Entry for the "Arithmancy Class" at "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)"

Task: I would like you to write about somebody in a highly emotional state.

Entry for the "Halloween Collection Competition" - prompt: 44. Anxiety

Rolanda Hooch was slowly pacing up and down in front of the high oak doors leading to the Hospital Wing. The young woman looked extremely exhausted, for it was already two in the morning and she was in her pyjamas, having been alerted when she had already been in bed.

She still could not believe that this had happened... Minerva McGonagall being attacked! Rolanda could not put her anger and hatred towards Dolores Umbridge into words, but to her own surprise, she was not ruled by her temper right now.

As she waited for any news on her friends health state, all she could feel was a horrible anxiety. What if Minerva was not to survive this attack, what if...

Surpressing a sob, she ran a shaky hand through her hair and took a deep breath, just as Severus came down the hallway, approaching her.

"Any updates on her condition?," he asked, his voice sounding neutral as always and Rolanda asked herself if he even cared about what had happened to their Deputy Headmistress.

"No, not yet."

Severus stood next to the door, looking remarkably calm as he eyed the still pacing Quidditch mistress and after a few minutes, he asked:"Could you please stop pacing around? It's annoying."

"But I am nervous! I have to move around or I will go insane!"

"I don't see any possible changes in your condition by that," Severus said dryly and grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. She gulped, not feeling in the mood to give one of her usually nasty replies to his remark and obeyed reluctantly, leaning her back against the wall opposite to the Potions Master.

Only seconds later, Rolanda started to chew on her fingernails, her eyes fixed on the door to the Hospital Wing and Severus shuffled slightly, then reached out and slapped her hand away from her mouth.

"Stop it. That is disgusting."

"Would you please stop bitching around with me?! Nobody forced you to stand and wait here with me!"

They glared at each other for a short moment, but it was not as intense as it normally used to – in this moment, Rolanda realised that he was just as worried about Rolanda as she was, but that he was also worried about her.

"Just... just let us try and wait in silence, okay?," she said softly, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye and he just nodded in agreement.