Ignatius grinned at response from his colleague the rumour mill of Hogwarts was very vibrant. It was an inevitability with several hundred teenagers boarding together, and the portraits seemed to get a kick out of messing with the residents too, a little rumour here, a tall tale there and then watch the fun unfold.

"I too try to avoid that particular part of school life, it does nobody any good" The Professor now began to wonder whether troubling Professor Skeeter with this was the correct course of action, but then again, he had come here to have an honest discussion with a man he knew and trusted if Mason was not aware of the ever worsening rumours, then perhaps his objectivity would only improve.

He let out a little sigh. "The particular rumour involves myself and one of the prefect girls, Miss Binns, Sixth year." he waited a moment to ensure that the name registered with the other man. Nothing had actually happened on the evening in question, but it was hard to hide the obvious affection he had for the girl when he mentioned her name.

"I ran into the girl in the night, she was on prefect duties, and we chatted, it was pleasant. But these portraits and their love of salacious rumours...." he rolled his eyes and laughed. "You know me, I've handled worse than idle gossip in my career, but the situation does concern me for how it might affect the girl... and." he hesitated, there was clearly more, but he wished to allow Mason to respond to his first comments, whether he had in fact heard the rumours. Or whether he had insight, to give Ignatius more idea how his next news might be taken.