Jakob returned to the chessboard chamber, relieved to find that the three Gryffindors had been freed from the curse that had bound them. Or, more accurately, he was relieved to see that Hermione had been released.
His theory had proven correct. Destroying the source had ended the curse. Yet, he remained cautious, fully aware that if he revealed himself to the Gryffindors now, it would certainly spell trouble, especially if the Potter girl or the Weasley boy identified him.
Instead of following his instincts to rush over to Hermione, Jakob carefully concealed himself behind a large chess piece, surveying the situation.
Ivy assisted Hermione to her feet while Ron stood a few feet away, his expression a mix of confusion and perhaps a touch of nausea or hunger.
After repeatedly inquiring about the bushy-haired girl's well-being and receiving confirmation that she was fine, Ivy cast a hasty glance toward Ron, her confusion evident.
"Ron? What is it?" she asked, noticing his tense expression and restless gaze.
Ron seemed to be in a state of shock. He scanned the room as if looking for something, or someone. His face was pale and sweaty, and his hands were trembling.
"You're in the chess chamber, Ron," Hermione said, sounding tired and annoyed. "We just got past the giant, remember?"
Ron shook his head as if trying to clear his mind. He ignored Hermione's question and turned to the two girls, his voice urgent and fearful.
"Has anyone seen Harry?"
Ivy felt a jolt of fear as she followed Ron's gaze. She realized that Harry was nowhere to be seen. She quickly looked at the stairs leading down to the last chamber where her brother lay.
"Harry!" Without a second thought, she dashed forward with incredible speed, her fiery hair flying behind her as she ran past the hidden snake and went down the steps.
Ron watched, stunned, as the sprinting girl vanished down, torn between staying with Hermione where it was safe and following after Ivy who was surely already at his best friend's side. After a moment of hesitation, he made a snap decision, giving the curly-haired girl a regretful smile.
"Don't worry, Granger. We'll protect you," he promised her, though his voice sounded more desperate than confident. With that, he left his spot next to Hermione. Drawing his wand Ron ran after the fiery-haired girl, yelling with a frantic cry in his voice for both Harry and Ivy.
Jakob felt a wave of relief as he watched the two Gryffindors leave. His eyes caught Hermione's disdain for Weasley's behaviour, and this sight filled him with a sense of satisfaction.
Hermione had reacted with a snort, and an eye roll and was now turning her back, completely unaware of Jakob's stealthy approach. A sly smile crept onto his face as he realized he was about to have a quiet moment alone with his Muggle friend.
Hermione's hands rummaged anxiously in her inner robe pocket, desperately looking for the black card. At last, her fingers grasped it, and a relieved sigh left her lips as she smiled victoriously. But her smile soon turned to shock as an unexpected voice spoke behind her.
"You don't need it. I'm here," Jakob whispered in a soothing and reassuring tone.
Startled by the sudden voice behind her, Hermione spun around, and instinctively punched the Slytherin hard across the face, catching him completely off-guard. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized what she had done, and she quickly apologized to the shocked boy.
"Jake, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, I-"
"Shit, you hit hard," he groaned as he held his throbbing nose, feeling something snapping and settling back into place.
Without giving it any more thought, he grasped Hermione's arm firmly and pulled her into a tight hug. She was taken aback, an involuntary sound of surprise escaping her mouth. But when the warmth of his embrace enveloped her fully, she melted into it, clinging to him as if she would never let go.
A small, quivering sob escaped her, and her tears trickled down, dampening his neck and the fabric of his shirt as they held each other tightly.
"I was so frightened," she breathed. Jakob gently patted her head and nodded. "You did well, Hermione."
After what seemed too short to end the hug, Hermione drew back slightly, noticing a wet sensation on her hands. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized they were stained with blood. Gasping, she pulled back further and saw that Jakob's hands and chest were covered in crimson. "Oh, Jakob, you're bleeding!" she cried out, her voice trembling with fear. Her heart pounded as she frantically searched his body for any cuts or bruises, touching his face, arms, and chest, desperately seeking the source of the blood.
She felt a wave of dread as she realized he was in the same state as that night when she had run into him on the stairs, the time he had smirked at her and walked away. She tried to push him off, to get a better look at him, but he wouldn't let her. He kept her close, giving the Gryffindor girl a gentle smile.
"I'm fine, Hermione," he reassured her.
"It's not my blood." He saw her expression change from worry to doubt, and he knew he had to act quickly. He had done something awful, and he didn't want her to know the details. Not yet at least.
