Closed Little Birdie PV

@Marius Brown

Howard continued his search of the tree line as the minutes passed him by. Most might find the activity a bit boring as he laid there doing not much of anything, but the thrill of the search was what he enjoyed most about it. Even little Gary seemed bored as the Pygmy puff had returned to Howard’s robe pocket for a crumb to eat and a nap, yet the Dhampir stayed vigilant. For the briefest moment he would think his patience had paid off as a blur of brown flashed across his field of vision. Howard quickly adjusted the lenses on his Omnioculars, but to his disappointment it was only a squirrel. They filled page 2 of his journal as they proved to be an easy mark. Funny little creatures, but not the most exciting.

It would be just then that the winds would shift and a new scent would cross Howard’s sensitive nose. One vaguely familiar, but nothing he could quite pinpoint. The crunch of shoes trudging through the snow caught his ears as someone else approached. He would let them pass if they did not bother him. His watching had been a solo experience and a way to spend some alone time in a life full of other people. Little did he know that he was about to have company whether he liked it or not.

The footsteps would come closer and closer. Howard shifted slightly and turned his head to see a younger student coming directly for him. Who was that? He soon realized that it was Marius Brown, the second year lad that had just recently joined the Quidditch team. “Oi. What’s up?” Howard called out the younger lad, but another realization soon dawned on him. Marius was definitely lost in thought as he was just about to step on Howard!

“Yo!” The Dhampir called out again, this time louder as Brown’s boot caught the fabric of his winter cloak. Marius was not the only a bit lost today as Howard had forgotten that his cloak had been charmed to match the white of the snow. Not really the other boys fault completely now was it? Howard laughed it off. “Marius, whatcha doing mate? Trying to crush your captain?” Howard joked with his new teammate as he lifted from a prone position to kneeling. Doing so would reveal the journal and watching equipment that he had been using. “Enjoying your weekend?”

@Marius Brown

What could have been a really awkward or tense moment was quickly laughed away as the two team mates chuckled to themselves. Perhaps at one point in his life, Howard may have snapped at the younger student for his trespass, but these days the Dhampir was filled with a balanced energy. One that took quite a long time to achieve. Better late than never they say. "Don't worry about it." He finalized that there was no ill will between them before Marius brought up the weather.

Many among the Hogwarts residents often complained about the winter. The days were short, cold and often snow filled, yet Howard reveled in it as the cloud filled skies were a reprieve from the summers sun. His pale, almost dead looking skin was one of the few trademarks that came with his race, but it was also very sensitive to sunlight. Just a few minutes of direct exposure was enough to start a burn. Winters cold also offered a more comfortable atmosphere for a young man like him. "I do enjoy the winter. I don't handle the heat very well." Howard answered the younger Puff's inquiry. "Plus it makes for some great animal watching."

Truth be told, wildlife was actually more scarce during these months as some would hibernate and the others would usually hide away from the harsh winter weather. That just made spotting one of the many creatures all the more fun though. Perhaps Howard was just a little different, but he enjoyed the thrill of the chase. "Do any watching yourself, Marius?" He asked before gesturing towards his journal. "Started this up earlier in the year. Hope to have it filled by the end, but we will see." It was a tall task, but maybe he could get it done.