Owls Everywhere (Ryan)

[lissa]

"Prinston, no!" Camille called to her owl. He was pecking her hand again. She turned towards him a bit angrily. The white owl immediately gave a sad look and moved over a bit. Camille couldn't help but laugh a tad at the silly creature. "Just, stop. I have to write this to Van. After that, you can take it." She said. True, it had to look a bit funny for her to be talking to an owl, but Printson seemed to understand it. Camille had received the owl years before and he seemed just as sprightly then as he was presently. Prinston just looked at her and then started calmly flying around the room. It didn't bother Camille too much as he did it all the time and never seemed to touch a thing. She smiled again and then realized she had work to do. Van was Camille's father and she tried to write him regularly. She had so much in common with him and he always seemed to be the one to understand her most. Camille's mother, Opal, didn't ever seem to care about Camille. She had disowned her own daughter after Camille was sorted into Slytherin. Opal seemed to resent her every moment they were near each other. She also became for hostile towards everyone. Even though Camille and her mother were not the best of friends, she did feel bad that her parents had split up. They weren't divorced, but Van had moved out. He seemed to be doing okay, but Camille longed to be near him. Camille dipped her quill in ink and then pressed her quill onto the paper. The words came out easily as Camille had much to say to her father. She loved to write and Van understood her every thought. She poured her thoughts about the separation on the page wanting him to comfort her. Camille always knew her mother would never fully accept her, but that didn't make her not want her to.

Camille pressed her name to the parchment and then gave a sad look at the finished problem. She couldn't help think that her mother and father seemed to be separated because of her. If Camille had wanted what her mother wanted for her, their family would be together. But, Camille just couldn't be the perfect child and go for her mommy's goal. No, she wasn't that simply. Even though Camille was sad, she still wanted to prove herself to her mother and show her she could be a good daughter. But, Camille knew the feeling would soon pass and she would want nothing to do with her mother yet again. "Ok, Prinston. Done." She said sealing the envelope. However, she didn't hear a low pitch hoot. "Prinston?" She said pulling her head up and shifting her eyes around the room. But, her white owl was gone. Owlery. Camille thought. Prinston became bored easily and often went to the owlery without making a sound. Camille sighed picking up her Gryffindor robe and draping it over her clothes. With that, she put her wand in her pocket and left the room for the Owlery.

Camille walked up the icy Owlery steps. They weren't covered in ice, but had it draped in different areas. She pushed up foot past a particularly icy spot and held the railing tightly. Camille did not want to fall at all, but she did want the letter to be sent. As she neared the Owlery, Camille could already detect the odor of owls. It didn't smell at all pleasant and Camille took a deep breath to get past it. Finally, she reached the top. She sighed looking at the hundreds of owls that surrounded her. They all hooted softly and some flew around. Feather were everywhere and Camille again had to take a breath to forgot about the smell. "Prinston!"She called seeing her owl. Camille walked towards him and gave a harsh smile. "Well, hoot next time when you leave." She said dropping the look and smiled. He hooted back at her. "I need you." Camille said. She reached in her pocket for the letter, but suddenly felt something. Two owl had been in a playful fighting match and one pushed the other right into Camille. "Geez." She called hitting the cold floor. Camille was disgusted to be sitting in such a dirty place. She was going to get up, until she heard someone coming up the steps.

[ryan]

Ryan laughed long with his friends and house-mates as they discussed Arithmancy problems. A huge star-map was also placed on the table as they drived to evaluate how much sense those two subjects would do together. Taking Ryan’s star-sign and birthday as a basis the group of 4th-6th year Ravenclaws tried to figure out how much planet and star-movements influenced Ryan’s brain-capacity. Right now they had only reached the point that if you also included Trelawney’s beliefs to the mixture of facts, then Ryan was most prone to dying in March.
„Try not to kill me, while I’m here, will you? Or at the very least plan a pretty funeral,“ Ryan laughed loud as the theories went on going weirder with every word. Waving to his friends and promising to be back Ryan gathered his books and went to his dormitory to get the present and card for his older sister. They bickered all the time and exchanged owls during Hogwarts years, but Ryan loved his sister and knew the feeling was mutual. So finding a present for her had been a pure joy. Some protective gear as Marie worked as a curse-breaker and then a lot of random junk that would merely make her laugh.

