Chapter 487: Who Are You Really?

The dwarf creature squealed angrily, firing arrows into the dark, which finally pierced three giant trees before crashing to the ground.

Sirius had no doubt that if he showed even less respect, the arrow would strike him.

After all, the dwarf had drawn its bow again.

“You…”

He fell silent, helplessly saying,

“How did you find me? No one knows I’m an Animagus.”

“Is the sea cold in Azkaban?”

The young wizard stared at him, his green eyes seeming to pierce straight into the soul.

“Ha… what do you think Azkaban is, young wizard?

Ah… it’s not just cold—yesterday was a stormy night, the waves were wild, I nearly died there, yet I still came back alive.”

Sirius spoke with bitter self-mockery.

The young wizard said nothing.

After a moment, he said:

“Do you have a place to stay?”

“What?”

Sirius was nearly driven mad.

This fellow sounded like those fortune-telling charlatans in Hogwarts.

Everything he said was utterly incomprehensible.

“Do you have a place to stay?”

Wizard Sean repeated.

“On the street, in the alley—do you want to know where a black dog can sleep?”

Sirius bared his teeth, revealing yellow fangs.

The silence returned, but Sirius couldn’t help asking again:

“How do you know my identity? If you’re going to report me to the Ministry, you can arrest me right now.

Then you can collect the reward—it’ll be a substantial sum…

If you’re unwilling to do that—”

Sirius narrowed his eyes,

“I’ll pay you a far greater reward—all the Black family’s wealth.”

At that moment, Sirius heard the dwarf beside him laugh.

Mr. Puckett laughed so hard he doubled over, his hand holding the arrow trembling.

“What are you laughing at?”

Sirius’s face flushed red.

“Hmph, why should I tell you?”

Mr. Puckett glared at him with pure hostility.

“I’ve had enough! Either arrest me or let me go—what exactly do you want to do?!”

Sirius roared.

“As you wish. Will, take Mr. Black to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.”

To his utter shock, the young wizard nodded.

Even as the dwarf reluctantly took hold of him, he still couldn’t believe it.

“Who are you?”

He asked.

“I’m Wizard Sean Green.”

The young wizard said.

…

Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.

Sirius stared dazedly at the building, and at the dwarf beside him.

“Your master—oh, your master must be an extraordinary person, right?”

Sirius had now figured out the dwarf’s temperament and tried to extract information from it.

“Why should I tell you?”

The dwarf glanced at Sirius sideways, then placed a heavy bag of jingling coins into his hands—a large sack of Jin Jin Jialong,

“My master instructed me—I’ll watch you, and if you need help, ha—I’ll help.”

“What does that mean?”

Sirius was utterly baffled.

“Idiot.”

The dwarf sneered.

“You…”

Sirius fell silent.

The dwarf seemed to understand him well—they didn’t return immediately to the Black manor; the Aurors wouldn’t overlook it.

He merely accompanied Sirius inside to retrieve a few things, then Apparated with him to the Leaky Cauldron.

Thus, it brought the transformed black dog to stay.

Sirius had never encountered anything so strange: the dwarf, and its master, knew him intimately.

Yet he knew almost nothing about them.

Aside from learning the young wizard’s name was Wizard Sean Green… he didn’t even know what species the dwarf was!

Merlin, could anything be stranger?

“Your master must be an extraordinary wizard, otherwise you wouldn’t follow him, right?

I suspect he might even have the power of foresight—otherwise how could you capture me so easily?

What’s your name? I’d like to remember it—ah, the name of a goblin who does great deeds.”

Sirius knew exactly how to flatter such people; though he wasn’t particularly good at it, he still managed to make Will’s face flush red.

“You can praise me now, wizard—I like to hear it.

But once we’re in the room, you must stay silent.

My master ordered it—you still have tasks to complete, and you can’t be caught now.”

Will said, biting his lip.

“Do you know what I’m going to do?”

Sirius froze again.

“Ha… are you underestimating Mr. Green?

He’ll be greater than the greatest wizard you’ve ever known!”

Will snorted.

“But isn’t Dumbledore still the greatest wizard of this century?”

Sirius said.

“Ignorant—go buy some newspapers, wizard.”

Will didn’t look at him or acknowledge his words.

Sirius followed it downstairs to buy newspapers… he had never encountered anything so bizarre.

But he always knew one thing—he was being helped, by a wizard unlike any other.

Meanwhile, at Number Four, Privet Drive.

Perhaps through some telepathic link, Harry spoke the same words as Sirius:

“I’m leaving,”

Harry said,

“I’ve had enough.”

Then he walked out without looking back.

In an instant, he stood on the dark, silent street, dragging a heavy trunk, his arm clutching Hedwig’s cage.

He saw Wizard Sean waiting beneath the streetlamp, and suddenly Harry felt no loneliness or sorrow.

“Where are we going?”

Harry asked, excited.

“The Leaky Cauldron—remember? It offers lodging.”

Wizard Sean replied with a smile.

“How do we get there?”

Harry felt as free as a bird soaring beyond the horizon.

“You’ll find out soon. By the way, this is from your aunt.”

Wizard Sean gestured with a finger, and a medium-sized cake appeared in Harry’s hands.

There was also a greeting card, a note, and a small box.

Harry stood frozen in place, and then, with a deafening bang, a blinding flash of light shot toward him—he quickly raised his hands to shield his eyes…

A second later, with a creaking sound, a pair of enormous wheels and headlights came to a stop before the two of them.

Harry looked up and saw that the wheels and headlights belonged to a three-story bus painted a vivid purple.

It had appeared as if out of nowhere, its windshield bearing golden letters that read: Knight Bus.

For a moment, Harry thought he had lost his mind.

Then, a conductor in a purple uniform leapt down from the bus and shouted into the night.

“Welcome to the Knight Bus—the emergency transport for stranded witches and wizards.

Just extend your wand hand, step aboard, and we’ll take you anywhere you wish to go.

I’m Stan Shunpike, and I’m your conductor tonight—”

Before Harry could react, he heard Wizard Sean speaking.

“Let’s go.”

Wizard Sean took his hand.