VII. The healer’s wound

Dara wasn’t sure what was wrong as her heating spell wasn’t working. She was in the central Siberia so no matter what kind of winter outerwear she pulled it wasn’t enough.

“This place is mute to charms” someone chirped from behind and Dara turned around abruptly, spotting a boy at the age of ten, not more. She smiled at him and he returned the gesture, proudly flashing his vampire fangs.

Not only the charms didn’t work in the village of Esso, but sun didn’t shine there either. Good thing Dara actually wasn’t afraid of vampires and knew Russian, otherwise she would be doomed.

“Hello there” she smiled at the boy “Do you know where Baba Vyera is?”

“Of course, she sent for you” he giggled “Come”

And so Dara did, not questioning anything as the thick snow broke under her feet. They arrived at the pretty basic looking house, being no different than the other buildings in the village.

The boy showed the main doors and ran away without any more words. Dara approached the entrance and was about to knock before it opened right in front of her.

While taking a deep breath she entered the house when the doors closed after her with a loud smash, making her jump in surprise and startle.

“You’re finally here, Sandara Park” a deep and husky but feminine voice said from the inside of the house “Took you a while”

Dara blinked and crossed the anteroom, entering the main hall and spotting something she both expected and not.

There sat an old lady, smoking a pipe and arranging cards on the table in front of her. And much to Dara’s surprise she was far from the hag – yes, she undeniably had her years but was truly striking and elegant in terms of looks. Not to mention she owned a pair of piercing green eyes, that made Dara gasp once they landed on her.

“You’re Baba Vyera?” Dara half asked, half stated. The other witch just nodded.

“That is me, Sandara”

“Um, Dara” she corrected with an uneasy smile “Just call me Dara, p-please”

At that Baba Vyera looked up from the cards, her green gaze penetrating Dara’s soul to the core once again.

“Your given name is Sandara, isn’t it?” she smirked, voice calm but demanding like if showing who was in charge there “The name your parents decided once sending you to this world and therefore making your existence and marking your history. Never dare to neglect that”

Dara guzzled but found herself nodding nonetheless. Then she looked inside the room and paled when seeing a wall filled with hanging, perfectly polished unicorn skulls. She felt a little sick in the stomach but didn’t dare to bring it up.

“Um…I’ve come here-“

“To heal a broken heart” Baba Vyera finished for her and Dara smiled softly, thinking that conversing with the medium – or whoever the Russian witch actually, truly was – was at least saving a lot of awkward small talks.

“Or rather to heal a broken mind?” she spoke again, taking another huff of the pipe “Weird relation you’ve had with that fellow, Lee Donghae. True soulmates, both in mind and heart. Rare…Very rare. Yet your heart has been broken all this time by an old wound…Jiyong, I believe although you’re not ready to confess that”

Dara took a deep breath, her hands and nerves shaking with the same intensity.

“So…Would you do it? Will you heal me? How does it work?”

Baba Vyera looked like she was considering – but it didn’t take her more than maybe five seconds.

“You’re made for bigger things, Sandara Park, and it’s about time for you to see it” the older witch said while standing up and slowly making her way to stand before Dara “I’ll make you a black heart queen”

“A black heart queen?” Dara blinked, truly lost.

“Yes. It’s the old ritual, mastered by the greatest dark warlock who ever graced this world, Igor Romanov”

“Um, due whole respect…I know we’re in the village where the Romanov Massacre took place but Romanovs and their studies don’t…exists. It’s a legend” Dara took a step back, seeing Baba Vyera’s face breaking into a big, smug grin.

“Ah, you nowadays witches and wizards with your schools and libraries and technology thinking you know it all while, in fact, you know nothing” she chortled “Enjoy the last moments of your ignorance, Sandara Park. It ends now”

The last thing Dara saw was Baba Vyera’s fingers snapping right before her face and then there was darkness.

“Lady S?” Zico started, and Dara woke with a gasp from her another memory semi-trance.

“Ah, Zico, welcome back” she gestured the chair on another side of the table “How are the wards?”

“As predicted – very powerful” he answered with little unease, meaning his recent visit around Hogwarts grounds “It’s practically impossible to get inside the castle for anyone affiliated with dark arts by any means…They’ve activated the lure-blockers as of recently, too”

Sandara nodded at everything, honestly expecting nothing less after the whole Luhan fiasco in the forest. But then again, Woo Zico wasn’t her third for nothing.

