Diving Into You | Fred Weasley

75 | Reborn

He watched her silently as she stood at the very front of the deck, eyes cast far off into the horizon. The silk Aeaean dress she wore blew with the ocean breeze, her untamed locks whipping along with it behind her. It had grown out since they first left Britain.

None of their travelling party approached. She needed the time alone to think, to prepare.

The skies were grey and cloudy, blocking the usual bright sun that kissed the ocean waves at this time of day. It was an unusual occurrence, and everyone knew why.

"We should arrive in fifteen minutes," said Delia, walking down on deck. She gazed at the little witch in concern. "She has over an hour to prepare before the solstice at sundown."

"Should be enough time to reach the cave." Fred nodded, watching Naia silently. She had trained for this for weeks. He was confident she was ready.

Of course, Fred felt the intense fear for what she was about to partake in, but he couldn't let it show. She needed him to be strong for her.

"Are you ready?" Delia glanced over at him. Fred pursed his lips and nodded. "You know what you must do then?"

"We've practiced it for a week."

"Remember, she will not have any strength to focus on the wizarding magic. You will have to carry that on your own."

"I am well aware."

After Naia revealed to him what the ritual entailed, he had approached Circe pleading for ways to help, even though the chances were very slim. He went two full days of sulking, angrily training with Ardeas (who he had apologized to and made amends with), before the topic of their bond had arose.

"If you hold a magical bond to her own core," Ardeas thought aloud, passing a golden swipe at Fred as they sparred with wandless Circanian magic, "You can channel it then?"

"We have found a way to strengthen the magic when we use it in tandem," Fred nodded, holding his golden shield charm from Ardeas' attacks.

"And it can work both ways I assume. That's how magical bonds work..." Ardeas muttered more to himself as he thought about it. He paused from his advances as his eyes widened. "Come with me."

Fred was dragged along with Ardeas as they reached Circe's study. Ardeas explained Naia and Fred's magical bond. After a couple of questions from the sorceress, they had concluded that there was a way Fred could help Naia after all.

"Since your magical bond is linked to hers, you have the ability to ease the magical energy that flows through her. Not the god-magic of course, but the wizarding magic."

Fred was hopeful now. He'd do anything to ease the burden on Naia. Anything. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"In the time she is to take the god magic, you may channel her half of your wizarding magical core." Circe waved her hands at the golden fountain to show Fred a demonstration. "By doing so, you will ease the weight of magic on her, by channeling most of her half to yourself. This will grant her more space and will lessen the strain of the god-magic upon its initial arrival."

"I'll do it."

Fred and Naia had practiced the channeling for a week after that. She was glad to see that it had worked in increasing her time to hold Circe's own magic during her training. This gave everyone more hope.

Naia stared at the approaching island. It was a peculiar feeling. This island wasn't home, and yet, she felt a deep ache within her. A longing, and strangely at the same time, fear. She couldn't tell which of the feelings were her own anymore. This was the home of her great ancestor. The siren who had escaped death. It was also the place where hundreds have perished to wizarding kind.