Hermione had been dreading the knock at her office door. She had been dreading it for hours. Despite this, Hermione jumped when it finally came. Admonishing herself silently, she felt disgusted she had done that. She was a Junior Minister for Diplomatic Affairs at the Ministry of Magic. She wasn't a nervous schoolgirl anymore! Taking a moment to compose herself, Hermione straightened her ministry robes of black and red and smoothed down her hair.
Assuming a proper posture, she called out, "Come in, please."
Meeting Mrs. Malfoy was somewhat fraught for Hermione. She knew all too well what her family had down during the war and who they had sided with. She also knew that Narcissa had helped to save Harry; probably the only reason that she was in Azkhaban with her husband!
Then there was the incident with Narcissa's sister...
Hermione pushed those thoughts from her mind. She relived them far too often as it was. She didn't need to think of that event when her mind wasn't forcing her too.
Getting to her feet, she waited for Mrs. Malfoy to enter. Demurely, she folded her hands in front of her and fought the urge to fidget.