Burning Embers: A Tale Of Shadows And Memories

Chapter 2

The Raven's Letter

Severus was still fast asleep, peacefully unaware of the events unfolding outside his window. His room was cloaked in darkness, the heavy curtains drawn tightly shut, allowing him to remain ensconced in the deep, dreamless sleep he so rarely enjoyed. It had been just an hour before his usual wake-up time when his black raven made its presence known. The bird swooped down to his windowsill, its sleek, ebony feathers glinting faintly in the first light of dawn. The raven's sharp eyes gleamed with an urgent intelligence as it tapped its black beak against the glass with a resounding thud, a noise that cut through the silence of the room like a knife.

Severus stirred slightly, a faint crease appearing on his brow as the persistent tapping continued. The bird, undeterred, increased the intensity of its pecking, the sound reverberating through the stillness. Its intention was clear: to rouse its master from slumber and direct Severus's attention to the envelope attached to its ankle with a red ribbon.

The envelope bore the distinct signature of Albus Dumbledore, elegantly inscribed in the headmaster's own hand on the pristine white paper. The raven peered through the window with its beady black eye, searching for its owner. It cocked its head every so often, straining to hear the familiar sound of Severus's footsteps approaching.

Severus stirred from his dreams, his brows knitting together as the disturbance pulled him out of the foggy depths of sleep. He opened his eyes, his room still shrouded in the early morning shadows. Confusion filled his mind for a brief moment as he struggled to adjust to the waking world.

Then he heard the sound. Thud, thud, thud. A rhythmic pecking against the windowpane. Severus lifted his head, the last remnants of sleep fading away as he listened intently to the tapping. It wasn't just any bird-it was his bird, a raven named Midnight, that always carried messages from one person in particular.

Severus slowly reached out for his wand on the bedside table, his fingers brushing the cool wood as he sat up. He cast a Lumos charm, the tip of his wand illuminating the room with a soft, pale light, dim enough so the light won't stir Evelynn.

Midnight's tapping grew more insistent, the raven's beak striking the glass with a determined rhythm. With a slight wince at having to extricate himself from the sleeping form of Evelynn, Severus carefully slid out from the bed, doing his best not to disturb her as he moved towards the window. Her soft breathing and the warmth of her presence had always been a rare comfort to him, but duty beckoned with an urgency he couldn't ignore. With a flick of his wand, the curtains parted, and he unlatched the window, allowing the cool morning air to seep into the room.

The black bird hopped onto the windowsill, with a graceful flutter of its wings, its talons clicking against the wood. It was a beautiful creature, its ebony feathers gleaming in the early morning sunlight, casting shimmering reflections around the room. But it wasn't the bird that captured Severus's attention. It was the envelope tied to the creatures extended leg, to the red ribbon tied to Midnight's ankle, the familiar signature of Albus Dumbledore standing out starkly against the white paper.

He reached out a hand, gently untangling Midnight from its leash with a sense of foreboding, his fingers moving deftly despite the lingering grogginess. The bird cawed softly, watching him with an almost knowing gaze, offering no resistance, hopping back onto the windowsill and preening its feathers with its beak. The weight of the envelope was tangible in his hand, a harbinger of whatever news it contained. He turned it over in his fingers, studying the signature once more. He'd received messages from Albus Dumbledore before, and they were never ones he was eager to read.