....

Now there was a revelation if ever he'd heard one. This was her first time here? Really? They were third years! "That's um... impressive," or at least very surprising, which was impressive in itself. Did she have her own owl? Did it just meet with her in the castle? He liked when Icarus visited his dorm, but he was usually scarce during the day, hence the trip.

The talons digging in his shoulder tightened their hold as the black barn owl shifted its weight slightly.

As nice as it was when Maggie was being nice, he did like messing with her, so he couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease her. "Just don't stand still for too long, or you might end up a poo target." This was said to make her squirm, but it also served as a legit warning. Oh how kind and thoughtful he was.

And then there was that, she was being nice.

"It is, he is," Zeke confirmed.

Impressive???

Maggie narrowed her eyes slightly, not sure if he was making fun of her or not. "So far I just didn't HAVE to come up here." Yeah that. Actually maybe she could get a house elf to post her letters for her from now on. Why hadn't she thought of that BEFORE coming up here??? Stupid, Maggie.

...........what???

Instead of moving she looked up, almost expecting an owl to poo on her face right then and there. "EW!" She shuddered and quickly moved to the wall Zeke had previously been leaning against, and pressed her back against it. Ew. "That's why I've never been up here." Until now that is.

So it WAS his owl. Good to know. Twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger she smiled again. "Would you let me borrow it maybe?" Maggie was asking nicely and all.

What was that look for? He was being perfectly serious... honest... WHAT?

Her response seemed a touch defensive if nothing else, the look she'd given him was to forgotten. Zeke shrugged in response. What else was he supposed to say? Congratulations? Really all that he'd learnt from this encounter so far, was that she was princess enough to avoid the owlery. Not having to come up, because she had other means? Lazy. That was lazy. "Suit yourself," he decided. It was no skin off his nose.

The response he got from the POO comment though, now THAT was exactly what he had been hoping for. Naturally, he couldn't help but crack a grin as she looked up before darting to the side against the wall. Ew. Yeah, it could be ew. "It's not that bad, I mean, it's not going to cause you harm or anything." Really, poo was a thing that happened in here, you weren't going to get out unscathed. It was all over the floor for starters, he was sure the bottom of his shoes were thick with poo spots.

Nevertheless, her asking to borrow Icarus received raised eyebrows on his part. "You want to borrow Icarus?" he asked, giving the owl a gentle stroke on its wing. "What do I get out of it?" Because if he was going to forfeit his bird, he wanted something in exchange, especially considering it would be a huge favour what with the school owls being available and present.

Apparently the owls really WERE his friends (weirdo) so Maggie was glad he dropped it.

There was definitely a glare coming Zeke's way and she was too slow to stop it. That grin. She'd SEEN it. He was enjoying this way too much. It wasn't funny. This was a serious issue. "It's GROSS!" How on Earth could he argue with that????? Next time she was going to bring an umbrella.

Wait....no, there wasn't going to BE a next time so nevermind.

Really? REALLY? Maggie's smile remained but inside she was glaring. He wanted something in return??? Maybe she should go back to asking Hufflepuffs for favors. Ugh. "What do you waaaant?" Still smiling. Still twirling her hair. Even though this was a potentially dangerous question.

Sophia didn't like talking about Seth even if she ran into him at the lake, she really didn't want to talk to him, but she's to nice. "He'll have to prove that he's trustworthy to get my trust again, I'm not sure if I can ever forgive him, and I forgive quite easily! "said Sophia. "Is it bad that I like him some? I mean I know that he hurt me, but he's cute! "said Sophia honestly. "Anyways, let's not talk about him ok? We're here to see each other, not to talk about him! "said Sophia softly but honestly. Sophia might like him some, but he was going to have to prove that he's trustworthy and beg her to take him back.


"I heard about you two doing some graffiti tonight, I'm in! "said Sophia smirking at them. "Plus Mumbles here told me that he'll show me how to do it seeing how I seen some of his drawings of it!"said Sophia. "Yay for causing trouble! "said Sophia clapping happily. "Where are we going to do this at?"Sophia asked them tilting her head curiously. She been waiting for of them to cause trouble, who knows, maybe they'll get detention for it and it'll be her first detention.

Kace stared at Savannah like she had two heads. Did she say that homework can be fun? Kace shook his head and chuckled. "Well I mean not all homework is fun. I mean I struggle with Ancient Runes and Arithmancy I can't do for the life of me." he admitted. "But I had fun with Divination. I love Professor Cassie though. She is the best." he nodded. He wondered if Savannah felt the same. "Well I wouldn't want you to go mad. I mean then I would have to join you and we might go to the loony bin." he joked and laughed a little bit. Just a little harmless humor never hurt.

