            She shivered at his words, heat pooling low in her stomach. Hermione held open the journal to the Retinacula ritual, then watched, wide-eyed, as Lucius brought the dagger to his flesh. He didn’t flinch as he carved the rune into his skin. He just stood, quiet and still, watching the blood pool over the carving before she used her wand to put a healing stasis on the wound. Its angry, red mouth snarled from just below the crook of his elbow.