The report arrived just after sunrise.
Morning light spilled through the tall windows of Silverthorne Manor's study, painting long golden bars across shelves filled with books, creature journals, and carefully organized maps. Alaric sat behind his desk, blue eyes scanning the parchment while his expression gradually hardened. The normally peaceful atmosphere of the room seemed to shift as he read. Across from him, Korrin leaned against a bookshelf with folded arms, Nyx sat quietly in an armchair, and Mira occupied a nearby sofa with Draco beside her. The moment they saw Alaric's face, everyone knew the report was serious. The parchment bore the seal of the Auror Office. Magical creature trafficking. Again. After everything the Ministry and creature-rights organizations had accomplished, there were still people willing to cage living beings for profit. Alaric lowered the report slowly and released a tired breath.
"They found another trafficking operation," he said quietly.
The room immediately fell silent.
Mira's stomach sank.
She hated these reports.
Every creature deserved dignity and safety, yet there always seemed to be someone willing to exploit them. She thought of the frightened creatures she had helped rescue over the past year. Lydia the mermaid. The injured creatures at rehabilitation reserves. The terrified animals found in illegal markets. Each memory tightened something inside her chest. Beside her, Draco's expression darkened noticeably. He had witnessed enough of these rescues to understand exactly what they often involved. Fear. Neglect. Cruelty. And sometimes worse.
"We're helping," Mira said immediately.
Alaric looked up.
"Mira—"
"We're helping," she repeated.
This time her voice was gentler.
Not stubborn.
Certain.
Korrin smiled faintly.
Nyx gave an approving nod.
Draco didn't hesitate for even a second.
"I'm coming too."
Alaric rubbed his temple.
For several moments he simply stared at the four young people before him. He knew arguing would accomplish absolutely nothing. Mira had inherited many wonderful traits from both him and Elarisse. Unfortunately for his peace of mind, determination was one of them. Looking at Korrin, Nyx, Mira, and Draco, he realized the decision had already been made. They weren't asking for permission so much as informing him of their intentions. A reluctant smile tugged briefly at the corner of his mouth. They were impossible. Every single one of them.
"Fine," he sighed.
Mira immediately brightened.
"But you follow instructions."
"We will."
"No wandering off."
"We won't."
"No unnecessary risks."
"We promise."
Alaric narrowed his eyes.
Mira's innocent smile somehow made him trust that promise less.
An hour later, they arrived near the edge of a heavily wooded valley several miles from civilization.
The air smelled of damp earth and pine needles.
Morning mist drifted between the trees.
Hidden among the hills stood a collection of old stone buildings partially concealed by illusion wards. From a distance they looked abandoned. Through the eyes of several Auror Spy Snitches already scouting ahead, however, a very different picture emerged. Crates. Cages. Armed guards. Hidden holding pens. The silver-colored Snitches glided silently through the compound, their camouflage rendering them nearly invisible. Through linked Whisperlinks, images flowed directly into the minds of the Auror teams stationed throughout the forest. It felt strange at first, almost like sharing dreams. Yet the communication remained remarkably clear.
Guard near the eastern gate, Kingsley's voice echoed telepathically.
Two traffickers moving toward the holding pens, came Tonks's report.
Multiple creatures confirmed alive, Amelia Bones added.
Mira adjusted her pendant thoughtfully.
The Whisperlinks were working perfectly.
A quiet sense of pride flickered through her.
Then she pushed the feeling aside.
There would be time for that later.
Right now creatures needed help.
The operation unfolded with remarkable precision.
Aurors moved through the compound like shadows.
Instructions flowed instantly through the Whisperlinks.
No shouting.
No confusion.
No delays.
Traffickers attempting to flee found escape routes already blocked. Others barely had time to react before being disarmed and restrained. Within minutes, the operation was effectively over. The efficiency surprised even some veteran Aurors. Years of experience had taught them how chaotic raids could become. Today had felt different. Cleaner. Faster. Safer. The Whisperlinks and Spy Snitches transformed dozens of independent movements into one coordinated effort.
