Raven's Fate: A Snake's Love Story

A Pain in Time

Disclaimer: This work is a non-profit fan creation and is not associated with the original copyright holder. Hogwarts Legacy and its characters, settings, and events are the property of Hogwarts Legacy. This work is intended solely for the personal enjoyment of the author and other fans of Hogwarts Legacy. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made from this work.

I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart racing and my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. My mind, still reeling, still trapped in the nightmarish realm that I thought I had left behind since leaving Hogwarts. It's as if Ranrok had taken hold of my subconscious, dragging me back into his world of horror and despair. I could feel the weight of a mountain of bodies pressing down on me, their lifeless limbs reaching out to clutch at my bloodied robes as I struggled to break free. The smell of death and decay filling my nostrils, suffocating me with its sickly-sweet stench.

My vision filled with the faces of those I love, their eyes staring up at me from beneath the twisted tangle of limbs and bodies. I would hear their voices, their screams of pain and terror echoing through a voided expanse. As my breath quickens, my chest tightens, and a cold pit of dread settles in my stomach. I could feel the tears streaming down my face, hot and bitter against my skin, as I struggled to make sense of the chaos around me. Every time, no matter how hard I tried, I knew that I was powerless. Trapped in that nightmare, unable to save the ones I love or even save myself. A feeling of helplessness so overwhelming it paralyzes in slow, hot waves of agony.

I tried to reach out to them, to pull them away from the mountain of corpses, but I am the only one. Alone. No one could hear my cries, no one could see my pain. No one could see me. The landscape around me would fade to black, leaving me stranded in the darkness with nothing but my own fear and despair for company. Then I would see him, Ranrok, standing atop the mountain of death, his eyes fixed on mine. His face is twisted with triumph, his laughter echoing through the emptiness of my mind. His hands wrapped around the neck of my sister's corpse. I could feel a surge of white-hot rage, my fists clenched in fury, as I glared at him. But it was no use and like always in a flash, I woke up, gasping for air, drenched in sweat. I would realize that it was all a dream, a twisted nightmare that haunts me, but some nights it was more real than waking up and living. More real than killing Ranrok.

I was lying on the bed, still lost in the aftermath of the night terror, when the sound of the door opening snapped me from my stupor in a sudden jolt. Through bleary eyes, I watched as Sebastian walked in, a tray of breakfast in one hand and a piece of toast in his mouth.

But as soon as he saw me, his face contorted with concern, and the toast fell forgotten onto the tray. With a sense of urgency, he hurried over to me, setting down the tray and kneeling beside the bed.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. "I heard you shouting in your sleep."

I tried to shake off the last remnants of the nightmare, but my mind was still foggy, and my body felt heavy and unresponsive. I struggled to form a coherent sentence, my throat dry and scratchy. Sebastian didn't seem to mind. Instead, he reached out and placed a hand on my forehead, checking my temperature. His touch was soothing, and I felt a flicker of warmth spread through me.

"It's okay," he said softly. "You're safe now. I'm here."

His words were like a lifeline, pulling me out of the dark abyss of my own thoughts. I looked up at him, meeting his gaze, and saw the same concern in his eyes that he had shown for his sister when she had been cursed. Sebastian caressed my face once more and with that the fatigue and weariness that had been weighing me down dissipated, replaced by a surge of longing. A longing to be held and protected in his arms forever.