Severus returned to his office and found a note tacked to his door. He pulled it off with more force than was necessary and stormed inside the small, dark chamber. He opened it, his eyes skimming the page as his rage grew with each word. He shredded the parchment, ripping it into as many pieces as he could manage, before storming out of his office and up to the Headmaster's office.

Dolores Umbridge, unable to get into Dumbledore's office, had settled on a large office right near the great hall. Snape opened her door without even the pretense of a knock. "No."

Umbridge glanced up at him, "Ah Professor Snape, I see you got my letter."

"I will not accompany you there tomorrow. Find someone else," he turned to leave but her words froze him in his tracks.

"Oh? Well, I guess I could dismiss you from all of your duties here at the school. I know the Ministry has wanted to open an inquiry on your past for some time now," she said quietly in that sickeningly sweet voice.

He very slowly turned to glare down at her, "Find someone else to go with you."

"You are the best choice when it comes to ensuring the students stay behaved. I need to evaluate Professor Smith and you will be accompanying me, do I make myself clear?"

He took a couple deep breaths to restrain himself from cursing this woman into oblivion. He locked his jaw and gave her a small nod.

"Good," she said, giving him a wide smile, "we will leave here at 8 tomorrow morning."

He didn't acknowledge her words as he turned and stalked out of her office. He went back to his own office, knowing that the concentration required to brew potions would be the best thing to calm him before he did something very stupid.

A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short, but the next one more than makes up for it!