"Are you trying to shield them?" Severus Snape glared at Murphy.
"Shield them?" Murphy frowned. "I'm merely protecting my students. Why do you treat your own students as enemies, Professor Snape?"
"They planted a listening device in a professor's office! Shouldn't such a serious offense be punished?"
"Of course—if that really is what happened," Murphy said. "But I believe there must be some misunderstanding here."
"A misunderstanding? They've already admitted it!"
"Oh, I think you may have frightened them so much that they didn't understand your question. May I have a few words with them, Deputy Headmistress McGonagall?" Murphy turned to McGonagall as he spoke.
He hadn't bothered asking Severus Snape, because this was McGonagall's office, and she outranked him.
Calling her "Deputy Headmistress" rather than "Professor" was a reminder to everyone present: I'm not just a professor. I'm a school governor, too! Take the hint!
Professor McGonagall picked up on this immediately and nodded.
After all, his request was perfectly reasonable.
"Tom, Harry, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley." Murphy glanced at the four youngsters. "Which of you lost your Goblin Coin?"
Harry and the others were startled. Lost it?
This...
Tom looked at Murphy, who had his back to all the other professors and gave him a wink. Relieved, he said, "Professor, it was... Harry. Harry couldn't find his coin."
Murphy nodded, then turned to Harry. "Harry, do you know where you left it?"
"I..." Harry stared blankly at Murphy, still not understanding. "I don't know, Professor..."
Then Murphy turned to the gaunt caretaker in the corner. "Argus Filch, did you hear Peeves's voice coming from that coin?"
"Y-yes, sir... I heard him say..."
"Professor," Tom said, having now understood everything. "After I lost my coin, I planned to find it using the coins' calling function. We gathered together to