Character Analysis
Harry and the Weasleys all travel back to Hogwarts from Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place (where they have been staying over the Christmas holidays to visit Mr. Weasley at St. Mungo's Hospital) on the Knight Bus. The conductor of the Knight Bus is a silly wizard named Stan Shunpike. Harry has traveled with Stan before (see Book 3), and Stan recognizes Harry happily. He tells Harry foolishly, "You keepin' well, then, 'Arry? I seen your name in the paper loads over the summer, but it weren't never nuffink very nice. I said to Ern, I said, 'e didn't seem like a nutter when we met 'im, just goes to show, dunnit?" (23.96). Stan's open curiosity about Harry clearly freaks Harry out a bit, but Stan means well generally – he just isn't so sharp.