"The way they look at you when they see you, you can tell you 're animal loves and cares about you. It can also be seen in how eager they are to come up to you and just spend time with you. My owl Mia's eyes bulge open every time I come to visit her. She always comes right to my arm and nuzzles her head in my shoulder. It always makes me feel special to know she loves me as much as she shows she does.", Oichi responded with a smile.

Heh. Good point. People do usually buy their pet until they're ready to start Hogwarts. But some do have theirs before that time...so Adi wasn't totally wrong. Yay!

He raised his hand again, ready to make a totally wild guess. "Erm, they keep relatively close to their owners? Meaning they spend more time in their owners' company?'' If he was correct, did that make Gus a familiar?

Some people shared secrets with their pets? Yeah, him included. He did hope that Chip didn't mind; Alec did have quite a few things to share sometimes. It did make the boy wonder what would happen if pets were able to share your secrets because of all that magic. Would this only work on owls, cats and toads? And would it depend on how close you and the animal are? Surely, a loyal pet... wouldn't...

... Yeah, he was thinking too much about this.

Shaking his head, the Head Boy tuned back into the seminar and what the man was saying. He still didn't know his name, by the way but... he wasn't thinking about that. No. Instead, his mind was focused on the part where the man had said something about... ... bonds? Was that it? Could the man speak up a little? Please? Just a bit? And what was that? A relationship that didn't stay as just owner and pet. Alec furrowed his eyebrows. What...? This happened? Rare, sure, but... this was a real thing?

Question. Right. One he... had no clue as to what the answer could be. Time to guess. "Sir?" he started, slowly raising his hand in the air, "What if... what if they end up picking up some of your habits? Nothing complicated, maybe... I mean... I have a habit of ruffling my hair and what if my owl ruffles his feathers a lot more if we became true familiars? Maybe... when he knows I'm nervous? Maybe true familiars would be more in touch with your feelings, in that way." It was worth a shot, right?

Awesome, she had given a good answer. Raising her hand, she tried to guess a reply to the next question. "Maybe they never leave their owner and are seen as really protective of them?" She had no idea, she just knew that there were some pets that wandered off at times, coming and going as pleased.

Hand up again.

"They know when you are in great danger? Or just when you needed them most. They have...somewhat anchored themselves to the owner, thus making them feel what their owners feel...I think?" Yeah, he wasn't entirely sure about that one but having a strong bond with your familiar is what makes them true familiars, yeah?

Hmm. Wild guess? Alice could do a wild guess.

"I bet they don't attack you." Pause. "And they're probably more lovey dovey than natural around you, too. Like how Leo was all wound around your legs like you had food hidden in your pants, sir."

Her ocelot never did that. Sat on her head sometimes, though. Did that count?

Maybe she could train it to be more affectionate, but it probably took after Alice in that sense.

The professor found himself on the edge of his seat as he listened. Not just because he was practically salivating over all this information, but also because he could hardly hear the man at all. Craning his neck a bit to turn his good ear towards the guest speaker. Oh, he might actually want to say something on this question. His years of experience with Pebbles had taught him a thing or two about the familiar concept - because she was a true familiar. At least he had something to compare Hershel to, yeah?

Feeling like he was back in his first year days, he slowly raised his arm while the other rested on his shoulder to help keep the aches at bay. "In my experience, I've found that when you have yourself a true familiar it is like the two of you have your own language. You and your familiar can even understand what the other is feeling without any words or sounds, just looks."

Because Pebbles had never been much of a talker, but he always knew what she was thinking and saying regardless. Just like he knew that she understood him.

"Similar to the social interactions and unique and mysterious bond said to exist between human twins' mental pathways."

"You're bonded, like you say. Like your familiar knows how you're feeling and can react to it, and you know that even if they look good wearing a cape, your familiar hates it and so you stop making him wear one all the time," Mo offered. Helpfully, too. Titus wasn't a cat, but he was smart and that probably made him Mo's familiar.

"Familiars are more companions than pets. They serve as an emotional conduit." Or something.

Couldn't Nigel just say 'What They Said' It would be the right answer and he would not have to think of something. It was a win win......Yeah, He knew he couldn't do that being a Prefect in all. Though having a familiar seemed also. Just not a Toad because those things are gross and have no real purpose.

"They don't steal your food"

Wild guess. But would a bonded familiar steal food from you. Nigel guessed not.

Ooooh. The familiars.. yes. Delilah had read a little about them.. quite interesting, really. She quickly noted down what the professor had said before she set her quill down on the table. She chewed on her lip for a moment as she gave Jeremiah's question a thought.

"Uh.. professor, aren't they more loyal as compared to regular pets?" Delilah said, raising her hand. "And... uh.. they can communicate with the owner even when they are far apart?" Or something like that. That's all she remembered anyway.

