A week or so after the rape of Pansy, Harry was given a detention by Snape
because he had lost his temper and thrown a jar of whole pickled frog
spleens at him. Harry stayed behind after the lesson while Snape, who
seemed quite edgy, outlined his detention.
"Here. Nine o'clock. Now get out of my sight!"
Dinner, however, passed quickly. Too quickly for Harry's liking. In no time at all he was back in the dungeons scrubbing desks clean while Snape sat at his desk, marking essays and muttering to himself. Harry couldn't hear all he was saying, although he caught occasional snippets like:
"...must have been possessed...didn't mean to kill her...they'll find out soon... the rape was bad enough...stupid, stupid, stupid!" and similar curses. Naturally, this aroused Harry's suspicions and he listened closer, though Snape seemed to notice and fell silent. About ten minutes later a terrified first-year ran in screaming.
"Help! Help! Murder! Murder!" Harry and Snape were both startled by her high-pitched squeals, though Harry registered with interest the look of sheer panic on Snape's face.
Out in the forest, Snape and Harry joined with what seemed like the rest of the school crowding round a body. It was hideously mutilated but barely recognisable as Millicent Bulstrode. Dumbledore, who was gravely examining the corpse, stated flatly that the killing curse had been used and there were no leads to who the killer may possibly be.
No one saw the picture of immense relief on Snape's usually deadened features as they headed back inside.
Except Harry.
"Here. Nine o'clock. Now get out of my sight!"
Dinner, however, passed quickly. Too quickly for Harry's liking. In no time at all he was back in the dungeons scrubbing desks clean while Snape sat at his desk, marking essays and muttering to himself. Harry couldn't hear all he was saying, although he caught occasional snippets like:
"...must have been possessed...didn't mean to kill her...they'll find out soon... the rape was bad enough...stupid, stupid, stupid!" and similar curses. Naturally, this aroused Harry's suspicions and he listened closer, though Snape seemed to notice and fell silent. About ten minutes later a terrified first-year ran in screaming.
"Help! Help! Murder! Murder!" Harry and Snape were both startled by her high-pitched squeals, though Harry registered with interest the look of sheer panic on Snape's face.
Out in the forest, Snape and Harry joined with what seemed like the rest of the school crowding round a body. It was hideously mutilated but barely recognisable as Millicent Bulstrode. Dumbledore, who was gravely examining the corpse, stated flatly that the killing curse had been used and there were no leads to who the killer may possibly be.
No one saw the picture of immense relief on Snape's usually deadened features as they headed back inside.
Except Harry.
