Thanks for reading chapter 24. I'm getting back into writing. If you have a question or thoughts, please leave a comment, and I'll do my best to respond to it.

: )

-xxsorenxx

Chapter 24

When Senna awoke Tuesday morning, her world felt surreal. Like she was in some sort of parallel reality. Her brain was still sorting through all the strange things happening at Hogwarts.

Mad-eye Moody had it out for her—for some reason.

The Dark Prince wanted her "home"—wherever that was.

She made a deal with the bitch-queen.

She was officially a Tri-Wizard Tournament Champion.

Senna pinched her temple, trying to convince the pounding headache to retreat. "Ugh." Senna groaned as she swung her legs over her cot—only to stub her toe on something very hard.

"Ouch!" She cried, rubbing her injured toe. "What the hell?" She forced both her eyes open to investigate.

A large brown brick sat on the floor by her bedside.

Senna rubbed her eyes. She thought she might be seeing things. When she took another peek at the floor, the brick was still there. Except, it was not a brick, but a very old looking leather-bound book. Senna leaned closer to the blank cover.

"Who the hell left this here?" Senna muttered to herself.

She pulled her feet away from the strange object, worried that it may be hexed. She noticed a small piece of folded parchment next to it. Knowing it could be some sort of prank, Senna took out her wand. She used a simple telekinesis spell to open the parchment and bring it closer to her.

At first, she could not read it. It just looked like sprawled scribbles that weaved in and out from each other. The scribbles were oddly curvy. What was she looking at?

Senna pinched the bridge of her nose again. There was now a faint hissing sound in the edge of her brain, and she wondered if this was some sort of hex, or if her brain was still tired.

When Senna opened her eyes again, she focused on the parchment. The weaving scribbles began to move.

Senna dropped the parchment, scooting as far away as the bed would allow her. The parchment landed on her bed. She pointed her wand at it, going over all the spells she could use to obliterate the cursed note—but she suddenly noticed it was legible. She could read the note as if it were in plain english… But for some reason she knew it wasn't in english. The letters were too curved and spindly. The way the letters moved and shivered was unnatural.

This is my gift to you.

I'm sure you'll find it's lessons very useful.

It is my hope that it'll help you escape that wretched place.

And find your way to me.

Senna pressed her wand against the paper. "Who the hell the hell are you?" Senna asked rhetorically.

But to her surprise, the words that were written on the paper began to rewrite themselves. Instead of the previous message, it now only showed Senna's words, Who the hell are you? In the same spindly language.

She stared at it a moment longer, but nothing further happened.

She gingerly touched the parchment. Nothing happened. Senna went through a mental list of hexes and curses that she knew were commonly used on parchment. She couldn't think of one that resembled this. It seemed to be harmless so far. Most harmful curses on parchment would show up right away, as soon as the victim touched or read the parchment.

Senna glanced at her pocket watch. She was going to miss breakfast at this rate. She would have to investigate this parchment later. She stuffed the parchment into the pocket of her blazer, which was draped over her luggage, and then kicked the old filthy book under her bed.

Breakfast was already laid out when she got there. The tables looked about half full. People who noticed Senna became quiet and stared at her. She heard their annoying thoughts.

Senna didn't pay any attention. She marched straight to the Slytherin table, her mind focused on the job. She stopped at the mane of red hair. The Slytherins sitting next to Viola took notice of Senna and warily scooted away. They knew any interaction between Senna and Viola usually ended badly, and they didn't want to get involved.

"Viola." Senna said in a strong, but emotionless voice.

"I didn't know we were on a first name basis, Snape." Viola teased, mocking Senna the same way she mocked her, some time ago.

"When are your free periods this week?"

Viola rolled her eyes. "And here I thought you were playing hard to get." She sneered. Slytherins laughed.

Senna ignored the jab. "When are they?"

Senna was aware of the Slytherin table staring at them. She had to be careful not to spill the humiliating deal she made with Viola.

"So pushy, Snape," Viola grinned, "But I have one today after the third period."

Senna could feel an irritated tickle of heat in the base of her solar plexus. It was one of her many faces. Stressed Viola was intense and demanding. Confident Viola was patronizing and sarcastic. She didn't know which face she hated more.

"Me too. Guess I'll see you then." Senna said through clenched teeth.