"Then whose blood is it?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Professor Quirrell's," he said casually, as though it was nothing. He saw her mouth open, ready to question him more, but he didn't give her a chance. Instead, he grabbed her hand and said urgently, "We should already have left, come on." He pulled her along, trying to leave the scene of his crime.
She followed him, still confused and a bit frightened. She wanted to ask him what had happened, why he had killed Quirrell, and how he had survived the encounter with the Dark Lord. But she also wanted to trust him, to believe that he had a good reason, that he was still the same Jakob she knew. She hoped he would explain everything to her, to make her understand. She prayed he would still be her friend, even after what she had forced him to do by going off with the Golden Trio.
Then another thought came to Hermione. "Did anyone see you?" she asked. Jakob stopped in his tracks. "Only one, and he won't be able to tell anyone." He glanced back at Hermione, seeing a sad but proud smile on her face as she reluctantly released his hand.
Jakob knew that she couldn't follow him. If she did, the rest of the golden trio would become suspicious, and she would serve as a good alibi if anyone asked if she had seen someone sneaking away while everyone else was in the other chamber.
"I think it's better if I stay," Hermione said, a hint of reluctance in her voice. Jakob sighed in slight frustration but nodded in agreement, though it was clear he didn't want to part with her.
"If something else happens, you write to me on that card, alright?" His question was met with a smirk. "Don't worry, I have the heroic Weasley to protect me."
Jakob was about to reply when a shout from the circular chamber down the stairs could be heard.
"Ron, wake up!"
Guess the moron saw Quirrell, Jakob thought with a victorious grin, wishing he could have witnessed Ron passing out after seeing the corpse on the stone floor.
He then quickly instructed Hermione to go to the rest and not look at the body in the other room. She nodded and walked towards the stairs, her figure gradually fading from view.
He watched her until she was out of sight before turning and heading back. It would take some time to get back to his common room.
After some hiding, running, and a death wish directed at a particularly annoying cat, Jakob finally made it to his common room. With heavy steps, the bloodied boy trudged over to door number 13, his hand trembling from a mix of adrenaline and exhaustion as he reached out to open it. Once inside, he heard Pansy's soft breathing coming from the bed and quietly sneaked over to the bathroom. He opened the door with caution, slipped inside, and closed it gently behind him.
Exhausted from his eventful night, Jakob wearily removed his school robe and blood-soaked clothes. With a sigh of relief, he stepped into the soothing embrace of the shower, allowing the warm water to cascade over his body, washing away the remnants of his newest adventure. He soaped up his body, feeling dirt and blood vanish beneath its torrent.
Finishing up, he walked out of the shower and looked at himself in the mirror. His face was unrecognizable, his eyes hollow and vacant. It was as if a part of him had died tonight, his innocence destroyed after taking a life. He felt no remorse but instead a sense of emptiness.
Wrapped in nothing but a towel, the Slytherin opened the door with a warm smile for his bed before realizing that Pansy, evidently awakened by his shower, stood a few feet away.
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, nostrils flaring as she glared at her roommate. With her Slytherin green pyjamas and neat bob-cut hair, Pansy might have looked somewhat cute under different circumstances. However, what followed erased any notion of cuteness. Where worry had resided hours ago, rage had now taken its place, and it was etched across her face as she bellowed angrily,
"Where in the blasted hell have you been?"
"Pansy, I..." Jakob began, ready to provide some fabricated explanation, but his words trailed off when he noticed astonishment flickering across her features.
Her gaze travelled down his nearly bare form, from his shoulders to his torso, and further south. As her eyes ventured lower, she gasped in surprise, realizing where they were headed. Quickly, she covered her wide eyes with a hand, as if trying to erase the sight. Her flushed cheeks betrayed a mix of heat and embarrassment.
"Don't just stand there in a towel! Get dressed!" the flustered girl shouted, hurriedly turning away.
In her haste to avoid looking at Jakob's nearly nude form, Pansy quickly turned around to walk back to her bed. However, as she took her first step, her foot caught on the edge of a chair. With a yelp of surprise, she stumbled forward, her hands still firmly covering her eyes.
It almost seemed like Pansy would regain her balance for a moment, but then her foot snagged on the corner of a rug, causing her to lose her balance even further. She flailed her arms in a futile attempt to regain her footing, but it was too late.
She collided with the corner of the desk, and a loud thud echoed as her forehead struck the wooden edge.
