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Chapter 40 Secrets

'More. I need more.'

'Oh, it's just you again, Malos.'

'Give me more.'

'You have everything, what more do you want?'

Malos hissed at her, dissatisfied.

Senna woke up, rather warm, under a pile of dirt and leaves. "Gross!" Senna complained and quickly stood, but then winced as a sharp pain stabbed through her head. The pain was so severe, she crumpled back onto the ground. She tried to stand again, slowly this time. As her knee protested under her weight, she recalled the events of the night before. "Stupid Clyde." She muttered under her breath as she tried to get the dirt off her formerly white uniform.

Senna made her way to the infirmary, clutching her side as she limped. She thought she might have some broken ribs, a sprained knee, and probably a concussion too.

Luckily, it was early enough where the students were all still sleeping. Senna moved slowly through the outdoor corridors which were filled with an orange light from the rising sun.

A noise erupted from behind her, the sound of something colliding with hollow metal, and maybe a gasp. Senna spun around to face her stalker–but there was nothing there. She looked in every direction, there was no sign of anything except the peaceful morning. Though she swore she thought she saw the suit of armor sway slightly, as if something hit it just moments before…

Senna blinked.

It is possible it could be her head. Clyde had thrown her into the floor with significant force. She might be imagining things.

Or it could be Struan, invisible and waiting for a moment to strike…

Either way, there was not much Senna could do in her state. So she waited a moment, then continued on her way to the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey gasped in horror when she laid eyes on Senna. She didn't blame her, she must've looked awful. Bruised face, covered in dried blood, her filthy uniform, and barely able to walk…

"Merlin's beard! What's happened to you?!" She rushed over to her and began doting on her injuries. Senna didn't answer, but Madam Pomfrey didn't ask her again. She appreciated this about the Hogwarts' resident Healer. She never pried.

After her bones were mended, knee fixed, and bruises magicked away, Senna took a shower. She had to fight with Madam Pomfrey to leave for breakfast. She had somehow lost that battle, and was confined to the bed once more, though only until the evening.

When Senna walked, her knee still throbbed uncomfortably. It would take a day or so for her to fully recover.

Viola turned to her during dinner, "Where were you? I went to your room after you missed breakfast, and you weren't there."

"I was in the hospital wing."

"Again?" Viola's accusing eyes went to the mark on her neck. "Was it that?"

"No," Senna sighed, "While talking to Clyde, he managed to beat the crap outta me."

"What? That stupid muggle!" Viola stood suddenly, Senna grabbed her shoulders and yanked her back down. Her freshly mended ribs twinged painfully.

The Slytherin table turned to look at them, while their neighbors scooted away in apprehension.

"Shh." Senna tried to calm her, "It's fine."

Viola leaned into her ear, filling Senna's breathing air with her intoxicating scent. "Why'd he do that? Does he blame you for what happened to the orphanage?" Viola angry-whispered in her ear.

"No, he's not like that… he's a 'shitty things happen so get over it' kind of guy…" Senna paused, "He was trying to help me, I think."

Viola leaned away from her, her brows pulled into a look of incredulity. "That doesn't make sense."

"It does, to me. Kinda."

Viola shook her head, and forked some ravioli into her mouth. Senna took a look at Viola's plate, filled entirely with carbs such as pasta, bread, and a potato.

"You're lucky we are not training right now." Senna said, staring at her plate in disapproval.

Viola moved her plate away from Senna, afraid she was going to try and put some meat and vegetables on it. Senna chuckled.

"By the way, can you help me with something?" Senna asked in a suddenly sweet voice.

Viola turned to her, her green eyes suspicious. "What is it?"

"Have you done Legilimency?" Senna asked her.

"No, it's frowned upon to use it on people." She paused. "Why?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could help me… learn occlumency." Senna's mind went back to the incident this morning in the hall, and wondered if Struan was secretly stalking her.

"Why?"

"Because, Struan–" Viola flinched and looked around to her neighbors when Senna said the name, "Is every bit as good as Legilimency as me, and I don't want him inside my head again." Senna shuddered at the memory, how he had pulled Senna's closest friends right from her head.

"Fine." Viola agreed.

Later that evening, Viola came to Senna's room, and Senna locked the door behind them. Viola tossed her outer robe onto the coat rack and sat on Senna's bed, looking more rigid than usual.

"Nervous?" Senna asked her, a grin on her face.

"Um… you're not?"

"Senna thought about this for a moment. "Not really, you know more about me than most people, so what's the harm?"

Viola took a deep breath. "Okay, let's do this."

"Besides, you're always so nosy in matters regarding me, I bet you're cuuuurious." Senna sang the last word.

"If you don't shut up, I'm not going to help you." Viola tapped her wand impatiently.

