Chapter 54 Cold Weather Training
Determined to improve her magical skills, Senna sought permission to train with Viola in the backyard. As she approached the office door, it was cracked open, and she saw the Auror focused deeply on her work. Her short, spiky hair was a dark shade of magenta, indicating that she was better rested and in a decent mood. She was wearing a simple maroon robe over her usual bright crop top. Her heart-shaped face was slightly furrowed in concentration, her eyes fixed on the parchment in front of her. Senna respectfully waited for an opportune moment.
"Tonks," She began as she saw her roll up the parchment she was working on, "Viola and I were hoping to do some extra training in the backyard. We want to be more prepared for whatever may come our way."
Tonks, glancing up from her task, considered her request. "Extra training, eh? I can't fault you for wanting to be on top of things. Just make sure you're careful out there. We don't need any injuries on top of everything else."
She nodded. "We'll be cautious."
Tonks grinned mischievously and stood up, her brown hair shifting to blue with the movement. "Alright, I'll keep an eye on you two. Training in the snow… sounds like a challenge."
"Thank you."
Viola, who was waiting for her in the hall, gave an annoyed glare in the Auror's direction, "As long as she doesn't turn the snow into a surprise blizzard."
Tonks laughed despite Viola's insulting tone, "No promises. Let's get started, shall we?" With a wave of her wand, she vanished the snow, revealing the stone patio underneath.
Viola couldn't help but voice her displeasure about the biting cold. "Ugh, "Senna, it's freezing out here!" she exclaimed, rubbing her hands together for warmth.
Senna grinned. "Ah, the joys of winter training. Builds character, you know."
Viola shot her a glare.
Tonks chuckled at Viola's annoyed face, "You've got to tough it out. Magical training waits for no weather."
Viola's gaze narrowed, and she knew that they were getting dangerously close to experiencing one of her short-tempered outbursts.
Senna, trying to stifle a laugh, withdrew her arms from her robe and tossed it to the floor. The bitter cold of the snowy outdoors didn't faze her. They both looked surprised as she casually removed her shirt, revealing the sports bra she usually trained in.
Viola, wide-eyed, exclaimed, "Senna, are you mad? It's freezing out here!"
Tonks, both amused and concerned, raised an eyebrow. "You're not feeling the cold?"
She tried not to notice, but Tonks' eyes were not just surprised, but dark and contemplating—maybe? She was relieved to see that her girlfriend didn't notice, as she was distracted by how cold it was. She did not want them to start fighting again.
Senna grinned, unfazed by the dropping temperature. "Just a little technique I picked up. Helps keep me warm in situations like these."
Viola shook her head in disbelief. "You could have mentioned that earlier. Here I am, shivering, and you're practically sunbathing in the snow."
Tonks added, "Want to clue us in on your secret warmth charm? I think I'll borrow that idea for my next patrol in the cold."
"Sure thing." Senna, still shirtless but comfortable, shrugged. "There is a certain way to breathe, and if you can do it, then you won't feel the cold anymore." Memories of a different life flooded into her. A different time, when she was on the street, trapped outside the orphanage walls by the cruel caretakers.
Viola frowned at her. "I remember that... that little orphan boy taught you, didn't he?"
"Yup, the very same technique." She said enthusiastically. She took in a deep breath, imagining a sphere of warm light being pulled from the earth and entering her body. The imagined glowing light vitalized and warmed her.
Her frown deepened. "If I remember correctly, it didn't really help, did it?"
Senna turned to her shivering girlfriend. "It did."
She shook her head. "In the memory, it seemed like the cold consumed you."
She shrugged. "I just wasn't very good at it back then."
Tonks jumped in, "You mean it's just breathing? No magic?"
"Well," Senna turned to her, "You're supposed to visualize yourself breathing in a warm golden light, into your being—"
"So," Tonks interrupted impatiently, "No magic..."
"Everything is magic." Senna corrected.
Tonks was not convinced; she just stared at her with a skeptical expression.
"Fine." Senna sighed, glancing between their disapproving stares, "Suit yourself."
"I hate the cold," Viola muttered as they got started on their exercises.
Despite the complaints, Viola participated with focused determination, the chilly atmosphere forgotten, at least temporarily. As the two continued their exercises, with the Auror watching dutifully, they tossed jinxes back and forth. She tried to challenge her into moving and thinking out of the box.
Viola's eyes were wide with bewilderment, and her expression continued to get more alarmed. She could no longer read her mind, and she was curious as to what was bothering her.
"What's wrong?" She asked her.
"How are you doing that?" Viola eyed her.
"Doing what?" Senna blinked.
"Casting the shield charm without a wand?"
She thought about it for a moment and then shrugged. "Not all witches and wizards use wands. What do you think they did before wands were even invented?"
