ᏕᎮᏗᏒᏦᏕ

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖡𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀

The night was still, an eerie quiet settling over the grounds of Hogwarts as Rhea and Draco made their way to the Forbidden Forest. The weight of what they were about to do hung heavy in the air, every step they took feeling more like a descent into the unknown. Draco hadn't said much since they left the castle, but Rhea could sense the storm brewing inside him. His determination was palpable, but so was the fear that lurked beneath the surface.

Rhea had read the binding spell over and over, trying to prepare herself for what was about to come. It was dangerous, ancient magic that hadn't been used in centuries. The book Draco had found was clear on the risks—if they made even the slightest mistake, the consequences could be fatal. But they didn't have a choice anymore. The curse was growing stronger every day, and if they didn't act now, Draco would be lost to it forever.

As they reached the edge of the forest, Draco finally spoke, his voice low and strained. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Rhea looked at him, her heart aching at the vulnerability in his eyes. She had never seen him like this before—so raw, so exposed. For a moment, she considered telling him to turn back, to find another way. But she knew there wasn't another way. This was their only chance.

"I'm sure," she said softly, reaching out to take his hand. "We're in this together, remember?"

Draco nodded, his grip tightening around her hand. He was silent for a moment before he whispered, "Thank you, Rhea. For not giving up on me."

Rhea's chest tightened at the emotion in his voice. She squeezed his hand, offering him a small smile. "I'll never give up on you."

With that, they stepped into the shadows of the forest, the trees towering over them like silent sentinels. The moonlight filtered through the branches, casting long, twisted shadows on the ground as they made their way deeper into the woods.

They walked in silence for what felt like hours, the weight of their mission pressing down on them with every step. Rhea's heart raced in her chest, her mind swirling with thoughts of what could go wrong. But she couldn't afford to think about that now. She had to focus. Draco needed her, and she wasn't going to let him down.

Eventually, they reached a small clearing deep within the forest. The air here was thick with magic, an ancient power that hummed just beneath the surface. This was the place. Rhea could feel it in her bones.

"This is it," Draco said quietly, his eyes scanning the clearing. He looked over at Rhea, his expression hardening with resolve. "Are you ready?"

Rhea took a deep breath, nodding. "Let's do this."

They moved to the center of the clearing, Draco kneeling down to draw a circle in the dirt with his wand. He muttered an incantation under his breath, and the lines of the circle began to glow faintly with a soft, golden light. Rhea knelt beside him, her heart pounding as she watched him work. This was it—the moment that would decide everything.

Once the circle was complete, Draco stood and looked at Rhea, his face pale but determined. "You know the spell?"

Rhea nodded, pulling the small, worn book from her bag. She flipped to the page where the binding spell was written, her hands trembling slightly as she read over the words one last time.

"It has to be perfect," Draco reminded her, his voice tight. "If we mess this up—"

"I know," Rhea interrupted, meeting his gaze. "We won't mess it up."

Draco nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping into the center of the glowing circle. He stood tall, his hands clenched at his sides, as he waited for Rhea to begin.

Rhea's heart raced as she raised her wand, the words of the spell forming on her lips. She could feel the magic building around her, the air crackling with energy as she prepared to cast the spell that would either save Draco or destroy him.

"Obligatio tenebris, nex interitus, ego sum dominus tui." The words spilled from her lips in a steady, controlled tone, and the golden light of the circle flared brighter, casting long shadows across the forest floor.

Draco's eyes closed as he felt the magic wrap around him, the air growing thick with power. Rhea could see the strain in his posture, the tension in his jaw as he fought to maintain control. She had to keep going, had to stay focused.

"Vinculum maledictum, potestas mea erit tua." The spell's intensity increased, the magic swirling around them in a vortex of light and shadow. Rhea could feel the pull of the dark magic inside Draco, resisting the binding, fighting against her will.

Draco let out a sharp gasp, his knees buckling slightly as the curse inside him surged to the surface, pushing against the spell. Rhea's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't falter. She couldn't stop now.

"In perpetuum ligati, umbra non dominabitur." Her voice was stronger now, filled with determination as she forced the spell to completion.

The circle around Draco exploded with light, a shockwave of magic rippling through the clearing as the binding took hold. Rhea stumbled back, the force of the magic nearly knocking her off her feet. She watched in awe as the light wrapped around Draco, sinking into his skin, sealing the curse within him.

For a moment, everything was still. The air was thick with magic, the clearing bathed in an eerie silence.

Then Draco collapsed.

"Draco!" Rhea screamed, rushing to his side. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands trembling as she reached for him. His skin was cold, his breathing shallow. Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to stay calm.

"Draco, please," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please wake up."

She gently shook him, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for any sign that he was still with her. The seconds felt like hours, her fear growing with every passing moment.

But then, slowly, Draco's eyes fluttered open.

"Rhea..." he murmured weakly, his voice barely audible.

Relief washed over her, and she let out a shaky breath, tears welling in her eyes. "You're okay," she whispered, her hands gently cupping his face. "You're okay."

Draco blinked up at her, his gaze hazy with exhaustion. "Did it work?"

Rhea nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "It worked. The curse is bound. You're free."

Draco's eyes filled with something Rhea had never seen in him before—hope. He reached up, his hand trembling as he brushed a stray tear from her cheek.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice full of gratitude and something deeper—something that made Rhea's heart skip a beat.

She smiled through her tears, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. "We did it, Draco. We're free."

But even as the words left her lips, Rhea couldn't shake the feeling that the battle wasn't over. The curse may have been bound, but the darkness still lingered, lurking just beneath the surface.

And she wasn't sure they had truly escaped it yet.