A letter to her best friend[1]

[Tina Griffin]

Hoping her letter would be delivered this very same day, young Tina Griffin had walked up to The Owlery early this morning. Finding it to be empty, except for the wide variety of owls on their perches, she smiled. Tina loved animals and you could say that she enjoyed spending much time with them as well. "Good morning to you", she addressed them gently and held out her right arm for Kira to land on it. The tawny owl spotted the girl right away. Her left hand slid into her robe for a little treat which her pet gladly took into its beak.

Tina had been relieved to receive a life sign of her friend since she left Hogwarts only two days ago. It was not that she did not understand the decision to return home in times like these. Professor Dumbledore's murder had changed much around school, everything was even gloomier than after those terrifying news of a certain dark wizard's return were spread around. And she had no doubt that the constant feeling of loneliness would hold on for a while.

Patiently she waited until Kira was finished before carrying it towards the closest window sill. "Be back soon", were her words of goodbye before she watched the owl spreading its wings to fly away.

[Francis Eric Thorne]

Francis made his way up the stairs to the owlery. He wanted to write to his mum and try to find out if their house would be free again on a Hogsmeade weekend. He'd really enjoyed spending time with Genevieve there, and he was anxious to have time alone with her again without having to worry about people discovering them.

Francis only realised he was grinning at the thought of time with Gen when he opened the door to the owlery and noticed someone else there. His smile dropping, he began to look around for his owl.

After a minute or two, he sighed. "You haven't seen a largeish barn owl, have you?" he asked the girl. "He has a brown patch on his left wing."

[Tina Griffin]

Tina noticed the company as soon as the door closed. Instinctively she shot a glance over her left shoulder to see who had just entered. Thoughts about an unknown person in her back had always felt rather frightening to her. Probably most people were careful or just interested to know who or what could make an approach.

"Morning", she smiled a little. Through the yellow colours on his robe she recognized the young male as a student of Hufflepuff house. Maybe a Seventh Year? At least she was pretty sure to have seen him in the Great Hall a few times.

At his question she shook her head, offering to keep her eyes open. Like him Tina began searching for a fitting animal. "Hey", she addressed him after several moments and raised her right arm, an index finger pointed upwards at a pretty large barn owl which was seated between a snowy and an eagle owl. "Could it be that one?"

[Francis Eric Thorne]

Francis had been scanning the owls already, not waiting for Tina's answer, but when he heard her point one out, his head turned in the direction she was pointing. It took him a moment to see the owl she was pointing at. It was a handsome owl, but not his. He frowned and shook his head. "Nope," he said, once again looking around the owlery. After a moment or two, he became resigned to the fact that he would have to use one of the school owls. He didn't really like it. His owl knew to be discreet when dropping off letters in the muggle area, but he'd have to make do. One owl in the daytime wouldn't look too strange, maybe a bit lost, but easily forgetable.

He crossed to the long bar of hooting school owls and selected a greyish brown one. It was smallish, but Francis only had a small letter so it should be able to cope, and hopefully it wouldn't be too eyecatching. Francis tied his letter to its leg and let it hop onto his hand so he could carry it to the window. He gave it a quick stroke and informed it of where it was going before letting it take off. He hoped it would get there soon. He couldn't wait to hear back about the house. He hoped he hadn't been too obvious in the letter.

Francis turned, looking back at the girl who had pointed out the owl. "Thanks anyway," Francis said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his grey school trousers.

[Tina Griffin]

"Hm." She let her arm sink and thoughtfully rubbed her chin between thumb and index finger, continuing to eye that large amount of owls, though there used to be many more during times of a more crowded school. Finding one was not so easy when they didn't fly towards you after recognizing your voice. Perhaps his owl was looping about the grounds. But apparently he had chosen to use one the school offered their staff and students which were quite small compared to others, but they still must prove itself in practice or otherwise they wouldn't be sent to any locations at all. Naturally they needed to be not all too lavishing with their money as there was much else to pay for to keep everything up and running.
"You're welcome", she nodded. "I think we haven't spoken to each other before. I'm Tina, by the way."

[Wyman McCalman]

*Wyman was expecting a letter from his father this morning. So after the breakfast he headed towards the Owlery. He climbed up the stairs, opened the door and found two seniors in the owlery. One of them was a Hufflepuff whom he had seen quite often at Hogsmeade and other was a familiar Ravenclaw.*

Good Morning!

*He greeted them expecting to trigger a conversation.*

[Tina Griffin]

Reacting to the sound of an opening door the girl turned around, smiling at the boy who came in, recognizing him immediately as a student of Ravenclaw house. "Ah, hello Wyman", she waved. "How are you this morning?"

[Wyman McCalman]

*Wyman was happy to receive a reply. He went forward towards the perch*

I'm Good. Came to send a letter?

*He said and waited for Tina's reply*

[Tina Griffin]

Tina did not mind another conversation before class at all. There was still enough time to grab her bag later.

"Yeah", she nodded twice, walking over to him. "My friend is waiting for a reply. It's... nice to have contact with someone from outside." A short break. "You seem to enjoy writing letters, too?"

[Wyman McCalman]

I don't but my father does. He usually keeps sending letters to me and his cousins. He enjoys writing them. But I don't like writing letters. I enjoy reading them.

*Wyman smiled as he said. As soon as he finished his sentence his owl "Peirt" arrived on the perch. He untied the letter from his leg and then turned towards Tina.*

I'm not making you late to your class. Am I?

*He asked as he didn't wanted her to be late because of him.*

[Tina Griffin]

"I see." Tina for herself loved writing to her parents, and now to her friend as well. It was such a nice way of keeping in touch if meeting in person was not possible anymore. Over in the Ravenclaw dormitory she had a box full of all letters and cards that had been sent to her over all those school years. "Great your father enjoys it so much then."

The girl shook her head and smiled. "Not at all. Class is about to start in about half an hour."

[Wyman McCalman]

Thank God! So Hows your year going on? I mean you cannot call it great but still..

*Not only Wyman but everybody knew that life in Hogwarts turned into a difficult one. Death of Dumbledore had caused everybody to be afraid. Wyman also did not enjoy his school years now.*

[Tina Griffin]

"It's fine, really. I'm always keeping an eye on my watch so I don't miss anything." Tina chuckled, covering half of her mouth with one hand before she let it sink, her expressions turning insecure. "Wouldn't want to risk any loss of points for our house."

The young student exhaled a sigh, then shrugged. "Focusing on work is hard when so much is going on. Not that life here has been always easy with all the action." She shuddered. "Frightening how the Death Eaters could just march in here." Her eyes scanned her surroundings for a moment, then she smiled at Wyman. "So far it's been rather well though. Could always be worse. How about yourself?"

[Wyman McCalman]

*Wyman is scared by any mention of "death eater". He has always been like this. He never liked the Dark side nor its followers.*

We..Well..umm..my year is going on quite well actually disregarding the on-going. Actually the very mention of Death Eater f..frights me.

*He was very frightened. This was all because of what he had heard about the death eaters and the greatest dark wizard You-Know-Who. He had come up with a very frightening image of a death eater though he had not seen one. He tried to change the topic so as to distracting his mind from these things.*

Do you like charms?

[Tina Griffin]

His reaction shocked her a little. "I'm so sorry, really", she apologised, then looking at the floor for a moment. She probably shouldn't spread any further negativity, despite the difficulty of sticking to friendlier topics.

"Yes, indeed I do", she smiled. "Charms is my favourite subject." Not sure why he was asking this question she thought it might be good to ask him if he agreed in case he needed help with anything. "Do you? Or is it another subject you enjoy the most?"