Eric sat in the main room of his shop. Willy was starting to seal things up for the year, the owls had figured out that they were about to leave, his books were packed, bound, or otherwise secured in a trunk, and everything looked like he could rest for a few days before the train ride. Considering all that had been going on, Eric was looking forward to a few uneventful days. However, things being what they were, there always seemed to be one or two loose ends to tie up.
The first arrived in the early evening. Mrs. Peal felt that it was important that Eric knew her opinion on why the Ministry of Magic felt they had to search his shop. "You see, Sirius was the man I told you about. He was the innocent man sent to Azkaban without a trial. Fudge is sure that he can't survive in the world without help. Mind you, Fudge doesn't know Sirius Black very well."
She turned to leave, but paused for a moment. "Eric, you should know that I did lie somewhat to Fudge. While it's true that I haven't been harboring or assisting Sirius Black, it's not like I don't have the desire to."
Eric looked at his landlady calmly. "It was him, wasn't it; the innocent man who was sentenced without a trial?"
Leaning against the doorpost, she sighed. "Yes, Eric, that was him. It seems that he has a stronger will than the Ministry gave him credit for. A dozen years in Azkaban hasn't blunted his wits, at least it doesn't seem that way. Yes, I'd help him if I was able, but I'm not, because I'm too obvious. Sirius knows that, and he'll do everything he can to stay out of Fudge's hands. They say he's headed for Hogwarts, and I'm sure he'll get there."
Eric trusted his landlady, more than anyone at the moment. "What should I do?"
"You, dear boy, are to do nothing at all. This is a matter for adults to deal with. I have faith that you'd do what is right, and I believe that you have an ability to achieve great things. That, however, is why you must not get mixed up in any of this. Stay out of the way, and keep your nose clean. The world needs good people content to be just that, too."
Mrs. Peal stepped over to Eric and kissed his forehead. "Now get to sleep. You've got to get everything here cleaned up. The Hogwarts Express leaves in a week."