94 Diagon Alley

    Go to the old places. "

    Then George and Gwen ran to the large window near the principal's office and sat there for a long time. By the time they came back to their senses, it was already midnight.

    "I promise to go to the professor tomorrow." Gwen whispered after George, who was exploring the way, for fear of attracting the attention of Mrs. Norris, who was wandering in the castle. "We've got to show our housekeeping skills now, before Filch finds out."

    George was just about to sell himself and boast, when a scream came from downstairs - an extremely terrifying, shrill scream.

    Gwen covered her ears and asked George, "What is that? Myrtle singing?"

    George looked pained, "Oh, you probably missed the last celebration. That's a clue to the Warriors, and that's the sound of the golden egg when it's opened—it's almost like a ghost band playing with a musical saw. Noise, or Percy singing in the bathroom."

    Before the screaming stopped, Gwen suddenly became interested: "Durmstrong and Beauxbatons both live outside the castle. How likely do you think Diggory will be at night?"

    George also showed a lively expression, "0. Let's go, let's see what the warrior Harry is playing?"

    Then they followed the screams and saw Filch on a narrow staircase on a low floor, who had just closed the disturbing golden egg. There was also a familiar piece of parchment on the ground.

    Gwen took advantage of Filch's nose to find the bad student at night - now he's suspected of being a warrior - hiding on the corner of the stairs and using a flying spell to kill him The map is summoned. Nearly, Filch could almost see the parchment flying in mid-air. George dropped one of Peeves' favorite dung **** in the other direction.

    "You and I still carry dung with you on a date?!" Gwen couldn't believe it.

    "Peeves!" Filch exclaimed with joy, "You stole!"

    "Hidden, did you?" he whispered, "I'm coming for you, Peeves...you stole a clue to the Triwizard Tournament, Peeves...Dumbledore I won't spare you this time, you filthy, sneaky, prankster..."

    George now whispered to Gwen, "I didn't see Harry, but he must be around here, probably wearing an invisibility cloak."

    "We can cover him," Gwen said.

    Felch was halfway down the stairs, and after a little longer, he could see two people in the corner.

    "Felch? What happened?

     Filch stopped and turned around. At the bottom of the stairs stood a man, and if anyone could make their situation more sinister, it was this man: Snape. He was wearing a grey pyjamas shirt and his face was ashen.

    "I take back what I just said," Gwen said, "There is no friendship in front of Snape, I'm sorry Harry."

    "It's Peeves, Professor," Filch whispered viciously. "He threw the egg down the stairs."

    Snape walked upstairs and stopped beside Filch.

    "Peeves?" Snape whispered, staring at the golden egg in Filch's hand, "but Peeves can't break into my office..."

    "Is this golden egg in your office, Professor?"

    "Of course not," snapped Snape. "I heard a thud and a scream—"

    "Yes, Professor, that's the golden egg—"

    "—I'll come and investigate—"

    "—Peeves threw it, Professor—"

    "—as I passed my office, I saw torches lit and a cabinet door ajar! Someone was looking for something inside!"

    "But Peeves can't—"

    "I know he can't, Filch!" Snape's voice stern again, "I've sealed my office with a spell, only wizards can break in!" Nep looked up the stairs, then he looked down down the hallway. "I want you to come and help me search for the intruder, Filch."

    Push. pedal. pedal.

    Someone else? Gwen wailed inwardly, as George, holding the Marauder's map, was trying to identify the name of the person in the dark night. Then he gasped and turned the parchment slightly in Gwen's direction.

      "—Barty Crouch.

    "Pajama party, eh?" Professor Moody's voice came gruffly down the stairs.

    George and Gwen in the dark looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.

    "Professor Snape and I heard something, Professor," Filch said at once, "it's a mischievous Peeves, throwing things as usual—and then Snape Professor Pu found someone breaking into his office—"

    "Shut up!" Snape told Filch in a low voice.

    Moody's prosthetic leg slammed as if it were another step up. Then he was silent for a moment.

