Violar could barely sleep the rest of the night. Too many images assaulted her mind: The furious battle with the werewolf, the cries of the injured people at IHOP, the flying curses that nearly killed Julian and Jimmy – and, of course, her near breakdown in front of Jimmy.
Even now, Violar felt bewildered – and lost. Kurt had teleported her directly into the backyard and held her under the shadows of winter trees until her tears and quivers eased. Then, placing one large finger beneath her chin, Kurt lifted her face until her eyes met his soft, glowing gaze.
"What is it, liebling?"
Violar had just shaken her head and leaned wearily against Kurt. She'd expected the question. After Kurt Wagner married Tessa Niles a few months before, they had unofficially adopted Violar – in a manner of speaking. Although the centaur had at least fifteen years on both of them, Violar depended on the couple as if they were her parents.
"I don't know, Kurt," muttered Violar, sounding tired. "I think I've just had a long day. Too much danger… fighting… people getting hurt. People I love brushing with death. So many bad memories and… and… I can't take any more."
Kurt nodded and left it at that, looking past Violar at the shadowed house and its yellow-lit windows as he rubbed her back. In a moment he picked out the window that belonged to the library, then leaned close to whisper in her ear.
"I'll take you back now."
Violar nodded, and they were suddenly in the library with the lively books on their shelves. Violar paid no attention to them as she wished Kurt goodnight, then turned out all the lights, changed into her centaur form, and curled up under the thick quilt.
She tossed and turned, thrashing her legs restlessly. She knew there was more to her outburst with Jimmy than just the events of the past few days. Since St. John's ice blue eyes haunted her thoughts with awful clarity, Violar realized there was a connection between the panic she felt around Jimmy and her brief, near-fatal encounter with the fire-controlling teenaged mutant. With a groan, Violar rolled flat onto her stomach and turned bleary eyes to the library window, watching the sky blush through shades of blue and cream and peach until the sun rose.
She sat up and combed her fingers through disheveled hair, then sniffed the air. Hinted aromas of waffles and sizzling bacon sparked her ravenous appetite, and the growling of her stomach combined with emotional and physical exhaustion only made her feel grouchy.
"Nothing's going to change," she sighed aloud, touching her sapphire choker and shifting into her smaller humanoid form. "Unless…"
Violar knew what she had to do. Swallowing her pride, she left the library and wandered down the hallway. So quiet were her footfalls that not even the painting of Great-Aunt Tempestra heard her pass by.
Uncertainty churned inside Violar. Apologizing to Jimmy wouldn't be easy. She'd been around him long enough to know his sensitive and temperamental nature, and the thought of facing him now – especially in her miserable condition – was about as appealing as crossing paths with a Death Eater.
Not that bad, she chided herself, squaring her shoulders. Don't equate Jimmy with them – ever again. Now pluck up your courage and face the music.
She neared Jimmy's room. The door was halfway open, and some instinct flared inside Violar that pulled her up short just as a familiar voice floated to her sharp ears.
"That's all you said?" It was Rosa's voice. "Nothing suggestive, you weren't coming on strong or anything?"
Violar instantly drew back from the doorway.
"Heck, no," she heard Jimmy respond. "I just told her I want to be friends with her, and she, like, went mental."
Violar bit her lip and lowered her head, mortified. She knew what the term "mental" in New York slang meant, and she found it very applicable to her reaction from the night before. She turned away from the door, intending to walk away. Eavesdropping was not a pastime condoned by well-mannered centaurs. But Violar found herself rooted to the spot, and she listened intently.
"Why would she do that?" asked Jared.
"I don't know."
There was a pause before Jared spoke. "It's like I always say, girls are insane."
Violar almost smiled, amused and irritated with his point of view.
"Will you be serious?" Rosa scolded him.
"I was being serious."
Jimmy sighed. "Man, it's like Mireet in reverse."
"How do you mean?" asked Jared.
"Well, back at Hogwarts, when I asked Mireet to be my girlfriend, she kinda freaked out and said she just wanted to be friends." Violar detected a trace of regret in Jimmy's voice. "Now I ask Violar to be my friend, and she freaks out over that."
"Dude!" Jared blurted. "Then that means she probably wants to be your girlfriend!"
