Harry Potter 06 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

know perfectly well that I do not wish to do either of those things.’
    ‘You’d better stop telling me to come to your office, then!’
    ‘Listen to me,’ said Snape, his voice so low now that Harry had to push his ear very hard against the keyhole to hear. ‘I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow, Draco –’
    ‘Looks like you’ll have to break it, then, because I don’t need your protection! It’s my job, he gave it to me and I’m doing it. I’ve got a plan and it’s going to work, it’s just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!’
    ‘What is your plan?’
    ‘It’s none of your business!’
    ‘If you tell me what you are trying to do, I can assist you –’
    ‘I’ve got all the assistance I need, thanks, I’m not alone!’
    ‘You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup. These are elementary mistakes –’
    ‘I would’ve had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn’t put them in detention!’
    ‘Keep your voice down!’ spat Snape, for Malfoy’s voice had risen excitedly. ‘If your friends Crabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing at pres—’
    ‘What does it matter?’ said Malfoy. ‘Defence Against the Dark Arts – it’s all just a joke, isn’t it, an act? Like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts –’
    ‘It is an act that is crucial to success, Draco!’ said Snape. ‘Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act? Now listen to me! You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if you are placing your reliance on assistants like Crabbe and Goyle –’
    ‘They’re not the only ones, I’ve got other people on my side, better people!’
    ‘Then why not confide in me, and I can –’
    ‘I know what you’re up to! You want to steal my glory!’
    There was another pause, then Snape said coldly, ‘You are speaking like a child. I quite understand that your father’s capture and imprisonment has upset you, but –’
    Harry had barely a second’s warning; he heard Malfoy’s footsteps on the other side of the door and flung himself out of the way just as it burst open; Malfoy was striding away down the corridor, past the open door of Slughorn’s office, round the distant corner and out of sight.
    Hardly daring to breathe, Harry remained crouched down as Snape emerged slowly from the classroom. His expression unfathomable, he returned to the party. Harry remained on the floor, hidden beneath the Cloak, his mind racing.

 
     
— CHAPTER SIXTEEN —
     
A Very Frosty Christmas
    ‘So Snape was offering to help him? He was definitely offering to help him ?’
    ‘If you ask that once more,’ said Harry, ‘I’m going to stick this sprout –’
    ‘I’m only checking!’ said Ron. They were standing alone at The Burrow’s kitchen sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts for Mrs Weasley. Snow was drifting past the window in front of them.
    ‘Yes, Snape was offering to help him!’ said Harry. ‘He said he’d promised Malfoy’s mother to protect him, that he’d made an Unbreakable Oath or something –’
    ‘An Unbreakable Vow?’ said Ron, looking stunned. ‘Nah, he can’t have … are you sure?’
    ‘Yes, I’m sure,’ said Harry. ‘Why, what does it mean?’
    ‘Well, you can’t break an Unbreakable Vow …’
    ‘I’d worked that much out for myself, funnily enough. What happens if you break it, then?’
    ‘You die,’ said Ron simply. ‘Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did, too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us. He went mental,’ said Ron, with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes. ‘Only time I’ve ever seen Dad as angry as Mum. Fred reckons his left buttock has never been the same since.’
    ‘Yeah, well, passing over Fred’s left buttock –’
    ‘I beg your pardon?’ said Fred’s voice as the twins entered the kitchen.
    ‘Aaah, George, look at this. They’re using knives and everything. Bless them.’
    ‘I’ll be seventeen in two and a bit months’ time,’ said Ron grumpily, ‘and then I’ll be able to do it by magic!’
    ‘But meanwhile,’ said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it, ‘we can enjoy