    "I heard it right, Snape?" he asked slowly. "Someone broke into your office?"

    "That doesn't matter," Snape said coldly.

    "On the contrary," growled Moody, "that's very important. Who's going to break into your office?"

    "Probably a student," Snape's voice was terribly gloomy. "This has happened before. The potion ingredients are missing from my private pantry... There is no doubt that the students wanted to make illegal potions..."

    "You think they're looking for potion ingredients, eh?" Moody asked. "You don't have anything else hidden in your office, do you?"

    "You know I'm hiding nothing, Moody," he said in a low, sinister voice, "didn't you search my office yourself?"

    Moody's face twisted into a smile. "This is Auror prerogative, Snape. Dumbledore told me to keep an eye on—"

    "Dumbledore happens to trust me," Snape said through gritted teeth, "I don't believe he ordered you to search my office!"

    "Of course Dumbledore believes you," Moody growled. "He's a very credulous man, isn't he? Always thinks giving a second chance. But I-I think there's a bit of a stain on it. It can't be washed off, Snape. Some stains can never be washed off, you know what I mean?"

    This time it was Snape's turn to be silent.

    Moody laughed. "Go back to sleep, Snape."

    "You have no right to send me anywhere!" hissed Snape, loosening his arms, seeming annoyed with himself, "I have the same right as you to patrol this place at night. School!"

    Just when George and Gwen thought they had escaped, Moody suddenly let out a wicked, jeering laugh.

    "If you insist, Snape. I found two suspects for you."

    Gwen screamed badly, and felt like a force was pulling her robe out of the corner.

    Then Moody pushed Filch and Snape away from the stairs, as if to bypass something again, and went straight to them.

    "You students, wandering in the corridor in the middle of the night?" He rolled his magic eyes, as if he could see through the souls of the two.

    "We're on a date, Professor." George said with an air of ease, and put his arms around Gwen.

    "Unfortunately," Moody seemed distressed, "I have to deduct ten points for you." Then he rolled his eyes again, "Mr. Weasley seems to be hiding a lot of things. —" He waved his wand. "What is this?"

    "It's over." Gwen closed his eyes in pain and thought, "We expose the most direct evidence directly to the enemy."

    But what Moody was holding looked to be just a tattered piece of parchment without a word on it.

    "Oh, professor. That's just a piece of my parchment." George said as if he didn't care.

    Gwen's beating heart returned to her stomach, and she noticed that in addition to Moody's tossing and checking, Snape's eyes were staring straight at them.

    "Then," Moody returned the parchment to George dissatisfied, "you guys hurry back to the dorms now." He seemed to have used up George and Gwen, and found one for Snape. Not very credible scapegoat, ready to let everyone go back quickly.

    "Miss Ollivander." For the first time, Gwen felt Snape's voice was so gentle, "I remember I warned you about the consequences of being caught again."

    "Yes Professor." Gwen rolled her eyes and immediately decided to get rid of the dangerous Moody, she pulled La George's sleeve. "You said you would let me go to your office and skin a hundred toads."

    Snape froze for a moment. Gwen desperately wished he had understood his earnest suggestion. George has put on an annoyed look, trying to cooperate with his girlfriend.

    "Then what are you doing standing there?" Snape turned to look at them with disgust, "Come on, come with me now. Don't go back until you're done. Besides, Gryffindor Twenty points off."

    George and Gwen bowed their heads like quails lining up behind Snape.

     Snape's face was as black as the bottom of a burnt cauldron as they approached the gloomy, cold basement.

    "Give me an explanation - Ollivander and Weasley. I don't remember if I promised you the chance or if you thought the night-walking Gryffindor could come into my office and give Toads Skinning?" He snorted coldly, "I don't allow you to touch my potion material, even if it's just a toad."

    Gwen had to say what she knew.

    "Sorry, Professor. It's because of Moody-"

    "Cough." George interrupted her, shook his head slightly, and said, "Professor. I