Violar's purple-rimmed eyes jolted wide, and she barely stifled a horrified gasp. She pressed her back to the wall. She really needed to leave…
Rosa groaned. "Talk about a stretch of logic."
"Okay, okay. Maybe girlfriend is going too far. Maybe she just wants to have her way with you with no strings attached."
Shock and outrage slammed into the centaur. She threw a hand over her mouth to smother a cry. What?
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Jared." Violar could perfectly visualize Rosa's face twisted in anger as she admonished her cousin. "Just shut up if you don't have anything useful to say . . . and stop making stupid faces at me! What are you, five?"
Violar swallowed hard, feeling sick to her stomach. Her appetite had vanished without a trace. Even if Rosa had run Jared through a gauntlet of the most painful insults she could dream up, nothing would have eased Violar's indignation.
Challenge him to a duel! thought Violar wildly, her gray eyes smoldering with fury. Never mind the fact that Jimmy had no reason to protect her honor…
"Look, Jimmy." Violar heard Rosa speak. "When it comes to Violar, do you want to be friends with her, or more than friends?"
Violar stopped breathing. She fisted her hands in her thick skirt, coming face to face with a question that even she didn't know how to answer. Cold tendrils of fear coiled through her stomach.
"I don't know." Violar trembled, frowning at a mixture of relief and disappointment that swept through her as Jimmy went on. "I mean she's hot, she's smart, she'd seems confident, and she can kick some serious ass, which makes her even hotter."
A slow smile curved Violar's lips, though she was puzzled by her own reaction. She'd never heard herself described in such terms before. That snapped her back to reality: I shouldn't be listening to this. I need to go…
She took another step away, but she strained to catch Jimmy's next words.
"But jeez," Jimmy continued, "I've only known her for barely a day, and one hell of a day at that. So . . . I don't know. After everything that's happened, maybe I just gotta give it some time."
Relief cooled Violar's nerves. At least one New Yorker wasn't in a hurry when it came to pushing relationships along.
"Well it's nice to know one boy in here can actually use his brain." Violar could picture Rosa shooting Jared a withering stare. Violar hadn't known Jared long, but already she knew he'd just ignore it.
Rosa went on. "You're right. Look at everything that's happened over the past twenty-four hours. We just met Violar and her friends, we get attacked by Death Eaters, we find out she's a centaur from another world and that her friends are mutants, they find out we're wizards, we wind up fighting each other, then we all have to fight Death Eaters for a second time. That's a lot to digest."
Violar could have hugged Rosa.
"When you put it that way," Jimmy said, "I guess you're right."
Violar decided she'd definitely hug Rosa the next time she saw her.
"Of course I'm right. So just give her some time to get used to all this before you start putting the ol' O'Bannon charm on her."
Violar had to choke down a laugh.
"Heh!" Jimmy snorted. "After what happened with Mireet and Rana, I'm starting to wonder if I have any O'Bannon charm."
"Hey, blame that damn Projection Potion for you and Rana breaking up," Jared told him. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have to worry about puttin' the moves on the centaur chick."
Violar's smile vanished and her temper flared. Whatever he'd seemed to be the day before, Violar now knew that Jared was dangerous. Narnian or New Yorker, what woman could trust a man who continually objectified her – and all other women at the same time? She glared at the door, angry and helpless to stop him – which only made her angrier.
"All right, guys, we've spent enough time talking about Jimmy's pathetic love life," said Jared. "Let's go downstairs and get some breakfast."
"Sounds good to me," Jimmy agreed. "I'm friggin' starving."
Violar hurried down the hall and ducked in the bathroom as Jimmy, Jared and Rosa emerged from the room.
"Mental?" Jared turned to Jimmy. "Is that one of those British words you picked up over there?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. I should start using it."
"Keep your voices down!" shouted Great-Aunt Tempestra's portrait. "Some of us are trying to sleep!"
All three teens gave the witch's image a brief wave and muttered, "Yeah . . . uh-uh . . . whatever," in tones that indicated they had no intention of obeying her command.
As their footsteps faded, Violar cautiously emerged. She glanced around, then sagged against the wall with a heartsick sigh. Her mind whirled, and she pressed a hand to her aching temples.
That's the price all eavesdroppers pay for their transgressions, she chided herself. Then again, isn't it better to know?
She wasn't sure.
