Kassandra Bauer and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

Chapter 3: The Leaky Cauldron.

By Summer's end, I had gone to the Leaky Cauldron to gather my school supplies. And Sirius Black was still at large. Mater accompanied me. "You sure it's a good idea to go to Diagon Alley, Mater?" I asked. 

"We can't let fear stop us from doing what we want and need to do." Mater answered. She had her wand on standby just in case. 

We stepped inside of the Leaky Cauldron first to get to Diagon Alley. There was a bit of conversation throughout several of the Patrons about Sirius Black. "...Personally I won't let my children out of the house until Sirius Black is caught." One had said. 

Mater and I ignored them. And then I saw something over at the Ice Cream Shop. Something rather interesting. It was Harry! He was sitting on one of the tables eating a Sundae. "Mater! It's Harry!" I pointed to Harry who was sitting there. 

Mater looked in Harry's direction. "Go say Hi, then." She told me. 

"Chare, Harry!" I greeted walking over to Harry. 

Harry turned around to look at me. "Hi, Kassie!" He greeted. And then he looked at Mater. "Mrs... Bauer?" He asked. 

"Yep." Mater answered.

"I thought so. I'm-" Harry started to say. 

"I know who you are, Harry." Mater interrupted. "Kassie's told me about you. And I knew your parents well. Your Father and my husband were good friends." 

"You knew my Parents?" Harry asked intrigued. "Sorry. I never really got to know them. I wish I did though. Better than being stuck with the Dursleys." He grunted. "I don't want to go back to them. That's why I'm gone." His voice got all angry. 

"Gone?" I asked. "They kicked you out?" 

"No. I left. After there was an incident with my Aunt Marge, she's Uncle Vernon's sister." Harry answered. 

By the way Harry had described it. It must've been something big he did. "Oh geez, Harry. What did you do?" Mater asked. 

"I sort of blew up my Aunt." Harry answered. "She was insulting my parents and calling my Mother a... well she called my Mother a...-" He wasn't sure if he could finish that sentence.

"A bitch?" Mater asked. 

Harry nodded his head. "And I just lost control. I felt so angry. And she started to just... blow up." He continued. "She bounced all around the ceiling and then out into the sky. I just wanted to leave it all behind. So I packed my bags, and left." 

Oh Gods! Not again! Harry performed Underage Magic in the presence of a Muggle. Okay. That last one was on Dobby. But everyone thought it was Harry.

"I don't know what to say. I didn't mean to use Magic." Harry justified. 

"And I assumed that you got picked up by the Knight Bus?" Mater asked.

"You know about the Knight Bus?" Harry asked surprised. 

Mater nodded. "What's the Knight Bus?" I asked. 

"It's an emergency transportation system for Stranded Witches and Wizards." Mater answered. 

"I told them to take me to the Leaky Cauldron. If I was going to be on the run, then I should at least have some money. It wasn't the best thought out plan, but I didn't really know what to do. That's when I met the Minister. He assured me that all was taken care of and I could go free. Just as long as I didn't leave Diagon Alley." Harry explained. "That's pretty much it. I've been here ever since." 

"Well, at least you're fine now. Just be careful Harry. It's probably not safe to be alone. Especially with Sirius Black on the loose." Mater advised.