The Tower Ravens
The past couple of days Matthew had shown Reggie around the Dreamlands. He let her meet Fiddler’s Green, took her to the mountains, let her explore the palace, and of course the entire library.
The Kingdom was vast, and it gave Reggie a chance to fully accept she was a raven now. They flew for hours, ate something and flew some more. He showed her how to find her own food and stressed that she would always get food if she asked for it.
Matthew also explained that Dream could see through their eyes. If and when they had a mission and would have to go to the Waking World, Dream would be able to see what they saw. Reggie was quite curious about how that would feel. On the fourth day, Reggie was summoned by Dream after she had her breakfast. She was still a little afraid of the King, so she wasn’t jumping through hoops to meet him again. Last time he was pissed, not at here, but angry men needed to be avoided.
Dream was in his throne room, reading a very thick book. He was wondering how the little raven would react, for he had not seen her since the incident in the library. He noticed her and saw how she landed on the floor, in front of his throne. Much more gracefully this time.
‘Uhm, you, uhm, you wished to see me, sir?’ Dream looked up and gave her one of his rare smiles. ‘Yes, we need to talk about your education. Please, fly with me, I could use some air.’ He got up and Reggie took off, flying alongside him.
They went to Fiddlers’ Green, a calming place in the Dreamlands. Reggie loved it here. Trees, bushes, and little ponds with fish, hummingbirds, and butterflies everywhere. The first time she came her, with Matthew, the woods area had spoken to her, and she was pleased to learn that this meant she was very welcome.
‘Are you well?’ Dream asked. He knew the girl was still on edge around him. ‘Yes sir.’
‘You can call me Morpheus, child if you want to.’ ‘Uhm, okay sir, uhm…Morpheus.’ Reggie was a bit uncertain, but the King did not seem to mind. “I asked you to come, for we have much to talk about. Now that you are a raven, do you like it?’ He was genially curious. Matthew hated it at first but came to accept it later on. This girl was an enigma to him. She was apprehensive around him, so he could not read her as well. And he felt it inappropriate to invade her sleeping mind, so he had kept his distance.
‘I do, sir, uhm, sorry sir…Morpheus. I like flying and I love the library. And Lucienne is so nice to me, and Matthew is also very nice.’
Dream smiled. ‘Very well. Now I know that my sister told you her plan. Is this still what you want?’ He would give the girl a choice. If she wanted it no longer then his sister would have to accept this. For he would not force her into anything.
‘If I become a girl again, later on, I will have to fight this Voldemort man, right?’ Dream looked pensive… ‘That remains to be seen. There is a prophecy, I would have to look into it. But if that is the case, you would not stand alone. I would help you, and so would my subjects. And you would be prepared. I thought that during the day, you could read about the theory behind the magic, the way your people learn it. At night, when you sleep and dream, you could learn the practical site.’
‘But I am a bird sir, how could I use magic in my dream?’ Valid question, Dream smirked to himself. ‘I could make you a girl in your dreams. I am Dream of the Endless. King of Dreams and Nightmares. It would be in my powers.’
It sounded awesome to Reggie. ‘Will you teach me, sir?’ For a minute, she was afraid she stepped out of line, but Dream responded calmly.
‘I can teach you elemental magic, but not the magic your people use. They have wands, that amplify their magical core. So I can teach you, but later on, we will need the help of a wizard from your world.’
‘I think it would be awesome sir, to learn magic. Thank you!’ Dream nodded and got an idea. ‘Would you like to sit on my shoulder child? I can take you to the Waking World. Is there something you would like to see or do?’ The girl was never spoiled, or given anything. At 10 years old, all she knew was hardship. Dream decided that he would make sure she was happy, and he secretly wished she would come to trust him more. He felt very protective of the girl.
Reggie beamed. She very carefully landed on Dream’s shoulder. ‘Well, sir, uhm, I always wanted to go to London, sir. There is a place there where they have ravens too, and now that I am one, I was wondering if I could maybe visit them?’ She had asked, for he wanted her to, but she didn’t really expect him to grant her request.
‘The Tower of London. Yes, they have ravens, 7 of them, actually.’ Dream thought about it. It was several years in the past since he last visited the ravens there. ‘Very well, hold on tight, you might want to close your eyes.’
Dream materialized in London in the blink of an eye. Reggie squeaked in surprise, for in front of her was the famous Tower. ‘Wow! That was really cool sir!’
A lot of tourists were roaming around the place and there was a huge line to enter the Tower. Dream walked on and Reggie saw to her surprise, that no one seem to notice him. ‘Can they not see us, sir?’
