Chapter 29 Girl Crazy

The sound of stone sliding against stone interrupted their heated kiss. The sound was then followed by footsteps and girl's voices. Senna and Viola froze, their lips still locked. They pulled away from each other and listened to the voices on the other side of the frosted glass door.

"Oh man, I'm so beat after that quidditch practice." A girl's voice echoed around the tile walls.

"C'mon" Another girl spoke, "It wasn't even that long."

The other student sighed loudly. "Oh please, you're not a beater. You had the easy run today."

The girls continued to squabble.

"Want to bathe here?" One of them suggested.

"No, let's use one of the private rooms, the pool is too open."

The footsteps began to approach their room.

Senna was very nervous now. "Did you lock the door?" She whispered to Viola.

"I'm not sure…" Viola whispered back as she moved swiftly, looking for her wand.

But she wasn't moving quickly enough. The footsteps were practically outside the door.

"How about here?" The other student asked nonchalantly.

Senna acted fast, wandlessly snapping her fingers in the direction of the door, saying the word 'lock' in her mind. Except it did not sound like english. It had a hissing undertone to it. It was probably in parseltongue. The lock on the door clicked shut with an audible noise, just as the girl on the other side started tugging on the door handle.

"Oh, is someone in here?" The girl continued to try the door.

Viola turned to look at Senna, and she returned the look, trying to convey that she should say something. Senna bumped her with her shoulder.

"Um… yes, it's occupied." Viola managed to say.

"Oh… sorry."

"Which prefect is that?" One of the girls wondered.

"No idea." The footsteps moved away from their room.

"I'm going in here!" The other girl called out, her voice sounded far away now.

"Fine, suit yourself." The other girl shut the door of the next room over.

Senna turned to Viola, "I'm not supposed to be in here." She whispered.

"I know." Viola mouthed.

Senna stepped out of the tub and reached for one of the fluffy white towels on the shelf. She handed one to Viola, and took the opportunity to admire the sight of Viola—dripping wet. Viola's nipples were very hard, her body still aroused from their passionate kissing. This made her mouth water, and made her very disappointed that they had not been able to go further.

Senna did not realize that she had been so distracted by Viola's body, that she forgot to give Viola the towel. Viola grew impatient and snatched the towel from her. "Close your mouth, you're drooling." Viola whispered in a harsh tone.

Mortified, Senna patted her face, and was relieved to discover that she was not actually drooling.

They got dressed quickly. Viola leaned in and whispered in Senna's ear. "Be quiet, I don't want to lose my Prefect badge for you." Senna bit her lip. Her lower body ached terribly

"This was your idea." Senna whispered back, indignant.

"Actually, it was yours."

They bickered in hushed tones as they made their way out of the prefect bathroom.

"You were supposed to tell me about someone trying to kidnap you in london."

"Oh that." Senna had forgotten. They were in the corridors now, heading in the direction of the Slytherin dorms. "Some guy cornered me in London, his name was Armidian Tusk. He wanted to take me someplace, though I am not sure where." She didn't want to reveal that she had now come to realize that it was Prince Struan he was probably trying to kidnap her for. And that Professor Snape had intervened, and saved her from that fate. "Have you heard of him?"

Viola was silent for a long moment, staring at the stone floor as they walked. The candles in the corridor glowed eerily. They were alone in the halls. "Yeah, I've heard of him. He's a Death Eater."

"Okay, I figured as much."

But Viola turned to her, her green eyes alight with a different emotion Senna did not immediately recognize. She thought it might be fear. "But not just any Death Eater Senna... " She paused in a severe manner, "He's the highest ranking one, you-know-who's first hand man. And now he's his right hand man."

"Prince Struan's?"

"Shhh!" Viola looked over her shoulder in concern. "Don't say his name so freely, or you'll get us both in trouble."

"Why?" Senna lowered her voice, "Doesn't everyone know about the war?"

"Yes, but—" Viola paused, looking around needlessly for evesdroppers. "They still don't know how those Death Eaters got into the castle that time. Until they find out who is responsible, it would be best not to draw attention to ourselves."

Senna thought she was starting to sound like Professor Snape.

Senna caught the faint sound of footsteps down the corridor and her immediate reaction was to take Viola's arm and pull her out of sight.

"There's someone down the hall." Senna whispered. She was aware of how close they were again. She smelled like flowers and rosewater, from the bath.

"So?" Viola whispered, irritated. "It's only eight. Curfew is not until nine."

Senna released her grip. To Senna's surprise, Viola did not move away from her right away. They stood chest to chest for a moment, not looking at each other, but there was a sort of heat between them. It acted like a chain that threatened to pull them together if they did not put out the raging fire.

