Do you think it was the same person who hurt Mrs Norris?" the child continued.
Snape inclined his head. "I think that is… likely."
"But why do you think they did it?"
"I believe the motive is–"
"–What's the Chamber of Secrets?"
"That is–"
"–And what did it mean by 'enemies of the heir?' What heir?"
And then Severus Snape lost patience.
"Enough!" he ordered – and though he never raised his voice, it came out a little more sternly than he had intended.
Harry simply stared at him with wide eyes.
"Please desist from your incessant line of questioning before your food goes cold," he said, his voice softer now. "At this time, your questions are not ones for which I have the answers."
Nodding, Harry averted his eyes, and continued to eat, and a silence passed between them then.
Eventually however, he opened his mouth again, and asked another question – one which he hoped the potions master would be able to answer.
"What's a mudblood?"
Something in the atmosphere changed, and Severus, who had been casting his eye over a newspaper, stopped what he was doing and looked up at the boy.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I was just wondering what it means," he explained.
For a moment, Severus Snape said nothing, his breath hitching in his throat.
Who had Harry been talking to? How did he know about…?
Eventually, the potions master cleared his throat. "I… where did you come across this term?"
"Malfoy… I heard he called Hermione a mudblood. And earlier, in the corridor… he said it again," Harry told him, a furrow appearing in his brow. "What's wrong?"