"YAAAAGGHH!"
Violar whirled as a colorful blur rushed toward her. Gleeful laughter and small arms engulfed her in a tight hug, and Violar jolted in shock. She looked shakily down into the sparkling chocolate gaze of Julian Rodriguez.
"Scared'ja!" declared the boy triumphantly, grinning at her like a Cheshire cat. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Uh," Violar managed with a weak chuckle, ruffling his hair.
Dark laughter drew her attention to the shadows at the end of the hall. Yellow eyes gleamed above a sharp-toothed smile.
"My apprentice's career is off to a fine start, ja?"
Violar groaned again and lowered her head. "Sorry, you two. I'm not… feeling up to pranks this morning, especially scary ones."
Kurt stepped out of the shadows, his expression apologetic. "Did you not sleep well?"
Violar looked up at him. "Knock the 'well' off that sentence, and you have your answer," she replied grimly.
Kurt drew close and wrapped his tail supportively around the centaur's waist, offering her a brief squeeze with it. "Ah, liebling. Will it make you feel better to eat breakfast?"
Just the thought of seeing the three young wizards twisted Violar's stomach into icy knots. "Uh, thank you, but I think I'm just going to lie down for awhile."
Kurt's indigo eyebrows formed a question mark as his tail slid away from her waist. He'd never known Violar to turn down food.
"But you have to come!" interrupted Julian, bouncing impatiently and pulling at her hand. "Don't you smell the bacon?"
Violar gulped. "Ah, yes, I do—"
"Where there's bacon, there's cinnamon rolls!" crowed Julian.
Violar tested the air automatically and caught a hint of warm cinnamon. "Excellent deduction, Julian," she remarked, giving the boy a genuine smile. "Go on down and—"
"Hash browns! I bet they have hash browns too. Do you like salsa on them?"
"Salsa?" Violar's brow furrowed. "I don't know, but I—"
Julian tugged on her hand. "C'mon! Try it, try it! It's really good – you'll see!"
"Er, I…" Violar dug in her heels and attempted to free her hand from the enthusiastic boy's grasp. "Maybe some other time—"
"Violar." Kurt lightly pressed her shoulder, and Violar looked at him. "You need to keep up your strength," he said quietly. "You can lie down afterwards."
Violar felt her resolve crumble and her fright ease under Kurt's gentle persuasion. Her growling stomach agreed wholeheartedly with Kurt.
She nodded meekly. "Alright."
"Yeah!" Julian hollered, nearly yanking the centaur off her feet as he dashed down the hallway. "Come on!"
"No running and no shouting!" ordered the stern painting as Julian rushed by.
Violar glanced up at Great-Aunt Tempestra. "Sorry," she managed as Julian pulled her around the corner with Kurt close behind.
Violar could hardly move her feet fast enough to avoid being dragged down the stairs. By the time they arrived in the kitchen, Violar was grinning against her will. She sniffed eagerly at the delicious scents drifting through the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she looked toward the stove. Wooden spoons stirred scrambled eggs . . . by themselves! A few plates containing waffles and bacon floated across the room and landed gently on the table, where Jimmy, Rosa, Jared, the Infantes and the Diazes sat eating.
"Whoa! This is so cool!" Julian grinned wide as he gawked at the plates and spoons moving of their own accord.
All heads snapped over to him.
"Good morning," Jared's mother, Liana, greeted them.
"Guten Morgen," Kurt responded in his warm baritone.
Liana smiled at Julian, "How are you feeling, Julian?"
"Good. Really hungry!"
"Well, we can fix that." With a wave of her wand, Liana filled three plates with waffles, eggs and cinnamon rolls and levitated them to the table.
Violar watched in wonder, staying close to Kurt's side. Finally, after they'd seated themselves, the centaur found her voice.
"Thank you all for… not just for this incredible breakfast, but for everything. You've done so much for my friends and me."
"Think nothing of it." Liana smiled and nodded. "Especially after what all of you went through last night. I'm just glad you're all right."
Violar lowered her head, gazing somberly at her cinnamon roll. "Your hospitality does you credit," she replied softly. "Thank you again."
"We should be thanking you." Adelaide jaw clenched for a moment as she reached over and gently gripped Rosa's arm. "You likely saved our daughter's life by killing that werewolf."
