One of Mia's favorite things about this new job was that she got to spend most of her time outside, but one of her favorite reasons to actually go into the castle (other than for meetings and meals) was to visit, and of course check on, the owls. Pockets filled with some healthy treats for the owls, the care of magical creatures professor started at the perches by the door and began beckoning the owls to her arm.

Bribing the first owl with treats and murmuring softly to him as he perched on her arm, she stroked the wonderful winged animals, making sure their legs and eyes looked healthy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddles

One of Mia's favorite things about this new job was that she got to spend most of her time outside, but one of her favorite reasons to actually go into the castle (other than for meetings and meals) was to visit, and of course check on, the owls. Pockets filled with some healthy treats for the owls, the care of magical creatures professor started at the perches by the door and began beckoning the owls to her arm.

Bribing the first owl with treats and murmuring softly to him as he perched on her arm, she stroked the wonderful winged animals, making sure their legs and eyes looked healthy.

One of the good things about having an office on the sixth floor was its reasonably close proximity to the Ravenclaw common room and the owelry. After making a quick check of the former place, Norman made his way to the latter, a letter to his daughter tucked neatly in the pocket of his robes. If there was one thing he’d learned in his two terms teaching at Hogwarts, it was that anything could happen at any time. There was no telling if or when communication to the outside world might be cut off (again!), so he was going to seize every opportunity he had to write to Normandie.

His aquamarine eyes scanned the room in search of a certain perpetually grumpy-looking Northern white-faced owl as he stepped inside. He spotted Athena nestled on a perch at the far side of the room, and he noticed someone else too. “Oh, hello, Mia,” he greeted, keeping his voice down so as not to startle the owls. Was he interrupting something? He could come back later...

First owl exam complete (totally healthy!), Mia shooed the bird away gently and held out a treat for the next bird. She stroked its head gently, not looking up when she heard someone come in. At the sound of her name, though, she did look. "Oh, hi, Norman," she said with a quiet smile. "Don't mind me, I'm just checking up on the school owls. Making sure they're happy...and, you know, in good mail-delivery condition."

The sheer number of school (and student) owls up here meant she would be here for quite some time, too. She might run out of owl treats. "Are you mailing a letter? Or just visiting?" Not that it was any of her business, mind you, but it would be good to know if Norman was the kind of person who just visited the owlery for fun. Like she did, sometimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddles

First owl exam complete (totally healthy!), Mia shooed the bird away gently and held out a treat for the next bird. She stroked its head gently, not looking up when she heard someone come in. At the sound of her name, though, she did look. "Oh, hi, Norman," she said with a quiet smile. "Don't mind me, I'm just checking up on the school owls. Making sure they're happy...and, you know, in good mail-delivery condition."

The sheer number of school (and student) owls up here meant she would be here for quite some time, too. She might run out of owl treats. "Are you mailing a letter? Or just visiting?" Not that it was any of her business, mind you, but it would be good to know if Norman was the kind of person who just visited the owlery for fun. Like she did, sometimes.

Norman stood back, observing Mia’s interactions with the owls. If there was one thing he’d learned in life, it was that you could learn all you need to know about a person by observation. A slight smile formed on his lips as she spoke. “Kind of you to do so,” he replied. “No problems with the owls, I hope.” He glanced at the bird that Mia offered a treat. It didn’t look unhealthy from what he could see, but he wasn’t an expert in such matters.

He considered Mia’s question for a moment. “A little of both, actually,” he said. “I came to mail a letter to my daughter, but what’s the harm in visiting the owls while I’m here?” Aquamarine eyes flicked toward Athena on her perch, and as if on cue, the white-faced owl flew across the room to perch on his shoulder. “This is Athena,” he said, indicating the owl. To the owl, he whispered, “Say hi.”

But Athena had no interest in pleasantries. Instead she nipped at a lock of Norman’s hair as if to say, Treats! Now! Norman chuckled softly, reaching into his pocket for a handful of owl treats. “If you run out of treats for the owls, you’re welcome to use some of Athena’s,” he said. His eyes darted to the owl now greedily gobbling treats out of his hand, and he added, “if she doesn’t eat them all first!”

