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Chapter 9:

Senna's POV

The week passed in much the same manner. The Hogwarts curriculum was easy for her, and she yearned for something challenging, something that would push her to the limits of her capabilities. Since she couldn't exactly duel Moody again, she knew the only thing that would quench her ambition now was the Triwizard Tournament.

She hadn't seen Tonks since the night of the kiss, and started to believe she was avoiding her. And as more time passed, the memories that gave Senna joy, started to plague he with worry. If Tonks was avoiding her, perhaps she no longer wanted anything to do with her. Or was it the Death Eater activity that had her busy? What if she was hurt? Or dead? Or maybe she was no longer stationed at Hogwarts?

By Friday afternoon, Senna was thoroughly worried. She knew she was being clingy, but couldn't help it. She had shared with Tonks a piece of herself that she hadn't shared with anyone. Her tears, her personal demons, and kiss so blissful, it warmed her very soul.

So after lunch on Friday, she went up the north tower to the owlry. They weren't exactly friends or on owl-terms yet, but she didn't think Tonks would flat out ignore her. She spent some hours staring at the blank parchment, unable to decode what to write. What would be appropriate? But that was a silly question, nothing they did had been appropriate since the moment they met. A mountain of discarded drafts later, each ranging from a paragraph to an entire scroll, she decided on a three simple words:

Tonks,

How are you?

—S.S.S

Once at the owlry, she tied her message to a school provided owl, and sent it away.

Saturday morning was buzzing with excitement. Of course, upperclassmen were eager to leave school and venture into Hogsmeade. She half expected the staff to cancel it, there were Death Eaters spotted early that same week after all. But their sweep of the town must have come back clean, because they announced the new security procedures regarding the Hogsmeade visit that morning.

Senna's heart jumped when an envelope dropped next to her breakfast. She whipped her head up to see an owl flying back out the windows of the Great Hall.

She tried not to open it too eagerly, as to not rouse Hannah's suspicion.

Senna,

Sweet of you to ask. I am doing great. I have been stationed at Hogsmeade over the last few days. They're tightening security around here.

P.S. It's Saturday, isn't it? Perhaps I'll even see you there.

XOXO,

Tonks

Senna's stomach did a flip. Perhaps I'll even see you there… There must have been something in Senna's expression that caught Hannah's attention, because she leaned over Senna's shoulder to read it too. Senna was too engrossed in the letter to notice right away. She stuffed it quickly in her blazer pocket, but it was too late, Hannah had already caught a glimpse.

Hannah smiled smugly. "You're meeting someone at Hogsmeade?" She teased. "Who is it? Spill it."

Senna could feel the heat in her cheeks. "Not really. They just said I might see them."

Hannah raised her blonde eyebrows, completely unconvinced. "Then why are you blushing?" She leaned in closer to Senna, her eyes demanding the truth.

"No reason."

"I know you're lying. You were practically drooling on the letter. You're going on a date aren't you?" She demanded.

"No, I'm not." Senna whined.

"I thought you said you didn't want any of the boys."

"I don't."

She rolled her eyes and dismissed Senna's answer with a wave of her hand. "Fine." She huffed. "But I'll find out who he is eventually."

Before they released the students into Hogsmeade, Transfiguration teacher, Minerva McGonagall lectured the lot of students by the front gate. "As you may already know, these are not peaceful times in Great Britain." Students glanced at each other with worried expressions. "That is why I stress the importance of staying with your designated chaperone, who will be either a teacher or an Auror. All items brought back into the castle will be checked by Mr. Filch," McGonagall's eyes flashed towards the Weasley twins, "And any suspicious items will be confiscated. Do not wander away from your chaperone, and stay within the town's boundaries. If you see anything suspicious, notify your chaperone immediately."

Several teachers and Aurors, including McGonagall, who announced themselves as chaperones, herded the students into groups to be led into the town. Senna was disappointed to see that Tonks was not among the chaperones. She chose to follow Hannah and Justin, who were in Professor Sprout's group. Ernie and Susan had to stay behind to finish homework.

While walking down the stony path that lead to Hogsmeade, Hannah approached her. "Where's your date?" She whispered.

Senna rolled her eyes. "I don't have a date."

Hannah gave her a look that told her she was not at all convinced, but decided not to press the issue.

Just then, a group of Slytherins approached them, several feet away from their chaperone, the Auror Proudfoot. They pointed in our direction and laughed. One of them was Zubeida, a nasty girl who was now imitating Justin when he had gotten a face full of Hiwiggle extract which had turned him magenta a few days ago.

Justin seemed to shrink into his coat, turning a shade of pink. This made the Slytherins laugh even more.

Senna instinctively reached for her wand.

