Raylynx's POV
"Are you nervous?" Jasper asked me as we walked out of our briefing on the Albanian mission.
"What's there to be nervous about?" I said. "If we fail, all that happens is that Albania declares war on our country. That's no pressure, though, right?"
Jasper chuckled lightly. "I like your way of thinking," he said lightly.
"After you, miss," he said, graciously opening the door for me on the way out of the Auror office.
We met up again at three in the morning. The Ministry had set up a Portkey for us and brought it up to the Auror office. Nobody was there except for Ahmed.
"Now remember, you're going to land in a forest. Make for the village just across the river. The fifth house on your right is the safe house. It'll have this statute propped up in the window," Ahmed said, showing us an identical statute. "Get there as fast as you can. Our ally's name is Symond. He should ask you if there are any more guests coming. The answer is yes, three and three quarters. Got it?"
"We got it, Ahmed," Jasper said. "Now stop worrying, old chap."
Ahmed sighed and eyed me warily. I knew he was against Jasper's choice in partner. I met his stare and didn't back down. I was determined to prove my worth to him.
"It's almost time," Ahmed warned us.
Jasper and I both reached out and put our hands on the Portkey, which was just a branch someone had picked up somewhere.
"Ms. Kingsley," Ahmed said sternly. "Don't be rash."
"I won't," I promised.
Then, the Portkey glowed blue and Jasper and I were swept off our feet.
We landed in the forest.
It was only the second time I'd taken a Portkey and the spinning made me lose my balance.
I managed to land on my feet, but I tripped forward straight into Jasper's back. He reached back and steadied me against him.
"Sorry," I apologized, quickly stepping forward and regaining my balance.
"No problem," he said, already focused on scanning the forest. He peered through the trees intently. I gripped my wand and checked the forest behind us. It was hard to make things out here. Everything was brown and flat as summer faded into autumn.
"There," Jasper muttered and began to make his way stealthily through the trees.
We pulled our hoods up, crouched over slightly, and kept our wands out as we made our way through the forest and out by the river. We crossed the bridge over the river and ended up in a village.
"Fifth house on the right," I murmured.
We walked forward into the village. I spotted the statute in the window. "There," I whispered to Jasper.
He nodded and we hurried across to the safe house.
He knocked on the door.
It opened almost immediately. A man with warm brown eyes and curly hair said in a pleasant voice, "Hello. Are there many more guests coming?"
"Yes," Jasper said. "Three and three quarters, in fact."
"Well then, please come in," Symond said, stepping aside to let us in.
We walked in quickly and he shut the door behind us. We pushed off our hoods and introduced ourselves.
Symond provided us with refreshments and snacks and caught us up to date. "Vladimir Loran is currently residing at our Serbian embassy. It's a highly guarded area, but it's guarded by Muggles. It shouldn't be a problem for the two of you."
He pulled out a blueprint from under the table mat set on the dining table and tracing the map with his finger, he instructed, "Climb over the back wall. There's a blind spot between two cameras as long as you keep your back to the wall and then climb up and over this spot right here. Once there, you should be able to climb up to the windows. Loran's on the fourth floor. They've been moving him around every night, but we're guessing he'll be either in this room or this one."
"I can't scale a building up to the fourth floor," I said incredulously.
"Neither can I," Jasper said. "But that's what magic is for, m'lady."
"Now, please remember we're an hour faster here. You have two hours before the sun starts to rise," Symond told us.
We stood up.
"We'll return here once the mission is completed," Jasper said to Symond. "Thank you for your hospitality."
We shook hands and Symond presented us with the Portkey.
I clutched at the vines and pulled myself up. A strong hand gripped mine and Jasper pulled me up atop the wall. We both hurriedly dropped onto the grassy field before any guards could spot us. We had managed to get into the backyard of the Serbian embassy. Jasper ran forward silently, and I followed as stealthily as I could. My arms were protesting from all of the climbing I'd just done.
I'm really not in shape for this, I thought to myself. Jasper must be quite fit. I need to stay focused and keep up. I can't let myself fall behind.
"Fourth story," Jasper murmured, looking up at the building. We need to get up there." Then, he whispered urgently, "Guard!"
We both ducked behind a cluster of nearby trees. My heart was pounding so hard I swear the guard was going to hear it. But after a minute or so, the guard walked on by and rounded the corner. I took a deep breath, but Jasper had already moved on and formulated a plan.
