Harry Potter and the Pyramid of Maligo

And I have unofficially decided that the Knight Bus is only operational at night just for the pun on words and for some other reasons. (Unless someone can find proof to declare this true or not.) One other thing, write what you think about Mundungus Fletcher. He could either be a really important character in my fic or not so important. It all depends on how things turn out. I just like to hear your feedback. And now, for your ultimate Harry Potter fan fiction reading pleasure (or whatever):

 

Harry Potter and the Pyramid of Maligo

Chapter Two: Fletcher and the Knight Bus

* * * * *

Harry didn’t know what to think. All he knew is that he had to get out of the house immediately. He ran upstairs and got all of his Hogwarts stuff together. He frantically piled his clothes and books in a suitcase. He knew that this couldn’t be real…but he heard his own aunt and uncle talking about his mother and father. They were wizards!

Then he thought things over, his aunt and uncle would be suspicious if he had just left the house. On the other hand, he didn’t feel like going to eat breakfast with them, it would be extremely awkward. Did Dudley know about this? Probably not, Harry thought. He shuddered and got his stuff together quickly.

Harry decided to enter the kitchen and say he was going out for a while to buy some things in town. The Dursleys decided that he was allowed to go anywhere in the town just as long as there would be no news reports of him later. Aunt Petunia agreed as Harry silently stole a piece of bacon from his Uncle Vernon’s plate. He was too preoccupied by the newspaper. Harry was confused; the two seemed like die-hard Muggles. Were they really dark wizards?

Harry ran back up the stairs and managed to carry everything at once. However, Dudley proved to be an immense roadblock. He met Harry at the top of the stairs.

“Where you goin’ freak?” Dudley barked.

“I’m going to town for a while and buy some supplies!” said Harry.

“Then why do have all that stuff? School doesn’t start for a couple more months!” Dudley said.

“Just leave me before I curse you!” Harry said, cautiously.

“Too bad you can’t! I bet even if you could, it would only make a freckle show up on my nose! Really Harry, you’re not so threatening to me any more!”

“Oh really? Well I recall that I blew up Aunt Marge with no problem. Nothing happened that time….” Harry lied.

Dudley just sort of stared at Harry. He thought for a very long time. Harry decided that it took quite a bit for things to travel through his massive head. Harry started down the stairs and Dudley didn’t say another word.

Harry didn’t have to buy any supplies. He didn’t need to go to town. He needed to get away from the Dursleys. They were truly evil. As much as Harry didn’t want to accept it, he knew that they were magical people. Or could it be two people impersonating them through the Polyjuice potion…? The option was more believable to Harry.

Harry decided to haul his nastily heavy trunk to a nearby park and hide it (along with Hedwig’s cage) in some thick bushes until the night. Then he could ride on the Knight Bus to the Burrow or somewhere, as long as it was away from the Dursleys. Harry shuddered again and kept his wand with him as he walked to downtown.

Harry had never really been on his own in downtown Muggle land. It was quite different. Sure, he’d been in cars with the Dursleys and saw the various convenient shops and such, but Harry didn’t know specifically where certain stores were. He didn’t need to though, he didn’t have any Muggle money with him and he didn’t care.

As Harry walked along a busy street he noticed something strange. It looked like the old lady Figg. Arabella Figg! Yes, Harry soon became excited. He put two and two together and figured that Mrs. Figg must’ve been one of the people Sirius Black was supposed to find. She was a part of the “old crew”! Harry, very proud of himself, decided to follow the lady. Surely, she knew about the Dursleys.

The first store she went to was an obvious one: Pete’s Purrfect Pets (cats only!). Mrs. Figg had tons of cats in her home, so it wasn’t unusual to see her buy cat food and kitty litter for them in the store. Harry decided to enter the store and tease one of the three-week-old Siamese kittens toward the back of the store. He wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible, he wasn’t too sure if he was allowed to go wondering with Voldemort on the rise; according to Sirius and Dumbledore anyway.

When Harry saw that she had finished her purchase, he waited a few more minutes. Mrs. Figg placed her purchase in the back of an old shabby car. Then, she started down the street for another shop. He slowly counted to ten, and then he calmly exited the shop.

Had he waited any longer, he would’ve missed her enter a small pub through a brick wall. Harry didn’t know what to do. Should he enter the pub and risk being seen? Or should he wait for her? Harry decided that any reprimand from an old lady would be mild compared to being killed by his aunt and uncle, so he risked it.

To his greatest luck, she was in the bathroom; at least that was what Harry guessed. He found a small table and stuffed his head in a menu. He felt that anyone would recognize Harry Potter since he lived only blocks away. When a young witch came up to his table and asked him for his order. Harry simply said (with the menu covering his face) that he was waiting for someone and he would call her when he needed her.

