Author's Note: Fourth part of the story. Just read and review. Thanks a lot for all your support!
Yours sincerely,
severussnape922
Chapter 3
Severus stared at the slumbering and prone raven sleeping so peacefully on his emerald sofa with soft eyes. He was devoutly thankful that he had learned Ravenspeak a long time ago due to his undying fascination for ravens. His mouth twitched upwards a few notches as he breezed away from the room, intending to go to his potions laboratory to brew some potions for the NEWT class before he turned in.
As he gabbed hastily at some potions ingredients from his neat and tidy shelves chock full of ingredients, he mused over the feeling that he had experienced when his eyes and the raven's locked. It felt like a flame in his well-hidden gate to the heart had suddenly been lighted, as if the raven had filled a vacant space in his cold heart. What can it mean? He pondered while pulling out his gold cauldron and picked up a large stirring rod.
Finally dismissing the thought that was distracting him from his far more important potions, Severus meticulously cut some ingredients finely and scooped them into his bubbling cauldron. The resulting fizz and smoke from the cauldron sent him into a coughing fit. When he finally succeeded (barely) in pulling himself together, he dumped, with watering eyes, some lizard eyes into the cauldron. The cauldron issued copious amount of sparks, brightening for a fraction of a moment the gloomy potions lab. The sparks that reflected into his dead-looking eyes blinded him temporarily. As he reeled back from the cauldron, he glared menacingly at the cauldron. If looks could have killed, the cauldron would have sublimated at that very instant.
He snarled at the cauldron as he bottled the, strangely enough, cold potion and packed it away. He sank back into his favoutite armchair, exhausted by the effort spent on the potion. His thoughts drifted back to the raven. Was it fine now? Would it recover from its injures soon? Severus questioned himself. At the thought of those questions, Severus was immediately surprised of himself. Was he, the mean old greasy git and bat of the dungeons, really showing love and care towards a mere raven? Others, (and himself) had always thought Severus incapable of expressing, physically or emotionally, love. He was actually proving them wrong!
He smiled at the thought of being able to keep a raven as a pet. Ravens were known to be highly intelligent and faithful pets, not unlike phoenixes. Ravens would serve their owner until they died. That might very well prove useful to me... He murmured as he slumped onto his armchair, bone-weary. Soon, the only sound that betrayed his presence was the sound of gentle snores.