Back into Honeydukes, back down the cellar steps, across the stone floor, through the trapdoor -- Harry pulled off the cloak, tucked it under his arm, and ran, flat out, along the passage.... Malfoy would get back first... how long would it take him to find a teacher? Panting, a sharp pain in his side, Harry didn't slow down until he reached the stone slide. He would have to leave the cloak where it was, it was too much of a giveaway in case Malfoy had tipped off a teacher -- he hid it in a shadowy corner, then started to climb, fast as he could, his sweaty hands slipping on the sides of the chute. He reached the inside of the witch's hump, tapped it with his wand, stuck his head through, and hoisted himself out; the hump closed, and just as Harry jumped out from behind the statue, he heard quick footsteps approaching. 

It was Snape. He approached Harry at a swift walk, his black robes swishing, then stopped in front of him. 

"So," he said. 

There was a look of surpressed triumph about him. Harry tried to look innocent, all too aware of his sweaty face and his muddy hands, which he quickly hid in his pockets. 

"Come with me, Potter," said Snape. 

Harry followed him downstairs, trying to wipe his hands clean on the inside of his robes without Snape noticing. They walked down the stairs to the dungeons and then into Snape's office.

 Harry had been in here only once before, and he had been in very serious trouble then too. Snape had aquired a few more slimy horrible things in jars since last time, all standing on shelves behind his desk, glinting in the firelight and adding to the threatening atmosphere.

 "Sit," said Snape.

Harry sat. Snape, however, remained, standing.

 "Mr. Malfoy has just been to see me with a strange story, Potter," said Snape. 

Harry didn't say anything. 

"He tells me that he was up by the Shrieking Shack when he ran into Weasley -- apparently alone." 

Still, Harry didn't speak. 

"Mr. Malfoy states that he was standing talking to Weasley, when a large amount of mud hit him in the back of the head. How do you think that could have happened?"

 Harry tried to look mildly surprised. 

"I don't know, Professor." 

Snape's eyes were boring into Harry's. It was exactly like trying to stare down a hippogriff. Harry tried hard not to blink. 

"Mr. Malfoy then saw an extraordinary apparition. Can you imagine what it might have been, Potter?" 

"No," said Harry, now trying to sound innocently curious. 

"It was your head, Potter. Floating in midair."