Megan got through the next few days focusing on different parts of her books. This proved very efficient, because she managed to not lose her temper. At long last, Marge's stay came to its last night. Megan's hopes of getting her form signed were fairly strong. Vernon and Petunia were being abundant in food and wine, and Marge said nothing about Megan, for a change. Vernon bored them all with his drill company, while Nathalie watched one of her soap operas on the television. Then, coffee and brandy were brought out.

“Can I tempt you, Marge?” Vernon asked coaxingly with the bottle in hand.

She had already had a fair amount of wine.

“Oh, just a small one.” she said. “Oh, a wee bit more... yes, a bit more. That's it.”

Petunia was sipping coffee while Nathalie was drinking her fourth energy drink. Megan wanted to go to her room, profit of the peace before Marge started on her again, but she could tell she would just have to wait.

“Aah, excellent nosh, Petunia. Usually, it's just a fry up for me, what with twelve dogs...” she burped. “Oh, excuse me. Ah, yes, with food like this, Nathalie, you'll be even more beautiful. I'll have a little more brandy.”

She had a long swig.

“As for this one...”

She nodded to Megan who instantly tried to think of something else.

“She's got a runty, nasty look about her.”

Megan tried to remember what she had read about Cheering Charms.

“It's all about blood, as I said before. Of course, it's nothing against your family, Petunia,” she said, patting her bony hand. “but your sister was a bad egg. You get them in the best families. Then she went and married that good for nothing wastrel, and we have the result right in front of us...”

Megan's fists clenched under the table. She was already only barely able to tolerate being personally insulted, but her parents were off limits.

“What was it her father did?” Marge asked.

“Uh, he was unemployed.” Petunia said.

“Ah, and a drunk, too, no doubt.”

“No, he wasn't.” Megan said frostily.

The table went silent.

“Er, more brandy, Marge?” Vernon asked loudly, pouring the remainders of the bottle into the glass. “You, go to bed,” he added to Megan, who would have loved to do just that and not hear any more of this rubbish, but Marge said:

“No, Vernon. Go on,” she snapped at Megan. “Proud of your parents, are you?”

“Yes. They were good people.” Megan said.

“They died in a car crash and left you to be a burden to these honest people!”

“I didn't chose to come here, you know,” Megan said curtly.

“You are an insolent, ungrateful brat-”

But she never finished the sentence. She suddenly began swelling. Megan first thought it was just out of fury, but she didn't stop. Her cardigan was stretched and stretched until the buttons burst. She was inflating like an enormous, ugly balloon.

“MARGE!” Vernon yelled as she suddenly began rising from her chair and bounced off the ceiling before floating out the French windows that had been open. She was three times her normal size now. Ripper was barking madly. Vernon tried to grab her leg to keep her from flying too high up, but suddenly screamed. Ripper had rushed up and bitten his ankle hard. Megan tore up to her room and pulled out all her things before putting them all in the trunk. Soon, she had gathered everything (she had left most of her things in her trunk anyway) and was coming down the stairs, not bothering to hide her anger.

“You! You put her back! You put her right this instant!”

“No! She deserved what she got!” Megan snapped back.

Megan had had it with holding her feelings inside. They had to burst. Vernon made to lunge for her, but she raised her wand instantly.

“You stay away from me,” she warned in a cold voice.

“You've no place to go.” Vernon said as she bolted for the door.

“I don't care. I've had it. Anywhere is better than here. Come on, Mira.”

And away she went, out into the dark street.

It was several minutes before Megan stopped on a low wall in Magnolia Crescent, panting from the weight of her trunk. She sat still, anger still burning through her, her heart thumping loudly. But then, she realised she may have been foolish: her uncle was right. She had nowhere to go. Her friends were abroad, and she didn't know where Harry or Cedric lived. And that wasn't the worst part. She had just performed magic when she was under age. So that meant she was probably going to or already expelled from Hogwarts. She had broken the law. She was even surprised the Ministry wasn't swooping in on her right there and there. She shivered as she looked up and down the street. It was eerily quiet. Then, Megan wondered: what would happen to her? Would she be arrested? Go to Azkaban? Or just be outlawed from the Magical Community? She sighed. She knew her friends would help her but she had no idea how to reach them now that Hedwig had gone. She had the coin to reach Cedric, and her cell, but his and Harry's parents worked for the Ministry and it would put them in a compromising situation. She had to find her own way to London. She'd made it alone the first time, hadn't she? But that had been in the day. And when she had reached London... well, she'd begin her life as an outcast. Maybe she could find a job in a Hogsmeade shop or something. She could wait tables. She'd still get to see Hermione, Harry, Ron, and... Cedric... she sighed. She had taken almost two years to realise how she felt about him. He was maybe three years older than her but had always been adorable to her. Strong, supportive, and kind, they had soon grown close to each other. But she had never told him how she felt. She worried he saw her more as a baby sister than a potential girlfriend. Not to mention she had never been in love before and wasn't sure what to do.