“I’ll need to get Park Chaeyoung out using…oldschool methods” suddenly he smirked as if reading her thoughts and snapped his fingers, charming a hand-mirror into his palm. Sandara smiled, definitely pleased.

“Sometimes I’m forgetting you’re a placer, Zico. I’d suggest you use your skills more often”

“What can I say? Some out blood, some turn into animals and some like to use objects” he grinned while standing up and bowing, marking his leave “Don’t worry Lady S, you’ll have your healer in less than 48 hours and Luhan will be anew!”

And with that he was gone, making Sandara Park everything but concerned.

NEXT DAY, HOGWARTS

The History of Magic was one of those classes in Hogwarts that was always getting the attention of everyone – mostly thanks to the teacher, Gong Minji, and the way she was managing to present every topic, even the most dull one, in an interesting and unbiased way.

“The Romanov Massacre took place in the territory of Russian Siberia in the year of 1666. It is said to be the biggest witch hunt in the history, surpassing Salem”

Gong Minji waved her wand, writing the date on the board before she continued.

“The Romanov family, together with the whole population of the village of Esso, was burned to the ground, not sparing even a stray dog on that fatal night. The Romanov family was accused of extreme dark witchcraft by the tsar’s personal warlock and therefore the slaughter took place…”

“Um, Ms. Gong?” Hoseok’s hand shot up high “But it’s actually the truth? I mean the Romanovs. They’re said to be the greatest dark wizards the world knew”

“It depends what you mean by dark, Mr. Jung, especially if we speak about medieval times in that matter” Minji smiled and the whole class giggled “The wizarding world is generally divided when it comes to the history, or rather legends, of the Romanovs but we shall never forget the era they used to live in and how the magic was different back then. Currently we drink the sage-flavored tea on the daily basis while centuries ago it’s been believed to be growing on the devil’s horns”

Another dose of giggles was heard and Hoseok pouted, just to be side-eyed by Namjoon. He looked like thinking deeply before he raised his own hand.

“Yes, Mr. Kim?” Minji encouraged.

“But we can’t deny the fact that Romanovs were known for some tricky, balance-shaking magic nonetheless” Namjoon stated “I mean they’ve came up with a number of unspeakable rituals, after all”

Suddenly the doom silence filled the classroom, broke only by Taehyung’s shushed ‘the what?’ and Minji’s nodding.

“That is correct” the teacher said “As you all know the magic does not cover everything in the world, namely: a broken heart, an immortality and necromancy. Every attempt at those exact three fields is and has been, what we call it now, the dark magic. Of course the history shows exceptions that have tried to cross that line, with the said Romanovs leading the way”

“Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard” Namjoon added with folded arms “They actually managed to successfully bring someone back from the dead and not in the inferius or ghost form…And not just once…I was like hundreds, thousands of people, all alive and breathing and well. That’s why the massacre happened, right? It’s because Igor Romanov, the head of the family, was the closest person on earth to…god”

Suddenly everyone felt some kind of distress upon hearing Namjoon’s words while Minji just raised her eyebrow.

“That is correct…At least partly” she finally sat on her desk, deciding to go deeper into the topic “Thanks to the massacre and the terrible fire accompanying it we have no scientific proof stating Igor Romanov’s success – no books, no notes, no formulas, nothing. Everything said and written about this exact wizard since then is purely a legend-like tale passed through generations and should be taken as such…Of course there is a rumor stating Igor Romanov’s diary, called The Romanov Book, actually survived the fire and is somewhere in Russia until today, in two up to five copies to be exact. Yet no one has ever seen them” with that she took a deeper breath “However, The Romanov Resurrection Ritual legend is a big part of our history and culture and should be always brought to the study. Does anyone of you know something about it?”

Every pureblood in the class raised the hand and Minji nodded at Jungkook, signaling him to speak.

“Well, the resurrection ritual made by Igor Romanov was a hundred percent success only if the body of the deceased was still useful…In other cases the resurrected soul needed a new, very alike host” the Slytherin shrugged “For example - if you wanted to bring back a pureblood, the new body to host the soul needed to be a pureblood, too. The resurrected soul was taking the absolute control over the new body and continued to live as if nothing’s ever happened”

Minji nodded with a smile and then pointed at Jisoo, allowing her to continue.

