Rat in a Party Hat PV Finished

Loki was delighted when Penelope was put down, and happily began playing with her. Batting her about with little paws, and attempting to pounce on her tail. He rarely made it, and when he did, he released her immediately. Penelope would scurry between his legs, and he would step about to try to get a look at her. The cuteness was so overwhelming, it threatened to boil everyone's brains, drive them insane, and cause the universe to implode. Thankfully, Dan and Andy's own cuteness counteracted it, and kept it contained.

Dan would ignore the rebuttals attempting to defend the owl attacking Penelope. Aurelia had better keep that owl under control. If it attacked Loki or Penelope while he was here, he'd blast the thing across the grounds. Dan did not take kindly to his friends being attacked or threatened. He'd heard that was another Slytherin trait. Well, at least he was consistent.

At the smell and mention of food and lemonade, Dan began heavily salivating. He hadn't eaten all day in preparation for this, so that no food and treats that Andy brought would go to waste. Dan had a bit of a code. If he was going to a party where food and drinks would be served, he would always be sure to be able to gorge himself in celebration.

He smiled, sat down, and got hold of some of everything, and started on the sandwiches and soup, intending the fruit to be had before the cupcakes, but after sandwiches and soup.

Emerly wandered timidly back to where the rest of the party seemed to be congregating around the host. He waited for the others to deposit their gift and then, playing with the string on the parcel behind his back, shuffling his feet placed his own in a small pile with the others. He hoped Andrew would find it. Emerly had considered a while what a good birthday gift for a pet rat would be- because it had been a bit cold as of late, the thought had occurred to Emerly as the latter sat in his dorm bed curled up with a book that perhaps such creatures would benefit from a bed themselves- so he had got to sewing together a bit of a little tiny green bed, with knit blankets and cushions, to match that of the rat's Slytherin owner. It had been jumbled together in parts a bit in the package undoubtedly, but Emerly had been certain to scrawl, "It's a bed. I hope you like it, Penelope, Andrew. ~E.P. on the tiny card that came with it in case it was unclear. He had also taken a clover, and removed one of the leaves so it resembled ears, and stuck it to the card from the front of he card, drawing a rat's face underneath it. He thought that had been very clever and resourceful.
For a moment everything seemed to be rather eventful and it was uncertain if a fight was about to break out between some of the guests, but it was soon diffused... but his alarm was again kindled as he beheld one of the girls turn a piece of bread into a dove.
He grimaced mildly, trying to remember the name of the spell that had done it, and again spoke, "I- wow, I love doves... what an interesting-"
His expression froze as if someone had pressed pause on the party on only him, as the girl's owl swept down upon its newfound prey. He slowly closed his mouth and looked away, troubled, "Ah, never mind..." a sigh escaped his mouth. He hugged his elbows and meditated for a moment on the frailty of life before turning back to everyone and quipping, "I suppose if we all imagine that was a piece of bread all the way through that didn't feel a thing it's kinder in a way... unless loaves of bread are self-aware."
He then scratched his head, looking gingerly from the owl to the rest of them, unable to completely hold anyone's eyes for very long, "It's very nice to meet Andrew and Penelope's friends, those of you I haven't met before, I've met you Dan. It's good that we're all here, getting alon-" he stopped himself, remembering he had almost witnessed a quarrel break out not to long prior, "It's good we're all here." He quickly amended, mildly concerned, and good-naturedly hesitant. He pursed his lips at the owl and his eyes flickered to the sky, hopefully he didn't just set off another round of angry quips among the other attendees, though admittedly he did wonder what had set them off seemingly without warning the first time...

