HP Star Shining

A dazzling light shone over, and Su Xingchen and Harry quickly covered their eyes with their hands.

In about a second, with a "creak", a pair of huge wheels and headlights stopped in front of the two men.

Harry almost thought he had gone crazy from the fall he had just made.

It was a bright purple triple-decker bus that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, with the words "Knight Bus" written in gold letters on the windshield.

A conductor in a purple uniform jumped off the bus. "Welcome aboard the Knight Bus - emergency transport for wizards in distress. Just hold out your wand hand, step aboard, and we'll take you anywhere you want to go. My name is Stan Shunpike, and I'm tonight's conductor."

Su Xingchen felt that this Knight Bus was very humane, and it would be even better if the conductor didn't talk to the air.

"What's that on your forehead?" Stan Shunpike asked suddenly, looking at Harry.

"Nothing," Harry said as he quickly gathered his hair to hide the lightning scar on his forehead.

If the Ministry was looking for him, he'd better not be easily discovered.

"You said this car..." Harry hurried to distract Stan Shunpike, "it goes anywhere?"

"That's right," said Stan Shunpike proudly. "You can go anywhere you want, as long as it's on land. Not in the water."

"So how much does it cost to go to London?"

"Eleven Sickles," said Stan Shunpike. "Fourteen gets you chocolate, and fifteen gets you a hot water bottle and a toothbrush in any color you want."

Let’s just say…the service is quite attentive.

Harry quickly dug out the purse from the trunk and stuffed a few silver coins into Stan Shunpike's hand.

"What about you?" Stan Shunpark looked at Su Xingchen.

Su Xingchen waved her hands repeatedly. This car was one of the few things in Harry Potter that impressed her. She would be stupid to take it to London.

"Okay then." Stan Shunpike said with some regret, picked up Harry's big suitcase and got on the bus, urging Harry to hurry up.

"Stars." Harry turned around.

"Go ahead." Su Xingchen pushed him up the steps to the car, "I'll come find you."

"Okay." Harry boarded the Knight Bus.

The car door slammed shut and disappeared in a flash.

A strange-sounding voice lingered in the air, "Drive, Ernie."

It was not until the surroundings returned to silence that Su Xingchen realized that she had to walk several blocks alone in these dark and deserted streets before she could return to her warm home.

She looked in the direction the Knight Bus had left, wanting to cry. Was it too late to call them back now?

After a second of hesitation, she decisively turned around and knocked on the door of the house. She wanted to borrow the phone. She wasn't even thirteen yet, so it made sense for her to be afraid of the dark and not dare go home by herself, right?

Harry arrived at the door of the Leaky Cauldron in a thrilling manner. The sky was already getting a little brighter.

Maybe he should find a place to hide, wait until dawn to go to Gringotts to get the money, and then where to go? He didn't know.

Now that he was alone, he felt that what Xingchen said was just to comfort him.

He wouldn't go to Azkaban just for praising Aunt Marge, would he?

He knew nothing about the wizarding prison, but everyone spoke of it with fear, even Hagrid, and the look of terror on his face was hard for Harry to forget. Hagrid was also one of the bravest men he knew.

"So here you are, Harry," said a voice.

Before Harry could turn around, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at the owner of the hand on his shoulder and suddenly his hands and feet stiffened. It was the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge himself.

Fudge's hand on Harry's shoulder increased its force and pushed Harry towards the bar.

A hunchbacked figure appeared behind the bar door, holding an oil lamp in his hand. It was the emaciated, toothless bar owner, Tom.

"You've got him, Minister," said Tom.

Fudge pushed Harry and followed Tom's lantern through the narrow passage into a small private room.

Tom snapped his fingers, flames shot out of the grate, and he hunched over and left the room.

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

Harry sat down, and despite the warmth of the stove, he felt goosebumps all over his body.

Fudge took off his cloak and threw it aside, pulled up his dark green suit trousers, and sat down opposite Harry.

"I'm Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic."

Harry knew who he was, of course. He had seen Fudge once before, when he was wearing his father's Invisibility Cloak, and Fudge didn't know about it.

"Well, Harry," Fudge said as he poured tea, "to be honest, you've really put us in a real mess, escaping from your aunt's house like that. But you're safe now, and that's the most important thing."