Woookay. More talking.

"The various signs that an animal may be a true familiar rather than a very affectionate or obedient pet lead the animal to possibly behave quite out of character compared to how their species or breed usually act. As some of you mentioned, they appear to communicate telepathically, without looks, words or gestures, and have a psychic connection." A lot of people didn't believe in psychic connections, but if you had witnessed a true familiar and its witch or wizard, it was hard to deny it.

"Often, a person and their familiar can communicate telepathically even when they are a great distance from each other; for example, the animal appears on its own and the witch or wizard shows up soon after, as though 'called' by the creature. You may feel that by being in the presence of the familiar you are also in the presence of the owner." That last one was a particularly eerie characteristic, but one of the most striking ones. "The familiar is remarkably obedient and responsive."

His steady strolling in front of the students had resumed again. "Many people believe that you can tell a true familiar because the animal is often found with the human; in fact, some of you raised that point. However, if anything, many familiars spend a lot of time off on their own, because this 'psychic link' gives the two a feeling of being in each others presence whenever, you see? Though that’s not to say they are never seen together. The familiar will often return to the human periodically for any length of time. Some familiars spend more time with their owners than others. It is true that some indeed never leave their owner's side. It depends entirely on a case by case basis."

And then he should also mention the less than cheerful part. "If something were to happen to either human or familiar, particularly death, the other would become extremely upset, angry, or both, and think of nothing but their respective familiar/human. They would dwell on this for any length of time; often longer than what is considered a 'natural' mourning period."

Jeremiah walked back to the centre and glanced at the faces before him, hoping that nobody was upset by that last part. Often, this always brought back memories of pets past, so he quickly moved on to the next question. "Based on what I have told you and what you already know or suspect, can anyone suggest a possible instance throughout history or present day of a 'true' familiar? One suggestion each."

True familiars.

Ella was sure there were many examples although nothing immediately came to mind. What had Mr. ... ... Mr. Instructor dude said again? True familiars are obedient, can communicate with, and have a really strong bond with their owners? Hm.

Oh!

That dude. Great wizard dude. White beard.... ... ... Dumbledore! He had a familiar, didn't he? It was some kind of ... ... ...pet. What was it? It was something that...could fly? Hm.

...
....

OH!

"Dumbledore, he had a familiar. It was a um...a phoenix, I believe."

Hmm. Were they allowed to name the bad ones as well?

"Lord Voldemort had a familiar. It was a basilisk, I believe, called Nagini. You could tell their relationship was strong because he knowingly placed a piece of his soul in her. All of his other placeholders were objects. And he could possess her, too."

That was one legit feat right there. Taming a basilisk. Merlin.

Well that was confusing. They wandered further from their owners? But then familiars do stay close to their owners at first? This was fascinating as well though. His thoughts wandered to Gus... Gus certainly did stick around a lot with him. Heh. He loved his toady.

Adi raised his hand after listening to the man speak. "Erm Rubeus Hagrid had a boarhound named Fang.'' He wasn't sure though, if Fang was a true familiar.

True familiars? I thought I heard truly familiar. There obviioussly seems to be a difference so I'll make note of that. As for a true famliar , hmm. I remember reading about a very smar witch who was best in her class all her years at Hogwarts who hada pet cat who no one wanted whm she later found out was a kneazle, some say the cat chose her bacause of how smart she wass. Does that makeCrookshanks a familiar?Oichi raised her hand and responded,""I believe Crookshanks and Hermione are true familiars because many witches and wizards did not choose Crookshanks before Hermione came and adopted him. It is believed Crookshanks chose her for her intelligence. Crookshanks also knew Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew and she could sense he was bad and was probaly aggressive towards him in attempt to help protect Hermione from him. Crookshanks was also at first only friendly with Hermione and only later started to open up to her freinds which furthers the idea Crookshanks chose Hermione".

Sander thought of the possible animal familiars mentioned in history. He listened as others shared their examples. He frowned as he tried to think of another example. Then he raised his hand, "Uh...Harry Potter's owl, Hedwig. I think that Hedwig was Harry's familiar. She was so loyal to Harry that she sacrificed herself to save Harry from a DeathEater's curse."

Yes that was a sad day indeed. The day Hedwig died.

Bay raised his hand "err Sir.. what about Hagrid and his dog Fang?? that dog went everywhere with him.. even in the forbidden forrest?" he asked, he's heard so many stories about him and Fang seemed like a really cool dog.

If Nigel ever had a familiar it most certainly never steal his food or hair products. Hmm..Hair products first. Those are just too important. Just look at this hair. This guy could really talk. Like even more than Flamsteed. Which is sort of a accomplishment in itself.

