CATS at Hogwarts

Chapter 15: Hunter

Her hair whipped around her face as she screamed, "I GIVE UP! I CAN'T DO THIS!" I spun around, shocked. She hurled the quaffle at James and gave me an electrifying stare that seemed to say "I'm breaking and you aren't doing anything."

James was frozen onto his seat while the Slytherins below guffawed at Gabi's hysterical retreat. Bella had a sad sort of look on her face as she watched Gabi sprint into the changing rooms.

In fact, the only one who could still function was Jack.

"We have to finish our practice, Chaser or no!" He yelled at James across the pitch, with an expression of confusion over what had just happened. James nodded, though he obviously couldn't care less about Quidditch.

The practice was awful. Bella swung her bat so hard it flew out of her grip and bashed Michael on the head. I was so distracted that I hit a bludger at James and almost sent him to the ground the hard way.

I barely kept it in during training. All I could think about was how she had looked like a crazed person, someone turned rabid and wild. And I was pretty sure I knew why.

That note. She must know who it is that sent it.

"That's it! I can't do anymore with you morons! PRACTICE IS OVER!" James bellowed when Sahej flew right into a goalpost while searching for the snitch.

"FINE! I WAS GOING TO BLOODY QUIT ANYWAYS!" Sahej screamed, making James snarl even more. The whole team landed and withdrew to the changing rooms.

I dashed out of the changing room as soon as I could and sprinted up to the castle. I bolted through hallways, bowling over first and second years.

"MOVE IT MIDGETS!" someone bellowed from behind me. I turned to see Bella dashing after me.

"Wolfe, get back here!" She panted furiously. I consented to pause for a second while she caught up with me.

"Yes?" I asked impatiently, tapping my foot.

"Don't you dare go disturb her." Bella warned forebodingly.

"WHY?" I roared, "SHE'S MY FRIEND AS WELL, YOU KNOW! MORE THAN A FRIEND ACTUALLY!"

"I KNOW, AND THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULDN'T GO BOTHER HER!" Bella shrieked with a look of exasperation. "ISN'T IT CLEAR SHE WANTS SOMETIME ALONE?" I started running again, weaving in and out of students heading for dinner.

I shouted the password at the Fat Lady and pushed through a crowd of noisy third years experimenting with headless hats. I was halfway up the stairs when they collapsed and formed into a slide. A wailing sound began to start, that only stopped when I clambered off the slide.

Bella appeared at my side, with a worried expression. "Idiot," she muttered half heartedly and began to climb up the stairs, which had reformed. I watched her hesitate before the door. Bella seemed not to be able to hold it in though, because she burst through the door and slammed it shut behind her.

I spent several tense, worried minutes on the sofa before Teresa came sauntering down the stairs with a smirk on her face. She spotted me and sunk down next to me, uncomfortably close.

"Your girlfriend is so pathetic!" She laughed spitefully. "Time to get a new one, I guess."

"What the hell? You don't just throw people away like they're pieces of clothing. Anyways, Gabi's fine!" I snapped at her and moved to the couch across from her.

"Oh really?" Teresa mused, and her long, black hair swung around as she leaned forward to look at me. "I would call her anything but fine."

"Wait, what happened to her? Is she ok? HEY, COME BACK HERE!" I yelled, standing up as she climbed through the portrait-hole.