Closed Missing them. Solo

Date: 2/11/24

𝓔ver since Ruth Fairchild realised she was magical, the world she hadn’t realised existed bloomed before her, drawing her into a trance that she was constantly awed by. That amazement ceased to decreased as she made her way to Hogwarts: The school of Wizardry, where the architectures, the spells, the people blew her mind. She thought that the feeling would settle down someday. Surely, after days of realisation, the feeling would go bland?

As Ruth made her way up the curling stairs, she found herself repeatedly wrong. No, she was never going to get used to this place. She knew that was true as she ascended up the steps, the altitude and rounds of looping make her slightly dizzy. Despite the subtle nauseating feeling, she let herself smile, tracing the rough texture of the stone walls with her fingers, letting them glide past bumps and crannies. She soon reached the door to the perch and pushed her way in, her eyes widening at the sight.

Owls, many of them, cluttered around a water bath. The sight was majestic, to see flocks of them gathered in a bunch, cleansing or drinking. The smell was pretty bearable within this level, for Ruth, anyways. She was surprisingly used to it. Must have been because of Aaron, she smiled to herself, leaning against the wall adjacent to the next platform. All the bird watching with her brother came flooding back as her eyes roamed from one bird to the next, noting their distinguishable features. She missed him, she missed her whole family.

She looked down into her hands, where she clutched a letter. One for her family. She hurried along to the next platform, suddenly eager. Now, which ones are the school owls?she thought to herself, stepping onto the nesting platform, where the stench was far worse. Feathers, droppings and leftover owl treats were scattered everywhere, making Ruth sneeze as she gingerly stepped towards one without an accessory on it, a barn owl, the muted feather colours almost blending into the plain perches and walls.

The owl saw her approach carefully, staring at her with large, round amber eyes. It cocked its heart-shaped face, watching as she held up the letter for the owl to see. “Er, so…I’m Ruth Fairchild, First year Hufflepuff. I would like to send a letter to my family, please,” she found herself saying, rather politely. I have no idea what I’m doing. However, the owl seemed to agree to the indirect request, and thus Ruth tied the letter with a delivery string around its leg. Almost immediately, the owl took flight, barely missing Ruth’s face by inches.

The girl yelped and leapt back, watching as the owl zoomed up towards one of the many glass-less windows on the floor above. Ruth was quick to follow, darting up the stairs just as the owl flew through into the horizon. The girl gazed at its retreating back, her hands gripping onto the balustrade. She continued staring until it was merely a dot in the sky, then blinked as it vanished. Her eyes flitted away from the blue sky to the landscape below it, breathless.

It was a beautiful sight. Ruth felt as if she was on the top of the world ( or at least the school), watching it traverse endlessly before her very eyes. It was quiet up at the owlery, other than the rustling of feathers and the occasional hoots.

She would definitely be coming back soon.