Going back to her travel plan, she meant to open her trunk and pull out her cloak, when something made her look up. A feeling of being watched. She pulled out her wand, raised it, and looked around carefully, not seeing anything in the dark. The lamps were widely spaced and didn't offer much light. Just then, right in front of her, across the road, Megan saw a large black shape in the darkness. But she especially saw the large bright eyes that gleamed in the gloom. Then, tearing into the silence, it barked. Megan, startled, took a step back and tripped over the pavement, landing hard on the ground. Then, a blinding light burst into the street. A few seconds later, a huge purple triple decker came hurtling up the street and screamed to a halt in front of Megan, who hadn't moved. A boy of about eighteen covered in acne and wearing a purple uniform stood in the doorway.

“Evening, and welcome to the Knight Bus; emergency transport for any stranded witch or wizard. Step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor tonight.”

Just then, he noticed Megan was still on the floor, looking up incredulously at the big purple bus.

“What choo doing down there?” he asked.

“I fell over.” Megan said, getting to her feet.

“Choo fall over for?”

“I just fell, I didn't exactly do it on purpose,” Megan said, a little annoyed.

She took a quick glance at herself. Her jeans were torn, her hand was bleeding slightly. Not to mention her heart was still thumping. Megan then glanced past the bus at the spot she had seen the dog-like creature. The lamps were shining on the street and clearly showed it was gone.

“Whatchoo lookin' at?” Stan asked.

“Uh, nothing.” Megan said, moving her fringe to hide her scar.

“Woss your name?” Stan asked.

“Rose Evans” Megan answered, which were her mother's middle name and maiden name. “So this bus can go anywhere?”

“S'long as it's on land, it can,” Stan said. “Ain't nuffink we can do underwater. Ye did flag us, dincha? Hold out your wand hand and that?”

“Uh, yes,” she said.

She hadn't exactly, but this solved transportation problems.

“Well come on, then, got places to go, ain't we?”

He helped her heave her trunk into the bus. The bus had beds for seats, which Megan associated to the fact that it was night time. That, and the fact that many of the passengers were sleeping.

“This is our driver Ernie Prang. Ern', this is Rose.”

“Hi,” Megan said.

“Pleasure,” he said.

“'Ere, you can have this 'un.” Stan said,

She sat on the bed he indicated and set her trunk in the drawer underneath.

'Take 'er away, Ern,”

And the bus sped off again. Megan only just managed to grab Mira before she skidded across the floor of the bus. Then, she glanced out the window and noticed with amazement they were in a completely different street.

“This is where we were before ye called us.” he said. “Somewhere in Wales, ain't we, Ern?”

“That's it.” he said.

“But the Muggles...” Megan asked, then noticing they were driving through regular cars. “Don't they see us?”

“Muggles? They never see nuffink, do they?”

“Better wake up Mrs Marsh, Stan,” Ernie said. “We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute.”

He swept past Megan and up a spiral staircase. Megan was still looking out the window nervously. Stan came back with an old, slightly green looking woman.

“Ere we are, Madam Marsh,” Stan said as the bus skidded to a halt, almost throwing Megan to the floor.

When the old lady got off, the door slammed shut and the bus sped off again.

Megan knew she wouldn't get any sleep, even without the bus making loud banging noises and jumping around. She lay on her bed, still worried about what would happen to her. Part of her wondered if Marge was still floating somewhere. Stan, who was standing in front of her against the wall, had opened a copy of the Daily Prophet.

“... Uhm... excuse me, but... that man was on the Muggle news... why is that? I mean he's a wizard, isn't he?”

He looked at her as though she was stupid.

“You don't know Sirius Black? He's a bad bloke, that...”

He handed her the paper.

BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban Fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.

“We are doing all we can to recapture Black.” Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge declared this morning. “And we beg all the magical community to remain calm.”

Fudge's actions of telling the Muggle government were controversial.

“I had to, clearly.” Fudge defends himself. “Black is a danger for wizards and muggles alike. Not a word over Black's iddentity will leak to the Muggles. And besides, even if he did, no one would believe him.”

While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (sort of wand used by Muggles to kill one another), the magical community lives in fear of Black, and that a new massacre like that of twelve years ago, when thirteen were killed with one curse by Black.

