CATS at Hogwarts

Chapter 16: Gabi

I gasped as I said the words. They had been wrenched out of me, torn out of my mouth. Hunter took a step backwards and tripped onto the bed, his face white and haggard.

I grabbed a pillow and buried my face in it, sobs being jerked from my throat.

"No one knows about this?" Hunter whispered.

I lifted my head cautiously. "No."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't tell anyone."

"What?!" I raised my eyes to meet his hard green ones.

"They will find the person, without your help," Hunter said quietly, then looked up with an expression of hope, "Unless you can turn your cousin in?"

My heart was blackened and burned against my cousin, but I couldn't turn him in. He was still my family.

A tear made its way down my face, leaving a trail of sorrow behind.

"You can't seriously- I can't- I mean, I won't- I just couldn't turn my own cousin in. I'd be an outcast forever." I gulped, regretting every word that tumbled out of my mouth. I stared at the floor, wishing it would swallow me up.

"Gabi," Hunter sat down next to me and lifted my chin. "You were put in Gryffindor for a reason. Remember that reason? It's because you are brave. Be that brave girl, the one who stands up to people when you know they are wrong. The one who isn't afraid to tackle new things. The one who puts others before herself. The one who loves her friends and family more than anything in the world."

I soak in his words like a sponge, and realize the truth. I'll have to come out with it sooner or later. "Ok, I'll tell them."

"When?" Hunter pressed. 

"Tonight," I squeezed my eyes shut and imagined telling my best friends, the ones who have always been there for me, that my cousin killed one of their friends. I panicked and my eyes flew open. I turned to Hunter with a frantic look but he pretended not to notice and said,

"You owe me a game of twenty questions." I scrunched up my face in exasperation.

"Not now, Hunt-"

"Please? Pretty please?" Hunter begged. I sighed and gave in. It's hard for me to say no. 

"Ok, I'll start. What's your middle name?" He asked eagerly. I looked at him strangely.

"Really?" I asked skeptically. "Well if you can't come up with something more exciting, then I guess I'll tell you. It's Louise. My turn." I pondered what to ask him.

"Oh I got it. How long did you have a crush on me for?"

"Um... probably for forever, but I realized it when we were in that classroom and I took you through my memories." He grinned and his eyes roamed my face. I blushed for some stupid reason and sucked in my breath.

"My turn," He said, "Who did you like in Fourth year?"

"Can I say no one?" I pouted. He snorted and shook his head.

"Er- Fred," I muttered.

"What was that?" Hunter asked, with an innocent look on his face. I glared at him.

"Fred!" I said louder.

"I'm sorry, I still can't hear you!" Hunter goaded.

"You are such a git!" I punched him in the arm.

"Rude much!" He smirked.

"I think I'm going to go downstairs, I'm so done with you!" I sighed.