Pansy let out a pained cry and slumped to the floor, clutching her injured head. It was an undignified and rather comical sight, with her Slytherin pyjamas all ruffled, her hair dishevelled, and her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment.
Jakob, who had been taken aback by the sudden turn of events, rushed forward to help her up. "Holy shit Pansy, are you alright?" he asked, concern in his voice.
"Ow," she murmured, her voice slow and groggy as she struggled to regain her senses after the fall. Jakob swiftly put his arm around her to assist her in getting up.
He noticed a deep gash along her left eyebrow, blood trickling down her face. "You've taken quite a blow there. Let's get you to the hospital wing," he said gently.
As Jakob reached out to push away Pansy's hair to assert the wound, something entirely unexpected occurred. His palm and the veins in his hand began to emit a brilliant, crimson-hued light. Pansy stared at him in astonishment as a pleasant warmth replaced the pain from her injury, and she soon realized that the wound had completely healed.
With the cut now fully healed, the two Slytherins exchanged bewildered glances. Before Jakob could devise a believable excuse, Pansy broke the silence.
"How... how did you do that?" Jakob looked down at his hand, then back at her, clearly as shocked as she was by the unusual turn of events.
"I read it in a book?" he replied hesitantly.
"Are you asking me or telling me?" Pansy asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm telling you?" Jakob responded uncertainly, still trying to process the situation.
"Stop doing that!" Pansy protested, sighing in frustration. "You will put on some clothes, and then we will have a nice long talk about all this."
Jakob shook his head apologetically. "Pansy, I trust you, but I just can't tell you about this."
With her arms crossed and a clear expression of disappointment, she pressed on. She wasn't one to yield easily.
"I thought we had an understanding. I won't breathe a word to anyone about what you share with me in this room."
He sighed tiredly and explained further.
"It's too big of a risk, Pansy. The rules that exist on paper are just words without any real power behind them."
When he noticed the girl remained resolute, he sighed again and rubbed his nose bridge in frustration.
"You might accidentally reveal something during a conversation, or you might tell someone if they press the right buttons," he added. "You know I'm right about this."
Pansy's gaze shifted from the parchment on the wall to her roommate, who had taken a seat on his bed and was gazing out the window. She detected something different about him, a change in his demeanour. She eyed him suspiciously, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Exactly how significant of a secret are you talking about?"
"The biggest one that I have," said Jakob, his expression growing more haunted as the full realization of what had happened that night set in.
"Will you tell anyone else about it? Will you tell Draco?" She asked, her concern growing for her roommate.
He shook his head emphatically. "Draco's my best friend, but if I told him this, he'd be too freaked out. It's better if he doesn't know."
Pansy hesitated, debating what she should say next. However, the opportunity to share something with Jakob that no one else knew was too tempting to pass up. With a nod of her head, she opened her mouth and spoke.
"I can swear it."
Without giving the girl an answer or further explanation, Jakob only looked back at her intently before getting up from his seat. He went to the dresser, collected his pyjamas, and turned to walk toward the bathroom.
Just as his hand was about to grasp the door handle, he uttered, "I appreciate the gesture, but we can't. We need a third person to make an Unbreakable Vow, and I don't want anybody to find out."
"What more do I have to do to prove myself? Jakob, please, I..." She didn't get the chance to finish her plea before he slammed the door shut behind him.
Inside the bathroom, the Quade heir quickly changed into his pyjamas, feeling a sense of frustration beginning to rise within him. The image of the dead professor reappeared in his mind. "He deserved it; he shouldn't have cursed her. He could have had the stone for himself if he had just let her be. But he just had to curse her, he just had to go there, that bloody idiot," Jakob murmured to himself, trying his best to justify his actions as guilt began to consume him.
As Jakob emerged from the bathroom, he found Pansy waiting for him in the hallway, her patience wearing thin. Despite his weariness, he shot her a tired glare. In response, Pansy crossed her arms defiantly, indicating that she wasn't about to give up on whatever it was she wanted to discuss.
"You're being extremely pig-headed about this. Why? You won't be able to share this secret with anyone else, so what is the point?"
"You've been through something and I want to know what it is. On top of that, you can even heal with just your hands! How many wizards can do that?"
Jakob's anger simmered, threatening to boil over. He knew that if it reached its peak, it would be long before he could calm down enough to sleep. Reluctantly, he decided to reveal a potential solution to Pansy, hoping it would deter her from her stubbornness. With a heavy sigh, he spoke up.
