· · ─▪───────────── ·· ─────────────▪─ · ·

• EMPLOYED IN MALEDICTIONS •

“Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes.”

─▪────────────────────────▪─

┏		┓
	December 28th | Diagon Alley Avery's Hex #136b5c Barrow Beau-Bastian Leveret’s Hex #7f7e7a ─▪──────────────▪─ ----- With Yule come and gone, it was the waning days of a cold December. Much of the world is in a lull, anxious to see the new year's gifts. All the while, the enchantment of the winter-time break fades and the grim reality of returning to work or academia hits a little too close to home for most. Avery had never been like that. Returning to school was a reprieve of sorts, relieving some pressures and applying some elsewhere. He supposed that this was normal in life, a balancing act of all ones' pressures with the cherry on top being how one performed through it all; that was the test of true character, he wagered. Perhaps it wasn't so for most twelve year olds, but again; he would wager that he was exceptional. Not today. Today he was like every other student between the break and the return to Hogwarts; he was restocking his supplies and getting the pre-requisite items for the next seven months. Thankfully, they had chosen to do so on the day that they were returning back to Moredell after having stayed in their Edinburgh town-house. Avery only took medium sized duffle with him, as it was only about a weeks stay, and it wasn't as if he needed to take a million different outfits for various events. This was the real break. The family had hosted a Yuletide celebration on the 23rd, and were due to attend an auction held by his cousin's family tomorrow, on the 29th. The time between the two events had been designated as a break, to enjoy the comforts of cold, snowy Scotland. This year, his mother had even insisted his brothers and father come; which had never happened before in his life. The break was good enough but when it came time to leave, he thought it best to be one step ahead. "You don't mind taking me to Diagon Alley, do you B? - I've just got some things to pick up for school." He posited, flashing his second eldest brother a grin. Barrow was the easier-going of the two, a free-spirited soul that was simply more fun to be around; but that wasn't often, not at all. It crossed his mind that he was only asking this as some way to hold on to his company for a little bit longer, and that was sad in a way. It didn't overly bother him, but clearly he subconsciously desired it. "What so you can get Madam Malkin to take up your skirts?" he said as he placed his own bag down by the growing pile. "Now I know why you never got a decent job! You were always halfway between whatever you were doing and being a comedian!" Avery retorted, both grinning as wide as wolves. "Avery! Don't discredit your brother. - Barrow is doing very well, he just won a new contract with..." Cadence scolded him, and what came next was lost to Avery as he zoned out; pulling a playful face at Barrow, who was cringing at the pride she verbalised. "I think it's a good idea. - You can floo to the apartment and you'll be close enough to the Leaky Cauldron." She finished, matter-of-factly after having realised neither boy was entertaining her; instead taking charge. "Make sure he has extra sweaters and a spare robe though, Kipney had to send out three woollies and a new house robe last year." She continued, assigning Barrow his fate as if he couldn't make up his mind for himself as the adult man that he was. "That's duelling..." he said under his breath, in a what-will-be-will-be tone. "Get better then." Cadence said sharply, cutting in, clearly having heard him. The biting tongue that he had inherited did not come from his father; no, that was his temper; his mother however was quick and as venine as she could be. In most instances of quick wit and such a flawlessly, fatal strike, he'd smirk and appreciate it for what it was; but it wounded him this time. A small lump built up in his throat, he was stunned and literally couldn't speak or react in kind and she was already moving on, picking up her bag and taking out a handful of floo powder as she stepped into the clean, white-framed fireplace. "Barrow, do make sure your brother attends school with a familiar next year. I don't care what, but he mentioned to Granny that transfiguration wasn't his favourite and now she's on a tirade to me about it. - It can be a bloody owl if its so big a deal to care for an animal, Avery. At least then it has some use too." She said as she turned to face out from the fireplace, trying to round her point home that he will be getting an animal, to his displeasure. She wasn't particularly irate, but he knew that now the command had been given; it would be so. It served no purpose to argue, capitulating was the only way. She expected so too, as she threw the floo powder to the floor and called out: "Moredell." The conversation was over with an explosive green fireball that consumed the former member of the Wizengamot. Ruthless pursuit of perfection was the modus operandi, of course that wasn’t going to change now. "She’s got a point…” Barrow gave a half shrug, and Avery made a face. ”I meant about the owl, you’ll need one when you’re older anyway to talk to all your friends…” He teased again, laughing when Avery socked him one, right in the upper arm; though with just about enough force to rip through a paper bag.
┗		┛

