Professor McGonagall was completely immersed in her own thoughts as she made her way to the Great Hall. She had just received a rather unpleasant visit from Severus and was trying to contemplate a suitable course of action.
She knew it was wrong, but she held a soft spot for Hermione, and more than that she knew that the girl had acted completely out of character. If it hadn't been for his obvious fuming demeanour Minerva would have even hazarded a guess, that just perhaps, he had simply mistaken her words. She ignored his threats as he demanded action, stating anything less than a suspension would be seen as blatant favouritism.
How ironic, she thought, for him to be standing there accusing her of favouritism. Indeed, she thought, an intervention would be needed and an extremely stern reprimand.
Having said that, she also knew that Severus was blinded by prejudice, and had it been another student (one not so closely affiliated with Harry Potter) his demands would not have been so costly. A little bit of favouritism, she mused, would be needed to balance out his obvious lack of bias.
More than the act itself, Minerva found herself worried about the sudden change in behaviour. Hermione Granger had proven herself to be a cool thinker under pressure and a witch who possessed the rare gift of complete rationality.
On top of this, the girl had been raised well, and even at times where a person twice her age would have buckled under the strain and the pressure she was able to function, and function with manners.
Minerva was so caught up in her own thoughts, that she hadn't actually realised she had arrived at the great hall until she was abruptly torn from her thoughts by a sudden, and rather loud, outburst. "SHE DID WHAT!" Minerva's head quickly darted in the direction of the noise and she found her eyes settling upon the Gryffindor table.
Ginny Weasley, at least, had the decency to look embarrassed.