Next to her, Cesario Infante nodded and wrapped an arm around his wife's shoulders.
"Mom." Rosa rolled her eyes, looking rather embarrassed.
Violar blushed, then tried her best to even the score. "Rosa saved our lives as well, good people. It was she who sealed the door to the lounge with an ordinary sofa. She has the strength and courage of three warriors, and I would gladly fight beside her again, if the need arises."
Rosa's eyes widened. She just stared at Violar in silence for several long seconds, shock blazing across her face. Violar bit her lip, thinking back to last night. It didn't surprise her that Rosa was shocked by her compliment, considering how fiercely they'd battled one another only hours before.
"Um, thanks," Rosa finally managed to say.
"You're quite welcome." Violar flashed her a smile.
With a silent prayer to Aslan, Violar took a fork – inspecting it closely for magical tendencies and finding none – and dug into her breakfast. Everything was so good, and she was starving. After making a healthy dent in her portion of eggs and bacon, Violar found the courage to look up at Jimmy and Rosa.
"How are you feeling, Rosa? Is your head all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a concussion. Nurse Gillwick healed me up well. I just have to take it easy for a day or two."
Violar smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. Taking it easy will be difficult, I don't doubt, but Julian and I know a few games to keep you occupied – if you're interested."
A smile slowly spread across her face. "Why not? And maybe I can show you some of our games, like Exploding Snap or Wizard's Chess."
Violar returned her smile. This was a big step toward the end of hostilities between them. "I shall be delighted."
"You ought to like Wizard's Chess, Julian." Mr. Infante smiled at the boy. "The pieces actually fight and smash one another."
Julian's eyes lit up. "Cool!"
Even Violar looked curious. She glanced at Kurt, who was equally intrigued, then smiled at Mr. Infante. "I should like a turn also, if you'd permit me."
"Yeah," Jared looked to Violar, Kurt and Julian, "and if you want an easy win, play Jimmy. He's terrible at Wizard's Chess."
Jimmy glowered at Jared. "Yeah, like you're some kinda grandmaster."
Violar chuckled, then turned a shy, nervous gaze to Jimmy. It wouldn't have been polite to ignore him. "How are you feeling, Jimmy?"
"Other than itching like crazy, I'm fine." As if to emphasize the point, he furiously scratched one arm, then the other.
Violar winced sympathetically. "I'm so sorry that I haven't yet fetched that burn salve," she offered quietly. "I promise, I'll take the earliest opportunity to do so."
"We can get it after breakfast." Jimmy gave a brief "don't worry about it" wave. "All that fighting probably built up a heck of an appetite."
Violar suddenly smiled, her eyes sparkling. "That it has, Jimmy," she observed, burying her fork in the cinnamon roll.
"Unfortunately, I wouldn't know." Jared frowned.
Violar turned to him, and her gray eyes instantly hardened like flint and cold steel. Her jaw tightened as he continued. "Man, I wish I coulda been with you guys."
"Jared." Mrs. Infante turned to her nephew, a stern look on her face. "What happened last night was not a Quidditch game. It was a battle, a battle where Jimmy and Rosa could have died." Violar noticed the witch's jaw quiver briefly.
"I know it was something serious, Aunt Adelaide. I'm just saying I wish I coulda been there because, well, heck, we're talking about my best friend and my best cousin here. Stuff like that goes down, you know, I oughta be there to watch their backs."
Violar's neutral stare came back to Jared, then fell to her plate. Those were noble words, and he meant them wholeheartedly – she was certain of that. How could such a brave young man and a loyal friend lack so much gentlemanly courtesy? Frowning, she picked up a strip of bacon and munched at it, savoring the salty meat and wondering why people were so complicated.
Adelaide said nothing, but Violar glimpsed the brief, proud smile she sent in Jared's direction.
"You da man, bro." Jimmy extended a fist, which Jared bumped.
Violar couldn't have agreed more.
"Merlin's beard, you actually do care. I'm touched." Sarcasm filled Rosa's tone, though she gave Jared a warm smile.
"Yeah, I'm just full of surprises." Jared downed whatever was in his goblet, then turned to Liana. "Hey, Mom. Can I get some more pumpkin juice?"
Liana waved her wand. A bottle of orangish liquid rose from the counter, floated over, and poured itself into Jared's goblet.
