Ron whispered into Hermione's ear:
"If Professor Holmes hadn't broken that strange curse plaguing the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts post, Headmaster Dumbledore might even have considered inviting Mr. Black to teach at Hogwarts next term."
Hermione rolled her eyes, thinking that however much Black knew, he still saw things from a wizard's perspective, while Professor Holmes viewed them from a higher vantage point.
Douglas's lesson that day, in particular, had given her much to reflect on. She was beginning to understand what the professor wanted to do.
As the curtain of night gradually fell, George and Fred led everyone in a spirited, cheerful rendition of the entire stirring "Hogwarts Song," marking the end of the day, and the whole bus gradually settled into deep sleep.
The bus driver, Mr. Claude, a wizard devoted to his duties behind the wheel, was gazing through the windshield at the empty road ahead.
Earlier, he had strictly followed the Hogwarts professor's instructions and deliberately slowed down to give the young wizards a chance to observe and learn about everyday life in the Muggle world.
Now, however, with the children all lost in sweet dreams, the magical bus carrying them between two worlds could finally cast off its restraints and show what it could truly do.
Mr. Claude gave a sly smile, then decisively activated the vehicle's concealment mode.
At once, faint, invisible ripples of magic spread around the bus, quietly concealing it from the Muggle world's various technological means of detection.
Then he took a deep breath and pressed the accelerator without hesitation, sending the Magic Bus racing away like a phantom in the night, heading for the next stop as fast as safety permitted.
Beneath the quiet night sky, Sirius Black remained awake, his keen instincts as alert as a