Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
“Very good,” murmured Dumbledore. “So the Death Eaters were able to
pass from Borgin and Burkes into the school to help you A clever plan, a
very clever plan and, as you say, right under my nose.”
“Yeah,” said Malfoy, who bizarrely seemed to draw courage and comfort
from Dumbledore’s praise. “Yeah, it was!”
“But there were times,” Dumbledore went on, “weren’t there, when you
were not sure you would succeed in mending the cabinet? And you resorted
to crude and badly judged measures such as sending me a cursed necklace
that was bound to reach the wrong hands... poisoning mead there was only
the slightest chance I might drink…”
“Yeah, well, you still didn’t realize who was behind that stuff, did you?”
sneered Malfoy, as Dumbledore slid a little down the ramparts, the strength
in his legs apparently fading, and Harry struggled fruitlessly, mutely, against
the enchantment binding him.
“As a matter of fact, I did,” said Dumbledore. “I was sure it was you.”
“Why didn’t you stop me, then?” Malfoy demanded.
“I tried, Draco. Professor Snape has been keeping watch over you on my
orders —”
“He hasn’t been doing your orders, he promised my mother —”
“Of course that is what he would tell you, Draco, but —”
“He’s a double agent, you stupid old man, he isn’t working for you, you
just think he is!”
“We must agree to differ on that, Draco. It so happens that I trust Professor
Snape —”
“Well, you’re losing your grip, then!” sneered Malfoy. “He’s been offering
me plenty of help — wanting all the glory for himself — wanting a bit
of the action — ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Did you do the necklace, that was
stupid, it could have blown everything — ’ But I haven’t told him what I’ve
been doing in the Room of Requirement, he’s going to wake up tomorrow
and it’ll all be over and he won’t be the Dark Lord’s favorite anymore, he’ll
be nothing compared to me, nothing!”
496