All the more reason for me to go. We need someone up there whose only job is to look after Harry. And Hermione as well.

Raz Lestrange may be a cracking duellist but he's got lessons to teach. And he sure wouldn't give a thought to sacrificing Hermione if it meant saving Harry.

Merlin, there are a hundred reasons Snape could want to get Hermione alone. Polyjuicing into her to get to Harry's just the tip of the wand; he could hope to ransom her to bring Harry to him; he might want to use her blood or bone for spells - I don't want to say anything where she'll see it, of course, and frighten her. But I don't like it one bit and I'm not letting Poppy Pomfrey tell me they'll take care of things up the school.

They've taken care of things so well, this far.