It took only a few minutes for Sirius to walk around the car, enchanting each of the wheels to float. After which, James hopped into the car, rocking it from where it floated inches above the ground, complaining about the low ceiling.
Thankfully, his mother would be away for a couple of hours, traveling by the tram to meet with his father in Diagon Alley to take care of whatever business they had for the day. Remus didn't want to explain to his mother why he'd decided to steal the car after weeks of refusing to learn how to drive the muggle vehicle, only acquiescing when his parents reminded him of his magical handicap. But how far was Hogwarts anyway? Maybe an hour drive away? Besides, Remus had never visited Hogwarts. Now was his chance to catch a glimpse of the castle.
"We'd better hurry," Remus said, opening the door and jumping inside. "It's safer if I take the front seat. Sirius, is it?" Sirius nodded. "You can sit in the back."
Sirius pulled out his wand, which he had pocketed in his robes, and whispered the spell to unlock the door, scooting inside the metal carriage and hesitantly pulling the door shut behind him. "A bit cramped in here, isn't it?"
"Smallest carriage I've ever been in," James agreed.
"We need the keys to start the car," Remus instructed. "Any ideas how to get the...?" Remus searched the car for the manual, finding it sitting on the dashboard. He flipped through the manual, skimming the contents before his eyes landed on the word 'engine.' "Any ideas how to get the 'engine' going?"
"What's that you got there?" Sirius said from the back.
"The manual."
"Give it here." Remus passed the thickly bound paperback booklet to the back. Sirius flipped through the book for what felt like ages.
"Come on! We're already late!" James complained.
"Think I've figured it out." Sirius pointed his wand at the car, chanting some incantations. For some time, it seemed to not work. Then the engine spluttered to life.
"Hogwarts, here we come!" James shouted, gripping the steering wheel.
"I think you need to the pedal there," Remus suggested. "Lightly."
As James did so, the car slammed into the vehicle in front, breaking the windshield. Sirius flew from the back seat headfirst into the dashboard.
"Lightly," Remus warned.