As Harry peeked up from the menu, he saw that Mrs. Figg was back from wherever she was and she sat at the bar, which was about ten feet away from Harry, just in earshot of the slightly modern, but still very dark pub.

After some minutes, Harry felt that this was getting dull and he started to leave. But then someone entered the false door. Of course this someone was especially important -- it was Mad-Eye Moody! Harry popped the menu up and found that he was sitting next to Arabella. Harry had to hear this conversation.

Harry never knew the real Mad-Eye Moody, and as far as Moody was concerned, Harry felt that he didn’t know too much about him either. But he did know that he had a magical eye. Harry swallowed hard and waited nervously.

“Oh, Moody! It’s so nice to see you. I didn’t think you roamed this part of the city. It’s only reserved for me and Albus!”

“OH COME ON! DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT I CAME FOR PATROLLING? I WOULDN’T WANT TO MEET VOLDEMORT HERE ANY DAY!” Moody wailed. The pub fell silent. “OH NO! I CAME HERE STRICTLY FOR A DRINK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

Harry thought it was almost comical. Moody seemed a little off and mad, but Harry had heard the rumors of him being extremely paranoid.

“Oh, but Alastor, do you really think that’s all why you came here?” Arabella said.

“OH I SUPPOSE THAT IF I WERE TO MEET YOU HERE, THEN IT WOULD BE OK TOO! BUT WE WOULD ONLY TALK ABOUT BUSINESS, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.” Moody winked, it was very weird to Harry.

Arabella chuckled. “Well, what did you want to discuss?”

“I JUST WANTED T-“

“Moody! Calm down, you’re scaring off all the customers!” the bartender said. Moody gave a quick glare at him.

“I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW OL’ HARRY POTTER WAS DOING!”

“Really? Well, I guess he’s ok now. I mean, there’s been some startling news about his relatives. And Sirius has been out rounding up the old crew,” Arabella said.

“REALLY? I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THIS NEWS.” The bartender glared again. Moody had a look of innocence in his strange eyes.

“Well, I’m not so sure, it’s just that I’m not sure anyone knows about this. They’ve kept it a long secret and I’ve just found this information out a few days ago,” said Arabella.

So she knew about his relatives. But she wasn’t doing anything about it! It made Harry angry.

“But,” she continued, “I’m guessing that they’ll be revealing to Harry sometime about what’s going on. I’m not so sure how they’ll go about doing it.”

“COME ON WOMAN! TELL ME!”

“No need to be rude, Alastor Moody! Well, it’s just that Harry’s only living relatives are Dark Wizards.” There was a strange pause. No one in the pub really heard Arabella Figg and Alastor Moody discuss things (mostly due to Moody shouting “VOLDEMORT”), but it was a sort of weird silent for Harry, Mrs. Figg, and Moody.

“Are you serious?” Moody asked, in a normal human tone.

Arabella nodded. Harry sulked.

“Well, when did you ever think to tell Harry?” He asked.

“But the thing is that they don’t wish to divulge their powers to anyone. They wanted to remain as Muggles!” Arabella said.

“But still, it’s no use in keeping it a secret. Here you are, protecting Harry while letting him live with Dark wizards!” Moody said. “It doesn’t matter, though. Harry knows what’s going on.” Moody smiled and looked toward the shaking menu.

Harry’s eyes lit up and he ran straight out of the pub. Moody had known all along. Of course, no one needed a magical eye if he could see the obvious, an almost 15-year-old boy spying miserably in a pub, using a menu as cover for five minutes straight!

 

* * * * *



That night, Harry knew he had to leave. He wasn’t quite sure if Mrs. Figg was going to search for him or not, so he made sure he walked very far into the city and he would make his way back to the park to pick up his things and call for the Knight Bus.

It was dark too. Extremely dark.

Harry couldn’t help feeling just a little spooked out by the day. For one thing, there was the obvious, his more than evil relatives. Of course, then Mrs. Figg was most likely looking for Harry. Moody was a riot and anyone walking around in the dark would find it terrifying to encounter Mad-Eye Moody. Harry would’ve been scared even if Moody were an eccentric paranoid person. But he was an eccentric paranoid Auror!

Harry remembered that the only thing necessary was holding out his wand hand and feeling in need of some help, and boy did Harry need it! After one minute or so, the triple-decker bus clumsily tore across the grass of the park. Harry still didn’t get the whole idea of the Knight Bus, but it was helpful, and that was all that mattered.

“Hello, why if it isn’t Ha-OOPS! I suppose it would be Neville Longbottom!” said the man who had opened the door. Also, he was wearing the same purple suit as he had two years ago. It was Stan.

