Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Stan Shunpike====== =====Introduction===== Stanley "Stan" Shunpike was a young wizard who worked as the conductor on the [[Knight Bus]]. Known for his prominent pimples, protruding ears, and a penchant for gossip, Stan first encountered [[Harry Potter]] in 1993. Despite his boastful and somewhat dim-witted nature, he was essentially harmless. His unjust arrest and imprisonment in [[Azkaban]] during the [[Second Wizarding War]] served as a stark example of the [[Ministry of Magic]]'s paranoia and injustice under [[Rufus Scrimgeour]]. He was later seen among [[Death Eater]]s during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]], believed to be acting under the [[Imperius Curse]]. =====Biography===== In the summer of 1993, Stan was the conductor on duty when a distressed [[Harry Potter]] accidentally summoned the [[Knight Bus]]. During the journey to the [[Leaky Cauldron]], Stan, eager to share news from the //[[Daily Prophet]]//, provided Harry with information about the escape of [[Sirius Black]] from [[Azkaban]]. He did not recognize [[Harry Potter]] at first, only learning his identity from [[Tom]], the innkeeper. The following year, Stan attended the [[Quidditch World Cup]], where he was seen attempting to impress a group of [[Veela]] by claiming he was set to become the youngest-ever [[Minister for Magic]]. By 1996, with [[Lord Voldemort]]'s return made public, the magical community was gripped by fear. Stan was arrested on suspicion of [[Death Eater]] activity after he was overheard boasting in a pub about having inside information on their plans. Despite [[Harry Potter]]'s insistence that Stan was innocent—a belief supported by [[Albus Dumbledore]]—the [[Ministry of Magic]], led by [[Rufus Scrimgeour]], held him in [[Azkaban]] to create an illusion of progress in the war. During the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]] in July 1997, Stan was among the group of [[Death Eater]]s who pursued [[Harry Potter]]. However, Harry noticed that Stan's face was "oddly blank" and correctly deduced he was under the control of the [[Imperius Curse]]. Acting on this belief, Harry chose to disarm Stan with //[[Expelliarmus]]// rather than cause him serious harm. This act of mercy inadvertently revealed the real Harry to the pursuing [[Death Eater]]s, as [[Voldemort]] had ordered them to capture him alive. Stan's ultimate fate following the battle and the conclusion of the [[Second Wizarding War]] is not mentioned in the novels. =====Physical Appearance and Personality===== Stan Shunpike is described as a young man of about eighteen or nineteen with large, protruding ears and a considerable number of pimples. He wore a purple conductor's uniform as part of his job on the [[Knight Bus]] and spoke with a Cockney accent. His personality was marked by immaturity and a love for being in the know. He was an avid gossip, often taking information from the //[[Daily Prophet]]// and presenting it as his own insight. Stan was also a braggart, a trait that ultimately led to his wrongful imprisonment when his boasts were mistaken for genuine [[Death Eater]] collusion. Despite these flaws, he was not malicious and was considered harmless by those who knew him. =====Magical Abilities and Skills===== As a working member of the wizarding world, Stan possessed magical ability, though the extent of his skills is unknown. He is never depicted performing any complex [[Magic]], and his apparent susceptibility to the [[Imperius Curse]] suggests he was not a particularly powerful or resilient wizard. =====Possessions===== * **Conductor's Uniform:** A purple uniform he wore while on duty for the [[Knight Bus]]. =====Relationships===== * **Ernie Prang:** Stan's colleague and the driver of the [[Knight Bus]]. They appeared to have a standard working relationship, with Stan often chatting with him during journeys. * **Harry Potter:** Harry was a passenger whom Stan initially failed to recognize. Harry later became a staunch defender of Stan's innocence after his arrest, and his refusal to harm the Imperiused Stan during the sky battle was a pivotal moment. * **Albus Dumbledore:** The former [[Hogwarts]] Headmaster believed in Stan's innocence and was working to secure his release from [[Azkaban]] prior to his own death. =====Etymology===== * **Stanley:** A common English name of Old English origin, meaning "stone clearing." * **Shunpike:** A "shunpike" is a side road used to avoid a toll on a main road (a turnpike). This name aptly reflects his job on the [[Knight Bus]], an unconventional mode of transport that travels along non-standard routes, "shunning" the usual paths to get from place to place. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the film adaptations, Stan Shunpike is portrayed by actor Steffan Rhodri. * J.K. Rowling confirmed that Stan was not a [[Death Eater]] and was indeed under the [[Imperius Curse]] during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]]. She stated, "I think the observant will have deduced that" from the description of his blank face in the novel (J.K. Rowling interview).
