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.

[Charely Potter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Fly... fly away, Oatie, Diego thought as he watched them disappear into the sky. His parents usually wrote back promptly, but he was okay with waiting by now on their reply. It got easier overtime. His thoughts stopped at hearing his name.

Diego turned to see, "Hey Maddox," Smiling, he then walked over to him having what looked like a staring contest with another Owl. "Oh, you got a letter as well to send." He didn't have to share what kind of letter he was sending. Privacy and all. "I just sent one to my parents again." The more he stared though, the longer it became obvious that this wasn't his usual occurrence. "Oh, they want a treat it looks like." Diego looked around before he quickly slipped a treat within the owl's reach so they can enjoy it. "There, I think it'll take your letter now."

The other owls didn't seem to notice, which was good, Diego didn't have that much treats to share at the moment. "Is this your first time up here?" Diego asked, but he didn't expect an answer right away. From their time at St. Woboldo's together, Maddox wasn't as much of a talker as he was. So he had no problem filling the gap. "I come here every few days or so... it's kind of weird to be so far from home. So writing to my dads helps. My papa works at the Owl shop, so I'm used to seeing all these owls." He paused incase he was beginning to talk their ear off. It was an effort though, since they got sorted into different houses, Diego didn't get to see Maddox as often outside of lessons so he had a lot he wanted to say with his friend.

[NiallNIP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charely Potter

Fly... fly away, Oatie, Diego thought as he watched them disappear into the sky. His parents usually wrote back promptly, but he was okay with waiting by now on their reply. It got easier overtime. His thoughts stopped at hearing his name.

Diego turned to see, "Hey Maddox," Smiling, he then walked over to him having what looked like a staring contest with another Owl. "Oh, you got a letter as well to send." He didn't have to share what kind of letter he was sending. Privacy and all. "I just sent one to my parents again." The more he stared though, the longer it became obvious that this wasn't his usual occurrence. "Oh, they want a treat it looks like." Diego looked around before he quickly slipped a treat within the owl's reach so they can enjoy it. "There, I think it'll take your letter now."

The other owls didn't seem to notice, which was good, Diego didn't have that much treats to share at the moment. "Is this your first time up here?" Diego asked, but he didn't expect an answer right away. From their time at St. Woboldo's together, Maddox wasn't as much of a talker as he was. So he had no problem filling the gap. "I come here every few days or so... it's kind of weird to be so far from home. So writing to my dads helps. My papa works at the Owl shop, so I'm used to seeing all these owls." He paused incase he was beginning to talk their ear off. It was an effort though, since they got sorted into different houses, Diego didn't get to see Maddox as often outside of lessons so he had a lot he wanted to say with his friend.

Maddox looked away from the owl to Diego as he walked over. "Yes," he said about the letter, then looked back to the owl. He hoped Diego could help since he just sent out a letter. Had he just picked a particular owl or was there something else he was supposed to do? And then Diego was producing a treat for the owl, which it delightfully took before flying off into the sky. "Oh. Thanks."

He listened as Diego talked to him about the owls, about his parents. He normally didn't like very talkative people, but he didn't mind Diego so much. At least he respected Maddox's privacy, and didn't expect the same amount of chatter from him in return. Diego was one of the few people that Maddox would let chatter on like this and actually listen. Most of the time he simply tuned people out. He'd never express it to Diego, of course, but he was appreciative of him.

Maddox hadn't been feeling very upset or lonely, but he did think of his mother fairly often. He knew that he would see her again. Maddox never really had a problem with separation from anyone, really. He liked being alone. "Yes," it was his first time up here, and, "Mine was for Jane." Maddox didn't really like to refer to her as "mum" to anyone besides himself. And her, sometimes, when the feeling arose. It made him feel like people would think of him in a certain way. Not as who he believed himself to be, or wanted others to. It wasn't even a conscious effort, really, more of an instinct thing.

He understood what it was like to find somewhere in the castle you were comfortable, though. He had found a couple places he frequented himself, as well. "I like the boathouse." It was a nice, quiet, secluded place to go sit, anyway. And he had found the passageway to go between it and the lawn outside the castle already, which was nice to duck into when he wanted a moment alone. He was still trying to figure out how to get into the one behind Gregory the Smarmy. He would get it one day...