Chapter Text
It was cold that night, under the spotlight of the streetlamp as I awaited the arrival of the Knight Bus. My ears pricked at the sound of tires screeching and brakes squealing and before my very eyes the Knight Bus appeared around the corner. The whole bus lurched forward as it halted with the door opened, an eerie invitation for someone who is not acquainted with such a vehicle.
I cautiously walked up the few steps of the Knight Bus and I kept my eyes glued to the bus floor to make sure I did not trip over my own feet as I could barely see over Brix’s cage tucked under my chin. My right hand fumbled around in my pockets to retrieve eleven Sickles and hand them over to the conductor. An arctic white wolf trailed behind up the steps, his claws clacking on the floor as he kept at my heels. His name was Izaya, a family friend that kept me company when I wasn’t staying with my uncle and aunt.
He wore a royal blue vest that had two carry bags on each side that had golden trim line the hems of the fabric. With every step that he took, a clinking sound came from the two small bags. I never knew what was stowed away in those bags; most likely some potions or tonic that he seemed to create.
I sat down on an available bed that was close to the back. Izaya hopped onto the spare space next to me as I pulled out my copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and continued to read about Bowtruckles, letting myself relax a bit in the bed. As I looked out the window, I let my thoughts wonder about my trip to my uncle’s den before school started again.
I soon lent my head back against the wall behind the bed and closed my eyes for a while, hoping to doze off after a long day of getting my things together and sorted for my next year at school.
It was hard to even get a wink of sleep on the Knight Bus with it jerking, stopping, starting, and speeding along the streets of Liverpool. It felt as if every five minutes I was stirred awake. I gave up on sleeping as I looked out of the window and saw my reflection with the help of the pitch-black night. My short charcoal black hair was a mess, and my green hazel eyes were hidden behind hooded lids that were begging to come down and grant me sleep.
I was on my way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for my fifth year. The train will not be at the station for quite some time, but I had decided to make my way back to the Leaky Cauldron for a night in and then go by floo powder to visit my uncle Remus before getting on the train to Hogwarts. I've been needing to talk to him for quite some time now...ever since Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban.
The bus jutted to a stop to let more wizards and witches on and off while I gazed out of the window lazily. I perked up at the sight of a big black figure in the shadows, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. It appeared to be some gangly looking wolf in its height and figure, but I knew it was most likely some mange ridden street dog.
Before I could get a better look at the figure the Knight Bus was back to driving around the streets of England. Once the Knight Bus was moving at a steadier pace, I got more comfortable on the bumpy ride and tried to allow myself to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
***
Waking up in a cold sweat is one of the many reasons why I don't sleep. The memories seemed so fresh even though the events happened eleven years ago. I groaned realising that it was still dark outside.
Holding my arm out I checked my watch and saw that it is three-forty-six am. I let my arm fall back to the bed below me and ran my hands through my hair a couple times before calming the erratic beating of my heart. The feeling of the bus skidding to a stop made me settle down and relax knowing that we won't be moving for a couple of minutes. With the new school year coming up in September and it only being August first, I thought that I should go and visit Remus before the school year started.
As the Knight Bus stayed still on the curb side of the road, I looked out the window and saw a street post with a couple of different street names on it. One caught my attention as it read ‘Privet Drive.’ It seemed familiar, probably passed by this area of England once or twice before.
I could hear the conductor, Stan Shunpike, call out into the night about being the 'Emergency transport for wizards and witches.'
Next minute a boy who looked around thirteen, with raven hair and round glasses clambered onto the bus. His skinny figure is just able to lift his trunk with his wand in hand. He sat down on the bed behind the Knight Bus’s driver; Ernie Prang.
The knight bus banged loudly making the boy jump in surprise, making it obvious to all passengers that this was his first occurrence of being on the bus. I giggled softly, catching his attention as he looked at me with a flustered expression and gripped his bed for support. Stan and Ernie started talking to each other while I paid no mind to their conversation but focused on the boy at the front of the bus. The feeling of familiarity took over my mind as I thought about him a little more. I must have seen him somewhere...Daily Prophet...maybe at Hogwarts...probably.
