Hogwarts Express: Time Travel

XXVII. Leaky Cauldron

XXVII. Leaky Cauldron

As Annie storms out with her trunk, she takes a look around the street. Then she notices high in the sky, a plump dot rises. Marge. Annie walks and walks and walks, then... stops. Glances about, there an empty playground. Swing creaking gently on rusted chains. A tiny carousel, kissed gently by the wind, turning alone slowly.

"Not creepy at all!"

"I smell evil from here"

"Of all places you could've stopped, that's what you chose?" Dorcas shrieks in alarm and fear

"Lil, James you have to have a talk with your daughter about dangerous places and how to steer away from them, she might need it"

"Agreed"

"Or some lessons about trusting gut instinct!" Added Marlene

Annie drops the trunk. Sits down on the side of the road. Deep in the night, an alarm shrieks, then goes silent. Annie, still as a statue. Listening to everything around her. In the trees above, leaves tremble. The wind gathers. She turns, studies the swaying swings, the carousel. Then, she... stiffens. Turns back. Sensing something in the shadows across the street, she rises. Slowly draws out her wand. Then she sees... it. Something big. Darker than the shadows which conceal it. Something with wide, with gleaming eyes. She steps back afraid to look and afraid not to. Wand outstretched... she TRIPS, tumbles over the forgotten trunk. The tip of her wand blazes. BANG! Twin beams of blinding light spear the night.

"That looked like a wolf?" A Ravenclaw wonders

"It wasn't as big as a wolf though, maybe a dog?"

"You'd make a good Auror Potter, you have nice reflexes!" Moody praises to which Amelia Bones nods in agreement

"There's no way my daughter will do such a dangerous job, I won't have it, she won't!" Lily Evans snapped at them in fear for her only daughter's safety

"She already is an Auror, youngest in history even!" George beams happily making everyone gap at them in disbelief, they couldn't believe it she's an Auror, this girl keeps surprising them more and more, while James couldn't be prouder Lily almost fainted in shock, whereas her grandmother was preparing a good scolding but she was proud nevertheless

Annie: Aaaah!

Giant wheels bear down. Annie rolls clear -- just as a preposterously purple triple-decker bus to a halt. Gold letters glimmer above the windscreen: The Knight Bus. Doors hiss open. Snap back to reveal Stan Shunpike, an 18-year-old boy in a wrinkled conductor's uniform Pasty face. Raccoon eyes. Stan looks like he hasn't seen the sun in years.

"I've always wanted to ride one!" Regulus dreamily whines

"They seem so fun! I agree Knight Buses do seem interesting!"

"They do seem interesting!"

"They're dangerous!" Bellatrix stated as a matter of fact

"And how would you know?" Druella Black asked her, her tone almost bored while Bellatrix only rolled her eyes and shrugged not wanting to answer her

Stan: [wearily, his tone monotone] 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 down at Annie who was still on the ground] Wha' choo doin' down there?

Annie: I Fell over.

Stan: Wha' choo fall over for?

Annie: I didn't do it on purpose [Stan eyes Annie suspiciously, then nods slowly]