"Sorry sorry." Senna plopped down next to her.

Senna took a moment, visualizing a thick, steel-like shield around her mind.

"I'm ready." She told her.

"Legilimens." She heard Viola whisper.

Senna felt a prodding pressure in her head, but other than that, nothing happened.

But soon, the pressure began to spread, as if it were trying to find the cracks of her mind, and then the pressure was suddenly gone.

"That was… weird." Viola muttered.

"Did you see anything?" Senna asked.

"Not at all." Viola said softly, "But it felt weird, it was like… I was trying to get inside you."

"That's what she said." Senna sniggered.

"What?" Viola eyes were wide, uncomprehending.

"Sorry–stupid muggle joke. Nevermind."

"Did it hurt?" Viola raised her eyebrows.

"Not at all! Let's try again."

Senna re-visualized the steel shield just as Viola whispered the incantation again.

This time the prodding sensation was hard, Viola was putting more effort behind this attempt. It moved, searching for cracks in the shield. Then the prodding grew even stronger, threatening to break her shield. Senna held her breath, trying to concentrate. She could feel her eyes twitching with the effort.

Another moment of concentration and Senna thought she had it perfect. She had practiced occlumency before, just never been able to test it.

Senna let her breath out, for much needed oxygen–and that when a sharp pain erupted from the top of her head, and a bunch of colors flashed through her mind, and suddenly she was seven years old, hiding in a makeshift tent out of dirty blankets and a blue tarp. She was not alone. There were two other orphans there with her, one about her age, and an older boy. They were huddled together, in the freezing cold. White snow trickled through the hole in the tent.

"Maybe they'll let us in tomorrow." The other orphan whimpered.

"Maybe." Said the older boy, his voice quivering with cold.

She could see the kid next to her wasn't wearing any shoes, and his toes were an odd shade of purple. The other kid let out a pitiful wail of misery.

"Let's try this," The older boy said. Senna recognized him now, his name was Bones. "There is a certain way to breathe, and if you can do it, then you won't feel the cold any more."

"H–How?" He whined.

"First, close your eyes." Bones said, "You imagine there is a big ball of warm light under the ground beneath you… and imagine you are breathing it into your stomach, and then hold it there for six seconds…"

The orphan tried to follow what Bones said, but his breath came out as shallow gasps. He tried again, but his breath caught, and he started sobbing instead.

Then the scene disappeared, and Senna was back on her bed with Viola, who had a bead of sweat rolling down her temple.

"Wow, you broke right through. Nice!" Senna applauded her. "I'm not sure what went wrong though, I need to breathe eventually… okay! Let's try again." But when Senna turned to Viola, she was very pale.

"Are you okay?" Senna reached over and touched Viola's hand, which seemed colder than usual. Viola seemed to be in an odd state, staring at the wall, her green eyes spooked.

"Did the Legilimency take a lot out of you?" Senna squeezed Viola's hand, and to her relief, Viola squeezed back.

"Um." Viola recomposed herself, but when she looked at Senna, her eyes were still spooked. "What happened to that boy?" Viola's voice shook slightly. "The one with the frostbite?"

Senna shrugged. "I don't remember if he survived that night, well doesn't matter anyways, if he had, he probably didn't make it out of the fire." She said nonchalantly, pushing the somber feelings into the void of numbness. "Want to try again? I think I'll be able to get it this time."

"Fine." Viola said, but she seemed uncertain, afraid even.

"Legilimens." Viola said in a soft voice.

The pressure in her mind returned, searching tentatively for a weak point in her shield.

Senna took measured breaths, concentration through each second of passing time. Her muscles twitched, but she held her concentration.

It seemed to work for prodding never broke though her shield.

Until a passing thought interrupted Senna's perfectly controlled mind. Is there anything she wouldn't want Viola to see? A small stab of fear coursed through her, but Senna's shield still held.

Until a knock rapped on the door, and Senna's concentration escaped her. Sudden images flooded her mind in that instant. In this memory, Tonks was embracing her, her arms wrapped tightly around her. Senna did not resist, instead, she melted against Tonks' body, nuzzling her face into her neck. Senna moaned at the feel of Tonks pressing against her.

Tonks shifted even closer, her eyes intense and dark with arousal.

The both stood there, in their tight embrace, each of them savoring the warmth and feel of their bodies pressed against each other.

"Mmmm." Senna had murmured. Senna moved her hand, and placed them on Tonks's hips. She gripped them tightly and pulled her closer.

Then, Senna's hand ventured a few inches up, Tonks' shirt. Tonks shuddered.

"Fuck." Tonks cursed.

Senna looked up at her, her eyes wide with innocence.

"You're going to get me in trouble." Tonks growled in a low voice.

