Orion's body went limp in Walburga's arms, his eyes fluttering shut as the last of his strength faded away. Panic surged through the room like a tidal wave. Walburga tightened her grip on him, cradling his head against her chest, her breath coming in short, frantic gasps.
"Orion!" she cried, her voice cracking with fear. "Orion, wake up! Please, wake up!"
Sirius and Regulus rushed to her side, their faces pale, their eyes wide with shock. Regulus fell to his knees beside his mother, his hands shaking as he reached out to touch his father's shoulder. Sirius's jaw was clenched, his eyes darting from Orion's ashen face to the burning forest outside. The white flames cast an eerie glow through the windows, bathing the room in an otherworldly light.
"Get him to the couch," Sirius urged, his voice tight with concern. "We need to lay him down."
Together, the brothers gently lifted Orion from Walburga's arms, moving him to the couch. Orion's skin was cold and clammy, and his breathing was shallow, each exhale a faint whisper. Walburga sat beside him, holding his hand, her eyes never leaving his face. The rest of the family gathered around, a tense silence settling over them.
Narcissa knelt down beside the couch, her healer instincts kicking in. She checked Orion's pulse, her brow furrowing as she counted the beats. "He's weak, but he'll recover," she said, trying to inject confidence into her voice. "He just needs rest."
Walburga brushed a strand of hair from Orion's forehead, her fingers trembling. "What happened to him?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did he collapse like that?"
"It's the darkness," Sirius said, his gaze still fixed on the burning forest. "It's fighting back. Whatever he did out there, it's not done with him."
Outside, the white flames continued to rage, the forest's screams growing more desperate. The sound was like a thousand voices crying out in unison, a chorus of agony that sent shivers down everyone's spines. The fire's glow cast long shadows on the walls, flickering and dancing like ghosts.
Minutes felt like hours as they watched over Orion, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. Walburga never let go of his hand, her fingers stroking his knuckles, as if her touch alone could anchor him to the world. Sirius and Regulus stood on either side of her, silent sentinels, their eyes flicking between their father and the flames outside.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Orion stirred. A faint groan escaped his lips, his eyelids fluttering open. He blinked, his vision blurry, as he tried to make sense of the shapes around him. The first thing he saw was Walburga's face, her eyes filled with tears, relief flooding her features.
"Orion," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank Merlin, you're awake."
Orion's gaze shifted, taking in the room, the worried faces of his sons, and the glowing light from outside. He tried to sit up, but his body felt heavy, his muscles weak. He could still feel the lingering presence of the darkness, like a cold shadow at the edge of his mind.
"What happened?" he rasped, his voice hoarse.
"You collapsed," Regulus said, his voice thick with emotion. "You were out for nearly half an hour."
Orion nodded, his memory slowly returning. He remembered the fire, the screams, the overwhelming force of the darkness pushing against him. He turned his head, looking towards the window. The white flames still blazed, casting their spectral light over the room.
"It's still burning," he murmured, a mix of awe and dread in his voice.
Sirius nodded, his expression grim. "The forest is still screaming, Father. Whatever you did, it's not over yet."
Orion closed his eyes, the reality of the situation sinking in. He had unleashed something powerful, something that would not be easily contained. The darkness had been drawn out, but it was fighting for its survival, clawing at the edges of its existence.
He took a deep breath, his hand still in Walburga's, drawing strength from her touch. "The fire… it has to burn itself out," he said softly. "The darkness will be destroyed, but it won't go quietly. We have to be prepared for whatever comes next."
The family exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of Orion's words settling over them. Outside, the white flames roared, the screams of the forest a haunting reminder of the battle that still raged. Orion's heart ached with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future, but he knew one thing for certain.
The darkness had to end, no matter the cost.