11 Nov 2018, 13:50
Soft Spot
Everyone has a soft spot, even spitfire Gryffindor girls who'd like to argue that they don't.
Still, regardless of what Eilis said, she had wandered up to the owlery with the express intent of indulging in her own soft spot. There was no other purpose for being there: she had no owl of her own to visit, and no letters to write, just yet. (Her parents weren't the sort to fret and demand a letter everyday.) She wasn't meeting anyone, nor did she have any custodial duties to perform.
No, she'd come up to the owlery purely because she loved animals.
It was one of the least embarrassing soft spots she could have possibly had and likely one that many people shared, but still, she was reluctant to admit to it. She wouldn't deny having it outright, if she was confronted directly or caught in the act of cooing over them like a mother over a new baby, but in everyday conversation, she'd certainly glaze over it.
But right now, there was no one here to act for, so Eilis allowed a bright smile to blossom on her lips as she walked over to one of the perches, atop which a gorgeous Northern Spotted Owl. Based on the fact that the perch was emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest, she could assume it was one that the school owned.
Crooning softly, she tentatively reached out and delicately scritched the feathers atop the crown of the owl's head. In a way that she guessed was uncharacteristic for wild owls, it seemed to melt a little under her touch, eyes fluttering closed as she scratched, and she lit up at the sight.
"You're a pretty one, aren't you?" she cooed, now gently smoothing out the feathers with the palm of her hand.
Still, regardless of what Eilis said, she had wandered up to the owlery with the express intent of indulging in her own soft spot. There was no other purpose for being there: she had no owl of her own to visit, and no letters to write, just yet. (Her parents weren't the sort to fret and demand a letter everyday.) She wasn't meeting anyone, nor did she have any custodial duties to perform.
No, she'd come up to the owlery purely because she loved animals.
It was one of the least embarrassing soft spots she could have possibly had and likely one that many people shared, but still, she was reluctant to admit to it. She wouldn't deny having it outright, if she was confronted directly or caught in the act of cooing over them like a mother over a new baby, but in everyday conversation, she'd certainly glaze over it.
But right now, there was no one here to act for, so Eilis allowed a bright smile to blossom on her lips as she walked over to one of the perches, atop which a gorgeous Northern Spotted Owl. Based on the fact that the perch was emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest, she could assume it was one that the school owned.
Crooning softly, she tentatively reached out and delicately scritched the feathers atop the crown of the owl's head. In a way that she guessed was uncharacteristic for wild owls, it seemed to melt a little under her touch, eyes fluttering closed as she scratched, and she lit up at the sight.
"You're a pretty one, aren't you?" she cooed, now gently smoothing out the feathers with the palm of her hand.
Last edited by Eilis Halloran on 9 Dec 2018, 17:30, edited 1 time in total.
24 Nov 2018, 23:56
Soft Spot
Iris peacefully made her way up the steps to the owlery, carefully enveloped letter in hand. She didn't have an owl of her own, nor did she see herslef ever getting one, but the school owls were more than enough. In fact, she quite enjoyed being around them. There had been many times when Iris would stall after sending off her letters, walking around the room and feeding them all little peices of shredded meat she had snuck from the dining hall.
The letter in question was for her mother, explaining in detail everything that had happened since the last letter Iris had sent. Her father, being a wizard himself, had gone to Hogwarts and knew that Iris would be alright, so he never bothered her with requests for more letters. Her mother, however, was a muggle, and although she was very supportive, was still worried about sending her 11 year old daughter off to a magic boarding school hours away by train. She wanted a letter every week at least, and although it took a lot of time out of Iris's day to write and send off the letters, she didn't exactly blame her mother either, especially since, being a muggle, she wouldn't be able to see Hogwarts even if she did somehow find a way to travel there.
It was the middle of the week, so Iris knew that the owlery would most likely be empty of students. Most visited the owlery on Fridays or weekends since that was when everyone had the most free time, but Iris had always hated the huge crowd that formed there, so she decided to try visiting on a Wednesday this week instead.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Iris turned the doorknob and slowly opened the owlery door, stepping inside and quietly shutting it behind her. She looked up and was surprised to find a red haired Gryffindor girl cooing softly at one of the school owls, who's eyes were closed as it was happily pet.
Was that... Eilis? Iris vaugly remembered being assigned to work with her during a potions class with Gryffindor a few weeks back, but she still hardly knew the girl. Even so, it was both comforting and confusing to see her have such a soft spot for the owls.
