𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗭𝗞𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗡 [𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍]

Chapter Fifty One: The Knight Bus

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ ･⋆✵⋆･ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

Sirius held out his wand arm, praying that summoning the Knight Bus doesn't count as underage magic. Being expelled from Hogwarts on top of being homeless would be just too much to live with.

If he survives the night, that is. What with the number of reports about missing and murdered people.

Sirius shivered in the cold breeze, wishing he'd put on something warmer, maybe one of the jumpers he stole- borrowed form Remus. But he didn't feel like risking rummaging through his trunk now and letting his guard down by exposing his back.

"Merlin's beard." he mutter through furiously chattering teeth. "Where is that bloody bus?"

As if answering to it's name, the Knight Bus popped out of nowhere, almost running over a cat, and a teenage boy dressed in purple uniforms threw the doors wide open and stepped out.

"Burt Stebbins, Knight Bus conductor, at your service!" the boy beamed and swiped off his hat. "Where may be your destination, young man?" he asked even though he couldn't have been more than two years older then Sirius.

Sirius thought of the Leaky Cauldron first but remembered he didn't take any money. All he had was what was left in his trunk. So instead, he gave the conductor James' address.

"That'll be twelve knuts." Burt said as he hoisted Sirius' heavy trunk onto the bus. "Twenty if you want hot chocolate and a tooth brush. You can pick the color."

"No, thank you." Sirius said. "I'll just take the ride."

"Sure thing, kiddo." said Burt, looking at Sirius with pity.

Burt introduced Sirius to the driver, a skinny middle aged man called Ernie, and showed him to one of the beds.

"Take her away, Ern!"

All the passengers had on nightgowns and slippers and some were even sleeping through all the racket the bus made as it jumped miles at a time. Except for this fellow who kept getting sick into a bucket, emptying the bucket with his wand only to fill it again.

Sirius felt like he might need a bucket of his own if he kept looking at the man, so he buried his head under the fluffy white pillow to block out the world and tried to think what he was going to do next.

And came up with nothing.

Sirius always knew he was a disappointment to Walburga but it still hurt that his own mother would disown him and drive him out of the house just because he didn't look down on those of Muggle descent like the rest of the family.

But it was a long time coming, anyway, Sirius thought bitterly.

"Mate." came Burt's muffled voice as he shook Sirius' awake, under the impression Sirius was asleep. "This is your stop."

Sirius paid them and thanked them before Burt pulled his trunk on the side walk and the bus disappeared with another pop.

Sirius looked up at the Potters' house, taking in the familiar window boxes filled with the flowers Mrs. Potter took care of so passionately. All the lights were off since it was almost midnight now.

Sirius looked around the quiet Muggle neighborhood and took a deep breath before walking to the door and knocking as softly as he could while still being heard, and waited.

The door opened.

Sirius had expected Mrs. Potter's kind face or Mr. Potter's good natured one, if not James' but he did not expect a wand to be pointed at his nose by a man he's never seen before.