Sophie climbed to the top of the West Tower. Stepping inside the owlery, she was greeted by the soft cooing of many owls, as well as a very pungent odor. She wrinkled her nose with slight disgust as she picked her way carefully over the floor, which was littered with things best not thought about.

Persephone was roosting quite low down, and it was easy enough to reach her. "Hi girl," Sophie whispered, caressing the tawny owl's feathers. "Who's a good girl?" Persephone nibbled at her hand affectionately.

"I've got a letter for you," said Sophie. It was a letter for her parents. Her mother in particular was dying to know everything that had happened so far. How would her sweet Hufflepuff mother react to the news that her eldest child had been placed in Slytherin? That would be interesting indeed.

Sophie had just given Persephone the letter when she heard someone enter the Owlery behind her.