Ghostly Curse

Ch 19

Chapter 19– A Means to an End

Hermione sat, book in hand, reading intently. Her entire being was animated and her eyes bright. Lucius studied her, fascinated. He loved the way her eyes lit in excitement as she studied the text. He took it as a good sign when he saw the smile spread across her features.

Smiling, he moved to sit beside her. Gently, he ran his fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face. “What have you found, my beautiful witch?”

Turning to him with a triumphant smile, she turned the book to face him. In big bold letters, the words, Mirroring Dark Magic, made his own eyebrows lift. He stared at it for a moment before glancing back at her and clearing his throat, “Dearest, Bella already wants to kill me. How will mirroring the spell back at her help anything?”

Exasperated, she rolled her eyes and shook her head before explaining, “No, Lucius. We wouldn’t mirror the spell itself back at her.” her smirk grew as Severus and Ginny turned their attention to her also. “Only the pain.”

Severus pursed his lips and ran his forefinger across his chin for a moment in contemplation before he responded. After a time, he added, “We could also enhance the pain.” glancing from Hermione to Lucius, he explained, “A Magnification of sorts? Enough of it cast in just the right way could send her into an enchanted coma.”

Lucius nodded in understanding. “A coma. One very similar to the one she had put him into to start with.” He chuckled. “Brilliant! When can we start?”

* * *

Hermione and Ginny stood on either side of the bed where Draco slept soundly with Angelica. Each woman had a mirror in their hands. Chanting softly with their eyes closed, they recited the words of the mirroring spell with only a few adjustments to it. The adjustments had been made because the spell was meant to reflect the pain that went along with the curse, NOT the curse itself.

Lucius and Severus stood in the same position as their women, except at head and foot of the bed. Each wizard as well held a mirror. But that was where the similarities between the men and the women changed.

They were not chanting the same chant as their ladies. Instead, they each were working a weaving of another curse into the spell. One that would end the threat of the Bella for good. . .  If everything went as planned.

Of course, without testing the curse first, there was no way to be certain that it would work. But none of them were willing to test it on any other living creature. It would be a pointless cruelty. Besides, they didn’t want anyone else besides her dead. And even if it didn’t end the witch’s life, It wound definitely add to the damage inflicted, whatever it did do.

Slowly, raising the mirrors to position above Draco’s body, they turned them in such a way as his entire persona was hidden behind the safety of the glass. As the pieces clicked together, Lucius and Severus both spoke the final words of their own special long distance curse. Avada Kedavra.

 With the words spoken and the ritual completed, a beam of such brilliant light erupted from the mirror and shot out the window. Draco’s body, which even in his enchanted sleep had been tense, suddenly relaxed.

Hermione and Lucius shared a hopeful look as they set the pieces aside. Moving to embrace each other, they looked back to Draco, who was beginning to stir. Stiffening, Lucius pushed Hermione just a little behind him.

“If this hasn’t worked,” he whispered, “I want you to get out of here. There is no need for you to watch me die, should my son come after me.”

Severus stood at the foot of the bed, wand in position, ready. He watched Draco and Angelica rise with wary eyes. Ginny had moved behind him, but held her wand ready also.

Draco sat up on the side of the bed, and drew a deep breath. When he released it, he smiled and stretched. Looking back at Angelica, he whispered, “Hello my darling. Somehow, I think it’s going to be a beautiful day.”

* * *

Bellatrix writhed on the floor, the pain consuming her. She tried multiple times to raise her wand to end her torment, but the pain was so devastating, she lacked the strength. As she felt herself succumbing to the agony, her eyes lit on movement across the room.

Slowly, the snake was making its way to her. A moment of hope flared within her chest before dwindling down to nothing, like a flower kissed by lips of ice.

Her hope died because the snake had begun to writhe and wiggle, as if it too was trapped in the throes of some painful curse. But as she watched, she realized the mistake of her judgement.

Nagini twisted and turned as her shape began to change. Within mere moments, a beautiful, dark haired enchantress stood before the helpless witch, looking down on her as if she was something to be pitied.

For what seemed an eternity, they simply stared at each other, neither speaking. Bella, because she was in too much pain. Nagini, because she had nothing she cared to say.

When Bellatrix breaths had began to come in short pants and both knew the end was near, Nagini decided to break her silence. Kneeling down beside the dying with, she whispered softly into her ear. “He never loved you. You were only a substitute for me.”

Pulling back, she watched as her words sunk in. She smiled when blood began to ooze from the witch’s nose, mouth and eyes. Finally, when her breathing at last stopped, Nagini sighed and stood. Dusting herself off, she stretched and smiled. Free. . . She was finally free. . .

* * *