In The Wake Of Crows And Snakes

Chapter 3: The Hogwarts Express

She tossed and turned violently, her head jerking to the side as quick, hot breaths escaped her mouth. "No, no, please!" she begged.

Visions flashed before Y/n's eyes: a snake coiled aggressively, ready to strike, a blinding flash of green light from a wand, the acrid smell of smoke and the taste of ash filling her mouth, burning and choking her as she gasped for clean air. A scream—a woman's scream? She couldn't tell if it was her own or someone else's, but the agonising pain seared through her body, and her throat felt like it was on fire. The scream was followed by a revolting, sinister laugh that forced a whimper from her lips, its harsh vibrations scraping through her ears. Darkness, death, and pain closed in around her, making her shake with fear. It surrounded her, then coalesced into something evil looming behind her. Y/n slowly turned her head, peering through the edges of her vision to see the shadowy figure. Her hairs stood on end, first on her neck and then her arms, as sweat beaded on her forehead and dripped down her face, stinging her eyes. A high-pitched ringing replaced all other sounds, echoing through her mind, clawing at her—unbearable. Then, everything went black, except for a single black feather softly falling to the ground. The dream shattered once again as she opened her eyes.

Y/n awoke, sweat drenched her hair, clothes and the bedding beneath her. Tears blurred her vision as she took deep, steady breaths to calm herself, then swung her legs off the bed to sit upright. She had experienced recurring nightmares for as long as she could remember, with these disturbing dreams intensifying since the World Cup. Her dreams often revealed both past events and future glimpses—a gift her mother also possessed. They were Seers, a rare type of witch or wizard able to see into the future. Y/n didn't take it too seriously; she had no control over these visions—just strange dreams. When similar events happened while she was awake, she chalked them up to déjà vu.

Us much as she'd hate to admit it, the events of the world cup had left her shaken as so much was unknown. She also couldn't stop thinking about Draco Malfoy and how he'd been so vulnerable and kind, right before cursing her and leaving her in a bush. "Where had he disappeared to?", He really just left her there, she thought in anger. As she sat, contemplating past events she heard hurried footsteps approaching the bottom of the stairs.

"Y/n!" her mother's slightly rushed voice called. "Are you awake? You'll miss the train, and I can't drive you, or I'll be late for work!" she said.

"Coming, Mother!" Y/n replied.

She had packed everything for her fourth year at Hogwarts the night before. Taking one last relaxing breath, she headed downstairs to see her mother off.

Y/n's mother was an Auror Case Manager, or ACM. Every time an Auror returned to the Ministry with information about dark magic or rogue wizards, they reported to her. She gathered the intel, kept records, and determined the Ministry's priorities, deciding where Aurors would be dispatched next. Although her role was crucial, it didn't pay as much as being an Auror. Y/n and her mother made do with her income, living in a cozy two-bedroom apartment in London close to the Ministry, which made it easier for her mother to manage the demands of her job. Y/n learned independence from her mother's schedule—leaving early, returning late, and often working from home. The ministry would have fallen apart without her. This had been Y/n's reality for as long as she could remember, so organising dinners and other needs had become her responsibility. Y/n knew her mother loved her and worked hard for her, but she wished for more time together than just weekly dinners.

"Morning, my love," her mother said, pausing her chaotic packing of papers and files into a charmed bag to gently place a hand on Y/n's cheek. Noticing the sweat on her daughter's face, concern crossed her features. "I'm sorry I can't come with you to the platform," she said, rubbing her thumb against Y/n's cheek briefly before returning to her paperwork. "I'm running late as it is. There's been so much activity lately; I'm struggling to keep up with these reports...scary stuff, but don't worry, my dear. We'll stay on top of it." Her mother reassured her, finally finishing packing everything into her bag. Her mother slung the bag over her shoulder and turned back to her daughter. "You had that dream again, didn't you, my love?" she asked soothingly. "The one from the World Cup?"