Shadow of Legacy

Shadow of Power (2)

The echo of the Dementors' retreat still lingered in the hall, their dark forms vanishing into the shadows of the castle. I stood motionless, my breath coming in sharp gasps, still holding my wand in my hand. The glow of my Patronus, the radiant lion, had faded, but the feeling of its power—of my power—lingered like an electric charge in the air.

A sharp voice broke through the silence.

"Miss Blackwell."

I turned to see Professor Snape emerging from the shadows at the far end of the hall. His face was unreadable, but his eyes were hard, like black stones. I swallowed, still shaking slightly from the overwhelming surge of magic.

"Professor Snape," I said, my voice quieter than I meant. My head still spun from everything that had happened.

He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "You will come with me. Now."

I didn't have a choice. Snape's tone left no room for argument, and in that moment, I had no desire to resist. My friends, still in shock, exchanged nervous glances, but Snape was already moving, and I was forced to follow. His dark cloak swirled behind him as he strode down the hallway. His long, slender fingers tightened around his own wand, but his focus was entirely on me.
We reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office, and Snape didn't knock. He merely gave the gargoyle statue a sharp look, muttering the password with a flick of his wand. The statue moved aside, revealing the spiraling staircase that led upward to the headmaster's office. I climbed the stairs behind him, my heart thumping with every step. The castle felt strangely quiet now, almost too quiet. It was as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.

When we reached the top, Snape opened the door without hesitation and motioned for me to enter.

"Go on," he said in a low voice.

I stepped inside, my nerves firing off like sparks, and found myself standing in front of Dumbledore's grand desk. The headmaster was seated behind it, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles, but his usual serene smile was absent. His expression was serious, though his gaze softened as he looked at me.
"Ah, Miss Blackwell," Dumbledore said softly, his voice gentle but heavy with meaning. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."I sank into the chair in front of his desk, suddenly feeling very small in the vast, golden room filled with curious magical objects.

Snape stood silently by the door, arms crossed, watching with an intensity that made me feel like I was being dissected.

Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him. "I assume you're aware of what happened in the Great Hall today."I nodded slowly, the memory of the Dementors' cold presence still fresh in my mind. "Yes, Professor. I—I don't know what happened. I didn't mean to—"

"You did what was necessary," Dumbledore interjected, his voice calm but firm. "That was a most remarkable Patronus you conjured. Far beyond the abilities of most witches and wizards your age, and, dare I say, most witches and wizards at any age."

I looked up at him, surprised. "But it wasn't just a Patronus. It was... something else. I—I didn't even know I could do that."

"You have great power, Miss Blackwell," Dumbledore said, his gaze softening. "Power that has been lying dormant within you, but which has now been unleashed. You must understand, this is not something to be taken lightly."Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful. "The magic you possess is tied to much more than simply your ability with a wand. Your family, Alvira, comes from a lineage steeped in darkness. The power that runs through your veins is ancient, perhaps older than even the founders of this school. It is a power that could rival that of the darkest wizards in history—power that the Dark Lord himself sought in his time."