‘Potter!’

‘Potter!’

The voice rang across the Entrance Hall. Snape had emerged from the staircase leading down to his office and at the sight of him Harry felt a great rush of hatred beyond anything he felt towards Malfoy ... whatever Dumbledore said, he would never forgive Snape . . . never ...

‘What are you doing, Potter?’ said Snape, as coldly as ever, as he strode over to the four of them.

‘I'm trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir,’ said Harry fiercely.

Snape stared at him.

‘Put that wand away at once,’ he said curtly. ‘Ten points from Gryff—’

Snape looked towards the giant hour-glasses on the walls and gave a sneering smile.

‘Ah. I see there are no longer any points left in the Gryffindor hour-glass to take away. In that case, Potter, we will simply have to—’

‘Add some more?’

Professor McGonagall had just stumped up the stone, steps into the castle; she was carrying a tartan carpetbag in one hand and leaning heavily on a walking stick with her other, but otherwise looked quite well.

‘Professor McGonagall!’ said Snape, striding forwards. ‘Out of St. Mungo's, I see!’

‘Yes, Professor Snape,’ said Professor McGonagall. shrugging off her travelling cloak, ‘I'm quite as good as new. You two—Crabbe—Goyle—’

She beckoned them forwards imperiously and they came, shuffling their large feet and looking awkward.

‘Here,’ said Professor McGonagall, thrusting her carpetbag into Crabbe's chest and her cloak into Goyle's, ‘take these up to my office for me.’

They turned and stumped away up the marble staircase.