"No." Hannah hushed her, placing a hand over Senna's as it dug for her wand. "Don't bother it's not worth it."

"I think so." Senna said. Zubeida was now running around, pretending to scream, while the other Slytherins laughed. It was a very dramatic impersonation, Justin hadn't done all that when he was squirted in the face.

Hannah took Justin by the arm, and hurried him forward.

When footsteps approached Senna from behind, she whipped out her wand, prepared to hex anyone who dared to make fun of Justin. Blaise Zabini threw up his hands in surrender, a startled look on his face. "Woah," he stammered, "Look, sorry about those guys," he jerked his head in the direction of the other Slytherins, "they're just trying to have some fun, that's all." He assured.

But Senna was not assured, and refused to lower her wand. First of all, the person he should be apologizing to is Justin, not Senna. He completely ignored the Hufflepuffs. One look into his eyes told her that he was not sorry at all. He just wanted to seem like the good guy because he was trying to make an impression on Senna. It wasn't working. Hannah and Justin must have thought the same thing, because they stalked forward without meeting his eyes.

"What do you want?" Senna asked impatiently.

"I wanted to invite you to hang with us." He gave her a charming grin. He had a good smile, one that would have swooned most girls—if they didn't hate his guts. Reading her hostile expression, he decided to backtrack, "They can be a little immature sometimes, but they're not that bad once you get to know them."

Senna remembered the pledge she made with herself a week ago—that she would make friends. But then again, did she want friends like this? Senna didn't not answer right away, but Blaise kept looking at her hopefully. She glanced back at Hannah and Justin's retreating figures and decided. No, not if it would ruin what friendships she had already managed to find.

Senna bowed politely. "Not today, but thank you." And then she bolted up the path to catch up with Hannah.

Hogsmeade was quiet and barren. Shop doors were closed, windows boarded, and the few people that went through the stone streets, did so in a hurry, as to not spend time out in the open longer than necessary. Senna was disappointed. Somehow, she expected it to be livelier.

Reading Senna's expressions, Hannah explained, "It's usually packed at this time. But after the Death Eaters marched through the town, everybody is too scared to come out."

"Marched?" Senna asked. "What do you mean? They didn't attack?"

Hanna's eyes became wary, and she looked around herself as if a Death Eater would be listening. "No, not attack. They wouldn't attack a town so close to the school—where Albus Dumbledore is." The sounds of the excited students faded in the distance as they separated from the main path, disappearing into the city. Now, the only sound she could hear was Hannah's voice and their footsteps. "It's just that—they marched into the city when the Aurors weren't around, to make themselves known. I think it's to remind everyone that he's out there with an army of Dark wizards, ready to strike at any time. Nobody was hurt, this time." Hannah exhaled.

They walked through the streets in silence. The eerie state of Hogsmeade began to make everyone uneasy. Just when it seemed like the group would rather return to Hogwarts, Honeydukes came into view, windows lit, shelves stocked with sweets, and crowded to the brink of its capacity. Everyone bolted into Honeydukes, despite the fact that Professor Sprout shouted after them.

Senna squeezed into the already full store, taking in the shelves upon shelves of the most delicious sweets presumable. There were Creamy chunks of nougat, giant swirling lollipops, shimmering squares of coconut ice-cream, giant honey-colored toffees, and hundreds of various kinds of chocolate in barrels around the room.

For a moment, Senna's breath caught from the sheer amount of sweets. Until she saw something even more delectable. Standing among the crowd, a woman with a maroon cape and electric blue hair, was trying to get a hoard of excited students to behave. She was unsuccessful. The students pushed passed her to get to the chocolate fountain. Once the hoard was out of the way, Senna could take in the rest of her. Under her cloak, she wore a corset-type top that hugged her curves and squeezed her breasts, tied with blue strings in a crisscross pattern. Then there was a good three inches of firm abdomen, which led to a studded black belt and black leather pants and boots. This made Senna smile. She had such a bizarre fashion sense. She'd never seen anything like it—except maybe in a strange muggle television show. And she had somehow managed to pull it off. It made her sexier instead of freakier. Her sense of style was edgy—and daring. At least, that's what Senna thought. Some of the adults in the shop looked at her with an expression of distaste.

Without thinking, Senna ducked behind the crowds. She snuck behind Tonks and smiled. It was much easier to sneak passed her with the chaotic crowds. Without warning, she slid her arms around Tonks's waist and whispered in her ear, "Hey sexy." Senna braced herself, preparing for Tonks to startle and punch her in the face—but instead she heard a sharp intake of breath, and felt her shudder.

