Capítulo 70: Chapter 70
o—o—o—o—o—o—o
"Sit," McGonagall commanded. Milo was in the hard leather chair in her office before she'd finished saying the one-syllable word. "Your behaviour today was cowardly, treacherous, sickening, and unbecoming of a Hogwarts student, much less a member of my house. I have half a mind to expel you this very minute. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Well," said Milo, "in my defence, he sort of had it coming. I mean, look at him."
"You will explain to me, right now, clearly and succinctly, how you could possibly think that such a poor, sweet, innocent boy who has already suffered so much had—what was it you said? Oh yes, how he had it coming. If I find your explanation is in any way unsatisfactory, you'll be out of here faster than you can say Mimbulus Mimbletonia."
"He's obviously working for You-Know-Who."
McGonagall sat down heavily in her office chair, stammering and apparently at a complete loss for words.
"Of all the ridiculous—impossible—why, he would be the last person to ever—in any case, You-Know-Who's long gone—I was a friend of his parents, I won't listen to such unfounded accusations!"
"Oh, so you're in his father's pocket as well?" Milo asked, disappointed. "Seems like the whole wizarding world is convinced he's such a great guy when he's really, clearly, obviously evil. It's like you're all blind, I swear!"
"Evil? A tad arrogant, when he was younger, and I suppose he had an unfortunate and blatant disregard for any rules he found inconvenient, but never evil. There are places in this country—and right now, I'm debating if you're sitting in one as we speak—where statements like that would be responded to with challenges to duels."
"I always had you figured as being on our side, Professor. I can see that my trust was misplaced."
"And what, exactly, is your side, then, boy?" McGonagall asked, her face flushed with anger. Milo was starting to wonder if she hadn't multiclassed into Barbarian for some mysterious reason.
"The good guys, Professor," Milo said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"How dare you—"
"If you're of a mind to call Draco Malfoy a poor sweet, innocent boy then," Milo said with a hint of finality, "I think we're through anyways."
McGonagall stared at him as if he had just said the sky was green.
"I—you—Draco..." she stopped talking and simply breathed steadily for several moments, evidently trying to calm down. "Who did you think we were talking about?"
"Who did you think we were talking about?"
"Harry James Potter," McGonagall said. "The boy you nearly killed today."
"Oh," Milo said. What was it Quirrell mentioned about the Polyjuice potion? "That."
"Yes. That."
o—o—o—o
"There must be a change of plans... my family are still loyal... more than I can say for some..."
"Y-yes, my l-lord, of c-c-course, my lord, but I have always b-been your most d-devout—"
"Interesting, isn't it, that, when asked, all my servants profess to be my most devout, my most faithful... paradoxical, it seems..."
"W-we've had setbacks, I-I'll admit t-t-to that, my l-lord, b-but—"
"Indeed we have had... setbacks. Perhaps I should turn to Lucius instead.. one of my other most faithful servants..."
"B-but my l-lord, w-we are weak—f-forgive me, b-but y-y-you know it to b-be true—w-what is to stop him f-from s-simply killing us and c-c-continuing to rule in y-your stead?"
"Killing you, you mean... for I am far beyond the reach of even Lucius Malfoy..."
"Yes, of c-course, my lord, what I m-meant was that you w-would be as I f-f-found you. S-surely, a s-significant s-s-setback even for one such as—"
"Yes, yes, I know what you mean... ought to be more concise... takes ages to say anything with your st-st-stutter..."
"S-so my l-l-lord, w-what shall we d-d-do? C-continue to t-try for the St-Stone or for the b-b-boy?"
"I see no reason we cannot do both... for if one fails, and knowing you, one will fail, we will have the other... simply prudent..."
"B-but he claims he c-c-cannot cast the spell yet."
"But his power grows with violence... provide him with violence, Quirrell, violence at all levels..."
"A-at all levels, m-my lord?"
"Violence he can overcome, but... violence where he fears for his life... for the lives of others...
at all times, Quirrell, all times... he must never know safety again... but keep him alive... yes, always
alive..."
"It w-w-will take t-time m-m-my lord, a-as with the Acr—"
"SILENCE. You are never to mention that to me again!"
"I-I'm sorry, my lord, have m-m-mercy... the p-p-p-pain..."
"Mercy?"
"Y-yes, my lord, please, my lord, I b-b-beg—"
"Very well... Am I not merciful, Quirrell? You are granted reprieve from your sufferings... for the moment..."
"Th-th-thank you, m-my—"
"Cease... no time to waste on your incomprehensible stammering... we must plan carefully..."
"My lord, w-what if—"
"I meant 'we' figuratively... I, of course, shall plan carefully... you shall listen, and you shall act..."
"Of c-course, my lord."
"You are their hero, now, are you not? Saved the mudblood from the monster... we must use this..."
"H-how, my l-l-lord?"
"This is what you must do..."
o—o—o—o
"—so you see, it wasn't me at all who cast the hex or whatever it was," Milo explained reasonably, "but, in fact, Professor Snape, polyjuiced to look exactly like me."
"And you seriously expect me to believe this load of tripe?" McGonagall snapped.
"Snape's—"
"Professor Snape," McGonagall corrected sharply.
"Right, Professor Snape's had it out for Potter since he first set foot in this castle. Everyone knows it."
"Be that as it may," McGonagall said. Milo was somewhat astonished that she didn't contest the point, "the notion that he would use Polyjuice to facilitate assaulting one of our students is completely out of the question. Now, are you quite ready to tell me the truth, or would you rather I have you thrown out the front gates immediately?"
"Truth! Of course. Professor, dose me with Veritaserum and you'll be able to tell that I'm being completely honest!"
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