"Oh, no, no problems, just a routine check-in," she said quickly. Norman didn't seem the gossipy type, but it wouldn't do to have any sort of rumor that the owls were unwell. As her fellow professor's owl flew across the room, Mia's face lit up. "Oh, she's beautiful!" she exclaimed in a whisper.

Patting the owl nearest her to let it know it was done for the day, she pulled a treat from her own pocket and approached Norman and Athena. "May I?" she asked, in reference to the treat. She didn't want to assume anything about the bird and definitely didn't want to get nipped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waddles

"Oh, no, no problems, just a routine check-in," she said quickly. Norman didn't seem the gossipy type, but it wouldn't do to have any sort of rumor that the owls were unwell. As her fellow professor's owl flew across the room, Mia's face lit up. "Oh, she's beautiful!" she exclaimed in a whisper.

Patting the owl nearest her to let it know it was done for the day, she pulled a treat from her own pocket and approached Norman and Athena. "May I?" she asked, in reference to the treat. She didn't want to assume anything about the bird and definitely didn't want to get nipped.

Norman didn’t assume any problems when he’d asked about the owls; he was just trying to make conversation. And no, he was not the gossipy type, far from it. Even if he was, who would he tell? The only person he regularly talked to was his daughter, and he doubted Normandie would care about the owls at Hogwarts. “Good to know,” he replied with a slight nod.

So… Now what should he say? He really was not good with small talk! Luckily, Athena’s appearance rescued him. The bird fluffed up its feathers and drew itself up proudly at the compliment. Norman laughed softly. “She says thank you,” he said, and Athena gave a soft whoo in agreement. “Yes, I think she’d like that,” he said.

Norman doubted Athena would nip Mia. She only ever nipped him, and she only nipped at his hair and only when she wanted something. Just in case, he gave her a little pet on the head to keep her calm.

Occasionally, Claudine liked to write to Heath’s parents to let them know that she and he were doing well. Oh yes, she was certain Heath wrote too but she did her own writing for herself. It was the least the girl could do when those two had done so much for her. She would be out of their hair for a bit starting this summer but that only meant that Claudine would be in the hair of another Jones’ family member. The seventh year would like to think that they were all used to her by now.

As her feet took her higher and closer to the owls, she couldn’t help but shiver a bit. Though it was almost March, Claudine knew there were constant drafts here at the Owlery. In her pocket there were some treats, both for the owl who would deliver her letter and for a few others at random. But which owl should she use? Hmmm…

The Snakette cast her glance around, looking at all the cute, feathered creatures.

Fiona had been procrastinating about sending an owl to her parents for fear that they would want nothing to do with their daughter. She really wanted to extend an olive branch of some sort to them. Finally, Fiona had mustered up the courage and had headed for the Owlery.

The Snakette's eyes fell upon her best friend, Claudine and so she made her way over to her. "Claudine!" Fiona greeted in a soft voice as she didn't want to spook any owls.

SPOILER!!: Fiona! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginevra

Fiona had been procrastinating about sending an owl to her parents for fear that they would want nothing to do with their daughter. She really wanted to extend an olive branch of some sort to them. Finally, Fiona had mustered up the courage and had headed for the Owlery.

The Snakette's eyes fell upon her best friend, Claudine and so she made her way over to her. "Claudine!" Fiona greeted in a soft voice as she didn't want to spook any owls.

Claudine heard someone come in shortly after her but since she still didn’t care for the majority of humans on this planet, she didn’t spare a glance around. Not until her name was called, that is. It was a voice she recognised in a heartbeat. “Hi, Fiona.” Claudine grinned. “Fancy meeting you here.’’ It was just a light jibe. She and Fiona saw each other each day, not just because they attended Hogwarts but because they shared a dorm. Over the years, Fiona had become a close friend of Claudine’s.

“Sending a letter home?” Her attention went back to the owls, though half of it remained on her fellow seventh year. Oh. There was a tawny owl who seemed interested in a job. She began to gently and softly coax it down to her outstretched arm.

Fiona grinned back at Claudine's greeting before reaching into the pocket of her robes and pulling out the letter she had written. Her joyful expression turned to one of worry as soon as Claudine asked her question.

