"Ding-a-ling..." The door of Zonko's Joke Shop was pushed outward, and the wind chimes hanging above the frame rang crisply.
Su Er and Hermione walked out one after the other.
"Where are we going?" a voice sounded beside them, though neither Hermione nor Su Er had moved their lips.
Where had that voice come from?
"You'll find out in a moment, Harry." Su Er, however, seemed entirely unsurprised. With a smile playing on his lips, he kept Harry guessing and shook his head mysteriously.
Hermione had more or less guessed as well, and a smile appeared on her face. Her little disagreement with Su Er earlier seemed to have long since dispersed like a wisp of smoke.
The two of them-no, there was also an invisible Harry-quietly turned down a small path without attracting attention. Following it all the way would lead them to the famous Shrieking Shack.
Harry had heard plenty of legends about the Shrieking Shack back in the Castle, mostly horror stories about a soul-sucking banshee lurking inside and the like.
Beneath the Invisibility Cloak, he studied the dark, dilapidated house with several sections missing from its roof, full of questions. Still, he obediently remained quiet. Judging by Su Er's and Hermione's calm expressions, the house probably wasn't as dangerous as the rumors claimed.
"You're as hot-tempered as ever, Sirius..." Another soft chuckle sounded. They all knew this voice only too well: it was Professor Lupin.
"What's Professor Lupin doing here, and... Black???" Harry's heart suddenly began pounding, and he couldn't help lifting the Invisibility Cloak.
"Su... Su Er, the person inside..." Harry swallowed. An enormous surge of delighted surprise rushed to his head, leaving him somewhat dizzy.
"Surprise, Harry." Su Er grinned.
Just then, the door was finally shoved open roughly, the gap growing wider and