Jaunt to the Owlery

@Bella Light

Thankful at the warm welcome, Emmanuel sped up, closing the gap between the students. He pulled his face out of his thick wool scarf, mostly so the Slytherin could see his smile. He took her in, she looked cozy in her jacket, she was carrying a stack of letters, but her eyes are what really caught his attention. He thought, if only for a moment, that the first year was taking in the snowy scene for the first time. A feeling of appreciation filled his chest, thinking back to the first time he made this trek in the cold. Though, that first venture wasn't without its peril, for Em had fallen on the top step at the Owlery, and broke his wrist. It was an injury that was quickly, and easily repaired at the Hospital Wing; but it did leave him with a certain hesitation this time of year.

"Guess we are going to the same place then! Gotta send a letter off for Mum, its almost her birthday." Em smiled brightly, holding out a hand to formally introduce himself. "Im Em, Em Bourne. I saw you get sorted at the start of year! How have you been enjoying Hogwarts?"

His pace kept up with the other student. A feeling of contentedness fell over Em, happy that he didn't have to make the freezing walk alone. The corridor was keeping them safe from the worst of the frost; but his thick cloud breaths suggested that a warm mug of cocoa would be more than welcome, once the errand was accomplished.

@Bella Light

As the two made their way toward the Owlery, Em smiled warmly as the first year described her experience at Hogwarts so far. It felt to Em that even though he's ny been attending Hogwarts for one year more than Bella; he stopped seeing some of the new found wonder that comes with being a first year. He was happy to feel the flame reignite at the girl's words; taking in the scene of their walk with a little more mindfulness.

As they crested their way toward the Owlery proper, Em let out a laugh at her story of her Muggle friend Jessie. "Certainly more simple injuries are a bit easier for us magical-folk to remedy! Just last year I took a fall at the top of these stairs, and snapped my wrist in two. The Hogwarts matron put me right in a moment, and gave me a Pepper Up potion to boot!"


They made their way to the top of the stairs, which were a bit more wet than icy; which was a relief to Em. "I'll be sure to add in my letter that my new friend wishes her well," Em remarked, dawning back to Bella's earlier well-wishes toward his Mother. Em took out his letter, and quickly added a PS to the bottom of his note, before re-sealing it. Em looked up into the tower, and called for his owl, Ewin. Em took out an owl treat, and kept it in his closed hand until his bird flew down; but he also handed Bella one to give to her owl.

"Yeah, I'm a second year now. Honestly, we probably wouldn't have met properly without this jaunt!" He shrugged, though he was thankful to have met her. "Hogwarts is fantastic. It can be hard to go home for the summer, honestly. Especially when you have to go somewhere like my Grandfather's," Em looked a bit coldly up into the tower, still waiting for his owl.

"I grew up around wizards, but some of them aren't very open to interacting with Muggles, or even muggle-borns. My Grandfather is like that. My dad hates it, and so do I. I think Muggles and Wizards could learn to live together, but I guess I don't really know how.". His owl finally swooped down, and perched near his closed fist with a treat. Em gave the bird a quick scratch on it's head, earning himself a loving nip on his finger, and gave the treat over. He began tying his letter to the leg of the owl.

"Who you sending all those letters and stuff to?" He asked curiously, watching Bella in the tower. "Can't imagine your Muggle friend would react well to having an owl show up at her window?" He tilted his head in curiosity.