The conversation that followed was shrouded in mist. Apart from Hermione, no one knew what was said.
At two in the morning, Hermione and Su Er returned to 12 Grimmauld Place together.
"Well, sorry for the trouble once term starts," Su Er said with a chuckle as he parted from Hermione.
Hermione blushed and gave Su Er a light pat. She said nothing, pushing open the door and going into the bedroom, but before Su Er could turn away, she came back out.
"Ginny isn't here," she said, her cheeks flushed.
[If your mind went there, go stand in the corner...]
Just then, Sirius's roar came from upstairs.
They could faintly hear him saying, "Kreacher, you'd better tell me the truth, or I'll use my authority as your master to throw you out of this house!"
Su Er and Hermione exchanged a look. What had happened while they were away?
The scene shifted to the third floor. The room was packed with people: the Weasley family, Harry, and Sirius were all gathered there, clustered around Su Er's bed.
"What happened?" Hermione asked. "I could hear Sirius from downstairs."
Ginny, standing at the back of the crowd, turned at the sound. "Su Er's back. Make room. Where did you two go? I came looking for you several times..."
"Hermione and I went out for a walk." Naturally, Su Er could not say that Old Bumblebee's phoenix had taken him and Hermione away to discuss something, so he made up a casual excuse.
People cleared a path, allowing Su Er and Hermione to see the furious Sirius standing by the bed, and Kreacher, whom Sirius was glaring at.
Su Er's luggage and bedding had been rummaged through and left in a mess, with books scattered all over the floor.
Kreacher hung his