At the invitation to stay for the picnic, Ivy hesitated slightly, eyeing the rest of the partygoers with a look of apprehension. Would it be wise to stay? She wasn't sure if she would be welcome, and Ivy didn't even like picnics. Still, it would be rude to turn down the boy's kind offer, unnecessary as it was, and Ivy smoothed down the skirt of her dress and put on a smile. "Certainly." It appeared that Owl-Girl was staying too, although she sounded a little reluctant. You and me both, Ivy thought as she moved to sit down on the corner of the picnic blanket, absentmindedly taking a sandwich as she went despite not being hungry. She couldn't just sit there, could she?

It was halfway to her mouth when Owl-Girl turned her own sandwich into a grey dove. In addition to one of the boy's statements that he liked doves, Ivy looked at it with interest, wondering why the spell had been used, and commented, "That's pretty." And then the owl next to the other girl, whom Ivy remembered she called 'Aspen' earlier on, devoured it. Ivy's eyes widened with shock, and she dropped the sandwich as if it had burned her.

The family owl, Beau, often went out to hunt and brought back things like dead mice and birds, so Ivy knew that some owls preferred to feast upon freshly killed animals, but she had never actually witnessed a bird of prey killing something. She edged away from the owl a little. Ivy really did not have an appetite now.

The boy who had said he liked doves began to speak. "It's good that we're all here, getting alon-" the boy broke off here, pursing his lips slightly, earning him an inquisitive look from Ivy. "It's good we're all here," he amended.

Ivy smothered a smile and nodded at him. "Perhaps." As long as no more fights broke out, this afternoon would go smoothly.

Seemed she had missed some chaos right before arriving. Apparently an owl had tried to take Penelope as its food for the day. Seeming to have changed its focus for now, the owl rest on the ground next to a Gryffindor girl. It was her. The girl who was trying to scry and failing. The scene of that girl lying in blood, wounded and dead still haunted Tyranni. It was not natural to see a teenager dead on the ground, as that is what was the obvious situation, despite the fact that the girl did not seem to believe her. At least it would be easy to keep on her silent promise, to watch the girl with the goal of preventing the event that she had witnessed. The future was not set in stone and could be changed.

Sitting down, Tyranni grabbed some food and began eating. She watched the others, listening to the conversation, always keeping a bit of her focus on the girl. It appeared the owl had been hers. Did fate bring her to this party? As she watched, the girl transformed a sandwich into a dove only for the owl to sight and attack its food shortly after. Shock crossed the face of two of the other attendees.

"Do you often feed Aspen live food?" She had heard the girl mention the birds name to Andy only moments before. "I think that's lovely. It keeps the predator drive intact. My grandfather still teachers members of their community who wish to connect with their ancestry the art of becoming Falconers. His falcon Hel is fed only with live food unless she is helping train others, where he uses meat attached to a rope to swing."

She then turned her focus to Loki and Penelope, who were playing together. She couldn't wait until she could buy her own pet. Taking another bite of her sandwich, she relaxed and enjoyed the party.

The party was a success—well, depending on everyone else's version of success—as long as everyone made it home alive, it was a success in Andrew's book. He could forgive the owl for trying to make a meal out of Penelope earlier, glad that Aurelia could appease Aspen's appetite, even if it meant him scrunching a face in unease, watching the owl tear into the transfigured "dove" sandwich.

They sang 'Happy Birthday' around Penelope's candle-lit mini cupcake, and once the flame was blown out (with a little help from Andrew), they dug into dessert while opening up presents. Andrew unleashed Emma's Chocolate Frog, watching in amusement as Penelope and Loki gave chase after it. Fortunately, chocolate wasn't lethal to rats, if Penelope caught up to devouring the frog (an extra treat on her special day), and it was doubtful Loki would express interest in eating it (not when there was tuna fish sandwiches to be sniffed out from the picnic basket).

Regardless of whatever tensions between members of the group, Andrew was pleased that the majority were able to set aside personal differences and come together for a pleasant lunch (because food makes everyone less hangry at one another, of course), to join in the common purpose of celebrating life. The life of an old, humble rat. Spending time with old friends…and possibly new ones. This was one of those moments he would never forget.