"Pumpkin juice!" exclaimed Julian. Then, with a glance at Violar – which caused him to remember his manners – he implored Liana. "Please, may I have some?"
"Certainly, young man." She directed the pitcher to Julian's goblet.
Julian stared at the pouring juice. "Am I 'sposed to thank the pitcher?"
Violar giggled and shared a grin with Kurt. More laughter rippled around the table.
"Oh dude," Jimmy chuckled. "Seven years in the Wizarding World and I never even thought to do that."
"No, Julian, you don't have to thank the pitcher," Liana told him, still smiling. "I'm just manipulating it with my wand."
"But that's so cool." Julian's eyes grew enormous, and he bounced in his chair. "How do you do it?"
"It's just a simple charm."
"Yeah, but how does it work?"
The wizards and witches looked at one another in silence for several seconds. Finally, Jared shrugged his shoulders. "Um, well it just . . . does, you know?"
Violar anxiously glanced from one face to another, immediately suspicious that they were guarding some dark secret. But she saw no hint of deceit in the open expressions around her. Then it occurred to Violar that, for magical folk, using simple charms were as commonplace as animals talking in Narnia.
"Nevertheless," breathed Violar, "it's enchanting. It reminds me so much of the dishes in Disney's Beauty and the Beast."
Kurt's yellow eyes locked on Violar. "You like that movie?"
"Of all the stories I've encountered thus far in this world, it's my favorite," replied Violar softly.
Kurt smiled, looking pleased. Mystery haunted his accented voice. "I will remember that, liebling."
"You never showed us that movie at your place, did you?" Jared asked Jimmy.
He gave a disgusted grunt. "Heck no. Why would I show you guys that movie? Nothing blows up in it."
Violar suddenly laughed. "I beg your pardon!" she retorted, but her gray eyes were alight with amusement. "If you remember, Belle's father blew up their cottage right at the beginning of the movie."
"Big deal, one thing. In Die Hard stuff was getting blown up, shot up or beaten up every five minutes."
"Is that how you measure the quality of a movie?" Violar asked. "By the level of destruction?"
"Pretty much." Jimmy nodded, as did Jared. Even Rosa sported an approving smile.
Violar looked puzzled until Kurt leaned close to her. "Liebling, I came from a background where movies were not commonplace. For people who have grown up with them, who know that the actors walk away from Armageddon in fine health, the explosions are…" He gave a sharp-toothed grin. "More exciting."
Understanding illuminated the centaur's face. "I see."
"Do all the dishes know how to cook, or do they have to read a cookbook first?" Julian wanted to know. Suddenly he blinked. "Wait, how can they read cookbooks if they haven't got eyes?"
Violar laughed behind a sip of pumpkin juice, which she found much tangier than any SOBE.
Everyone else at the table also laughed. Warmth enveloped Violar as she observed the scene, knowing that the laughter was directed at Julian's innocent cuteness rather than his ignorance.
"No, Julian." It was Mrs. Infante who answered. "We're the ones who have to read the cookbooks. The dishes and utensils are just, well, tools. They have no thoughts of their own."
Julian nodded, digesting that. "So, if you can make anything move, can you make musical instruments play by themselves?"
"We sure can," said Jared's father, Irving Diaz. "But in order to play them well, some extra skill is required. Not every spell or charm is simple."
"And we won't even talk about how tough potion-making is, especially with Jimmy here." Jared shot him a toothy grin.
Jimmy twisted his lips. "Yeah, funny." He turned to Violar. "This from the guy whose butt I'm always kicking in duels in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class."
A sudden gleam ignited in the centaur's eyes, setting them afire as she stared at Jimmy. So he had challenged Jared to a duel before! And he had, in his own words, kicked Jared's butt. The knowledge gave her a thrill of hope. Perhaps Jimmy's decision not to challenge Jared to a duel was, in and of itself, gallantry.
Although the mere threat of a duel would have been nice, Violar contemplated, smiling quietly to herself. That'd teach him to be a gentleman.
Julian's eyes lit up. "Can you make people fly?"
"We can levitate a person," said Liana. "But actually flying? No, a broom is required for that."
"A broom? Really? Like the witch in The Wizard of Oz?"
