The blazing light, charged with powerful magic, burned the flesh from his palm almost the instant it touched him. The acrid stench of charred skin filled the air, and faint cracks could even be heard as his bones gave way under the heat.
Akri let out a muffled groan he could not suppress, a sound mingling genuine agony with a strange satisfaction, then collapsed. His badly burned, nearly ruined hand lay limp before him, a horrifying sight.
Akri knelt on the ground, one hand lost. Seeing their leader subdued, his accomplices lost all will to resist and surrendered one after another. The cave fell silent, save for their ragged breathing and a faint, sigh-like echo from deep within the rock.
"It's over, Akri." Kassem approached the traitor, his voice heavy with exhaustion and disappointment rather than any joy in victory.
"Teacher, you know..." Akri tried to say more.
"Silencing Charm." Kassem's finger swiftly traced a sealing symbol, stopping Akri from uttering any spell.
But Akri's lips kept moving soundlessly. Some ancient, vicious curse seemed to be taking shape through sheer force of will.
The Gringotts Leader hurried forward and forced a specially made object gleaming silver into Akri's mouth. "We'll take him back to the Wizards' Council. The experts there will find a way to deal with the dangerous knowledge in his head."
When Will returned to camp, Snape was engrossed in a book. A covered dinner sat on the table beside the sofa, apparently saved for Will.
Will glanced at Snape's book. Egyptian Dark Magic. Well, that was his teacher for you.
"How much did you get out of Uagadou?" Snape asked without looking up.
"How did you know, Professor?"
"Do you think I don't know you?" For once, Snape did not mock Will.
"I asked everything I