Chapter 3-3 The Knight Bus

• Harry wanders several streets after having fled from the house until reaching Magnolia Crescent. Realising he had just broken the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry he is sure he will be expelled. Trying to decide what to do he feels himself being watched. With a Lumos spell he makes light, and sees something ( * find out more ) very big with wide gleaming eyes. Stepping backwards, he trips over his trunk and at that moment The Knight Bus, a transport for wizards, arrives.
• The conductor is Stan Shunpike. To not make the Ministery of Magic easy to track him, Harry pretends his name is Neville Longbottom. He figures out the bus picks up stranded wizards. The driver of the bus is Ernie Prang. Harry pays to be taken to London. Along the way one of the other passengers, Madam Marsh gets out.
• Stan is reading a copy of the Daily Prophet showing a photograph of Sirius Black, the fugitive he saw on the news report at the Dursleys'. The news article which accompanies the photograph states that the Ministry of Magic has confirmed that Black has escaped from Azkaban Prison. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic states they're doing everything they can to capture him. Fudge has been criticised by some members of the International Federation of Warlocks for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the Crisis. Fudge explained the Muggles had to know since Black is a danger to both the wizard and muggle world, reminding them of the massacre of twelve years ago when he killed thirteen people with a single curse. Stan relates that Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who (Voldemort).
• One by one the passengers leave the bus. Harry is taken to Diagon Alley, in front of the Leaky Cauldron. Before he even has taken his trunk from the bus, he's welcomed, not apprehended, by Fudge and taken into the Leaky Cauldron. Tom, the owner provides tea and a private parlour for Harry.
• Fudge tells Harry two members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department dealt with the blowing-up of his Aunt Marge. Her memory has been modified; no harm was done. Harry won't receive punishment, which doesn't make sense since last year he got an official warning when a house-elf smashed a pudding in his uncle's house. Harry asks why but Fudge refuses to explain. Harry leaves it at that, happy for not being punished but suspicious of the reason.
• Being led to his room, he finds Hedwig who has come back after having been sent away from the Dursley's house