5 Chapter 5: Arrival at the Leaky Cauldron

Harry got out of the house started moving towards the park near the Magnolia Crescent. Reaching the park, he pulled out his wand and went to call the Knight Bus.

"Lumos," Harry muttered, and as a blinding light appeared at the tip of his wand, almost dazzling him. He held out his wand pointing towards the road and waited for a few moments.

There was a deafening BANG, and Harry threw up his hands to shield his eyes against a sudden blinding light…

When the light cleared Harry saw a triple-decker, violently purple bus, which had appeared out of thin air. Gold lettering over the windshield spelled The Knight Bus.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard just stick out your wand hand, step on board, and we can take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I will be your conductor this evening." said the guy named Stan Shunpike.

"What's your name?" Stan asked.

"Tom Riddle," said Harry, as it was the first name that came to his mind.

"Yes," said Harry quickly. "Listen, how much would it be to get to the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Eleven Sickles," said Stan, "but for thirteen you get hot chocolate, and for fifteen you get a hot water bottle and a toothbrush in the color of your choice."

Harry pulled out some money from his pocket and handed it to Stan. He and Stan then lifted his trunk, with Hedwig's cage balanced on top, up the steps of the bus.

There were no seats; instead, half a dozen brass bedsteads stood beside the curtained windows. Candles were burning in brackets beside each bed, illuminating the wood-paneled walls.

"Take it away, Ern," said Stan, sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's.

Harry readied himself and grabbed onto whatever he could to stop himself from falling.

There was another tremendous BANG and the bus started. Harry stared out of the dark window and saw that they were now bowling along a completely different street.

To pass away time Harry decided to read the newspaper.

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," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this

morning, "and we beg the magical community to remain calm."

Fudge has been criticized by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for

informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. "Well, really, I had to, don't you know," said an irritable Fudge. "Black is mad. He's a danger to anyone who crosses him, magic or Muggle. I have the Prime Minister's assurance that he will not breathe a word of Black's true identity to anyone. And let's face it — who'd believe him if he did?"

While Muggles have been told that Black is carrying a gun (a kind of metal wand that Muggles use to kill each other), the magical community lives in fear of a massacre like that of twelve years ago, when Black murdered thirteen people with a single curse.

He continued reading the rest of the paper.

Ern slammed on the brakes and the Knight Bus skidded to a halt in front of a small and shabby looking pub, the Leaky Cauldron, behind which lay the magical entrance to Diagon Alley. "Thanks," Harry said to Ern.

He jumped down the steps and helped Stan lower his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the pavement.

"Well," said Harry. "Bye then!

Harry quickly made his way inside the Leaky Cauldron.

"There you are, Harry," said a voice. Harry looked up at the owner of the hand on his shoulder and felt a bucketful of ice cascade into his stomach — he had walked right into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself.

Fudge grasped Harry by his shoulders and lead him to a private room to chat. Fudge marched Harry along the narrow passage after Tom's lantern, and then into a small parlor. Tom clicked his fingers, a fire burst into life in the grate, and he bowed himself out of the room.

"Sit down, Harry," said Fudge, indicating a chair by the fire.

Harry sat down, taking a seat near the fireplace. Fudge took off his pinstriped cloak and tossed it aside, then hitched up the trousers of his bottle-green suit and sat down opposite Harry.

"I am Cornelius Fudge, Harry. The Minister of Magic."

Harry already knew this, of course; he had seen Fudge once before, but as he had been wearing his father's Invisibility Cloak at the time, Fudge did not know that.

"Well, Harry," said Fudge, pouring out tea, "you've had us all in a right flap, I don't mind telling you. Running away from your aunt and uncle's house like that! I'd started to think… but you're safe, and that's what matters."

"Eat, Harry, you look dead on your feet. Now then… You will be pleased to hear that we have dealt with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley. Two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department were dispatched to Privet Drive a few hours ago but there was a complication. would like to apologize to you for that."

"What happened ? Minister" Harry asked innocently.

"Ah, you see when one of the two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department obliviated your aunt to remove her memory of this incident an accident occurred. Due to the carelessness of the obliviator , your aunts mind was damaged without repair." Fudge informed him with a remorseful face.

"Oh no, because of my childish tantrum Aunt Marge is hurt. I did not want this to happen." Harry said with a sad face with few tears leaking out of his eyes, inside though he was rolling with laughter.

"It's all right, child" Fudge consoled him for sometime.

After a few minutes I decided to stop with the act. I wiped my tears with my sleeves and thanked the Minister with a grateful expression etched to my face.

"It's quite all right, Harry my boy. So, all that remains," said Fudge, "is to decide where you're going to spend the last two weeks of your vacation. I suggest you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron and…"

"Hang on," blurted Harry. "What about my punishment?" continuing his role as a grief striken teenager who had done something wrong.

Fudge blinked. "Punishment?"

"I broke the law!" Harry said. "The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry!"

"Oh, my dear boy, we're not going to punish you for a little thing like that!" cried Fudge, waving his hand impatiently. "It was an accident! We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!"

But this didn't tally at all with Harry's past dealings with the Ministry of Magic.

"Thank You very much sir" Harry said with a grateful smile, inwardly he was happy to get away without even being suspected.

"Well then, what's all the fuss about?" laughed Fudge. "Now, have a crumpet, Harry, while I go and see if Tom's got a room for you."

Fudge strode out of the parlor and Harry stared at his receding back.

Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper.

"Room eleven's free, Harry," said Fudge. "I think you'll be very comfortable just one thing, and I'm sure you'll understand… I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London, all right? Keep to Diagon Alley. And you're to be back here before dark each night. To will look out for you ok?"

"Of course, Sir" Harry replied smoothly with a charming smile, which he learned from Tom.