Megan looked at the picture of him. He stood still. Megan had never seen vampires but his pale skin and dark.

“Scary lookin', ain't he?”

“... He killed thirteen people...?” Megan asked in disbelief. “With just one curse?”

“Sure did,” he said. “With witnesses an' everything. Broad daylight. Lot o' mess that did, eh, Ern'?”

“Got that right.” Ern said darkly.

Stan turned to Megan.

“See, he woz a big supporter of You-Know-Who,” he said. “Heard of 'im, right?”

“Yes...” she said darkly. “Him, I've heard of, all right...”

“Yeah. Really close one, too, so they say. Anyway, when little Megan Potter”– Megan ruffled her fringe nervously – “beat You-Know-Who, all 'is supporters was tracked down, wasn't they Ern? Most of 'em came quiet. Knew it woz over, like. But Sirius Black... I heard 'e thought he'd be second in command or sumfink. So they cornered 'im in a street full o' Muggles, an' he just... blasted the whole place up. One wizard and twelve Muggles. Orrible, eh? But he's mad, innee?”

“If he wasn't before he went to Azkaban, he will be now,” Ern said.

“Took a lot o' work covering it up, too, dinit?” Stan said. “What they say it was?”

“Gas explosion,” Ern said.

“How 'e got out, beats me. I wouldn't try that against them Azkaban guards...”

“Talk about something else, would you lad?” Ern said, shivering.

Megan handed the paper back and leaned against the window. She shuddered at what Stan could be telling his passengers in a few days.

“Saw Megan Potter, di'n't we? Tryin' to run away, she was...”

She had broken wizard law. Was it bad enough an offence to go to Azkaban...? She knew little about it, aside from the fact that everyone who had mentioned it shuddered. Hagrid had been there briefly and Megan clearly remembered the terror in his eyes when he'd known where he was going, and he was one of the bravest people she knew.

The bus rolled on and on. Megan lay, restless and worried on her bed. One by one, people left the bus, looking happy to go. After a while. Megan was the last one remaining.

Stan said. “Where is it you're going, missy?”

“... London. In Diagon Alley.”

“Okay, then.”

The bus let out another bang and headed through Charing Cross Road. Megan sighed. Her plan was to lie low a few hours, go to Gringotts when they opened, and then... leave for wherever she would go. She had never felt better than when she was in Hogwarts, and now she would have to give it up forever. Tears stung her eyes at the thought. She quickly blinked them out.

“Here we are, then,” Stan said as the bus stopped.

She quickly gathered her things.

“Thanks,” she said.

They lowered her trunk onto the pavement.

“Bye, then.” Megan said.

But Stan was no longer looking at her.

“At last, Megan!”

Megan whipped around.

“Blimey...” Stan said.

Megan froze. It was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. And she knew that she was finished. Her offence must have been even worse than she had thought for him to be out in person...

“What d'ya call Rose, Minister?” Stan asked.

Fudge blinked in confusion.

“Rose? This is Megan Potter.”

“I knew it!” Stan shouted. “Ern! Guess 'oo Rose is! It's Megan Potter! I see her scar!”

“Well, I'm glad the Knight bus picked her up, but we need to step inside now...”

Megan let him lead her away.

“Rose?” Fudge enquired curiously.

“... It's my mother's middle name...” Megan said.

He steered her inside the Leaky Cauldron. A hunched figure stood beside the bar. It was Tom, the landlord.

“Ah, you've got her, sir,” he said. “Would you be wanting anything?”

“Perhaps some tea,” he said.

Stan and Ern appeared with Megan's things.

“'Ow come you din't tell us who you were, Rose?” Stan asked.

“And somewhere private, Tom, if you please,” Fudge added.

Megan followed them silently up the wooden stairs.

Fudge led Megan to a narrow passage in which she could see Tom's lantern. They soon entered a small parlour.

“Hedwig!”

Megan stepped forwards.

“A smart bird you got there, Miss Potter. Arrived here just five minutes before yourself.”

Tom clicked his fingers and a roaring fire filled the grate. Then, he bowed and left the room.

“Have a seat, Megan,” Fudge told her.

Trying to keep the worry and shame off her face, and feeling like a child in the principal's office, she sat down. Fudge cleared his throat and sat opposite her.

“I am Cornelius Fudge,” he said. “Minister for Magic.”

Megan thought it best not to mention the fact that she already knew who he was, since she wasn't supposed to be there when she saw him the first time. Tom the innkeeper returned, bringing tea and cakes. He placed the tray before them and left.