Violar grimaced, suddenly uneasy. "Ah, Julian, I don't think it's quite the same," she interjected. She glanced around the table, wondering how these people would react to being equated with an evil character from a movie.
"Well, it kinda is," Jimmy said. "The flying part, anyway. I don't know any witches who have green skin and cackle maniacally all the time."
Relief prompted Violar's laugh. Before Julian could ask any more questions, she pushed aside her empty plate, then rose from the table with a gentle curtsey.
"Thank you all so much for a delicious feast at this hour of the morning. Forgive me for leaving your delightful company so soon, but I do not wish to tarry any longer in bringing the burn salve." She glanced at Jimmy and risked a smile. He flashed her a brief smile, and she noticed his gaze remaining on her. Not the sort of gaze Jared gave her at their first meeting, but more . . . respectful? Admiring?
Violar's expression softened with sincerity and gratitude as she nodded to him.
Jared's face scrunched up. "Tarry? What the heck kind of word is that?"
Violar shifted a sly smile to Jared. "If you don't know what the heck kind of word it is, look it up in the heck kind of dictionary."
Both Jimmy and Rosa burst out laughing, with Jimmy slashing a finger in the air in Jared's direction and crying out, "Burn!"
Violar's eyes blinked wide in shock. She stared at Jared as if expecting him to burst into flames. But Jared merely scrunched his face at his two friends, then chuckled to himself, and Violar followed suit with a bewildered shake of her head.
"Rosa, do you mind if . . ." Violar bit her lip. "Oh, forgive me. I was going to ask if you would, er, App-a-rate me back to Xavier's to get the salve for Jimmy. But with your concussion . . ."
"Oh, don't worry about that. Apparating isn't that strenuous . . . at least for witches and wizards. Once you get the hang of it, it's almost as natural as walking."
"And have you, er, gotten the hang of it?" Violar asked.
"Heh! Sure. We all learned how to Apparate last year at Salem. Well, Jared and I did at Salem. Jimmy learned it over at Hogwarts." Rosa stood up. "Let me get my coat and we'll go."
"I'll stay and watch over the boy as he mercilessly quizzes our new friends," said Kurt.
"And don't worry," Liana smiled at Violar. "We'll be happy to answer any question he may have."
"Thank you," returned Violar softly. She leaned down and gently hugged the blue mutant's neck. "Danke, Kurt. Auf Wiedersehen."
Rosa led Violar out of the dining room amid a chorus of goodbyes. As they stepped out of the house, Violar took a deep breath of clear morning air. Spring was just on the horizon – she could taste it.
"So, shall we Apparate?" asked Violar, holding out her hand to Rosa.
"Not yet. We still have to clear all of the wards and security charms around the house, and we put up a lot more than usual since . . . well, since You-Know-Who came back."
"Ah, that's a wise precaution," Violar noted with a warrior's admiration. "And it's a lovely morning for a walk. Shall we go?"
They continued across the large expanse of lawn, a line of trees ahead of them. Violar soon noticed that Rosa slowed her pace and was staring down at the grass.
"Um, is everything all right?" Violar asked hesitantly, memories of their brief confrontation in Professor Xavier's the night before flashing through her mind. "Is it your concussion?"
"What?" Rosa stopped and looked to her. "Oh no, it's just . . ." She chewed on her lip, her eyes darting in all directions. Violar tilted her head, wondering what was going through the other girl's mind.
"Um . . ." Rosa drew a deep breath. "You know, what my parents said back there, they were right. You did save my life. After . . . after I was casting spells and hexes and curses at you and your friends, you . . . you still risked your life to save mine and Jimmy's."
Shaking her head firmly, Violar waved her hand. "Don't give it another thought."
"I just . . . I should." Another pause by Rosa. "I haven't thanked you for doing that, and I really should. Thank you, Violar."
She extended her hand. Violar recognized what a gift that kind of gratitude was, coming from a strong and independent woman like Rosa. Violar grasped Rosa's hand between both of hers and accepted it with equal intensity.
"It was an honor to fight beside you, Rosa. You truly are a magnificent warrior, and it's hard to believe that a centaur like myself could be an asset when you're the one who possesses magic powers."
Rosa's mouth hung open silently for a few seconds. "Um . . . thank you. You know, you may not have a wand, but you're wicked good with those swords. I definitely wouldn't mind having you around in a tight spot."
