Remus's birthday in 1977 happened to fall on a Thursday. Four days had passed since the previous Hogsmeade weekend, and there were still two days until the next one. By another coincidence, the first weekend of March was the full moon, so Pomona had originally planned to celebrate Remus's birthday on the second weekend of March.
"Sirius Black ran away from home!?" Pomona could not help shouting. "When did that happen?"
"Last term," Peter Pettigrew said timidly. "His mother had him removed from the family tapestry."
"Oh, that's wonderful! So he isn't a Black anymore?"
Peter did not answer Pomona. He looked as timid and cowering as his Animagus.
Without his family's protection, Sirius had nearly murdered a fellow student. Of course, he might have thought he was merely playing another nasty prank, but this time he was not facing expulsion. He was facing Azkaban alongside Remus Lupin.
Three weeks had passed since the incident. He had neither gone home nor stayed at school. Where else could he have gone?
Pomona and Peter went together to the old bookshop in Hogsmeade.
"Welcome," the owner greeted them with his usual lack of enthusiasm.
Pomona and Peter went up to the second floor together. Sirius had rented a room here to make it easier to consult materials, and it now seemed to have become his refuge.
Pomona held back the roar that nearly burst from her throat.
Sirius looked perfectly normal. It was precisely because he looked so normal that it was infuriating, as if he did not feel the slightest guilt over what he had done.
Besides old books, the room was filled with takeaway food. Empty containers were piled in the rubbish bin, which had long since overflowed. Their dormitory had been messy when she visited before, but at least