Knight Bus

The Knight Bus is a heavily enchanted, violently purple, triple-decker bus which transports magical folk in the Harry Potter fiction novels by J. K. Rowling.

Related Topics:
Magic - Harry Potter - Fiction - Novel - J. K. Rowling

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The bus functions as public transportation for the wizard or witch in need everywhere in England, Scotland and (presumably) Wales, bringing passengers to the destinations of their choice with seemingly no set route. It bolts through the streets, entirely invisible to Muggles and causing other objects to dodge it instead of the other way round, to cover short distances. For long ones, the Knight Bus makes 100-mile leaps accompanied by a great bang and jolt, possibly similar to Apparating. The interior of the bus changes or is changed depending on the time of day, with chairs by day and beds by night. Its only limit in travelling is that it can't enter water.

Related Topics:
England - Scotland - Wales - Muggle - Mile - Apparating

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The Knight Bus is generally used only by those who can't or won't choose other means of transportation. Most importantly, the jolts make travelling a severely uncomfortable experience. While the bus is lightning-fast by Muggle standards, still faster are near-instananeous Floo powder and Apparating. It charges for the service, albeit not heavily.

Related Topics:
Muggle - Floo powder

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The conductor of the Knight Bus is a Stan Shunpike and its driver is Ernie Prang. The bus makes its debut along with its staff in the third book as Harry Potter unwittingly "hails" the Knight Bus by holding his wand out in front of him as he is standing on Privet Drive. Harry also rides on the Knight Bus with a number of his friends in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Related Topics:
Conductor - Stan Shunpike - Ernie Prang - Third book - Harry Potter - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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The Knight Bus's name is probably a play on the London night bus (see Buses in London).

Related Topics:
London - Night bus - Buses in London

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In the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film, Stan and Ernie are accompanied by a (annoying to some fans) talking shrunken head voiced by Lenny Henry.

Related Topics:
''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' film - Shrunken head - Voiced - Lenny Henry

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