Shiver

With a heavy heart I arrive outside of Malfoy’s office at a quarter of.  Since I’m early I sit down and bring out a book to read. 

But  cannot concentrate.  I stare stupidly down at the words in front of me.  I feel anxious and uneasy.  After several failed attempts I close the book and put it back in my bag.

Nervously, I tap my fingers on the wood bench, smoothed by time.

When a loud bell chimes nine I nearly scream. 

Good god.  I need to calm down.  This what he wants to see.

So I take  a deep breath and knock on his office door.

No response.

I do it again.

Still no response.

Now I’m angry.  I know I shouldn’t, but I turn around and begin kicing the door hard.  There’s no way he couldn’t hear that, even if he’s asleep.

Great.  He’s late to his own meeting.

I sit down. 

And wait.

And wait.

Time crawls by slowly, and finally fifteen minutes have passed.  I tell myself to knock one more time and if he isn’t there I am leaving.  Screw him.

I knock, but just before my hand hits the wood the door opens.

Malfoy is standing there, looking annoyed, ‘Miss Granger, please do not waste other people’s time.  I’ve been waiting for you and was just about to go looking for you.’

My jaw drops.  ‘Excuse me?’

He arches an eyebrow at me, ‘I would think you of all people would be punctual, and mature enough to own up to your mistakes.’

I can feel my heart racing as I begin to panic. In a slightly high pitched voice I explain, ‘I was here early.  I came here at a quarter of.  And I knocked, I kicked the door, and still you did not answer—‘

‘I didn’t hear anything.’  A voice came from inside.

Malfoy moved out of his way.  A male student, a third year, is there.

‘Mr. Collins here wanted to discuss something with you Ms. Granger.  It seems he was looking for you.  But now that you are here, and late, I think you two will have to discuss this later.’

The boy was a Ravenclaw, and he looked at her as if she were crazy, ‘But I knocked, I did—‘

‘Goodnight Mr. Collins.  Granger, in my office.’

I can’t seem to find the words.  I want to talk to the boy to understand what is happening, I am not crazy, I’m not.

But I have to speak to Malfoy.

I step into his office.  He is sitting on the edge of his desk.  ‘Shut the door Granger.’

Feeling like crying, I do so, and slowly enter his office…