"Kirra?" Harry tapped on his sister and she snapped out of her trance, the more flashbacks she had, the more she remembered from her past lives. She smiled, in her past life, she had been friends with her mother and her father, she knew it was them.
But then she frowned as she realised, Sirius Black.
More and more memories flashed through her head of the time she had spent with the boy, he had seemed to be one of the most important people in her past life, her best friend. And now she was seeing him on the TV, saying that he was a criminal.
The girl remembered more and more every night through her dreams, and by now, she had remembered at least more than half of everything that had happened in her past lives. There were just parts in between that she couldn't remember, things that connected the things she did remember, to make them make sense.
"anywhere you like, 'long it's on land. Can't do nuffink underwater." Stan told the twins "Ere," he said, looking suspicious again, "you did flag us down, dincha? Stuck out your wand 'and, dincha?"
"Yes," said Harry quickly. "Listen, how much would it be to get to London?"
"Eleven Sickles each," said Stan, "but for firteen you get 'ot chocolate, and for fifteen you get an 'ot water bottle an' a toofbrush in the color of your choice." Kirrra and Harry rummaged once more in their trunks, extracted their money bags, and shoved some gold into Stan's hand.
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"This is our driver, Ernie Prang. This is Neville and Alice Longbottom, Ern." Ernie Prang, an elderly wizard wearing very thick glasses, nodded to Harry and Kirra, who nervously sat down on their beds.
"Take'er away, Ern," said Stan, sitting down in the armchair next to Ernie's. There was another tremendous BANG, and the next moment Kirra found herself flat on her bed, thrown backward by the speed of the Knight Bus. Pulling herself up, Kirra stared out of the dark window and saw that they were now bowling along a completely different street.
Stan was watching Kirra and Harry's stunned faces with great enjoyment. "This is where we was before you flagged us down," he said. "Where are we, Ern? Somewhere in Wales?"
"Ar," said Ernie.
"How come the Muggles don't hear the bus?" said Harry.
"Them!" said Stan contemptuously. "Don' listen properly, do they? Don' look properly either. Never notice nuffink, they don'."
"Best go wake up Madam Marsh, Stan," said Ern. "We'll be in Abergavenny in a minute." Stan passed the twin's beds and disappeared up a narrow wooden staircase. Kirra was still looking out of the window, feeling increasingly nervous.
Ernie didn't seem to have mastered the use of a steering wheel. The Knight Bus kept mounting the pavement, but it didn't hit anything; lines of lampposts, mailboxes, and trash cans jumped out of its way as it approached and back into position once it had passed.
Stan came back downstairs, followed by a faintly green witch wrapped in a travelling cloak. "'Ere you go, Madam Marsh," said Stan happily as Ern stamped on the brake and the beds slid a foot or so toward the front of the bus. Madam Marsh clamped a handkerchief to her mouth and tottered down the steps.
Stan threw her bag out after her and rammed the doors shut; there was another loud BANG, and they were thundering down a narrow country lane, trees leaping out of the way. Kirra wouldn't have been able to sleep even if she had been travelling on a bus that didn't keep banging loudly and jumping a hundred miles at a time.
Stan had unfurled a copy of the Daily Prophet and was now reading with his tongue between his teeth. A large photograph of a sunken-faced man with long, matted hair blinked slowly at Kirra from the front page.
Kirra looked at her hands in sadness, even though she was no longer Emily Barnes, she felt strangely like she was and she felt a deep amount of pain in her chest as she stared at her - or Emily's - old best friend. He looked different and it broke her heart.
"That man!" Harry said, causing his sister to look over at him quickly. "He was on the Muggle news!" Stanley turned to the front page and chuckled.
"Sirius Black," he said, nodding. "'Course 'e was on the Muggle news, Neville. Where you been?" He gave a superior sort of chuckle at the blank look on Harry's face, removed the front page, and handed it to Harry.
Kirra watched carefully, but kept quiet. "You oughta read the papers more, Neville." Harry held the paper up to the candlelight and Kirra could just make out the words:
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.
Kirra felt hot rage burn in her chest, she was sure that they had the wrong person, the Sirius Black that she knew - or Emily had known- would have never of done that, and she was certain of it. "Scary-lookin' fing, inee?" said Stan, who had been watching Harry and Kirra read.
"He murdered thirteen people?" said Harry, handing the page back to Stan, "with one curse?"
"Yep," said Stan, "in front of witnesses an' all. Broad daylight. Big trouble it caused, dinnit, Ern?"
"Ar," said Ern darkly as Kirra squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. Stan swivelled in his armchair, his hands on the back, the better to look at the twins. "Black woz a big supporter of You-Know-'Oo," he said.
