======Stanley Shunpike======
=====Introduction=====
Stanley "Stan" Shunpike was a [[wizard]] and the conductor of the [[Knight Bus]], a magical mode of transport for stranded witches and wizards. A young, somewhat boastful individual, Stan served as a source of common wizarding world gossip for [[Harry Potter]]. His unwarranted arrest for suspected [[Death Eater]] activity during the [[Second Wizarding War]] highlighted the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s paranoia and injustice. He was later seen fighting alongside [[Death Eater]]s, though it was evident he was acting under the [[Imperius Curse]].
=====Biography=====
Stan Shunpike first appeared in 1993 when he and [[Ernie Prang]], the driver of the [[Knight Bus]], picked up [[Harry Potter]] after Harry had accidentally inflated his [[Aunt Marge]]. Stan, who was around eighteen years old at the time, did not initially recognize Harry and was eager to share dramatic stories about the recent escape of [[Sirius Black]] from [[Azkaban]]. He provided Harry with a copy of the //[[Daily Prophet]]// and conversed with him during the journey to the [[Leaky Cauldron]]. Later that summer, Harry saw Stan and Ernie again at the [[Leaky Cauldron]]. The following year, Harry encountered Stan at the [[Quidditch World Cup]], where Stan was boasting about his supposed knowledge of the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s inner workings and his ambitions to become the youngest ever [[Minister for Magic]].
In 1996, during the height of public panic following [[Lord Voldemort]]'s return, Stan was arrested on suspicion of being a [[Death Eater]] and imprisoned in [[Azkaban]]. [[Harry Potter]] and [[Albus Dumbledore]] both believed Stan was innocent, deducing that he had likely been "in the wrong place at the wrong time" and was boasting about [[Death Eater]] plans he couldn't possibly have known. The [[Ministry of Magic]], under [[Rufus Scrimgeour]], used Stan's arrest as a publicity stunt to create an impression of decisive action against [[Voldemort]]'s forces.
During the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]] in 1997, a transformed [[Harry Potter]] recognized Stan Shunpike among the pursuing [[Death Eater]]s. Harry noted Stan's "strangely blank face" and correctly concluded he was under the control of the [[Imperius Curse]]. Unwilling to seriously harm the bewitched Stan, Harry used a disarming charm, [[Expelliarmus]], against him. This act of mercy inadvertently revealed Harry's identity to his pursuers, as they knew it was his signature spell. Stan's ultimate fate after the war is not mentioned in the novels, but it is presumed he was freed from the curse and exonerated.
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
In his first appearance, Stan is described as a young man of about eighteen or nineteen with large, protruding ears and a thin, spotty face. He wore a purple conductor's uniform.
Stan's personality was cocky and boastful. He enjoyed being in a position of perceived authority and knowledge, often embellishing stories or claiming to have inside information to impress others. Despite his bravado, he was not malicious and appeared to be a rather ordinary and simple-minded individual, which made his arrest on charges of being a [[Death Eater]] all the more unbelievable to those who knew him.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
As a qualified [[wizard]], Stan possessed a [[wand]] and was capable of magic. However, his specific magical talents are largely unknown, as he is never depicted voluntarily casting a spell in the books. His role as a conductor on the [[Knight Bus]] was primarily a customer service position. The only time he is seen in a magical fight, he is under the [[Imperius Curse]] and not in control of his own actions.
=====Possessions=====
  * **[[Wand]]:** The specifications of Stan's wand are unknown.
  * **[[Knight Bus]] Uniform:** As the conductor, he wore a distinct purple uniform.
=====Relationships=====
  * **[[Ernie Prang]]:** Stan's elderly co-worker and the driver of the [[Knight Bus]]. They appeared to have a standard professional relationship.
  * **[[Harry Potter]]:** Harry was a passenger whom Stan treated with a mix of gossip and professional service. Harry later defended Stan's innocence, showing compassion for the wrongly accused conductor and protesting his imprisonment to members of the [[Ministry of Magic]].
  * **[[Ministry of Magic]]:** Stan became a pawn in the Ministry's political strategy. His arrest was a miscarriage of justice used to project an image of strength, demonstrating the Ministry's corruption and incompetence under pressure.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Stanley:** A common English first name of Old English origin, meaning "stony meadow." Its commonness may reflect Stan's status as an ordinary, working-class wizard.
  * **Shunpike:** A "turnpike" is a toll road. The term "shunpiking" refers to the practice of using side roads to deliberately avoid the tolls on a main road. This name is highly appropriate for the conductor of the [[Knight Bus]], a vehicle that magically navigates the country, bypassing conventional routes entirely.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban//, Stan Shunpike was portrayed by actor Lee Ingleby. In the film, he is shown interacting humorously with the [[Shrunken Head]] that hangs in the bus's cabin. (film)