We report the observation of a magnetic polarization of the O,$2p$-states in YMn$_2$O$_5$ through the use of soft X-ray resonant scattering at the oxygen $K$-edge. Remarkably, we find that the temperature dependence of the integrated intensity of thi
s signal closely follows the macroscopic electric polarization, and hence is proportional to the ferroelectric order parameter. This is in contrast to the temperature dependence observed at the Mn,$L_3$-edge, which reflects the Mn magnetic order parameter. First principle calculations provide a microscopic understanding of these results and show that a spin-dependent hybridization of O,$2p$- and Mn, 3d-states results in a purely electronic contribution to the ferroelectric polarization, which can exist in the absence of lattice distortions.
