This is a fictional story that was written for entertainment purposes. I do not take claim over any of the characters in this story and give all credit to Just Kidding Rolling for all story plots and character designs. The rating on this story is started at rating T but there will be points where it will be rated M, Read at your own risks knowing you chose to read it; those points will not be marked M unless it is of certain standard that may need to be, (sewerslides, moida, etc) Don't forget to R&R.
Harry hated the smell of blood, specifically his blood. For the fourth time that week he had woken up soaked by his own sweat and dripping blood from his back which never seemed to heal fast enough. After Vernon had come home last night he had gotten wasted on what Harry counted to be four bottles of muggle whiskey. Dudley and Aunt Petunia seemed to never be home anymore which would leave Harry alone in the house with Uncle Vernon.
Sitting up he looked around the deserted "bedroom " of his and sighed looking towards the window. It was dark outside and he could clearly see the moon from where he sat. Normally he would take a moment and admire the beauty of the moon but he didn't feel like doing that tonight. He listened to the sounds of Vernon snoring in the room and slowly pulled himself off the bed to his feet. Swaying he stepped forward and cringed at the pain that shot through his leg. Leaning a hand on the wall he took slow deep breaths closing his eyes to stop the spinning spots that threatened to make him fall.
Once he caught his breath he walked towards his bedroom door and placed his hand on the handle slowly turning it with gratefulness. The Dursleys had removed all the bolts and locks on the door after being told that ministry officers could appear in the house whenever they like. He had managed to scare them at the beginning of the summer up until his nightmares took over his sleep earning him beatings until he taught himself how to sleep quietly. Whenever he couldn't though, he would get a thrashing worse than any house elf had ever gotten. His body was still sore from being kicked in the same spot the other night, bringing up the memory of Cedric's death.
He shook his head of those thoughts and quickly pushed up a loose floorboard of his room he had used to hide his food and now, his wand, invisibility cloak, and the key to the cupboard under the stairs; which the Dursleys didn't know he had made a copy of. He pulled them out and slipping the robe on first he slipped the wand into his pocket and held the key in one hand slowly pulling open the door. Walking down the hallway he stepped out wide avoiding the floor planks he knew would creak.
Once downstairs he unlocked the cupboard door slowly reaching a hand in and, using the only wandless magic he could, shrank the contents with a whispered "Reducio. " before grabbing them and shoving it into his pocket as well. He slowly shut the door, locking it again and shifting until he was at the front door. He heard rustling with creaking and froze his head turning in the direction of the stairs. Dudley was coming down the stairs walking on a blanket seeming to be trying to muffle the creaking of the stairs. Harry let out a small breath as Dudley continued to crack his way towards the kitchen, hopeful to get a midnight snack out of the fridge.
Once out of sight, Harry opened the front door and slipped down onto the sidewalk until he was just outside the children's park. He felt winded and dizzy and could tell one of his wounds had opened back up yet he slowly peeled his invisibility cloak off, shoving it into the bag he carried over his shoulder. He raised his wand in his hand and, as expected, the Knight Bus came to a stop on the road in front of him. Stan Shunpike stuck his head out and beckoned for Harry to climb aboard with that slanted smile he seemed to have
"Well, hello there! Glad you're not on the floor this time hehe hehe. Come on in; your ride's free being the Great Harry Potter and all. " His grin was toothy and seemed to be the only thing that made his welcoming .. welcome. He sighed at the title he loathed having since finding out he had one and climbed aboard the bus. "Hey by the way, did you get in a fight with some Death Eaters hehe hehe? You're all bloodied up on the side. " Harry cringed and his jaw tightened making him hesitate before he climbed into one of the beds there
"Mention my being here to anyone and I'll make sure you have front row tickets to a Death Eater fight." He knew he wouldn't stand by the threat but it made Stan stutter out a "Y-Yes of course " before driving the bus off at annoyingly fast speed.
His face felt like it was going green from the motion and he had to close his eyes to keep from vomiting. The bus came to one of the abrupt stops and he nearly fell off the bed as it happened. His fingers gripped the sheets. He heard the door open and slowly opened his eyes to check if it was his stop. Instead of seeing the familiar streets of Diagon Alley, he caught sight of bright blond hair and two identically stunned faces. He sneered and sat up gently to not disturb his wounds.
"Malfoy..." Malfoy sneered back in response and Harry noticed that he had a satchel over his shoulder while the other boy, whom Harry didn't recognize but was probably in Slytherin as well, carried a backpack.