"What, Voldemort?" said Harry, without thinking. Even Stan's pimples went white; Ern jerked the steering wheel so hard that a whole farmhouse had to jump aside to avoid the bus.
"You outta your tree?" yelped Stan. "'Choo say 'is name for?"
"Sorry," said Harry hastily. "Sorry, I — I forgot —"
"Forgot!" said Stan weakly and Kirra couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Blimey, my 'eart's goin' that fast..."
"So — so Black was a supporter of You-Know-Who?" Harry prompted apologetically. "Yeah," said Stan, still rubbing his chest. "Yeah, that's right. Very close to You-Know-'Oo, they say... anyway, when little 'Arry Potter got the better of You-Know-'Oo" —
"I'm sorry but when was Sirius Black a supporter of You-Know-Who?" the girl asked accusingly and it was evident in her tone that she was annoyed, it was like she was defending him and this made Harry and Stan look at her in confusion, she knew she had to play it safe so she tried to cover herself, "well I just thought, because he was so young you know, it must have been crazy back in those times"
"all You-Know-'Oo's supporters was tracked down, wasn't they, Ern? Most of 'em knew it was all over, wiv You-Know-'Oo gone, and they came quiet. But not Sirius Black. I 'eard he thought 'e'd be second-in-command once You-Know-'Oo 'ad taken over. Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand and 'e blasted 'alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. 'Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?" Stan continued in a dramatic whisper.
"What?" said Kirra and Harry.
"Laughed," said Stan. "Jus' stood there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, 'e went wiv em quiet as anyfink, still laughing 'is 'ead off. 'Cos 'e's mad,inee, Ern? Inee mad?"
"If he weren't when he went to Azkaban, he will be now," said Ern in his slow voice. "I'd blow meself up before I set foot in that place. Serves him right, mind you... after what he did..."
"They 'ad a job coverin' it up, din' they, Ern?" Stan said. "'Ole street blown up an' all themMuggles dead. What was it they said 'ad 'appened, Ern?"
"Gas explosion," grunted Ernie.
"An' now 'e's out," said Stan, examining the newspaper picture of Black's gaunt face again."Never been a breakout from Azkaban before, 'as there, Ern? Beats me 'ow 'e did it. Frightenin',eh? Mind, I don't fancy 'is chances against them Azkaban guards, eh, Ern?" Ernie suddenly shivered.
"Talk about summat else, Stan, there's a good lad. Them Azkaban guards give me the collywobbles." Stan put the paper away reluctantly, and Kirra leaned against the window of the Knight Bus, feeling worse than ever. She couldn't help imagining what Sirius had gone through all of these years
The Knight Bus rolled through the darkness, scattering bushes and wastebaskets, telephone booths and trees, and Kirra lay, restless and miserable, on her feather bed. One by one, wizards and witches in dressing gowns and slippers descended from the upper floors to leave the bus. They all looked very pleased to go.
Finally, Kirra and Harry were the only passengers left. "Right then, Neville and Alice," said Stan, clapping his hands, "whereabouts in London?"
"Diagon Alley," said Harry. "Righto," said Stan. "'Old tight, then." BANG. They were thundering along Charing Cross Road. Kirra sat up and watched buildings and benches squeezing themselves out of the Knight Bus's way. The sky was getting a little lighter. She would lie low for a couple of hours, go to Gringotts the moment it opened, then set off —where, she didn't know -
No, she couldn't leave her friends or her brother.
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 and Kirra said to Ern. They jumped down the steps and helped Stan lower their trunks and Hedwig's cage onto the pavement.
"Well," said Harry.
Kirra then waved to the man, "Bye then!" But Stan wasn't paying attention. Still standing in the doorway to the bus he was goggling at the shadowy entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. "There you are, Harry and Kirra," said a voice.
Before the twins could turn, they felt a hand on their shoulders. At the same time, Stan shouted, "Blimey! Ern, come 'ere! Come 'ere!" Harry and Kirra looked up at the owner of the hand on their shoulder and felt a bucketful of ice cascade into their stomachs — they had walked right into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic himself.
Stan leapt onto the pavement beside them. "What did ja call Neville and Alice, Minister?" he said excitedly. Fudge, a portly little man in a long, pinstriped cloak, looked cold and exhausted. "Neville? Alice?" he repeated, frowning. "This is Harry and Kirra Potter."
"I knew it!" Stan shouted gleefully. "Ern! Ern! Guess 'oo Neville and Alice is, Ern! 'They're 'Arry and Kirra Potter! I can see 'ere scars!"