"Okay, I'll get under the window," Jasper said. "Lift me with a Levitating variation, all right?"
"Wait," I said.
"We need to move before the guard comes back," Jasper whispered back.
"I know that, but- Calamitatis," I murmured, and tapped my wand on Jasper's head.
The Disillusionment Charm spread down his body, so that he blended in with the trees.
"All right, go," I told him. He darted off from behind the tree and went below the first window.
I pulled up my cuff and concentrating intensely, whispered, "Wingardium Leviosa." I swished and flicked my wand.
Jasper rose up slowly and grasped the windowsill when it came into his reach. He peered up into the window. He looked down at me and shook his head.
So it was the other window, then. He began to ease himself sideways, finding just enough footing between the bricks to grip the wall with his toes.
Suddenly, a second guard appeared from around the corner. I hurriedly ducked behind the tree again. Jasper froze, gripping the wall for all he was worth and staying intensely still. With the Disillusionment Charm, he would probably be safe so long as he kept from moving.
It was a tense minute that passed, and now we knew that there were at least two guards.
I need to move.
I made a break for the wall myself, running out from behind the tree.
Jasper managed to get to the other open window by then.
Grabbing on with one hand, he drew out his wand with the other and levitated me up.
It felt pretty frightening, to levitate up four stories without anything to hold onto. The Levitation Charm was not originally meant for humans either, but objects. It felt shaky.
But I managed to grip the windowsill beside Jasper.
He pointed his wand at the window lock and whispered, "Alohomora." It opened and he easily pushed the window open and then jumped inside the room.
I heard someone say, "What the-?" but by the time I'd clambered in, Jasper had stopped the man from shouting out with a Silencing Charm and followed up with another spell that bound his arms.
I pointed my wand at the door and locked it. Then, I closed the window and pulled down the blinds. I stayed by the window and watched the cracks in the blinds, on guard in case any guards started to behave strangely.
Jasper pulled out a chair at the desk and motioned to Vladimir.
"Sit," he said, rather politely.
Vladimir glared at us but did as we requested.
"I'll take the Silencing Charm off of you," Jasper said. "It's an unfortunate necessity, given that most people tend to scream first and think later."
True to his word, he removed the Silencing Charm.
"What the hell do you two want?" Vladimir spat out at us.
"We're just going to have a conversation," Jasper said nonchalantly, sitting comfortably in the armchair by the window.
"That's what they all say," Vladimir said scathingly.
"Sorry, who?" Jasper asked.
"That's what Rookwood said before he got me roped into this whole mess," Vladimir cursed in Albanian.
"You shouldn't have run. We were more than willing to help you. Still are, in fact," Jasper said calmly.
"What, like you helped Karkaroff?" Vladimir sneered. "No thanks. Karkaroff will realize his mistake when the Dark Lord kills him."
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone," Jasper said casually, looking around the room.
"Then why are you still hunting men like me down, eh?" Vladimir challenged.
I paused. Is Vladimir saying that he knows Voldemort is still alive? And he worked on discovering the origins of magic and the methods of life prolongation. I wonder… I wonder what he knows. What did Voldemort want from him?
"Because you're war criminals," Jasper answered simply. "A demon like He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named doesn't get on by himself. He recruits legions of people to work for him. We track them down and hold them responsible for the crimes. Hence, why I'm here."
While Jasper was speaking, I saw his eyes stutter as he glanced back at something on another table. I followed his gaze and saw a folder atop the table.
"You've got the wrong man," Vladimir scoffed at us.
"Vladimir Loran," I said, approaching his chair and blocking his vision.
Jasper slipped out of his chair and began to pace back and forth, as though he just fancied a walk.
"That's your name, isn't it?" I pressed Vladimir.
Vladimir didn't respond, but when he saw my face by the light of his lamp, his upper lip curled as he said, "I've seen you before. You're one of those damn Aurors that got Rookwood."
"I suppose that confirms who you are," I said dryly.
"What information did you pass to Rookwood?" I inquired.
"I didn't. You caught Rookwood, remember?" Vladimir said.
"What were you going to tell him?" I pressed.
"Why should I tell you?" Vladimir retorted.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper stealthily grasp the folder sitting on the table by the window.
