Stars decorated the sky, peacefully. The night was rather clear despite the turn of the weather. Rain fell down softly onto the roofs of the warm homes all around soaking Severus to the bone. He wasn't paying it any mind, however. He liked the rain. It calmed his nerves, washed away the pain if only for a little while. Maybe it would wash away everything else as well. Wishful thinking.

The wind wafted through his hair, causing the delicate but greasy locks to blow in all directions. Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful he looked at the moment, it was impairing his eyesight. He sighed, and became agitated, brushing it behind himself with his long pale fingers, and tying it back with an elastic band that was conveniently around his slim wrist.

An owl hooted in the distance, somewhere close, but not quite. He shivered slightly, an ominous feeling in the pit of his stomach. He was hungry, drowsy, and wanted to find a secret place where he could rest. He was thinking deeply, not talking aloud, to himself at the moment and was haphazardly flying about. But very careful not to crash into anything. He was in enough trouble as it was. He didn't need some nosy muggle calling the authorities on him.

'Maybe I can rest over there near the bus stop kiosk? Or would people come by and bother me? No....I don't need that right now. I need to be left alone. A motel maybe? I do have some spare money in my pockets.....No....I have to be eighteen. Hrmm....curious. And I cannot stay with Lucius or Narcissa because they are off on their honeymoon or something like that, and I will absolutely not sink as low as to stay with his parents alone. They scare me a bit any ways. Me and my stupid excuses. I obviously have a death wish.....'The thinking and flying at the same time was causing him to get a headache. He made his decision to stay at the bus stop. At least there he could dry off and stay dry until the morning. He'd hide his broom. It would look strange if he was carrying it with him, and he didn't want to get it stolen...if it was even of any value to anybody except other wizards....and even then, it was a pretty worthless broom....

He glided down and landed on his feet softly, and breathed in deeply. He dried himself off using his wand, and sat down on the bench. Looking up, he could feel how immensely small he was compared to the world around him. Just by looking at the sky. He was one with nature always, and regarded it as if it was his sister or something as equally important to him.

Feeling numb, he stood up to stretch. Then, strangely felt dizzy and stumbled out near to the street. Wand still in hand, he held out both to cushion his landing if only a little, falling hard and scraping both palms and knees. But, as he looked up, he heard a loud bang, and was surprised to see a bus in front of him.

The doors opened, and out stepped a brown haired and blue eyes man, just a little taller than Severus himself. The man smiled, and held out his hand beckoning the teenager to take it. He obliged.

"There you go, lad. Up off the street....oh...look. You're all wet. Come on, lets get you inside so we can fix you up good as new." he pointed to the young man's belongings. "Aren't those yours? I am positive that you don't want those to be left behind, no? That's it, lad. Now, come on! We have more stops to make, we cannot wait all day!" This very cheery man before Severus, was beginning to get on his nerves. He was tired, yet again wet, and was being spoken to by an over zealous Knight Bus attendant.

Inside, beds were lined up one by one, some already inhabited. They were lucky, unaware of what is going on outside their dreamlike state. "So where are you headed?"

Severus sighed deeply. "As far as this thing will take me. To the last stop. I want to be as far away from this place as possible." He replied. 'This place holds nothing but sorrow and disappointment for me. Everything here died.....'

"That will be seven sickles for the ride, lad. And if you want a drink, five Knuts for tea,  A sickle for cocoa, and if you want anyplace to rest, well...those are for free so be my guest." The Bus attendant informed him.

"Sleep? Ah, yes....wonderful, blissful sleep. I'll take that, thank you very much." Severus thought to himself. He handed the annoying man his seven sickles, and went off to grab a corner bed, curling up under the sheets, and falling asleep almost instantly.

He was woken up by the man whom he was not happy to see. It felt like he had only put his head down for a few moments, and already it was time to get up. He wondered where he was, how far away from his former home he was, and if his mother was alright. Again, he shivered, but not because he was cold....but his emotions were once again getting the best of him.

"I'm sorry, but you really must be getting off now. This is our last stop, unfortunately, so you'll just have to hop onto another one of our buses, alright? Just stick out your wand, and we'll stop! To help any stranded witch or wizard, is our motto!"

Severus was practically jumping for joy when he got off. He was gone, free! Away from the annoying man's voice, face, everything!

He looked down the road to his left, and smiled. This road held no darkness for him, but the light of a new beginning. His stomach growled loudly as he walked down the dusty pathway, where ever his feet may lead.

Unfortunately, he didn't get very far as his legs collapsed beneath him, and he faded into darkness.