“Well, then, Megan,” he poured himself tea as he spoke. “You gave us quite a fright, young lady, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's like that...!”

“They hate me there... And I'm not exactly thrilled to be there either.”

“Now, now... but you're safe, that's what counts.”

He pushed the plate towards her.

“Eat, you look dead on your feet. Now, you'll be pleased to hear we managed to restore Marjorie Dursley. Her memory has been modified and will have no recollection of the incident. So all in all, no harm done.”

He smiled. Megan, who couldn't believe it, stood aghast.

“You're worrying about the reactions of your aunt and uncle? Well, I won't deny it, they are very angry, but they agreed to take you for the summer if you stay for Christmas and Easter at Hogwarts.”

“I always stay at school for Easter and Christmas,” Megan said. “And I don't want to go back.”

“Now, now, you're just a little tired. I'm sure you'll change your mind after some rest. You are family, after all and I'm sure you're... fond of each other deep down.”

Megan managed not to snort. But she didn't have the strength to try and convince him. So she turned to another prickly topic. But before she could, Fudge said something:

“So, now,” Fudge said, “all that remains is to decide where you'll spend the rest of the holidays. I would suggest staying here and–”

“But sir...” Megan said. “What about my punishment?”

“... Punishment, Megan? Whatever for?”

“I broke wizard law, didn't I? The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizadry...”

“Oh, dear girl, we won't punish you because of a little accident like that! We don't send people to Azkaban for blowing up their aunts!”

Megan was still confused, so she explained:

“But last year I got a warning that if I ever used magic outside school again, I'd be expelled...”

Megan noticed that Fudge was suddenly looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Well, er... circumstances change, Megan. We must take into account that... I mean, surely you don't want to be expelled?” he asked.

“No, of course not.” Megan said.

“Then, why the fuss?” Fudge chuckled. “I'll just go and see if Tom has a room for you.”

Megan had a strong feeling he wasn't telling her something, but said nothing. Clearly, something very strange was going on. If Megan hadn't committed a huge offence, why would he come all the way to the Leaky Cauldron to find her? She wasn't an expert in politics, but simple underage magic cases surely didn't concern the Minister...? Fudge returned just then, Tom behind him.

“Room eleven's free, Tom will show you there. Your things are already waiting for you. Just one thing, I'm sure you'll understand: stay in Diagon Alley, all right? And be back before dark every day.”

“Okay...”

“Don't want to lose you again, do we?”

“Have you had any luck with Black yet, sir?” Megan asked.

He jumped.

“Oh, that... of course, you'll have heard, as it was on the Muggle news... no, not yet. But it's only a matter of time, Azkaban guards are frightfully efficient. And angrier than I've ever seen.”

He shuddered.

“Well, I must be off.”

Megan suddenly got an idea.

“Oh, sir, can I ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Well, third years at Hogwarts get to visit Hogsmeade,” Megan said. “And my aunt and uncle never signed my form... d'you think you could?”

“Ah...” he said uncomfortably. “I'm afraid not... since I'm not your actual guardian...”

“But if you gave me permission...”

“No, I'm sorry, but rules are rules. And besides, in the current state of affairs, I think it best if you visit Hogsmeade next year. Goodbye, Megan.”

And he left. Megan sighed as Tom stepped towards her.

“If you'll follow me, Miss...”

She gave him a small smile. He wasn't responsible for what had happened.

“Hedwig,” she called, and her owl swooped from her perch to her arm.

Tom led her up an elegant staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it.

Inside was a comfortable looking bed, a warm, crackling fire, and her trunk. Hedwig fluttered off and landed on the perch set up for owls in the corner while Megan looked around. The room certainly looked cosy, and Megan could see the city lights outside. Mira sniffed the room curiously. Tom showed her the adjacent bathroom, the dresser with a mirror. The wallpaper was plain white, but it suited the purple curtains and bedclothes, both of which were embroidered with gold. And above them was an elegant wooden chandelier. He even kindly conjured a basket for Mira to sleep in.

“If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you,” Megan said.

He bowed and left. Megan then pulled a hair band out of her pocket, tied up her hair and sat on her bed, stroking Hedwig. Looking at the sky outside told her that dawn was on its way. Gold and pink were peering out of the velvety blue and grey. Megan could still not believe that a few hours ago she had been a runaway facing expulsion when now, she was facing two Dursley free weeks and still be able to go to Hogwarts.

“It's been a weird night...” Megan yawned.

And it wasn't long before she fell asleep.

