Kaecilius shuddered, a glimmer of hope rising in his eyes.
But suspicion soon replaced it. He stared at Hermione, trying to spot a lie on that adorable face.
"Immortality?" He shook his head. "Something generations of mages couldn't achieve, and you... how could you possibly do it?"
"The only one I know of is the Ancient One. How old are you, anyway?"
Hermione shrugged.
"Uncle Ba, you're going to die anyway, and that old bastard Dormammu is going to take your soul. What harm could there be in trying my way?"
She paused, her voice taking on a coaxing note. "It can't get any worse, can it?"
Kaecilius fell silent.
He looked down at his gradually disintegrating body and felt the tearing pain deep within his soul.
Hermione was right. He had no choice left.
Rather than let Dormammu devour his soul, he might as well take a gamble!
"All right." There was a note of grim resolve in his voice. "You're not wrong."
He raised his head, looked at Hermione, and corrected her. "Also, my name is Kaecilius, not Uncle Ba."
"Okay, Uncle Ba. Got it, Uncle Ba."
Kaecilius: ???
"Never mind, it doesn't matter." Hermione waved a hand, cutting off Uncle Ba's bewilderment.
"Is there anything you're particularly fond of?"
Kaecilius froze for a moment, apparently not expecting that question.
After a brief silence, he pulled a photograph from inside his clothes.
It was a photograph of his deceased wife and child, his deepest obsession and the original reason he feared death and pursued immortality so desperately.
Hermione nodded in understanding.
She said nothing more, simply raising her wand and giving him a gentle poke.
"Whoosh-"
Kaecilius's soul was poked straight out of his body.
A streak of silver light flashed past, slicing a small portion off Kaecilius's