“Also it’s said The Romanov Resurrection Ritual wasn’t really a ritual” the Ravenclaw gulped “It could’ve been a potion as some studies and legends say it required ingredients. Rituals, on the other hand, require people: the core circle of witches and wizards bonded by blood, the caster and the person the ritual is to be performed on-“

“A very important information Ms. Kim gave us here” Gong Minji stood up, waving her wand once again so the board filled itself with more information “The rituals are always casted by someone else than the ritual alone is performed on. The more powerful the caster the better the result”

“So, you mean…” Jimin blinked his eyes, pointing between himself and Lisa who was sitting next to him “If I’d wanted to undergo a ritual I’d need, for example, Lisa to actually perform it on me?”

“Yeah, and the rest of us being somehow bonded by blood and surrounding you in the actual, probably pentagram-shaped circle, too” Seokjin added and everyone laughed “Rituals sounds like pain in the yo…No wonder it’s banned”

“It’s banned because it’s brutal” Jennie rolled her eyes, finally joining the discussion “It’s pretty unlikely for the ritual’s core circle wizards to be bonded by blood through being a family so those wizards were hurting themselves…To literally mix bloods and therefore gaining a magic common ground for the better power flow. You know, cutting hands then clasping them together”

“I bet pureblood extremists wanted to ban it then” Taehyung grinned while winging his eyebrows and everyone – but Jungkook and Jennie - laughed again. It lasted for few seconds before Minji clapped her hands, coming back to the lesson.

“True, true and true but then again back to what Jisoo said…It was never confirmed the resurrection ritual was an actual ritual. It could’ve been a spell or a potion. It indeed needed something like ingredients that, and here’s another catch, were said to be impossible to get”

“How come impossible?” Namjoon grimaced.

“There are many gossips regarding the variations…But just some of the many ingredients needed for the Romanov Resurrection are rumored to be a whisper, a moonlight and a beautifulness”

Everyone, even Namjoon, suddenly murmured when realizing what ‘impossible to get’ meant in that matter.

“So as for the summary” Lisa cleared “We’re talking about the medieval, Russian dark wizard who got himself and his whole family burned to the ground over a legend stating that he was able to bring back the dead but then no one knows how and thanks to what?”

“Precisely” Minji chuckled.

“Ok folks, so no worries, we can sleep tight! Even if there’s someone nuts enough to play with Igor Romanov’s burned legacy it’s still impossible to perform!” Seokjin grinned with a nonchalant wave of his hand and everyone roared in laughter.

LATER

Jisoo was having dinner by the Slytherin table, even though her presence was practically non-existent.

“Oi, raven, what’s up with you?” Jungkook asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, they serve fried chicken today, something I’ve gathered you’re obsessed about” Jennie echoed, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice and eyeing her roommate worriedly “And yet you nurse your meal instead of being joyful”

“She’s actually pretty gloomy since a while now” Jungkook folded his arms, side-eyeing the fellow Slytherin at what she just nodded “Save that raven and spill”

“I’m fine” Jisoo finally whined, rolling her eyes “Just…worried”

“About?”

“Well, Yoongi hasn’t written since…Since that one and only letter actually and it’s been almost a week”

“Why would you be worried about Min ing Yoongi from all people?” Jungkook scoffed “He’s a tough guy, really, have some faith! A Quidditch-playing muggleborn Slytherin and now also an obscu-“

Suddenly Jennie kicked him under the table, signaling they were around other students at the moment. Jungkook just winced in pain and Jennie completely ignored him, reaching for Jisoo’s hand to pat it across the table.

“Listen, Jisoo, I’m sure he’s ok” she said matter-of-factly “He’s with the headmaster and Bang Yongguk and with his current, um, illness, I’m sure they’re busy with doctors, meetings, check-ups…”

Jisoo looked up to meet her stare and could only nod, because Jennie was probably right. But giving recent events she couldn’t help but overthink a little, hoping with heavy thoughts that Yoongi wasn’t by any means alone or in pain. Then again Jungkook was right too and Jisoo should be worried more about anyone crossing Yoongi, not the other way around.

