CATS at Hogwarts

Chapter 17: Oksana

Sometimes it feels like everything you know is crumbling down around you. Your life, your family, your friends, your entire world.

Sławek has barely been speaking to me, and every letter I receive from my mom has brought bad news- my parents are divorcing, my cat has died, my best friend is dead and another one may be on their way to dying.

And now Gabi's cousin is the murderer of him.

I hid all this behind my smile, masking the hurt, concealing my shredded life. Inside, everything is broken, and every move causes pain, like glass sticking into my sides.

When we were done joking around, Gabi proposed to go to Sweden for break.

"I know exactly where they live," She said, "And I can bring two of you so I have backup if something goes wrong."

"I need to go," I said immediately.

"Me too. I can't let you do anything that puts yourself in danger," Hunter interjected with a worried look on his face.

"AWWW that's SO cute!" Bella gushed. "Ship! OTP!"

"Oh shut up," Gabi groaned and slugged Bella playfully in the arm. 

"When will we go?" I asked.

"Probably, around, like winter-ish," she replied. "I can get us plane tickets."

"Um, don't judge but.... What is a plane?" Fred asked. My friends all laughed so hard they fell off their chairs. At least, the half-bloods and muggle borns like Gabi, Hunter, Linde and Sławek did. 

Gabi is a half-blood, Hunter is a muggle born, Linde and Sławek are muggle borns and the rest of us are purebloods. Only James and Bella know about planes, though, since Mr. Potter took James on a flight before, and Bella took a plane ride to visit Gabi one vacation.

 "Well... it flies!" Hunter supplied, and then burst out laughing.

"It has HUGE wings!"

"You get food and drinks!" Bet you can't guess who said that.

"But the food sucks!"

"WHAT? I LOVE airplane food! I LOVE ANY KIND OF FOOD!"

"Guys... WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BLOODY HELL AN AIRPLANE IS!" Fred yelled.

"Actually, I do!" Sahej volunteered. We all gaped at her. "What? My dad is a pilot, even though he's magical. They need wizards on planes so that they can prevent disasters."

"Whoa... cool!" James said.

"Back to the point... Is it decided that me, Gabi and Hunter should go?" I asked, impatient to get on track.

"First class airplane food..." Bella said dreamily.

"OI! I'M TRYING TO MAKE A PLAN HERE!" I yelled.

"Oh... right... wait, what?" Bella asked, snapping out of her daydream. Typical. I exchanged an exasperated look with Gabi, while Linde shook Bella by the shoulders.

"Hey, be careful! My girlfriend is delicate!" James joked. Bella flushed and smacked him.

"Yeah right! Bella is anything but delicate!" Linde laughed.

"Yeah, watch!" Sahej said and smirked. She waved her wand and a textbook came flying from my shoulder bag and smacked Bella on the back of her head.

"Um..." Bella looked around in fake confusion, "Guys, why did someone just throw a piece of paper at me?"

Gabi burst out laughing, dislodging Hunter from his precarious perch. He slipped off the chair and landed on his butt in front of the armchair. I watched him lean against her legs and she froze for a minute, probably deciding whether she wanted to smack him or kiss him. Okay, scratch that last part. Smack him or punch him. Or both.