Harry.did.not.speak;.he.felt.that.to.say.anything.might.be.dangerous..He.was.sure.he.had.just.broken.into.Snape.s.memories,.that.he.had.just.seen.scenes.from.Snape.s.childhood..It.was.unnerving.to.think.that.the.little.boy.who.had.been.crying.as.he.watched.his.parents.shouting.was.actually.standing.in.ront.of.him.with.such.loathing.in.his.eyes..
.Let.s.try.again,.shall.we?..said.Snape..
Harry.felt.a.thrill.of.dread;.he.was.about.to.pay.for.what.had.just.happened,.he.was.sure.of.it..They.moved.back.into.position.with.the.desk.between.them,
.Harry.feeling.he.was.going.to.find.it.much.harder.to.empty.his.mind.this.time..
.On.the.count.of.three,.then,..said.Snape,.raising.his.wand.once.more...One.‐.two.‐
..
Harry.did.not.have.time.to.gather.himself.together.and.attempt.to.clear.his.mind.before.Snape.cried,..Legilimens!..
He.was.hurtling.along.the.corridor.towards.the.Department.of.Mysteries,.past.the.blank.stone.walls,.past.the.torches.‐.the.plain.black.door.was.growing.ever.larger;.he.was.moving.so.fast.he.was.going.to.collide.with.it,.he.was.feet.from.it.and.again.he.could.see.that.chink.of.faint.blue.light.‐.
The.door.had.flown.open!.He.was.through.it.at.last,.inside.a.black‐walled,.black‐
floored.circular.room.lit.with.blue‐flamed.candles,.and.there.were.more.doors.all.around.him.‐.he.needed.to.go.on.‐.but.which.door.ought.he.to.take.‐?.
TOTTER!..
Harry.opened.his.eyes..He.was.flat.on.his.back.again.with.no.memory.of.having.got.there;.he.was.also.panting.as.though.he.really.had.run.the.length.of.the.Department.of.Mysteries.corridor,.really.had.sprinted.through.the.black.door.and.found.the.circular.room..
.Explain.yourself!..said.Snape,.who.was.standing.over.him,.looking.furious..
.I….dunno.what.happened,..said.Harry.truthfully,.standing.up..There.was.a.lump.on.the.back.of.his.head.from.where.he.had.hit.the.ground.and.he.felt.feverish...I.ve.never.seen.that.before..I.mean,.I.told.you,.I.ve.dreamed.about.the.door….but.it.s.never.opened.before.
.You.are.not.working.hard.enough!..
For.some.reason,.Snape.seemed.even.angrier.than.he.had.done.two.minutes.before,.when.Harry.had.seen.into.his.teacher.s.memories..
.You.are.lazy.and.sloppy,.Potter,.it.is.small.wonder.that.the.Dark.Lord.‐..
.Can.you.tell.me.something,.sir?..said.Harry,.firing.up.again...Why.do.you.call.Voldemort.the.Dark.Lord?.I.ve.only.ever.heard.Death.Eaters.call.him.that...
Snape.opened.his.mouth.in.a.snarl.‐.and.a.woman.screamed.from.somewhere.outside.the.room..
Snapes.head.jerked.upwards;.he.was.gazing.at.the.ceiling..
.What.the.‐?..he.muttered..
Harry.could.hear.a.muffled.commotion.coming.from.what.he.thought.might.be.the.Entrance.Hall..Snape.looked.round.at.him,.frowning..
.Did.you.see.anything.unusual.on.your.way.down.here,.Potter?..
Harry.shook.his.head..Somewhere.above.them,.the.woman.screamed.again.
.Snape.strode.to.his.office.door,.his.wand.still.held.at.the.ready,.and.swept.out.of.sight..Harry.hesitated.for.a.moment,.then.followed..
The.screams.were.indeed.coming.from.the.Entrance.Hall;.they.grew.louder.as.Harry.ran.towards.the.stone.steps.leading.up.from.the.dungeons..When.he.reached.the.top.he.found.the.Entrance.Hall.packed;.students.had.come.flooding.out.of.the.Great.Hall,.where.dinner.was.still.in.progress,.to.see.what.was.going.on;.others.had.crammed.themselves.on.to.the.marble.staircase..Harry.pushed.forwards.through.a.knot.of.tall.Slytherins.and.saw.that.the.onlookers.had.formed.a.great.ring,.some.of.them.looking.shocked,.others.even.frightened.