No one in Gryffindor Tower slept that night. They knew that the castle was being searched again, and the whole House stayed awake in the common room, waiting to hear whether Black had been caught. Professor McGonagall came back at dawn, to tell them that he had again escaped.
Throughout the day, everywhere they went they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognize large pictures of Sirius Black and Lucius Malfoy; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down the corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan had been fired. His portrait had been taken back to its lonely landing on the seventh floor, and the Fat Lady was back. She had been expertly restored, but was still extremely nervous, and had agreed to return to her job only on condition that she was given extra protection. A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard her. They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their clubs.
Ron, who had a small taste of in-school celebrity at the start of term after everyone heard about how he helped to save Luna from the basilisk and was known for his quidditch performances became even more of a celebrity around Hogwarts and it was clear he was enjoying the attention. Though still severely shaken by the night's events, he was happy to tell anyone who asked what had happened, with a wealth of detail.
"... I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft...I woke up and one side of the hangings on my bed had been pulled down...I rolled over...and I saw him standing over me...like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair...holding this great long knife, must've been twelve inches...and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scampered.
"Why, though?" Ron added to Dudley and Dean as the group of second year girls who had been listening to his chilling tale departed. "Why did he run?"
"He must've known he'd have a job getting back out of the castle once you'd yelled and woken people up," said Dudley thoughtfully. "He'd've had to kill the whole house to get back through the portrait hole...then he would've met the teachers..."
"More importantly," said Dean, "Why did he want to kill Ron in the first place?"
"To be fair, I don't think Ronniekins was the target," Fred said. He and George had overheard their conversation. "We reckon Black just wants to off any Gryffindor."
"Why, though?" Dudley said. "He was a Gryffindor himself."
Fred and George looked shocked at this news, and Dudley quickly told the twins what he had heard from Lupin, about how Sirius Black had been friends with Lupin and James Potter at Hogwarts and had betrayed the Potters to Voldemort.
"You don't reckon he's after you, Dud?" said Fred.
"You're Potter's last relative," George said.
"Why would he want to kill Dudley because of that?" Ron said.
"And how would be know?" Dean pointed out. "He's been in Azkaban for years."
"Yeah, if he's after anyone here, wouldn't it be Dumbledore? He killed Voldemort, after all," said Dudley.
"Yeah, but didn't you punch Voldemort in the face in your first year?" George said with a grin. "Maybe Black heard about that and wants revenge."
"Or maybe Malfoy put him up to it—Malfoy must hate you," Fred said.
Dudley shrugged. It was a fair point. "I dunno, why would he risk getting caught just to kill me for that."
"Because he's mad," suggested Dean. "Azkaban drove him loopy."
Neville was in total disgrace. Professor McGonagall was so furious with him she had banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, given him a detention, and forbidden anyone to give him the password into the tower. Poor Neville was forced to wait. outside the common room every night for somebody to let him in, while the security trolls leered unpleasantly at him. None of these punishments, however, came close to matching the one his grandmother had in store for him. Two days after Black's break-in, she sent Neville the very worst thing a Hogwarts student could receive over breakfast - a Howler.
The school owls swooped into the Great Hall carrying the mail as usual, and Neville choked as a huge barn owl landed in front of him, a scarlet envelope clutched in its beak. Ron recognized the letter at once.
"Run for it, Neville," Ron advised.
Neville didn't need telling twice. He seized the envelope, and holding it before him like a bomb, sprinted out of the hall, while the Slytherin table exploded with laughter at the sight of him. They heard the Howler go off in the entrance hall - Neville's grandmother's voice, magically magnified to a hundred times its usual volume, shrieking about how he had brought shame on the whole family.
After their Defence Against the Dark Arts class, Lupin asked Dudley and Ron to stay behind. Hermione looked at them suspiciously as she left. Ron still hadn't forgiven Hermione for Crookshanks eating Scabbers glared at her.
"I heard about Saturday night," Lupin said. "How are you, Ron?"
"Fine," Ron said. "Black scarpered as soon as I yelled."
Lupin nodded thoughtfully.
"No luck getting him?" Dudley asked.
"No, Dumbledore doesn't know how he keeps getting into the castle," said Lupin. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about. There is a Hogsmeade meeting next weekend. I want you both to be cautious."
"You think he'll try something there?" asked Ron.
"It's the perfect place," Lupin said. "Away from the school and teachers. I will be in Hogsmeade with Professor Flitwick, just in case. But be cautious. Stay in crowded places. If you see any sign of Black—run. Don't stop. Don't try to fight him. Run."
Dudley glanced at Ron, Lupin seemed to be very worried.
"Professor Lockhart has been giving me extra lessons," Dudley said. "I'll be with him, so I should be ok."
"I … wouldn't count on Gilderoy Lockhart to be adequate protection against Black," Lupin said, picking his words carefully.
"Why not?" Dudley demanded. Lockhart could be a bit of a dandy at times, but he quite liked him, despite his arrogance. He had taught Dudley some useful spells and had some useful advice.
"He is unreliable," Lupin said.
"He saved our lives last year," said Dudley.
"Yes. Many of us were surprised at Gilderoy's actions," Lupin said. "He earnt that Order of Merlin." He was still picking his words carefully.
"Gilderoy may be as talented as he claims, but be cautious. Don't count on his protection. Be wary, and if you see Sirius Black—run."
"Is he really that dangerous?" asked Ron.
"Sirius and James Potter were the two best students in Hogwarts," Lupin said. "Very quick learners—they learnt magic during their 4th and 5th years that even older, experienced wizards would struggle with. Sirius Black killed 13 people with one curse—he was apparently Voldemort's right-hand man. He is extremely dangerous. Doubly so if he is with Malfoy."
"Do you think someone inside the castle might be helping him?" Ron asked, suddenly.
"What do you mean?" Lupin said, sharply.
"Well …" Ron looked a little uncomfortable. "One of the Slytherins is related to him."
"You mean, Lucius Malfoy's son?" Lupin said.
"Yeah,"
"I don't think so," Lupin said. "I … and Dumbledore, both think Black is getting into the castle alone. The question is, how?"