‘They can if I allow them to,’ came the reply from a smiling Dream. He was happy she was asking questions. She seemed more at ease. He walked over to the middle of the Tower, to some benches. On one of the benches sat a huge raven. It was a beautiful bird, with intelligent eyes. The minute he saw Dream, he gave a thrill and hopped up and down.
‘You have returned, King of the Dreams! It has been too long.’ ‘Hello Loki, have you been well my friend?’ Dream sat down on the bench. ‘Very well indeed my Lord. Let me call my brethren.’ The raven produced a series of sounds, and within minutes, the other 6 ravens had gathered around Dream and Reggie. They were a chattering bunch, and they were more than interested in Reggie, who got a lot of attention. She loved every minute of it. Loki and the other ravens, Skull, Igor, Isis, Cassiopeia and Fall asked her a lot of questions. They also chatted with Dream about his kingdom and Lucienne.
After a good two hours, Dream realized Reggie was tired. He said his goodbyes to the birds, and suddenly the birds were visibly again. Dream had created a bubble, so no one would be able to see the birds. It would have been a strange site, to see the ravens all together on one bench, squeaking away into the air. The guards of the Tower, who were in a bit of a panic when they could no longer see the birds, let alone find them, thanked God when they saw them again. Reggie saw this with astonishment.
‘Why were the guards so stressed sir?’ Dream chuckled. ‘There is a legend, that if the ravens leave the Tower, England will fall.’
‘That’s weird, isn’t it sir?’ Dream gave her a wink. ‘Maybe, little raven, maybe.’
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
On the same day that Dream and Reggie bonded, Death had her own little mission. Now normally, Death would collect souls and after she was done, whatever happened to the souls, not her department. But now, she needed to talk to Lily and James Potter. About their child, about Dumbledore, and if her plan to involve Severus might work.
She used her powers and called Lily and James to her. Two people materialized in the ritual chamber she used. A woman in her early twenties, with striking red hair and vibrant green eyes, and a man about the same age, with glasses and messy black hair. Death smiled.
‘Lily. James. My name is Death. When you died, I collected your souls so you could move on. Is it possible you remember this?’
Lily and James nodded. ‘Good. I have brought you forward because of your daughter, Regina.’
James and Lily looked at each other, clearly worried. Death inhaled deeply and explained everything. When she was done, both parents were crying. ‘That bitch!’ Lily roared. I wish I could haunt her!’
‘My brother, Dream of the Endless, has made sure justice is served. And from what I gather, both Vernon and Petunia will go to Azkaban. If it is any consolation, they will suffer.’
Death could not keep Lily and James much longer. ‘I need your help. I want to make sure she gets a magical education. My brother can teach her elemental magic, but your magic is different, so she will need a witch or wizard. I want to use Severus Snape. Would this be wise?’
Lily smiled when she heard Severus’ name, but James looked a bit constipated. ‘You have doubts?’ Death asked. ‘I have treated him horribly during our schooldays, I was so mean, cruel even. I don’t even know why, but what you said about Dumbledore…maybe it was not of my own volition.’
‘Severus will help her,’ Lily was convinced. ‘Is there…is there any chance I could speak to him, to plead your case?’ Death smiled. ‘When the time is right, you will get a chance.’
‘And Sirius, maybe he can help too?’ James asked, Sirius was his best friend after all. ‘He is not with us here, so I assume he is still alive.’ ‘Sirius is in Azkaban.’ Death informed them. ‘But why? He didn’t do anything wrong? Peter was the Secret Keeper and he betrayed us.’
‘Once again, Dumbledore had something to do with this. He is, after all, the one who placed Regina with Petunia. I will look into this, I promise. I am sorry, but it is time for you to go.’
Lily and James both disappeared and Death looked pensive when she was alone again. Sirius was innocent, but at the moment in Azkaban. So how to help him? It was not time for him to die, so she could not reap him and save him that way. No, she needed the help of her brother.
She left the chamber and went off to her brother’s kingdom, where Lucienne greeted her. ‘He is not here, he went with Reggie to the Waking World.’
‘I see, they are bonding.’ Lucienne smiled. ‘Reggie is still a bit apprehensive…not used to being liked, of that people are nice to her.’ Both women smiled…poor child. ‘It will be good for them both. Dream is…well, a loner, so this, this is good. Can I wait here?’ Lucienne poured some tea and they gossiped until Dream made an entrance.
‘So this is what happens when I leave the kingdom?’ Lucienne stood, smiled at Death and left with a quiet ‘My Lord.’
‘Brother, long time no see. Where is the little cutie?’
‘Telling Matthew about the Tower Ravens.’
‘I see, good for her. We need to talk about one Sirius Black.’