Pulling on a short jacket to not get cold on the way tot he owlery as it was bound to be colder than the Ravenclaw common room Ryan took the package one of the 5th year girls had helped him prepare earlier and left his common room. The way to the owlery was relatively quick so Ryan sprinted slowing down only at the steps leading into the owlery as he didn’t want to cover on the sleet-like thing covering them. Holding onto the railing with one hand and balancing the present on the other Ryan managed to get up the steps safely though without any broken bones. Grinning at the thought Ryan pulled the door open and stepped into the owlery the sound of feathers moving immidiately surrounding him as well as the original smell that always accompanied the owlery.

Ryan blinked at the girl sitting on the floor of the owlery who didn’t seem to look happy at all. Not that Ryan could really blame her because of it. Placing the present and the card and letter secured into one envelope on a corner of a near-by cupboard that had a smooth and clean surface Ryan took a step closer to the girl and smiled easily: „Heya, got into a bit of an accident?“ Holding his now empty hands out to the girl to help her climb back to her feet Ryan smiled at her again rather friendlily.

[lissa]

Camille gave an embarrassed look at the boy walking towards her. Being on the floor of the owlery wasn't exactly a good first impression. Actually, it was quite a horrible one in Camille's mind. She hated people to think she was helpless or clumsy because she really was not. It was easy for people to get the wrong impression of her and when they had it, it was hard to change. She quickly pushed her deep red hair out of her face and looked around the dirty floor she was sitting on. It was truly disgusting and Camille shivered at the thought of what her robes would be like. But, she then realized that any stain would be easy to come off. Besides, she wasn't so much of a girly girl she couldn't handle a little dirt. However, Camille was certain Opal would have a fit if she saw her daughter like that. Camille chuckled to herself at the mere thought.

She watched as the boy spoke to her. Camille could now tell her was younger than her, but perhaps only by a year. She knew he wasn't in Gryffindor as she knew her house mates. He didn't seem to be rude in any way so that pretty much ruled out Slytherin, but there was a possibility it didn't. Camille listened to his words. "Yea, stupid owls. Well, except for Prinston." She said as her own owl flew to her side. Camille laughed a little bit showing that she was just joking about the all owls are stupid part. They were pretty intelligent creatures, really. Much more impressive that a stupid pygmy puff that seemed to be all air consumed in its little body. "Umm, thanks." Camille said awkwardly reaching for his hand to help her up. She usually wouldn't take it, but Camille feared that she would fall again. She smiled upon having her legs stand on ground again glad to be off the floor. Camille wiped off the feather around her not wanting a single one near her body. She smiled down at Prinston who was looking up at her longing for the letter.

"Thanks again. I usually make a better first impression." She said in her usual a cool tone. It was true, she was raised to make a spotless first impression, but that had diminished through the years just as everything her mother taught her. "I'm Camille." She said thinking it would be polite to introduce herself to the boy who helped her. Camille then watched as Prinston flew up and landed in her shoulder. "Here." She said finding the letter in her pocket. Camille looked at her owl directly knowing he could understand. "Now, take this to Van in the new house. Do not take it to Opal." She said sternly not at all wanting her mother to read it. Camille watched as Prinston hooted and flew off. She knew he wouldn't let her down. Camille then looked back at the boy who had helped her. "I know it's weird I talk to him a bit, but he seems to understand." She explained. Camille then waited for a response.

