Knight Bus (was POA Chapters 3 and 4)

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 18389

Jim wrote:
> 
> > 2.  Is there any significance to the name "Knight Bus?" [In the 
> > French edition, it is the Magicobus.]

Amber wrote:

> <grin> I've wondered about this as well. When I first read PoA, I
> didn't "read" it. I heard it on tape originally. And I thought that
> Knight Bus was spelled "Night" Bus. Imagine my surprise when I read the
> book and found out it was spelled "Knight". Well, obviously there has
> to be some reason for this, JKR wouldn't just throw a "k" on the front
> of night just for the heck of it. 

I also listened before I read, so that I heard it as "Night Bus."  
Same with "Knockturn Alley," which I thought would be spelled 
"Nocturne Alley."  Maybe she put the K onto night for the same reason 
that she spelled nocturne Knockturn--so that the double meaning 
wouldn't be apparent unless you spoke it aloud.  "Knight" also has the 
medieval feel of so many things in the wizarding world (torches to 
light Hogwarts, quills to write with, etc.).  (What a Knockturn or a 
Diagon is, I don't know.)

Does the Knight Bus only run at night?  That idea got planted in my 
head when I thought it was Night Bus and has never gotten uprooted.

Amy Z