As captured traffickers were secured, healers and creature specialists began examining the rescued animals.
Some required immediate treatment.
Others simply needed food and reassurance.
Mira was helping calm a frightened Mooncalf when something tugged gently against her neck.
A vibration.
Soft.
Barely noticeable.
Her eyes widened.
The Witcher Medallion.
The wolf-shaped silver medallion hanging beside the Tidemother's Tear had begun humming quietly.
The vibration pulsed against her collarbone.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
Mira froze.
The sensation felt eerily familiar despite never having experienced it herself. Theron's journals had described it repeatedly. The medallion reacted to curses. Magic. Monsters. Things that shouldn't be ignored. The vibration wasn't aggressive. It felt almost... concerned. Like a warning whispered from a great distance. Mira slowly stood. Her attention shifted toward further into the compound.
Draco noticed immediately, "Mira?"
She touched the medallion, "It's reacting."
Korrin approached, "The Witcher Medallion?"
She nodded.
Something was nearby.
Something cursed.
Without fully understanding why, Mira followed the pull.
The path further down in the compound gradually swallowed the sounds of the rescue operation behind her. The medallion's humming grew stronger with every step. Behind her came Draco, Alaric, Nyx, and Korrin. None of them felt comfortable allowing her to investigate alone. The deeper they ventured into the compound, the stronger the strange sensation became. Mira's heart began beating faster. Whatever the medallion sensed was powerful.
Then they found it.
Or rather—
her.
A massive snake lay partially coiled in a cage.
Scales dark as polished emerald reflected the filtered lights. Her body was enormous, far larger than any ordinary snake should have been. Golden eyes watched them carefully. There was no immediate aggression. No striking posture. Only exhaustion. Loneliness. Something about her felt deeply sad. The medallion vibrated once more before gradually becoming still.
Draco instinctively took half a step backward, "That's not a normal snake."
"No," Nyx agreed quietly, "It isn't."
Mira stepped forward slowly.
The enormous serpent watched her.
Neither moved.
The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Then Mira spoke.
In Parseltongue.
Soft.
Gentle.
Curious.
"Who are you?"
The snake visibly froze.
Her golden eyes widened.
No fear.
Only shock.
A long silence followed.
Then came a quiet reply, "Nagini."
The name echoed through the trees.
Draco blinked.
Alaric exchanged a glance with Nyx.
Korrin looked thoughtful.
Mira felt her chest tighten slightly.
There was something heartbreakingly human hidden beneath the serpent's voice.
Something trapped.
Something tired.
She lowered herself carefully onto one knee, "Hello, Nagini."
The giant snake stared at her for several seconds.
Then slowly relaxed.
Behind Mira, Draco finally spoke, "What is she saying?"
Mira looked back, "Her name is Nagini."
The group absorbed that information.
Nyx's expression changed first.
Subtle realization flickered across his face.
Then concern.
"Mira..."
She looked at him.
"I think she's a Maledictus."
Silence followed.
Draco frowned, "A what?"
Nyx folded his arms.
His voice remained calm.
"A blood curse."
The words felt heavy.
Ancient.
Sad.
"It passes from mother to daughter." He glanced toward Nagini, "And eventually transforms the victim into a beast permanently."
Draco's eyes widened.
The implications settled immediately.
This wasn't simply a snake.
This had once been a person.
A human being.
Someone trapped inside a curse they never chose.
Mira looked back toward Nagini.
The serpent remained motionless.
Watching.
Waiting.
Perhaps hoping.
The same feeling that had guided so much of her life stirred quietly inside her chest.
The feeling that appeared whenever someone needed help.
Creature.
Human.
Hybrid.
It never seemed to matter.
She took a slow breath.
Then spoke softly, "I want to help her."
Nobody answered immediately.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEiLWZKbDL
Nagini remained perfectly still.
As though afraid the moment might disappear.
Then Alaric smiled.
A tired smile.
A familiar smile.
The kind Mira had seen countless times.
"Of course you do."
Korrin laughed softly.
"Honestly, I'd be worried if you said anything else."
Nyx nodded.
"I agree."
