Wait A Minute ((India))

[workitout]

Abigail strode into the common room, her school bag slung across her shoulder, her robes bunched up because of it. She was too lazy to fix them, her mind was somewhere else completely. She had just left her Defense Against the Dark Arts class and had been hurrying to the common room to do the paper on Kappa's she had been neglecting for about a week now. Its not that Abby normally procrastinated on her work, in actuality she was always on top of it, but she had spending time with her cousin Gabriel and then with Conan so she got rather off track with her school work. In fact Gabriel had just grabbed her and stopped her from getting to the common room sooner. This was of course why her mind was somewhere else. He was upset over something that had happened out in the forest and when he got upset things got bad. She had joined him in the Great Hall and grabbed some snacks while she listened. By the time he finished, she was rather upset herself, sure Gabe was older than her but she alway felt protective of him. He had ran off from the Great Hall and she knew better than to follow, they were close and him running off meant he needed time and she would give him that.

She sighed as she entered the common room, it was so drab in there, it was great for when she was in one of her angry, darker moods, which granted after her talk with Gabe she was slowly slipping into. However her mood mainly was still in the carefree and fun vibe she tended to have so very often. People were rather shocked when Abby slipped into her mean, angry demeaner as she normally was carefree, though rather stuck up to those she did not normally associate with. In truth it was a beautiful day out again and Abby would have given anything to go work on her paper out by the lake, but the paper needed to be done today and she couldn't have any distractions. And she knew if she went out, she would get the urge to dance in the squishy grass again, then her thoughts would drift to Conan, hoping he would venture outside and find her and knowing him, he would. But if he did come, all hope for the paper being written would be utterly lost.

She looked around wanting to find a quiet place to sit so she could focus and write. Her eyes glanced around the common room, some older kids by the fire, some students about her age on the couches and then she saw her favorite chair was open in the corner. She almost jumped for joy until she got over there and realized the strange noises she had been hearing belonged to a decidingly large group of 1st years, gathered on the floor by her destination, playing gobstones. They were cheering loudly and she scowled as she headed over that direction. "Hey guys keep it down or get out. People are studying I'm sure you can take your infantile little game elsewhere." She smirked down at them, removing her bag from her shoulder and tossed it onto the table with a thud. When they didn't move, she raised her eyebrow and stepped towards them, "Perhaps you misunderstood, that wasn't a request. That was an order. Now be gone little minions, be gone." She flicked her wrist towards the door, urging them to leave and they quickly gathered up their things and left, many of them mumbling angrily, but often glancing over their shoulders to make sure she hadn't heard and come towards them again.

She grinned to herself, loving the effect she had on the younger students, as well as some older ones. She wished they would realize they were inferior to her and that she wasn't in the mood to deal with their bogus issues. She threw herself onto the chair, situating so she was drapped over it, ready to do the reading on the kappa's, trying to focus her thoughts off Gabe as she reached into her bag, pulling out her copy of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" as well as an apple she had taken from the great hall. She flipped casually through the pages, not really in any hurry to read up on Kappa's but definatly needing something to distract her brain. She started munching on the apple as she began reading, however she was distracted from her reading as she heard the common room door open. She looked up expectantly, half hoping it was Gabe, half hoping it was Conan and sighed when it was neither. She returned to her book, her gaze continuing to drift towards the door each time she heard it open.

[India Nightingale]

India was in a drained mood, and her body language showed it. Wherever she was, she usually walked with a stark straight back, head raised high as if she was queen of the world. She didn’t make eye contact with anyone, but glazed over them as if they weren’t there. As if she was untouchable. It was a tactic that made her feel superior, big, instead of the inner fear that she was insignificant and too small to be seen. Today though, she was half slumped as she ambled down the Hogwarts corridors, eyes turned to the ground as if she had nothing to prove. Gone was that usual demeanour. She just wanted to go unnoticed, even though she knew she was already invisible to everyone when she wearing her amazing outer shell. Downcast and staring at her immaculate shoes, India’s face was also openly tired, and if anyone had approached her with even a slight bit of concern, she would probably have reared up and snapped at them with irritation. But of course, no one bothered to. India was even more pale than usual, due to lack of sleep from the previous night, and she had to admit, with the inclusion of today’s long hours in lesson time, she was exhausted. She just didn’t want to care, and was doing a rather good job of it. Since yesterday, not a morsel of food had gone into her mouth. Nor a mirror had been broken. And India had completely neglected Devil, much to his chagrin. She didn’t honestly mean to, but India still felt awfully weak from yesterday’s incident, and having slept nor ate only worsened her condition.

