"I wonder if that's something they might run one term at Hogwarts," Paddy said, "seeing as a lot of us have new pets, and it's got to be a good thing for everyone if they're well behaved."

Niamh smiled, as much as she wanted to be with Blade, she could tell he was more than a bit apprehensive about whatever this parcel was. "Anywhere else you're planning on going in Hogsmead?" she asked Sauvage and Blade.

"that's something to look into for sure!" Zoe said. "Brilliant idea."

Blade shook his head. "No, not really. I mean I know there's a lot of shops I'd enjoy. You?"

Soon they arrived at the owl post and Blade headed inside. There he was greeted by a clerk who showed him three trunks. Now he was very confused, especially upon opening them. Finally he found a letter along with a bag of gold. He read the letter about 20 times to be sure he read it right. He was angry and part of him was terrified. What was he going to do? He balled the letter up and stuffed in his trouser pocket. "I'll pick 'em up at the end of the day I guess," he said to the clerk. At least he didn't have to go up stairs.

He came back out side trying to look unperturbed. "So where first? Drink of butterbeer?" His mind was whirling. He would need an owl now. "And at some point I think the petshop. Gonna get an owl I think."

While Blade was inside, Sauvage casually leaned in towards Niamh and asked, "So, 'ow eez eet going...wiv Blade, I mean?" Now that she as in a relationship, it felt like all Sauvage ever wanted to do was talk about relationships - whether it was her own or others did not matter.

A few minutes later, Blade came barreling out of the post office looing more disturbed than when he had go in. It seemed obvious that what happened was not something he was ready to discuss, so Sauvage nodded her head happily and said, "I sink zat an ice cold butter beer would be utter perfection on a day such as zis." And she began leading the way to the The Three Broomsticks just west of the post office.

Jona laughed when she mentioned studying. "Good joke." He hummed a happy tune as he and Zoe made there way over to the pet shop. "I can't wait to read some of your stuff. I can't believe I' haven'y already!" He smacked his lips loudly and thought aloud, "I don't think I'd mind hitting Honeydukes while we're here."

(and all)

Blade grunted an affirmation. He was in deep thought. Even when they did arrive at the three broomsticks, the boy had trouble focusing.

"Well dad's an author so maybe its just in my blood. I've got some short stories I can lend ye." Zoe offered. She giggled. "Aye, Honeydukes will be a great stop."

Sauvage quietly led the group to a booth and ordered three butter beers for everyone. The drinks arrived promptly and the everyone sat in continued silence. Sauvage sipped her beer, unable to stop herself from comparing this solemn affair to the last time she had been here. Aware that no one had spoken and having just noticed that Blade was completely out of it, with his drink untouched it seemed, Sauvage inquired: Do you like ze beer?" She knew there was something much much bigger bothering him, but she thought that if she started small then maybe he would open up on his own. And obviously if he did not want to talk about it then that was okay, too. She waited expectantly for his response to know how to handle the situation. She slid a glance over to Niamh, wondering what her take on the situation might be.

Finally, they wandered into the cramped pet shop and immediately Jona's senses were attacked by all the pungent smells that accompany animals. He didn't mind it one bit, though. In fact, he took a big whiff and smiled to himself before pulling Zoe in the direction of the windows to look at owls. "What do you think? Any that just call out to you? Ooh! What about that one?" He pointed at a particularly devilish looking horned owl. He could have sworn it winked mischievously in response.

Blade hadn't even noticed the drink until Sauvage spoke. 'Damn,' he thought, 'I've gotta pull it together.' He took a sip. "Yeah its good. Thank you. So...er, where would you ladies like to go?" He didn't want to spoil the day for one thing. He took another sip, hoping he could relax a little. He was really wound up.

Zoe was equally happy in the pet shop. She loved animals a lot. "Nee yet," she said. When he pointed out the horned owl, she smiled. "I think it's perfect for ye." Then she gasped at the barn owl. Unconsciously humming the theme from Labyrinth. "Is that a girl or boy owl?" she asked the nearby clerk.

"It's a boy," was the reply.

"He's gorgeous," Zoe replied as the clerk got him out and put him on her arm. "Jareth," she said in a low voice.