"Potter.. What's the likes of you doing here this late at night? " Draco's sneer seemed to never go away as the two made their way into the bus which took back off with a jolt.
"I could have asked you the same question, Malfoy. It's nearly midnight yet here you two are on the Knight bus. Shouldn't you be at home combing back your hair again? " Draco scoffed but didn't seem to notice when pushing back his hair for what was the second time since getting on the bus. Draco stood silently before sitting down on one of the other chairs that were on the opposite side of the bus while the other boy he was with sat nearer to Harry.
They sat in silence for a good few minutes on the drive before the boy started to talk to Harry.
"So.. what are you running from? " The question caught Harry completely off guard and his eyes widened as he looked over at the other boy who merely shrugged. "You look like shit and the fact that it's near midnight and you're sitting on a bus it's a solid guess that you're running away from something. "
Sparring a glance towards Malfoy who seemed equally surprised he shrugged and sat up wincing at the pain in his side before breathing out a heavy sigh.
"You're not wrong but it's not something I'm running from. Rather than someone. If not multiple. " Rubbing his eyes and neck he yawned and couldn't find a reason not to tell them the truth. "My guardians.. Aren't the best of muggles and- " Malfoy seemed to sit up in his chair at a startling rate as he gawked at Harry.
"You live with Muggles? " He seemed in awe at the very prospect of it before sitting back and scoffing and a smirk "You would, wouldn't you, with your mother being a mudb-"
Within seconds Harry had his wand pointed at Malfoy who froze "Say one thing about my mother and I swear I'll hex the blonde out of your hair " they stayed like that for a moment before Malfoy smirked at him
"You're not allowed to do magic outside of Hogwarts, you'll be arrested." He was right and it pissed Harry off but surely he put his wand back into his sleeves ignoring the ugly grin that had taken over the blonde boy's face. The other boy seemed annoyed but to Harry's surprise it wasn't directed at him but at Malfoy. The boy shook his head before sitting forward on the bed he had picked and reaching a hand out towards Harry.
"I'm Blaize Zabini, Blaize will do though. You're not as bad as Malfoy's stories pick you out to '' Gently leaning forward he took Blaize's hand and shook it firmly.
"Probably don't need to introduce myself but you can call me Harry." he laid back again and the awkward silence seemed to take up the bus again before it slowly became comfortable silence as Blaize pulled out a book which he was reading silently from and Malfoy passed out into sleep. Harry couldn't manage to get to sleep and instead stared up at the ceiling of the bus as when he tried looking out the window he managed to make himself feel sick all over again.
Blaize occasionally glanced over at him from his book but said nothing of his old worn clothes nor the jacket that failed to fully hide the blood from his side. Blaize reached into his own pocket for a bit before leaning over his chair and placing a glass jar on Harry's lap. Harry, looking up confused, was about to ask a question when Blaize spoke.
"Murlap Essence. Helps with cuts and such. Thought you could use it before you get to wherever you're going. " He didn't look up but Harry could tell it was a small effort by him being nice. He smiled and nodded.
"Thanks. I'm heading to the Leaky Cauldron. You? " He started rolling up his shirt after turning to his side to hide it and starting rubbing the cold cream on the worst of the wounds.
"Same with us. Draco and I needed to leave the Malfoys as.. " He hesitated and glanced up to Harry who had finished applying it and closed the jar pocketing it before lowering his voice and whispering. "The Dark Lord showed up to talk to Mr. Malfoy " Harry looked surprised and lay back on the bed.
"What does that mean for you two then? Like.. will you join him? " Harry realised after saying it he nearly jumped out of bed. "I mean not to be in your business and all, I'm just interested I guess " he rubbed his neck awkwardly as they sat and Blaize closed his book, setting it aside.
"I'm currently neutral. I neither support The Dark Lord nor do I think he should be taken down. I agree with some of his virtues but not enough to join him. " Harry nodded along and Blaize noticed his face seemed to scrunch up as he thought.
"That .. makes sense I guess. " Harry was about to lay back down when he noticed Ice beginning to scrape at the walls of the bus. He squinted and pointed it out to Blaize. "Hey you see that right? " Just as Blaize looked up towards it the bus came to a screeching halt awakening Draco as Stanley scrambled to his feet.
"Stay on the bus! " He left the bus with his wand out and both Blaize and Harry shared a look as they ran towards the doorway peaking out to see what was happening. Malfoy sat looking around getting his bearings while Harry and Blaize looked at what caused the stop. Dementors.