Megan got through the next few days focusing on different parts of her books. This proved very efficient, because she managed to not lose her temper. At long last, Marge's stay came to its last night. Megan's hopes of getting her form signed were fairly strong. Vernon and Petunia were being abundant in food and wine, and Marge said nothing about Megan, for a change. Vernon bored them all with his drill company, while Nathalie watched one of her soap operas on the television. Then, coffee and brandy were brought out.

“Can I tempt you, Marge?” Vernon asked coaxingly with the bottle in hand.

She had already had a fair amount of wine.

“Oh, just a small one.” she said. “Oh, a wee bit more... yes, a bit more. That's it.”

Petunia was sipping coffee while Nathalie was drinking her fourth energy drink. Megan wanted to go to her room, profit of the peace before Marge started on her again, but she could tell she would just have to wait.

“Aah, excellent nosh, Petunia. Usually, it's just a fry up for me, what with twelve dogs...” she burped. “Oh, excuse me. Ah, yes, with food like this, Nathalie, you'll be even more beautiful. I'll have a little more brandy.”

She had a long swig.

“As for this one...”

She nodded to Megan who instantly tried to think of something else.

“She's got a runty, nasty look about her.”

Megan tried to remember what she had read about Cheering Charms.

“It's all about blood, as I said before. Of course, it's nothing against your family, Petunia,” she said, patting her bony hand. “but your sister was a bad egg. You get them in the best families. Then she went and married that good for nothing wastrel, and we have the result right in front of us...”

Megan's fists clenched under the table. She was already only barely able to tolerate being personally insulted, but her parents were off limits.

“What was it her father did?” Marge asked.

“Uh, he was unemployed.” Petunia said.

“Ah, and a drunk, too, no doubt.”

“No, he wasn't.” Megan said frostily.

The table went silent.

“Er, more brandy, Marge?” Vernon asked loudly, pouring the remainders of the bottle into the glass. “You, go to bed,” he added to Megan, who would have loved to do just that and not hear any more of this rubbish, but Marge said:

“No, Vernon. Go on,” she snapped at Megan. “Proud of your parents, are you?”

“Yes. They were good people.” Megan said.

“They died in a car crash and left you to be a burden to these honest people!”

“I didn't chose to come here, you know,” Megan said curtly.

“You are an insolent, ungrateful brat-”

But she never finished the sentence. She suddenly began swelling. Megan first thought it was just out of fury, but she didn't stop. Her cardigan was stretched and stretched until the buttons burst. She was inflating like an enormous, ugly balloon.

“MARGE!” Vernon yelled as she suddenly began rising from her chair and bounced off the ceiling before floating out the French windows that had been open. She was three times her normal size now. Ripper was barking madly. Vernon tried to grab her leg to keep her from flying too high up, but suddenly screamed. Ripper had rushed up and bitten his ankle hard. Megan tore up to her room and pulled out all her things before putting them all in the trunk. Soon, she had gathered everything (she had left most of her things in her trunk anyway) and was coming down the stairs, not bothering to hide her anger.

“You! You put her back! You put her right this instant!”

“No! She deserved what she got!” Megan snapped back.

Megan had had it with holding her feelings inside. They had to burst. Vernon made to lunge for her, but she raised her wand instantly.

“You stay away from me,” she warned in a cold voice.

“You've no place to go.” Vernon said as she bolted for the door.

“I don't care. I've had it. Anywhere is better than here. Come on, Mira.”

And away she went, out into the dark street.

It was several minutes before Megan stopped on a low wall in Magnolia Crescent, panting from the weight of her trunk. She sat still, anger still burning through her, her heart thumping loudly. But then, she realised she may have been foolish: her uncle was right. She had nowhere to go. Her friends were abroad, and she didn't know where Harry or Cedric lived. And that wasn't the worst part. She had just performed magic when she was under age. So that meant she was probably going to or already expelled from Hogwarts. She had broken the law. She was even surprised the Ministry wasn't swooping in on her right there and there. She shivered as she looked up and down the street. It was eerily quiet. Then, Megan wondered: what would happen to her? Would she be arrested? Go to Azkaban? Or just be outlawed from the Magical Community? She sighed. She knew her friends would help her but she had no idea how to reach them now that Hedwig had gone. She had the coin to reach Cedric, and her cell, but his and Harry's parents worked for the Ministry and it would put them in a compromising situation. She had to find her own way to London. She'd made it alone the first time, hadn't she? But that had been in the day. And when she had reached London... well, she'd begin her life as an outcast. Maybe she could find a job in a Hogsmeade shop or something. She could wait tables. She'd still get to see Hermione, Harry, Ron, and... Cedric... she sighed. She had taken almost two years to realise how she felt about him. He was maybe three years older than her but had always been adorable to her. Strong, supportive, and kind, they had soon grown close to each other. But she had never told him how she felt. She worried he saw her more as a baby sister than a potential girlfriend. Not to mention she had never been in love before and wasn't sure what to do.