I pulled out my wand and aimed it at Vladimir's head. "Because if you don't, I'll wipe all of your memories. You won't even be able to recognize yourself anymore."
My voice caved in on itself as my words reminded me of Frank and Alice. I gripped my wand tighter.
Perhaps the instability in my demeanor unsettled him. I must have looked desperate enough to do anything.
"Answer me," I whispered. "What were you going to tell him?"
Vladimir glared up at me.
I stepped forward aggressively and forced my wand under his throat. "Obliv-"
"Fine, fine!" Vladimir said. "I was going to tell Rookwood about my research on the human soul."
I paused. "Go on," I said.
"I worked on life prolongation in the Department of Mysteries. There's ancient Greek work that suggests that the soul is the eternal component of us. Rookwood threatened me for this information and paid me handsomely when I delivered."
"What information? You're not being specific enough," I pressed.
Suddenly, Vladimir grinned.
I backed away slightly, my instincts tingling and warning me that something dangerous was about to happen.
"You've lost this round," he sneered.
He suddenly let out a roar and jumped up. He had managed to get his hand in the back pocket of his pants and procured a knife. He cut himself out of Jasper's binds. He swiped at me, but I put up a deflective Shield in time.
I made to Petrify him, but then he threw something at me with his other hand. I ducked, and a second later, I heard something crash through the window. I turned to see a miniature explosion go off in the backyard. Instantly, guards rushed in.
"Hey, we've got company," Jasper said, still sounding nonchalant, but there was an edge to his voice now that wasn't there before.
Vladimir tried to make a break for it, but I shouted, "Experlliarmus!"
The knife fell out of his hand. I grabbed him and pushed him against the wall. I jammed my wand into his neck. He struggled against me as I whispered harshly, "Tell me what the information was!' Tell me now!"
"N-No," Vladimir choked out.
Shouting could be heard outside the windows.
"There's an intruder! There's an intruder!"
"I swear to Merlin, I will curse you-" I said through gritted teeth.
"Raylynx!" Jasper called. "They're coming up! We have to get out of here."
"Obliviat-!"
"Fuck, fine, fine!" Vladimir spit out. "I just- I just discovered that a soul can become so unstable that it splits apart."
What? Split apart? "But a soul can't disappear!" I protested, thinking of Horcruxes. "It must go somewhere."
"Of course, you stupid girl, but who can say where? Does it remain in this world? Does it stay in another world?" Vladimir questioned.
I paused. This was a vital question. Answering this question meant knowing whether Voldemort was still out there or not today.
Could it also, perhaps, explain how Harry had survived?
"In other words," I said slowly. "If your soul rips apart, do you die or do you become immortal?"
Vladimir growled, "Let me go!"
There was banging on the doors.
"Mr. Loran! Mr. Loran, is everything all right in there?"
Jasper walked briskly over to us. "We need to leave," he told me, "Now."
"This information never made it to Rookwood?" I confirmed, still holding my wand to Vladimir's throat.
"Fucking let me go!" he shouted, enraged. He tried to head-butt me, but missed when Jasper dragged me back a little.
Instead, Vladimir spat at me, and his spit landed on my cheek.
I growled and pointed my wand at him. "Obliviate!"
I performed the Memory Charm on him, but I only erased our conversation.
Jasper looked at me, shocked. "You didn't-?"
"Of course not. It was just our conversation," I said. "We need to go before he recognizes our faces."
Jasper nodded, looking relieved.
We turned our backs so he wouldn't see our faces, but just then, the doors burst open.
"Get them!" someone shrieked.
Jasper and I threw up Shield Charms and ran for it.
We jumped through the window. I thought I'd have time to cast a Cushioning Charm, but falling four stories was absurdly quick. Oh Merlin. I don't have time for a Cushioning Charm. Shit, this is going to hurt!
But to my surprise, we fell down gently as someone else cast a Cushioning Charm for us.
I rolled over on the ground and then looked up to see an Albanian wizard offering me his hand. On the other side, Jasper was being helped me by none other than Symond.
Relief coursed through me.
Symond looked over at me and said, "Come with us!"
I nodded. Symond barked out orders in Albanian and the three other wizards and witches, including the one nearest to me, began to Apparate. The wizard beside me grabbed me and I felt myself being pulled along into the vortex.
We landed and were ushered quickly into Symond's house.
