Mr.Riddle

2. Tardy

I sat in my room reading The Great Gatsby. I turned my head at the sound of the door squeaking open. It was just Blair. I swear that I hadn't seen her in over a month. Even though we were roommates, it was still awkward every time she came back to our room.

She looked at me with a quick fake smile. We used to be pretty close but she got popular and we stopped hanging out. She walked over to her bed, grabbed something behind her pillow and hid it behind her back. She didn't bother looking at me again and just walked back out the room.

I felt a breeze of cold air hit me as she closed the door behind her. I couldn't see what was in her hand since it was small enough to fit inside her closed fist. I got back to reading my book as I shivered a bit from the cold air now sitting in the room.

I had a little bit of time until potions so I decided to curl my hair today. I walked over to my mirror and sat on my knees. I plugged in the curling iron in the socket to the right of my mirror. I played with the ends up my hair while waiting for it to heat up.

I let go of my hair and stared at the curling iron with my head empty. I picked it up with my right hand and continued to stare at it. I laid the hot part down into my left hand and wrapped my fingers around it. I looked intensely at it burning my hand. "Fuck!" I yelled as I stood up and dropped it to the ground.

I shook my hand in hopes that it would cool it down. There was now a red stripe across my palm and 4 of my fingers. My mom had told me growing up that when I burned myself, to rinse the spot under cold water. I walked over to the bathroom pulled the left lever towards me to turn off the cold water.

It only seemed to make it worse so I turned the water off. I walked back into my room and closed the bathroom door behind me. I bent down and unplugged the curling iron from the wall. Curling my hair wasn't ideal anymore.

I had nothing else to do with myself so I decided to begin my way to potions. I decided on a Slytherin house sweater, a black pleaded skirt and black tights.  I lathered myself in a peppermint scented perfume. It was my favorite scent.

I was on my way to potions when I was nearing the great hall. I didn't pay attention to the time so I walked into the great hall, sat down at the Slytherin table beside Malfoy and grabbed an apple. I guess when I was grabbing it, Draco had noticed my hand.

"Holy shit Dana, what happened?" He inquired. "Oh I accidentally burnt myself, nothing big." I shook it off. "How the hell did you do that?" He interrogated. "You know what, I don't- I don't even remember." I shrugged. He turned away and I opened my book and resumed my position.

I glanced over at a clock in the corner of the great hall. Shit. I was already late for class. I quickly gathered my things off the table and ran to potions.

I opened the door and the classroom must've been silent before I even walked in and I swear the doors weren't that loud. Everyone was staring at me. I walked up to my seat, tucked my skirt and sat down.

"Now like I was saying, today we will be learning about the polyjuice potion." Professor Riddle asserted, cutting an eye at me. He was walking around with a ruler in his hand like usual. I opened my textbook and flipped to the page that Cho Chang was on. She was who sat next to me in this class.

Professor Riddle must've seen me trying to find the page. "Some of you would know what page we were on if you weren't LATE!" He yelled slamming a ruler on my desk in front of me. I jumped.

"Page 238." Cho whispered to me. I smiled at her. "Now, would anyone like to tell Ms. Deveaux what the polyjuice potion is?" He announced to the class. I blushed and looked down to avoid eye contact with anyone.

Hermione granger raised her hand. "Yes, Ms. Granger?" He asked. "The polyjuice potion allows the drinker of the potion to take on the appearance of someone else for an hour or more depending on the quantity." She stated. "And what helps with this potion, Ms. Granger?" He asked. "Similarly in appearance Professor." She declared. "Correct." He confirmed.

"Well, surely Ms. Deveaux already knows that because she didn't bother making an attempt to show up to my class on time." He sneered. "I-" I tried to explain myself before he cut me off. He put the ruler up to my neck and I lifted my chin up. I gulped out of nervousness. "Don't let it happen again." He breathed. "Yes Professor." I shook my head as he moved the ruler away from me.

He walked away and continued to teach the class about the potion but I just couldn't focus. I turned my hand over under my desk to see that my burn hadn't gotten any better. I closed my hand into a fist and looked back up at the board which Professor Riddle was projecting onto.

It was times like this that I wish I had someone to go back to my dorm and talk with. Whatever. I didn't need anyone but myself.

"Okay, all of you read pages 239-241 in your textbook and be prepared to talk about it in class tomorrow." He announced to the class. "Ms. Deveaux, please stay after." She said more quiet. I packed my things but left my bag under the table. I stayed at my seat until everyone had left the room.

Once everyone had gone, I walked up to the front of his desk with my hands holding each other behind my back. "Yes Professor?" I questioned. "Have a reason for being late to my class?" He said looking down at his desk, flipping through the pile of papers. "Yeah um I actually was in the great hall and completely lost track of time." I hesitated. "Well if it happens again you'll have to be punished." He says looking up and making direct eye contact with me.

I gulped. "Now go on." He said shaking his hand, signaling for me to get out. I grabbed and bag and scurried out of the classroom.