.
He was sure to grab the small box he received from Hermione when he sneaked out of his bedroom. (It was very early, Harry didn't much feel like waiting around for the Dursleys and have to explain to them where he was going. No, it was better that he stayed quiet… They wouldn't miss him.)
Grabbing his grey hoodie, he exited the house quietly and stood outside the Dursley's. He sorted out his money bag, slipping it into his right pocket, and stuffed his present into his left jean pocket. Gazing around the street, he saw that only a tiny fraction of the prissy home-owners of Privet Drive were morning people. The only cars gone were those of the people who worked on Saturday mornings. He wondered if it were too risky to flag down the Knight Bus- in broad daylight… But then again, it wasn't HIS magic that he was using: Ernie and Stan would be the ones to blame.
He stood at the edge of the footpath and stuck out his right hand, awaiting the triple-decker bus's arrival.
In a matter of seconds, the bus pulled up in all of it's sickeningly purple glory, and out came Stan.
"Hey Stan." said Harry, smiling politely.
"It's 'im again, Ernie!" He yelled back to the driver in his cockney accent. "'Ere, Ern… It's 'Arry Potter!"

"Ha, I didn't think you'd work through the day… What with being called Knight Bus…"
"Yeah, we work 'till 8:00 a.m… It's a bit risky in summer, what wiv the light morning's an' that, but-"
"Yeah," interrupted Harry. "Anyway… Diagon Alley, then please." He cut past Stan and climbed aboard, Stan following.
He nodded at Stan.
The bus lurched forwards as Harry began to walk towards a seat, gripping tightly onto the poles of the bus, so as not to fall over. It felt like walking into a gale-force wind.
He noticed that today there were regular bus seats and looked, quite frankly, like a bus. There were only about 3 passengers, and Harry sat on the seat in front of a girl who looked about his own age.
He was absent-mindedly gazing out of the window when Stan came up to him, requesting four sickles and two knuts for 'regular daytime travel with no luxuries.' Reaching inside his money pouch, he realised he did not have enough change for the two knuts- rather irritated by this, he handed over four sickles.
"Uhh- do you have any change?" He asked Stan.
"Nope, sorry."
"I can help," Said the girl, brandishing a few knuts in her hand. She tipped them into Harry's hand, and Harry exchanged them for one of his sickles, tipping it into her upturned palm.
"Thanks," they said at the same time. She smiled and then returned to gazing outside the window.
"There." said Harry, passing two knuts to Stan.
"Enjoy yer trip, 'Arry."
A few minutes passed uneventfully, resulting in Harry's forehead landing on the window out of boredom. He decided to break the silence if not just for something to do. He turned round.
"Hello. By the way- thanks for the change."
"Oh, it's OK…" She replied quietly, "I'm Jessica- or Jess. Whichever."
"My name's Harry."
"I know," She said with a smile. "Everyone does." She continued to gaze out of the window.
He smiled politely. "Where are you going, then?"
"Diagon Alley- School supplies."
"Really? Me too… You don't go to Hogwarts do you? I've never seen you."
"Transfer." She sighed. "I was bullied. But I don't care- it's behind me now."
"Oh…" He felt quite awkward. "Well- what school did you go to before?"
"Oh, a small one- two hundred pupils. It's called St. Johns- in West Yorkshire."
Harry then realised that her voice was laced with a bit of an accent. Only very slightly, though.
"What year?"
"Sixth- like you… and Hermione and… What's his name… Umm…"
"Ron."
"Yes! Ron. That one." She said, with a bit of a giggle.
"I'm meeting Hermione today, if you want, we could help you get your uniform…"
"It's OK- I am meeting up with this prefect. I don't know which one, yet."
"Oh." Said Harry, feeling only slightly offended. "Let's hope you don't get Malfoy."
"I'd rather gouge out my own eyes with my wand!" Harry smiled- at least she knew who not to trust.
"Nasty piece of work," He replied.
"Mmm…" She obviously was tired of the conversation about the Malfoys.
"You know what house you're going to be in yet?"
"Nope."
"I'm in Gryffindor. It's amazing- the people are very friendly."
She smiled, and once again averted her gaze out of the window.
The bus suddenly stopped, giving them both minor whiplash. An elderly lady hobbled off the bus.
"God, we should sue." Said Harry, rubbing his neck.
"Yeah," She said.
The conversation fizzed out as it had been threatening to do since it began, and Harry turned back round, now facing forwards.
About five minutes later, the bus stopped outside the Leaky Cauldron pub. He stood up, and began to walk towards the entrance.
"Thanks Ern, Stan." He said briefly.
He heard a quiet 'Thanks' from somewhere behind him and knew that Jess was following him.
He got off the bus and headed towards the Leaky Cauldron entrance, when:
"Umm… Harry?" She called, jogging over.
He smiled. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"What for?"
"At least now I at least have an acquaintance, if not a friend, at Hogwarts."
Smiling, she walked into the pub, and Harry followed suit.

When he entered, he saw Jess waiting at the bar, sat at one of the tall stools. She smiled as he walked through. He noticed that she was wearing some skinny jeans and a white shirt with brace. He thought it was a nice outfit.
Walking straight through, he tapped the correct brick round the back, and walked through the erupting archway. It shut behind him.
He headed towards Quality Quidditch Supplies, intent on browsing new brooms to pass some time. As he approached, he greeted Seamus Finnegan who was staring as though mesmerised at a rather handsome, shiny, mahogany broom in the display.
"Hello Seamus."
"Hi, Harry- Look!" He exclaimed, cutting to the chase. "Firedart. 'From the same makers as the Firebolt comes the Firedart - for the person with a lighter pocket.'" He quoted the display caption.
"Great, Seamus." He didn't really care- he had his Firebolt, which was considerably better, according to the price. "You getting one?"

"I'd love to, but my Mam's got me a broom for my birthday… I think it'd offend her."

"Let's hope it's one of those, then." Harry said, rather unenthused.
Rather abruptly, Seamus blurted:
"Oh, I gotta go, Harry- me Mam's over at Madam Malkin's - Gotta get fitted. See you later!"
He left Harry alone with just his own thoughts. Wandering back down the street, he found himself sitting on a random bench outside Flourish and Blotts- When Hermione arrived (any time soon), he would be in clear view of her.
After about ten minutes, a tall brunette whom he recognised walked through the archway unaccompanied.
It was not Hermione, but Jess.
She spotted Harry and walked up, looking distressed.
"They didn't show! I've been waiting fifteen minutes, and we were supposed to meet half an hour ago- I thought I was late!"
He chuckled.
"It's ok- Hermione isn't here yet, either. You can wait with me."
"Thanks- at least if they don't show I can walk round with you."
"Yeah."
They sat back down on the bench and chatted various small-talk-topics, until a girl with very bushy brown hair interrupted them as they hadn't heard her approach.

A/N: Short, I know
Next chapter already up.