Lost Memories

xxii. question and answer

Through I was excited to go to the Burrow, my new excitement was on going to Grimmauld Place due to a change of plans. Originally, the summer agreement was that I was supposed to go to the Burrow with the Weasleys, but Dumbledore had changed the plans as I was now a part of the Order (in a way). The only downfall to going to Grimmauld Place was the house-elf, Kreacher. Despite the fact my memory seemed to fail me sometimes, one thing I did not forget was the old shabby house with a grouchy house-elf.

"So I can't go with you, at all?" I asked in hopes of at least seeing their home.

"I'm sorry, deary, but Albus told me there has been a change of plans. Instead of spending summer with us, you'll be spending it at twelve Grimmauld Place– the Order Head Quarters," whispered Mrs Weasley. "Let me call you the Knight Bus so you can take it there. Also, to find the house, you have to close your eyes and think about the address."

I agreed to Mrs Weasley's instructions and sat on my school trunk, thinking about how boring half of my summer is going to be due to the lack of friends. Ron had nothing to worry about, having a house full of siblings; Fred and George were messing with Ginny, exploding Fire Pops near her, while Ron was sprawled out on the grass, waiting to go home. But after a few moments of staring at nothing, I jumped up and ran over to Mrs Weasley as I remembered an important detail.

"W-wait, Muggles can't see the Knight Bus," I blurted out.

Mrs Weasley blinked at my statement, not understanding the dilemma at hand. She had been told of my secret, by Dumbledore, when he had assigned me to Mrs Weasley's care. Dumbledore thought that my caretaker should know the small important detail of my life.

"Correct," nodded Mrs Weasley slowly.

"I won't be able to see the Knight Bus," I rephrased my statement.

Mrs Wealsey's eyes grew to the size of saucers.

"Oh, goodness me," she placed her hand on her face. "I— Then do I call you a muggle cab or, uh—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a large purple triple-decker bus stopped straight in front of them with great speed. I gasped at the vehicle and took a few steps back in shock.

"No worries, dear, that was just—"

"The Knight Bus," I breathed. "I– I can see it."

"How is that possible?" marvelled Mrs Weasley.

"I have no clue. But c-can I even get on? Or will I fall through or something?"

"I haven't a clue," she admitted. "W-well, try to get on and remember: Think about it and you'll find it!"

Taking a small step forward, I lifted my leg up to the first step and said a little prayer before stepping down. My foot met the step, instead of the street like I had thought it would. Beaming over at Mrs Weasley at my accomplishment, I got onto the magical bus.

"Fred, come help Charlotte with her trunk so we can get going," Mrs Weasley instructed her son.

Grabbing my truck, Fred placed it at the first empty cot he saw, "goodbye, Lottie. See you in Autumn."

"I'll see you sooner than that," I winked and took a seat next to my trunk. Looking out the window, I waved goodbye to the Weasleys and turned her attention to the conductor– Stan, "Borough of Islington, please."

"Take 'er away, Ern," said Stan, sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's.

There was a tremendous BANG and the next moment I found myself lying flat on my bed, thrown backwards by the speed of the Knight Bus. Pulling myself up, I stared out of the window and saw nothing but lights– the bus was going so fast, everything was blurred. Trying to remember all of the things I knew of the Knight Bus, I focused on that rather than the motion sickness I was most definitely getting.