Sniffing at the air, a familiar scent filled my senses making me groan silently in frustration. I needed to see him properly. So, I got up and sat on the bed across from him. Izaya opened one of his eyes to watch where I was going and let out a huff as he dropped down from the bed and followed me. He hopped up and sat next to me, towering over me in height as we sat there on that bed, Izaya looked over attentively at the boy, bright golden eyes boring into the boy's green ones.
And with just one look at his face I saw that all so familiar lightning bolt scar on his forehead, I knew who he was; it was the infamous Harry Potter.
He looked up at me and I motioned to his forehead. Harry caught on and pushed his hair in front of his scar as he gave a small grin while he mouthed a silent 'thank you' towards me. Pulling my legs to my chest and resting my head on my knees I gave a side glance at Stan and out the front window of the bus.
"We should be in London any moment now." I said, which made everyone surprised that I have talked since I've only nodded to Stan and Ernie while getting on the bus.
"And she talks!" Stan exclaimed and fist pumped the air in achievement.
***
We all settled down after me speaking and stayed quiet for a moment. Stan pulled the Daily Prophet out and read with his tongue between his teeth. The sight of Sirius Black on the front page caught me and Harry's attention.
"That man!" Harry said, "He was on Muggle news!" He continued. Stanley flipped to the front page and chuckled.
"Sirius Black." I said with my full attention to the conversation to come. Stanley nodded and continued with what I was getting at.
" 'Course 'e was on the Muggle news, Neville. Where you been?" I cocked my head at Stanley in confusion.
"That's H-" I stopped myself at the look on Harry's face, a stern expression on his face, and nodded with my head still cocked to the side. Stanley looked between us confusedly and gave Harry the front page for him to read.
"You oughta read the paper more, Neville." Stanley added while Harry started reading. He read for a while and I could see him looking at the picture of Black, more like examining him, probably thinking he is a vampire because of how pale he appeared to be in the moving photograph on the front page.
"Scary-lookin' 'fing, inee?" Stan asked rhetorically, who the whole time was watching Harry read.
"He murdered thirteen people?" Harry asked shocked, "With one curse?" He asked, still shocked while his eyes widened.
"Yep. I'm surprised you don't know, Neville." I replied looking into his green eyes behind his round glasses.
"In front of witnesses an' all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?" Stan asked the driver.
"Ar." said Ernie. Stan turned in his armchair, planting his hands on the back of it to look at Harry.
"Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-'Oo," Stan said. I looked down at my hands sadly, knowing more than what I should about the matter.
"What, Voldemort?" Asked Harry. I looked at Harry shocked and Stanley's face went as white as a bed sheet. Ern jerked the bus so violently that I watched a farmhouse move out of the way to avoid us.
"You outta your tree?" Stan squawked, "'Choo say 'is name for?" His eyes were wide with terror at the name, my eyes as big as dinner plates at his bravery.
"Sorry," Harry said quickly. "Sorry, I-I forgot-"
"Forgot!" Said Stanley feebly, "Blimey, my 'eart's goin' that fast..." His breaths came out ragged as he clutched his chest while I looked at Izaya for support only to find him passed out next me. Looking back at Harry, I stared at him in bewilderment.
"So-so Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who?" Harry asked in an apologetic tone.
"Yeah," Stan said while rubbing his chest in a way of calming his heart. "Yeah, that's right. Very close to You-Know-'Oo, they say...anyway, when little 'Arry Potter put paid to You-Know-'Oo," I saw Harry flatten his hair over his forehead even more than it already was. -"all You-Know-'Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they Ern? Most of 'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-'Oo gone, and they came quiet. But not Sirius Black." He shook his head quickly.
"I 'ears he thought 'e'd be second-in-command once You-Know'Oo 'ad taken over." Stanley took a breath to clear the air from the tension that built up.
"Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand and 'e blasted 'alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles that got in the way. 'Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?" Stanley dramatically whispered.
"What?" Asked Harry as he sat on the edge of his seat.
"He laughed..." I said quietly and looked up at them.