But the footsteps were getting closer.

They broke away from each other and continued on their way. Luckily, it was just another student in the halls, who—like most others—seemed to be terrified of their presence.

Once the student was out of ear-shot, Senna chuckled. "Have they always avoided you like that?"

"Yes and no." Viola sighed. "People have always been…" She paused. "Wary of me. But I think it got much worse when I started talking to you."

Senna groaned, she was irritated by people's propensity to believe everything they heard. Maybe if people took a moment to understand her, they would realize that Senna didn't bite. Not very hard, at least.

"Welcome to my world. Are you sure you want to be in it?" Senna asked sarcastically.

They were nearing the entrance to the Slytherin dorms. Viola did not respond right away. Senna wondered if she had said something awkward.

They stopped at the door. Viola looked up at her, her green eyes sharp and piercing. Looking into those eyes made her heart jump.

"I'm sure." Viola said quietly.

It was an odd sensation for Senna. To hear Viola's lips to mutter something that was actually sweet, it was bewildering. It was so uncharacteristic for Viola.

Senna swallowed, suddenly nervous. She scolded herself for being nervous. How had Viola gained the upper hand, without Senna even realizing it?

"You might regret it." Senna tried to keep the tone light, though the expression on Viola's face was anything but light.

A nervous laugh left Viola's lips. This was another sound that was unfamiliar to Senna. Viola's green eyes broke away, she was obviously unsettled, nearly as much as Senna. Good.

"My dad always told me that regret is a waste of time." Viola said, staring at the floor. "That it is best to own up all your decisions, even the bad ones. And to wallow over the past is stupid."

"Hmmm. He has a point there." Senna said thoughtfully. "Though now I see why you're so intense all the time." She paused and then added, "It must be his fault."

Viola laughed, a short bark of a laugh. But she still seemed nervous. "Yeah, it must be."

Senna was so shocked that Viola actually agreed with her on something, though a small and unimportant comment, that she couldn't react when Viola pressed her lips against hers. She was a statue against Viola's warm lips, and then, far too soon, they were gone.

Viola turned, not before Senna caught a glimpse of red cheeks, and then muttered the password before slipping through the dorm.

When the door closed behind her, all she could do was stare at the place Viola had disappeared from.

Maybe, just maybe… Viola wasn't so bad.

After a minute of spacing out, wondering if this was real or just a dream, Senna wandered back to her dorm for the night.

The rest was not easy. She felt strangely giddy. A part of her felt stupid, this was Viola after all. There was a voice in her head telling her she was stupid for believing the Viola might actually like her. It told her that this was all just a game, and she was being played.

Before reaching the Great Hall for breakfast, Senna excused herself to the girl's bathroom. She had been so distracted the night before, that she had forgotten all about the bewitched parchment. She got into the largest empty stall. She tried to close the door behind her, but the door was stuck on something. "That's weird…" She muttered to herself. She leaned over to inspect the hinge. What was it getting stuck on? She gave it another pull, the door became unstuck, and she managed to lock it. She pulled out the parchment and read his response. The words shivered ever so slightly.

Don't be so quick to disown me, little sister

You WILL need me. Don't you see?

Because of who you are, of what you are, you will be hated.

And feared.

There will not be a soul left you can turn to. Not a soul you can trust.

Except for me.

Senna's hands suddenly felt cold and numb. She wanted to scribble his words out. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Senna yelled this in her head, but she could not bring her hand to grab her wand. The truth of his words cut through her chest like a blade.

She thought she could deal with the way people always saw her, a monster in the shape of a girl. But after last night, this reality had a whole new meaning. It wasn't just because she was a legilimens, or intimidating, or had strange power. It was because her very existence was an extension of the war going on decades before she was born. It was associated with murder and nightmares. And the estrangement she received, from her peers and her new friends, was never going to get better. It was only going to get worse.

She felt her palms start to get sweaty. She didn't know how to respond to him. A part of her knew he was right. Now that she knew who she was.

"Stupid Prince." Senna muttered as she shoved the parchment back into her blaser without responding.

She stormed out of the bathroom and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

She plopped down next to Viola, who stiffened when she noticed Senna.

When Viola did not acknowledge her presence, Senna spoke, "So... are you mad about last night?" Senna asked.

Viola turned to her, a defiant look on her face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Right." Senna filled her plate with breakfast. Viola was always so moody. And Senna no longer had a way of knowing what she was thinking.

Senna ate in awkward silence. She did not understand why Viola was so moody this morning. She would think, being as intimate as they were last night, the walls between them should've come down. But the opposite had happened. The walls between them seemed to have gotten taller. She felt even more distant from her than before.