Nigel sort of tuned it all out until he got to the question at the end. Oh True Familiars. Everyone else's answers sounded about right.

"So like that cat Mrs. Norris from that old caretaker"

Funny how Nigel can remember a cat's name and not it's owner.

Ben had been paying attention to all that was being discussed around him, choosing to stay quiet for the most part and not answering questions. Most of what was being said by the seminar instructor and the other students, even Adi was pretty much what he could possibly think of anyway. Yet when the latest question had been posed, concerning true familiars throughout history, the second year tried to dig into his memory and anything else he could dwell within for something to give. Finally raising his hand to answer.

"Didn't the wizard Merlin have a familiar?" he questioned, thinking back to history and myth lessons. "An owl I think." Much like a lot of witches and wizards did nowadays as well. He couldn't think of a name though.

Lux nodded as she listened to everything she was being told. It made sense to her, and she was glad that she had gotten the last part of her answer correct. Raising her hand, she ventured a guess to answer the next question. "Well, Dumbledore had a pet phoenix that was loyal to him... so I think he was his familiar? Because I know that Phoenixes are not easy to train, and his was." So maybe that made it his familiar?

PETS. Well not exactly pets per say, more... familiars. Yeah. That was the word. Marigold was pretty much grinning non stop in this seminar because HELLO ANIMALS. But now was just asking and answering questions, so she went back to paying attention and taking notes.

Umm... that old teacher... McGonacal or something like that? Didn't she have a cat? No... maybe she WAS the cat? Marigold scrunched up her nose in frustration. Surely she would know soommmmmeeeoneeee with a familiar.

And then she remembered and the answer was so obvious she hit her forehead.

"Our lovely Professor Flamsteed and his pet rock Pebbles, sir."

This seminar was giving her ideas. She wanted a familiar now. They sounded like an important part of life, and if they were, then she wanted one. Seriously, how could her dad not even THINK about it? She was going to have a word with his mother. Hmph.

Beverly decided to ignore the bit where Jeremiah Bode explained the passing of either human or familiar. She was still sensitive to those things. Poker-face.

For the question, though, she raised her hand. "Morgana Jones," she said, "my grandmother, her familiar is a kneazle." Beverly was pretty sure that thing was older than she was. It had that...wise...look in its golden feline eyes.

The idea of people acting like their animals was both amusing and... scary. Scary if they suddenly started attacking you in the same way a pet would. And scary if he started acting like his pet; grey hairs were enough, thanks. He would end up feeling sorry for them if things got worse but... amusing. Yeah, the idea was amusing.

And... this talk about the characteristics was... interesting. Maybe it was something to look out for, too. Although, he doubted that he would form any sort of bond with his owl; the creature only seemed to like him for the food he provided. Alec was sure of this. And he wasn't a cat person but... some other people had some. Maybe he could look out for this in them.

... In a non-creepy way. Of course.

... An example? The Head Boy reached up a hand and ruffled his hair. This was hard. And his mind kept on casting back to the first thing it usually linked with creatures: that book he had on magical creatures. What wa the name of the author again? ... Exam... NEWTs... Newt! His hand went up in the air. "What about Newt..." Last name. Uh oh. What was it? S... Sc... Sc... "Scamander! Newt Scamander! I mean... he knew a lot about animals and probably really really loved them. So... any pets he had must have been ones he was really close to, right? Maybe one of them became a true familiar." Shrug.

Kace was liking this seminar. It was teaching him a lot about animals and their familiars. Once they got through the questions, he realized the professor asked another one. Kace had to think about this one and then had an idea.

"Um i think Hermione Granger had a pet....she had a cat named Crooshanks. I am not positive if it was her familiar but it was pet she was close to." Kace said offering an idea he had.

Okay, so Caelen had no idea what to actually answer. This was harder than she thought it would be. Which was good. Because hard classes or seminars meant that she could learn a lot. Which was always good. She WAS a Ravenclaw after all, and they were all about the pursuit of knowledge. And besides that, she wanted to learn about what a "familiar" was.

It seemed to be more than a pet and she read about them before and knew that humans had sepcial bonds with familiars -or was it JUST wizards- but didn't know much else. Like who had familiars.

Apparently a lot of ancient people had familiars, like Lord Voldemort -she shivered just thinking about this- and Dumbledore. But who else had a familar? Ummmm, she had absolutely no clue as said before. So she just sat there. And that annoyed her. But it also meant that she had a lot to learn. As she said again. The little redhead felt like she was a broken record.

Scratching her nose and shifting around in her seat for a bit, the blue-eyed girl listened to what other people were saying. Because that's what you always did when things happened and you actually didn't understand what was going on. Well, she understood SOME stuff, but the short Ravenclaw was certaintly still a novice. A waaay novice.