Angelica's eyes flew wide open.
"Oh, noo," she moaned. She fell backward a few steps. "No, no, no, no..."
No! It couldn't be true. Laertes, Ophelia...her family were Death Eaters. Now her only friends? She's known Blaise since her first year. She couldn't believe that he was one. No!
"Angelica!" Blaise gasped. He grabbed her arms. "Angelica, are you okay?"
Her face hardened. "No, don't touch me!" she groaned. She fell down.
"Ang!"
"No!" she screamed. The first years jumped and shrieked. The fourth years and the kissing couple looked round, silent.
"Angelica," hissed Nott. "Shut up!"
But she wouldn't. She screamed and screamed, scrambled to her feet, and glared at Blaise in the eyes.
"You prat," she snarled. Then, she was off. She slammed her shoulder against the wall, and it slid open. She dashed down the corridor, up the steep, long ramp. Pushing past the other students in the Entrance Hall, tears slipped down her face. Angelica ignored the protests of fellows students as she pushed them aside. Finally, it seemed, she reached the stairs. The giant marble steps seemed twice as big now.
"Angelica!" she heard her voice. She turned. There he was, like a god, running toward her. She gulped and mounted the steps, going as fast as she could.
"Angelica!"
"Oi, O'Connor!"
"ANGELICA!"
Nott, Pansy, and Blaise were calling her name. Students stopped and stared as the seventh years chased after the poor, disheveled fifth year. But, of course, none of them felt pity. Clearly, they were Slytherins. Who cared when a Slytherin was upset? Not a Hufflepuff. Not a Ravenclaw. Certainly not a Gryffindor.
Presently, Angelica stopped. She had turned sharp turns, gone through hidden passages, and up and down stairs. Angelica hoped to Merlin she'd lost them.
"Miss O'Connor!" said a brisk voice. She turned.
"Madam Pince!"
The librarian strutted towards her. High cheeked and very made-up, Madam Pince was nearly relentless when it came to students returning books on time. Unless McGonagall (or Dumbledore, thought Angelica, when he was here), whom Madam Pince respected, gave the student permission to keep it out later.
"Miss O'Connor, what in Merlin's name is going on out here?" said Madam Pince. For Blaise, Nott, and Pansy had skidded to a halt behind Angelica, breathless.
"I need to see Professor McGonagall," said Angelica tearfully. "But I can't seem to find her office."
"Oh, dear girl, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, I can't tell you anything, ma'am, I must speek with Professor McGonagall!"
"No, she doesn't!" said Blaise gently.
"Oh?"
"Er, yeah," said Nott, a burst of inspiration. "Er, this is my cousin, and, em, she's a bit frightented. See, you see, she's been seeing things since her father's - my Uncle's - death, ma'am. Perhaps we'll take her down to the Hospital wing, you know, for a bit of shock stuff from Madam Pomfrey."
"I don't think that that will be nessicary, Mr Nott," came a crisp voice. Professor McGonagall, a witch with a tight bun hidden under her witch's hat, stood there. She tapped her foot once, and came forward. Gently, she took Angelica's hand and guided her toward the stairs, behind Blaise and the others.
"You see, Mr Nott, you are not at all related to Miss O'Connor, and therefore, should not be lying to Madam Pince on an occassion such as this. Can you not see, boy? Do you have eyes? Miss O'Connor is in tears, and you refuse to let Madam Pince take her to me? I believe that is worth detention, Mr Nott. Please see me at your break."
And she lead Angelica away. Angelica could feel Nott's eyes miserably on her back; Blaise's furious ones; and Pansy's, as usual, dumbfounded.