Fudge took a piece of toast, spread butter on it, and pushed the plate towards Harry. "Eat something. You look like you're going to collapse."

Harry felt that there seemed to be something wrong with what Fudge said.

"Two members of the Incident Reversal Department were sent to Privet Drive two hours ago. Miss Dursley's gas was deflated, and her memory and that of her neighbors were altered so that she has no recollection of the incident. And just like that, the matter was resolved without causing any major complications."

Fudge looked at Harry with a smile over his teacup, as if he were looking at a favorite junior.

Harry couldn't believe his ears. He opened his mouth to say something but didn't know what to say.

"Ah, are you worried about your aunt and uncle? I can't deny that they are really furious, but they still agreed that you can go back for the summer vacation next year."

Harry seemed to have found his voice again, "I never want to go back to Privet Drive." Then he paused, and Xingchen was also at Privet Drive.

"Oh, well, I'm sure you won't think so once you calm down." Fudge's tone was filled with worry. "They are your family after all. I'm sure you actually like each other very much, uh, deep down in your hearts."

This is simply impossible! But Harry did not refute Fudge's words, he was still waiting to hear how they were going to deal with him.

"Then it's just a matter of where you're going to spend the last three weeks of your vacation." Fudge picked up another piece of crumpet. "I suggest taking a room in the Leaky Cauldron."

"Wait," Harry interrupted Fudge, "how are you going to punish me?"

"Punishment?" Fudge blinked.

"Yes, I broke the law," said Harry. "The Underage Wizarding Conduct Act."

"Oh, Harry, we won't punish you for such a small thing." Fudge waved the crumpets in his hand with a smile, "We can't send anyone to Azkaban just because he blows up his aunt."

Fudge said it lightly, but Harry could sense he was feeling guilty.

This was very different from his past dealings with the Ministry.

"Last year, I received a formal warning letter because an elf smashed a cake at my uncle's house." Harry frowned. "The Ministry of Magic said that if anyone uses magic there again, I will be expelled from Hogwarts."

"The situation is changing... Harry, we have to consider... uh... under the current circumstances..." Fudge looked embarrassed. "Anyway, you certainly don't want to be expelled from Hogwarts."

"of course."

"That's all right. Well, I'll go see if Tom has a suitable room for you." Fudge said as he strode out of the room.

Harry stared at Fudge's hurried back. This was really strange.

If Fudge didn't want to punish him, why would he wait for him at the Leaky Cauldron? But if you think about it, it's unusual for the Minister of Magic to personally deal with a case of underage magic abuse, isn't it?

Besides, Harry was silent, and Xingchen was right again, he would not be expelled.

Fudge comes back with Tom, the bar owner.

"Room 11 is empty. I think you'll find it very comfortable. There's only one thing I believe you can understand. I don't want you to go to London, the Muggle world, without permission. Do you understand? Don't leave Diagon Alley. You must return here before dark every day. I'm sure you understand. Tom will keep an eye on you for me."

"Okay," Harry said slowly, "but why?"

"We can't lose you again," said Fudge, laughing. "No, no, I mean... we'd better know where you are."

Fudge cleared his throat and picked up his cloak. "Well, I have to go. I have a lot of things to do."

"Has Blake been found?"

Fudge's fingers slipped as he buttoned his cloak. "What did you say? You've heard it too. There's no news yet, but it's only a matter of time. The guards in Azkaban are not there for nothing. I've never seen them so angry."

Fudge shuddered slightly.

As he shook Fudge's hand, an idea suddenly occurred to Harry.

But unfortunately, Fudge refused.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not your parent or guardian."

"But you're the Minister," Harry said anxiously. "If you agree..."

"No, I'm sorry, rules are rules." Fudge finally smiled again, "Maybe you can go to Hogsmeade next year. In fact, I think it's best if you don't go."

Fudge left the bar.

Harry followed Tom up a beautiful wooden staircase and came to a door with the number 11 in brass on it.

Harry sat on the bed for a long time, absentmindedly stroking Hedwig's feathers, which Tom said had arrived five minutes after he had.

The color of the sky outside the window was changing rapidly, from velvety deep blue to gloomy gray, and then slowly to pink mixed with a hint of golden light.

"Everything is so weird tonight."

Harry yawned, and without even taking off his glasses, he fell back on his pillow and fell asleep.