It was almost quarter to seven when they reached the sign that said 'Hog's Back' ("So he wasn't joking after all! Bloody hell," said Ron), but there was no sign of Sirius, either in his human or animagus form.
"You did say six, didn't you, Harry?" asked Hermione anxiously.
Harry nodded.
"Well, it's almost seven now, so maybe he thought we weren't coming," said Ron helpfully. Hermione glared at him.
"Well, let's wait here for a bit, then – " she started, but was interrupted by a playful growl behind her. Spinning round, the three of them found themselves face to face with an enormous black dog, its tongue lolling out the side of its mouth like it was grinning at them.
"Sirius!" exclaimed Harry, happily. Sirius barked, and jumped at Harry, almost knocking him over. Harry dropped his glasses, and the dog looked extremely apologetic. They followed him off of the road, and up into some trees that looked like they formed the edge of a forest. He led them up a steep hill, and they climbed in silence: by the time Sirius finally halted, they were all out of breath and dripping with sweat. The dog raised itself onto its hind legs – and all of a sudden there stood Sirius Black, looking healthier than they'd ever seen him before, like he had done in the photos Harry had of his parents' wedding.
"Hello, Harry," he said warmly. "Ron, Hermione – how are you all?"
Then they were all talking at once, nineteen to the dozen; Sirius smiled, and let them. Harry took the opportunity to tell them all about his escape from the Dursleys, and by the time they reached the small, wooden house where Sirius lived they were all in stitches – not only from the steep climb.
"I wish I could have seen his face properly from the back of that cacti," wheezed Ron, holding his side painfully. "Or – was it a caxi, you said?"
"Taxi," said Harry and Hermione at the same time, grinning. They sat down at a long wooden table in the first room they came to – apparently the kitchen.
"Tea?" said Sirius.
Soon they were all lounging comfortably there, lulled into drowsiness by the warmth of Sirius's fire. Dusk was gathering fast outside: to Harry's shock, he realised that it was almost half past ten. He yawned.
"Oh," said Sirius at once. "Are you tired? I – I hope you don't mind sharing rooms; it's not very big here, I…"
They hastily assured him that that was fine, and he showed them into a comfy-looking and surprisingly large room, in which three beds had been laid out carefully.
"There," he said. "I hope that's OK – Hermione, you're sure you don't mind…"
"It's lovely," said Hermione. "Thanks." She beamed at him.
"Well then… goodnight. And I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here… we should have a good summer." He closed the door behind him.
Half an hour later Harry was in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, more contented than he could remember ever having been before. Without realising it, he drifted slowly off to sleep, a huge smile still plastered all over his face.