The Station had become less crowded by the time everyone had greeted one another, because as it seemed, all the families wanted to take their children home as soon as possible, considering the fact that the Dark Lord was at large once again.

"You know," Sirius started, turning to face Harry, "we were actually hoping to have a — um — friendly chat with you aunt and uncle, before letting them take you home."

"I dunno if that's a good idea," said Harry at once.

"Oh, I think it is," growled Moody, who had limped a little closer. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?"

He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder; his magical eye was evidently peering through the back of his head and his bowler hat. He was pointing at where the three Dursleys were standing, who looked positively appalled to see Harry's reception committee.

"Ah, Harry!" said Arthur, turning from Hermione's parents, whom he had been greeting enthusiastically, and who were taking it in turns to hug Hermione. "Well — shall we do it, then?"

"Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur," said Moody.

With Sirius and Moody in the lead, they all walked across the station toward the place where the Dursleys stood, apparently rooted to the floor. Hermione disengaged herself gently from her mother to join the group.

"Good afternoon," said Arthur pleasantly to Vernon, coming to a halt right in front of him. "You might remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley."

Sure enough, Uncle Vernon turned a deeper shade of puce and glared at Mr. Weasley, but chose not to say anything, partly, perhaps, because the Dursleys were outnumbered two to one.

Petunia looked both frightened and embarrassed. She kept glancing around, as though terrified somebody she knew would see her in such company. Dudley, meanwhile, seemed to be trying to look small and insignificant, a feat at which he was failing extravagantly.

"We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry," said Arthur, still smiling.

"Yeah," growled Moody. "About how he's treated when he's at your place."

Vernon's mustache seemed to bristle with indignation. Possibly because the bowler hat gave him the entirely mistaken impression that he was dealing with a kindred spirit, he addressed himself to Moody.

"I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house —"

"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley," Moody growled.

"Anyway, that's not the point," interjected Tonks, whose pink hair seemed to offend Aunt Petunia more than all the rest put together, for she closed her eyes rather than look at her. "The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry —"

"— and make no mistake, we'll hear about it," Remus added pleasantly.

"Yes," said Arthur, "even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone —"

"Telephone," Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to," said Moody.

Vernon swelled ominously. His sense of outrage seemed to outweigh even his fear of this bunch of oddballs.

"Are you threatening me, sir?" he said, so loudly that passersby actually turned to stare.

"Yes, I am," said Mad-Eye, who seemed rather pleased that Vernon had grasped this fact so quickly.

"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?" Vernon snapped.

"Well..." said Moody, pushing back his bowler hat to reveal his sinisterly revolving magical eye and horrifying scars.

By that, Vernon leapt backward in horror and collided painfully with a luggage trolley.

"Yes, I'd have to say you do, Dursley," said Sirius, a little smirk playing at the edge of his lips. "Also, Harry might've mentioned my name to you. I'm his godfather. You know... the escaped prisoner who was in Wizarding prison for twelve years, for killing a dozen people with a single spell. So you might wanna be more careful."

Harry found himself grinning as he looked up at Sirius, who was glaring at the Dursleys. He then turned from Vernon to Harry.

"So, Harry... give us a shout if you need us. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, we'll send someone along..." said Sirius, sending Harry a little wink which the Dursleys didn't see.

Petunia whimpered piteously. It could not have been plainer that she was thinking of what the neighbors would say if they caught sight of these people marching up the garden path.

" 'Bye, then, Potter," said Moody, grasping Harry's shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.

"Take care, Harry," said Remus quietly. "Keep in touch."

"Harry, we'll have you away from there as soon as we can," Molly whispered, hugging him again.

"We'll see you soon, Harry," said Sirius, brining him into another hug.

"Yeah, mate," said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.

"Really soon, Harry," said Hermione earnestly. "We promise."

Harry nodded. He somehow could not find words to tell them what it meant to him, to see them all ranged there, on his side. Instead he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around, and led the way out of the station toward the sunlit street with the Dursleys.

"Er... Sirius?" Ron started awkwardly when he caught a few fellow students point at him and whisper to their parents. "Are you sure you're safe here, walking around in human form?"

"Of course," Sirius chuckled. "My name was technically cleared. I guess you'll be seeing the news in the Prophet in a day or two."

"Well, that calls for celebration!" said Arthur enthusiastically, clapping his hands together in glee as he looked around. "What do you say, people? Butterbeer, our house?"

"Not me," growled Moody. "There's work to do."

"I'm sorry, Arthur, but me too." Tonks gave a sad smile. "They'll be needing all of the Aurors at the Ministry now that they've realized their mistakes. They'll need all hands on deck."

"No matter," Fred shook a hand and grinned, "there are enough Weasleys to make it a party. There's lots of us."

"How about you, Remus?" Arthur turned to Remus and asked hopefully. "Surely you can spare time for a drink?"

"Of course." Remus smiled in appreciation.

"You sure you wouldn't like to come, Tonks, dear?" Molly smiled at her knowingly, and Tonks looked down uneasily.

"A-all right..." She shrugged, stealing a glance at where Remus stood. Although when she caught him staring back at her, they both quickly looked away.

"Splendid!" Arthur cried out cheerfully. "Let's get going then, shall we?"

     "Well, I was actually wondering..." Sirius started, "maybe we could go somewhere more... public? How about the Leaky Cauldron?"

    "Oh, Sirius, I don't think that's a good idea," said Molly anxiously. "Many people haven't heard your news yet. And going somewhere with only Wizards and Witches that had known to fear you for fifteen years —"

     "But my name's been cleared!" Sirius protested. "Besides, Dumbledore agreed that I could come to King's Cross —"

     "That's because no one's foolish enough to hex you in front of all these Muggles," Molly reasoned.

     "I think Molly's right, Sirius," said Arthur with a tone of sympathy. "Yes, your name's been cleared, but only a few have heard of it. The rest will only learn about it once the Daily Prophet comes out. You'll just have to wait a few more days."

     "All right, then." Sirius sighed gloomily, slightly frowning. "I mean, you have a point. Besides, anywhere's better that my mother's house."

    "Let's get going then," said Arthur brightly, starting on along with the others.

    Meanwhile, Fred and George walked in the lead, looking highly stern and serious as they kept saying loudly,

    "Make way for the infamous Sirius Black!"

    "Mass murderer coming through!"

    They all laughed, even Sirius. But it was only Molly who looked irritated. "Keep quiet and walk on!" she snapped at them sharply.