The Conductor

As soon as the cat was out of sight of the house, she leaned back onto her read paws and transformed into a woman. She took a moment to straighten her glasses before setting off briskly down the street. Dusk had fallen over Privet Drive; through the windows she could see the silhouettes of families sitting down for dinner in their yellow-lit dining rooms, and for a moment, she was flooded with a deep longing for the Scottish Highlands.

But there was no time for memories now, and she pushed the longing aside and threw her arm out into the street.

The Knight Bus screeched to a halt just before it ran her over.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus," a small blond boy said. "Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard."

"To Hogsmeade, please, Mr. Shunpike," she said, stepping on board.

The boy, who couldn't have been older than eleven, grinned up at her. "You always call me mister," he said with a gap-toothed grin.

She returned with a tight-lipped smile of her own. "Well, why shouldn't I? You're a professional, are you not?"

He shrugged and looked down at his feet. "I s'pose."

"Will you be at Hogwarts in the fall?" she asked, taking a seat. The bus shot forward, but she kept her balance.

The boy called Shunpike went sliding across the floor, but he picked himself up and took the seat next to hers. "I dunno," he said, picking at the hem of his ragged shirt. "Uncle Ernie wants me to stay on as the conductor here."

"That's right," Ernie called from the driver's seat. "Don't you go filling Stanley's head with this education nonsense, Professor McGonagall. I went to Hogwarts and look where I am now. Driving the Knight Bus. Suffered through seven years of Transfiguration to do a job that doesn't need magic at all." He flashed her a grin in the rearview.

"If I recall, Mr. Prang, you only turned up to Transfiguration lessons about once a week," she said, but she was smiling, too. "I'm sure Mr. Shunpike would focus more on his studies than you ever did."

"I would," Stan said. "I'd do all the homework. I'd learn all the spells."

"That's what they all say." Ernie pulled the Knight Bus over to pick up another passenger.

Stan leaped up and took his place at the door. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard."

"Hogsmeade," said the wizard climbing aboard.

"We've got someone else going to Hogsmeade," Stan said brightly as the bus took off again. McGonagall caught the wizard's eye; they recognized each other at the same time, and he lowered his eyes and moved to the upper deck of the bus. "Who was that?" Stan asked. "Why does he want to be alone? Didn't he want to sit with you?"

McGonagall pursed her lips. "Just an old acquaintance. He works in Hogsmeade. Owns a pub. We used to work together."

"At Hogwarts?" Stan was bouncing in his seat. "Is he a professor, too?"

She looked out the window. "No."

"Good," Ernie said gruffly. "We don't need two people recruiting the boy at the same time." They lurched to a halt. "Hogsmeade," he said. "I suppose we'll see you again soon, Professor McGonagall?" he added as she stepped onto the cobblestone streets.

She nodded curtly. "I suppose."

The wizard stepped off after her, still refusing to make eye contact.

"Goodbye, Mr. Shunpike," McGonagall said. The young conductor offered her a salute, and the Knight Bus zoomed away. "And goodnight, Aberforth," she said to the man beside her.

He drew breath to reply, but she was already walking away toward the castle.

[Monthly Drabble-A-Thon: Alone]

[Collect A Collection Competition: Minerva McGonagall (Order of the Phoenix)]

[30 Harry Potter Prompts: Hogsmeade]

[100 Prompts: sliding; bouncing]