She managed to catch a peek at Viola, before she threw her hair between them. Her cheeks were flushed.

Was she embarrassed? Or just angry at nothing? Rarely did she actually wish she could read someone's thoughts.

The rest of the morning played out as usual, except the odd feeling that her blood was made of ice water. When she remembered Professor Snape's grave expression, it made her legs feel heavy and sluggish. She felt doomed. Doomed for being born.

People moved out of her way in the halls. Students gossiped to their neighbors when they thought Senna couldn't see or hear them. She actually paid attention to some of the rumors this time. Some of them were really out-there, while others were spot on.

'What if she's the true heir of Slytherin?'

'Oh, no. I can't let her see me, she must hate the muggle borns.' She heard one student think.

'Why is she still here, don't the teachers know she's a Death Eater?' Another student.

Senna was neither a Death Eater, nor was she prejudiced against blood status.

When lunch came around, she tried to speak to Viola again.

"Your muscles feel better, don't they?" Senna prodded.

"I guess so." She shrugged, and seemed less angry now.

"Good." Senna said, relieved that the stone-cold Viola was defrosting. But she didn't want to push the matter. They ate in silence. Senna ignored the students who stared and whispered. Though the bubble of irritation would surface every once in awhile.

When the bell rang for third period, Senna stood. "Are you up for a lesson during fourth period?"

Viola gave a groan of dread.

Senna smiled. "So I'll see you, same time, same place." And then she bounded off to Herbology.

Hannah tried to give Senna a friendly wave in Herbology, but Senna ignored it. Her heart twinged with guilt, she knew she was being cold, but she also knew this was better in the long run. Hannah shouldn't have to suffer just to be her friend. The others didn't try to speak to her. When the greenhouse filled with students, there was a margin of empty space around her. The margin of space people gave her was getting larger each day. If this kept up, she would soon have every classroom to herself.

When Herbology ended, she dashed to the empty gym on the other side of campus.

Viola had beat her there. And Senna could see she was dressed more practical today. Her red locks were up in a ponytail. She wore a plain green t-shirt and black yoga pants, and yet, still managed to look like a goddess. Even with the scowl on her face.

Senna swallowed.

"Well, you showed up. That's nice." Senna said as she unbuttoned her blazer, tossing it onto the floor. She was trying not to look at Viola, and the way she filled out those yoga pants.

"Of course I came, don't be stupid."

She picked up two staves from the equipment rack, tossed one to Viola, and watched her attempt to catch it. She missed, and it clattered on the floor. Senna watched as she grumbled and picked it up.

"Okay." Senna squared her shoulders. "We're going to start with reviewing what we've already learned, and then we'll add the rest of the moves." Senna stood several arms length away from Viola, and then started the twirl on step one, noticing that Viola joined her in real-time. They proceeded to step two, three, and so on, and Viola had done them all correctly, with not even a glance at Senna.

"Wow," Senna was genuinely impressed, "You certainly did your homework."

Viola rolled her eyes. "Of course I did."

They breezed through the first fifteen steps. Senna stopped and corrected her a few times, but to her surprise, Viola had been very accurate. Viola had a great memory. And great resolve.

They finished up the last five steps to the form. On step nineteen, Viola's arm wasn't held high enough. She leaned over and took her wrist, raising her arm higher. Senna tried to ignore the sudden spark that raced up her arm. The warmth beneath her finger tips made her mind go back to last night, and she was suddenly remembering how good it felt for their bodies to be pressed together.

"Like this." Senna corrected.

When Viola did not continue to the next move, she looked down to see that Viola was fixated on their hands, which were touching. This made Senna smile. So she was not the only one who was… preoccupied.

When Viola came to, and saw Senna's knowing smirk, she took her hand back with more force than necessary. "I got it." She spat, her cheeks red again.

Senna made them go through the whole thing several times. Sweat ran down Viola's face. Her face was red with exhaustion.

"Okay." Senna called out after Viola looked like she was about to fall.

"Are we done?" Viola asked hopefully.

"Nope!" Senna exclaimed cheerfully. "Now we duel."

"What?" Viola's face fell in disappointment. "You're kidding."

"I'm not." Senna said matter of factly.

"The hour is almost up." She almost whined.

"Look." Senna said severely. She tossed the staff high into the air, which then landed on the equipment rack behind her. Senna was surprised it landed neatly in its place, when she was standing so far away.

Viola's eyes widened in surprise, she looked impressed. Senna continued talking, pretending that she had totally meant to do that, though it was pure luck, "If you ever end up in a real fight, it is not going to be when you're fully rested and ready-to-go. You are likely to be starving, dehydrated, exhausted, and then all that will matter, is not how good at magic you are, but how much endurance you have. It is only ever going to come down to… how stubborn you are." Senna hadn't realized that her voice had gotten very harsh, nearly yelling this at Viola. She was letting the frustration of her past, as a street rat, slip into her words. Senna cleared her throat, composing herself. "So we're going to duel now," Senna took out her own wand, "Get ready."

