A/N: Please read and review.

17

Dark Magic

Minerva McGonagall hardly expected to see the man she did walk into her office and announce that they "needed to talk". She put down her quill and looked up at him. "Well then, Severus, get on with it. I haven't got all day," she snapped. In fact, she did have all day, but considering that she never liked to take a break from her job or talk to Severus Snape, she would have truly preferred creating a lesson plan for the next year to spending the day conversing with one of the only people she couldn't stand.

"I have reason to believe that one of your students is trying to . . . seduce one of my students," Severus stated.

Minerva peered over her spectacles at him. "Which students might you be referring to?" she asked.

"Miss Granger and Draco Malfoy," Snape said bitterly, "Granger is obviously using . . . dark magic to trick one of my best students into getting points taken away from his own house."

Minerva cleared her throat. "Severus, I am aware that you are suspicious of any fraternization my students have with yours, but I must inform you that Miss Granger is one of the most honest and hard-working students in her year. I am certain that she would not go so low as to deliberately 'seduce' a Slytherin boy just to get him to indirectly lower the score of his house's points. I am afraid that your concerns are unfounded and a trifle ridiculous."

Severus gave her a withering stare and turned to leave. "I'm sure Lucius will put an end to the relationship soon enough anyway," he muttered, grinning triumphantly.

McGonagall rose to her feet. "Severus, you wouldn't dare-"

"What could I do otherwise? I knew you would not side with me in my valid argument."

"Albus will be hearing of this. You can be certain about that," Minerva spat, "If Miss Granger is harmed in any way, you will be to blame."

Snape shrugged. "So be it," he said and left the room.

Minerva was left in her office, nearly shaking with fury. Snape knew what kind of a person Lucius Malfoy was. Would he seriously go out of his way to involve him in the "problem", even when his actions could endanger the welfare of one of the students?

"Severus, you cold creature. If something happens, your name will be printed all over it," she groused to herself. She sat down and took up her quill, pulling out a blank bit of parchment.

Albus Dumbledore,

I am afraid that Severus Snape has done something that might endanger one of our students. Please stop by my office.

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva quickly tied the letter to her owl's leg, muttered a few gentle words to the bird, and sent it off towards Dumbledore's office.

A/N: Please review. 'Twould be stellar.