Draco moved beside her.
Blue-gray eyes meeting hers.
"We help her."
Simple.
Certain.
No hesitation.
Mira felt warmth spread through her chest.
Together they looked toward the enormous serpent resting in the cage.
Nagini watched them carefully.
For the first time since they had arrived, a faint spark of hope appeared in her golden eyes.
And somewhere deep within the compound, unnoticed by everyone except Mira, the Witcher Medallion grew completely still.
Its warning had been heard.
Its purpose fulfilled.
Now came the harder part.
Finding a way to save someone the world had long ago given up on.
The rescue operation was winding down by the time Alaric gathered the Aurors near the edge of the trafficking compound. The morning mist had long since burned away, replaced by warm sunlight filtering through the surrounding forest canopy. Healers moved carefully between rows of rescued creatures while Ministry officials documented evidence for future prosecutions. Nearby, enchanted cages stood open and empty, their former occupants already receiving food, water, and medical attention. The atmosphere carried a strange mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction that always followed a successful operation. No one had been seriously injured. Every trafficker had been captured. Most importantly, dozens of creatures would eventually return to their rightful homes. Alaric watched a team of handlers gently guide a frightened Mooncalf toward a transport carriage and felt a small measure of relief settle in his chest. Days like this reminded him why he had chosen this path years ago.
Amelia Bones stood beside a collection of hastily organized field reports, reading through them with her usual calm efficiency. Even in the middle of a forest clearing surrounded by magical creatures, she somehow managed to look every bit the head of Magical Law Enforcement. Her sharp eyes lifted when Alaric approached. Kingsley stood nearby speaking with investigators while Tonks was helping catalog confiscated contraband. Remus and Sirius had finished checking the perimeter and were returning toward the gathering group. Alice and Frank Longbottom sat together on a fallen log reviewing witness statements. Everyone looked tired, but it was the satisfying kind of exhaustion that came from meaningful work. Amelia folded one report and looked toward Alaric expectantly. She already suspected there was more to discuss.
"The rescued creatures are in stable condition," Alaric began. "Most suffered neglect, but nothing beyond what our healers can handle." His gaze briefly followed a pair of Kneazles being transported toward one of the rehabilitation wagons. "They'll be transferred to the Silverthorne Rehabilitation Center for treatment and observation." Several Aurors nodded immediately. The rehabilitation center had earned a reputation throughout Britain for exceptional care. Injured dragons, abused Kneazles, displaced Hippogriffs, and countless other creatures had recovered there over the years. "Once they're healthy, they'll be returned to the appropriate reserves and protected habitats." Alaric's voice softened slightly as he spoke. "Every single one." Amelia's stern expression eased just a fraction. She had seen enough creature trafficking cases to appreciate the significance of those words.
"I'm glad to hear that," Amelia said. "Too many rescued creatures fall through bureaucratic cracks after operations like this." Her eyes moved across the activity surrounding them. "The Silverthorne Center won't let that happen." There was genuine respect in her voice. Alaric inclined his head in acknowledgment, though he never seemed entirely comfortable receiving praise. To him, helping creatures simply felt like the right thing to do. Yet Amelia understood how rare that attitude truly was. Many people cared about magical creatures in theory. Far fewer dedicated their lives to protecting them in practice. The difference mattered.
A few moments of quiet followed before Korrin stepped forward.
"There was something else we found."
The werewolf Auror's voice immediately captured everyone's attention. Korrin rarely interrupted official reports unless the matter was important. Remus looked up from a nearby conversation. Kingsley folded his arms. Even Moody paused in the middle of examining confiscated equipment. Korrin exchanged a brief glance with Nyx before continuing. The expression on his face suggested that what he was about to say wasn't something anyone had expected to encounter during a trafficking raid. Alaric simply nodded, allowing him to explain.
"We found a Maledictus victim."
That statement immediately silenced the entire gathering.
For several seconds, only distant creature calls and rustling leaves filled the clearing.
Remus blinked, "A Maledictus?"
Korrin nodded, "A woman named Nagini."
The name hung in the air.
