Chapter Six: In Which Creaks Are Heard
"All right . . . but you'll need to help me, Sirius," Lupin said, "I only know how it began . . ."
Lupin broke off. There had been a loud creak behind him. The bedroom door had opened of its own accord. All five of them stared at it. Then Lupin strode toward it and looked out into the landing.
"No one there . . ."
"This place is haunted!" said Ron.
"So is Hogwarts, Ron. We have plenty of ghosts there, too. Why would you, as a wizard, fear a ghost?" inquired Hermione.
"I — that is —"
"Also, as we already know from first year, ghosts can't even move feathers, let alone doors," said Hermione.
"Right you are, Hermione. I guess they don't call you the smartest witch of our generation for nothing, eh?" said Ron, impressed.
She blushed.
Lupin pulled out his wand, and quick as lightning —
"Homenum revelio!"
There was a swooping presence felt in the room. Sirius Black reacted quickly. His punch hit Snape right in the stomach, causing the Invisibility Cloak to slip off. While Snape was doubled over in pain, Lupin stunned and bound him. Everyone stared at the trio comprised of one escaped prisoner, one werewolf, and one incapacitated professor. There was a long silence.
"Well, that's that," said Harry, breaking the silence.
The tension was broken, and Black laughed for the first time in twelve years.
AN: I can't understand why wizards fear the Shack. Also, Lupin knows it isn't haunted, so he should have concluded that someone actually opened the door while invisible!