The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 46: Giving Back

Angelina stumbled past the hanging branches, finally allowing herself to make a noise as she slumped to the ground.  She had remained silent during the long walk from the castle courtyard to here, bottling up her emotions, trying to keep everything back.  Now that she was alone and secluded, she allowed herself to sob.

This was her favorite place on the grounds.  A stand of trees with long sweeping branches hid a tiny patch of ground that dipped gradually into the lake.  You had to walk carefully over some rocks to get in and from the outside, it did not look like it was somewhere anyone could sit.  The branches hid whoever within from sight along the shore line or behind while having an open view of the lake.  It was the perfect spot to spend time with a friend, or to be alone.

The wind from the lake ruffled her skirt, blowing the hem about.  Still crying, she tore at the skirt with her hands, ripping the edge and making large rents along the side.  She blamed the skirt for her current situation but she knew it was not the skirt's fault.  It was easier to punish it than herself.

She had worn the skirt at a request from her...former...boyfriend.  She was the kind of girl that normally wore pants or shorts under her school robes.  She never liked skirts or dresses, only reluctantly wearing them at formal events with much bargaining from her mother.

However, she and Bradley Oaken had been having a rough time of things lately.  With the strict curfews and new rules during the attacks, it was not easy for them to meet and chat, much less kiss.  Even during their few meet ups however, and in notes they passed to one another, there was an edge to their conversations.  Apparently, he had fully bought into the idea that Harry was responsible for everything and was increasingly angry when Angelina refused to entertain the idea.

When she found out that Bradley had assaulted them out in the hall in front of students and Snape, she was livid.  She had questioned why he thought it was appropriate to attack a poor second year over the basis of rumors, and that he was willing to do it in front of prefects and a professor no less.

He was angry that she refused to support him.  Not only that, she thought her friendship with Harry was too much.  He did not like how close they were together.  He even went so far as to demand that she stop being friends with Harry and Katie, since he was still smarting from the way Katie stood up to him.

Angelina had outright refused.  She said they were friends as well as teammates.  While she did not go into Harry's personal circumstances, she made it clear that she would not abandon either of them.  She did like Bradley a lot, and she said so, but she would not pick him over her friends.

A few days later Bradley had sent her an apology note, asking to see her in the courtyard for the day.  He also asked her to wear the one skirt she brought to school with her.  She thought nothing of it at the time, just happy that they had worked past the argument.

She had shown up, feeling slightly self-conscious since she normally did not wear that kind of clothes, but happy and eager to spend time with Bradley on a beautiful day.

It only took a few moments and a few words to change all of that.

Bradley was there with his friends and he loudly mocked her in front of them.  He said that he would not be with anyone that would support him and him alone, that he deserved better.  That her friendship with the Boy-Who-Lived was unnatural.  To top it off he said she looked ridiculous in a skirt and no wonder she never wore them.

Somehow, she managed to walk slowly away with feigned dignity, the cruel laughter of Bradley and his friends echoing about her.  Once she was out of sight, she did the one thing she thought she would never do.

She ran away.

She ran away from the castle and into the grounds, making for the one spot she figured she would be alone.  She needed to be away from everyone, to let herself wallow in her grief and shame.  So she found herself in her favorite spot, secluded and separated.  The tears came and would not stop and she sat and sobbed.