"Yeah, I am. I have spent ages trying to find the words. I don't want things between me and my parents to end up like...um... Sirius Black or Andromeda Tonks but all I can do is hope for the best but expect the worst."

Fiona sighed a deep sigh at the weight of what had been going on before collecting herself. "So, I'm assuming you're writing to the Jones' family."

SPOILER!!: Fiona! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginevra

Fiona grinned back at Claudine's greeting before reaching into the pocket of her robes and pulling out the letter she had written. Her joyful expression turned to one of worry as soon as Claudine asked her question.

"Yeah, I am. I have spent ages trying to find the words. I don't want things between me and my parents to end up like...um... Sirius Black or Andromeda Tonks but all I can do is hope for the best but expect the worst."

Fiona sighed a deep sigh at the weight of what had been going on before collecting herself. "So, I'm assuming you're writing to the Jones' family."

When Claudine asked about Fiona sending a letter home, she had been referring to Fiona’s cousin, not parents. But she wasn’t overall surprised that her friend wanted to write to her parents. Fiona’s family situation was slightly different from her own. Whereas Claudine’s family members were actual killers, Fiona’s were not.

Still, they both had a bit in common when it came to family. “At least they can’t say you haven’t tried.” Fiona had tried to reason with her parents before and here she was, still doing so and not giving up. “If they don’t come around this time, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t. It most likely will mean they need more time to see they were wrong.”

The owl had been coaxed to her arm and Claudine was now attaching her letter. “Oh yes, I am. Just a general check in on them and to let them know that I’m doing well.” The girl carried the owl to a window to help him on his way. She remained standing there watching him until he was out of sight.

It had been three days since he had gotten a letter from his older brother, Minjae and he still had not replied back. It wasn't that he did not want to but he simply did not have the time to do so yet. But today, on a Saturday close to supper he found himself climbing the staircases to reach the owlery.

The letter he had gotten from his brother contained questions about how education was going and how he was doing, the usual boring stuff. But then he had read a mention of him getting a small tattoo and that he had gotten the number from a friend's tattoo artist. This had sparked his interest because he didn't think his brother would have ever gotten a tattoo. Especially knowing how FURIOUS their father would be. All in all, this was going to be perfect for later on.

He opened the door with the hand he was holding his letter in and entered the owlery, trying his best to ignore the smell that lingered inside of the room. If he was quick to find an owl and tie his letter to it he could leave as soon as possible.

Perhaps unluckily for Daniel, Victoria was currently in the owlery sending off a letter to her own family, her parents to be exact. She had outlined all her questions in a previous letter, had gotten a less than satisfying reply, and now she was sending a VERY strongly worded letter back.

How DARE they not tell her all these important things about growing up!? And right as she was becoming a TEENAGER? She was more than little upset with them currently. HMPH. Her angry face was clear as she tied the letter to one of the owlery's owls, her eyebrows furrowed in almost a perfect V formation. When another person entered the owlery, Victoria had to stop herself from scowling.

It was Daniel Yoon.

Ugh. Could it have been someone else at least? She hadn't had much interaction, good or bad, with the boy lately, and she liked it that way. She gave him a small wave. "Hey, Daniel," she said quite neutrally.

After shutting the door of the owlery closed, Daniel began to look around in search for an owl that looked healthy enough to fly back to Windsor and did not pay any attention to who else was inside of the room. He only wanted to send a letter and get ready for dinner.

But upon hearing his name, Daniel turned his head to see who else was inside of the owlery, when he noticed that it was Victoria. She looked like she was angry about something and he wondered if HE had anything to do about it. "Hey..." he responded back and then stepped in her direction before he stopped to look at one of the barn owls. This one looked good enough. "Who are you sending a letter to?" he asked as he motioned the owl to come closer so that he could tie his letter to its claw.

The owl she had sent off already was out of sight of the castle. V peered out at the landscape just to make sure before looking back at Daniel. "My parents. I'm mad at them currently," she huffed a little before grabbing some treats from the nearby feeder and offering her palm in the air. An owl gingerly landed on her hand, grabbed a treat, and flew back to its perch.

