Sweet as Sugar (Angelina Johnson)

Chapter Fifteen

The hallways were dark, and Indie rushed down them, trying to find her. She knew that Angelina was hidden somewhere, in one of these rooms, but she just couldn't find her. She had thrown open countless doors, ran down numerous corridors, and still she could hear her. 

Angelina's tortured screams rang out through the castle and Indie cried out in exasperation and pain. 

Where was she?! Indie furiously thought.  She took a left and saw a light at the end. Sighing in relief, she ran towards it. Inside the room she found Angelina. 

But she didn't look like herself. 

Her hair was matted to her forehead, there was blood covering her face and hands, and the phrase "Watch out" was carved on her hands; one word per palm. Indie screamed in terror, 

And sat bolt upright in her bed.

Her mother stood above her, waiting expectantly for Indie's answer. 

"Sorry, Mum. Bad dream," Indie muttered. 

"Ohhhh, Indie, I'm not mad. I'm just worried. Did I look mad?" Gemma asked worriedly. 

"No, Mum, I'm just used to that she-beast at this point," Indie replied. 

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Gemma asked. 

"No, I-I uh, I think I'm alright," Indie shuddered at the thought of her girlfriend's mangled body, "I'd rather just forget about it all together, really."

"Alright, well if you change your mind, come talk to me." 

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Things I'm Worried About

1. Umbridge taking her wrath out on Indie. 

2. Indie being left alone in such proximity to the castle. 

3. Indigo. 

Angelina scribbled out another list; she was desperately trying to organize her thoughts into more coherent, especially before she wrote to Indie. She had promised to write the waiting girl after a few days getting settled in.

Dear Indie, 

I've been trying to figure out how to write this letter without sounding over protective, but I can't so, here goes. 

I am so goddamn worried for you, it's not even funny. Umbridge has already destroyed everything good about the school, and I'm not even gonna be there next year, and I don't know if you'll be safe. 

We need to talk. 

In person. 

Love, 

Angelina. 

She sealed the letter with the special yellow wax Indie had surprised her with the other week, and sent it off with her father's owl. 

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Indie was lazily manning the counter, while watching the customers flit in and out. Usually the store was packed with students, but when it was spring break, it was pretty calm. Indie rapped her fingers against the fudge display and absentmindedly checked her nails. They were unpainted, and trimmed short. 

Her mother came walking down the staircase to relieve Indie of her position at the counter. 

"Thanks Mom," said Indie with a smile as she hung up her apron. "I think I'm gonna go for a ride."

"Okay, honey, have fun. Be safe," Gemma warned. 

Indie nodded and headed down to the cellar to pick up her bike. She smiled at its aquamarine exterior, and blew the dust off the handlebars. She hadn't rode it since summer, but it was a semi-sunny day and she was going to make the most of it. She pushed it up the ramp that led to the outside, and mounted it. 

It's true what they say, you never really forget. She pedaled slowly at first, just getting used to it again. Then she really started riding. No one in the wizarding community really used muggle contraptions to get around, but this was her favorite. She rode down the alleys of Hogsmeade, and back up, and then around to Zonko's and then even further down to the Hog's Head and then around to the Three Broomsticks. She spotted Madam Rosmerta inside and waved to her with a smile. She rode almost all the way to Hogwarts but stopped about three quarters of the way. She wondered if this was how Angelina felt when she was on her broom. 

Indie was free, and her hair was blowing in the wind, and she couldn't stop smiling. Then the owl landed in her basket.