Forbidden

Chapter 16

The next morning came quicker than I'd expected. My nerves were still on edge from everything with Nate, and now, the real work would begin. I'd barely gotten any sleep, too busy worrying about how things would go today.

After breakfast, Ally caught up with me as I left the Great Hall. She fell into step beside me, her usual energetic self, but I wasn't in the mood for small talk. My mind was elsewhere, running through everything McGonagall had said yesterday.

"Hey, you okay?" Ally asked, her tone laced with concern. "You've been weirdly quiet."

I sighed, pulling her to the side of the corridor where fewer students would overhear. "It's about Nate. We talked to McGonagall yesterday. She's going to help break whatever dark magic is left from Maeve's spell."

Ally's eyes widened. "Wow. That's... intense. Is Nate okay with it?"

I nodded. "Yeah, he's ready. But I'm worried. Dark magic doesn't just disappear, and what if—"

Suddenly, a voice interrupted, and I groaned inwardly as Fred and George Weasley appeared from behind us, both wearing matching smirks.

"Jules!" Fred exclaimed. "You're talking about Nate again, aren't you? What's this about dark magic?"

George leaned in, mock-seriousness on his face. "Sounds like you've got yourself tangled in something interesting."

I shot them a look, but they only grinned wider.

"We're just making sure our dear friend Jules isn't getting in over her head," Fred said, patting me on the shoulder.

"Exactly," George added, nodding sagely. "Dark magic can be quite tricky. Just like trying to brew a proper love potion. Nearly lost a cauldron once."

Ally, who had been following the exchange with amusement, raised an eyebrow. "You two are the least helpful people I've ever met."

"Hey, we're plenty helpful!" Fred protested, feigning offense. "We've saved Hogwarts from absolute boredom many times."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile at their antics. "You two are ridiculous."

Fred grinned, nudging his twin. "Ridiculous, yes. But we're also charming."

"Charming and concerned for our friend," George said, pretending to be hurt by my lack of faith in their seriousness.

I decided to humor them for a moment. "Alright, if you're so concerned, how would you deal with someone who's been under the influence of dark magic?"

Fred scratched his chin, clearly thinking hard. "Well, I'd start by giving them a good laugh. Laughter is the best medicine, you know. That and maybe some chocolate frogs."

George nodded in agreement. "Can't go wrong with chocolate frogs."

Ally burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but chuckle too, despite the weight of everything going on. Fred and George had a way of lightening even the heaviest moments, and for that, I was grateful.

"I'll keep the chocolate frogs in mind," I said with a grin.

"See? We're not just pretty faces," Fred said with a wink before the twins sauntered off down the hall, no doubt planning their next prank.

As they disappeared around the corner, Ally shook her head, still laughing. "They're unbelievable."

"They are," I agreed, feeling a little better now. "But in a weird way, they're right. Maybe Nate and I need to lighten up, even just a little."

Ally looked at me, her expression softening. "You two have been through a lot, Jules. It's okay to be serious when things are serious. But yeah, don't forget to breathe."

I took a deep breath, nodding. "You're right. I've just been so focused on what's next that I forget to stop and think about... well, us."

She gave me a knowing smile. "He's crazy about you, Jules. Even I can see it. You're going to be fine. You'll both get through this."

I hoped she was right. I wanted to believe her, but a part of me was still worried about what today would bring. There was no way to know for sure until we went through it.

By the time the afternoon rolled around, I was standing outside Professor McGonagall's office with Nate. The corridor was quiet, the kind of stillness that made every little sound feel amplified. Nate had been quiet all day, his usual calm demeanor now tinged with a nervous edge.

"You okay?" I asked, reaching out to gently touch his arm.

He gave me a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm fine. Just... trying to keep my head clear."

I nodded, understanding completely. This wasn't just some simple spell we were dealing with—it was dark magic, the kind that could twist and warp someone from the inside out.

Professor McGonagall opened the door and ushered us inside. Her office was as immaculate as ever, with the large windows casting streams of sunlight across the polished wooden floors. She gestured for us to sit, her expression stern but not unkind.

"I trust you're both ready?" she asked, looking between Nate and me.

We nodded in unison.

"Very well," McGonagall said, her voice steady. "This will be an intricate process, one that requires both of you to stay focused. I will guide Nate through the mental charms necessary to break any lingering connection to Maeve's spell. Juliana, your role is to remain by his side and offer emotional support. He'll need your presence."

I squeezed Nate's hand, feeling his fingers tighten around mine in response.

McGonagall stood before us, her wand drawn. "I'll begin now. Nate, I need you to close your eyes and clear your mind."

Nate obeyed, his eyes fluttering shut as he took a deep breath. I watched him, my heart pounding as McGonagall began to murmur incantations under her breath. Her wand moved in precise motions, glowing faintly as the magic began to take hold.

The room seemed to grow quieter, as if the very air had stilled. I kept my focus on Nate, feeling the tension in his body, the way his hand gripped mine as if anchoring himself.

After what felt like an eternity, McGonagall's voice broke the silence.

"Nate," she said gently, "I want you to reach into your mind, to the place where you feel any lingering darkness. It may be faint, but it's there. Do you feel it?"

Nate's brow furrowed, his face tense. "I... I think so. It's hard to explain."

"Good," McGonagall said calmly. "Now, with my guidance, I want you to push it away. Expel it from your mind. It no longer belongs to you."

The glow of her wand intensified, and I could feel the magic swirling around us, filling the room with a kind of energy that sent a shiver down my spine.

Nate's face twisted in concentration, his breathing becoming more labored as he fought whatever remnants of Maeve's spell still clung to him.

"You're doing great," I whispered, squeezing his hand. "I'm right here."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, Nate gasped, his body jerking as if something invisible had been ripped from him. His eyes snapped open, wide and filled with a mixture of shock and relief.

McGonagall lowered her wand, the magic in the room fading away. "It's done," she said, her voice firm. "The connection has been severed."

Nate slumped back in his chair, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. I leaned forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Nate?"

He looked at me, his eyes clear in a way I hadn't seen before. "It's... gone," he whispered, his voice shaky. "I can't feel it anymore."

A wave of relief washed over me, and I pulled him into a tight hug, my heart finally beginning to calm. McGonagall watched us with a faint smile before turning to leave the room, giving us a moment alone.

"You did it," I whispered into his ear. "You're free."

Nate hugged me back, his voice soft in my ear. "I couldn't have done it without you."

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.