The cold wind blew harshly into my tear-streaked face, drying the tears from my red cheeks. My throat was sore and hoarse from the crying, and my body felt numb and stiff. I kept walking, and came to a stop as I realised that this whole plan wasn't going to work at all. I walked over to the pavement, and sat down on the curb, my head in my hands. Why did I leave? My plan was to run away. To where? This whole thing had been a spur of the moment action – an act of the anger I felt for my parents. I hadn't thought this through at all.

I started to cry again, knowing that I couldn't just go back home. Hogwarts was waiting for me. I felt so stupid for leaving home and my parents, without any thought as how I would get to Hogwarts.

I needed to get to a train station, but the nearest station from here is London train station, which from here is about 13 miles. I would have to catch the bus, and then get a ticket for the Hogwarts Express. How would I get a ticket for the Hogwarts Express? The muggles won't know what I'm talking about! I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. You get to platform 9 and ¾ by running through the wall..

I could do this. I took a bottle of water from my bag, and took a large sip to soothe my throat. I put it back and got up, walking down the lamppost-lit street. The orange lights flickered, the atmosphere dark and sinister.

The leaves on the trees rustled quietly, and a park swing screeched, swaying in the wind. My breath was now visible in the night air, and everything seemed to get much colder. My pace started to get faster, until I turned the corner and found a bus stop. I looked at my phone, the time 2:31 am, and the next bus is at 2:56 am. I sighed and sat down heavily on the cold plastic seat.

I looked at the plastic on the bus stop window, and it seemed to mist up, covered in ice. My hands started to lose heat, and I pulled the sleeves of my sweater over them to keep them warm.

The atmosphere seemed all too familiar, like I had been in this situation before. Something was wrong, something was going on. I tried to rack my brain for answers, knowing that this wasn't right. I felt a cold chill run down my spine, and I felt a ice cold hand hovering over my shoulder. I sat upright, knowing what this was.

I jumped up from my seat, turning around to find a dementor hovering behind my seat. I had nothing to defend myself with – no wand, no sharp objects. I had to just hold him off until the bus came. I walked backwards, with every step, he loomed towards me, and his heavy breathing was all that I could hear. I walked back, my foot tripping back over the curb. I fell back onto the road, trying to move back on my elbows, trying to get back up, but I was too scared and all the feeling had gone in my body. The dementor flew over to me; my heart was beating so loud, I could hear it ringing in my ears. Its skeletal-like hands were outstretched towards me, its mouth opening. I gave a helpless whimper as it started to suck out my soul. There was nothing I could do, I tried to resist, but I was weak. The last thing I saw was yellow lights and a loud beeping noise as I faded away into unconsciousness.

My head felt heavy and my body was numb. I heard murmurs and a humming. I stirred from my unconsciousness, my eyes barely open, to see lights swaying over me. They started to come into focus, the lights blinding me.

"W-where.. w-w.." I tried to say.

I got chucked from one side to the other, and I was thrown to the ground. I groaned, and pushed myself up groggily from the floor. My eyes were fully open now, looking round to see that I was on some kind of out-of-control transport. There were beds with sleeping people in them, not bothered by the extreme movement of the vehicle.

I tried to get up, but was knocked to my feet. My head was swimming, I felt dizzy. I got up and looked for some sort of way to get down. There were some stairs, and I staggered over to them, grabbing a firm hold of the railing and made my way down each step at a time.

When I got to the bottom, I was yet again flung to the floor by the driver's driving. I looked up to see a smiling man. I got up once again, and looked at him. He was scruffy, with a stubble and his teeth were yellow around the edges.

"W-who are you?" I asked, repulsed by his looks.

He smiled a toothy smile, and I felt my eye twitch at the sight. "I'm Rufus; I filled in for a bloke named Stan. Not sure if you knew 'im." He scratched the hair on his head – I could only imagine what was in that tangled, greasy hair of his.

"Er, I think i've heard of him.." I said, looking him up and down with disgust. "May I ask where I am?"

"Oh, you're on the Knight Bus!" Rufus chuckled.

The Knight Bus! Of course! I smiled, feeling the magic. This must be what I heard before I fainted by the bus stop.

"And where does the Night Bus stop?" I asked him, managing to stay upright from a sharp turn by the bus.

He racked his brain and scratched the stubble on his chin. "It stops at the Leaky Cauldron, are ye gettin' off there?"

"I need to get to Diagon Alley. So yes, the Leaky Cauldron." I said, as there were many things I needed to get on the list that was enclosed with the Hogwarts letter.

"A First Year, eh?" He laughed a throaty cough. "We'll make sure ye get to Diagon Alley, m'love."

"My luggage! I must have left it by the bus stop!" I cried, leaning against a pole.

"Not to worry, I brought it on board when I got you on 'ere afer saving ye from that pesky dementor." He pointed over behind me to my luggage. "See, I'm not just a pretty face!" He laughed, and gave me that toothy smile.

I laughed forcedly. "Thank you, Rufus." I smiled. I liked Rufus, but he wasn't the most appealing person I had ever met.

It was a good hour before we arrived outside the Leaky Cauldron. It was now 5 am, and it was getting lighter, and I felt safer after the dementor attack.

I paid Rufus for the travel and thanked him for his kindness.

"Thank you so much, Rufus, I would have never made it here by myself. You've been so wonderful. I hope to see you again."

He smiled sheepishly. "It was nothing. Now you go and have a good first year at Hogwarts, love. I wish you all the best."

I smiled, and got off the bus. I had completely judged Rufus wrong. He was so lovely and helpful, I wouldn't be able to repay him - I could have never got to Diagon Alley without him.

I walked into the Leaky Cauldron, surrounded my old witches and wizards who were all staring at me. I walked over to an empty table and sat down quietly. I realised that I had no idea how to get past the brick wall into Diagon Alley. If only...

"Alrigh' there, Robert?" A loud voice came from the other side of the bar. A big looming figure shook hands with a wizard, and he made his way round the bar, accidently bumping into chairs and tables along the way. He looked over in my direction and came over to me.

"Who do we have 'ere then? A First Year?" He said, smiling down at me.

"Hagrid!" I laughed, and got up from the table.

"Professor McGonagall told me that a First Year would be arrivin' 'ere today! Are ye.. Hannah, is it?"

I nodded. "Do you think you could help me get through the brick wall to Diagon Alley? There's a whole list of stuff I have to get."

Hagrid smiled. "Of course, I'm 'ere to help ye! Right, shall we get goin'? We've got lots to get." He led the way, occasionally bumping into chairs because of his huge figure. I couldn't help but suppress a giggle.

We walked outside to the brick wall. Hagrid smiled at me and got out his pink umbrella. He started to tap the bricks in a precise order, and after he has finished, he gave me a mischievous grin. I smiled back, knowing that behind this wall; lay a place full of wizards and witches – my people. I could already feel the magic that was sealed behind the brick wall.

I was interrupted from these thoughts by the sound of the bricks unfolding the pathway, one by one, to unveil Diagon Alley.