"Not if we don't get caught." Senna smiled, all innocent pretenses forgotten.

And then Viola was standing over her, her cheeks red and a furious expression on her face. Her red hair seemed to grow with anger, making her seem taller than she really was.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Viola "I thought–"

"Just a second." Senna stumbled off the bed and to the door, heat flushing her cheeks.

Senna unlocked the door and cracked it open carefully, and to her horror, the one person who would make this situation worse, was standing at the door.

It was Tonks. She stood in Senna's doorway, corset top laced to her cleavage and a maroon cape covering her shoulders.

"W–What do you want?" Senna stammered, still red faced. "You're not supposed to be in here."

"Actually, Aurors are responsible for the safety of the school, as such, we are not barred from any place on campus." Tonks' voice was cold.

"My Headmaster would disagree." Senna said with equal frigidity.

"Well, he's not here, and I think you'll want to come with me."

"Why would I ever want to go with you, Auror?"

"Because the muggle protection agency is getting through security now, and I thought you might want to say goodbye to your brother."

Senna straightened up, all hostility momentarily forgotten.

"Clyde!" Senna gasped, "No!"

Senna threw the door open to leave, but a hand held her in place.

"Forget it, Senna." Viola told her, her face still red with anger, "He beat you to a pulp, and this tramp–" Viola threw a nasty look at Tonks, "–can't be trusted."

"What did you call me?" Tonks' chest rose with indignation. Color filled her thin cheeks.

"You heard me." Viola spat.

Tonks marched towards her, enraged, but hit the barrier, illuminating the doorway with a glittery display, and then she bounced backwards, landing ungracefully on her bottom.

Viola laughed cruelly.

"Viola, I have to go." Senna tried to pull her arm from Viola's grip, but she held on tighter.

"Seriously. It's not worth it." Viola recovered from her laughing fit.

"I have to, I might not ever see Clyde again."

"So what? He's a dungbag."

"Please." Senna pleaded.

Viola sighed and let go of her. She jumped through the barrier and helped Tonks stand. "Let's go."

Before she left with Tonks, Senna threw a glance over her shoulder, and regretted it. Viola's eyes were alight with fury, and there was something else–they glistened as if they were wet.

Senna followed Tonks out of the Brownwell dorm, a tense silence between them. Tonks' gait was rigid, like she was trying to hold her composure forcefully.

The awkward silence between them was so palpable, Senna thought she could see it in the air, like sparks on the edges of her vision.

They reached the stone corridors, and made their way towards Dumbledore's office.

"That girl is a menace." Tonks finally said through clenched teeth.

"Well so am I. Maybe that's why we get along."

Tonks made a sound that sounded like a huff.

"Why are you even helping me?" Senna added bitterly.

There was a moment of silence where Tonks thought of her answer. "You've become quite the brat." Tonks sighed, "But I don't hate you."

"The ministry seems itching to arrest me for just daring to breathe." Senna said, "So forgive me for not bending over and letting them do it." Senna's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"You should've turned in that parchment as soon as you learned what it was, you don't understand, Senna, the seriousness of this."

"If you got a letter from the only family member you had, would you be so quick to discard it?"

Tonks paused, taken aback. "That's different." She growled.

"How so?"

"I don't have family like that."

"Sure, your family is so innocent. That's why your Aunty Narcissa sold your cousin Rina to Struan as a slave."

Tonks suddenly stopped, and Senna ran into her back.

"Ow." Senna stumbled backwards.

"What did you say?" Her voice was suddenly choked. Tonks turned to her and placed her hands on Senna's shoulders. "That's impossible!"

"What is?"

"Carina Malfoy, she died as a child, in some sort of accident." Tonks eyes bore into hers with frightening intensity. Senna cringed from her.

"Is that what they told you?" Senna told her, "Because she's alive. I met her in Struan's manor. She's a squib."

A flash of color went through Tonks' eyes. "How–?"

"They lied, they probably didn't want to tarnish their high society pureblood name, and faked her death, then."

Tonks released her, and Senna took a step back. Tonks seemed to stare at the wall, like she had just seen a ghost, eerily similar to how Viola had earlier.

"Sorry." Senna mumbled. "She really was there. They treat her like a house-elf, the Death Eaters seem to hex her whenever they feel like it." Senna added.

Tonks turned away from Senna and began walking again, but slower. "I can't believe it." Tonks muttered. "The Malfoys… their own daughter?"

Senna did not comment. She was afraid she had gone too far with her cruelty.

They walked in slow, awkward silence, the only sound was their soft footfalls against the stone floor. The torches glowed red, flickering as they passed.

A muted whisper became audible as they neared the crossway in the corridor. Tonks held her finger to her lips motioning for Senna to be quiet.

