ITS YOU ; DRACO MALFOY

chapter 281.

By the time I get to Hogwarts, I hear the bell chime for lunch at 12:30.

Oh I'm so late.

Four hours and 30 minutes late. If I don't get fired I'll be shocked.

But, with my heart at the pit of my stomach, I take uneasy steps inside of the castle. Students are piling into the great hall, coming from all different directions. There's a hubbub of noise as they all communicate with each other their friends and I swallow the anticipation of talking to McGonagall, or even Dumbledore, when I see her stood at the foot of the staircase leading up to the East gallery of the castle — where my classroom is.

Clearing my throat, I walk towards her and she turns around, once she recognises that she has my attention, and begins to briskly lead me to my classroom as the two of us walk in complete silence.

However, when we get there, we stand outside for a minute as our silence continues and I nervously play with my ringless hand as I forgot to put on all of my jewellery after my shower. "...I'm so sorry." I manage to say without breaking into tears. I'm so scared right now I could curl up into a ball.

"You're not a child anymore, Miss Parker." McGonagall states and I slowly nod my head. "Some part of me could, slightly, understand why a child is late to a lesson or two. Perhaps their previous teacher needed to talk to them after lesson, or perhaps they felt ill and went to visit Madam Promfery for a checkup — those I can excuse. But you! An adult! You are perfectly capable of being punctual, Miss Parker, and even in your teenage years you were never this late for a lesson."

I stay silent.

"Is there any valid reason for this? Is your daughter seriously ill?"

"No, ma'am."

"Is everything alright with your Mother?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Perhaps something acute happened to your fiancé?"

"No, ma'am."

"What about you? Was there a devastating incident that had a direct impact upon you?"

"No, ma'am."

Again, I'm greeted by uncomfortable silence. "You may have been a golden student whilst you were here, Miss Parker, and I may have been your head of house but I cannot simply excuse this behaviour."

"I understand." I quietly reply, attempting to keep my tears at bay.

"If this were any other teacher I would have to treat them with the same courtesy that I am offering you." She informs and I slowly nod my head. "However, as it is not I who decides your fate, you best visit Professor Dumbledore this second. The password is Mint Humbugs, I would say a quick prayer if I were you, Miss Parker."

I was planning on it.

With that, she storms away with her lips tightly pressed together and an angry manner plastered all over her. Once she's gone and I'm consumed by silence, I decide that I had better visit Professor Dumbledore before lunch comes to an end.

I make my way to the west gallery.

If I get fired I have no idea what I'm going to do. Probably fall into a state of deep depression. But I cannot lose this job.

Once I arrive outside of the golden statue that guards its way to Dumbledore's office, I clear my throat and quietly say, "Mint Humbugs."

Surprisingly, the wings of the Gargoyle turn and lift, issuing an entrance for me to walk through. Nervously sighing, I step inside of the office and look around at the grand room with walls stacked high with books. I'm about to smile when I hear a man clearing his throat and I'm forced to look at him.