Grounded. Most certainly. Without a doubt, I will be sleeping outside, on the porch. One meal a day. I was supposed to be home before dark.

Today was the last day of term. We took our exams, and went to Alex's house as usual. His mom had made us tea, and my favorite teacakes, so I just decided to stay for dinner as well. I was halfway through my shepards pie when I looked out the window. It was dark already, and by the looks of it, it had been dark for awhile now. I groaned into my plate. I would be in so much trouble. This summer my parents were being extra ruthless. I remembered our conversation from this morning:

I had walked down the stairs with my bookbag in hand, and sat at the table.
"Exams today?" my father asked.
"Yes" I replied. I was sure the blood was visibly draining from my face. Exams. Today. I forgot to study. I would be grounded very badly if I failed. I snuck a glance at the punishment chart, trying to nonchalantly see what the punishment is for bad test scores.

Messy room ~ No dinner for 2 days
Forget to do Chores ~ Sleep on the back porch
Bad test scores ~ No dinner for a week
Bad EXAM scores ~ No dinner for a week and sleeping on the back porch
Home after dark ~ To be determined

"did you study?" my mother asked
"Of course." I replied. there was a long silence.
"well, better get going, those tests aren't going to ace themselves!" I said, rather loudly
"Going to that Lucas kids house after school again?" father asked, very rudely in my opinion.
"His name is Alex, and yes" I said sourly.
"His name is Alex, and yes!" My mother mocked. Ouch. That hurt to have my own mother mock me like that.
"Well be home before sunset, we have something to talk to you about." My father said, very monotone.

"Leaving so soon darling?" alex's mom asked me, jolting me back to reality. I just absolutley ADORE his mom. She is the sweetest most fantastic person on the planet.
"Yes, My parents wanted me home before sundown... So I don't want to be more late than I already am." I replied sadly
"Ok dear, be safe, The neighborhood can be dangerous after dark." she added
"I will, Bye Alex." I said
"Bye Liv"
Alex had been acting weird.very weird. He seemed very paranoid
As I walked through the neighborhood i also began to feel very paranoid, so i cut through backyard and driveways, wanting to get home and face the punishment now instead of later.
the street signs were unfamiliar. Shoot. I was lost. I kept walking, and tripped over my own shoelaces, as I fell to the ground I threw out my right arm to catch myself. All of a sudden there was a loud noise and this thing pulled up next to me. It was a double decker bus. Wait no, TRIPLE DECKER BUS. It wasn't red, it was purple. The side of it had the worlds"The Knight bus" written on it in elegant golden script. But the rest of it was anything but elegant. The wheels need air and there were scratches all over the side of it, and from the sound of it there was a very loud, and very old speaker playing music. A pimply boy stepped out with his hand extended.
"e'llo young lady" he beamed
"Im stan. The conductor of this beautiful beast", he said, gesturing to this 6 wheeled monstrosity that appeared out of nowhere.
"Um ok?" I said
"We can take you anywhere in the wizarding world except under water."he said proudly.
"The what?" I said
" you ARE a witch aren't you?" he asked
A witch. Like I told you, I have been called many things by my parents, But never a witch, although the other day they called me something that sounded very similar to it...
"How did you find me" I asked
"You stuck out your wand arm." he replied happily.
No i didn't. I stuck out my right arm.
"sure" i replied
I got up and walked away, wishing stan farewell and began to walk home. I looked back but the Knight Bus was gone