The brief gathering ended after Professor Lupin took out his pocket watch and glanced at it.
"We should go," he said. "It's getting late."
Su Er and Hermione had no objections. Having eaten and drunk their fill, they followed Professor Lupin into the inner room, where the entrance to the secret passage from the Shrieking Shack to Hogwarts lay.
Harry, however, was rather reluctant to leave. He stood in the doorway, looking expectantly at Black, who had come to see them off.
"Can I come over again tomorrow?"
"Of course." Black was visibly reluctant to part with him too. He raised a hand to ruffle Harry's hair, but for some reason, rested it on Harry's shoulder instead.
"You can come to me whenever you like. I am your godfather, after all."
"Only..."
Before Harry could get excited, Black's next words dampened his spirits.
"I won't be here tomorrow. To be precise, I have things to take care of. You know, I spent over ten years in there..."
Black could hardly bear to see Harry's disappointed expression and hastily added, "By Christmas, I should be nearly finished. I'll come and find you then."
"I mean, if you'd like... to spend Christmas with me. Er... if you don't, that's all-"
"I would," Harry interrupted, his eyes lighting up. "Of course I would."
"That's good. That's good." Sirius smiled and patted Harry's shoulder. "You'd better get back to school. Between now and Christmas, I'll write whenever I have time. Remember, when Professor McGonagall hands out the forms for staying over Christmas, don't sign one, or taking you out will be a bit troublesome."
Harry nodded vigorously.
By the time they had passed through the long tunnel and crawled out one by one from beneath the Whomping Willow, whose weak point was being held