[ryan]

The girl accepted his hand with hesitance making Ryan’s eye-brows fly up in surprise. What, wasn’t she used to being helped up? It was only polite to do so, especially if it was a girl who had fallen. Ryan believed in the equality of the genders, but at some times guys should still remain gentlemen. Then again maybe the girl was just shy or feeling a bit embarrassed at the situation she had gotten herself into and Ryan was just jumping to conclusions. Ryan smiled calmly at Camille before listening to the girl speak. Her tone of voice might be considered polite and nice, but her words most certainly erased the smile from Ryan’s face. Well, maybe she was not used to socializing… but that was a questionable excuse because everyone could at least have manners! And after going to Hogwarts for 6 years you were at least forced to socialize with the other people in your house, so now that Ryan thought about it the excuse he had made up for Camille was not even valid.

“You can’t really say that all owls are stupid. After all they deliver all of the wizarding worlds mail and are smart enough to only accept the correct payment for the Daily Prophet. All animals have intelligence, we might just not be able to understand it,” Ryan said with a small frown as he smiled at one of the school owls who had hopped onto his arm. Giving the letter to her sister to the owl who clutched it securely between it’s claws Ryan stroked the owls head for a few moments watching with some amusement as the birds eyes closed as if he was enjoying the sensation. Giving a hoot a few moments later the owl spread it’s wings and took off with Ryan’s letter leaving Ryan smiling lightly as he watched the owl go. “Not everyone speak with the owls after all. So on top of everything else they must recognize themselves to who the letter is addressed to. You most certainly can not call owls stupid, no matter how much you personally might not like them.” ‘One bad experience doesn’t give you the right to actually name the whole species idiotic’ Ryan thought quietly but preferring to stay polite didn’t say it out loud. He didn’t really understand the girls attitude nor arrogance.

“I’m Ryan. Ryan Wilkinson. Ravenclaw as the houses are often used to identify yourself at Hogwarts. At least it helps to avoid embarrassing moments if you happen to start talking with some of your house-mates without ever realizing yourself you go to the same house. Even though I’m sure that’s not the case with us,” Ryan offered a polite if not overly friendly smile to the girl along with the small-talk, but she didn’t seem very pleasant. She stumbled most likely because she wasn’t watching what was going on around her and then blamed the owls? Trying to blame someone else for your faults was something Ryan didn’t understand really.

[lissa]

Camille shook her head immediately. He must have misunderstood her. Camille's own fault probably. People misunderstood her nature often. That was just because Camille didn't understand things like normal people. She took everything it the extreme extent, which was often called "over analyzing". She really didn't mean to do it, but it wasn't that big of a deal. So, what if Camille analyzed things to the best of her knowledge. Was there any harm in that? Opal certainly didn't think so. But, she didn't really matter anymore. Camille wouldn't let her matter and that of course was Camille just being stubborn. She listened to what the boy had to say. Yes, he really did seem to understand her. For a moment, Camille felt like a complete idiot allowing someone to completely miss what she was saying or the underline of her words. But, she let that thought slip from her mind knowing it was an accident and hopefully the boy would understand that. Camille certainly didn't want someone to hate her at first glance. Hopefully he wasn't one to judge so quickly. However, Camille often did that herself without realizing it. Camille looked out one owlery window still being able to see Prinston fly. Camille actually would miss him for a few days and he managed to make her laugh for odd reasons.

Camille looked back at the boy again. "Sorry, I wasn't being serious. I don't think owls are stupid at all, I just have a bad way of showing it I guess. I've always been bad at joking to, but I think I was born that way." She said truthfully hating that he had mistook her. Even though her words were true, Camille hated saying that sort of stuff to a complete stranger, but she did feel obligated to. So, Camille didn't let that show on the outside. She just hated people misjudging her with a passion. Maybe she was wrong, maybe she did give a horrible first impression. But, did any of that stuff really matter? Sometimes Camille wished it didn't but the truth was it did, to her at least.

