Sirius Black was so distracted because he was worried about something else.
A few hours earlier, just as Draco entered Harry's room, a heated conversation had taken place in the long, dark hallway on the first floor.
"Sirius, this place is a dog house—" Narcissa looked around like an arrogant queen, wishing she could hold her breath for fear of inhaling some harmful gas.
She glanced at the gaunt, dark-haired man before her, a mocking smile on her face. "The noble Black family has fallen to such a state! I wonder if Aunt Walburga's soul will find peace seeing her carefully maintained mansion in such a dilapidated and miserable state."
"If you heard her filthy swearing, you probably would not be worried about her soul." Sirius glanced quickly at the velvet curtains at the end of the corridor. A low snoring sound seemed to come from beneath them.
"She is indeed quite strong-willed and stubborn, and you have hurt her feelings." Narcissa understood.
"Enough with the nonsense. What does the self-proclaimed noble Narcissa want, condescending to come to my dog house? Surely she did not come here just to discuss my mother's character?" Sirius said bluntly. "Get to the point, what do you want?"
"I want to know the secret to how you did not go mad in Azkaban," Narcissa said briefly, lifting her delicate face.
"I do not understand what you are talking about." Sirius gave her a mysterious glance.
"Do not play dumb. How have you managed to stay so clear-headed for the past ten years? And how did Peter Pettigrew escape? Bellatrix's magic is no less than yours, yet she was driven half-mad by torture; and you are unscathed. I do not believe you did not use some tricks." Narcissa crossed her arms and paced back and forth imposingly in the porch.
Sirius paused for a moment, stunned.
He burst into laughter. "So that is what you were after!" He remembered the platinum-blonde boy upstairs, who, like Harry, was an enemy of Peter Pettigrew.
How interesting that the people in the world who most wanted to know how Peter Pettigrew escaped Azkaban were all in this house right now.
"What are you laughing at?" She stopped and gave him a haughty look.
"Indeed, I do have a little trick." Sirius stared intently at her with his grey eyes, a weary smile on his face. "However, it is a life-saving way to avoid Dementors, and I cannot tell you for free. If you want to know this trick, you have to give me something in return."
Narcissa cautiously tucked her chin in; she knew Sirius often had some unexpected ideas.
"What do you want?"
"As you can see, I have been handling the Black family's wealth ever since I got out of prison. Years ago, Bellatrix took something from me. Help her get it back, and I will tell you." Sirius stared at her, a sly look on his face.
"That is all? What is it?" Narcissa remained vigilant.
She believed that this was by no means something easy to obtain.
"A small golden cup. I believe it is kept in the Lestrange family's vault." He spoke casually, as if inviting Narcissa to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.
"You are dreaming!" Narcissa shouted angrily.
Open Lestrange's vault and take without asking? Bella would not be happy.
"Great! Then no one will ever know how Peter Pettigrew escaped the Dementors' watchful eye and got away." Sirius casually toyed with his wand.
"Only Bella can open that vault." Narcissa pursed her lips, determined to decline the request.
"Come on, I know you are her key custodian," Sirius said impatiently. "How much stuff have you sent to Azkaban for her over the years? You think I have not noticed? I live right next door to her!"
A crack appeared on Narcissa's delicate and composed face.
"My uncle must be heartbroken, is he not? His most beloved eldest daughter is in Azkaban, and his rebellious second daughter has made a name for herself by eloping with the Muggle-born wizard whom the Black family despises the most. Only you, his most obedient youngest daughter, are willing to take care of him, and you, the esteemed Lady Malfoy, have to lower yourself and visit him in Azkaban every now and then..." He continued speaking to himself, completely oblivious to Narcissa's changing expressions, as if he were not reopening old wounds but chatting about the weather.
"What is it to you?" Narcissa glared at him fiercely.
"You like the Black family's gold mine in Peru, do you not? I will transfer it to you. Just give me that golden cup." Sirius softened his tone, wiping a speck of dust from his wand, and said expressionlessly, "I will go and capture Peter Pettigrew so your precious son is safe."
"My son and your godson are very good friends! He even saved you and got you out of Azkaban. And yet you are threatening his mother and trying to make a deal…" An incredulous expression appeared on her arrogant face as she looked at him with disdain in her blue eyes.
"Stop your act. The Black family does not care about family ties; they only care about positions and interests," Sirius sneered.
He remembered the tapestry in the Black family's sitting room upstairs, where his name had been burnt into a blackened circle many years ago.
"Perhaps Peter Pettigrew's target is not my son, but your godson." Narcissa remained silent for a long time, still not giving in, but instead putting on a seemingly relaxed expression.
Draco was talking to Harry Potter at that moment, and he might have already got the information out of him.
"I know what you are thinking. I have not told anyone this secret, not even Harry. At least not now, and I cannot guarantee the future. The only thing I can guarantee is that I will keep this secret until we reach a deal," Sirius warned Narcissa, seemingly seeing through her thoughts.
"Are you not afraid your godson will die a violent death? Are you willing to take the risk?" she asked with a half-smile, finding his behaviour ridiculous.
"He has been lurking around Harry for two whole years, but he has never made a move." Sirius feigned indifference, though his worries were hidden. "I reckon Draco, who 'captured him after years of hiding with just a casual remark,' is more likely to incite his hatred. Or, are you willing to take the risk?"
Narcissa glared at him hatefully, and he glared back fiercely.
"I remember that thing. That golden cup." Finally, Narcissa said in a low voice, "It was enchanted with a Protean Charm and a Gemino Curse. It must have been something very important. Otherwise, you would not have gone to such lengths to get it."
Sirius glanced at her, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat serious.
"What does this have to do with you? Your sister's crimes are enough to keep her in Azkaban for life. She was not wronged, and I am sure you know that." He suddenly grinned at her, his expression malicious. "I swear to you, that thing does not belong to her, nor does it belong to the Lestrange family."
Narcissa's delicate eyebrows furrowed deeply.
"I promise you. Tell me first what your trick is. I need to make sure the information is valuable enough for me to take the risk." Narcissa's eyes darted around.
"Cash on delivery. I will tell you when you bring the golden cup." Sirius rejected her without hesitation.
"Fine! I will go and get it right away, before I regret it. Whilst I am gone, clean up your dog house! Also, tell Draco not to touch anything suspicious." She wrinkled her nose in annoyance and gave Sirius a disgruntled look.
"Yes, ma'am," he said nonchalantly.
"You had better keep your promise." She turned around angrily, her black outer robes, embroidered with exquisite dark patterns, billowing in the dark corridor like a surging tide in the twilight.