48. Goodbye Nagini

Aurelius continuously waved his magic wand at the mischievous mouse, causing it to jump up and down. Nagini watched this from her iron cage nearby. Ever since that cocktail incident, Nagini had been cautious of Aurelius. The feeling of danger not only remained with her over time, but it also became more evident and deeply ingrained in her mind as she continued to reflect on it.

Nagini couldn't resist observing Aurelius, who was right next to her. She concealed her interest well, hoping that Aurelius hadn't noticed. However, Nagini was naive. How could she grasp the power of magic without ever learning it? What potential did something like Obscurus possess that she was oblivious to?

Nagini scrutinized Aurelius, knowing that this was always her desire. "You...are practicing magic?" she couldn't hold back any longer.

"Of course, magic is vast and profound. How can one be complacent when seeking to explore its true meaning?" Aurelius nodded.

Aurelius dared to practice Legilimency in front of Nagini, which was quite audacious, one might say.

The best defense against Legilimency is if you know that the person is skilled in it. Concealing one's spell casting is a characteristic of Legilimency, but it would be advantageous to be prepared ahead of time.

However, Nagini was unaware of Legilimency, and Aurelius didn't verbally announce the spell, so he wasn't worried.

Nagini fell silent once again after posing the question. "Are you not a wizard?" Aurelius wouldn't let this opportunity slip away and casually inquired.

"I was arrested when I was nine years old. Do you think I had a chance to attend school?" Nagini looked up at the dark ceiling and laughed to herself.

Aurelius glanced at her and remarked, "That's not good. I must say, you are lucky."

"Lucky? Being imprisoned, abused, having to face those eyes, and...facing a future where I have to become a monster, and you call this luck?" Nagini looked at him sarcastically.

Aurelius didn't seem bothered and nodded again, "Of course, luck is relative. The blood curse is unfortunate, but at least you are still alive. Unconsciously suppressing your magical powers would only turn you into a more terrifying and agonizing monster—"

Nagini snorted, "I don't think anything could be worse than this!"

"Obscurus—"

"What?"

"A monster born from repressed magic power, it will continue to devour the host, consuming everything - spirit, vitality. You must constantly face its bewitchment and torture, suppressing and controlling it." Aurelius gazed into the distance.

"But as you grow older, it becomes increasingly difficult to control. The pain intensifies day by day, and sleep becomes impossible because falling asleep means transforming into a demon. Eventually, usually around the age of ten, you lose all control over the Obscurus. The Obscurus causes unimaginable disaster and destruction, leading the host to perish in the ultimate catastrophe..."

"..." Nagini's mouth hung open.

Ah, this...

"Captivity, abuse, and the inability to attend school are factors that easily trigger an Obscurus. You don't have one, so consider yourself lucky," Aurelius said, returning to a smile.

Nagini shook her head and chuckled at herself. "Looking at it that way, I suppose I am lucky," she said, but then she glanced at Aurelius. "Only if what you're saying is true."

"Why would I lie to you? Hundreds of years ago, Obscuruses were quite common. Many wizards were persecuted, leading some to deliberately suppress their magic and create an Obscurus," Aurelius explained with a smile.

Nagini seemed to have found a loophole in Aurelius's explanation. "Hundreds of years ago? Does that mean they are rare now?"

"It can be said that Obscurus occurred frequently hundreds of years ago due to the hatred between Muggles and wizards and the persecution that followed. However, now, thanks to the 'Secrecy Act,' wizards and Muggles rarely interact, making Obscuruses naturally less common."

"Then how do you know so much?" Nagini inquired.

Aurelius appeared stunned, not saying another word.

Nagini stared at him, suspicion growing in her eyes.

After a long silence, Aurelius chuckled. "Ha - there's nothing I can't tell you." He looked at Nagini, and his arm slowly dissipated, like ashes consumed by flames, transforming into a hand-shaped wave of black mist. "This is the Obscurus."

Nagini's eyes widened. Here it comes! That dangerous feeling again!

"You... you are? The Obscurus?!" she exclaimed.

Aurelius shook his head. "Those who are possessed by the Obscurus should be called Obscurial."

His arm returned to its original form.

"This is impossible! You just said that those possessed by the Obscurus don't live past the age of ten!" Nagini shouted at the top of her lungs.

"I said 'usually' - but as far as I know, apart from me, no Obscurus has lived to be ten years old," Aurelius replied, his smile filled with pride.

It took Nagini a long time to come to terms with this revelation.

"Why did you tell me?" Nagini asked, still trying to fully process the information.

Aurelius looked at her and replied, "Because you deserve to know. Knowledge is power, and you need to understand the dangers of Obscurus."

Nagini nodded slowly, a mixture of curiosity and fear in her eyes. "But what about you? How are you able to control it?"

Aurelius sighed and explained, "I have spent my life studying and mastering the power within me. It hasn't been easy, but I have found a way to keep the Obscurus in check. It's a constant battle, but I've managed to survive."

Nagini couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Aurelius. Despite the hardships he endured, he had found a way to overcome the darkness within him.

"Thank you for sharing this with me," Nagini said sincerely. "I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you."

Aurelius smiled and nodded. "It hasn't been easy, but I believe that sharing this knowledge with you can help prevent others from suffering the same fate. Obscurus is a dangerous force, and wizards and witches need to understand its potential dangers."

Nagini couldn't agree more. She understood the importance of knowledge and the responsibility that came with it. With this newfound understanding, she vowed to educate others about the risks of Obscurus and the importance of seeking help and support.

Together, Nagini and Aurelius would work towards a world where no one had to suffer the dark fate of the Obscurus. 

"We all lead tragic lives. You were born with a blood curse that will eventually make you forget your humanity and live the rest of your life as a snake. I have been orphaned since I was a child and suffered abuse from my adoptive parents, which led to the birth of Obscurus. Nagini, I understand what you've been through," Aurelius said, showing his palm to Nagini.

Scars covered Aurelius's palm, a clear reminder of his tragic past.

"That's why I can show kindness to you," Aurelius added.

Nagini closed her eyes, feeling a powerful sense of empathy, a superpower possessed by humans, especially kind-hearted ones. It was why Aurelius chose to reveal his identity as the Obscurus.

However, Aurelius was aware of crossing boundaries.

Quickly changing the subject, he reassured Nagini, "I'm not worried about you sharing this with others. No one would believe you..."

"Because an Obscurus doesn't live past ten years old," Nagini replied, displaying her intelligence.

"Yes, you're a smart girl," Aurelius said, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you, beautiful girl. My name is Aurelius."

Nagini hesitated for a moment, then smiled sweetly and gently held Aurelius's hand. "I'm also delighted to meet you, the boy who loves to lie. I'm Nagini."

"Wait, why do you think I lie so much? Everything I say is true!" Aurelius cried out.

"You lied to Skender about graduating from Ilvermorny. I assume you've never been to school," Nagini pointed out.

"..."