"Alright, if you really want to know, I do have a solution in mind, but it won't be a pleasant one," Jakob admitted. Pansy's curiosity burned brightly, and she fixed her gaze on him, eager to hear more. He gestured for her to settle on the floor, positioning himself before her, ready to elaborate on his plan.
"There is a way," he began, his tone serious, "but it's a bit like a double-edged sword." Pansy gasped, realizing what he was indicating.
"Are you talking about a blood pact?" she asked, her voice a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Before Jakob could offer further details, Pansy interjected with unwavering determination. "I'll do it."
Jakob couldn't help but roll his eyes at how eagerly she sacrificed her well-being for the temptation of secrets.
"Pansy, are you daft? You should think before you so readily—"
"I'm not doing it just to hear a secret, you moron!" Pansy snapped back, her voice filled with frustration.
Jakob was taken aback by her sudden outburst, his surprise evident. Pansy took a deep breath, attempting to regain her composure.
"I know things about you that you don't even know, Jake," she admitted, her tone softer now, tinged with worry. "You talk in your sleep sometimes. I've been concerned about you for a while now, and tonight, you've changed. I can see it in your eyes." Tears began to form in Pansy's eyes, and she cleared her throat, struggling to maintain her composure.
"I... I don't have many close friends," she confessed, her voice quivering. "I have alliances, but you... I trust you, Jake. I just want you to trust me too."
Jakob was left speechless, his gaze locked onto the girl sitting in front of him. The silence that followed was almost deafening, broken only by the soft sound of their breathing.
"Pansy, I..." He struggled to find the right words, his emotions swirling within him. Instead, he simply nodded appreciatively, acknowledging her choice.
He walked over to his trunk, opened it, and unveiled a gleaming ritual dagger, the Christmas gift he had received from his father. Pansy's eyes widened with awe as she gazed at the blade, her excitement and anticipation building for what lay ahead.
"Have you done something like this before?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. However, Jakob remained silent, his attention fixated on the vial of goat's blood he had retrieved from his trunk. He checked it carefully, ensuring it was still clean and fresh, before placing it on the floor beside him.
The last item he unpacked from his bag was the book Blaze had gifted him, a volume filled with blood rituals that held the solution he needed for their current dilemma. Jakob carefully flipped through the pages until he found the desired ritual. After a few moments of contemplation, he made a few adjustments to fit his specific needs.
A satisfied smile played on his lips as he set the book aside and began tracing a pentagram on their dormitory's cold stone floor. The pentagram's sides were adorned with ancient symbols, all drawn in the goat's blood.
Pansy, who had taken a step back to give him some room, stood by the bedpost, eagerly watching Jakob's every move.
She felt a rush of exhilaration, fully aware that what they were doing right now was highly illegal. She was eager to join in once Jakob finished, but he halted her with a raised hand just as he completed painting the beautiful symbol on the floor.
He returned to his trunk and retrieved an item Pansy couldn't quite make out. Marching over to the window, he flung it wide open, allowing a gust of cold night air to rush into their small dorm. The sudden breeze scattered Jakob's neatly stacked papers on his night table, creating a chaotic mess.
"What in the world are you thinking?!" Pansy exclaimed, her face contorted into a scowl. She hugged herself tightly, trying to fend off the biting chill that had infiltrated her thin pyjamas.
"I'm waiting for a sacrifice. We need it for the ritual to work," Jakob explained, his gaze fixed on the dark, snowy night beyond the window.
With a sudden motion, Jakob clenched his fist around something.
Pansy observed that whatever it was, it fought tirelessly against Jakob's grip, sensing the impending danger if it didn't escape soon.
Jakob quickly pulled his arm back from the open window and drew out his wand. In one swift motion, he cast a stunner spell to calm the owl now suspended in his hand, its wings limp and still.
"Jakob, that is a school owl! You can't kill it! What will they do when they realize it's gone?" Pansy asked in distress, her expression full of worry.
Jakob looked at her, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "It's a school owl, so they'll likely assume it died in the cold or was eaten by some animal."
Pansy thought for a moment and then shrugged, conceding to Jakob's logic. "I'm sorry, I'm just a bit nervous," she admitted sheepishly. Jakob gave her a serious look as he shut the window.
"You are smart, don't let your feelings take over," he advised, gesturing towards the middle of the pentagram, motioning for her to take her place. His warning was clear: she must not let her emotions control her during the ritual. Rituals were unpredictable, and they depended on the intent behind them. If someone's intent strayed from the purpose of the ritual, things could go horribly wrong.