Going back to her travel plan, she meant to open her trunk and pull out her cloak, when something made her look up. A feeling of being watched. She pulled out her wand, raised it, and looked around carefully, not seeing anything in the dark. The lamps were widely spaced and didn't offer much light. Just then, right in front of her, across the road, Megan saw a large black shape in the darkness. But she especially saw the large bright eyes that gleamed in the gloom. Then, tearing into the silence, it barked. Megan, startled, took a step back and tripped over the pavement, landing hard on the ground. Then, a blinding light burst into the street. A few seconds later, a huge purple triple decker came hurtling up the street and screamed to a halt in front of Megan, who hadn't moved. A boy of about eighteen covered in acne and wearing a purple uniform stood in the doorway.

“Evening, and welcome to the Knight Bus; emergency transport for any stranded witch or wizard. Step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike and I will be your conductor tonight.”

Just then, he noticed Megan was still on the floor, looking up incredulously at the big purple bus.

“What choo doing down there?” he asked.

“I fell over.” Megan said, getting to her feet.

“Choo fall over for?”

“I just fell, I didn't exactly do it on purpose,” Megan said, a little annoyed.

She took a quick glance at herself. Her jeans were torn, her hand was bleeding slightly. Not to mention her heart was still thumping. Megan then glanced past the bus at the spot she had seen the dog-like creature. The lamps were shining on the street and clearly showed it was gone.

“Whatchoo lookin' at?” Stan asked.

“Uh, nothing.” Megan said, moving her fringe to hide her scar.

“Woss your name?” Stan asked.

“Rose Evans” Megan answered, which were her mother's middle name and maiden name. “So this bus can go anywhere?”

“S'long as it's on land, it can,” Stan said. “Ain't nuffink we can do underwater. Ye did flag us, dincha? Hold out your wand hand and that?”

“Uh, yes,” she said.

She hadn't exactly, but this solved transportation problems.

“Well come on, then, got places to go, ain't we?”

He helped her heave her trunk into the bus. The bus had beds for seats, which Megan associated to the fact that it was night time. That, and the fact that many of the passengers were sleeping.

“This is our driver Ernie Prang. Ern', this is Rose.”

“Hi,” Megan said.

“Pleasure,” he said.

“'Ere, you can have this 'un.” Stan said,

She sat on the bed he indicated and set her trunk in the drawer underneath.

'Take 'er away, Ern,”

And the bus sped off again. Megan only just managed to grab Mira before she skidded across the floor of the bus. Then, she glanced out the window and noticed with amazement they were in a completely different street.

“This is where we were before ye called us.” he said. “Somewhere in Wales, ain't we, Ern?”

“That's it.” he said.

“But the Muggles...” Megan asked, then noticing they were driving through regular cars. “Don't they see us?”

“Muggles? They never see nuffink, do they?”

“Better wake up Mrs Marsh, Stan,” Ernie said. “We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute.”

He swept past Megan and up a spiral staircase. Megan was still looking out the window nervously. Stan came back with an old, slightly green looking woman.

“Ere we are, Madam Marsh,” Stan said as the bus skidded to a halt, almost throwing Megan to the floor.

When the old lady got off, the door slammed shut and the bus sped off again.

Megan knew she wouldn't get any sleep, even without the bus making loud banging noises and jumping around. She lay on her bed, still worried about what would happen to her. Part of her wondered if Marge was still floating somewhere. Stan, who was standing in front of her against the wall, had opened a copy of the Daily Prophet.

“... Uhm... excuse me, but... that man was on the Muggle news... why is that? I mean he's a wizard, isn't he?”

He looked at her as though she was stupid.

“You don't know Sirius Black? He's a bad bloke, that...”

He handed her the paper.

BLACK STILL AT LARGE

Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban Fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.

“We are doing all we can to recapture Black.” Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge declared this morning. “And we beg all the magical community to remain calm.”

Fudge's actions of telling the Muggle government were controversial.

“I had to, clearly.” Fudge defends himself. “Black is a danger for wizards and muggles alike. Not a word over Black's iddentity will leak to the Muggles. And besides, even if he did, no one would believe him.”