Feeling like it was rude to continue staring without letting Eilis know there was someone else in her midst, Iris cleared her throat and mumbled out a greeting as she made her way to another school owl on it's perch. "...Hey there."
The letter in question was for her mother, explaining in detail everything that had happened since the last letter Iris had sent. Her father, being a wizard himself, had gone to Hogwarts and knew that Iris would be alright, so he never bothered her with requests for more letters. Her mother, however, was a muggle, and although she was very supportive, was still worried about sending her 11 year old daughter off to a magic boarding school hours away by train. She wanted a letter every week at least, and although it took a lot of time out of Iris's day to write and send off the letters, she didn't exactly blame her mother either, especially since, being a muggle, she wouldn't be able to see Hogwarts even if she did somehow find a way to travel there.
It was the middle of the week, so Iris knew that the owlery would most likely be empty of students. Most visited the owlery on Fridays or weekends since that was when everyone had the most free time, but Iris had always hated the huge crowd that formed there, so she decided to try visiting on a Wednesday this week instead.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Iris turned the doorknob and slowly opened the owlery door, stepping inside and quietly shutting it behind her. She looked up and was surprised to find a red haired Gryffindor girl cooing softly at one of the school owls, who's eyes were closed as it was happily pet.
Was that... Eilis? Iris vaugly remembered being assigned to work with her during a potions class with Gryffindor a few weeks back, but she still hardly knew the girl. Even so, it was both comforting and confusing to see her have such a soft spot for the owls.
Feeling like it was rude to continue staring without letting Eilis know there was someone else in her midst, Iris cleared her throat and mumbled out a greeting as she made her way to another school owl on it's perch. "...Hey there."
If I cannot do great things, then I will do little things in a great way.
28 Nov 2018, 00:11
Soft Spot
The owl crooned happily, leaning into her touch, and Eilis felt her heart melt a little bit. Oh, what a darling creature. Eilis had always wanted a pet, but had never been able to fulfill the dream. Her stepmother was allergic to cats, and Maebh was afraid of dogs, so there weren't any furry companions in her near future. An owl, though, was a viable option, and if she pointed out the practical use one could serve on top of being a beloved pet, she may be able to talk her father into letting her adopt one. What type would she get, was the question.
Barn owls were pretty, as were screech, but there were a lot of them around here. The same went for elf and pygmy owls, so as cute as they were, they were out of the question. Long eared owls were funny looking in an endearing way, like hairless cats and old pugs, so maybe she'd go for one of those. Oh! Or perhaps she'd get an Australian masked owl! What pretty birds, like a rounder barn. Yes, it'd be an Australian masked, and she'd name it Constellation.
"...hey there."
Eilis jolted out of her reverie, instinctively jerking her hand back, at the sound of a voice. The owl fluttered, disgruntled, as Eilis turned her attention away from it, looking instead to the girl who had come into her midst. It took Eilis a moment to place where she knew her from. They had a class together, didn't they?
Potions, she was pretty sure. They'd worked on a potion together the last class. What was her name? Isla? Irene? No, no--Iris! That was it.
"Hi," Eilis responded gruffly, clearing her throat a little, as if embarrassed, and turning her gaze back to the owl. After a moment of silence, she rocked up onto the balls of her feet, and tentatively began to scritch the owl's head again. "...do you have one?" she asked after a moment of hesitation, figuring it wouldn't hurt to make conversation, "An owl, I mean."
Barn owls were pretty, as were screech, but there were a lot of them around here. The same went for elf and pygmy owls, so as cute as they were, they were out of the question. Long eared owls were funny looking in an endearing way, like hairless cats and old pugs, so maybe she'd go for one of those. Oh! Or perhaps she'd get an Australian masked owl! What pretty birds, like a rounder barn. Yes, it'd be an Australian masked, and she'd name it Constellation.
"...hey there."
Eilis jolted out of her reverie, instinctively jerking her hand back, at the sound of a voice. The owl fluttered, disgruntled, as Eilis turned her attention away from it, looking instead to the girl who had come into her midst. It took Eilis a moment to place where she knew her from. They had a class together, didn't they?
Potions, she was pretty sure. They'd worked on a potion together the last class. What was her name? Isla? Irene? No, no--Iris! That was it.
"Hi," Eilis responded gruffly, clearing her throat a little, as if embarrassed, and turning her gaze back to the owl. After a moment of silence, she rocked up onto the balls of her feet, and tentatively began to scritch the owl's head again. "...do you have one?" she asked after a moment of hesitation, figuring it wouldn't hurt to make conversation, "An owl, I mean."