As Athena storms out with her trunk, the camera dollys to the street with her. Night in the sky, a plump dot rises. Aunt Marge.
Everyone laughs again
Athena walks and walks and walks, breathing heavily, then stops.... Glances about, An empty playground. Swings creaking gently on rusted chains. A tiny carousel, kissed gently by the wind, turning slowly.
"That's so creepy" whispered Barty to Regulus.
Athena drops the trunk and sits on top of it. Deep in the night, an alarm shrieks, then goes silent. Athena, still as a statue. Listening. In the trees above, leaves tremble. The wind gathers. Athena turns, studying the swaying swings and the carousel. Then, she....stiffens. Turns back around. Sensing something in the shadows across the street, she rises, slowly drawing her wand, pointing it in that direction. That's when she sees....it. Something big. Darker than the shadows which conceal it. Something with wide, gleaming eyes. Athena steps back, afraid to look away, the dark dog starts barking. Wand outstretched....she trips over the curb. The tip of her wand blazes.
Athena: Aaaah!
Giant wheels bear down. Athena rolls clear –– just as a preposterously purple, triple-decker bus screeches to a halt. Gold letters glimmer above the windscreen: The Knight Bus.
The people who have been on the bus before groan, whilst the others who haven't sit up straighter staring in awe.
Doors hiss. Snap back. Revealing Stan Shunpike, an 18-year-old boy in a wrinkled conductors uniform. Pasty face. Raccoon eyes. Stan looks like he hasn't seen the sun in years.
Stan Shunpike: [Wearily, drearily, reads off of a small card] Welcome to the knight bus. Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening [peering at Athena] Wha'choo doin' down there?
"Well he seems fun" Sirius commented making Athena snort.
Athena: Fell over
Stan Shunpike: Wha'choo fall over for?
Athena: I didn't do it on purpose, why would I fall over on purpose? [glaring slightly]
Stan Shunpike: [eyes Athena] Well, come on then. Let's not wait for the grass to grow.
As Stan grabs Athena's trunk, Athena peers into the shadows across the street –– now simply shadows. Stan comes into view looking in the same direction as Athena.
Stan Shunpike: Wha'coo lookin' at
Athena: Nothing
Athena climbs aboard. No seats. Only beds. The brass frames need a shine, the lines a wash. In one bed, a disheveled wizard grunts, turns over in his sleep. Behind the wheel, Ernie, an unshaven wizard in thick glasses, stares straight ahead, armpits strained with sweat. A shrunken head dangles from the rear view mirror, muttering incessantly through the stitches that lace it's mouth.
Stan Shunpike: Take 'er away, Ern.
Shrunken head: Yeah, take it away!
Bang! Ernie rockets away and the beds, as one, slide six inches to the rear. Athena drops onto the bed nearest, peers up at the chandelier swaying directly above her head. Beyond the windscreen oncoming traffic whips past in a blur.
Stan Shunpike: [looking Athena up and down] Wot you say your name was again?
Many of the males in Athena's new family growl at the screen, Fred tightens his grip around his girlfriend.
Athena: I didn't
Stan, huddled in an armchair, peeks over The Daily Prophet, eyes Athena coolly, before disappearing once more. Athena styles her hair so some of it hides her scar.
YOU ARE READING
Athena Potter - Completed (WTM)
FanfictionIn which the marauders generation watch Athena Potters life and see the dangers of which awaits them. Where friends becomes enemies and enemies become allies. What happens when they realise they've been lied too? Will they be able to prevent the dan...