“Hello, Stan! And thanks for keeping my identity safe!” said Harry.

“No problem, Mr. Pot—Err, Mr. Longbottom!” Stan held a cheesy smile.

Ernie Prang, the bus driver smiled and shared the same enthusiasm as Stan. While the two asked frantically where Harry was headed, he noticed a man sitting up on the nearest bed looking fixedly at Harry. Harry narrowed his eyes. He was sure he’d never seen the man before.

He was just staring at Harry, with his blue eyes. He was wearing old tattered tan robes, in better state than Professor Lupin’s, but not by much. He seemed to be strongly-built and had shaggy brown hair with a little bit of facial hair under his lower lip. The man was probably in his lower-30s. Harry just couldn’t understand who this guy was.

“Mr. Potter, I presume?” he said.

“Well, yes, but—“

“Mundungus Fletcher, Mrs. Figg told me you’d be here. Now sit. We have to talk,” he said. Harry put his stuff down and sat on the bed. Then Mundungus told Ernie to just drive the other wizards and witches to their destinations.

“Um, Mrs. Figg told you I was going to be here?” Harry swallowed hard.

“Yes, otherwise I wouldn’t have wasted my time, riding on this shabby thing. You see, I’m an Auror and graduate of Hogwarts, Harry. In fact I was top Ravenclaw for four straight years! I can Apparate!”

Harry was surprised at the disciplinary tone of Mr. Fletcher. “So, what are we going to talk about?” he asked inquisitively.

Mundungus raised an eyebrow. “Oh come on! You know full well what we’re going to talk about. Harry, you have some serious issues, kid. And I’m here to straighten them out.”

Harry was going to reply, but Mundungus started to rant again.

“You see, I don’t have time to explain, I’m a man of business and time. I don’t want to go over the facts that both you and I know, and I don’t want to waste time! Now let’s discuss your aunt and uncle.

“Wretched people really. I’ve seen some pretty bad Muggles in my life, but these guys are damn awful. Of course, having them be evil wizards and witches puts a whole new twist on things. It also questions your safety and security. I don’t mean to trash talk Mrs. Figg, but I’m having a hard time questioning her abilities. She’s just old, that’s my theory.”

Harry just sat there and listened to him.

“No one has known about your Aunt and Uncle until a few days ago. Mrs. Figg told the news to Dumbledore and some other people. We’ve been discussing you and where you should stay for the remainder of the summer. They came to a sort of conclusion that you should stay with me.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. Him? This guy was a lot to handle and it would be awkward if Harry had to live with him, from a first impression anyway.

“I can tell you’re not crazy about the idea either, nor was I. But I’ll do what I must to protect the boy who lived. It’s quite and honor Harry being able to stand up to Voldemort—“

The Knight Bus came to a screeching halt. A fat little witch near Mundungus rose up and approached Ernie.

“What in the world happened? We’re not to New Zealand yet! Come on, Prang, get your act together!” she shouted.

“S-sorry, Miss Weatherwax…but, er…well, you see, I heard the V-word and…well, it sort of creeped me out and…I couldn’t help myself but stop the bus and—“

“OH PLEASE! Really, I know that You-Know-Who isn’t a good wizard by any means, but must we overreact about this? I have to visit my niece, and she’s not feeling well, should’ve Apparated but…well just get driving!”

“Miss Weatherwax, I’m sorry, please go back to your bed,” Mundungus said. “Now,” he turned to Harry, with a stern look, “It was important that we got you out of the house. And for you to find out on your own and to run away is a little surprising, but it’ll work out.

“As much as I wouldn’t enjoy it completely, I would’ve allowed you to come stay with me. However, the current situation makes things a bit difficult. And an eye wouldn’t be under you and—“

“I’m not a little kid!” Harry said. Mundungus stood aghast. “I’m almost fifteen and I’ve stood up to Voldemort! (“Just keep driving, Ernie!”) Really, don’t you think it would be okay if I were to just stay at someone’s house? No one has to watch over me.”

Fletcher was speechless. He finally said, “Your argument is credible, Harry. I was thinking the same thing on a bit of a different level…ER…I don’t know, Harry. It’s just that things are very stressful now and the Ministry’s in mayhem and…it’s complicated.”

“Too complicated for me to understand?”

There was a pause.

“Couldn’t I just stay with the Weasleys?” Harry asked.

“That’s the next issue. See, this is a little more reasonable. The Weasleys have been a little preoccupied with some things lately. I won’t tell you, you’ll find out in due time. But everyone whom I was discussing with felt it was best that you didn’t see the Weasleys. They are a large pureblood family and have had some scuffles with other Ministry workers. Having you there, would put pressure on them and they might be a little frightened by your presence, simply because of your confrontations.”

