Ancient Magician (Severus x Reader)

Chapter 20: A Howler for Me?

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𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 20: 𝐴 𝐻𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑒?

"𝑂ℎ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑔𝑜 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛"

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The next morning, Hermione and I were up early. We lingered in the common room for a bit, waiting for Harry and Ron so we could all walk down to the Great Hall together. Once the four of us entered the vast space, I couldn't help but feel a familiar warmth at the sight of the enchanted ceiling glowing with soft morning light, casting golden hues over the four long house tables.

The Gryffindor table was already piled high with platters of toast, crisp bacon, glistening fried eggs, kippers, and bowls of steaming porridge. We made our way to our usual spots — I slid onto the bench beside Hermione, who immediately propped up her latest book, Voyages with Vampires, against the milk jug so she could read as she ate. I shook my head with a smile.

Ron sat down next to Harry and groaned loudly when he noticed the book.
"Hermione, seriously? It's barely morning and you're already burying yourself in reading?"

Hermione chuckled lightly, not even looking up. "Of course I am. Some of us enjoy using our brains before noon."

Ron made a face and stabbed a sausage with a bit more force than necessary.

Just then, Neville arrived, looking slightly out of breath. He squeezed in beside Harry and gave us all a cheerful nod.
"Morning, Y/n. Hermione, Ron. Harry."

"Morning, Neville," we all replied more or less in unison.

"Mail should be here any second," he added, reaching for some toast. "I think Gran's sending me a few things I forgot to pack. Again."

I was just starting in on my breakfast, savoring a particularly good piece of bacon, when a sudden fluttering whoosh filled the air above. I glanced up, and sure enough, a mass of owls swooped into the Hall, wings flapping and feathers drifting everywhere as they dropped letters and parcels onto the waiting students.

"Ow!" Neville yelped as a bulky, lumpy package smacked into his lap.

Milk splashed across the table from Hermione's jug as a particularly large grey parcel collided with it, scattering a puff of feathers and liquid all over her book. She sighed, wiping it off with the edge of her sleeve.

"Errol!" Ron gasped, recognizing the feeble-looking owl flopping onto the table. "That owl's going to drop dead one day, I swear."

I was still watching the chaos above when a snowy white owl swooped gracefully toward me.

"Hedwig!" I said in surprise. "Hey, girl — I've been wondering where you were!"

She landed neatly in front of me and dropped a small, bright red envelope into my plate. I blinked.

"What's this?" I asked, picking it up curiously.

Ron turned toward me, his face going slightly pale. "Oh no. Y/n... you got one too."

"One of what?" I asked, confused by the sudden tension.

"It's a Howler," Hermione explained quickly, her voice hushed.

"A what now?" I asked, holding the envelope at arm's length.

"It's a magical letter," she said, glancing around nervously. "It reads itself aloud — in the writer's voice. And it yells. Loudly."