Chapter 167
The four of them boarded the Knight Bus again. Their destination was No. 12 Grimmauld Square, the ancestral home of the Black family.
"For some reason, that place no longer belongs to me," Sirius said casually. "That's why we have to go now—before someone else takes over."
"Did someone sell it?" Ron asked.
Sirius's hand tightened briefly on the armrest before relaxing.
Of course it was me, he thought, but he only forced a smile.
"It was just a normal transfer of ownership."
Selling the house was nothing to be proud of.
That place held everything he wanted to forget… yet it was also where he had grown up.
It was where his mother died.
The only place left that still belonged to his past.
---
The journey was long and dull.
"Almost there…" Sirius murmured, staring out the window.
The streets had hardly changed since the day he was taken to Azkaban. The unchanged scenery only made time feel more unreal.
For a moment, he even imagined that at the next stop, James and Lily might board the bus and greet him with a smile.
But it was only imagination.
---
Hermione noticed the change in his expression.
Instead of speaking, she wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to him. Harry and Ron were asleep beside them.
Are you alright?
Sirius wrote back:
I'm fine.
Then more words appeared beneath.
How did you survive twelve years?
Sirius paused, then answered:
Because I knew I was innocent. That belief kept me sane.
The Dementors sense human emotions. When I transformed into a dog, they felt almost nothing. That's how I endured.
When he looked up, Harry and Ron were already awake, staring at the paper.
"Sirius… I never even asked how you lived through it," Harry said quietly.
"A girl's mind is more sensitive," Sirius said gently, patting his head. "Your mother was the same."
Then he pointed outside.
"We're here."
---
At Grimmauld Square, Hermione immediately saw the person she least wanted to see.
Draco Malfoy.
When did he acquire Sirius's house?
She exchanged a confused glance with Sirius, but he only shook his head.
"Let's wait outside," Ron said angrily. "I don't want to stay in there."
Harry followed.
---
Just as Hermione was about to leave—
"Draco! What do you want for dinner? I'll make it!"
Pansy's voice came from the basement entrance.
She stepped out wearing a white apron, looking like a young housewife.
"How unexpected," she said, covering her mouth in mock surprise. "We have guests. Would you like to try my cooking?"
"I'd rather not be poisoned," Ron shot back.
"The Weasley family really lacks manners," Pansy sneered.
Ron turned red with anger.
"Let's go," Hermione said calmly, though her body had gone stiff.
The three of them left the house.
---
Outside, Hermione leaned against a lamppost, staring blankly at the sky.
Her chest felt tight.
They're living together?
That was the first thought that came to her mind—and it wouldn't leave.
She tried to deny it.
But the dull ache in her heart wouldn't lie.
She didn't even know when this feeling had begun.
And now that she understood it—
There was nothing to be happy about.
Because she could no longer escape it.
---
Inside the house, Pansy was still annoyed.
"You didn't even help me," she complained to Draco.
"I think you were the one bullying them," Draco replied.
Pansy sighed.
"Do you want to try my cooking tonight?"
"I don't want to die either," Draco said calmly and went back to his laboratory.
Pansy stomped her foot.
"Kreacher!"
---
Outside, Harry noticed Hermione's pale face.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said softly.
But her thoughts were tangled.
He drove Professor Lupin away… released the basilisk… he's dangerous…
But Hagrid benefited because of him. Sirius was cleared because of him…
Her mind argued with itself.
Then—
"Harry Potter! It is an honor to see you again!"
Dobby appeared.
"Yes, Master Malfoy brought Dobby to clean the new house!" he said proudly.
"Of course," Ron muttered. "Too cheap to hire anyone."
"You must not insult Dobby's master!"
Dobby slammed his head into Ron's chin.
Ron staggered backward.
"I'll curse him!" Ron shouted, raising his wand.
"Ron! You can't use magic outside school!" Hermione stopped him immediately.
Then she knelt down to Dobby's level.
"It's not your fault," she said gently. "He just doesn't understand."
"What Master Malfoy says is the truth!" Dobby declared proudly.
"Idiot," Ron muttered.
---
At that moment, Sirius returned, carrying a worn sack.
"Kreacher?" he asked, looking at Dobby. "No… different elf."
Then he turned to Hermione.
"Anything wrong?"
Hermione lowered her voice.
"Sirius… is there any way to give house-elves their freedom?"