The Raven's Omen Book I

Scribbling down onto the parchment that laid before him on his desk, Snape places his signature down at the bottom in the designated area where he was told to sign by a social worker. Drawing the last line of his signature he places his quill down and the parchment was rolled up and back into the hands of the social worker.

"Thank-you Mr. Snape, everything should be in order, the child is now under your care," he says with a warm smile, "We'll be checking in within the next month to see how everything is doing, I bid you good day sir," he tips his hat before turning on his heel and leaving as quickly as he had came.

Snape was far from having any peace for the rest of the day for the floo in his office flared to life and stepped through was Dumbledore, much to his dismay.

"I assume that all of the paper work has been finalized?" he asks with a warm smile on his elderly face, his blue eyes holding that twinkle like that always do.

With a roll of his eyes, Snape answered, "Yes Albus, the child is under my care now."

"I am happy to hear that you decided to take on the responsibility of being a parent for the child Severus, who knows, maybe this will add a bit more color into your life," Dumbledore teases which only caused the Potions Master to glare up at him from his seat.

"In regards to the child, I have yet to know of her name," Snape drones out dryly.

"Oh yes," Dumbledore chimed oddly enthusiastically and held out a few pieces of parchment stacked together. "I knew you were going to be in need of this so I was happy enough to claim these for you," Snape takes the parchment and on the first page was a photo of the child and her biological information on it.

"Keep these papers in a safe place Severus, in case anything is to happen to her," Dumbledore cautions him.

With a small nod, the headmaster leaves and left Snape to look over the child's profile.

Name: Ulva Victoria Darklore-Snape

Snape noticed that this profile was up to date for the ink was fresh on the paper and the scent lightly stung his nostrils. So her name is Ulva, Snape raised a brow, he couldn't quite figure out what nationality her name was, but he had to take the educated guess that it was German for Damon was a German man and had a preference for German names. Snape shakes his head at the thought. Ridiculous.

Blood Status: Pureblood

Snape had to snort at that, Damon must have been proud to have a daughter to carry on the pureblood line of the Darklores', but he had to admit to himself, he was relieved. This most certainly would make her life a bit easier unlike the unfortunate ones like himself, and the other half-bloods and muggleborns. He continued reading the girl's profile until he finished the final page.

---

Little Ulva was awake when Snape came into the Hospital Wing after classes and very shyly played with her messy black hair once the man was at her bedside. Ulva didn't make any attempt to say a word to him as he took his place into a seat next to her bed and eyed her carefully. After a moment in silence between the two relatives, Snape thought best to actually begin to communicate with her.

"Hello, Ulva," he greeted her, his voice firm which caused the small girl to look over at him in surprise.

Her bangs were swayed in a fashion that made her right eye concealed by her black locks and just barely began covering her left one. From what he could see, Ulva had her mother's eyes, dark black ones.

Snape raises a brow at the girl, not really expecting her to be surprised but he passes it aside and continues one, "I am sure you are confused about the situation you are currently in," Ulva slowly nods to his words, absolutely intrigued by this man whom she had no idea was actually her uncle.

"All will be explained in due time I assure you Ulva," he coaxes her.

Again, she nods and chews on her bottom lip, very unsure what to say, but she kept full eye contact with him. Another thing he wasn't expecting, usually children around her age didn't know a thing about the politeness of eye contact. Opening her mouth to say something, it seems as though she had a hard time mustering up the words she wanted to say, until finally, in her little soft voice, she spoke,

"Wer sind Sie?"

Snape had to keep his facial expression unchanging but deep in his mind, he was thrown off guard.

Shit... he curses, she spoke a completely different language and probably just made a fool out of himself while speaking English to her and she never understood the words he uttered. He quickly collects his thoughts back together and presses his lips together in a thin line.

"Ulva," she perks up to the sound of her name, listening intently. "Do you not understand a word of English?" a stupid question if it turns out she cannot, but shockingly, she shakes her head in a 'no' fashion. An eyebrow arches up on his part.

"You can understand me," he states and receives a nod from Ulva. Now confusion struck him, since she knew English, why was she speaking German to him? Forcing back a groan of frustration he stands from his seat, he definitely was going to need help on this. "I will be right back," he tell her before turning around but before he could leave, he felt a tug on his robes and looked back to see the little girl looking up at him with a saddened expression. Sighing he places his hands over her's and gently pulls them off his robes.

"I will not be long, I shall only be a few minutes do not worry," he speaks to her in a gentle tone.

Biting her lip, she nods and he released his hold on her and quickly strides out of the Hospital Wing with is black robes billowing behind him.

