Luna

The door creaked open, and Luna Lovegood stepped into the Room of Requirement, her wide, dreamy eyes scanning the space with equal parts curiosity and wonder. She seemed completely oblivious to the tension that hung in the air, her usual airy demeanor intact. Thomas’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched her, the weight of what he was about to do pressing down on him like a physical ****.

“Thomas?” Luna’s voice was soft, almost ethereal, as she tilted her head slightly, her silvery-blonde hair catching the candlelight. “You said you needed to show me something?”

He swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “Yeah. I… I found something. Something I think you’ll find interesting.”

She drifted closer, her fingers brushing against the spines of the books that lined the walls. “Is it about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack? I’ve been thinking about how they might be drawn to magical places like this.”

Thomas hesitated, his grip tightening on the book in his hand. No turning back now, he thought. He took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried to steady himself. “Not exactly. It’s… well, it’s something else. A spell. A very old one.”

Luna’s eyes lit up with interest. “A spell? How fascinating. What does it do?”

He hesitated again, the words catching in his throat. Do it. Just do it. “It’s called Imperium Amoris,” he said, his voice lower now, almost a whisper. “It’s supposed to… create a bond. Between two people.”

Her smile widened, and she took another step closer. “Oh, that sounds lovely. A bond of friendship?”

Thomas’s stomach twisted. Was she truly this naive? “Something like that,” he murmured, his fingers trembling as he reached for his wand. “But it’s more… permanent. Unbreakable.”

Luna’s expression didn’t change, her eyes still bright with curiosity. “That sounds wonderful. Like something out of a fairy tale.”

She doesn’t understand. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. She had no idea what he was about to do. No idea of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of this spell. But he couldn’t stop now. He couldn’t. “Stand still, Luna,” he said, his voice firmer now. “I need you to trust me.”

She nodded without hesitation, her trust in him completely unwavering. “Of course, Thomas. I trust you.”

His heart was racing now, his breaths coming in short, shallow bursts. He raised his wand, the tip glowing faintly as he began to trace the intricate pattern in the air. The incantation spilled from his lips, the words foreign and heavy on his tongue. “Imperium Amoris.”

For a moment, nothing happened. Thomas’s chest tightened with panic. Had he done it wrong? Had he mispronounced the words? But then, slowly, a faint, golden light began to emanate from the tip of his wand, weaving itself into a delicate, shimmering web that drifted toward Luna.

She stood perfectly still, her eyes wide with fascination as the light enveloped her, wrapping around her like a second skin. Her lips parted slightly, a soft sigh escaping them as the magic settled into place. Thomas watched, transfixed, as the light faded, leaving behind a faint, almost imperceptible glow in her eyes.

“Luna?” His voice was barely more than a whisper, laced with both awe and fear. “Are you… are you okay?”