"Oh yea, I'm in Gryffindor." She added as he introduces himself as Ryan. People always seemed to introduce themselves that way. She shrugged a bit thinking to herself before looking back at him. "You know, it will be interesting to see how all the current Hogwarts students react to leaving. I mean we all introduce ourselves by houses usually, as you said. I guess it might take me some time to get rid of that habit." She said just trying to think of something to say. Camille really despised small talk. She had never been good at it really, it just taunted her. She just looked like an idiot any time she tried to use it. Not really thinking of anymore small talk, Camille just looked at the ground for a moment before looking back at Ryan. "So, umm, your a fifth year I'm guessing? I really liked my fifth year actually. And the OWLS aren't really as bad as some people say they are. But, I would say they were easy either." She looked at him waiting for a response.

[ryan]

Ryan felt quite confused as the girl shook her head at his words. What was she saying no about now? Ryan had been polte but truthfully stated his opinion. But the explanation to the movement of her head came immediately. Ryan had misunderstood her? Perhaps. Even though her words could have been taken in only one way. “Ah, we must have had a misunderstanding then,” Ryan stated simply quietly agreeing that it had been a bad joke. But well, it was said so why just let it be. The girl continued speaking so Ryan just went along with the idle chatter. He didn’t have anything better to do right now either.

Ryan smiled lightly at the comment about Gryffindor. “Well, we are sorted by the qualities we have. By the potential in which way our character can develop, so perhaps stating our house is the shortest way to give the other person an overview of our characters. You say that you are a Gryffindor. Think of how much information it gives me about you. You most likely don’t support He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, you most certainly don’t get along with one fourth of the school – Slytherins nor with Hogwarts Potions Master and you have courage in you. The only question that would remain as that if we and the Sorting Hat all define bravery in the same way.” Ryan replied simply with a slight smile thinking of the motto of Gryffindor house and using it as the basis of his quick analyze of Camille.

Tilting his head Ryan scratched the back of his head trying to decide what would happen after Hogwarts. They would travel, settle down perhaps, some will start working immediately, some will care for home and life of savings, some will go for more advanced training. Some many decisions still stood. How would one define oneself then? “That’s an interesting question really. By the house we used to belong in? By our occupation perhaps? I mean if someone says that he or she is an auror you automatically draw some conclusions about that person, don’t you? Subconsciously we follow stereotypes and we force them upon all aurors by what we think would be right. I’m not sure if you are following my point here, but that’s what I think at least.”

[lissa]

Camille smiled slightly. So, he seemed very smart indeed. Of course, that was a common definition of Ravenclaws, but could it really be true? Camille had met some that didn't really fall in to the text book category of what Ravenclaws should be like. Sometimes Camille had to ask herself if the sorting hat really meant for things to be that way. It obviously didn't make mistakes but some people seemed to be misplaced by their house. So did it know things would turn out alright in the end? Did it know that some people questioned where they were placed, but would eventually understand why life turned out that way? Camille had always thought the answer was yes, but it did seem off that a simple hat would know all that. But of course, this was a possession of Albus Dumbledore. With that knowledge, Camille knew that the hat could probably do tricks if Dumbledore spelled it to do so. She had always been convinced he could do anything. The man was a genius in Camille's mind. Opal might hate him, but that would never change how Camille felt.

"Yes, that's very true. Our houses say a lot about us. But, sometimes we do overestimate the power of names. They say things about a person, but I often find myself wondering if that's true. I find myself many times wandering if the sorting hat could be wrong with its decisions. If that's the case, by simply saying which house you are in, people instantly think things about you that are completely untrue." Camille took a breath after explaining her thoughts. She thought of them as very true,b ut wasn't sure at all how Ryan would feel about what she just said. "But, maybe it's never wrong. Maybe I'm just over thinking its power." She added after a few seconds of pause. Camille looked around her. It was pretty silly they were having this unique conversation in the owlery, but of course, Camille had no where else to be at the moment. She didn't mind talking to Ryan at all. So, she looked at him calmly listening.

