Song Of The Guardians

Turn Up The Heat

The Guardians were split into two groups, male and female, for some review. Andy had moved the men to the staff lounge to go over technique. Unfortunately, having Severus nearby was proving to be quite a distraction.

"So what happened last night?" Andy asked eagerly, his eyes wide as he stared at Severus.

"I do not believe that is pertinent to the topic at hand," Severus replied stiffly.

"Please?" Andy begged. Severus made a noise of disgust in response, making Andy chuckle. "It's been like watching a muggle soap opera. We've got to know."

"I don't think begging him in front of all these sods will make him more accommodating," Draco drawled, folding his arms over his chest.

"Nothing at all?" Andy asked, clearly disappointed. He sighed, his expression petulant. He knew that Hermione wasn't one to gossip but she would surely be more forthcoming than Severus; Which meant that Andy would have to wait until later to get any information.

"Fine," Andy grumbled, making Severus smirk. He took a moment to refocus his thoughts before returning to their purpose. "While many of the skills you can learn in this area will not likely be needed in a fight against vampires, it is still important to learn them. What we do here helps you to understand yourself among other things. Self-awareness is key when you are a Siren or Guardian." He looked around at the men expectantly. "Any questions?"

"Why is it so important?" Neville asked. He frowned when Ron chuckled and Draco rolled his eyes.

"That's a great question, actually," Andy said, shooting a glare at Ron and Draco. "To use this ability," Andy explained, "you have to really be in touch with your own emotions. You're using your soul and your heart in addition to your mind. Many of the spells will likely fail if you're unsure of yourself. The spell Severus used yesterday required complete surrender; Of his soul, his pride and every ounce of love he could muster." He gave Severus an approving look. Severus rolled his eyes.

"How did it feel?" Harry asked, his eyes fixed on Severus curiously. He ignored Severus' sneer and said "I don't mean to pry. It just might help us to know what it feels like. It certainly didn't look easy. I know we participated, but it was nowhere near the same level."

Severus considered Harry for a moment, frowning. "It was exhausting," Severus replied hesitantly. "It was warm and felt very much like it does when you sustain a spell rather than simply casting it. You can feel a constant flow of energy and magic leaving your body through your wand. It was very similar in this case, except that it seemed to come out of my skin." He glanced at Andy, unsure of how to explain the sensation properly.

"It's a little unsettling at first," Andy said with an understanding nod. "That's why what you did was so amazing; It's surprising that you were able to stay focused. It feels like the magic comes flowing out of your pores." He laughed at the startled expression on Harry's face. "I hope that we won't need to resort to something so drastic again. Most of the time, you'll be able to get through several songs without breaking a sweat." He smiled at the others, suddenly looking excited. "Want to try it out?"

While the men practiced, the women remained in the Great Hall. Their intention had been to practice as well, but they were rather distracted also.

"Did you sleep with him?" Jenna asked Hermione, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Hermione blushed in embarrassment. Caroline came to her rescue, giving her arm a reassuring pat. "Jenna don't give her a hard time," Caroline said firmly. "Give them some privacy."

Sam looked at Caroline with a bored expression and then turned back to Jenna as if Caroline had not spoken. "I don't think they did," she said casually. "Hermione's not nearly embarrassed enough to have had wild sex all night."