"Wow." Viola's green eyes widened in fake surprise. "Why do you sound so distressed?" To Senna's surprise, Viola reached out and cupped her face. But Senna's face hardened under her touch. She knew Viola was up to something. Probably trying to humiliate her. "It's almost like you are unwilling to go on this date with me." Viola smirked.

So much irritation filled Senna, that she thought her chest would explode from it. Sweat began to accumulate on her palms. She wanted to slap that smirk off her face.

She could hear a flurry of thoughts erupting.

They're dating?! No way…

Viola is Gay?

Oh my god.

Senna? And Viola? Together?

I can't believe they're... DATING?

Senna ground her teeth together. She counted slowly in her head, willing herself to not snap. She didn't know when, but Viola would pay for this.

Senna turned away from her, and began heading to the Hufflepuff table.

She could hear Viola's laughter in the background. She wanted so badly to march over there and start a fight… But if they landed in detention one more time, Viola would lose her Prefect badge. Now that was an entertaining idea. Fantasizing about Viola's despair kept her sane.

"What was that?" Hannah asked her when Senna sat down. Her eyes wide with concern.

Senna looked around. People snapped their heads towards their food when they met Senna's eyes. Too many people were eavesdropping.

"I'll tell you later." Senna promised.

Senna's first period was a free period. She wished she had a class to distract her from her angry thoughts. Self-study left too much time for pondering. The Charms paper that was due Wednesday was not interesting enough to keep her mind preoccupied. Every time Viola reached her mind, Senna felt the familiar twinge of anger. She swore this rage would age her prematurely.

Senna leaned over to rest her head on the Charms textbook. When something in her blazer pocket crunched against the table, she remembered the strange parchment.

"Oh!" Senna reached in her pocket and pulled out the parchment, looking over her shoulder to make sure she was alone in this corner of the library. She was.

When she unfolded the paper, the words had changed from this morning. It read:

Who am I? I am your big brother.

The creepy words sent an unpleasant shiver down her spine. Senna knew this was some sort of prank. Her mind automatically went to Viola. She would love nothing more than to make her miserable. But for some reason, this didn't seem like her type of prank. Fred and George, maybe?

Senna pressed her wand against the paper. "Nice try," She whispered, "But I don't have a brother."

The words wrote themselves into the parchment in that same slithering, spindly language.

Senna watched the parchment for a long time, waiting for the words to change. She watched until the bell rang, and then she was forced to put it back into her blazer.

Her next class was History of Magic with the droning ghost.

Halfway through the class, when Professor Binns was on the opposite side of the room, she slid the parchment out of her blazer. Nothing had changed.

When the bell rang to signal the end of History of Magic, Senna pulled the parchment out on her way out, but before she could check it, Hannah was there, to walk her to lunch. She hastily stuffed it back into her pocket.

Hannah and Senna drifted away from the main crowd, taking a less popular route to the Great Hall. "So what was that about this morning?"

"You mean with Viola?" Senna clarified.

"Yes."

"Well... I went to work out the deal. She kept her side of the bargain it seems."

Hannah looked up at her, her eyes were concerned. Her thoughts were too. "Senna… I really think that's a bad idea."

"Why?"

Senna heard Hannah's thoughts as she spoke them, "Well, I told you, that girl is trouble. The teachers think she is a well-behaved and gifted prodigy. But she is really quite awful. She's a bully… She enjoys tormenting those who are weaker. And I just..." Hannah's face scrunched up with genuine emotion, "I just don't want her to hurt you."

"Yeah, she's pretty awful." Senna agreed. "This morning she had a blast toying with me, making it seem like I was one of her fan-girls trying to land a date with her."

"What?" Hannah was astonished.

"Yup." Senna sighed. "But you don't need to worry, I can handle her."

Hannah just stared. Her eyes were not convinced.

"I really can. I can put her in her place, if needed."

This seemed to worry Hannah even more.

After lunch, Senna had Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. Hannah was talkative during the class. But Ernie, Justine, and Susan gave her the cold shoulder. The rumors had them on edge. They were unsure about Senna now. There was a twinge of sadness in her heart. It was only a matter of time before her strangeness pushed everyone away. Senna wondered where she was going to find Viola after this period.

It seemed like Senna didn't have to worry about where to meet Viola. She was waiting for Senna outside of the Herbology greenhouse. Senna wasn't surprised that she knew where Senna would be. Viola was a stalker after all.