While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (sort of wand used by Muggles to kill one another), the magical community lives in fear of Black, and that a new massacre like that of twelve years ago, when thirteen were killed with one curse by Black.

Megan looked at the picture of him. He stood still. Megan had never seen vampires but his pale skin and dark.

“Scary lookin', ain't he?”

“... He killed thirteen people...?” Megan asked in disbelief. “With just one curse?”

“Sure did,” he said. “With witnesses an' everything. Broad daylight. Lot o' mess that did, eh, Ern'?”

“Got that right.” Ern said darkly.

Stan turned to Megan.

“See, he woz a big supporter of You-Know-Who,” he said. “Heard of 'im, right?”

“Yes...” she said darkly. “Him, I've heard of, all right...”

“Yeah. Really close one, too, so they say. Anyway, when little Megan Potter”– Megan ruffled her fringe nervously – “beat You-Know-Who, all 'is supporters was tracked down, wasn't they Ern? Most of 'em came quiet. Knew it woz over, like. But Sirius Black... I heard 'e thought he'd be second in command or sumfink. So they cornered 'im in a street full o' Muggles, an' he just... blasted the whole place up. One wizard and twelve Muggles. Orrible, eh? But he's mad, innee?”

“If he wasn't before he went to Azkaban, he will be now,” Ern said.

“Took a lot o' work covering it up, too, dinit?” Stan said. “What they say it was?”

“Gas explosion,” Ern said.

“How 'e got out, beats me. I wouldn't try that against them Azkaban guards...”

“Talk about something else, would you lad?” Ern said, shivering.

Megan handed the paper back and leaned against the window. She shuddered at what Stan could be telling his passengers in a few days.

“Saw Megan Potter, di'n't we? Tryin' to run away, she was...”

She had broken wizard law. Was it bad enough an offence to go to Azkaban...? She knew little about it, aside from the fact that everyone who had mentioned it shuddered. Hagrid had been there briefly and Megan clearly remembered the terror in his eyes when he'd known where he was going, and he was one of the bravest people she knew.

The bus rolled on and on. Megan lay, restless and worried on her bed. One by one, people left the bus, looking happy to go. After a while. Megan was the last one remaining.

Stan said. “Where is it you're going, missy?”

“... London. In Diagon Alley.”

“Okay, then.”

The bus let out another bang and headed through Charing Cross Road. Megan sighed. Her plan was to lie low a few hours, go to Gringotts when they opened, and then... leave for wherever she would go. She had never felt better than when she was in Hogwarts, and now she would have to give it up forever. Tears stung her eyes at the thought. She quickly blinked them out.

“Here we are, then,” Stan said as the bus stopped.

She quickly gathered her things.

“Thanks,” she said.

They lowered her trunk onto the pavement.

“Bye, then.” Megan said.

But Stan was no longer looking at her.

“At last, Megan!”

Megan whipped around.

“Blimey...” Stan said.

Megan froze. It was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic. And she knew that she was finished. Her offence must have been even worse than she had thought for him to be out in person...

“What d'ya call Rose, Minister?” Stan asked.

Fudge blinked in confusion.

“Rose? This is Megan Potter.”

“I knew it!” Stan shouted. “Ern! Guess 'oo Rose is! It's Megan Potter! I see her scar!”

“Well, I'm glad the Knight bus picked her up, but we need to step inside now...”

Megan let him lead her away.

“Rose?” Fudge enquired curiously.

“... It's my mother's middle name...” Megan said.

He steered her inside the Leaky Cauldron. A hunched figure stood beside the bar. It was Tom, the landlord.

“Ah, you've got her, sir,” he said. “Would you be wanting anything?”

“Perhaps some tea,” he said.

Stan and Ern appeared with Megan's things.

“'Ow come you din't tell us who you were, Rose?” Stan asked.

“And somewhere private, Tom, if you please,” Fudge added.

Megan followed them silently up the wooden stairs.

Fudge led Megan to a narrow passage in which she could see Tom's lantern. They soon entered a small parlour.

“Hedwig!”

Megan stepped forwards.

“A smart bird you got there, Miss Potter. Arrived here just five minutes before yourself.”

Tom clicked his fingers and a roaring fire filled the grate. Then, he bowed and left the room.

“Have a seat, Megan,” Fudge told her.

Trying to keep the worry and shame off her face, and feeling like a child in the principal's office, she sat down. Fudge cleared his throat and sat opposite her.

“I am Cornelius Fudge,” he said. “Minister for Magic.”

Megan thought it best not to mention the fact that she already knew who he was, since she wasn't supposed to be there when she saw him the first time. Tom the innkeeper returned, bringing tea and cakes. He placed the tray before them and left.

