𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗹𝘆, james potter

-ˋ 50

Perhaps it was because of everything. Of not being trusted or believed after the thing which changed her life, the bullying from people just because they didn't seem to agree. Because she wanted Olivia to feel just as bad as she had made Tiger feel. 

Her mind was racing at a hundred miles per hour, and as it neared lunchtime and the castle became the busy, somewhat loud place it was, Tiger decided something. 

She was going to tell someone what happened. And it would either be James or Remus. She needed someone to talk to about it, to know the truth before Olivia spread some twisted version of it.

Tiger was leaning towards telling James. Remus was her family, and if he found out and hated her, then that would be the rest of her family gone. She couldn't go and stay with the Lupin's if Remus hated her. 

But if James hated her, no matter how much it hurt her, she wouldn't be as affected. Sure, the feeling of the person you were slowly falling in love with hating you would be a lot to bear, and she would lose the place she was to call home for a summer. But, she wouldn't have to lose anymore family.

Tiger had a feeling that James wouldn't hate her. She hoped that he wouldn't. It was a lot to put on someone not to tell, but James was someone that Tiger felt as if she could trust. 

She would tell him that night, she had decided.

McGonagall returned to her office as the lunch bell rang, and found Tiger curled up in the corner, a book balanced on her knees. "How was the homework, Miss Howell?" McGonagall asked, walking over to the girl with the biscuit box, offering her several.

"Thank you." Tiger took the biscuits. "I'm planning on picking it up in the afternoon, if that's ok." The girl asked, and McGonagall told her it was . 

And so Tiger stayed in the office until dinner that night, and decided instead of facing the stares and whispers, the girl would just go down to the kitchens and get some food, eating it in the common room. 

Of course, when the students appeared after dinner, the whispers were even louder, contained in the small space. But it was better than a whole hall of students. 

"Tiger what the hell." Sirius exclaimed as he walked through the doors. "You just disappeared! After all that. People are saying you got expelled - again!" He continued, sitting down next to the girl.

"I was polishing silver for Minnie. Not getting expelled." Tiger raised her voice for the last sentence, looking around at people. 

"Well that's good to know. You missed a spectacular match. Ravenclaw beat Slytherin by ten points, Slytherin got the snitch though." James told her, squishing into the seat beside her. "You would have loved it."

"I bet. Ravenclaw's chasers are incredible." Tiger replied, and James mumbled something, but shrugged it off. "Lily, aren't you sitting down?" She asked, looking up at the ginger girl, who was hovering nearby. 

Marlene and Lydia had sat near the fire, talking to each other. Of course, Remus and Peter were sat in the armchairs close by. But Lily was just stood there, arms folded across her stomach. 

"I don't know." She said bluntly. "Were you planning on telling us you were expelled? That you have this 'hunter's curse'? What even is that? What the hell did you do?" She continued, and didn't back down, even when Tiger stared at her, jaw dropped and face a paler shade. 

"Lily.. I-" Tiger began, and Marlene and Lydia stood up, going to stand by Lily. Tiger had a feeling that those two weren't going to join in, but were rather there to try and steer Lily out if it got too loud. 

"No, Tiger. We get it, you have secrets, you got expelled whatever. You act like this is your entire personality, and that you've changed. You talk down about Ilvermorny but don't tell us why it's so bad. We're supposed to be your friends, and Remus didn't even know you were expelled until you told all of his friends." Lily replied, her voice raised. 

Remus made a face, leaning back in his chair, and Tiger knew he didn't want to be included in this. "You hate Olivia but just tell us that you know she's bad, but not telling us why, or what the hell were on those flyers." Lily continued. 

"Come on." Marlene quickly took Lily by the hand, Lydia doing the same thing and pulling Lily out. 

"I'm going for a walk." Tiger said promptly, her face not displaying any emotion. She looked around, glancing at the boys. James was already on his feet, ready to go with her.

Remus, Sirius and Peter looked slightly stunned, not exactly having any idea of what just happened. "Be safe please." Remus said. "Don't do anything stupid."

"I would never." Tiger said, then looked to James. "You coming?" She asked, and he nodded, following Tiger out of the common room. 

They walked around for a while, mostly in silence. Then, Tiger asked if James wanted to go up to the astronomy tower, if there was no class to be up there. 

There wasn't, and so they climbed the many stairs, settling at the edge like they always did, legs swinging over the edge. "I think I'm ready to tell you." Tiger admitted, her words the noise that broke the silence of the night. 

"You don't have to - if you think you do just because Evans seemed to make a point of it. We're not entitled to an explanation." James quickly said. 

"No.. no." Tiger replied. "I want to tell you, I just hope you won't hate me. And I suppse there's no better way to tell you what happened then to start with the big one." She sighed, taking a few moments to prepare herself, practically shaking. 

"James, I killed someone." 

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