"Did I hear that correctly, Snape?" he asked slowly. "Somone broke into your office?" "It is unimportant," said Snape coldly. "On the contrary," growled Moody, "it is very important. Who'd want to break into your office?" "A student, I daresay," said Snape. Harry could see a vein flickering horribly on Snape's greasy temple. "It has happened before. Potion ingredients have gone missing from by private store cupboard ... students attempting illicit mixtures, no doubt..." "Reckon they were after potion ingredients, eh?" said Moody. "Not hiding anything else in your office, are you?" Harry saw the edge of Snape's sallow face turn a nasty brick colour, the vein in his temple pulsing more rapidly. "You know I'm hiding nothing, Moody," he said, in a soft and dangerous voice, "as you've searched my office pretty thor- oughly yourself." Moody's face twisted into a smile. "Auror's privilege, Snape. Dumbledore told me to keep an eye-' "Dumbledore happens to trust me," said Snape, through clenched teeth. "I refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office!" "'Course Dumbledore trusts you," growled Moody. "He's a trusting man, isn't he? Believes in second chances. But me --I say there are spots that don't come off, Snape. Spots that never come off, d'you know what I mean?" Snape suddenly did something very strange. He seized his left forearm convulsively with his right hand, as though some- thing on it had hurt him. Moody laughed. "Get back to bed, Snape." "You don't have authority to send me anywhere!" Snape hissed, letting go of his arm as though angry with himself. "I have as much right to prowl this school after dark as you do!" "Prowl away," said Moody, but his voice was full of menace. "I look forward to meeting you in a dark corridor some time..."

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