Apparently Jennie wanted to say something more but then stopped, eyes widened before she pointed with her chin at the entrance to the main hall.

“Did we just summon him or what?”

Jisoo paled and turned around, spotting Yoongi making his way to the Slytherin table.

He was wearing a leather jacket instead of robes and was dusting off the remains of ashes, being probably just out of the floo network fireplace. Jisoo felt her heart racing as she abruptly stood up, running to him in full speed. As she was getting closer his smirk was growing bigger.

“Well well, looks like someone really missed m-“

Yoongi never finished as Jisoo literally jumped on him, crashing her lips against his. He was surprised for a mare second, before kissing her back and adjusting her petite form suddenly linked around his figure. They seem to be lost into each other to the point they completely ignored the happy cheers and shocked gasps filling the main hall. They also completely missed Jungkook and Jennie spitting on their drinks.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t writing but it was impossible” Yoongi said once they parted, foreheads still touching “This whole obscurial division is taking ‘secretive’ to the different level. It still makes me a ty boyfriend though, no excuses”

“Oh, so you’re my boyfriend now?” Jisoo couldn’t help but an eyebrow smugly, finally getting down. Yoongi grinned.

“Only if you allow”

“Merlin, finally! Of course I do”

“Phew” Yoongi sighed with pretended surprise before taking her hand in his and leading them out “Let’s get out of here before Namjoon and company will pin me down for the questioning”

“You just got back! Aren’t you hungry or something?” Jisoo looked up just to meet his mischievous stare.

“If you’ll keep on feeding me kisses like the last one I might consider putting down food completely”

In the meantime Jungkook and Jennie were still trying to compose themselves. Kim Jisoo and Min Yoongi together was a quite surprising view, to say at least.

“That was pretty…ballsy” someone on their left said and they turned to see Oh Sehun, probably the most snobbish and cool-attituded Slytherin ever, known to voice out his somehow always on-point thoughts only when really necessary.

“Y-Yeah” Jennie found herself nodding at his words and then looking inside the main hall, stopping her eyes at the Gryffindor table and Park Jimin.

Unknowingly Jungkook was doing the same, with the small difference of gazing at the smiling Hufflepuff, Park Chaeyoung.

The house of Slytherin was actually ballsy, but then also pretty confused when it was coming to emotions and affection and especially the whole art of showing it. Still, Min Yoongi was their original housemate and he didn’t seem to have this kind of problem so maybe there was a way for them too.

LATER

Jennie jumped in her spot once exiting the headmaster’s office, startled upon seeing her Gryffindor dormmates waiting there.

“What are you guys doing here?” she asked, blinking.

“Headmaster Kwon is back so we need to hear the detention verdict” Taehyung whined.

“Oh right, the food fight” Jennie recalled “Good luck. I’m sure it’s not gonna be that bad…”

“Fingers crossed” Lisa rolled her eyes, following Taehyung inside and fortunately not asking Jennie what she was doing there in the first place. The Slytherin walked them by with her eyes and then gazed at Jimin, who was leaning against the wall with folded arms and soft smile that completely melted her.

“So what’s your detention for casting obliviate at those two during my full moon?” he asked, straight away knowing why Jennie was called to see the headmaster.

“Thirty points from Slytherin…And the library-duty” her head dropped “I have to organize the books for a whole week straight, no magic”

“No worries” Jimin chuckled and took a step forward, putting a streak of hair behind her ear “I’ll help you”

Jennie quickly looked up, feeling the blood coming to her cheeks when seeing how close they were.

“Um, you don’t have to-“

“Jennie, if it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have done it” he said, voice serious “Your whole detention is my fault”

“If you put it that way then yes, indeed” she rolled her eyes playfully and followed after Jimin, although she wasn’t sure where. The classes were already over so technically they had a free period.

Suddenly Jimin slowed on his path, reaching out for Jennie to grab his hand. She blinked at his palm, visibly dwelling on her options before she went forward and link her arm around his, leaning more against his side as they walked.

Jimin instantly loved the warmth radiating, moving his head more to smile against Jennie’s temple and letting her mixed scent of expensive perfume and mint invade his senses.

“Are you…sniffing me?” Jennie whispered with a chuckle and he laughed out loud, being ashamed of nothing.

“Well, it is my nature