Marauders' Godson Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Two

Edward and Harry walked in silence until they found themselves at a deserted park. Edward noticed that Harry was becoming increasingly anxious.

"What are we going to do?" Harry asked frantically as they stopped at the edge of the lawn. "We're on the run-"

"On the run?" Edward asked. "Harry, that was accidental magic. Besides, you're the Boy Who Lived. The Ministry will be lenient." He looked around. "As for what we're going to do, this seems like a good spot to summon a ride."

"Summon?" Harry repeated.

"Step back, please." Edward pulled out his wand and stepped to the edge of the sidewalk. Then he thrust out his hand.

BANG!

There was a flash of blinding light, and a second later, a gigantic, triple-decker, purple bus appeared out of thin air. Words on the windshield read The Knight Bus. Shadow let out a yowl and leaped onto Edward's shoulders.

Harry gaped at it as a conductor in a purple uniform lept out of the bus.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus-" the man began.

"Hello, Stan," Edward interrupted.

"Ed!" Stan Shunpike grinned. "It's been a long time, 'asn't it?" Then he saw Harry. "'oo's this?"

"My brother," said Edward calmly. "We're heading to the Leaky Cauldron."

Stan gaped at Harry for a moment, then shook himself. "Leaky Cauldron? We've got a few stops 'fore that." Then he helped Edward and Harry get their trunks on board.

Instead of seats, there were six brass beds beside curtained windows. Candles floated above them, casting a soft glow around the bus.

"You can 'ave these two," said Stan, pointing to the bed behind the driver and the one beside it. He shoved Edward's trunk underneath the second one, and Edward pushed Harry's underneath the first.

"Hi, Mr. Prang," Edward said to the driver, who was gaping at his brother. Ernie Prang blinked and then nodded nervously to him. "This is Ernie Prang, Harry."

"Hello," said Harry with embarrassment, flattening his bangs.

"Sit down, and I suggest grabbing the end of the bed," said Edward to Harry, pulling Shadow to his chest.

"Um... okay," said Harry confusedly, doing as told.

BANG! And they were barrelling down a street that looked nothing like where they'd been before. Harry jerked backward, but Edward had a tight grip around his cat and on the bed, so he barely moved.

"This is where we was before you flagged us down," said Stan to Harry. "Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?"

"Ar," the driver replied.

"How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?" Harry asked.

"They're very unperceptive," Edward explained, "on purpose. You'd be surprised how often they make up their own explanation."

"Best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan," Ernie said. "We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute."

Stan jumped up and went to the narrow wooden staircase in the back. He returned with an old witch who was slightly green in the face.

"Hello, Madam Marsh," Edward said politely. The witch nodded in response, pressing a handkerchief to her mouth.

"'Ere you go, Madam Marsh," Stan said cheerfully as he helped her down the stairs. Then he went up the stairs, threw her bag after her, and closed the doors. With another loud BANG, they were shooting down a country lane, the trees leaping out of the bus' path. Another BANG -- they were racing past a barn.