Summer Holiday

Chapter 42

The air was cold even with the sun out as Sophie sat on the edge of the pier dangling her legs. She found herself alone and was enjoying the peace and quiet she rarely experienced anymore. She closed her eyes and let the breeze shiver through her body. Suddenly, the planks behind her began to creak and shift.

"My class got out early. I didn't think anyone else would-" Sophie froze as she turned her head and didn't see her usual mates walking down the old planks towards her. Angelina Johnson stood only feet away from Sophie. Her appearance was worrisome. Her eyes had dark circles beneath them and her cheeks were puffy and tear stained.

"Angelina." Sophie spoke as they locked eyes. "What are you doing here?" Sophie slowly began to stand up, making sure her movements were slow and calculated.

"I told you. I warned you multiple times." Angelina muttered as her mouth quivered.

"What are you talking about?" Sophie was now standing up across from Angelina. Her stance wide.

"I told you to stay away from him!" Angelina screeched at Sophie. "And now he's dumped me."

"Fred? Angelina, you have to believe me, I didn't tell him to do that." Sophie began to move her hand slightly so it hovered over her wand in her waistband.

"He said he can't be with me......because of you." Angelina's lips were curled into an ugly frown.

"I'll talk to him. I'll tell him that's ridiculous."

"No! Haven't you talked to him enough?"

"You can be there!" Sophie offered encouragingly. "You'll come with. We'll talk to him together." Sophie smiled.

"No! No more talking! You've done enough damage with your talking!" Angelina screeched.

"Okay." Sophie took a small step backwards. "It's going to be okay."

"He won't be with me if you're in the picture." Angelina grew shaky. "Maybe it's time you're out of the picture." Angelina mumbled. She clutched her wand in her hand tighter.

Sophie swiftly grabbed her wand from her waistband and pulled it out. Before she could cast a spell Angelina shouted. "Expelliarmus!"

Sophie's wand flew through the air and Angelina caught it. Sophie froze like a deer in the headlights as Angelina held all the power.

"Angelina. Please." Sophie whispered. She felt tears well in her eyes.

"Stupify!" Angelina screamed.

The spell hit Sophie directly in her chest and she flew backwards off the pier. Her body crashed in the water hard, causing splashes to erupt around her. She was unconscious as her body slowly sunk further into the lake.

Sophie's eyes shot open as her lungs sparked with pain. The water was ice cold and her body was in shock. She had tried to take a breath, and the water stung her throat and lungs. She clutched her throat gasping for air, only finding water. The water was murky and green and difficult to see which direction was up. She let an air bubble out of her mouth, watching it flow to the left of her. She began to swim in the direction of the air bubble, praying that was the way out. The water began to grow lighter and hope filled her stomach.

Something spiky grabbed her leg and yanked Sophie back down in the water. She looked down to find a Grindylow hungrily latching onto her. She kicked her free leg as hard as her body would allow to free herself.

Three more Grindylows arrived gripping her body and pulling her further down. There was nothing she could do. Her lungs were out of air and she didn't have her wand. She looked back up as the surface of the water drifted further away until her eyes grew cloudy with darkness.