Viola was leaning against the stone wall, her green and silver robes perfectly ironed. Her long red curls were also perfectly managed—somehow. She managed to put out an aura of official business, and yet seemed slightly bored. Senna's heart did a flip. Out of dread, or attraction, she really wasn't sure.

The Hufflepuffs stopped when they spotted her, as did most of the herbology class. They stopped because of a mixture of awe-struck and fear. She didn't blame them. She resembled a perfectly sculpted goddess—or more accurately, a very hot villainess.

Not wanting to hold up traffic, Senna quickly whispered to Hannah, "I'll catch up with you later."

"Let's go." She told Viola.

Viola looked her up and down for a moment, analyzing her. There was something invasive about her green eyes. Senna shivered.

Then, she pushed herself off the stone wall—almost lazily—and took Senna's hand in hers, and began walking.

Senna was too shocked to react right away.

People gawked at them as they walked. Whispers followed them.

Senna pulled her hand back. Viola turned to her, her eyes dancing with amusement.

"You're going the wrong way." Senna huffed. "This way." Senna turned and started walking towards the abandoned gym. Senna did not check to see if Viola followed, but she could make out the sound of her footsteps among the crowd. People moved out of their way, giving them a wide margin.

Soon, they were out of the crowded corridors. They were alone.

Senna kept walking, until she heard faint footfalls in the distance. She grabbed Viola's wrist and pulled her into a discreet spot in the hall. "Wait." Senna whispered.

"Wha—" Viola started, but Senna pressed her fingers against her lips. She listened intensely, trying to ignore Viola's soft warm lips pressed against her finger.

When the soft footfalls disappeared, Senna released her, and they began walking again.

"There was an Auror going down the stairs on the left side of the southwest corridor." Senna told her. "And we're not supposed to be wandering grounds for no reason."

"And how do you know that?" She whispered, very incredulous.

"I heard it."

"I didn't hear anything."

"And that's why we're doing this. Because you are so damn oblivious."

"Oh please, you are the most oblivious person on the planet, and you're a legilimens. Quite pathetic actually." Viola laughed.

Senna's hand trembled with anger. Senna's patience had reached its breaking point. She reached out to grab Viola's shoulder, thinking of all the ways to wipe the smug smile off her face, but she stopped herself. This is what Viola wants. She probably wants Senna to lose her cool and push her up against the wall. This girl loved getting under her skin.

The only way to beat Viola, was to let her think she wasn't getting to her.

"We had a deal." Senna said importantly, "And I don't think agreeing to be your bitch was part of it."

"Was it not?" She chimed.

"No." Senna said. "So what are you trying to gain? By pretending we're dating?" The word sounded bitter on her tongue.

"You."

"And what does that mean? Seriously?" Senna's patience was wearing low again. "Is it because I'm a champion now? And you want to be in the spotlight too?"

"Pfft" Viola laughed. "As if!" Viola spun around to face her. Her eyes were mischievous. But there was something else there, guarded behind her perfectly composed mask. Senna could no longer read her mind. How had she managed to perfect her occlumency so fast? "Because you owe me. This tournament was your idea of fun, and I helped you get there. And this is my idea of fun," Viola motioned to the space between them, "It only seems fair that you comply."

Senna rolled her eyes. "But you are getting something out of this. Tutoring, remember?"

"It doesn't seem like enough." Viola insisted. "You would be getting waaay more out of this than I am."

"So saving your Prefect badge wasn't enough?"

Something flashed through Viola's face. Shame? Anger? It happened too fast for Senna to analyze.

"No." Viola huffed, but her voice sounded almost... defeated. Viola spun around and stomped towards the abandoned gym.

Yup, Senna had hit a nerve. Good.

Senna thought about it as they walked to the gym. She didn't want to admit it, but Viola might have a point. Senna's name came out of the Goblet, but Viola's did not. So that meant, if she won, Senna could have eternal glory, a bunch of prize money, and the triwizard cup. But Viola would not have that chance. And if the only thing Viola was getting out of this was tutoring, then Senna saw her point. It didn't seem fair.

Senna internally groaned. "Fine!"

Viola looked at her, surprised. But Senna did not say anything else. She took Viola by the shoulders, gave her a quick peck on the lips, trying to ignore the electric pulse that surged through her, and then grabbed her hand—not too gently—and began marching faster towards the gym. Viola stumbled as Senna dragged her, but Senna didn't slow down.