Viola huffed and then crossed her arms, shivering. "I know what wandless magic is, idiot." She retorted. "It's supposed to be more subtle and intuitive. They weren't casting spells like protego in ancient times."
"How do you know that?" She winked at her.
Viola's cheeks had become rosy in the cold, but her irritation made it redder. "You can't do all spells like that; without a wand, magic can't be concentrated and focused."
"Watch me," Senna wiggled her eyebrows and then, with a point of her finger, sent a jinx to her unsuspecting figure.
She barely managed to dodge out of the way and then tripped over her feet and landed in the snow.
"Gotcha!" She shouted in victory.
As she sprinted to her girlfriend trapped in the snow, she could hear Tonks' laughter in the background. Viola would probably be furious. And she was right—when Senna got to her, her eyes were sharp and dangerous. When she tried to help her up, Viola ripped her hand away from her, "I can get up on my own, thanks." She spat.
"Hey, let's take a break," Senna suggested, "We can warm up inside with some hot cocoa."
"I'll go make some." Tonks offered.
Senna noticed her voice sounded a bit alarmed like Viola's had.
The aroma of the cocoa filled the room, and they all sat down on the couch, wrapped up in warm blankets. Tonks poured the cocoa into mugs, Viola took hers reluctantly, and they sipped on the sweet drink.
Senna groaned as she felt its warmth spreading throughout her body.
Tonks was somewhat intrigued by the breathing technique and asked her to demonstrate it, which she did, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. As she breathed in, she once again imagined a sphere of warm light being pulled from the earth and entering her body and encouraged Tonks to do so as well.
"I think it's working. I can feel the warmth." Tonks said with her eyes closed.
"That's the hot cocoa, stupid." Viola muttered.
Senna couldn't help but burst into laughter at Viola's remark. But laughter trailed off into an uneasy silence as she glanced around and saw the two of them glaring at each other with hostile expressions.
Sensing the tension building up between them, she decided to change the subject. "Hey, have you started studying for the upcoming semester of Charms?" She asked Viola.
Viola raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of topic. "Not really," she replied, still shivering. "I was planning on starting next week."
"Well, maybe we can use this opportunity to review some of the spells and charms we learned last semester," Senna suggested, trying to sound enthusiastic. "It might help keep our minds sharp."
Viola hesitated for a moment, her brow raised suspiciously but then nodded in agreement. "Fine, let's do it," she said.
Senna stood then, letting the blanket fall onto the couch. "Thanks for the cocoa, Tonks." She turned to the Auror but saw she seemed to be transfixed on her body.
Tonks' eyes were on Senna's exposed skin, staring at the long scar running down her rib cage, all the way down to her hip. The sight of it made her shudder in horror. "Oh, Senna, was that from the dragon? That scar looks deep and painful," She said, her voice full of concern.
Senna glanced down at the scar, her expression distant. "It's just a reminder of my last adventure. It's nothing, really. I have lots of scars." she replied, shrugging.
Tonks wasn't convinced, however, and insisted on taking a closer look. She ran her finger along the worst part of it and looked up at Senna, "Does this hurt?"
Senna shivered, pushing down the feeling of warmth that emanated from the Auror's fingers. "Not at all. Like I said, I'm used to it."
Tonks continued examining the scar, and as she did so, Viola's impatience bubbled. "That's enough. She already said it didn't hurt." Viola couldn't seem to hold it in any longer and swatted Tonks' hand away. Her voice was sharp and venomous.
Tonks ignored the aggressive comment, but her hair seemed to darken with irritation. Without acknowledging Viola, she spoke, "I suggest you see a healer to get it checked out. I know you feel fine, but there could be something going on beneath the surface."
"I'll try." Senna agreed half-heartedly. She knew the Auror meant well but knew, deep in her bones, that she was stronger and more vital than she had ever been.
They headed back to their room to study together, but Viola still seemed visibly irritated.
Though she felt that she already knew why she was angry, she asked, "Is everything okay? You seem upset."
She sighed heavily and said, "I don't like that she can't keep her hands off you."
"She was just looking at the scar." Senna said, though she didn't know how much good that would do.
"Wow, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks, Senna." Viola's voice dripped with sarcasm.
She sighed. Without any more discussion, they began practicing some of the spells they had learned in the previous semester. Viola took the lead, guiding her through each spell she had missed while magicless. As they practiced, Viola seemed to relax and get more comfortable, forgetting the tension between them.
By the time they finished, Viola was nodding in approval, and Senna could tell that her girlfriend was feeling much better.
"Guess you don't need to do much catching up," she said. "We're going to ace Charms this semester."
"Yeah, I feel pretty good about the practical," she said. "But I've been neglecting the theory."
"You're in luck. I took a lot of notes for you."
"What would I do without you?" She smiled, feeling relieved that she was in a better mood.
"You would be in trouble." Viola snorted.