Tonks, highly suspicious of the whispering, silently stalked forward. Senna followed, just as silent as the stealthy Auror.

"I'm saying, you need to be more careful. Now that the Snape girl has all those points, if she wins first place one more time, this tournament will be very difficult to beat, impossible even." A man whispered. The voice was familiar.

"Vat? There is no vay. The curse makes her a squib." Krum whispered back.

"That's exactly the type of thinking that caused you to lose the first match!" The man spat, struggling to keep his voice down. "Don't underestimate her, she's far stronger than she looks, and quick as lightning–"

Senna beamed at the compliment. "Hell yeah." Senna whispered into Tonks' ears.

Tonks held her fingers to her lips again, instructing her to be quiet.

"–she's as savage as a muggle."

Senna took a furious breath of air into her lungs. What was that supposed to mean?

But before Senna could dart forward and give them a piece of her mind, Tonks had her tightly locked in a hold.

She tried to pry her arms off her, but she couldn't do so in a soundless manner, so she stopped struggling. There was something rather erotic being held down by a good-looking Auror such as Tonks, her strong arms wrapped around her, her well sculpted body pressing tightly against hers... but she squashed it down. Senna got the feeling that Viola was the jealous type, and she would not like seeing that in Senna's mind during practice. Viola might just kill her for it.

"Fine. Vhatever you say."

"Do you know what I am saying?"

"Yas! To be more careful, that is vat you said."

"No, you must do whatever means necessary. You're being too–too–soft."

Senna heard Tonks sigh, and she released Senna. Tonks leaned in, and she felt her hot breath against her ear. "Stay here."

Tonks leaned away from Senna, winked mischievously at her, and jumped into the halls-"Ludo Bagman! What a surprise it is to see you here!"

From around the corner, she heard Bagman cry out in surprise, and stumble ungraciously across the floor.

"Oh! Oh-" Senna heard Bagman's hand clap onto his chest, "Tonks! My dear!" Bagman took several gasps of air, "I didn't see you there, what a pleasant surprise, though you nearly gave me a heart attack."

Senna had to clamp her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing out loud. This was too funny.

"Yes! A pleasant surprise indeed. Though it's past curfew," there was a pause as Tonks surveyed the two men, "Is there a problem?" Tonks asked innocently.

"Oh no, no-I was just having a little chat with our champion here, that's all, no problem at all." Bagman muttered quickly.

"Oh! That's a relief." Tonks exhaled.

Senna had to give her credit-Tonks was an excellent actor.

"I-uh-It is getting quite late, my boy," Bagman turned to Krum, "It is about time for you to get to bed."

"Good night." Bagman nodded to Tonks, and turned around.

Senna hid behind the stone wall until their footsteps were nearly inaudible. Then, she joined Tonks' side.

"What was that about?" Senna whispered to her.

Tonks let out a deep sigh as they continued to Dumbledore's office. "Illegal help is what it is."

"But why a Durmstrang champion? He's British, shouldn't he be rooting for the Hogwarts champion?"

"You would think so… but it's more than likely he's put a lot of gold into a bet, and he bet on Krum winning. It's not just him, you know. Krum is a famous athlete, and on top of that, his school teaches ruthless magic with no boundaries. Dark magic even. A lot of people expect him to win."

"Not if I can do something about it." Senna grumbled.

"You're being delusional if you think you can beat three wizards without magic, the tasks only get more difficult from here."

"I've done it before, I'll do it again." Senna promised.

"Ugh… this is an argument for another time," Tonks said as they approached the gargoyle.

Tonks motioned for her to step into the enclosed staircase. "Lemon drop" Tonks whispered when they both got in. The staircase moved counter-clockwise suddenly, nearly making Senna lose balance. Soon, they came to a wooden door, which opened upon their arrival.

A dimly-lit study came into view with shelves of leather-bound books, a crackling fireplace that had crooked portraits of unfamiliar paintings hanging above it, the occupants all snoring peacefully. A handful of ministry wizards crowded the room, along with the squirely man from before, Albus Dumbledore, and her own Headmaster, Roberts.

But there was one person missing–Clyde.

"Ah, Nymphadora, glad you are able to make it," Dumbledore's half-moon spectacle shone towards Senna, "And Senna, good to see you."

Senna nodded uncomfortably in his direction.

The room felt tense, as if Senna was a large animal that everyone was afraid of. The only person who seemed comfortable was Dumbledore. Even Senna's Headmaster seemed a bit uncomfortable tonight, and he was avoiding Senna's eye.

She wasn't sure what they were discussing before they arrived, but it must've been serious.

"Where's Clyde?" Senna asked the quiet room. "I thought I'd say goodbye if that's okay."

"Er… sure," one of the unfamiliar men responded, "But I'm afraid we cannot find him."