"Wicked good?" repeated the centaur with an incredulous smile. She flushed. "Thank you so much." Abruptly she grew serious. "There is something else I've been meaning to tell you, Rosa. I am so sorry for the way I treated you and your friends. As I explained to Jimmy, things are very different in my world, and all those who wield magic are enemies of Aslan, of freedom… and of Narnia. But I allowed my own past hurts to cloud my judgment, and you and your friends suffered unjustly because of it. Yet you put your lives on the line to protect us. We couldn't have defended Xavier's without you."
"Thanks, but we all did our part. Team effort, you know. At least, that's what Jimmy would say. And the way you handled that werewolf, You-Know-Who's scumbags are gonna think twice before messing with you."
Violar chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm a healer, Rosa. I became a warrior because evil and circumstance forced my hand to the sword. But you – I watched you handle yourself in battle. You have a remarkably natural grace under fire."
"Thanks, but when you grow up in a family that chock full of aurors, or people in other dangerous lines of work, I guess that sort of thing rubs off on you."
Violar raised her eyebrows. "Have you always wanted to be an… auror?" she asked, trying out the unfamiliar word. But she guessed at its meaning easily enough.
"As long as I can remember," Rosa answered.
"And Jared?" Violar wondered, remembering the boy's intense disappointment that he hadn't been involved in the battle.
"Jared?" Rosa's jaw dropped. "Him an auror? With all the work that goes into it? Yeah, right. No, he's not interested in doing that. Actually, he's talking about digging around old wizarding villages, what the Muggles call ark . . . arko . . . ark-lej . . . Aw, hell, what that Indiana Jones guy does in those movies Jimmy showed us."
"I don't know what it's called either," answered Violar with a shrug."I am not familiar Master Jones' work. And what about Jimmy?"
Rosa worked her jaw back and forth. "I don't think he knows what he wants to do yet, and we're only a few months away from graduation. Although, when we were involved in that whole Projection Potion thing at Salem, there was this auror from Britain who helped us named Tonks. She said Jimmy would make a good auror."
Violar's expression softened into a smile. "She's right. Jimmy is a natural leader, he works well as part of a team, he hates injustice," added the centaur with a little laugh, "and he deeply cares about protecting people – even perfect strangers."
"He thinks you're pretty cool, you know?" Rosa stated.
Violar's gaze instantly snapped up to Rosa, full of apprehension. "I… I know. And it's a great honor, especially from someone like him. I think well of him also. But I just…" Violar glanced at the sky. "It's been one day, Rosa."
"Look," Rosa's voice softened. "I don't want to pressure you or anything. I'm just putting it out there. But if . . . if you don't think you want to . . . well, be with Jimmy, just do me a favor. Please let him down easy. The last year or so hasn't been the best for him when it comes to relationships."
Violar's heart seized up, and she gestured ahead of them. "Can we keep walking? There are a few things I should tell you, but I don't know how. I'm still coming to grips with most of this – even now, at this very moment."
Rosa gave her a curious stare. "Um, sure. Okay."
Violar clasped her hands behind her back and sighed, her thoughtful stare on the ground. When she finally spoke, it felt like a leap from a cliff. "Jimmy is a wonderful, wonderful person. I admire him very much. More than that, I don't know, and I'm half afraid to find out. And I don't want to find out after it's too late." She glanced at Rosa, wondering if her words made sense. "I would avoid hurting Jimmy at all costs. He deserves better than that – far better. I'm…" She huffed softly. "I'm complicated, Rosa – and not just because I'm a centaur from Narnia. How can Jimmy truly understand what he's getting himself into, if he decides he wants to… as you say… be with me?"
"Then maybe that's why you guys should take things slow. Besides, an outsider getting involved with a wizard can have its own set of complications."
"There is more to it than that," Violar admitted. "I'm not ready for a relationship right now. Some people are lucky in love, I suppose, but I haven't been. I fell in love with a man who has never given me a second glance." She lifted her chin and smiled briefly at Rosa. "Then, not long ago, I developed a… a rather sudden relationship with a mutant who controls fire. I was determined to love him, but it… didn't work out." Her throat tightened. "By the end of it, I'd nearly been killed, and, um… he doesn't have any memory of me now. They said he has amnesia. But that's too long and depressing a story to spoil a fine day like this." Violar glanced away, blinking tears from her eyes. "I'm still getting over it," she whispered. "I'll never be so hasty again."