"What did you find out?" Symond asked us almost immediately. "Did you get the information you came for?"
"I'm not sure yet," Jasper said.
"Just let us catch our breath," I wheezed. From nearly being stabbed to being spit on to jumping out a window to Apparating…
Symond and his men waited a few minutes for us to relax.
"So," Symond pressed again. "Was the mission successful?"
"We're not sure yet," Jasper said. "The information will have to be handed over to our Ministry of Magic-"
"No, it won't."
My eyes flickered over to Symond and I saw his tense, hungry case. In his eyes, there flickered a strange flame…
Sitting next to Jasper, I hurriedly slipped my hand into his jacket pocket. I closed my eyes and focused. When I felt a light swish against my hand, I knew I had succeeded.
Unfortunately, my success did not go unnoticed.
A loud slap sounded as Symond leapt forward and smacked me across the face. I fell off my chair, my head ringing.
"What did you just do!?" Symond roared. "What was that? What did you just Vanish?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Jasper cried out, jumping to his feet. He pulled out his wand. One of Symond's men tried to Disarm him, but Jasper was quicker.
Suddenly, I felt myself being dragged up by the throat.
"Drop your wand or she gets hurt," one of the men threatened.
Slowly, Jasper put his wand down and another man beside the man choking me came forward and took it, putting it in his back pocket.
I struggled against him, but the man hissed and squeezed harder.
"Stop moving, Raylynx," Jasper said quietly. "They've won this round."
"Good. Now tell us what you know," Symond said.
"W-Why?" I choked out. "Why are you doing this?"
I tried to Summon magic to me, but my head felt so foggy and I couldn't think of a way to get both Jasper and I out of this mess.
"For too long, the British Ministry has been violating our laws and taking information from our land. They seek to take from us the only thing we have: information. If we allow this to continue, the country won't survive. You filthy Brits are always putting your hands where they don't belong. So tell me, what was the information?"
"H-how could we know?" I wheezed.
"For Merlin's sake, put her down! She's trying to speak!" Jasper glared daggers at the man choking me.
Symond nodded at the man, who released me.
I bent over on the table, trying to get my breath back. In the meantime, I shoved my wand down my sleeve.
Jasper patted me on the back.
"Don't touch her!" Symond barked. "Get away from her."
"All right, all right," Jasper said, backing off.
"How could we have known?" I managed to say. "We never got to see the documents."
"Call them back. You're the one who vanished them," Symond said unforgivingly.
I stared at him.
"Do it," he snarled.
Neither Jasper nor I moved.
"Lock them in the basement," Symond ordered. "No food or water until they recall those documents. And put a protective barrier on the house. I'll keep them from escaping."
We were thrown unceremoniously into a dusty basement. They found my wand and pried it away from me.
"Pity, that was our last chance," Jasper said grimly, watching the man take away my wand. "I tried to get my wand back from that man by coming over to you, but Symond's too quick."
"We have to get out of here," I said, studying the walls and ceilings.
"Yes, but we won't achieve such ends by magic. Not without our wands. We need to use our heads, find out what to tell them," Jasper said. He settled against the wall and began to think.
I walked back and forth restlessly, unable to calm my mind or heartbeat down. How did the mission go so off-course? What the hell are we going to do now?
It felt different, messing up on some mission I'd decided to go on on a whim versus an official mission.
Jasper watched me pacing for a few minutes before he finally said, "Raylynx."
I looked over at him.
"We'll get out of here. Trust me," he said. "I've been in worse situations."
I walked over to where he was leaning on the wall.
Suddenly, his hand was on my face.
I started, but he reached over and held my face in place as he used his sleeve to gently wipe my cheek.
"He spit on you, didn't he? Crude bastard."
"I'm fine," I said, stepping back a little.
"Good thinking on your part, vanishing the documents," Jasper noted.
"Could I somehow recall them now and we memorize them before destroying them?" I asked. "That's one way to make sure they never get the information."
Jasper shook his head. "They've put up protective barriers. They'll feel the items being recalled from wherever they've gone."
I sighed. I sat on the dirty floor and Jasper joined me.
"We just need to think," I said.
"We do, and fast," Jasper replied.
But even as I heard him say that, I felt the adrenaline draining out of my system. Slowly but surely, even in this situation of capture, my eyelids shut and I fell asleep.
