Mrs. Weasley had originally intended to come to the Dursley family's home on Privet Drive herself, or have Mr. Weasley come, to pick Harry up. At the very least, Percy should have been the one to collect him.
Harry, however, felt that there was no need at all. He politely declined and said that he could take the Knight Bus there himself. In the end, that was exactly what he did.
Early on Tuesday morning, in the seventh week of the holidays and the fourth week of his communications being cut off, Harry prepared to leave.
He had deliberately stayed an extra day on Privet Drive to avoid running short of time, then got up bright and early.
Dobby did not appear again, and everything went smoothly. Before dawn, while everyone in the neighborhood was still asleep, Harry walked to the side of the street and raised his wand.
In less than two breaths, the Knight Bus arrived in front of Harry with a piercing screech.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus-emergency transport for witches and wizards in distress. Just stick out your wand hand and climb aboard, and we can take you anywhere you want to go." A conductor in a purple uniform jumped casually off the bus and said loudly to Harry:
"I'm Stan Shunpike. I'll be your conductor today."
Harry raised his eyebrows. This conductor was not the one he had met on his ride last year, but that hardly mattered. With a grin, Harry asked him to help load his luggage.
The conductor named Stan Shunpike understood the difficulties of underage wizards being unable to use magic. With a light tap of his wand, the luggage loaded itself onto the luggage rack.
"What's your name?" Stan Shunpike asked casually as he boarded the bus. "Where are you