"Yes," said Fudge testily, "well, I'm very glad the Knight Bus picked Harry and Kirra up, but the two of them and I need to step inside the Leaky Cauldron now..." Fudge increased the pressure on Kirra and Harry's shoulders, and the two twins found themselves being steered inside the pub.
A stooping figure bearing a lantern appeared through the door behind the bar. It was Tom, the wizened, toothless landlord.
"You've got them, Minister!" said Tom. "Will you be wanting anything? Beer? Brandy?"
"Perhaps a pot of tea," said Fudge, who still hadn't let go of Harry nor Kirra. There was a loud scraping and puffing from behind them, and Stan and Ern appeared, carrying Kirra and Harry's trunks and Hedwig's cage and looking around excitedly (whiskers was still tucked comfortably in the girls arms).
"'Ow come you di'n't tell us 'oo you are, eh, Neville and Alice?" said Stan, beaming at Harry and Kirra, while Ernie's owlish face peered interestedly over Stan's shoulder.
"And a private parlour, please, Tom," said Fudge pointedly.
"Bye," Kirra and Harry said miserably to Stan and Ern as Tom beckoned Fudge toward the passage that led from the bar.
"Bye, Neville!" called Stan "Bye Alice!"
Fudge marched Kirra and Harry along the narrow passage after Tom's lantern, and then into a small parlour. Tom clicked his fingers, a fire burst into life in the grate, and he bowed himself out of the room.
"Sit down, you two," said Fudge, indicating to a pair of chairs by the fire. The twins both shared a scared look, and then the two of them sat down, feeling goose bumps rising up their arms despite the glow of the fire.
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 and Kirra. "I am Cornelius Fudge, Harry and Kirra Potter. 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 wasn't to know that.
Though Kirra had never seen the man in person, and if she was being honest, she didn't like him already.
Tom the innkeeper reappeared, wearing an apron over his nightshirt and bearing a tray of tea and crumpets. He placed the tray on a table between Fudge and the Potter twins and left the parlour, closing the door behind him.
"Well, Harry, Kirra." 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 both safe, and that's what matters."
Fudge buttered himself a crumpet and pushed the plate toward Harry and Kirra. "Eat, both of you, 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. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her memory has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at all. So that's that, and no harm done."
Fudge smiled at Kirra over the rim of his teacup, rather like an uncle surveying a favourite niece. Kirra, who couldn't believe her ears, opened her mouth to speak, couldn't think of anything to say, and closed it again. "Ah, you're worrying about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?" said Fudge.
"Well, I won't deny that they are extremely angry, Kirra, but they are prepared to take you both back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays." Kirra and Harry both unstuck their throats.
"We always stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas and Easter holidays," she said, "and I don't ever want to go back to Privet Drive and I'm pretty sure that Harry would agree with me on that one." the girl muttered out and Harry nodded his head from next to her, clearly agreeing with what the girl had stated
"Now, now, I'm sure you'll both feel differently once the two of you have calmed down," said Fudge in a worried tone. "They are your family, after all, and I'm sure you are fond of each other — er — very deep down."
It didn't occur to Kirra or Harry to put Fudge right.
They were still waiting to hear what was going to happen to the youngest Potter now. "So all that remains," said Fudge, now buttering himself a second crumpet, "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 sister's punishment?" Kirra went to say something sarcastic but decided against it, Fudge blinked.
"Punishment?"
"I broke the law!" Kirra said, her eyes wide and confused. "The Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry!"
"Oh, my dear girl, we're not going to punish you for a little thing like that!" cried Fudge, waving his crumpet 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 Kirra or Harry's past dealings with the Ministry of Magic.
"Last year, we got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a pudding in my uncle's house!" he told Fudge, frowning. "The Ministry of Magic said that we would be expelled from Hogwarts if there was any more magic there!"
Unless Kirra and Harry's eyes were deceiving them, Fudge was suddenly looking awkward. "Circumstances change, Harry and Kirra... We have to take into account... in the present climate... Surely you don't want to be expelled?"
"Of course I don't," said Kirra and shook her head quickly.
"Well then, what's all the fuss about?" laughed Fudge. "Now, have a crumpet you two, while I go and see if Tom's got a room for you." Fudge strode out of the parlor and Kirra and Harry stared after him. There was something extremely odd going on.
Why had Fudge been waiting for them at the Leaky Cauldron, if not to punish her for what she'd done? And now Kirra came to think of it, surely it wasn't usual for the Minister of Magic himself to get involved in matters of underage magic? Fudge came back, accompanied by Tom the innkeeper.