It didn't take long for Snape to find the person that he was looking for, but by then he was regretting his decision to seek help, but he had to swallow his pride and approach the said person.

"Minerva, may I have a word with you?" he asks stiffly.

The Transfiguration professor looks over at the stiff man and quirks a brow. "Hopefully not to intimidate me with your Slytherin antics again," she spoke in sarcasm.

"No, I have a problem and I am in need of... assistance," Snape wretches out as if it were pulling teeth which caused the witch to become very amused. What could possibly have Snape up in a knot, usually he never asks for help... actually he never needed help in any situation he got himself into.

"And what is it that you need my assistance for Severus?" her voice laced with interest.

Keeping a hard expression, he gestures McGonagall to follow him back towards the Hospital Wing where Ulva anxiously awaited him.

---

Upon returning, Ulva's eyes seem to have lit up and an utmost ghost of a smile appeared on her thin lips once she spotted the man in black robes but it quickly dispersed when she saw McGonagall enter right after him and she seem to have shrunk where she sat.

McGonagall had to hold back a snicker once they came to a halt at Ulva's bedside. This was going to be interesting.

"Severus, is this something that Madame Pomfrey cannot possibly be able to do herself?"

"Yes, it is not a medical problem that she and I are having, it is the fact that she understands my every word, but however, decides to speak German," vexed by this Snape was, and by his explanation, McGonagall was the only person he could turn to.

McGonagall raises a brow, bemused by Snape's difficult situation.

"And she really understands you?"

Snape scowls, "Did you not hear me the first time Minerva?"

"Oh I did Severus, but it is... baffling that she decides to speak German other than English," McGonagall examines thoughtfully.

Ulva, in the midst of their conversation, adorned a deep frown and a glare up at her uncle. She felt degraded since they literally spoke as if she weren't here sitting in bed and in point blank range of their peripheral view. McGonagall faces the young child who kept her current look unwavered. She takes a seat that Snape had recently vacated and smiles warmly at Ulva.

"Guten Tag Ulva," she greets warmly and caused the girl's eyes to widen in shock. "Mein Name ist Minerva McGonagall, ich bin ein Professor hier."

Snape had to feel some relief, thank Merlin that McGonagall knew German fluently, maybe this could help Snape understand this girl's odd reasoning for speaking German.

Ulva bites her lip again, A nasty habit, Snape thought to himself and knew he would have to try and break that as soon as they arrive in Spinner's End.

"H-Hallo," Ulva greets back, her soft voice held a very heavy accent in spite of her light voice.

McGonagall, sitting up straight in the chair, she laces her fingers together in her lap, keeping a small smile on her old features.

"Warum wollen Sie nicht Englisch sprechen?"

Snape saw a flicker of something in Ulva's eyes as she nervously began picking at the fabric of the blankets around her and lowered her gaze. McGonagall continued to talk to Ulva for the next fifteen minutes until finally she stood from her seat with a smile still creased upon her lips and looks over at Snape who never moved from his spot.

"I think you don't have anything to worry about Severus, she merely has a small insecurity and doesn't wish to speak English at the moment, I do however suggest that you might want to partake in learning German to help her persuade into speaking English."

"I do not have to the time Minerva."

"Then allow me to teach you, the end of the term is almost near and I assume you will have an open schedule during the summer holidays?"

Snape, being stubborn as usual reluctantly complied to McGonagall's offer. It was better than needing to travel to a muggle class to learn a second language when he would have numbers upon numbers of potions to brew for the next term and for his monthly customers in need of specific potions that he would not have the time of day to do them during school hours.

McGonagall quickly left as Snape looked down at his niece; moments before McGonagall had left, he asked her for a translation of something that Ulva had said earlier to him.

"She asked who you were, I do think introductions are in order," her voice echoed in his mind as he took a seat on the bed side.

"I suppose you are still wanting an answer to your question; my name is Severus Snape, Ulva, I do not know if your mother has told you anything about me, but I am your uncle," Ulva's eyes widened and he quickly caught a look of recognition sprawl on her features and smiled.

"Sev," Ulva spoke out with little enthusiasm.

Snape froze in place. No one has ever addressed him by that name in such a long time, no one else for that matter.

"Onkel Sev," Ulva's voice had Snape return back from his thoughts. She held a small yet shy smile as Snape had to make another educated guess that she had called him, 'Uncle Sev.' So Elizabeth had told her about him.

Sigh, at least now he didn't feel like a complete stranger to this mysterious girl, but now learning German was something he would make a first priorty once summer began. Something to let him get to know about his niece more and more, and probably find answers about the fate of his beloved sister, and his in-laws.