Jasper looked over at me sleeping. "She's burnt out," he murmured. "I knew she would, when I saw her pacing like that. Always happens on a first mission." Then, he sighed and muttered anxiously, "We need to get out of here before nightfall."
In my dream, I saw two figures standing on a rock cliff jutting out above the sea.
Two brothers stood facing each other, except there was a barred gate between them.
They were reaching towards each other.
Don't leave me.
I won't. I won't ever leave you.
What if I turn mad, like the rest of them? Would you leave me then?
No, not even then.
The rock crumbled into the sea, and the waves overtook them both.
I woke up, gasping for breath.
"Raylynx?"
I looked up to see Jasper, slightly hunched over.
I blinked a few times and then frowned. He looked much worse than he had just hours ago. He was sweating, and his arms were wrapped around his stomach, as though he were in pain.
"Jasper?" I said. Had something happened while I was asleep?
"Are you all right?" Jasper asked me.
"Are you?" I asked him, concerned.
"Well," Jasper said, in a slightly clipped voice. "I truly hate to tell you this, Raylynx, but I fear I must, for your own safety."
"What?" I said, scooting closer to him. "What's wrong? Something's happened, hasn't it?"
"No, but it will," Jasper said hoarsely. "Tonight is the full moon."
I paused as the information sunk in.
Right. Jasper is a werewolf.
"They took away the emergency vial I had when they dragged us down," Jasper said grimly.
I shook my head and opened my mouth to tell him not to worry. I was an Animagus, after all. But then, I paused. We both work for the Ministry and it's illegal to be an unregistered Animagus.
"It'll be fine," I said, rather lamely. "We can handle that."
"How?" Jasper said, wiping sweat from his face. "You're a human, and I won't be able to restrain myself."
"You won't have to," I said, more firmly.
Jasper looked confused, but then we both heard the door opening above us.
I hurriedly got on my feet.
Jasper got up, too, and took a deep breath before he straightened his composure.
Symond and two of his thugs appeared.
"I hope you've rethought your decision. This won't end well for you," Jasper said calmly. Not a trace of his sickness could be detected in his steady voice or refined composure.
"Recall those documents," Symond ordered me.
I shook my head.
Symond sighed. "Last chance."
"No," I said again. "I have no idea who you're working for or what the information is. I can't hand it over to you so easily."
"Fine," Symond said. "I don't want to do this to you, but you leave me no choice."
"Grab him," Symond ordered.
I stepped in front of Jasper and tried to block the two thugs from getting to him, but I wasn't much of a fighter without my wand. I tried to punch the man in the throat as he reached for me, but he read my move and grabbed my arm and yanked me to him. I then tried to Stun him, but the protective barrier was suffocating my magic, to the point that wandless magic felt extremely difficult. I was dragged out of the way by one of the thugs, and the other man grabbed Jasper. To his credit, Jasper step-sided the man and got in a good roundhouse kick to the man's stomach. The man bent over and groaned in pain, but Symond pulled out his wand and had Jasper tied up in ropes in seconds.
"Now, look at me," Symond said coolly. He grabbed Jasper's chin and forced him to look into his eyes.
Jasper resisted, but Symond slapped him across the face.
I winced and tried to break free of the man holding onto me, but he grabbed and restrained me again.
"Look at me," Symond said harshly.
Their eyes met.
A long minute passed where we all watched in breathless anticipation. I felt my heart thrumming with anxiety. What was Symond doing to Jasper?
Jasper clenched his teeth and shook his head furiously, or as best as he could in Symond's grasp.
"Get out of my head," he growled at Symond.
Legilimency, I realized, and fear struck me. Jasper hadn't heard what Vladimir had said. Unless he knew more than he was letting on, Jasper knew nothing about the information Vladimir was going to pass onto Rookwood. I, on the other hand….
Jasper let out a roar, and everybody started. With a massive effort, he shoved Symond out of his head.
But Symond had already seen too much.
"Werewolf, eh?" Symond voiced aloud.
Both thugs shifted uneasily at the news.
Symond smiled wryly. "Well, that's convenient. What phase of the moon are we in? Ah, yes, that's right. I guess there's a natural time limit to your holding out, then. You either tell me what you know by tonight or she-" Symond nodded towards me, "dies."
