The Way The Truth Came Out (HarryxLuna)

Chapter Two

~Harry Potter~

A man stepped out onto the step and said, "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard, my name is Stan Shunpike and I'll be your conductor for the evening. Can I help with your luggage?"

I looked between the dog and the man and said, "Are dogs allowed??"

Stan shrugged and said, "I don't see why not. He's not feral is he?" He seemed a little perturbed by the idea.

I shook my head and said, "No, I don't think so. Thanks, um, do you take galleons or whatnot?"

Stan shook his head and said, "Emergency transport. Not every witch or wizard has their gold pouch on them, but the standard fee is usually only sickles."

He hefted my trunk and Hedwig's now empty cage and placed them in the luggage compartment before leading me onto the bus, the dog following behind us. Once I was sitting, the dog by my feet, I asked, "Do the muggles not see this?"

Stan shook his head, "Muggles don't see nothing, do they?"

Not knowing what to say to that, I fell silent, reaching down to pet the dog.

Stan cleared his throat and said, "Where you headed? Where are your parents?"

I shrugged, "Dead. Died in the war against You-Know-Who. My only family just kicked me out. Is there a wizarding hotel of some kind? I'm muggle-raised."

He nodded and said, "There's the Leaky Cauldron, of course, but there are also several higher classed hotels that are better for hiding...Mr. Potter."

I stared at him in shock, and he shrugged and said, "Your hair didn't hide it very well, with it being spiked. The Silver Scrivener is in Diagon Alley, but if you haven't much galleons, I would try the Leaky Cauldron first."

He leaned forward and spoke more softly, "I'd also get an inheritance test done, and see if you have an account manager at Gringotts. You, as the last of your family, should have gotten the lordship and all it entails at eleven."

He then turned and knocked on a glass separating the driver and said loudly, "The Leaky Cauldron, Ernie!"

The double decker moved and Stan said, "Grab something to hold onto-otherwise you'll slide around."

I grabbed onto a bar by the window and I pretended not to worry as the dog gripped my pant-leg as he began sliding around. I leaned down and wrapped my arms around the dog, lifting him carefully into my arms-it was difficult, since he was a huge dog despite his starvation, but eventually I managed to hold him carefully to me with one arm and grab the bar tightly with my other. I didn't want him hurt, but I also didn't want his very large, very sharp teeth biting accidentally into my ankle.

I lost count of how many turns or how many times we squeezed, quite literally squeezed, through a couple cars or even other double decker buses, before the bus came to a screeching halt and Stan said, "Leaky Cauldron, lad. Remember, I would stop at Gringotts. Ask Tom for directions around, he don't get upset about people going to other inns." I nodded, carefully setting the dog down, and grabbing my trunk and Hedwigs cage.

Stan held up a hand and pulled out his wand, winking slightly as he cast a reducio on Hedwigs cage, allowing me to place it in my trunk before he did the same to my trunk. As he saw me off the bus he said, "There are evil people, Harry, everywhere. They don't always look dark or evil, but that simply proves that you shouldn't trust just anyone."

I nodded, hopping off and gently pulling the dog away as the bus when squealing out of sight once again.

I sighed, looking down at the dog, and said, "How do you feel about the names Rigel or Orion or Atlas? I've always quite liked astronomy." The dog yipped softly, his black fluffy tail wagging.