Tonks whipped around, her cheeks flushed and her hair turning a shade of purple. "What are you doing?" She hissed, whipping her head around to see if anyone saw them. Fortunately, the crowds were too preoccupied to notice them.

Senna wasn't sure where this boldness had come from. Maybe it was the adorable flush that colored her cheeks. She couldn't help but be amused by the sudden change in her hair color and the frantic look in her eyes.

Tonks did not give her enough time to respond. She took Senna's arm and dragged her out the backdoor. Once the backdoor shut behind them, the contrast between the boisterous noise inside and the dead quiet outside was stifling. They were alone behind the candy shop, surrounded only by crates and boxes.

Tonks was still flushed in the face, "Don't sneak up on me like that, I could've hexed you." She warned.

"It was a chance I was willing to take." Senna smiled at her, still recalling the shudder of Tonks's body in her arms.

Tonks sighed, but look entertained, "What's gotten into you? I thought you were the modest type."

Senna thought for a moment. She was right—this wasn't Senna's usual behavior. She was the serious, reserved type. Something about Tonks made her want to be playful—she wasn't sure what though.

"Not sure," Senna shrugged. "How's Hogsmeade? Having fun?" Senna asked. She wasn't the small talk type, not one to ask about one's day or ask how they were doing—but she found herself genuinely curious about Tonks's life.

Tonks blinked, trying to keep track of the sudden change in the conversation. "It's umm… relatively boring," she admitted, "No suspicious activity so far."

"Not since the march?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Tonks's eyes, but then disappeared. "Oh, so word has gone around, hasn't it?" she sighed, "Nope, not since the Death Eaters Marched through the city. It's got everyone unnerved."

"I bet," Senna added. "And with all the visitors that will be arriving for the tournament, I bet it's going to be chaos, trying to find out who's good and who's… not."

"Ahh yes." Tonks scrunched up her nose as if smelling something bad, "Triwizard Tournament security is going to be a hassle." Tonks met Senna's gaze. "I've been meaning to ask you, how are you liking Hogwarts? I mean, besides the obvious war going on."

"It's great. Loads better than Brownwell. I mean, it's great academic-wise, but everyone hates me there. People here are a lot nicer. I have friends now." Senna blushed, thinking it was such a cliché thing to say.

"What did you do to deserve that? They avoid you like the plague." Tonks's laughed, but there was a concerned tightness in her eyes.

Senna was taken aback. She had noticed that? The way she couldn't even walk through the halls without her peers flattening themselves against the wall as if she would spontaneously catch fire? She couldn't think of a time where Tonks was near her during a display of her peer's aversion to her. "Rough experiences with socialization in my first few years there. Had a temper and my magic would do random stuff, not to mention that constant legilimency tends to scare people away. People are afraid I'll divulge their every secret." She laughed.

Tonks's smile faded, and a perplexed look crossed her face. "You're a legilimens? No way."

"Not voluntarily." She admitted sheepishly. "Actually, I wish it would just disappear. There are so many things I wished I've never heard."

"That's amazing!" Tonks exclaimed. "Can you hear what I'm thinking now?" She asked a little warily.

Senna looked deep into her hazel eyes, trying to see deeper. She found herself entranced by the rich, shimmering color. It wasn't only shimmering—it was changing. They darkened to an earthy sepia. "No." She looked down, trying to break herself free from her entrancing eyes. But it didn't help to stare at her corset-like top, the swell of breasts, and the three inches of slightly tanned, smooth skin. It made Senna's mouth water. She wanted to run her hands against the hot skin.

Senna still didn't know how she could manage to look so very sexy in such an outlandish combination. When she looked up, Tonks was watching her take her in, with a similar hungry expression on her face. The sight of her lust made the monster in her chest stir. It begged her to get closer, to run a hand over the exposed skin, to taste it…

Tonks was the first one to recover from the heated exchange.

"Phew." Tonks wiped the back of her hand across her forehead in relief. "Good thing my occlumency works, or I would've been arrested for indecency." A throaty laugh left her lips.

Senna, still in a daze, didn't manage to catch her words. She shook her head to clear it.

Tonks looked at her seriously again. "That's a rare gift though, innate legilimency. The kind of legilimency that can be used without a wand, it's not something a lot of people can do."

"It's never been of much use," She told her, "I wish I could turn it off."

"You can." Tonks's eyes sparkled. "You'll have to learn to control it."

Senna blinked in surprise. "You can?"

Senna wasn't used to being caught off guard by a piece of information. She had thoroughly researched legilimency and occlumency. All the information she found taught her how to perform the magic, but not how to turn it off. So she had assumed it was impossible.

"Yup. Although, I would not be able to tell you much, I'm no expert on the subject. Haven't you ever spoken to your Headmaster or a teacher about it?"

