Letters to Home

Everything about Hogwarts seemed to excited Viola. The classes, dining in the Great Hall, her dorm way up high in Gryffindor Tower. It was all she had ever dreamed about. And the Owlery was no exception.

The only word to describe it was bustling. Owls were just everywhere; hooting cheerily, flying from perch to perch; feathers and droppings and straw just coating every inch of the ground.

Viola made sure not to step on any mice or mole skeletons as she made her way inside. Owls are so clever, she thought to herself as Nibblet, her very own Screech Owl, swooped down from a high perch and landed swiftly on her outstretched arm. So very clever.

She'd had Nibblet ever since her seventh birthday, and she couldn't possibly imagine being without him. He was very playful too, often nipping lightly at her hair, and he loved to snuggle up to her neck. Viola liked the comfort he brought; a link to home while she was here.

Nibblet nudged Viola with his head, wanting attention, and she obliged, stroking his belly with her finger. She pulled out two letters she had carefully written just a few minutes before, and handed them both to Nibblet, who obediently took them in his beak.

“Please take the top one to Mum and Dad. And don’t leave without making sure they give you a big treat afterwards, after all that flying you’re going to be doing. And please take the second one to Isaac, because I know he misses me, even if he won’t admit it. Plus, he just can’t admit that his baby sister is all grown up and at Hogwarts now, so this letter will prove to him that I’m very wise and old now.”

This entire year had been far from what Ciara was expecting, minus the house where she was sorted. Her parents had told her before that she would probably be a Ravenclaw, as she was very smart and liked to read and make up music and such. Of course those traits were very capable of being in other students, but for her they had just worked as Ravenclaw traits.

She liked that her common room was in a tower, as she always liked seeing things from up high. But it was also a pain, since she had to walk all the way up or down to get anywhere. Still, the first year didn't mind it because she was just glad that she had gotten the opportunity of being there. She loved that she was able to use magic and she could fit in there, unlike in the muggle world, where she had to keep what she was a secret from others.

She realized that she hadn't sent a letter home to her parents in the last month with all the exploring she had been doing of the castle, and she figured she would write a short one home, just to keep her parents from worrying that something had happened to her. Just a greeting to each of them and her twin siblings who were two years old. She missed all of them a lot, at least she would be home for the summer break and she wouldn't miss their birthday soon.

Though she didn't have her own owl, her brother's owl was there and he loved her. Riser wouldn't mind taking her letter to her parents, especially since Johan didn't like sending many letters home anymore, he didn't like telling their parents about anything that went on in school, which made her think that he was always up to something bad. Sighing, she pushed the door to the Owlery open and stepped in, followed quickly by her kitten, River, who didn't want to leave her side. And why would she? There were multiple times when an owl tried to eat her, and it made Ciara sad, she didn't want to see her kitten scared of these creatures, but she couldn't exactly help it.

She noticed after walking in that she wasn't alone - as in there was another student, not just owls - and she smiled at the other girl, whom she knew was a first year. She'd paid attention to everyone who was being sorted at the beginning of the year. She'd also seen her in some of her classes but she'd never really spoken to the girl since they were in different houses. "Hi Viola. Sending a letter home?" she asked the Gryffindor girl softly, clicking her tongue twice to call down Riser.

Viola smiled. Ciara was a first year Ravenclaw, and she’d seen her around in a few classes. Nibblet proudly ruffled his wings, and flew from his perch on her arm and out the window. She turned to Ciara.

“Yeah. My parents want to know everything that’s happening here, and I like to keep in touch with my brother as well, even though he always forgets to write back.” Viola looked over her shoulder, straining to see Nibblets tiny dark form on the horizon.

“Such smart creatures; owls are. Knowing where to take the letters and everything; not getting lost.” She stated matter-of-factly. She then noticed Ciara’s kitten, huddled between her robes, probably frightened by the noise and shear amount of birds that occupied the narrow tower. Not wanting to seem rude, Viola added, “Cats seem pretty clever too. They’re good protectors; a girl in my dorm has one, and it won’t let anyone near her bed without her permission. Very protective. Don’t really understand the advantage of a toad though. They’re not very cute creatures, or anything either.”

Viola quickly shut her mouth. What if Ciara liked toads, or if her best friend had a toad, or her family? Viola could have just managed to insult her, within the processing of not wanting to insult her kitten.