Unmatched Hatred

Chapter 10

Sunday afternoon (the day after):
Hogwarts lay blanketed in pristine, white snow. The surrounding air presented a chilly and frigid atmosphere. I pulled my coat tighter around me as I felt a strong breeze push against me. It only continued to snow as time was passing by.

Where is he?

I took a short stroll along the castle walls to distract my mind away from the boredom. I walked on the icy stone pathway as snow fell into my midst. Snowflakes fell gracefully from the sky and some stuck to my eyelashes. All that could be seen beyond the horizon was white. All of Hogwart's ground was overlaid in pearly white snow. And because so much snow was falling from the sky, I myself was also submerged in it.

Finally, he came.

I caught sight of Kasper making his way towards me.

"Took you long enough," I said.

"Sorry. Are you ready to go?"

"I have been ready. Seriously, what was holding you back?"

"I erm- couldn't find my sweater."

"Really Kas?"

"Yes. Come on let's just go."
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(At Hogsmede):

Kasper and I decided to spend our Sunday together at Hogsmede. I insisted that he accompany me, and, after a lot of convincing, he finally agreed. Once we got there, we headed straight for the Three Broomsticks.

"Go grab us a table. I'll get us butter beers," I told Kasper.

Five minutes later, we were sitting at a table and enjoying our drinks. Kasper didn't plan on drinking much of his since he was hung over, but I told him it might help his headache.

"You are covered in snow," mentioned Kasper.

"Yeah because I was outside for ten minutes waiting for you."

"Well that's not my fault."

"Oh shut it."

I watched from our table as more students came flooding in. The line stretched outside the doors. I was glad me and Kasper got there at the time we did.

As Kasper was taking a sip from his glass of butter beer, I asked him a question.

"Can we talk about last night?"

"What happened last night?" he asked, licking the butter beer off his lips.

I raised an eyebrow, then remembered how drunk he was. "You told me what was going to happen when you went back home this summer."

I watched his face turn pale. "How much did I tell you?"

I lowered my voice since we were in public. "That you were going to be forced the Dark Mark. That's it."

Kasper ran his hands across his face. "I wasn't supposed to tell you."

"Why not?" I exclaimed. "That's a serious matter. You couldn't just keep it a secret from me."

"I really didn't have a choice."

"What do you mean?"

He sighed, immensely frustrated with himself.

"Just promise me you won't tell a soul."

"But what about-"

"We can talk more about it later. Just promise me you will keep your mouth shut. Please."

He said please as if his life depended on it, and perhaps it did.

"Of course, but let's talk about it later."