(i'm presuming school is still in session in this thread since it was when we started.)
"My hand is going to be fine, thank you," Robert smiled. "A fine job. If you'd like to start on inventory, I'll send an owl to your headmaster to be sure there's no problem if you come with me. We're close to the end of term, so I'm only presuming that he'll be alright with it."
He sent a paper bird up to his secretary to have her send one of the owls down from the owlery, and then he picked up a piece of parchment and wrote a note to the headmaster, telling the headmaster about what promise he believed Zabini had as a healer and a potionsmaker and asking for permission to take him on an overnight trip to secure rare potions ingredients and signed it.
"That should do it," he said, as a tiny elf owl arrived. Unusual as it might be to use elf owls. Robert was not opposed to it, even though they were small birds. They were certainly capable of carrying a piece of paper. The only issue Robert had ever found with them, aside from the fact that they were not good at packages, was that sometimes they were easily missed on a windowsill. He presumed that the headmaster was more observant than most and the little owl would not be mistaken as some sort of other random bird.
"Let me see if I have any owl treats," Robert said to the bird, as if the bird actually understood him. He went over to a shelf of miscellaneous pens and equipment and found a jar of owl treats. He took one out and looked back at the bird. "You're too little to eat a whole one, aren't you?" He broke one in half and took half to the bird who quickly snatched it out of his fingers, swallowing the treat nearly whole. "We feed you," Robert frowned at him. "Don't be rude, and do leave my fingers. Zabini here just mended them, and he's liable to be put out with you if you make him regenerate one too. Here--take this to the headmaster." He held out the message to the owl and watched it leave.
"My wife can actually speak to birds of prey," Robert said. "Bloody big help if you're training them to just ask them what you want. They respond better to that than a lot of people I know--present company excepted. Now--I think I have a back up inventory ledger. How about I take that, and start at the back of the list, and we'll meet somewhere in the middle. Let me know when you're tired of counting jars, and I'll send for some tea.
"You should consider putting a small home potions lab in your house when you get out on your own. It's invaluable, and as gifted as you are, you'll have no problem having people wanting you to brew potions for them, and it's a lovely way to make more money on the side."
by 
