A New Friend? Tag: Ruby

"Maybe an orange would help with your cold." Jackson said conversationally as they entered the Great Hall. An orange sounded like a good snack, maybe he'd have one...

"Good idea. Let's find a place to sit. I think I see some oranges on that table over there", she said, grabbing his hand and guiding him towards the table.

"Sure." Jackson followed her easily. He didn't really care what table they sat at, if someone got upset at them for sitting at the wrong table they'd just move. He vaguely wondered what house Ruby was in, if she was guiding him to her house table. It wasn't the Hufflepuff table.

By chance the table that did have the oranges was in fact Ravenclaw's table. It was full with silent students, studying or reading. Although she did know how Hogwarts' house system worked and what houses were rivals and what houses got along, she did not care about stuff like that at all... All she knew is that she disliked Slytherin. Her sister's friends were mostly people that had been Slytherins.
"You don't have a problem sitting in my house table, do you?", she said as she sat down and grabbed an orange and immediatly started to peel it.

"I don't mind." He smiled. "Where, uh, could you, er please, direct me to a-an open seat?" Most of the Hufflepuffs knew of him in passing and would help him find a seat, but Ravenclaws apparently not. Or they were distracted, he thought he heard turning pages.

"Sure!", she grabbed his hand and directed him to the seat next to her. Some Ravenclaws lifted their eyes from their books for a moment, but instantly resumed their studying. "Here!", she gave him her already peeled orange and started to peel one for herself.

"Thank you." Jackson smiled at her gratefully, she'd saved him a bit of time, finding an orange then peeling it. He popped a slice into his mouth; he didn't know what kind of magic it was, but fruit at Hogwarts was always perfectly ripe.

She smiled back at him and took a bit of a slice. "So, what do you like doing in your free time?"

"Er, sometimes I read the history books in the library. Sometimes I pet my owl. Sometimes I walk around and talk to people, but I don't really like going outside alone." Jackson shrugged. "It's almost like they want you to be so bored you'll do homework just to have something to do."

"You can always practice your magic or study", she said trying to contain her laughter. As a Ravenclaw, she obviously liked to study and practice spells, always aiming towards excelence in grades. "You have an owl eh? You have to show it to me one day! I love owls."

"Yeah, I guess I could practice..." Jackson acquieced, tipping his head back. It wasn't exactly a groan, but it was close. "I could call my owl now and see if he can hear me!" He grinned. "I'd just have to open a window and let the cold in for a second."

She considered for a while and nodded, but then she remembered he obviously didn't see the nod. "Alright! I'll go open a window."

Jackson stood and grabbed his cane, easily following Ruby. "I hope people dont get too cold. It'll only be open for a few seconds."

"It will be fine..." She looked around the Hall and some eyes were turned at them. Mostly Griffindors and Hufflepuffs. The Ravenclaws in the room mostly ignored the window being opened and simply continued studying.
"Besides, today is not that cold... At least yesterday was colder"

"True." Jackson grinned and stuck his upper body out the window, careful not to bump his head. "TAAAAAAYLORRRRRR!" He hollered as loud as he could, hands cupped round his mouth. He pulled himself back inside and grinned at Ruby. "Hope I didn't bother anyone." He chuckled as he shut the window.

The Ravenclaws looked up from their books, startled by the sudden shout. Most of them simply sighed and shook their heads.
"So it's name is Taylor eh? Is he big?"

"Naw, he's little." Jackson held his hands up to show the owl's height, only about 10 cm apart. "He's a Scops owl. His favorite place is people's shoulders."

"It must be hard for him to carry letters then", she joked with a smile.

"He can do letters." Jackson leaned against the wall. "But mum has real trouble sending packages. Mostly she gets me real little stuff Taylor can carry, and a present when I go home to make up for no real gifts during the school year."

He tipped his head to the side as he faintly heard a familiar hooting. "Taylor." He barely raised his voice and the hooting soon rose in volume. He raised his arm and chuckled as the tiny owl landed and walked up his arm to perch on his shoulder and nuzzle his cheek. "Ruby, this is Taylor. He's real friendly if you want to say hi. He should sit on your shoulder if you move him there." Jackson grinned, scratching around Taylor's head.

"Hey Taylor", she said, slowly approaching the owl, her hand raised to give him a scratch.

The little owl hooted softly and leaned toward Ruby slightly, his head tilting back and forth. Jackson let his hand drop to his side, smiling.

She scratched his head softly, smiling. "You're a friendly fellow, aren't you? Aren't you?"
She looked at Jackson "You're so lucky! Owls are awesome."

"Thanks. Taylor's real smart. I dunno how they think, but he figured out that I can't see. Now whenever he's flying around he makes noise so I don't bump into him. Since owls wings don't hardly make noise. If you want, he'd probably get on your hand." Jackson grinned. "If you want an owl you might be able to save up. He was only 8 galleons."

"I might just do that", she held out her hand with the palm upwards so the owl could land on her hand. "C'mere Taylor! C'mere birdie!"

The little owl tipped his head to the side and hooted, stepping onto Ruby's hand and walking up her arm to perch on her shoulder. He hooted again and Jackson chuckled.
"He likes shoulders."