Chapter Twenty Two: The Curse
'Are you enjoying the festivities, Emalia?' asked Corisande casually as they walked around the hall, taking in all the merriment. 'Oh of course Professor!' exclaimed Emalia her happiness beaming out of her. Corisande nodded curtly, managing to muster a small smile on her face. 'Your mother would have been in her element here' she continued 'She always loved a party. She met your father at a party. Did you know that?' Emalia looked up at her, slightly surprised at the topic of conversation. 'No Professor, I did not know that, but I am glad they met somewhere full of fun and happiness.' she replied. Continuing their loop around the hall, they were coming towards the doorway that led to the staircase to the classrooms.
Corisande slowed a little, focusing on the doorway. Emalia, still paying attention to the furor on the dancefloor did not notice that Corisande Guinevere was guiding her towards this doorway. 'Emalia, I was hoping I could show you something in my quarters, I recently found in my possession a picture of your mother and father and I thought you may like to have it.' whispered Corisande an air of excitement in her voice. Emalia looked up at her 'I would love that Professor; I don't have many photographs of them.' The two of them turned their backs to the celebration taking place behind them, and walked together through the doorway. One with thoughts of revenge and the other with excitement on seeing the photograph.
Once they were a suitable distance from the hall Corisande muttered 'Immobulus'. Emalia was frozen to the spot. 'Professor, I can't move!' she exclaimed a little panicked, her sense of unease returning. Corisande cackled, a twisted, crazed laugh. 'That is the point' she spat. Emalia looked at her, her demeanor had changed dramatically. The Professor was erratic and manic in her movements. She had started circling her. 'You have no idea how long I have been waiting to get my revenge on you Aven. It's all your fault. He is dead because of you!' Corisande screamed. 'Please Professor! It's Emalia! Aven is my mother, she is not here Professor, please stop you are scaring me.' cried Emalia 'Please let me go! Someone help me!'
Corisande laughed again, manically. 'No one can help you because no one can hear you! Now you will pay for what you took from me!' Corisande stopped circling Emalia, instead began to pace in front of her, muttering illegible nothings. Emalia in the meantime was trying to talk some sense into her Professor. Corisande looked at her, 'I have had enough of you talking Aven. You have always been the same, you have to be heard. Silencio.' That was the end of Emalia's pleadings. Tears began to stream down her face. 'I have been fighting it for so long Aven. Ever since Henri died.' whispered Corisande. 'He died protecting you and your family. He was the love of my life, you asked him to help you knowing what would happen to me if he died.' There were tears streaming down Corisande's face now, behind them Emalia could see her determination to exact revenge, her grief and her rage. She had never seen this in her Professor before, something had flipped in her. She was not who she was.
Corisande turned to face Emalia 'This is the least you deserve Aven, a curse that even you will not be able to undo.' she breathed. There was clarity now in Corisande's mind, she was focused on one goal now. Pulling out a silver knife out her pocket Corisande cut the palm of her hand. Emalia's eyes were wide with terror if she could scream and run away, she would have. Corisande smeared her blood over Emalia's forehead. Corisande grabbed a hold of Emalia's hand and cut the palm of her hand, she then smeared Emalia's blood over her own forehead and over Emalia's.
Back in the hall Albus Dumbledore had noticed that Emalia was nowhere to be seen at the party. He was worried, her friends were all here and it was not like her to go off by herself when such excitement was happening. Albus circled the hall, he spotted Jack, and walked over to him 'Excuse me Jack, but I was wondering if you have seen Emalia?' he asked. 'Yes Sir, she left through that doorway with Professor Guinevere, I think she wanted to show Emalia something.' Jack replied. Albus was alarmed though he did not display it, he simply thanked Jack and made his way to the doorway. Something was not right; he could feel it.
Corisande began her curse speaking words that Emalia did not know. Slowly but surely Emalia could feel a coldness trickle down from her head to her toes. Once Corisande had finished her chant, Emalia knew the deed was done. It was that this moment that Albus stumbled upon them. Corisande was startled, not expecting anyone to find Emalia just yet. 'Stay back Albus' she screamed. Albus slowly made his way forward, staring at Corisande not taking his eyes off her for a second. He could almost smell that magic in the air it was that potent. 'What have you done Corisande, we can fix this together.' he said trying to keep the panic out of his voice. Corisande looked at him 'There is nothing to fix. Aven has paid, a curse for a life. Finally, I will be reunited with Henri again.' she replied. 'Expelliarmus!' she shouted at Dumbledore, successfully disarming him. As Albus immediately retrieved his wand, about to counter, he saw Professor Corisande Guinevere hurl herself out of the window, falling down the cliff edge that was outside the window to her death. A sense of dread came over Albus. He knew now what had happened. Corisande had cast a blood curse.
Albus turned to Emalia, looking at her seeing the terror in her eyes. 'Do not fret my dear, all will be right soon enough.' and with that he muttered a quick spell that sent Emalia straight to sleep. He cast a patronus and sent it straight to Madam Maxim explaining what had happened and asking her to take down the spell preventing apparition on school grounds for a brief period of time. Within a few minutes Madam Maxim's patronus returned telling him the spell was down. With that Albus gathered Emalia into his arms and apparated straight to St Mungo's.