"That's all pretty true about me. But, I kind of wish people wouldn't instantly assume those things without knowing anything about the person they are speaking to. Of course, my wish will never be granted." She said calmly. People did assume too much and Camille did know she was one of those people, but that didn't make her want things to change any less. Camille heard Ryan mention bravery. Camille herself didn't technically think of herself that way, but she knew she was not at all the opposite. "I don't think I have a text book definition of bravery, myself. I know that it's doing the right thing without being concerned about anything but helping people, but I do know that bravery can be extremely hot headed at times and that some people take it a bit too far no longer being concerned with helping people." She said sighing not really thinking about the words too much. "I think I am following your point." She sighed a minute. "Or maybe not." She said laughing a little bit. "I wish stereotypes could just disappear along with the main person we stereotype. Which of course would be the Dark Lord." Camille couldn't stand saying He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, but she couldn't say his same either. No, Dark Lord was much easier for her to let out. "People stereotype Slytherins by him when really some of them arn'tthat bad. But, of course I only say that because half of my family if in Slytherin. Camille sighed. She could think of knowing else to say and just looked at Ryan knowing he would hopefully have something to add.

[ryan]

Ryan grinned as he listened to Camille’s words. Her words weren’t amusing, but Ryan just smiled cause he was glad to find someone who followed the same path of thinking as he did to one point. It was refreshing and new and Ryan enjoyed it as he leaned a little against the window-sill after making sure the cover of the sill was clean. “But names have much power. Let’s say someone is calling in the middle of the street and shouts ‘hey you’. If you were in a hurry you wouldn’t go around to see how the person was shouting for. But if he called ‘Hey, Camille’ you would most certainly pay attention. So names have a lot of power over us. Perhaps even more than we would care to admit?”

Ryan fell silent as he pondered about the Sorting Hat for a moment as well. He had never thought over that really. Ryan had just taken it naturally ithat if the Sorting Hat said you belong in Ravenclaw, then you belong in Ravenclaw. But people had many sides to their personalities. Many sides that all together defined who they were. Maybe your house just showed your most prominent characteristic traits, but what if you had two strong traits from two different houses. “I’m not even sure, but you make a good point really. A friend of mine was once comforting a newbie yet to be sorted and I was rather surprised to hear that the Sorting Hat told her that she would fit very nicely with the crowd in Slytherin. Before that I had enver imagined that friend as anything else but a Ravenclaw. But after hearing that I sort of… looked at her differently for a moment.And decided that yes, I could see a Slytherin in her too. What if a person would fit equally well in two different houses? How does the Sorting Hat decide then? By what the person himself or herself would ask for? What if the person being sorted wouldn’t know herself either in which house he or she would prefer to be? It’s a real puzzle. I don’t know.”

Ryan rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. A habit of his when he was thinking about some problem he couldn’t solve immediately. Ryan smiled at Camille understanding what she was speaking. “We are all stereotyped and we all stereotype others as well. Maybe it helps us cope with life a bit better? Helps us understand other people easier.” Rya grinned the dimple in his left cheek showing suddenly for a moment: “Bravery is doing the right thing while caring only for helping others? But lately that seems to be exactly the text book definition of bravery. But from which point you start thinking about something more than helping? Maybe for the eyes of others I’m going over-board with my actions, but maybe I don’t realize that as I still try to do what I think is best for people? This one is a twisty question too.” Ryan smiled not really bothered by the fact that Camille’s family was in Slytherin. A lot of people had Slytherin relatives. Especially purebloods. Ryan was sure that he could find someone from his family tree who had been a Slytherin and a ‘bad’ wizard as well without having to look too hard. “Slytherins are people too with feelings. I suppose they just prefer to show them differently or hide what is hurting them as if fearing that if people know that, it will be used against themselves.”