“That’s not true! Ron would never—“

“Ron is a little bit different than Mrs. and Mr. Weasley!”

Harry nodded; it was true. Mrs. Weasley worried about everything and she was easily stressed too. Harry was so confused.

“So who do I stay with?” Harry asked.

“I have unofficially decided that it’s your choice,” said Fletcher.

“What?” Harry was curious. “So I have two choices, Ron or you?”

“Those seem to be the options,” Mundungus said. “I’m going to let you decide.”

Harry thought for a while. He wouldn’t mind being with Mundungus and seeing what the old crew was really all about. But on the other hand, he wanted to see Ron and he knew there would be plenty of things to do with the Weasleys. What if he was to secretly spend time with Ron…so that no one in the house knew…?

“I think—as much as you guys are against the two, I’ll go with Ron,” Harry said.

“That’s your own choice, Harry. I’m not going to tell anyone, but I don’t doubt that Dumbledore will be finding that out shortly.”

“You know,” Harry said excitedly, “If Volde—well you know who I’m talking about—is not so keen on going after me, then maybe he won’t come to the Weasleys anyway! I’m sort of their protection!”

Mundungus thought for a long time. Harry knew he was right about this, and Mundungus knew too.

“I think you’re right. But have fun convincing them, especially Percy. He’s going to be the hardest to convince. I think you know why,” Fletcher said.

Percy worked as Crouch’s assistant last year and more often than not was he on the Ministry’s side of things. It made Harry a little uneasy about things. Plus, there was the Minister of Magic himself. Cornelius Fudge refused to believe that Voldemort had returned.

So, they both agreed that staying with the Weasleys was beneficial.

The rest of the bus ride consisted of Mundungus reading some book called Of Muggles and Magic: A Novel by Gary Timolus. Harry was a little interested by it. Harry had seen many magic books, but never novels or anything of the sort. He’d supposed that magic people read for enjoyment as well.

“Oh, Harry, you seem a bit curious about my book here,” said Mundungus.

“Yes, I guess so,” said Harry.

“Well, it’s a best-selling book by Timolus. He writes some great stuff. This particular one is about a boy Muggle born into a purebred family. They tried to use simple things like Kwikspell and such to help him. But he was never accepted to a school. After he grew up and became a movie director—is that what they’re called? Anyway, the guy came later to betray all wizards and announced on a TV—that’s right, isn’t it? —That there was magic and he was going to make a movie using the magical world and his family as the actors.

“Of course, anyone knows that wizards and witches don’t like to be carnival attractions, so his family gave him quite a scare and tricked him. But the trick was caught on camera and practically every Muggle saw it and believed. That’s as far as I am now. Not the best stuff in the world of magic literature, but I can tell you it’s a modern classic. In fact, I believe you’ll be taking Magic Lit at Hogwarts this year!”

“What? I never signed up for that class,” said Harry.

“No? Oh that’s because it’s a new requirement! They’re putting that subject in the O.W.L.s this year. I think there’s another subject too…hmm, too bad I never got to take Magic Lit; it would be really cool….” Fletcher got lost in his thought.

Harry thought for a minute about Fletcher and wondered if he was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

“Nope, I’m not a teacher this year, Harry,” said Fletcher. He pretty much read his mind.

“OK…just wondering, I guess,” said Harry, unsure of many things. “But what is this group you’re a part of with Ms. Figg, Lupin, and Black?”

There was a hush on the bus. The mention of Black was surprising to any wizard or witch. Plus, there was the fact that Harry was talking with Stan and Ernie about how bad Sirius Black was. When Harry revealed his name, the bus had an even more uneasy quietness then when the Dark Lord’s name was mentioned.

“Shh, his name’s not cleared yet,” whispered Fletcher. “But to answer your question: I can’t tell you a thing.” Mundungus Fletcher smiled and he suddenly popped out of site—he Apparated.

“ER—Neville, where’re you headed then?” Ernie asked.

“Oh, the Burrow, please,” said Harry.

“Okay, that’s the next stop then,” Stan declared, heaving a sigh of relief. It seemed to Harry, that they wanted to get rid of him quickly. He wasn’t surprised, he was talking very casually about the Dark Lord and Sirius Black, and no one ever took those names too carelessly.

 

* * * * *

As Harry was nearly thrown out of the Knight Bus, Harry was extremely disappointed. He was standing in front of a large house that seemed to look like a mansion. This wasn’t the Burrow of the Weasleys. But as Harry looked at his surroundings, he seemed to have been in the right place. But there was no Burrow.

Harry’s thoughts shifted as he saw Lucius Malfoy popping up from one of the bushes next to a large window that spanned over two stories.

Was he at the Malfoy’s Manor?