Sirius nodded, his smile faltering slightly but not much. He hadn't missed that there was something evasive in George's words, and he knew whatever it was, it would be bad. But he didn't want to ask now, not when he could be happy for Harry.

"I've been here about a year. You look like it's been longer than that to me, but time moves strangely here. How long has it been for you?" And scrutinizing George, he added "Merlin, what happened to your ear?"

Sirius listened to Harry's story carefully, swearing under his breath at the parts that sounded dangerous and sighing with relief and joy at the end of it. "That boy," he said, shaking his head. "It doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I'm really glad. What is he up to now that he isn't fighting off dark wizards anymore? Other than his baffling choice of home, of course. You'd think the hero who saved the wizarding world could afford someplace less infected with doxies and my mum."