Seventh Floor: Owlery

[Wilber Winterbottom]

At the very top of the West Tower is where all owls, whether belonging to you individually or the school, reside. As you ascend the tower and its many stairs, constant hooting can be heard and you can feel the temperature gradually dropping. Once you open the door, you can feel a draft blowing straight at you because there is no glass where the windows would be. A few owls flutter in and out of the windows as the door closes.

Stepping deeper into the owlery, hundreds of owls lining the walls in their little nooks turn their head at you. Some even swoop down from their perches to say hello in the hopes that you'll give them a few owl treats that are in a closed bag inside a drawer of an old wooden desk that was placed in the centre of the room. If you investigate the desk further, you will find spare ink, quills, and parchment should you need to write a letter on the spot if you aren't here to just check up on the owls. Pellets, old animal skeletons, belladonna berries, and owl droppings cover the floor, so watch your step.

[Charely Potter]

After sometime in the castle, Diego was beginning to feel comfortable enough walking around on his own. Thanks to his best friend, Vi, who did all but leave his side within his first few days in the school. It was nice. And he was able to chat with Zen and sort of converse with his other friend, Maddox. They weren't usually the chatty type. Anyways, Diego walked up to the Owlery to send another letter to his parents. He missed them, but he found comfort in visiting the Owls. It was like being back home, where he got to interact with all the owls at his Papa's work.

Once he was up in the Owlery, Diego took a look out to see the skies with many owls already flying to send their letters, go on adventure, or whatever. He spotted his own, Oatie, taking a nice nap. He walked up to quietly stroke it with his knuckle, prompting it to open one eye before hooting contently, "Hey bud.. sorry to wake you. Can you send this letter, please?" Oatie responded with a short hoot, shaking its feathers before lifting its leg for him to attach it. "Thanks, I'll give you extra treats when you come back." And with that, he was off. Diego walked over to the railing to watch them fly out of his view.

[NiallNIP]

Maddox had also done his fair share of familiarizing himself with the castle. Lots to look around at and explore in here—nooks and crannies to get into. He'd already found a couple places he could squeeze into to be alone and make sure no one else would intrude on him. It was nice to be alone in a place with so many people around.

But he had also had classes to get to and assignments to do and meals to attend, so he couldn't be alone all the time. And he'd also promised Jane he would write at least semi-frequently, so he had to come out to the olwery at some point. Today was that day. He'd already written the contents of his letter:

Jane,

School is going fine. I'm in Slytherin, like you thought. Classes are alright. There are some people I don't dislike. Still practising my Occlumency. Found some places to be alone. Hope you're well.

Best,
Maddox

He opened the door to the owlery and the autumn breeze instantly whipped around his face, causing him to squint. After stepping through the door Maddox noticed someone else there, a familiar face at that. "Diego," he said, more to announce his presence than anything. Didn't want to spook him and send him tumbling over the railing. He brought his letter over to one of the school owls, which took his letter and looked back at Maddox expectantly. It wanted a treat. Maddox just stared at it. He didn't know that, or where the treats were in here. It was his first time sending a letter after all. "What," he said, not a question.