Forbidden

Chapter 18

The next morning, I woke up with a strange sense of calm, but it didn't last long. I had barely made it down to the Great Hall for breakfast when I noticed the uneasy tension hanging in the air. Whispers darted from table to table, students leaning in close to one another, casting furtive glances.

Something was definitely going on.

I slid into my seat beside Ally, who was already halfway through her toast, her expression focused on a crumpled bit of parchment in her hand.

"What's going on?" I asked, nodding toward the buzzing crowd around us.

Ally glanced up, her brow furrowed. "You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

She handed me the parchment without a word, her eyes watching my reaction closely. As I smoothed it out and began to read, my stomach dropped.

Suspicious activities reported in Hogsmeade. Possible dark magic resurgence. Ministry investigating.

The rest of the message was brief but chilling. There had been sightings—strange, shadowy figures lingering around the outskirts of Hogsmeade, unnerving the villagers. It was enough to send the Ministry into a frenzy, and now there was talk that dark magic might be making a return to the area.

"Do you think...?" I started, but Ally cut me off with a knowing look.

"It could be nothing, but I don't like the timing."

Neither did I. With everything that had happened with Nate and Maeve's curse, it felt too coincidental that dark magic would suddenly resurface near Hogwarts. My stomach churned with unease, the peace I had started to feel evaporating like mist in the morning sun.

As if on cue, Nate appeared at the entrance to the Great Hall. His eyes found mine immediately, and I could tell by his expression that he had heard the news. He made his way over, sitting down next to me without a word, the weight of the situation already heavy between us.

"It's happening again, isn't it?" he finally said, his voice low so only Ally and I could hear.

"We don't know that for sure," Ally chimed in, though her tone was uncertain. "The Ministry could be overreacting."

Nate wasn't convinced. "I don't think they are. Maeve might not be directly involved anymore, but that doesn't mean the danger's gone."

I nodded, swallowing hard. "So what do we do?"

Nate glanced around the hall, as if expecting someone to overhear us. "I think we need to be careful. Watch for anything unusual, especially in Hogsmeade. If dark magic is coming back, we need to be ready."

Ally looked between us, concern flashing in her eyes. "Are you two really thinking about going there? You know it's going to be crawling with Ministry officials, right?"

"I don't know," I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "But if it has anything to do with Maeve or her followers, we can't just sit here and do nothing."

Nate's jaw clenched. "We've already seen what happens when dark magic goes unchecked."

Ally sighed, shaking her head. "I don't like this. You guys are way too close to this situation."

Before we could say anything else, a voice broke through our conversation. Fred and George were suddenly there, both with identical mischievous grins plastered on their faces, seemingly unaware of the tension hanging over us.

"Morning, lovebirds!" Fred said with a wink, plopping down across from us.

George raised an eyebrow, pretending to be serious. "Looks like someone's got dark magic on the brain."

I shot them both a look. "This isn't a joke."

Fred's grin faltered slightly, and George leaned forward, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Wait, are you guys actually thinking about getting involved with whatever's happening in Hogsmeade?"

"We don't know yet," Nate said cautiously. "But if it's connected to what happened before..."

Fred and George exchanged a glance, their usual playful demeanor replaced by something more thoughtful.

"Look," Fred said, his tone unusually serious, "if you guys are really going to do this, don't go in without backup. Dark magic's no laughing matter."

George nodded. "Yeah, we may be a couple of pranksters, but even we know when it's time to be careful."

Ally folded her arms, glaring at the twins. "Are you actually offering to help?"

Fred shrugged. "Why not? We've had our fair share of scrapes, haven't we, George?"

George grinned. "Besides, if Jules and Nate are getting involved, how could we possibly resist? Hogwarts' favorite couple taking on dark forces? Sounds like the adventure of a lifetime."

I groaned, though I couldn't help but smile despite the situation. Fred and George had a way of bringing levity, even when things felt impossibly heavy.

"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes. "But if you're coming along, you're going to have to take this seriously. No pranks, no distractions."

Fred and George exchanged a mock-offended look, raising their hands in surrender. "We can be serious!" Fred protested. "When we want to be."

"Rarely," George added, winking.

Nate let out a small laugh, but it was clear he was still focused on the looming threat. "We'll talk to McGonagall first. If we're going to investigate this, we need her to be in the loop."

That afternoon, we found ourselves back in Professor McGonagall's office, the familiar weight of the room pressing down on us. She listened intently as we explained our concerns, her expression growing more severe with each passing moment.

"I understand your worry," she said after a long pause, "and I can't say I'm entirely surprised by this news. Dark magic rarely fades without leaving traces behind."

"So what should we do?" Nate asked, his voice steady.

McGonagall folded her hands on her desk, considering her words carefully. "You are not to go to Hogsmeade unsupervised. The Ministry is handling the situation, and it's far too dangerous for students to become involved."

I opened my mouth to protest, but McGonagall silenced me with a look. "However," she continued, "if you truly believe there is a connection to Maeve's magic, I will allow you to assist in a limited capacity. You will be working directly under my supervision, and you are to report anything suspicious immediately. Is that understood?"

I exchanged a glance with Nate, who nodded. "Understood," we said in unison.

McGonagall's sharp eyes softened for a brief moment. "I know this is personal for both of you, but remember, this is not a fight you need to face alone. There are others who are prepared to help."

As we left her office, the weight of what was coming settled heavily on my shoulders. Whatever was happening in Hogsmeade, it wasn't over. The dark magic wasn't finished with us yet.

But as Nate took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, I knew one thing for certain: we wouldn't face it alone.