Bound by secrets

Chapter 26

I took a deep breath, steadying my focus as I held my wand firmly in my hand, preparing to cast my Patronus. I closed my eyes, letting thoughts of Draco and all the happiness he'd given me flood my mind. That familiar warmth began to build in my chest, spreading through my whole body and down into my hand, where my wand rested.

But as I started to cast, something strange happened. A tingling sensation crept along my fingertips, and instead of the usual silvery wisp emerging from the wand, it was... different. My eyes flew open in shock as the blue mist swirled and coiled directly from my palm, not from my wand.

The Patronus wasn't just any animal. Before my eyes, a magnificent, enormous boa snake materialized, made entirely of shimmering blue energy. It twisted and turned through the air, gliding smoothly around the room as if dancing.

Both Bellatrix and Narcissa froze, their eyes wide with astonishment as they watched the snake move with a fluid grace, its glittering scales catching the light.

Bellatrix's usual smirk was gone, replaced by something akin to awe. "A Patronus... from your hand?" She whispered, almost as if she didn't believe her own eyes. "And a boa snake, no less. That's... impressive."

Narcissa was equally captivated, her expression softening as she gave me an admiring smile. "Extraordinary," she murmured, taking a step closer to get a better look at the snake. "It's rare enough to produce a Patronus at all. But this—this is beyond what I've seen."

The Patronus snake finished its elegant path around the room before curling around me protectively, its misty form resting beside me as if it were an old friend. I stared at it, feeling a strange sense of connection with the creature. It was like some deep part of me had been revealed, something I hadn't known was there.

Bellatrix crossed her arms, clearly impressed, though she tried to mask it with her usual stern demeanor. "Well, if you can produce a Patronus of that magnitude and control, the ritual should be well within your abilities," she remarked, a gleam of approval in her eyes. "This will serve you well."

I blinked, coming back to reality as the snake faded into nothingness. "Thank you... I didn't realize I could even do that."

Narcissa gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder. "It's a gift, Y/N. You have a strength and depth to your magic that will carry you through even the hardest parts of this ritual."

Bellatrix took a step closer, her expression shifting back to her usual seriousness. "Now, let's go over exactly what this ritual entails." She reached into her robes and produced a worn scroll, unrolling it on the small table in front of us. The parchment was covered in strange, looping symbols that seemed to shift and twist as I tried to make sense of them.

"This ritual will require you to tap into the very essence of your soul, isolating the external magic that's latching onto it," Bellatrix explained, pointing to one of the symbols. "The spell you'll use is called 'Execrum Nexus'—a very complex, old magic designed to sever ties while sparing the core of one's soul."

Narcissa's brow furrowed as she looked at me. "The spell will be... painful, Y/N. It's not just about saying the words; it's about drawing out that dark magic and casting it away. It will feel like part of you is being ripped away."

I swallowed, bracing myself. "How bad will it be?"

Bellatrix shrugged, her tone matter-of-fact but slightly softened. "You'll feel a burning, like fire spreading through your veins. You'll need to focus on Draco's image in your mind, letting his presence guide you to isolate only the unwanted magic." Her gaze sharpened. "Whatever you do, don't let your focus waver. If you lose concentration, the magic could... turn inward."