A Ravenclaw's Tale (Severus Snape x Reader)

The Hogwarts Express

"Nightingale! I know you want to keep flying, but we to go now!" You pleaded for probably the hundredth time.

Said owl definitely let out another of her signature screeches (they sound like screeches up close, but like a falling bomb from afar), as she continued avoiding your attempts at catching her. For the past ten minutes now, you've been trying in vain to get Nightingale into her cage. If you knew she'd be this stubborn about it, you would have started the process much earlier. You had only left it to the last minute, as you wanted to give her as much free time as possible before she'd be stuck in her cage as you traveled.

When you first brought Nightingale back to the orphanage, you'd beem a bit anxious she wouldn't return if you let her outside. So, you decided to keep her inside at first... That quickly went downhill that first night. She was not at all content to remaining confined to flying around you room, and the constant screeching of protest kept the whole orphanage up half the night. Ms. Thornberry eventually came, and decided to let the owl free rain of the orphanage, hoping more room would help the problem. It, unfortunately, did not solve the issue, and instead Nightingale went around pecking at anyone in sight. With no other choice, you had to open your window and let her out. She was quick to flee out into the night sky, and with her gone, the other children were all to eager to get some rest. You, however, were far to anxious she'd never return to get any sleep. Ms. Thornberry was kind enough to stay up awhile with you, but the kind old lady eventually had to sleep as well. You were just about to lose hope when the morning came, but just as the sunrise broke the horizon, Nightingale returned though the window. The week following was a routine of you anxiously waiting for her return, and only sleeping once she was safely back in your room come sunrise. You've gotten more comfortable with knowledge that she would each day, at the same time no less, but still can't help feeling a bit anxious before bed each night.

The past two weeks has also taught you several other things about Nightingale. For one, she liked  routine, always leaving directly at sunset, and arriving at sunrise. She would even get rather displeased with you if your own personal routine deviated too much from the norm. 

Another thing you learned was that she was rather clean, even for an owl. She never went to the bathroom in her cage, and only occasionally did she ever yarp up a pellet in there. She also tended to preen herself quite often. But the occasional pellets and the feathers all over, did mean you had to clean her cage eventually. This is were you had to learn the hard way just how territorial Nightingale was. Let's just say she was definitely not a fan of seeing you go into her cage, and you have some new scars on your hands as a healthy reminder of that fact. The amount of relief when you're school supplies arrived, and you gained access to your dragon hide glovesz can not be put into words. Not thier intended purpose, but you now never handle Nightingale without them. To be on the safe side, you leave any cage maintenance for at night, when you're positive she's nowhere nearby. Other the the occasional cleaning, maintenance also include misting the cage twice a day, and making sure it's mostly covered by her blanket, as your research informed you that Greater Sooty Owls liked moist hollows hidden by lots of foliage. The fact that your National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia had a section on Greater Sooty Owls, made your love for the book grow evermore.

The book also informed you of Nightingale's natural diet, most of the animals mentioned not being available to her here. She seems to have adapted, owls being as smart as they are, and seems to be going after squirrels the most from the few times you've seen her eating. To make sure she's healthy, you've been giving her the victims/supplements the lady who sold you Nightingale recommended you buy. This has proven to be another thing Nightingale hates, as she makes the entire progress very difficult, and gives you an utterly despising look for the next hour afterwards. Again, you are so very grateful for those dragon hide gloves.