Now onto Sophia talking about Seth, he needed some intel on this guy. Thankfully Savannah told him or he would be in the dark. He frowned when he heard Seth only used her to get information about her father. That wasn't right. He wanted to kick this kid. "Well that is just plain rude if you ask me. If I was you Sophia I would have kicked him where the sun doesn't shine." he winked. He nodded and smiled brightly when Savannah agreed with him. Now he had someone on his side. Now to hear what Sophia had to say. Kace saw a flaw when Sophia mentioned she forgave easily. "Well you need to make him work for it. You need to be strong if you don't want your heart broken.." he told Sophia truthfully. Wait she still liked him? He rolled his eyes and shrugged. He guessed that was normal. He never understood how the girls minds worked.

Well he was here for her that was the main thing. He chuckled when Sophia changed the subject. He would come back to it eventually. She really wanted to do this graffiti thing. Well he knew one place that was perfect. "Well we can do the courtyard and there is a corner I reserved for myself. We can go for there if you girls want to meet me after dinner?" he asked. He wondered if they were ready.

She had one of those looks... the ones that could kill, or at least make you poop your pants. He might've too, if she wasn't so little and girly. HA. On a serious note though, the girls was hot and cold, HOT AND COLD!

"It is," he confirmed, but again, not the end of the world. "I'm great with charms, I could scourgify you after we're done if you like." Because he was ever the gentleman... when he wanted to be.

Negotiations though, was exactly where his head was at, and Maggie was willing to negotiate. But what did he want? That was a good question. "Uhhh..." well, um...

This was harder than he thought. He didn't NEED anything, and as far as he knew there was nothing that he wanted that she could give him. Not to say she couldn't prove to be useful at a later date. "How about an IOU? You can pay me back a favour of my choosing at a later date?" Deal?

HE was great with charms? "I'm great with charms!" If it had been any other boy than Zeke (and maybe a handful of others), she would not have said that. Getting people to do things for her because she wasn't able to do them was usually a lot easier. Now she somehow felt the need to prove herself, though.

Anywaaaay, that didn't mean she was keen on being pooped on by an owl.

Okay. She was done playing nice. "No." An IOU? Was he crazy? That could be ANYTHING. "What if you come up with something......gross for me to do? No. I need to be able to see if your favor has the same...value as mine." There WERE other owls here, did he know? They were in an OWLERY after all.

Whao... she was on the defensive. The offensive defensive at that. "Okay... but if there are spots you miss, I can... you know what.... never mind." Forget it, she could totally forget it. It seemed he just couldn't do ANYTHING right with her. He had TRIED to be helpful with giving her water, TRIED to be helpful with encouraging her with her spell work in the jungle, TRIED to jump to her rescue like the servant boy he was sure she thought he was, and TRIED to be nice and keep her clean. Maybe he'd just stop trying?

And on top of that, a no? A NO? .... Circe this girl was a nutcase.

"Why would I make you do something gross? I don't hate you, when did I ever try to... be nasty to you? I was more thinking like.. I dunno... picking up notes for a class I might miss, or like... return a book to the library if you're heading that way kinda thing, I'm not as stupid as you think I am you know?"

Yeah. YEAH!

Yes. Never mind. Maggie could keep herself clean, thank you very much.

Why would he make her do something gross? That was a good question and Maggie didn't quite have an answer. "Why not?" HA! Take that! That was the best comeback ever yes. Not really. Then he continued talking though and she listened and tried to pay attention. A lot of words were being said though.

"Why didn't you just say that then?" HMM??? Make that the favor.

What was with this girl? Legit, WHAT was with her?

...

He wasn't the confrontational type, but for some reason Maggie seemed to be the opposite. Did she have to argue every point? Did she really? Zeke didn't let his frustration with the Slytherin show, so he remained standing, his stance casual with one hand in his pocket.

Why not? Was that the best she had? He'd given up on that as a come back in first first year here... it just didn't get him anywhere. "Why not?" he repeated, "Because I asked you what I'd get out of it, and by making you do something gross I hardly benefit." Duuuuhhhh. It had to be worth his while in one way or another.

