*4*4*4*
Minerva made her way quickly to the dungeons and before announcing herself to Severus she took a moment to collect herself. It wouldn't be at all conductive if she simply stormed in and hexed the man.
'Enter,' Severus called at her knock.
'Severus, a word please,' she requested, though Severus saw the request for what it was. A command. He tucked his quill into his notebook and turned to face her.
'Very well, what is this about?' he asked as politely as he good, expecting to be asked about Harry.
'I was wondering if you still had your copy of last evening's Prophet?' she asked curiously.
'Why ever for?' he asked, that was the last thing he had expected to be asked about. He did however still have a copy of the paper, he had desperately wanted to burn thing but hadn't been able. The edge was singed but that was as close as he had gotten.
He thrust the paper into Minerva's hands, it took a moment but at Minerva's gasp his head shot up and he was surprised to see her looking livid.
Minerva had to look at the date on the paper three times before it registered that it was dated yesterday, but this wasn't the same paper she had received.
'Severus, I don't know who sent you this but it isn't real,' she said slowly.
'What do you mean "not real"?' he asked glaring at her.
She pulled a folded copy of yesterdays evening Prophet from her robes and handed it to Severus. 'This was the paper I, several others, received last night,' she said handing it to him.
He took it reluctantly. He was slow to open it but once he did he practically tore it in his haste to find anything like the article from his paper, but couldn't find anything. There was absolutely no mention of Harry at all in the paper.
He huffed and stuffed the paper into Minerva's hands, 'it doesn't mean it's not real.'
'Severus you are an idiot,' Minerva said softly.
'Why because I refuse to let someone make a fool of me?' he snarled. If he had been talking to a first year they probably would have peed themselves but as he was talking to Minerva McGonagall she simply scowled.
'You don't need anyone's help to make you look the fool Severus,' she replied.
Suddenly pain blossomed across Severus face originating from his nose. He swore violently and it took a moment to realize that someone was cursing him out.
'You selfish, insecure, irritating, greasy, bossy, ungrateful, insufferable wank there's a broom shoved so far up your arse you sweep the floor, you egotistical, condescending, hooked nose twat! You don't deserve him!' Draco was being held back by Bill. 'Give me my wand you monkey kissing baboon! I want to hex his testicles off and then I want to-' whatever Draco wanted to do was cut off by the hand that covered his mouth.