CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“How do you know — ?” she spluttered.
“Professor, I think — I know — that Sn— that someone’s going
to try and steal the Stone. I’ve got to talk to Professor Dumble-
dore.”
She eyed him with a mixture of shock and suspicion.
“Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow,” she said finally.
“I don’t know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured,
no one can possibly steal it, it’s too well protected.”
“But Professor —”
“Potter, I know what I’m talking about,” she said shortly. She
bent down and gathered up the fallen books. “I suggest you all go
back outside and enjoy the sunshine.”
But they didn’t.
“It’s tonight,” said Harry, once he was sure Professor McGona-
gall was out of earshot. “Snape’s going through the trapdoor
tonight. He’s found out everything he needs, and now he’s got
Dumbledore out of the way. He sent that note, I bet the Ministry
of Magic will get a real shock when Dumbledore turns up.”
“But what can we —”
Hermione gasped. Harry and Ron wheeled round.
Snape was standing there.
“Good afternoon,” he said smoothly.
They stared at him.
“You shouldn’t be inside on a day like this,” he said, with an odd,
twisted smile.
“We were —” Harry began, without any idea what he was going
to say.
“You want to be more careful,” said Snape. “Hanging around
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