Just make it through this day. Yes. India knew things would be much better tomorrow, because that accident would be well and truly behind her. India had always found it hard to let go of the past, and usually found it easier to bury it in the midst of all her other hidden troubles and fears. She didn’t have the energy to do any digging today, but tomorrow. Tomorrow was a different story. Tomorrow India would surface as herself again. Unstoppable. Rock solid. Queen of the world. Oh yes. Those few phrases kept repeating themselves in her head over and over again, as if in fear of forgetting it. Shoving her bag further up her shoulder as she neared the Slytherin Common Room, India was extremely grateful that it was the end of the school day. She would normally tackle her work with gritted determination, but today she just wanted to flop onto her bed and sleep it out. When sleeping she could forget her worries and troubles. She didn’t feel the huge urge to eat because she was so hungry, didn’t feel the need to stay way from food. She didn’t need to bother placing a solid mask over her weak self. India’s peace and quiet was always marred by the fact she shared a dormitory with five other people, but she’d had to grown used to this over the last five years, and just pretended they weren’t there anymore. Looking forward to hit that soft thing she called bed, India trudged up to the Slytherin Common Room door, muttering the password to the portrait and watching it swing open with an indifferent expression.

Walking into the Common Room, India immediately averted her eyes away from the fireplace, not strong enough to face down her fear. ”Ignore it.” Sweeping her gaze swiftly round the half packed Common Room, her eyes came in contact with a familiar pair she recognised. The brunette girl was sitting in a chair, munching on an apple whilst a book lay open before her. Not letting her face show anything as she stared back coldly at this third year girl, India’s mind ran through several thoughts. Finally coming upon a decision, she moved forwards towards the girl, a hand extended into her pockets as she withdrew some wizarding money. Approaching the third year, India spoke up with a low voice, though the disdain in it was unhidden, “Abigail Roche?” She looked in some way rather similar to her cousin, which didn’t bode well with India. Thoughts of yesterday churned up from within her, and she did her best to keep herself from collapsing again from remembering the events that had occurred between her and Gabriel in the forest. Ignoring the dark memories, India reminded herself that this was no doubt his cousin. She had seen the two around together before. Before Abigail could reply, India continued onwards, ploughing ahead so this conversation would be cut as short as possible. “Give this to your cousin. Covers the rest of the cost.” Dropping the money in her hands onto the table beside Abigail, India turned to leave without another word, not caring that she’d probably left Abigail in confusion.

Suddenly, India’s heart skipped a beat as she almost doubled over in pain. Gasping silently, mouth half open, her heavy school bag slipped to the floor with a thunk. Dark hair falling across her pained face, India tried to regain herself, but failed as another sharp pain bloomed in her chest. Clenching her fists together, India stabilised herself on a chair, barely able to move from the pain, but she refused to cry out loud. Oh, it hurt. Feeling the dark vision swim into sight, India knew she was close to fainting, and cursed herself for not returning to her dormitory sooner. Turning her head around frantically, India’s eyes locked themselves on a flare of bright orange, and they widened in fear as suddenly remnants of the past crashed into her mind. Burning, burning everywhere. ”Fire!” India felt a scream crawling inevitably up her mouth, but couldn’t feel her hands to clamp it over her lips to prevent it from spilling out. Her body was numb, it couldn’t move. The pain was everywhere, coursing through her veins like the wild fire she thought she could see. Suddenly everything went black as she fell to the floor for the second time in two days, her brain shutting itself off automatically. Fire ceased to burn, pain faded to nothing. India’s body had had enough abuse.

((Discontinued thread.))