A heart beneath the mark

9. Part

Hannah's POV

As I stood frozen in the girls bathroom, Riddle's words kept running through my mind: "I'm not the only one who finds you insufferable." The smug smirk he left me with echoed through my thoughts. Who else could it be? The question gnawed at me, twisting like a blade in my gut. I wanted to believe it was him—so badly. It would've been easier to pin all my anger and hurt on Mattheo Riddle, the most hated person in my life.
The rumors had taken root in every corner of Hogwarts, and I was drowning in whispers, judgmental glances, and quiet snickering that followed me everywhere. I had been so certain that Mattheo Riddle was the one behind all of it. But now... the doubt was creeping in.

His suggestion echoed in my head: "Think about it. Who else has a reason to spread those rumors?"

I paced restlessly through the castle, my thoughts spiraling. If it wasn't Riddle, who could possibly hate me enough to humiliate me like this?

I turned on my heel, storming through the corridors, my thoughts spiraling. I went over every interaction, every possible enemy. But the faces blurred together. The truth lay just out of reach, and the frustration mounted with every step. I shook my head, frustrated. The torches along the corridors cast long shadows on the stone walls, flickering as I hurried toward the Ravenclaw Tower. I needed to talk to Cho. She would know what to do; she always had a level-headed way of thinking. She would help me see through the fog in my mind.

I spotted her across the courtyard, deep in conversation with a group of younger students. With a hurried wave, I caught her attention, motioning for her to follow. Her expression immediately shifted from pleasant to concerned, and without hesitation, she excused herself and joined me. She shot me a worried look, immediately reading the stress in my expression. "Hannah, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Not here." I glanced around, already paranoid that someone might overhear. I grabbed her wrist and led her toward an empty broom cupboard nearby. We squeezed inside, the cramped space filled with the scent of old wood and broom polish. I cast a quick Muffliato charm, my heart still racing.

"Okay, talk to me," Cho said, looking even more concerned. "What happened?"

"It wasn't Mattheo," I blurted out, leaning back against the wall, my voice trembling. "He didn't start the rumors."

Her eyes widened. "Wait, what? Are you sure? He's been awful to you."

"I know, I thought it was him too!" I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the strands snag between my anxious fingers. "But he said something that's messing with my head. He said... he's not the only one who hates me. That someone else could have done it."

Cho frowned, biting her lip as she considered this. "So, if it's not Riddle... who else would want to hurt you?"

"I don't know!" I said, throwing my hands up in frustration. "I can't think of anyone else who hates me that much! I mean, I've had little arguments with people, sure, but nothing like this."

"Okay, okay, calm down," Cho said, her voice steady and soothing. She stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. "Let's think about this. Who knows you well enough to spread personal stuff? Someone who might have been angry with you recently?"

I stared at her, my heart pounding. Who else knew me that well? Who else could've twisted everything around like this? The answer started forming in my mind before I could stop it. Someone close to me... someone who might have been jealous, or angry, or both. The thought of my sister Gwen flashed through my mind like a lightning strike.
But that couldn't be right... could it? Gwen and I had our differences, sure, but we were sisters. We weren't best friends, but she wouldn't do this. Or would she?

"I... I don't think so," I said, hesitating. "Gwen wouldn't. I mean, we argue sometimes, but not like this. She wouldn't do something so malicious."

Cho raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "You sure? You know how sibling rivalry can get. And I've seen the way she looks at you sometimes... like she's competing with you."

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. Could Gwen really be the one behind it all? The idea felt absurd, but the more I thought about it, the more doubt crept in.

"I have to talk to her," I said suddenly, pushing away from the wall. "I need to know."

Cho grabbed my arm before I could bolt out of the cupboard. "Hannah, be careful. If it's really Gwen... just remember, she's your sister. Don't do something you'll regret."

I nodded, though my mind was already racing toward the Slytherin common room. Gwen had to answer for this. Whether I liked it or not, I had to confront her.