But anyway, he wasn't sure if this was all worth it anymore. Icarus didn't seem mind to mind he banter, but he was rather clueless the majority of the time anyway, so he was hardly surprised by the birds flagrant disregard for their exchange.

"Because I don't know yet what I'll need... but you know what? You can borrow him, don't worry about returning any favours, he'll enjoy the flight anyway." Encouraging the black barn owl onto his forearm, Zeke held him out for Maggie to do with whatever she pleased. He wanted out of here, he wanted cake.

This interaction was.....confusing to say the least.

He hardly benefitted from her doing something gross? Where was the logic behind that statement?? "Of COURSE you benefit from there. You would get to watch me do something gross." Not that she had an example but surely he could come up with one. Or apparently not. Considering how appalled he was by her suggestion.

Wait....no.....what?? That wasn't fair. Or something.

Eh. Did he think she was going to TAKE the owl? She certainly hoped not. Because he'd be waiting forever. Instead Maggie stepped forward and moved close enough for her to tie her letter to the owl's leg. Right. That. Was she supposed to tell the owl it was okay for it to fly off now?

Questioningly she looked up at Zeke again.

Never ending, this was never ending. Zeke shook his head lightly.

"Nope, the only thing I'd get out of it is a laugh... at best, but if I'm going to trade I want something useful, watching you do gross stuff is not useful... besides I see you squirm plenty in class." Granted he'd only JUST started noticing her in class in recent times, before this year she was, well, part of the background. "You're a bit of a princess you know?" Would she be offended and kick him again? Or would she plaster on one of her smiles and twirl her hair around her finger? It was hard to get a read on this one. Hot and cold, that much was very obvious.

Another thing that was obvious was that Maggie also didn't have much experience with owls. "Wow, you've really never done this before, have you?" he asked, hazel eyes on her as she fixed the letter to its leg and waited.

"Of you go, boy, safe flight," he said indicating it could leave. Owls were dead useful, they always found their way. Icarus braced himself against Zeke's arm and kicked off, emitting a low screech as it flew out and away into the distance.

'the only thing I'd get out of it is a laugh'

Yes. That would be the worst thing ever. Didn't he see that?

Apparently not.

So she just stared at him for a moment, even ignoring his comment about her squirming in class. That wasn't the same thing really. So she wasn't bothered by it. And she ESPECIALLY was not bothered by his next comment. "Yes." Maggie smirked at him slightly. "It comes with a lot of perks." Heh.

Also if the next thing Zeke said was supposed to be an insult, Maggie didn't take it as such. "No!" Her voice clearly suggested that the mere idea of her being around owls a lot was atrocious. Ew. But at least he had got the hint and had now sent his owl off. Good. At least her letter was sent.

Which meant she could leave. Only she didn't. Not yet anyway.

"Thank you."

Awkard. This was getting awkward. Zeke rubbed at the nape of his neck as if he was loosening a tight muscle, if only to fill the void the conversation (or lack thereof) had taken.

But thankfully at least, he wasn't on the receiving end of another kick - as amusing as that would be, he wasn't the type to kick a girl back. "Yeah, I'm kind of beginning to see that..." perks, she said. PERKS. More like, slaves. She had slaves. Which also explained how she really had never been around owls. Weird. It was actually kinda sad, and a shame, cause those were life experiences she didn't have. Or something. Either way, he knew in his mind that it was ridiculous. He didn't say anything though, because chances were the next words he spoke WOULD receive result in a kicking.

Dropping his arm to his side, Zeke waited a moment. They were done here and there was NO reason to stay, and he still really wanted/NEEDED food. But then, Maggie didn't move either, and more to the point, she was thankful.

...

...

"You're welcome."

He paused a second longer, but then moved to exit the owlery, there was no point in hanging around any longer than he needed to. "I'll see you later," he farewelled, raising his palm to signify a wave. Though he was sure Maggie wasn't going to stick around, he wasn't interested in taking his time down the stairs at whatever pace she was going to go, and so he made his own way.

Amanda looked up at all the owls perched in the Owelry and tried to figure out which one would be least likely to freak her mom out when it flew into the kitchen. Some of them looked so mean, and her mom was still having a hard time adjusting to the whole witch thing. She looked at the little packages she was sending and giggled a bit at the thought of her mom opening the chocolate frog. Hehe. She got the attention of a relatively adorable barn owl and waved it over. "Hello there little friend."

She looked down and realized that she had no idea how to make sure the owl didn't drop her package or go to the wrong house. Hmm. She'd just have to figure it out by trial and error.