Hateful Love

Chapter Forty

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.

          When Katherine comes back a half hour later smiling smugly, I start to get really concerned. As she shuts the door behind her, I sit up in bed slowly and eye her suspiciously. “Katherine…what did you do?”

          She looks over at me, still smiling broadly, then says innocently, “Nothing.”

          I raise an eyebrow as she sits down on her own bed, worry gnawing at my gut. Katherine leans back against the headboard, and I slide to the edge of my bed, saying, “Please tell me you didn’t talk to Draco.”

          “Relax,” Katherine replies easily, looking over at me. She eyes me carefully with a faint smile on her face as she continues, “You should go to the Room of Requirement now.”

          I blink once she’s finished speaking, completely not expecting this. “Um, what?”

          “Go to the Room of Requirement,” Katherine repeats, crossing her arms and gazing at me seriously. When I don’t move, she stands and ushers me to the door despite my protests. “Cassie, go. Trust me.”

          “I don’t trust you!” I exclaim, managing to stop her from pushing me out the door. “Draco’s probably waiting there, and I am not going to risk everything because of your—“

          Katherine opens the door and interrupts calmly, “Draco’s not going to be there. Just go, okay?” She pushes me out just enough so that the door will close, and she cuts off any more of my words as she slams it shut. As I take a step back to avoid getting hit, I hear the lock clicking and Katherine calling through the door, “You can come back inside once you’ve been to the Room of Requirement.”

          “Katherine!” I turn the knob desperately, though I know she’s locked it. Taking a step back, I run my fingers through my hair with frustration and wonder if I should risk actually going. I mean, Katherine said Draco wouldn’t be there, so I wouldn’t be putting him in danger. Of course, there’s the likely chance that she’s lying…

          I sigh angrily and turn away from the door, deciding that I’ll just go quickly to the Room of Requirement. If Draco is inside, then I’ll leave before anything can happen. I’ll have to leave before I try to talk to Draco…because I know I won’t be able to stop myself.

          The hallways only have a few students roaming around now that classes have been over for a while, so I don’t have to fight my way through any crowds to get to the Room of Requirement. I shiver slightly from the chilly air, wishing my grey sweater was thicker. Wringing my hands nervously in front of me, I hope that whatever Katherine wants me to see won’t take long.

          Finally, I stop in front of the entrance to the Room of Requirement. I shut my eyes and pace three times, thinking over and over that I need to see what Katherine wanted to show me. When I open them again, the door is materializing out of the cold stone in front of me. I glance quickly behind me to make sure I wasn’t followed and, taking a deep breath, slowly turn the knob.

          As soon as I open the door and slip inside, I wish that I could turn around and walk right back out. But my legs seem to have turned to stone as I realize that Draco Malfoy is standing ten feet away, facing the fireplace with his back to me. Damn it, Katherine…