Sauvage smiled helpfully, deciding that it would be best to ignore Blade's troubles for his sake. If and/or when he wants to talk, she will be there. "I was sinking zat I would like to go to Madame Puddifoot's after zees. You both do not 'ave to come eef you do not want. I jsut want to see eef zhere eez any tea I may want to bring back to ze dorms. I was sinking..." She blushed, realizing one of the students it would affect was with her. "Oh, well, eet eez a bit silly, but...I was sinkning of 'osting a tea party for ze 'ufflepuff Commons. I sought eet might be fun and, of course, zhere will be good food. And well, zat eez why I want to check zee tea shop. After zat, I do not know. Per'aps ze Screevvenshaft's? Fade eez always in need of more parchment." She looked fro one to the other over the frothy pints of butterbeer. "Do eizer of you 'ave anozer place in mind?"

Jona pretended to be offended when she said the demon owl would be his ideal. she wasn't wrong. He could tell she found her owl immediately, because she was humming some tune he didn't recognize. She whispered a name when the clerk perched the bird on her arm and it was obvious that she would be going home with him. "That's a good one, Zo," he said. Being ever the curious one, he asked, "What are the different, like, personalities or characteristics between owls? Does it change if they're male versus female?" He wasn't sure if he was asking Zoe or the clerk.

Sauvage's question threw Niamh a little, "erm I dunno," she replied, "I mean I like him, but he's quite hard to read sometimes. He's good company though." Before she could say much else, Blade reappeared from the owl post, and she had a feeling that whatever the parcel was, wasn't necessarily a positive. Sipping her butterbeer, she caught Sauvage's eye and realised they both had the same feeling that Blade wasn't entirely on the same planet right now. "A common room tea party sounds a neat idea," Niamh said, "our common room tends to be quite boring at times, unless Paddy's Crup decides to leap on everyone. She still hasn't got his training sorted out yet. I don't mind which shops we look at." Blade still looked a little preoccupied, "how about we go to Honeydukes - I think there's a small jar of pepper imps that might be calling Blade's name."

“A common room tea party?” Blade asked a little confused. Weren’t tea parties for girls? “That sounds interesting. I’ve never been to a tea party before.” The quill shop was a good idea. He’d need to get some parchment if nothing else. “Scrivenshaft's is a good idea. I er, also wanna get an owl at some point.”

-- “Oh c’mon it’s cool, and suits ye,” Zoe said knowing he was teasing. “Thank ye, I like him a lot.”

“Well, they are all raptors so they hunt for food. Most animals, like humans tend to be different. But some behaviour is definitely species orientated. Snowy owls, for example, hunt in the day,” the clerk said.

“I don’t think I’ll be picking any sweets up,” Blade said, “but I’ll carry around a basket for you both.”

Niamh shrugged, "it's just you'd said they were your favourite sweets, and I thought you looked like you needed some cheering up. Whatever was waiting for you at the owl post office obviously wasn't a good thing."

"Well, they are," Blade replied, "but I er... I mean... the thing is..." He rubbed the back of his head as he struggled to find words. "You should get things you want first. Don't worry about me."

"There's not much I need," Niamh replied firmly, "I mean I got some stuff when we had the stalls in the Great Hall the other week, so I've not run out of much, other than ink and maybe some parchment. But I don't like my friends to be unhappy, so if you don't want to talk about it, I'll still get those pepper imps to try and help - that's what friends are for."

Sauvage smiled contentedly and leaned back in her seat, watching the two of them chat over her butterbeer. Whatever they chose to do was fine by her. If anything else, she would be interested to see what might occur between Niamh and Blade today.

"Pepper imps are you favorite? I razzer like ze peppermint toads. What eez your favorite treat?" The question was directed at Niamh.

"Hm, that's cool. I'd totally get him," Jona gestured to the devilish owl with his thumb. "But I definitely didn't bring any money today and my uncles said no-go and any animals for a while. It's fine, though. Not like I send or receive much for mail." He shrugged, not really showing if the statement was simply matter-of-fact or a truly sad one.

"It has to be Liquorice Wands" Niamh replied with a grin, "but then if you've met my cats Lick and Rish you probably guessed."

Blade finished his butterbeer whilst he mulled over what she said. He knew keeping it a secret likely wouldn't happen but he didn't want everyone to focus on his problems either or ruin the day for the others. "I did buy that big jar after I crashed into the pygmy puffs," he said. "I even named that puff Imp after fixing the colour. It's really nice of you, but to be honest I don't think imps are going to help enough. Let's forget my drama for right now."

He nodded to Sauvage. "I like a lot of things but yeah they are my favourite. Peppermint toads are nice too.

--

"We can summon yer money," Zoe said. "Well ye'll be getting lots of mail from me, if I'm to send ye all those writings." She grinned. "But if ye'd rather talk to yer uncles first we can arrange that. Do they have a phone? I have my mobile with me." She turned to PAddy whom she sort of forgot was with them. "Adding anyone to yer home today?"

