Hateful Love

Chapter Twenty-Three

NOTE: I do not own any of the ideas or characters expressed in this story (except Cassie Jackson). All of these belong to J.K. Rowling.

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Cassie P.O.V.

          The trip back to Cho’s compartment is spent mostly trying not to cry. I’m sure that I look like a zombie as I slowly walk down the aisle, not that many students are outside to see me. I feel numb, searching over and over in my mind for the reason why Draco hasn’t come back to Hogwarts. How can he do this to me?

          I slide open the compartment door and lay eyes upon Danny trapped in Jacob’s famous headlock. Katherine and Cho are laughing hysterically, trying to stick Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans into Danny’s hair. The sight makes me smile a little, but it also reminds me of last year’s trip to Hogwarts. The compartment looks so empty now.

          Pushing away the aching thoughts of Matt, I shut the door behind me and plop down next to Katherine by the window. Danny has finally escaped Jacob’s grasp and is currently tackling him to the ground.

         While the two guys roll around on the floor and Cho pelts them with the Flavored Beans, Katherine turns to me with a big smile on her face and asks, “Did you find him? Did you guys make out in front of everyone?”

          I drop my gaze to study the leather seats; I’d been hoping to avoid this for as long as possible. Katherine’s expression turns serious, and she waits a moment before saying softly, “He’s not on the train.”

          “No,” I whisper, biting my lip to hold back the tears. “He didn’t come back.”

          Katherine pats my hand sympathetically, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I act like it does, however, and give her a small smile.

The rest of the train ride goes by as it usually does; Danny and Jason play Exploding Snaps, so Katherine, Cho, and I talk quietly by the window. I’m not really in the mood for gossip, so we talk aimlessly about nothing in particular for the entire ride. I want to talk about Draco, confide with them about how upset I am, but with Danny and Jason so close, I don’t dare.

I don’t think Danny will ever forgive me for what I did to Matt—not that I can blame him. He’s finally started talking with me again, but it’s never in a joking or friendly way. Sure, it sucks, but I completely understand why he’s upset with me. So Katherine and Cho are the only ones who know about Draco and I, and I definitely don’t want Danny or Jason to find out.

When the train finally screeches to a stop at the station, I’m barely holding it together. The three of us stopped talking for about half an hour towards the end of the ride, and that had given me plenty of time to think. But mostly worry.

When I step off the train and look towards where the carriages are, I stop completely in my tracks, causing Katherine to bump into me from behind.

“Cassie, what the hell—“ she snaps, pushing me aside. She freezes, however, when she sees what I’m staring at.

The thestrals—we can all see them now. They look like gaunt and bony horses, almost ghost-like. Their sharp hooves paw the ground impatiently as students clamber into the carriages, unaware of the ghostly creatures just feet away. Katherine takes a careful step back, sucking in a shaky breath of air. I tear my eyes away from the creatures and see Cho silently crying, eyes locked on the thestrals.

Katherine shakes her head and grasps Cho’s arm gently, saying quietly, “It’s okay, Cho, let’s just find a carriage.”

She leads Cho towards the nearest carriage and I follow them, wiping at my own tears under my eyes. I know Danny and Jason are close behind and that they’ve seen the thestrals as well, but I’m too scared to see their expressions. I'm sure Danny is crying too.