“Well, then, Megan,” he poured himself tea as he spoke. “You gave us quite a fright, young lady, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's like that...!”

“They hate me there... And I'm not exactly thrilled to be there either.”

“Now, now... but you're safe, that's what counts.”

He pushed the plate towards her.

“Eat, you look dead on your feet. Now, you'll be pleased to hear we managed to restore Marjorie Dursley. Her memory has been modified and will have no recollection of the incident. So all in all, no harm done.”

He smiled. Megan, who couldn't believe it, stood aghast.

“You're worrying about the reactions of your aunt and uncle? Well, I won't deny it, they are very angry, but they agreed to take you for the summer if you stay for Christmas and Easter at Hogwarts.”

“I always stay at school for Easter and Christmas,” Megan said. “And I don't want to go back.”

“Now, now, you're just a little tired. I'm sure you'll change your mind after some rest. You are family, after all and I'm sure you're... fond of each other deep down.”

Megan managed not to snort. But she didn't have the strength to try and convince him. So she turned to another prickly topic. But before she could, Fudge said something:

“So, now,” Fudge said, “all that remains is to decide where you'll spend the rest of the holidays. I would suggest staying here and–”

“But sir...” Megan said. “What about my punishment?”

“... Punishment, Megan? Whatever for?”

“I broke wizard law, didn't I? The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizadry...”

“Oh, dear girl, we won't punish you because of a little accident like that! We don't send people to Azkaban for blowing up their aunts!”

Megan was still confused, so she explained:

“But last year I got a warning that if I ever used magic outside school again, I'd be expelled...”

Megan noticed that Fudge was suddenly looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Well, er... circumstances change, Megan. We must take into account that... I mean, surely you don't want to be expelled?” he asked.

“No, of course not.” Megan said.

“Then, why the fuss?” Fudge chuckled. “I'll just go and see if Tom has a room for you.”

Megan had a strong feeling he wasn't telling her something, but said nothing. Clearly, something very strange was going on. If Megan hadn't committed a huge offence, why would he come all the way to the Leaky Cauldron to find her? She wasn't an expert in politics, but simple underage magic cases surely didn't concern the Minister...? Fudge returned just then, Tom behind him.

“Room eleven's free, Tom will show you there. Your things are already waiting for you. Just one thing, I'm sure you'll understand: stay in Diagon Alley, all right? And be back before dark every day.”

“Okay...”

“Don't want to lose you again, do we?”

“Have you had any luck with Black yet, sir?” Megan asked.

He jumped.

“Oh, that... of course, you'll have heard, as it was on the Muggle news... no, not yet. But it's only a matter of time, Azkaban guards are frightfully efficient. And angrier than I've ever seen.”

He shuddered.

“Well, I must be off.”

Megan suddenly got an idea.

“Oh, sir, can I ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Well, third years at Hogwarts get to visit Hogsmeade,” Megan said. “And my aunt and uncle never signed my form... d'you think you could?”

“Ah...” he said uncomfortably. “I'm afraid not... since I'm not your actual guardian...”

“But if you gave me permission...”

“No, I'm sorry, but rules are rules. And besides, in the current state of affairs, I think it best if you visit Hogsmeade next year. Goodbye, Megan.”

And he left. Megan sighed as Tom stepped towards her.

“If you'll follow me, Miss...”

She gave him a small smile. He wasn't responsible for what had happened.

“Hedwig,” she called, and her owl swooped from her perch to her arm.

Tom led her up an elegant staircase to a door with a brass number eleven on it.

Inside was a comfortable looking bed, a warm, crackling fire, and her trunk. Hedwig fluttered off and landed on the perch set up for owls in the corner while Megan looked around. The room certainly looked cosy, and Megan could see the city lights outside. Mira sniffed the room curiously. Tom showed her the adjacent bathroom, the dresser with a mirror. The wallpaper was plain white, but it suited the purple curtains and bedclothes, both of which were embroidered with gold. And above them was an elegant wooden chandelier. He even kindly conjured a basket for Mira to sleep in.

“If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you,” Megan said.

He bowed and left. Megan then pulled a hair band out of her pocket, tied up her hair and sat on her bed, stroking Hedwig. Looking at the sky outside told her that dawn was on its way. Gold and pink were peering out of the velvety blue and grey. Megan could still not believe that a few hours ago she had been a runaway facing expulsion when now, she was facing two Dursley free weeks and still be able to go to Hogwarts.

“It's been a weird night...” Megan yawned.

And it wasn't long before she fell asleep.