Courage {Neville Longbottom} (ON HOLD)

Chapter Six

The echoic murmur ran through the corridors of the castle as the professors of Hogwarts had come across something quite unique during the early evening hours that day. Professor McGonagall had to the Owlery to check on the suspicions of an injured owl, although, coming from the lips of Peeves, she didn't really believe. Of course, there was no sign of an injured owl as she heard the poltergeist cackle in the background after he had disrupted her in her office. Her lips pressed together in irritation as multiple of ideas of how to deal with the annoying poltergeist filled her mind. 

Yet her actions against Peeves would have to wait as she was greeted by an owl that swooped in and landed before her. An envelope was dropped at her feet, that left the woman confused for multiple reasons. She was not expecting any mail as the majority of people she conversed with were already at the castle and the coloration of the letter was easily recognizable as a howler. The deep scarlet appeared a bit brighter against the darkness of the wood floor beneath her feet. Her eyes partially widened, in complete disbelief that anyone would have the nerve to send her a howler.

She had done nothing wrong and she certainly wasn't a child warranting an angry letter from a parent. However, curiosity got the best of the woman as she bent over and carefully lifted it up, not bothering to open it. Thankfully, she had the mind to read the front of the letter to discover that it was not actually addressed to her.

"What a generation we have come upon where a student sends a howler to a professor."

With Peeves in earshot, it didn't take long for the word to spread that a professor in the castle had received a howler. The majority of the faculty was left in shock that a parent would allow such a thing as obviously an underage student would need the assistance of someone practicing magic. But the big question came of who the howler was addressed to. Many of them seemed nervous, some of them thinking back to all the students they had disciplined through the previous school year or if anyone was upset over their O.W.L.s.

They all had their lists of students, but as Minerva continued down the corridors, she did not come to stop at any of their offices, leaving them even more curious.  Eventually, they followed the deputy headmistress to see where she would stop.

Severus was sitting at his desk, going over last minute adjustments to the curriculum he was planning for the upcoming year when he heard shuffling outside of his office. He glanced up and instantly set his quill to the side as he saw Minerva and several other professors standing in the doorway.

Slowly, he raised a brow as he eyed each of them individually. "Yes? May I help you?" 

It was not an invitation to assist anyone with anything, but a question as to why the hell they were all gathered outside of his office.

"You received a letter," Minerva told him in a calm tone as she walked in and set the envelope on the desk. Severus went to question as to who was sending him any sort of mail when he recognized the appearance of a howler. Instantly, he rose from his chair with a heated look on his face, knowing all too well who the letter was from, which left him even angrier.

"Excuse me," he said through clenched teeth as he directed everyone out of the office and closed his door over without another word. He was seething as he reached for his wand, planning on destroying the howler right then and there. Although it seemed curiosity had a strong grip on him as well as his arm lowered to his sighed, no longer aiming his wand at the howler. He wanted to know what the foul-mannered brat had to say to him after he had gone out of his way to send her the needed supplies for the upcoming year.

He certainly didn't have to do such a thing and yet, she had been so ungrateful, having the nerve to send the package back to him. How her parents allowed her to behave in such a way was even more appalling especially after the mother claimed to do such an amazing job with raising her children. He scoffed under his breath at the woman's remarks, noting that she was raising an arrogant, ungrateful, outspoken, disrespectful brat.