Hermione’s Secret

           "Shockingbusiness...shocking...miraclenoneofthemdied...neverheardthelike...bythunder,itwasluckyyouwerethere,Snape..."

           "Thankyou,Minister."

           "OrderofMerlin,SecondClass,I’dsay.FirstClass,ifIcanwangleit!"

           "Thankyouverymuchindeed,Minister."

           "Nastycutyou’vegotthere...Black’swork,Isuppose?"

           "Asamatteroffact,itwasPotter,Weasley,andGranger,Minister..."

           "No!"

           "Blackhadbewitchedthem,Isawitimmediately.AConfundusCharm,tojudgebytheirbehavior.Theyseemedtothinktherewasapossibilityhewasinnocent.Theyweren’tresponsiblefortheiractions.Ontheotherhand,theirinterferencemighthavepermittedBlacktoescape...TheyobviouslythoughttheyweregoingtocatchBlacksingle-handed.They’vegotawaywithagreatdealbeforenow...I’mafraidit’sgiventhemaratherhighopinionofthemselves...andofcoursePotterhasalwaysbeenallowedanextraordinaryamountoflicensebytheheadmaster—"

           "Ah,well,Snape...HarryPotter,youknow...we’veallgotabitofablindspotwherehe’sconcerned."

           "Andyet—isitgoodforhimtobegivensomuchspecialtreatment?Personally,Itryandtreathimlikeanyotherstudent.Andanyotherstudentwouldbesuspended—attheveryleast—forleadinghisfriendsintosuchdanger.