─▪──────────────▪─

┏		┓
	----- They had done as they set out; materialising by floo in a small flat, purchased purely for the convenience of its proximity to Diagon and Knockturn Alley, but more so to have a near enough direct link to Gringotts. The brothers, wearing different coloured overcoats over their winterwear, continued about their business of making a cash withdrawal, and spending it in various shops on the wizarding high-street. By the end of it, Barrow was carrying both of their bags as Avery had to pick up another to carry the various things he had come here to buy. "Hold your horses, we're not going yet…” Barrow grinned, thumbing in the direction of the pet store; whose painted sign had begun to flake with old age. "This was where I got Nero. I can't believe it's still standing. Seems a lifetime ago. ” He gave, thinking affectionately of the cat he had purchased for his time at Hogwarts, who now lived with Arthur owing to the nature of Barrow's constant travelling. Avery hadn't seen the appeal in an animal companion, he had enough to think about ensuring he kept treading water; reaching for the perfection sought of him; let alone the same of another. His dark eyes shifted about the shop front and through the window. When he first came here for school supplies in first year, there were a number of animals outside in cages, or leashed to a wandering salesman looking to capture the hearts of first years with the promise of a friend for life. Even then, Avery knew that he didn't want that additional responsibility. It wasn't that he couldn't cope with it, but he just didn't want to. With a sharp inward breath, he sucked it up and let out a defeated sigh. The bell signalled his entry, and he was instantly hit with that pungent animal stench; the smell of soiled chippings, animal fur other unidentifiable smells that produced a malodrous odour that threatened to singe the hairs in ones' nose. Instinctively, he raised a hand to his nose after pulling it from his pocket. The noise was another assault on his senses. Animals, as you could expect, were free spirited and loud as can be should they want it, but there were a number of people around the various enclosures that were gabbling and asking various assistants about the animals. Avery didnt know what he wanted, only what he didn't. When he found himself next to a crate of kittens, he recoiled; the smell clearly stronger in this area of the store. Barrow, who had a known soft spot for the feline familiars, stopped by them; practically cooing. Ugh, was Avery really supposed to become a blubbery mother hen just because he owned something furry? His wince only deepened as he moved past a litter of pups, shaking his head as their half-baked barks cut through his thoughts. Definitely not. As he neared the back of the store, it got quieter and uncharacteristically less noisy, considering that he was approaching the Avian section; a wall of cages and enclosures with various types of owls. Wait, this was perfect. "B, owls are meant to be nocturnal aren't they?" He asked, turning his head from the enclosure of a huge snowy owl that was grooming it's mottled pattern of feathers. "Well, no. Some are, some are diurnal. Those make for great postal birds." Barrow replied from across the length of the shop, keen to remain playing with the kittens. Avery wrinkled his nose, turning his head back to find the huge yellow eyes of the snowy bird staring at him. It unsettled him, and he swiftly moved on. His careful and intentional steps took him closer and closer to the end of the wall of cages, and nothing had yet struck his interest, until he got to one of the only enclosures whose light was turned off. He smirked then, just what he was looking for. Some would argue that havign an animal that was the opposite way round than your own schedule was most preferable, but to Avery this meant he could get on with his work in peace and at night he could simply let it out to do its business; soaring the skies and hunting prey. The enclosure was not lit at all, and its walls had been lined with a deep blue colour simulate the night time as well as possible. It was hard to see inside, even when Avery squinted, so he neared the cage; searching for a sight of the illusive inhabitant. The sound of his breath or maybe just his proximity was what stirred it but Avery found himself captivated by two terrifying orbs of red framed with dark ear tufts that made its silhouette that much more threatening; eyeing him directly as if determining his nature. Frozen to the spot, Avery watched as the bird that gave him quite a sense of unease unfurled its wings and stretched its wingspan as much as it could in its confinement. What little light made it into the cage showed its regal breast of brown with paint-strokes of black evenly throughout. This bird was different, older and much more interesting; and the moment they shared made enough off an impression for Avery to instinctively call the shop owner over. Barrow noticed and came to inspect his choice, raising his black brows in surprise. "Interesting choice. - Of course you choose the scariest one. Who do you plan to terrorize with it? Can you even train owls to maim and attack?" He asked, mostly to himself. "Now you have the trouble of naming it." "Well that's easy. - Mum said you named Nero after the cruel emperor, because he scratched you when you bought him. - The sign says this is a female owl. Hmm." Avery pondered. "I'll call her Strix. Her eyes remind me of them; mythical birds that were a bad omen because they eat flesh and drink blood." He gave to B with a grin, eyes on the bird more than his brother. "Hah, sounds about right..." Barrow laughed, crossing his arms over his chest, waiting to see how Avery would deal with the shop-keeper... wc: 2093
┗		┛

What animal do you wish to purchase? Indian Eagle Owl
What do you want to name it? Strix
Is this a boy or a girl? Female
What is your pet's date of birth? D.O.B: 12/10/2019 5 Years Old.

Pet Permission Granted

Have fun with your feathery little friend!