Mister Timberstain – A Prompt Story

“No, I’ve never been to Hogwarts.” Stanley said, deadpan, having answered this question so many times before. Clearly, public school has failed these kids, he thought. It was an isolating experience to be a wizard in the rural South. Most of the other witches and wizards in the state came from established families, wealthy ones, and went to private schools. The best they could do for him here was magic as an elective in the public school. The meager instruction was supplied by way of grants from anonymous donors in magical circles, doing their part for the less fortunate.

“But you’re magic right?” a short, round boy asked.

“I am not magic. I am practicing magic.” Stanley clarified.

“Why you riding our bus? Don’t you got a magic one?” his inquisitor was tall and thin this time.

Stanley sighed. “Hogwarts isn’t real. Those books are works of fiction. I wish I had a magic bus but here I am, with you fine people.”

“You ever seen a dementor?” asked Short Round.

Stanely turned away and stared out the window. This was exhausting. He felt someone plop down beside him, Short Round again. “Lemme hold your wand” he said.

“I don’t have a wand.” Stanley lied.

Short Round bent, to the best of his ability, and grabbed at Stanley’s backpack. “Hey!” Stanley objected. “Leave that alone!”

Short Round ignored him and shrugged off Stanley’s attempts to push him back. A group of kids had gathered around, excited for the show. The bus driver maintained her focus on the road. Suddenly, Short Round recoiled, pulling his hand to his chest. “Ow! What was that!” he asked, whining.

From beneath the seat, peering out of Stanley’s open backpack was an angry raccoon.

“Mr. Timberstain, get back in there!” Stanely said to the raccoon, in a hushed, urgent voice, as though all the bystanders had not already seen him.

“You got rabies!” Tall Thin said, laughing and pointing at Short Round.

“Shut up!” Short Round retorted, whimpering.

“I’m so sorry, you frightened him.” Stanley said, not feeling as though an apology was warranted, but was probably for the best. The bus had formed into two distinct groups, those who wanted to pet the racoon, and those who were afraid of it. Several in the latter group were in support of killing him.

Mr. Timberstain had crawled back into the bag, but not before shooting Stanley a look. A look that said very clearly that he needed to take care of this… right now.

“Everyone, everyone, calm down.” Stanley said, standing up, speaking with authority. With a deft movement, his wand passed from his sleeve to the palm of his hand. He waved it like a conductor and watched the children’s heads follow the point of light at its tip.

“A memory is sweet, a memory is fleet, the words on your tongue run away on new feet.” Stanley said in a singsong voice, one resolute flick of the wand on the final syllable, and he let it drop back into his sleeve.

The kids looked at Stanley blankly for a moment.

“We’re almost there, Stanley.” Said the bus driver with a smile in the rear view. “Not much longer.”

Stanley sighed and sat back down as the kids meandered silently back to their seats.

He felt a tap on his shoulder. Tall Thin was seated behind him. “Hey”, he said, “you ever been to Hogwarts?”