Ophidian | Fred Weasley ✔

35

Chapter Thirty-Five:

( I ' L L   W A I T   F O R   Y O U )

Artemis ran with all her might, her wand clutched tightly in her palm, her hair whizzing past. She took sharp turns, left and right, running through the corridors at record speed. She looked to her right to see the protective charm around the school burning down.

"The boy's done it. He's destroyed the remaining horcrux. I can feel Nagini's distress." Manasa said.

"Then that means she's going to find us, soon." Artemis conversed back.

"She's on her way." Manasa said. Artemis clutched her wand tighter. Then that meant she needed to hurry. She had to get Nagini away from where the actual fight had ensued, Artemis needed to be at her best for this to work, she couldn't afford distractions.

Artemis hadn't told her plan to a single soul, knowing they would never agree with it, heck, I'm not sure if this is going to work. She thought to herself.

"But it is our only choice." Manasa said.

Artemis came to stop in a clearing just inside the boundary that was slowly dissipating.

"You were foolish to come alone." She heard a voice from behind her. Artemis slowly turned around to come face to face with the blood red eyes and slimy skin that she'd seen in one too many of her nightmares.

"So were you." Artemis hissed back, not backing down as she threw a spell her way.

"Magic does not harm me, you foolish girl." Nagini hissed slithering closer to Artemis. The dark haired witch knew that external magic couldn't harm a Maledictus in their beast form, but her purpose wasn't to harm her.

Artemis threw another stunning spell her way as the dark haired witch took a few steps back. It seemed to serve it's purpose as Nagini hissed and lunged at Artemis, fangs out. Artemis apparated and landed behind Nagini, throwing another spell at her. Nagini hissed again, enraged, as she turned around and lunged at the green-eyed witch who apparated yet again and landed to Nagini's right, throwing yet another spell at her.

This continued for a few more times but when Artemis landed this time, Nagini had anticipated it and lunged in time, making Artemis' wand fly out of her hand as she missed the attack narrowly.

"Quit playing." Nagini hissed lunging for Artemis again, but before she could, Artemis let Manasa take control as she turned into her Ophidia.

Her Ophidia, in contrast to Nagini's dark skin, had a forest green colour, the exact same shade as her eyes with black spots adorning her body. Her eyes, a blood red, indicating that Manasa was in control.

"Do your best." Artemis said to Manasa as she let Manasa take over the reigns. Her plan was to tire Nagini, to get her when she was at her weakest. Her spells hadn't meant to hurt, but to tire her, which she had been successful in. She let Manasa and Nagini fight, she watched as Nagini lunged for Manasa and Manasa dodge it as she escaped. Manasa's purpose was exactly the same as Artemis'— Get Nagini to tire out.

"I can feel her energy dropping. But the problem is, mine is dropping too. I can't hold her on much longer." Manasa said.

"How much longer?" Artemis asked as she saw Manasa dodge yet another attack.

"A few more minutes. It is time, Artemis. We have to do it now." Manasa said as Artemis nodded. She saw Nagini's eyes landing on Manasa's as she prepared to pounce. Artemis closed her eyes and let her magic flow through her body. She felt Manasa's control losening over her body as Artemis' increased, careful not to overpower Manasa's.