 
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
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