Hung in curtains around his thin face, how his black eyes had a dead, cold look. He was

Not wearing nightclothes, but was dressed in his usual black cloak, and he too was

Holding his wand ready for a fight.

“Where are the Carrows?” he asked quietly.

“Wherever you told them to be, I expect, Severus,” said Professor McGonagall.

Snape stepped nearer, and his eyes flitted over Professor McGonagall into the air

Around her, as if he knew that Harry was there. Harry held his wand up too, ready to

Attack.

“I was under the impression,” said Snape, “That Alecto had apprehended an

intruder.”

“Really?” said Professor McGonagall. “And what gave you that impression?”

Snape mad a slight flexing movement of his left arm, where the Dark Mark was

Branded into his skin.

“Oh, but naturally,” said Professor McGonagall. “You Death Eaters have your

own private means of communication, I forgot.”

Snape pretended not to have heard her. His eyes were still probing the air all

About her, and he was moving gradually closer, with an air of hardly noticing what he

Was doing.

“I did not know that it was your night to patrol the corridors Minerva.”

“You have some objection?”

“I wonder what could have brought you out of our bed at this late hour?”

“I thought I heard a disturbance,” said Professor McGonagall.

“Really? But all seems calm.”

Snape looked into her eyes.

“Have you seen Harry Potter, Minerva? Because if you have. I must insist---”

Professor McGonagall moved faster than Harry could have believed. Her wand

Slashed through the air and for a split second Harry thought that Snape must crumple,

Unconscious, but the swiftness of his Shield Charm was such that McGonagall was

thrown off balance. =She brandished her wand at a touch on the wall and it flew out of

Its bracket. Harry, about to curse Snape, was forced to pull Luna out of the way of the

Descending flames, which became a ring of fire that filled the corridor and flew like a

Lasso at Snape---

Then it was no longer fire, but a great black serpent that McGonagall blasted to

Smoke, which re-formed and solidified in seconds to become a swarm of pursuing

Daggers. Snape avoided them only by forcing the suit of armor in front of him, and with

Echoing clangs the daggers sank, one after another, into its breast---

“Minerva!” said a squeaky voice, and looking behind him, still shielding Luna

From flying spells, Harry saw Professors Flitwick and Sprout sprinting up the corridor

Toward them in their nightclothes, with the enormous Professor Slughorn panting along at

The rear.

“No!” squealed Flitwick, raising his wand. “You'll do no more murder at

Hogwarts!”

Flitwick's spell hit the suit of armor behind which Snape had taken shelter. With

A clatter it came to life. Snape struggled free of the crushing arms and sent it flying back

Toward his attackers. Harry and Luna had to dive sideways to avoid it as it smashed into

The wall and shattered. When Harry looked up again, Snape was in full flight,

McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout all thundering after him. He hurtled through a

classroom door and, moments later, he heard McGonagall cry, “Coward! COWARD!”

“What's happened, what's happened?” asked Luna.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 568