"Severus, my office. Now!"

Severus nearly choked on the sip of coffee he had just taken. He hadn't seen nor heard the floo activate and hearing the headmistress' enraged voice shrill through his small kitchenette was not exactly what anyone wants to hear first thing in the morning. He had just got up after a short night. Despite having gone to bed later than usual, he woke up at 6 o'clock as per his usual.

Wondering whatever might have his boss that enraged, he got up from his seat, threw his black frock coat on over his dress-shirt and put on his dress-shoes before making his way through the floo into the headmistress' office.

"Took you long enough. Sit."

Severus knew immediately that there was something very wrong and that it had something to do with him. To say that he knew not what to make of this was an understatement, he was outright confused.

"What is the meaning of this, Minerva?" asked Severus, crossing his arms across his chest while arching his eyebrow.

Instead of telling him what had her that upset she just handed him the newest issue of the Daily Prophet and motioned towards her desk that was littered with letters. 

"These started coming in just 5 minutes after the prophet arrived here. Don't tell me that you have no idea what all of this is about!" 

The older woman glared at him over the rim of her glasses daring him to say something.

"You should know by now that I haven't read this newspaper since my youth. All I ever saw them print since Skeeter has started writing most of the articles were lies or twisted versions of the truth at best," answered Snape, now really annoyed at his employer's antics this Sunday morning. Instead of arguing more, he opted for reading what Rita Skeeter had published now. He took a first actual glance at the newspaper and instantly knew that this was going to be interesting and most definitely enraging. Half of the front page was filled with a picture of Hogwarts right under a rather catching headline alarming the potions master.

"What happens behind Hogwarts' closed doors?

Yesterday's Halloween celebration at Hogwarts castle left quite some questions for people in attendance to ponder and some may even affect the whole school. What are our children up to when in school? Are they as safe as we are being told? Is everything that happens at Hogwarts safe for our children and is everything legal that's happening in the castle? To get some answers, read more on page 3."

"What is the meaning of this? Has Skeeter been drinking too much giggle water yesterday?" 

A confused and intrigued Severus looked up from the paper in his hands.

"Just read on," was the headmistress' short reply to this. Upon hearing McGonagall's really serious tone he opened the paper on page 3 and began to read Rita Skeeter's newest article.

"Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry hosted a celebratory Halloween ball for ministry employees, students and their parents who had quite a few questions upon leaving the party held in the Great Hall. Most of the questions to be heard were circled around a certain potions master of said school and the eldest group of students around Hermione Granger.

Potions Master Severus Snape (Order of Merlin, first-class) arrived as punctual as ever at precisely 8 o'clock with none other than war heroine Hermione Jean Granger (Order of Merlin, first class) on his arm accompanied by two small children who were excitedly clinging on their hands. The first question many were asking was why the potions master would attend any public event with one of his students at his arm, of age or not? Is there something very illegal going on in Hogwarts' dungeons we know nothing about? And if so, are other teachers and students involved? Furthermore, are we intrigued as to who the children in question were who accompanied them and whose children they were?

Our ever- researching reporter noticed that Hermione Granger was the only one attending the ball out of her group of friends, and she was seen abruptly running from the hall in the middle of a rather close dance with her teacher leaving him standing alone in the middle of the dance floor before he ran after her. Whatever happened between the two of them remains a secret as the both of them weren't seen again that night. All we know is that they seemed to be very close and enjoying each other's company up until the said incident took place. Both, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley failed to attend. Upon further investigation, we learned that Miss Granger and Mister Neville Longbottom were the only so-called "eighth- years" to be seen. That leads us to the question of where the other students were last night? Did Mister Potter manage to get himself and his friends into trouble again and earned them detention or a ban from attending? Whether our questions will be answered or not remains to be seen.

Your ever researching reporter Rita Skeeter will surely be searching for more important information about this rather scandalous event."

"Minerva, what is this about?" 

The headmistress sat in her office chair looking at the younger man sitting opposite her with the newspaper loosely held in his left hand.

"I don't know. Why don't you tell me what is going on?" Her green eyes pierced his black ones and bore right into his soul.

"You know that we attended together upon your insistence. I only asked her to dance with me because you talked me into that. I was just fine sitting there, and she really was enjoying herself talking to some people. All that happened on the dance floor was us talking. She said some things she thinks she shouldn't have said, and she was embarrassed. That's why she left the hall. I was concerned for her, and so I ran after her. Nothing happened, really."

"I know that, but the others don't. Due to this lovely article, many parents are concerned about their children's well-being and some even want their children to be removed from our school. I know that everything that happened was within the confines of the law, and you know that I fully approve of your hopefully soon-to-be relationship with her as I know that she's good for you, but I need to ask you to refrain from anything for the next few weeks as the ministry started some investigations. Until then, I will burn all of these and make some plans to get rid of these scandalous rumours Skeeter printed."

She finally seemed to have calmed down a bit and now looked more exhausted than anything.

"I'll deal with this. Trust me, you needn't worry about Hermione and me plus I don't think that there will be a relationship you seem to hope for. She may be good for me, but I am no good for her and I know it. Let me give a statement to the prophet without Skeeter's interference. With that, nearly all the problems should be solved. If not I will immediately resign from my post, and you can give it to Hermione. She's ready. I don't want the school's reputation to suffer because of me and some silly accusations made by that lying woman that's calling herself a reporter."

He didn't wait for a response but just stood and left the office through the floo with his face seemingly made out of stone again. The mask of indifference has made its return after some months and Minerva was sure that she didn't like this turn of events.