Senna felt silly now. No, she had not told anyone about her predicament with untamable legilimency. She was sure the staff at Brownwell knew. Years ago, she had the habit of answering people's thoughts instead of their words, and the rumors had spread quickly, no doubt it reached the staff as well. They gossiped just as much as the students did. But the reason she had not told anyone in person, was because she was afraid. If she were to tell someone, it would become a real, palpable part of her, and she didn't want it to be. It is was made her a freak, and she'd much rather pretend it wasn't real.

And besides, Senna wasn't the one to ask for help. Especially for something that personal. If there was a solution to her problem, she would find out on her own.

"No." Senna admitted.

Tonks looked into her eyes, her gentle expression a mask of concern. Senna hoped it wasn't pity—that was the last thing she wanted Tonks to feel. Regardless, being the focus of her silent gaze made her feel hot in strange places.

"I'm sure there are a few professors at Hogwarts that could be informative."

"Maybe. I'll see…" She said, but internally dismissed it. She didn't have an established relationship with any of the staff here, and was in no place to seek personal guidance.

Tonks sighed, "It's hard to escape what people think of you, even after you've changed." She gave Senna a sympathetic smile, "Actually, it's downright impossible."

"You have a reputation that haunts you?"

"Definitely." She nodded, "Back in school, I was a total clutz—"

"You're a whole new person. Not clutzy at all." Senna said sarcastically, and laughed.

Tonks glared at her for interrupting. "And I couldn't seem to behave myself—"

"Yes, completely changed."

Tonks stopped and placed her hands on her hips, glaring. "Do you want me to tell the story, or not?"

Senna smiled, she couldn't help it. She was incredibly cute—and sexy—when she did her power pose like that. And it happened to open up her cloak more, revealing more of that sexy top, and skin for Senna to see.

"Sorry."

"I was an absolute nuisance in my school days, not good at magic really, not good at anything. People laughed at me when I told them I was going to become an Auror." A brief look of torment visited her eyes, "And even when I was out of school, defying the odds at Auror training, nobody would take me seriously. Even though I had a rough start, with a lot of effort, I managed to catch up, and yet…" she paused, "reputations stick to you, no matter how hard you try to escape them. If Alastor hadn't vouched for me, I wouldn't be an Auror today. They only take the best of the best. And I have never been the best—or even adequate at anything."

The expression on her face tore at Senna's chest. It was a feeling she knew all too well. The frustration of never being given a second chance to prove yourself. The flaws of your past hindering your progress no matter how hard you try.

Senna stepped forward, lifting Tonks's chin to look into her eyes. "They're all wrong." She told Tonks. "You're amazing." And she meant it. She was very impressed with what she'd seen from Tonks so far. From being able to see through a perfect disillusionment charm to her quick wand work and accuracy. She was clumsy, no one could deny that, but when it came down to it, she wasn't lacking in skill.

Tonks's eyes widened in surprise and suspicion. She didn't believe her at first. But she couldn't deny the sincerity in Senna's eyes.

They were standing close now, they're lips just inches apart. Senna watched her lips part slightly. She remembered how her lips felt. Soft, warm, but insistent. She looked up to see that Tonks was looking at her lips too, with hungry, reminiscing eyes. When Tonks looked up, she could see the unmistakable lust in her eyes, and something more, but she couldn't exactly put her finger on what it was. It made her shiver.

Senna wanted—needed—to close the distance between them. She placed her hand on her hips and pulled her forward so that their chests were touching. A squeak of surprise left Tonks's lips, and Senna couldn't stifle her own moan of pleasure. The heat of their bodies pressed against each other burned like a furnace, pouring arousal into Senna's center. How long had she been craving her warmth? And it was just as good as she'd remembered.

Tonks's head snapped away from Senna. She lifted her hand to Senna's chest and pushed her away. "I shouldn't hold you from your group. Your Chaperone may be looking for you."

Senna's stomach sank in disappointment. There was also something else, like a stab to her gut. Was rejection supposed to hurt like that?

"I don't think so." Senna frowned. It was good that Tonks was looking away from her, she didn't want her to see the hurt on her face. "But you have Auror duties to get back to, right?"

Senna studied her, committing her angular face into her memory. She looked conflicted, as if the idea of returning to work was not a pleasant one either. When Tonks's looked back at her, her eyes softened, giving her stomach a fluttering sensation. And for a moment, she thought she could she them darken in lust, but it was soon replaced with a decisive mask—cool and collected.

"Yeah, I should get back to work." Tonks said. She turned on her heels and walked away, leaving Senna alone among the wooden crates.

Senna shivered from the sudden rush of cold that enveloped her body, and it had nothing to do with the weather.