Feeding the Birds PV Alyss Gilmour Closed

Alyss was tired. It seemed anyone she met wanted to know her name and life story, before leaving with no intention of coming back. She just needed a break from being a first year, getting asked all the questions, and being just.. the bottom.

That’s how she found herself in the courtyard. Oftentimes, it seemed, no one bothered you in the courtyard. No one cares about you, because they have their own stuff to be worrying about. Alyss saw this as an opportunity, and took a few snacks to munch on in peace.

She sat a good distance from anyone else, the only person remotely nearby being some guy who was feeding an owl. The probability of him actually talking to her was slim, right?

Just as she was thinking this, the barn owl seemingly got angry at the boy, and started untying his shoelaces. Interested now, Alyss started observing the two more closely. As this occurred, the Gryffindor didn’t make any move to stop it, almost like it had happened before. Had it?

Alyss was an animal enthusiast. Magical, non-magical. Big or small. Alyss was always up to learn. So when she made the realization that the boy probably fed the owls, or at the very least this one in particular, quite often, her interest was piqued.

Scooting over, she offered him half of the loaf of bread she’d been eating, along with some cheese. “Hey, I noticed you ran out. Want any more?” Praying he would say yes, she tossed a small piece to the owl as well, it clearly eyeing the food she carried.

“I’m Alyss. And you?” she asked quizzically, pausing to take her own bite of the bread and cheese.

He wasn't expecting anyone to actually talk to him in the courtyard. Mostly everyone kept to themselves or kept away because of the owls. I'm Zander. I would like some more bread. He said that mostly because the bird kept trying to get closer. He tried to keep it from going after the bread by herding it with his foot but it wasn't really working. He took some of the bread and gave a little to the bird, which probably preferred sunflower seeds but there weren't any left so it would have to deal with it.

Another Owl landed next to him, this one being a snowy owl, and tried to take the bread out of his hands only injuring Zander instead. Ouch! That is not how you get bread, bad owl. He tried to push it away but he had raised his voice and the owl then backed off and looked a little sad. Zander gave it a bit of bread as he apologised to the bird. I like them, the owls I mean, but they don't really like being witheld from any food. He smiled. He was glad to share this with someone, as he only had the owls and his friend he met during his first year, Ruby Night to tell about his owl feeding.

Upon hearing that he wanted more bread, Alyss smiled. “Of course! Here you go..” She trailed off as she handed the bread to him. “Nice to meet you Zander.”

Alyss giggled a little at the snowy owls antics and nodded along with his description. “Yeah, I noticed. Especially that one, it seems.” She gazed at the owls, smile filling my face. “Could I feed them?” Alyss asked, eyes getting big as she studied the owls, both wanting more bread.

She took a bite from her own bread, before offering a little bit to the barn owl, which seemed enamored with the smell of the warm bread, and possibly cheese, but Alyss wasn’t sure if cheese was okay for the owls to eat. Too much dairy was bad for certain animals, and she wasn’t sure about owls. After all, she really hadn’t met very many owls before.

Alyss looked up at Zander, face bright. “Thanks for letting me meet them. How did you come across them? And start feeding them?” She was curious. She wanted to feed the owls every once in a while, and this boy seemed to be her ticket.

“Do they like you? Or just the food?” Alyss asked, head tilting. She was gazing at the birds with a small smile, tempted to try petting them, but after seeing the way they bit Zander, she wasn’t sure she wanted to lose any of her fingers.