CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Harry and Ron went back to the common room. Harry had just
said, “At least Hermione’s on Snape’s tail,” when the portrait of the
Fat Lady swung open and Hermione came in.
“I’m sorry, Harry!” she wailed. “Snape came out and asked me
what I was doing, so I said I was waiting for Flitwick, and Snape
went to get him, and I’ve only just got away, I don’t know where
Snape went.”
“Well, that’s it then, isn’t it?” Harry said.
The other two stared at him. He was pale and his eyes were glit-
tering.
“I’m going out of here tonight and I’m going to try and get to
the Stone first.”
“You’re mad!” said Ron.
“You can’t!” said Hermione. “After what McGonagall and Snape
have said? You’ll be expelled!”
“SO WHAT?” Harry shouted. “Don’t you understand? If Snape
gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort’s coming back! Haven’t you
heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won’t
be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He’ll flatten it, or turn it
into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn’t matter any-
more, can’t you see? D’you think he’ll leave you and your families
alone if Gryffindor wins the House Cup? If I get caught before I
can get to the Stone, well, I’ll have to go back to the Dursleys and
wait for Voldemort to find me there, its only dying a bit later than
I would have, because I’m never going over to the Dark Side! I’m
going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is
going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?”
He glared at them.
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