Niamh paused before replying, "Ok, if Pepper Imps won't do the trick, how about we talk about it when we're heading back to Hogwarts? I mean then it won't risk taking over today, but you still get to share it rather than shouldering whatever it is all by yourself." She suddenly realised she might have come across a bit overbearing, so quickly added "assuming you want to talk about it of course."

Paddy had been busy looking at the owls, and hadn't really registered that Zoe was talking to her to start with. "I don't need another owl, as I've got Mouse already, but she'd never forgive me if I didn't come back with a huge bag of treats for her." She noticed that Zoe already had picked out an owl, "have we been in here that long, or are you just much faster than I am at picking out owls?!"

Callista wandered into the pet shop just then, wearing an elaborate peach-coloured dress, with Sabrina on a leash. She had lost her owl the previous year (it had, after all, previously belonged to both Camilla and Fiammetta) and had just mailed a package to Liane Malfoy. There had been packages for her as well.

"You're coming to my tea party, Zoe, aren't you? I'm going to have one at Madam P's this afternoon. You should already have been invited. If Jona would like to come, he's welcome to. Toru is coming, I'm sure!" She was also really hoping that Wayland would come to the party.

She looked at the owls speculatively, waiting to see if any of them looked back at her. Email wasn't always available and Muggle post was just wrong for some things. She needed an owl, but she wanted just the right one, who would not be afraid of Sabrina nor be too rough with her packages.

Blade nodded rather than saying much else. He mentally tallied his money with him so he'd not overspend. "You ladies wanna go to head to the tea place, then Honeydukes and quill shop? Whilst Sauvage checks the teas out, I can go get the owl. Unless you guys wanna come along. In which place, I'll just lean against the wall and look menacing. See if I can scare some villagers away." It was hard to tell if it was a joke or not.

"Oh good thinking. I need owl treats and a cage," Zoe said to both the clerk and Paddy. She giggled at Paddy's response. "Bit of both. Look at how gorgeous he is. He reminds me of the owl in Labyrinth. It's one of my favourite movies." Just then Callista arrived. "Oh hey Callie, ye look lovely today. Yer looking for an owl too huh? Mum and Dad arranged this for me." She was beaming as her new owl was placed in the cage with a cover over him. "Aye, I did get the invitation. I'd like to come. Jona? Paddy?" She kinda didn't realise she just invited Paddy.

Meanwhile Magnus finally arrived in Hogsmede having taken his time eating breakfast. Now he just needed to find his friends.

"Thanks!" Callista was briefly taken aback by the forwarded invitation, but ... whatever. The fun thing about Zoe was that she never did as expected, quite. "Sure, Paddy can come. Does she like fashion? I don't know her very well, but making connections is important for everyone."

"Miss?" The man running the shop brought out a large, sleepy-looking owl with striking pink eyelids. "I noticed you've got an African serval and wondered if you might be interested in this fellow, since he comes from around the same area she does."

It was a Verreaux eagle-owl. Not quite full-grown, and smaller than a female--but definitely big enough to carry a forwarded package from Angelic Pretty in Japan from any of the Zabini households to Hogwarts without having to stop at the owl post office. And he was very pretty.

"I think I am," Callista said, once the owl opened his eyes and looked at her. "He's gorgeous."

The shop staffer opened the cage. "He'll eat bigger food than most owls, but then, your cat eats bigger food than most cats, doesn't she?"

Callista nodded and let the owl inspect her before reaching in to give him a treat; these owls were wilder than European owls. Did he like her? Apparently so. "I'll take him," she said. "Does he have a name?"

"No, miss, not that he's told us at any rate. I expect that naming him will be your job."

Callista grinned. "I'll have to put some thought into that."

Jona looked doubtful when he said, "we could try, but I just don't think they'd go for it. It's really hard to convince them into anything and I think they're afraid of spoiling me. The reason I don't have any money is because they didn't give me any. They don't want me spending it..." jona looked especially awkward talking about money now that Callista arrived. He shrugged his should lazily and crinkled his nose at the mention of fashion and tea parties which were never a thing he'd been introduced to and didn't feel like something he'd enjoy. "Um, that's okay. I need to go...somewhere else. You guys have fun, though." With that, Jona inched towards the door slowly, not wanting to make it seem like he was running away.

Sauvage nodded at the suggestions. " I sink zat eez great. I will go to ze tea shop while you and Niamh go to ze pet shop. And we can talk about ze new news," she laughed realizing the absurdity of what she said. "We can talk on ze way back to ze castle."