tter！〃
〃'Got Potter'？〃 said Professor McGonagall sharply； 〃What do you mean； 'got Potter'？〃
〃He told us Potter might try and get inside Ravenclaw Tower； and to send for him if we caught him！〃
〃Why would Harry Potter try to get inside Ravenclaw Tower！ Potter belongs in my House！〃
Beneath the disbelief and anger； Harry heard a little strain of pride in her voice and affection for Minerva McGonagall gushed up inside him。
〃We was told he might e in here！〃 said Carrow。 〃I dunno why； do I？〃
Professor McGonagall stood up and her beady eyes swept the room。 Twice they passed right over the place where Harry and Luna stood。
〃We can push it off on the kids；〃 said Amycus； his pig like face suddenly crafty。 〃Yeah； that's what we'll do。 We'll say Alecto was ambushed by the kids； them kids up there〃 a150a150 he looked up at the starry ceiling toward the dormitories a150a150 〃 and we'll say they forced her to pres her Mark； and that's why he got a false alarm。。。。 He can punish them。 Couple of kids more or less； what's the difference？〃
〃Only the difference between truth and lied； courage and cowardice；〃 said Professor McGonagall； who had turned pale； 〃a difference； in short； which you and your sister seem unable to appreciate。 But let me make one thing very clear。 You are not going to pass off y9our many ineptitudes on the students of Hogwarts。 I shall not permit it。〃
〃Excuse me？〃
Amycus moved forward until he was offensively close to Professor McGonagall； his face within inches of hers。 She refused to back away； but looked down at him as if he were something disgusting she had found stuck to the lavatory seat。
〃It's not a case of what iyou'lli permit； Minerva McGonagall。 Your time's over。 It's us what's in charge here now； and you'll back me up or you'll pay the price。〃
And he spat in her face。
Harry pulled the Cloak off himself； raised his wand； and said； 〃You shouldn't have done that。〃
As Amycus spun around； Harry shouted； 〃Crucio！〃
The Death Eater was lifted off his feet。 He writhed through the air like a drowning man； thrashing and howling in pain； and then； with a crunch and a shattering of glass； he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled； insensible； to the floor。
〃I see what Bellatrix meant；〃 said Harry； the blood thundering through his brain； 〃you need to really mean it。〃
〃Potter！〃 whispered Professor McGonagall； clutching her heart。 〃Pottera150a150 you're here！ Whata150a150？ Howa150a150？〃 She struggled to pull herself together。 〃Potter； that was foolish！〃
〃He spat at you；〃 said Harry。
〃Potter； I a150a150 that was very a150a150 igallant of youi a150a150 but don't you realize a150a150？〃
〃Yeah； I do；〃 Harry assured her。 Somehow her panic steadied him。 〃Professor McGonagall； Voldemort's on the way。〃
〃Oh； are we allowed to say the name now？〃 asked Luna with an air of interest； pulling off the Invisibility Cloak。 The appearance of a second outlaw seemed to overwhelm Professor McGonagall； who staggered backward and fell into a nearby chair； clutching at the neck of her old tartan dressing gown。
〃I don't think it makes any difference what we call him；〃 Harry told Luna。 〃He already knows where I am。〃
In a distant part of Harry's brain； that part connected to the angry； burning scar； he could see Voldemort sailing fast over the dark lake in the ghostly green boat。。。。 He had nearly reached the island where the stone basin stood。。。。
〃You must flee；〃 whispered Professor McGonagall； 〃Now Potter； as quickly as you can！〃
〃I can't；〃 said Harry； 〃There's something I need to do。 Professor； so you know where the diadem of Ravenclaw is？〃
〃The d…diadem of Ravenclaw？ Of course not a150a150 hasn't it been lost for centuries？〃 She sat up a little straighter 〃Potter； it was madness； utter madness； for you to enter this castlea150a150〃
〃I had to；〃 said Harry。 〃Professor； there's something hidden here that I'm supposed to find； and it icouldi be the diadema150a150 if I could just speak to Professor Flitwicka150a150〃
There was a sound of movement； of clinking glass。 Amycus was ing round。 Before Harry or Luna could act； Professor McGonagall rose to her feet； pointed her wand at the groggy Death Eater； and said； i〃Imperio。〃i
Amycus got up； walked over to his sister； picked up her wand； then shuffled obediently to Professor McGonagall and handed it over along with his own。 Then he lay down on the floor beside Alecto。 Professor McGonagall waved her wand again； and a length of shimmering silver rope appeared out of thin air and snaked around the Carrows； binding them tightly together。
〃Potter；〃 said Professor McGonagall； turning to face him again with superb indifference to the Carrows' predicament。 〃if He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named does indeed know that you are herea150a150〃
As she said it； a wrath that was like physical pain blazed through Harry； setting his scar on fire； and for a second he looked down upon a basin whose potion had turned clear； and saw that no golden locket lay safe beneath the surfacea150a150。
〃Potter； are you all right。〃 said a voice； and Harry came back。 He was clutching Luna's shoulder to steady himself。
〃Time's running out； Voldemort's getting nearer； Professor； I'm acting on Dumbledore's orders； I must find what he wanted me to find！ But we've got to get the students out while I'm searching the castlea150a150 It's me Voldemort wants； but he won't care
about killing a few more or less； not nowa150a150〃 inot now he knows I'm attacking Horcruxes；i Harry finished the sentence in his head。
〃You're acting on Dumbledore's orders？〃 she repeated with a look of dawning wonder。 Then she drew herself up to her fullest height。
〃We shall secure the school against He…Who…Must…Not…Be…Named while you search for this a150a150 this object。〃
〃Is that possible？〃
〃I think so；〃 said Professor McGonagall dryly； 〃we teachers are rather good at magic； you know。 I am sure we will be able to hold him off for a while if we all put our best efforts into it。 Of course； something will have to be done about Professor Snapea150a150〃
〃Let me a150a150〃
〃a150a150and if Hogwarts is about to enter a state of siege； with the Dark Lord at the gates； it would indeed be advisable to take as many innocent people out of the way as possible。 With the Floo Network under observation； and Apparition impossible within the groundsa150a150〃
〃There's a way；〃 said Harry quickly； and he explained about the passageway leading into the Hog's Head。
〃Potter； we're talking about hundreds of studentsa150a150〃
〃I know； Professor； but if Voldemort and the Death Eaters are concentrating on the school boundaries they won't be interested in anyone who's Disapparating out of Hog's Head。〃
〃There's something in that；〃 she agreed。 She pointed her wand at the Carrows； and a silver net fell upon their bound bodies； tied itself around them； and hoisted them into the air； where they dangled beneath the blue…and…gold ceiling like two large； ugly sea creatures。 〃e。 We must alert the other Heads of House。 You'd better put that Cloak back on。〃
She marched toward the door； and as she did so she raised her wand。 From the tip burst three silver cats with spectacle markings around their eyes。 the Patronuses ran sleekly