Why do you think Snape's so sure it's not Malfoy?" Ron asked, when Harry had finally finished.
Harry shrugged. "I don't know, but he seemed pretty certain. I don't think there's any need for us to brew that Poly-whatsit, Hermione."
"Polyjuice potion. And that's fine, I didn't much want to get into trouble anyway," the girl said haughtily, but Harry was sure he saw a glimmer of disappointment in her eyes.
"Besides, I'm more worried about what the elf said," Harry told them. "What do you think it meant? Those closest to me being mixed up in these so-called plans? Telling me not to enter the serpent's lair?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, looking perplexed.
"It's obvious isn't it?" Ron declared, suddenly. "He was talking about Snape!"
"What?" Harry frowned. "No, that's not…"
"Think about it. 'Those closest to you'," the red head quoted. "And the serpent's lair… Snape's a Slytherin! He's telling you not to go back to the dungeons!"
Harry said nothing now, but his insides were starting to twist themselves into knots. Surely the elf couldn't have been referring to the potions master? Suddenly, he remembered the way Dobby had reacted when he had mentioned the man by name.
Still, he cast a glance at Hermione, hoping she would, as usual, be the voice of reason – but even she looked like she might be buying Ron's theory.
"It… does seem possible, Harry," she said softly.
"It'd explain why he's so sure its not Malfoy, too," Ron added.
"So what? You think he's the heir of Slytherin now? Half an hour ago, you thought it was me!" he snapped.
"I'm not saying that… it's just…" she began.
"You know his father was a muggle? You heard what McGonagall said! If the chamber does exist, it's because Salazar Slytherin didn't want any students here who weren't pureblood. Why would Snape want to open it back up?" Harry pointed out.
Ha! Vindicated.
Silence, and Ron cast Hermione a nervous glance.
"What?" Harry demanded.
"Um… it's just… my dad said Snape used to be… you know," his friend muttered nervously.
Harry just stared at him, dumbly.
"He was a… for You Know Who," Ron expanded.
Still, Harry was confused, and eventually, Hermione let out a frustrated sigh.
"What Ron's trying to say, is that Professor Snape used to be a Death Eater."