"I'll stay up front." said Harry

Stan beamed at Harry's answer and led her over to a set of seats behind Ernie, who rolled his eyes with good humour at the two. Harry blushed at the brief wink the bus driver sent her as he returned his focus to the road. Another violent shudder as the Knight Bus turned a corner sent Harry stumbling into Stanley's lap who's face became a matching shade of red on Harry's own at the compromising position they were in.

"Sorry-"

"I didn't mean-"

They both stopped as they tried to apologize at the same time before stopping and sharing a laugh. Stan gently eased Harry up into her own seat, which faced towards one of the side windows, so that she was squashed between a divider and Stan's own sturdy body. What should have been a claustrophobic position turned out to be quite nice as there was enough room for Harry to stretch out her long legs and kept her from being violently jolted around.

"Stan."

Harry looked curiously at the man who had suddenly said his own name. He cringed and looked away at the sudden attention, "It's my name. Stan, that is."

'Right. He doesn't know who I am.' realized Harry.

"I take it back, Stan. What you're doing is definitely not flirting." drawled Ernie, drawing some laughs out of a few other passengers who were within earshot.

"Shut up, Ernie!" shot back Stan angrily before looking back at Harry with an expression of mortification.

Harry giggled and took out her wand and spun it around in a small half-circle anti-clockwise. "[Muffliato.]" Harry brushed back a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled at Stan. "Should stop anyone from listening in on us."

Stan's eyes widened and looked at Harry appreciatively. "Useful spell, there. "Muffliato", is it? Hard ta' learn?"

Harry shook her head. "Dead simple to learn. Worked the first time I tried it."

Stan chuckled and said with a knowing grin, "And for those of us who aren't as clever or talented?"

Harry blushed at the sudden compliment, turning away from Stan slightly. "I-I'm really not all that clever..." she demurred. This was true enough as it had always been Hermione who had been the clever and talented one among their little group.

"I doubt that, uh..." Stan, who was no doubt on the verge of giving Harry another confusing compliment that made her chest feel funny, trailed off and looked awkwardly at Harry before speaking up again, "Sorry. Uh, I didn't catch your name?"