Several Aurors exchanged surprised looks.
Alice sat up straighter immediately.
Even Amelia's usually composed expression showed visible surprise.
Cases involving Maledictus victims were exceptionally rare. Most witches and wizards knew of the blood curse only through academic journals or old historical accounts. The curse's reputation stemmed largely from its tragic inevitability. Every generation brought another daughter burdened with a fate she never chose. A gradual transformation. A loss of self. A permanent imprisonment within another form. It was one of the cruelest curses known to magical medicine.
Nyx stepped forward beside his brother, "They apparently mistook her for an ordinary snake."
The vampire hybrid's voice remained calm, though concern lingered beneath the surface. "The traffickers likely had no idea who—or what—she actually was." He looked toward Amelia. "She's permanently trapped in serpent form." A heavy silence followed his words. Several Aurors lowered their eyes thoughtfully. It was one thing to rescue a magical creature from captivity. It was another entirely to discover a human being hidden among those cages. The distinction carried enormous emotional weight. Suddenly the operation felt larger than anyone had realized.
Remus rubbed the back of his neck slowly.
"That's awful."
His voice carried quiet sadness.
Throughout his life, Remus had experienced firsthand what it felt like to be judged for something beyond his control. While lycanthropy and a Maledictus curse were different afflictions, he recognized the same underlying tragedy. Someone losing freedom because of magic they never asked for. Someone being viewed as dangerous or strange simply because of what they had become. The thought visibly troubled him. His eyes drifted toward the forest where Nagini had been discovered. He couldn't imagine how lonely such an existence must be.
Alaric spoke next.
"We don't believe the traffickers knew."
Amelia looked toward him.
"They likely captured her thinking she was simply an unusually large snake."
His expression hardened slightly.
"That doesn't excuse what they did."
Several Aurors nodded immediately.
"No," Amelia agreed. "It doesn't."
The quiet certainty in her voice left little room for argument. Whether Nagini had been a snake or a human, the traffickers had still treated a living being as property. That fact alone disgusted everyone present. Yet the revelation somehow made the crime feel even worse. They hadn't merely imprisoned a magical creature. They had imprisoned a woman.
Alice Longbottom's face softened.
"And you're helping her?"
The question wasn't skeptical.
Only hopeful.
Nyx smiled faintly, "We're taking her the center as well."
Alice's eyes brightened immediately, "Really?"
"Yes." Alaric confirmed.
"And we'll begin working on purifying the curse," Nyx continued.
For the first time since the conversation began, genuine optimism entered the atmosphere. It wasn't certainty. No one present was foolish enough to assume that breaking an ancient blood curse would be easy. Yet if anyone could attempt it, the Silverthornes seemed uniquely qualified. Alchemy. Healing magic. Ancient research. Connections to forgotten magical traditions. Over the past year they had already accomplished things many experts considered impossible.
Korrin folded his arms and looked toward the surrounding forest, "Nagini deserves to be free."
The statement was simple.
Direct.
Sincere.
Yet it resonated deeply throughout the gathering.
Nobody argued.
Nobody hesitated.
Because everyone agreed.
Amelia nodded first.
Then Alice.
Then Frank.
Remus.
Kingsley.
Tonks.
Moody.
One by one, the Aurors voiced their support.
The sentiment spread naturally through the group.
A quiet consensus born from shared experience and simple decency.
Eventually Amelia allowed herself a small smile.
"Then let's hope she ends up in the right hands."
Her gaze shifted toward Alaric.
The meaning was obvious.
Alaric chuckled softly.
"So do I."
Nearby, rescue wagons began preparing for departure. Creatures would soon be transported toward safety. Reports would be filed. Investigations would continue. The traffickers would face justice. Yet amid all the success of the operation, many of the Aurors found themselves thinking about the same thing. Somewhere nearby, a woman trapped inside a serpent's body had been given a chance she probably thought would never come. Not because of destiny. Not because of prophecy. Simply because one young girl had heard a Witcher medallion humming softly in the forest and chosen to follow where it led. And somehow, everyone present suspected that choice might change far more than a single life.
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