He sat directly in front of her, the white owl between them. "This ritual can be tailored to suit our own needs," he said softly, his hand resting lightly on the bird as he searched for its heart.
"But this ritual can only be changed to a certain degree until it yields results that may not be what was desired," he cautioned. He tenderly held her hand and rotated it so her palm faced upwards.
"Do you mean, like if we say the wrong words?" Pansy asked, attempting to conceal the rising worry in her voice.
"More like if our thoughts or emotions become clouded by something unrelated to the ritual," Jakob explained as he took his dagger, drawing it across his own palm and then hers. The Slytherin girl shivered at the sensation, making a slight sound as he intertwined their fingers, their bloodied palms pressing together. He held her gaze, trying to convey the significance of this moment.
"Say after me," Jakob whispered, raising the knife above his head.
Jakob, never averting his gaze from Pansy's, plunged the dagger deep into its unfortunate target, filling the room with the owl's piercing screech. Although her mind brimmed with fear and panic, Pansy resisted the urge to look away from Jakob, her hand starting to tremble slightly. She wouldn't turn back now.
He noticed her fear rising and understood the need to act swiftly for the ritual's success. Jakob gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and offered a comforting smile, even throwing in a playful wink, all in an effort to lighten the mood and ease her anxiety.
The gesture helped Pansy relax, her thoughts momentarily shifting from the tense moment to the one before, the moment that had made her trip and fall. That moment when he had been wearing nothing but a towel the moment that had set all of this in motion.
As if in response to the sacrifice, streams of magical energy filled the room. The blood from the pentagram seemed to come to life. Yet, neither of the teenagers noticed it as they were entirely absorbed in gazing into each other's eyes.
They could sense a magical presence in the room, a potent presence that urged them to continue.
"Iuro in sanguinem meum, vitam meam, magicam," Jakob spoke slowly and deliberately in Latin, ensuring Pansy could understand him. She repeated the phrase after him: "Iuro in sanguinem meum, vitam meam, magicam..." Once more, they chanted in unison, their voices intertwining rhythmically, weaving a potent incantation. The magic began to encircle the two Slytherins and flow around them as if it were intrigued by their request.
"By the ancient powers that govern the realms of magic, by the earth and the stars above, I, Jakob Quade, do solemnly swear, in the presence of this sacred pentagram and the magic that guards it, to keep Pansy Parkinson's secrets as I keep mine own. With this bond, we merge our destinies, and I pledge never to betray you, nor unveil your hidden truths. Let our souls be forever bound, our oaths unbreakable, as long as we walk this earth together."
Pansy listened attentively to Jakob's words, feeling a sense of awe wash over her as she heard his beautiful vow. His words stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her, giving rise to a fluttering sensation in her stomach. When he finished, he gave her a look that silently urged her to make her own vow. The Slytherin girl had to physically shake her head slightly to clear her thoughts and find her voice to begin her own pledge.
"By the ancient powers that govern the realms of magic, by the earth and the stars above, I, Pansy, do solemnly swear, in the presence of this sacred pentagram and the magic that guards it, to keep Jakob Quade's secrets as I keep mine own. With this bond, we merge our destinies, and I pledge never to betray you nor unveil your hidden truths. Let our souls be forever intertwined, our oaths unbreakable, as long as we walk this earth together."
Their unwavering gazes remained fixed on each other as they both recited the vows, and the magical energy surrounding them transformed into a vivid, swirling rainbow of colours. Pansy looked stunning, her dark eyes and fair skin capturing the brilliance of the ritual's colours as if she were a living reflection of the rainbow. Deeply absorbed in the ritual's next steps and enchanted by her presence, Jakob didn't notice her returning his intense gaze.
"ita fiat fiat."
"ita fiat fiat."
The swirling colours that had encircled the two Slytherin teenagers continued to envelop them for a few moments after they had spoken their vows as if deliberating whether to grant their request.
Then, the colours began to whirl around them faster and faster, causing the air to crackle with magical energy. Their clothes and hair ruffled as the magic swirled around them, and a sense of anticipation filled the room.
Soon, the vibrant magic coursed into their chests, bathing them in a warm and euphoric sensation. The radiant light pulsed with increasing intensity, and the two Slytherins held onto each other's hands tighter as the indescribable feeling became stronger and stronger. They were caught in a whirlwind of magic, and for a brief moment, it felt as though the very essence of the universe was at their fingertips.
Gradually, the intensity of the magic ebbed away as it was absorbed by the two teens. Suddenly, they were left alone in the room, the magical display having concluded.
