Kreacher

The group greeted Sirius Black, who had appeared out of nowhere. Then Sirius faced the row of red-brick houses and tapped his Wand.

Eli keenly sensed a ripple of magic flowing from Sirius, gradually harmonizing with the magical currents around them. The Wizards then clearly saw the row of buildings begin to tremble.

Astonishingly, the buildings split apart like building blocks, the entire row shifting as it moved.

They could even see the water in the fish tanks inside the houses sloshing violently.

"Won't they notice?" Harry asked.

"Dumbledore personally placed magic here. The Muggles will feel nothing while they sleep," Sirius explained.

Like the wall in the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron that led into Diagon Alley, the row of buildings folded and transformed, revealing a door, as though an extra house had appeared from thin air.

"Come in." Sirius stepped forward and opened the door. Beyond it was a long, narrow hallway, with another door at the far end and a staircase beside it.

"As long as we don't tell anyone about this place, no one can find it. Even with their noses pressed against the glass, they won't be able to see it." Sirius glanced at Harry as he spoke, seemingly reminded of something unpleasant.

The house was dim and carried the musty smell of having been sealed up for far too long.

"Sorry. I'm rarely home, and there's only an elderly House-elf here. He's a muddleheaded old fool, completely useless." Sirius looked a little embarrassed. Anyone would feel ashamed to let others see their home in such a mess.

They reached the door at the end of the hallway, with the stairwell on their left.

"Your rooms are upstairs. You can go rest later, but first, you need something to eat."

Like a tour guide, Sirius