Endeavor

Chapter 11

        "We'll just have to -- " Harry began, but a voice suddenly rang across the hall.

        "What are you three doing inside?"

        It was Professor McGonagall, carrying a large pile of books.

        "We want to see Professor Dumbledore," Hermione said, rather bravely.

        "See Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall repeated, as though this was a very fishy thing to want to do. "Why?"

        I swallowed -- now what?

        "It's sort of secret," I said, but I wished at once I hadn't, because Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared.

        "Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago," she said coldly. "He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

        "He's gone?" Harry said frantically. "Now?"

        "Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time--"

        "But this is important."

        "Something you have to say is more important than the Ministry of Magic, Potter?"

        "Look," Harry said, throwing caution to the winds, "Professor -- it's about the Sorcerer's Stone--"

        Whatever Professor McGonagall had expected, it wasn't that. The books she was carrying tumbled out of her arms, but she didn't pick them up.

        "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 Dumbledore."

        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 we didn't.

        "It's tonight," Harry said, once he was sure Professor McGonagall 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. Me, Harry and Ron wheeled round.

        Snape was standing there.

        "Good afternoon," he said smoothly.

        We 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," Snape said. "Hanging around like this, people will think you're up to something. And Gryffindor really can't afford to lose any more points, can it?"