Darkness on the Horizon

Ch. 24

I entered the school quickly heading to my room. I had gathered all the ingredients there so I didn't need to locate anymore. The only thing I needed to do now was rest and so I decided to take a nap so I would be as strong as I could be when I go out tonight. I walked passed the sitting room heading straight for my mattress. I climbed into the bed quickly curling up. I shut my eyes letting myself sink deeper into my bed. Eventually managing to fall into a deep dreamless sleep.
—
I woke several hours later getting up. I peaked out the widow to see if it was late enough for the spell. I looked up at the sky to see it was dark out. It was time to do the spell. My hands shook with anxiety as I turned to grab the supplies. I grabbed some lavender as well as powdered Griffin claw and Dittany. I also grabbed a candle and a knife before I made my way outside. I didn't run into anyone as I walked through the quiet castle. The silence only added to my anxiety as I reached the exit. I rushed outside not coming to a stop until I was close to the forbidden forest. I set the supplies down grabbing the first ingredient necessary for the spell. I took the Griffin claw and began to pour the powder to create the Malfoy family crest in the grass. After I finished the symbol I added the lavender and dittany in a circle around the symbol. I guessed the dittany was essential to helping protect me by infusing healing properties to the spell. The spell would use everything I had and the dittany would do its best to heal the damage in theory. I looked up at the moon taking a shaky breath. I was terrified but I didn't stop what I was going. I grabbed the candle setting it in the middle of the family crest. I used my wand lighting it. The candle was the only light source besides the moon.

"Isabelle," Dane said as I looked up from my work to smile at him. He came just like he said he would.

"It's almost done," I told him softly. "I just need to add my blood and then it should work. There isn't an incantation. I just need to focus on my magic throughout the process to make sure it does what it's meant to."

"Are you sure this will work?" He asked as I shook my head.

"No but Dumbledore hasn't given me another choice," I said softly. "I won't let him keep hurting people."

"Where would you like me to stay?" He asked as I motioned to the circle.

"Stay outside the circle," I told him firmly as I picked the knife up out of the grass.

"How long is this spell supposed to last?" He asked as I looked at him.

"Two days," I said simply. "I'm not planning on apperating to him tonight I just want to see what he is up to so I can plan out my next moves." I said as Dane nodded. "As I said earlier once I start don't break the circle, no matter what. This spell is dangerous assuming I do everything correctly and if you break the circle I'm not sure what would happen. Even if I'm screaming out for help don't break the circle until it's over, alright?" I told him again as I held the blade in my right hand.

"Okay," Dane said reluctantly. I cut my left hand holding it close to me. I focused on the magic in my body before I held my hand over the flame letting the blood spill. Blood dripped onto the candle as I felt the magic in the air shift turning volatile. My power rushed out of my body as the threads of my magic trailed each line of Griffin claw powder. Pain was all I felt as I sank to my knees holding back a scream. I felt my blood boiling inside me as the spell reached deep into my body. My hands dig into the ground as I resisted the pain.

"Isabelle," Dane said panicked stepping closer standing with his body just outside the circle. I tried to breathe through the pain to clear my mind enough to complete my task. Then I felt him, Dumbledore's magic. I shut my eyes focusing on sending the treads of my power towards Dumbledore's magic. I imagined them being woven together as I ignored my body pleading for me to give in, to stop. I couldn't stop.

"When are you going after her?" I heard faintly in my head as my magic brushed against Dumbledore's. I was hearing what he was hearing.

"Soon, she won't get away with killing Harry I assure you. She will be the sacrifice to bring him back. Her power is more than enough to bring him back," Dumbledore said simply to the other person. As the spell continued the voices grew louder and eventually I started to see Dumbledore's blurred surroundings when I had my eyes closed. My magic gave one last surge before everything stopped. The pain vanished and everything was still, calm and I could see Dumbledore clearly. He was in the same house he had me in and so were the two people from before except I could see one of them. Ginny was standing before Dumbledore with so much rage in her eyes as she spoke about me.

"She took everything from me. She killed my family and stole my magic!" Ginny growled as Dumbledore placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I promise your magic will return once she has been dealt with," Dumbledore vowed as I opened my eyes pausing the connection. I took a moment breathing deeply before I got to my feet. Dane eyed me worriedly as I exited the circle collapsing into his arms with exhaustion.

"Isa," he gasped catching me before I hit the ground.

"I'm okay. I just need to rest," I told him as he scooped me into his arms quickly. He walked up to the castle leaving my mess behind us. He entered the building only to be met by Severus.

"Is she alright?" He asked Dane.

"Exhausted but fine. I was just going to take her to her room then clean up the mess outside," Dane said as Severus nodded.

"I'll clean up outside you just make sure Professor Malfoy is taken care of and that no students find out about this," Severus ordered as Dane walked passed him. Dane made his way quickly to my room and the portrait opened without a password seeing the state I was in. He carried me into my bedroom placing me on the bed gently. He took my shoes off before sliding the blankets over my body as my eyes started to shut.

"I'll just be in the sitting room if you need me," Dane told me kissing my forehead before making his way out of the bedroom. I didn't have the energy to respond to him as I passed out.