"Hey, look. I've had my share of relationships that ended badly. Having your heart broken is never fun. But you just have to get through it and move on." She tacked on a smile. "It'll happen for you, eventually."
Violar gulped at the knot in her throat. She had trouble believing that. But, for Rosa's sake, she forced a smile. "It doesn't matter now. It's all in the past. What does matter is that I survived. And it also matters that Jimmy doesn't get hurt in the midst of this. Already I've proven to you and your friends that I fight like a cornered animal when I'm hurt. If I were to allow Jimmy into a deeper relationship with me now, while I'm still nursing these wounds, I might tear him to shreds – and that would kill me. I can't bear to do that to him, and I can't afford it myself. All I am able to safely offer right now is friendship. Do you understand, Rosa?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "I do."
Violar abruptly stopped and faced Rosa, searching her eyes. "Will Jimmy understand?"
She hesitated. Violar waited anxiously. Finally, thankfully, Rosa spoke. "I think he will. He likes you and all, but, um . . . well, don't take this the wrong way, but he's only known you for a day. That'll probably make it easier than what happened with other girls like Rana and Mireet and . . . Penny Nichols." Her face darkened.
Relief collided with curiosity. Violar raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem with this Penny lady?"
Rosa emitted a sardonic laugh. "Problem? Oh yeah, there's a problem with that . . . girl." She snarled out "girl" as though it were one of those words some of the teens at Xavier's used so casually, the ones that made Violar's ears burn.
Rosa took a slow breath and continued. "Penny was Jimmy's girlfriend before he left for his year at Hogwarts. She wasn't too thrilled he was going, but they seemed to work things out, and she told him she'd wait for him. Then what happened? About a month later she sent him an owl saying she found someone else and she was breaking up with him."
Violar gasped, instantly infuriated. "How could she? Of all heartless things…"
"That's why I want you to let him down easy," Rosa said. "I think he's getting tired of girls telling him 'no' all the time. But just tell him your reasons the same way you told me and that should be fine."
Violar smiled at Rosa. "Thank you. I shall try it… although, I confess, I have difficulty speaking of such things. Nevertheless, Rosa, I admire your protective attitude towards Jimmy. Would that everyone were blessed with such a friend."
"Hey, the guy's just like a brother to me. If me or Jared or our other friend, Artimus, needs any help, we know Jimmy's always gonna be there for us."
Violar nodded. "He's a fine man, Rosa. What an adventure it has been since Bobby, Kitty and Marie invited me on that road trip to Connecticut," she remarked, turning her face to the sun as if feeling its warmth for the first time. "Despite the dangers and the many uncertainties, it's been worth it – just to meet all of you. Who'd have thought hockey—"
Violar suddenly interrupted herself, whirling on Rosa. "By the mane, Rosa, the hockey tournament. I'd forgotten. Are we too late? Did we miss it?"
Rosa frowned. "Actually, we're not going back to the hockey tournament."
"What?" Violar looked upset. "But you still have yet to win a game, and your team needs you."
"Maybe, but with my concussion and Jimmy getting over that Fire Rash Curse, we're not in any shape for another hockey game. But don't worry. My parents went back and cast some spells on the coach to make him believe me, Jimmy and Bobby came down with the flu and our parents came to get us."
"The flu." Violar's expression softened into a chuckle. Since the flu had knocked out several of the original members of the hockey team, prompting the coach to bring in Bobby, Jimmy, and Rosa as substitute players, it was the perfect excuse. "Good one."
The air felt easier to breathe as they made their way past the invisible wards and security charms. After crossing the last line, Rosa turned to Violar and held out her hand.
"Ready?"
Bypassing Rosa's hand, Violar stepped forward and hugged her.
"Thank you so much for your honesty," said Violar, drawing back again with a smile. "I appreciate it more than I can tell you. You've lightened my heart considerably, and I hope I've done the same for you. And I will speak with Jimmy. Things will… work out, surely."
"They usually do."
Smiling, Violar took hold of Rosa's hand, and centaur and witch vanished with a distinctive crack.