Viola took out her wand as well. She looked unsteady on her feet from exhaustion. The exchange of jinxes began. Viola's reflexes were slower than usual, she was indeed very drained. But that was not the reason to take it easy on her. "Remember your stance!" Senna yelled mid-duel as Viola's shield charm broke upon contact, and she had to dodge out of the way. Viola did as she was told, bending her knees so that her stance was sturdy. And as expected, Senna's next jinx did not break through the shield. That was good.

"Good."

The duel continued, flashing lights bounced off the floor and walls. Senna was barely breaking a sweat.

Senna stopped when Viola wasn't able to block Senna's stupefying charm. Viola fell backward with a thud and laid there, unconscious.

Senna kneeled over her, her wand pointed at her chest. At some point, her curly red hair had broken free from her ponytail, and was now splayed around her like an open flame. Senna had paused for a moment. Viola looked very different while unconscious, with the angry and defiant expression wiped from her face, she looked much younger now, innocent even. And it made her wonder why Viola had become the person she is today, so serious, uptight, and unfriendly.

Senna tapped her on the chest with her wand, 'renervate' she said in her head.

Viola gasped awake. She sat up so fast, her forehead nearly collided with Senna's.

"You okay?" Senna asked, moving out of her way.

"Ugh," she groaned. "Yeah." Viola ignored Senna's outstretched hand offering to help her up, and stood up on her own.

Senna sighed and went to retrieve her blazer. "Good work, today, actually."

"What do you mean... actually?" Viola sneered. She was snippy, probably angry about being stunned.

"Nothing." Senna ignored her and began to head out from the gym.

Senna had the sense she was forgetting something but she could not put her finger on what. Her blazer seemed thinner somehow…

Senna paused at the gym door.

Then it dawned on her. The crinkle of paper she had gotten used to while putting on her blazer was gone. The parchment was not in her pocket. She patted her pockets frantically. There was no way it just fell out… she had buttoned the pocket closed. But she turned around, her eyes searching the floor of the gym anyways. There was no sign of the yellow parchment anywhere.

Viola paused behind her.

"Where is it?" Senna grabbed Viola's shoulders.

Viola's eyes widened from the sudden change in Senna. "Where is what?"

"The parchment!" Senna looked over Viola's shoulders, double checking the floor, before looking down Viola's body and hands. She didn't have any pockets where it could be hiding.

"I don't have it." Viola cringed away from Senna's frantic eyes.

Senna released her, and started pacing the gym. "I just had it, it was in my pocket.

Viola watched her for a moment, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I'm guessing this is not an ordinary parchment."

Senna did not answer. She continued to trace her steps around the gym. How could it have just disappeared? She knew she had it. She had secured it in her pocket this morning, while in the bathroom.

She marched over to Viola. "This better not be one of your games." She said with venom.

Viola crossed her arms, assuming her 'bitchy wife' stance. "Uh no. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"It couldn't have just walked away. I had it earlier."

"I haven't seen your stupid parchment."

Senna narrowed her eyes at Viola's sharp ones. She couldn't tell if she was lying or not, not with her occlumency.

"I don't believe you. You're always trying to pry information about me, like a stalker. How do I know you didn't swipe the parchment while I wasn't looking?" Of course it was Viola, who else was always trying to get in on her business? Viola probably saw the curious object and took it.

Viola rolled her eyes dramatically. "Because I didn't take it, stop being stupid." Viola's eyes scanned the room, "What did it look like? And why is it so important?"

"Stop playing dumb, where did you put it?"

"I don't have it." Red was starting to color her cheeks in irritation.

"Prove it." Senna demanded.

"I have nothing to prove to you." Viola wrinkled her nose.

Senna's own anger rose into her throat. She knew Viola had taken it. That nosy bitch. A dozen spells came into her mind. She knew of several that could make her admit it. She knew that if she used her wand, she could use legilimency to get it out of her—but using brute force to break someone's occlumency could result in permanent damage to their mind. She entertained that idea for only a moment, before coming to her senses. She needed to calm down.

"I don't know why I was so stupid," Senna said through her teeth, with much difficulty, "But I was actually starting to think you weren't so bad."

Without giving Viola a chance to respond, she stormed out of the gym, knocking Viola's shoulder with her own. Senna heard Viola stumble backwards. She had used a little more force than she intended to. But she couldn't think now, she was far too angry.

That stupid, conniving girl...