"What about you?" she asked as she tilted her head sideways to try to read some of his letter. Privacy? Who was she?

And this conversation so far wasn't horrible. Maybe Daniel Yoon had matured and was no longer rude or unfunny. Hmm.

Whenever he had to send a letter to anyone, Daniel always made sure to write it before going up to the owlery. His eyes were fixed on the barn owl to who he was tying his letter to but he was listening to what Victoria was saying.

She was mad at her parents? There were many questions and scenarios going through his mind as to why she would be mad at people who weren't even nearby. Then again, wasn't that kind of her speciality? Get mad at people aka him! for no reason? "Why are you mad at them?" he asked curiously.

As he finished giving the owl his letter, the second year had a feeling that Victoria was looking at what he was doing. Possibly trying to read his letter and this was exactly why he wrote it before coming to the owlery. "My older brother" he answered as he walked to the centre of the room and opened up the drawer to grab the sealed bag of pellets. He took a few in his hand before placing the bag back and walked to his owl. "Here" he said softly as he gave the treat before saying "Send this letter to our manor. No haste"

As he watched the owl fly away he turned to look at Victoria and a sudden awkwardness came over him now that he didn't have a task to do and he was standing alone in a room with someone who seemed to dislike his guts since day one. "Those vines are annoying, huh?" ugh lame.

"Well. Because they haven't prepared me for life at. ALL," she said dramatically as she crossed her arms and huffed. "I feel as if...as if I don't know anything - not enough about magic - not enough growing up and being an adult - and it's because they don't tell me! Anything! No wonder I am horrible at EVERYTHING." She leaned against one of the walls opposite the owls and looked at her feet, shaking her head and looking generally disappointed. Maybe she had said too much to Daniel, but for whatever reason, it was easier to rant to Daniel Yoon. She wasn't scared of HIS judgment. She was scared of Serena, Ollie, and Lisa's judgments. Maybe Jasper's, too. But Daniel? Nah. She didn't care what he thought half as much.

"Like...you know....I just...I feel like I'm lightyears behind everyone when it comes to magic, intelligence....and growing up. And now I'm seeing my parents didn't even set me UP for doing well." She sighed as she looked out into the trees in the distance.

Her ears perked at the word 'manor' and turned back to look at him. "You live in a mansion?" she asked curiously. Had she ever thought about Daniel's home life before? No. So this was like, new to her.

And he HAD to bring the vines, which she scoffed at. "Very. And they're starting to get more and more....annoying, it seems."

The second-year blinked in confusion as V spoke. And it was the complete opposite of what he had thought would have come out of her mouth. He even had been prepared for her telling him to mind his own business. Daniel watched her lean her back against one of the walls. An action that made him come back to the now because ...did she know how dirty those walls were? Whatever, not his problem.

It seemed that, whatever was troubling V it was a serious matter for her and for the first time in his life, Daniel felt kind of bad for her. He was arrogant, commanding and could be annoying. But he wasn't a heartless monster who thrived on the misery of others. Despite what a few students thought...

"Ok first of all" he began, his tone annoyed as he pinched the bridge of his nose because he couldn't believe he was about to say this to V out of all people. "You are not horrible at everything and you are NOT lightyears behind everyone when it comes to magic" he said with a roll of his eyes. "My brother once told me that everyone moves at their own pace and that you shouldn't compare yourself to anyone" which is something he had always done and was why he wasn't as emotional as V. "And have you asked one of the professors for help? Or any of the older students?" He continued. "I've been practising and learning new spells not only by myself but I also asked older students to help me out" he said. It was that simple.

This talk was weirding him out so he moved away from the window on his end and walked towards one of the owls seated on a perch nearby. He reached out a finger and stroked the feathers. "A manor" he corrected her when she asked if he lived in a mansion. Why?" Was she surprised that he came from a wealthy family?

"At first, I thought that the vines were a pretty aesthetic" he said, using the new word that he had learned from Evan a few days prior "But now they are just bothersome" he had tripped twice now when he walked to classes! "But all we can do so far is Diffindo them" Until they had found something that got rid of them for all. "Do you think someone from The Board of Government planted them when they were here?"