"Don't listen!" I shouted, before a strong hand clamped over my mouth.
I shook my head furiously.
It's fine. It's fine, Jasper. Please don't give in.
"You already say everything inside my head," Jasper said wearily. "You know I don't have any information to give."
"True," Symond said curtly. "That information lies with the girl. Bring her forth."
He threw Jasper against the wall. Jasper managed to stay upright, but with his whole body bound, there was very little else he could do.
I took a deep breath as I was dragged forward.
Dumbledore's voice entered my mind.
Clear yourself of all emotions, all thoughts. Do not respond to the attacker's probing. Just give yourself utterly to yourself. Trust yourself, and no one can penetrate the barrier of your mind.
I started to steel myself as Symond grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.
When I closed my eyes, he choked me. But I kept my eyes tightly closed until I was ready.
Then, when I opened my eyes and our eyes met, I beat him to it. Legilimens!
I was walking down a hallway, a familiar hallway. The papers plastered on the walls all had to do with recent cases or sightings of criminals. Ah, this was the Justice Department of the British Ministry of Magic. I turned just before the end.
"Mr. Crouch."
"Symond, yes, come in, my boy. I assume your visit signifies that you were successful?"
"Yes, sir. They will gather on the 23rd of August in the main square just outside the village."
"Excellent. We'll see to it that the terrorists are wiped out."
"Thank you. I knew you would understand. My village just wants peace."
"Yes, yes. I understand."
Then, I was running down a dirt path panting heavily. My heart hurt because of how hard I was pushing myself and I felt as though my legs were going to give out. But I had to go… Mother wasn't home yet. Why wasn't she home?
I raced down the dirt path which soon enough turned into a cobblestone street.
Then, a long scream sounded.
I turned the corner of the building and then stopped, stunned.
Hundreds of dementor feeding on people, most of whom had already collapsed or were standing senselessly in the square, completely lifeless.
In the middle of this group-
"Mother!" I screamed so loud my throat felt like it had been torn apart.
She didn't turn, didn't look. That term of endearment no longer had any meaning for her.
"Mother! It's me, Symond! It's your son!" I wept.
The dementors turned and looked, slowly taking in the sound of my voice.
A live human… A live human…
Feed. Feed. Feed!
They began to converge on me.
I tried to step back and tripped, sobbing.
Then-
"Save that kid!"
Twenty or so Patronuses burst forth. I was scooped up by a Ministry Hit Wizard.
"What the hell are you doing here, kid?"
"You weren't- It was only supposed to be- for- for peace. You weren't supposed to take her soul, too," I sobbed. "Why did you have to take her, too? Why-?"
"ENOUGH!"
I feel backwards and collapsed onto the floor as I was jerked out of his memories.
I stared up at Symond, stunned and unable to quite forget the memory of three hundred dementors swooping amongst soulless people and then turning to me. All those hooded cloaks… I trembled, but I managed to speak aloud, "Your mother was killed because you gave the British Ministry information, and they used that information to plan an attack. She was supposed to come home early that day, but didn't. They went ahead and attacked anyways."
Symond reached down and grabbed my hair and jerked my head back.
"It matters not what you saw," he growled at me, deep resentment bubbling in his voice. "You're still the one who'll be massacred by a werewolf."
He threw me face-down on the floor and then stomped off, furious at what I had seen.
I slowly pushed myself back up into a sitting position.
"Raylynx…"
Jasper had managed to free himself from most of the ropes, which actually, was a huge feat. I paused. How had he managed to get out of magical ropes?
He came and crouched next to me, putting his hands on my shoulders.
"I'm all right," I assured him.
"You may have to summon those documents," Jasper said gently. "If not, I… I'm going to kill you." He looked at me with guilty eyes, not at all the proud and confident look he usually had.
"You won't," I said, looking up at him. "Trust me. You won't."
Jasper furrowed his brow. "You don't have an extra bottle of Wolfsbane Potions stashed somewhere on you, do you?"
I shook my head.
"Then it's certain that I'll hurt you," Jasper said.
"We'll get out before then," I replied.
"How?"
"I don't know yet," I said honestly. "Jasper, you just magicked your way out of those ropes. Can you lift this enchantment?"
Jasper shook his head. "Not without my wand, and not in my current state."
We both fell silent and sat together on that cold, dirty floor, pondering our fate.
