𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 [ 𝐭.𝐫 ]

23: NIRVANA

Angelina never wanted it to be a big deal but she was slightly pissed off when the infirmary was crowded with her friends holding up signs that specifically mentioned her being the better Slytherin prefect.

She groaned, forcing herself up. "Who told you all to come here?"

Lily was the first to talk. "Abraxas said we're all back to normal," her tone was hopeful and weak. Angelina despised hopefulness now, it had taken so much from her.

"When?" She began, slipping on her sweater that Tom had left earlier. "When in two months has anyone of you bothered to talk to me? Hm?"

Nobody spoke but exchanged troubled glances. "You guys didn't care. You didn't care that I was lied to and manipulated."

"We did try to ask him—"

Angelina cut Orion off with her hand. "You all knew," she emphasized by gesturing towards the boys. "You all knew what he was going to do to me."

She cringed as she stalked pass them. "And the worst thing is you all knew his motives." In fury, she snatched her wand off the side table and walked past the group.

"But you forgave him!" Lestrange called. Angelina stopped midway and turned. Her placid face contorted into a scowl.

"Who said I forgave him?" She snarled.

And she walked out of the infirmary to the prefect's bathrooms. She really could use a warm bath right now.

She wasn't as strong as she made herself to be back at the infirmary— stepping out of the hall as if her body didn't feel like being crushed by a bulldozer. The side-effects of her arrogance came during her short trip to the bathrooms. She had to steady herself against the walls of the dungeons and catch her breath every few minutes.

She nearly cursed out loud when she saw Slughorn coming her way.

"Miss. Arlo! How are you today?" Slughorn beamed at her.

Angelina stood up straighter, and straightened her tie. "Professor," she began. "It's wonderful to find you here. Honestly, I have had better days but nothing a good breakfast can't fix!"

His smile only stretched out further. "Always so optimistic."

She felt like a guilty fraud. A fucking fraud.

At least she was good at lying.

"Do enjoy that breakfast. Good day, dear."

"Good day, professor." She gave him a retreating smile and turned by a corner. To her luck she bumped into someone. "Oh, Merlin. I'm so sorr— oh, it's you."

She folded her arms in front of her and Tom gazed down at her. "You are not supposed to be running around the building."

Gazing into his hard eyes, she scowled. "I am not running. My legs fail to assist me in that department. I am merely walking to go for a bath."

"Well," Tom gestured for her to keep walking. "I might as well accompany you in the hopes of you not falling to your death." He said as he kept up with her unsteady stride.

"Always so optimistic."
She quoted Slughorn under her breath.

Then. "You need not to follow me like my guard dog, Riddle."

Tom raised an eyebrow as they kept walking. "I fail to believe."

"There's a lot you fail to believe in, Riddle. What are you talking about now?"

She saw him frown from the corner of her eyes but refused to turn and look at him directly.

"I fail to believe that you do not need me, angel."