Overwhelmed by a sense of bliss and exhilaration, they continued to grip each other's hands tightly, their knuckles pale from the pressure. Both of them panted heavily, trying to comprehend the extraordinary experience. A single bead of sweat traced a path down the side of Pansy's temple.
"Did it work?" Pansy asked, her gaze shifting between Jakob and their surroundings.
"I think it did," Jakob replied with a tired smile. Before she could inquire further, a faint red glow emanated from Jakob's hand, swiftly healing the wounds on their palms.
The raven-haired boy stood, a sense of renewed strength coursing through him after the ritual. He extended a helping hand to Roommate, who accepted it with a slightly unsteady stance. She swayed for a moment as she regained her footing, her legs feeling like jelly from the intense magical experience they had just shared.
"The magic accepted the sacrifice," Jakob stated, nodding towards the pile of ashes that had once been the owl.
Pansy furrowed her brows, contemplating their next steps. "So, how can we determine if the ritual worked?" Silence lingered in the air as they both pondered this question.
Suddenly, Jakob began to move towards the door but stopped abruptly after taking one step. He appeared perplexed as if his feet wouldn't take him any farther. After a moment of shock and confusion, Jakob burst into laughter, leaving Pansy staring at him cautiously, wondering if the ritual had affected his mind. "Why are you laughing?"
Jakob turned around, his grin broad and mischievous. "I was on the verge of going out and informing a professor about our blood pact, but it's as though I can't, or maybe I simply don't want to," Jakob explained with an amused tone. "It's strange, but it feels like some force is compelling my body to remember the vow and preventing me from breaking it."
Pansy stood by the door with a perplexed frown on her face, taking a step forward, only to find herself stuck in the same predicament as her roommate. Instead of joining in Jakob's earlier laughter, she let out a long sigh of relief, her curiosity taking over once again.
"Now, can you tell me what happened?" she inquired, her curiosity rising as she looked expectantly at him.
Jakob proceeded to recount the events that had unfolded in the circular room, including the enigmatic black smoke that had emanated from him. He kept his explanation concise, avoiding delving into his underlying motivations.
Instead, he offered a straightforward statement: he had desired to see the stone. Though his heart raced slightly, he resisted the urge to alter this part of the story, knowing that it was the truth and trusting that the ritual would accept it as such without any unforeseen consequences. Having concluded his explanation, Pansy requested that he demonstrate this dark mist for her.
Jakob made numerous attempts to call forth the dark smoke, but it stubbornly refused to materialize. Frustration built within him, evident in his furrowed brows and clenched fists. Pansy watched him closely, observing the mounting frustration.
After a moment, she offered a suggestion, her words chosen carefully to avoid offending her roommate.
"Perhaps it only appears when you're in specific danger?" Pansy proposed, trying to provide an explanation for the mist's elusive nature.
Feeling a bit disappointed over the fact that he couldn't control it, no matter how hard he had tried, Jakob could only nod. His expression soured, making him appear closer to his actual age.
Deciding it was best not to push her friend any further on the matter, Pansy timidly posed the following question that had occurred to her after thoroughly processing the entire story.
"Are you immortal then?"
"No, I don't think so. The stone did not promise eternal life; it merely extended the user's lifespan, without the capability to bring someone back from the dead," Jakob replied thoughtfully.
"That makes sense," Pansy murmured, lost in thought. She continued her inquiries. "So you can heal serious wounds with it, but if you die, you die?" Jakob nodded in agreement, confirming her understanding.
The stone held incredible power, yet Jakob was aware that he possessed only a single fragment of it. Minor wounds healed swiftly, but significant injuries, such as the one he had sustained while battling Quirrel, required more time to mend.
With their conversation drawing to a close, Jakob and Pansy became aware that they still had five hours of sleep ahead of them. Keeping this in mind, they exchanged their goodnight wishes.
"Good night, Jakob," Pansy whispered softly as she turned in her bed to face him, a faint smile on her lips.
"Good night, Pansy," he replied gently, lying on his back with his head turned toward her, smiling back at her.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the long hiatus. I got a new job and had to make a good impression. Later, I also became a parent again, so there have been a lot of things happening. I won't be able to tell when the next chapter will drop. I could release it right away, but every time I review the new chapters, I see things to improve. However, I can say that as summer arrives, my free time opens up a bit more. The second book is almost finished as well, so if I don't overanalyze the text, you might get a steady flow of chapters.
Hope you liked this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one. Cheers.