Aderyn grinned at Gaia, waving as the other girl thanked her for her help with the fairy session. She was excited to learn more about owls and she couldn't wait for the trivia game, either. It was going to be so much fun!

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/X09SVTi.png[/img] Gaia walked into the enchanted dungeon with a box full of safety gear floating next to her and a bag of owl treats on her hand. As she walked to the front of the dungeon she left gloves, arm guards, treats, parchment rolls, and quills on the tables in case some students didn't have their own. She then placed stands all over the dungeon for owls to be comfortable when not on the branches filling the little bowls hanging from the stands with water. Gaia looked around to make sure everything was ready for this session and was startled by the hooting from the branches. Giggling Gaia continued to scan the room "I guess you all are enjoying this session, huh?" A small blur flew by her head while more hooting erupted when the blur landed on her shoulder.

Owls

https://i.imgur.com/AOsCG50.jpg ">

Gaia cleared her throat and waited for everyone to find their place. Beginning the session with the owls’ official description: “Owls are magical creatures most often used for delivering post and parcels in the wizarding world. They are known for their speed and discretion and can find recipients without an address. There are at least 200 different species that belong to the families of the Typical Owls or Barn Owls. Being avid hunters owls feed on small mammals, insects, fish, and even other birds.” Gaia stopped to pet her owl Briggs and continued “Owls are not ones to make nests instead they find shelter inside trees, ground burrows, caves, and barns. They will use old nests which is why at times you might find your owl in different spots in the owlery. In my experience with the owls we raise some owls prefer one shelter over the other. Briggs here” Gaia scratched him “loves tree holes which is why at home we have a hollowed trunk in my room with a nest I made. Here he usually stays with the bigger owls he knows. As you know owls are not birds to have a flock, but a group of them, like the ones here would be considered a parliament. ” Gaia pointed at the owls on the branches closest to the students. “We will try something. Everyone that has a pet owl here, look for your owl and gently ask them to come to you, if you do not have an owl I brought some from the school owlery and Ares my snowy owl and Unicorn my brown owl are here as well ready to help anyone.”

Gaia waited for everyone to find their owls.

“Now partner up with the person next to you. Once you have your partner take turn asking each owl a question; you will be working directly with your partner’s owl and not your own. This is so you can learn and understand the behaviors of owls that are not used to being with you all the time. Some of the questions you could ask are: How are you today? , Are you hungry? , Feel like delivering a letter? Any questions will work just have fun with it! Owls understand English and are able to communicate with you! I will demonstrate for you.” Gaia placed her SCOPS owl Briggs on the stand next to her. “Briggs, how are you today?” Briggs did three hops and hooted “I see you are excited! Now, find someone that can talk to cats!” Briggs hooted once and took off circling the room swiftly landing on Emmy’s head playfully pulling her hair and flying back to his stand. “It is that simple! Now it is your turn. The results might vary for everyone, but training your owl is possible!” Gaia started walking around in case anyone needed her help trying it out.

Aderyn piped down as Gaia returned and began to speak. She already knew a lot of what the other girl was saying about owls, but she was definitely learning new things, too. She listened appreciatively and waited until the group had been given instructions, glancing around and finding her own tawny owl, Hygieia, sitting high up in a branch above them, observing the group.

"Hygieia, come girl."

Her words were soft but her owl's hearing was excellent and she was expertly trained. Immediately, the owl fluttered down from the branch and landed on Aderyn's outstretched arm, digging her claws into Aderyn's sweater firmly but not enough to hurt her. Aderyn reached out and gently stroked the owl's head with a soft smile.

As Gaia instructed them to partner up, Aderyn immediately glanced at Emmy. She knew the girl well and was familiar with Elfie on sight, but she'd never tried to direct the little owl before. Looking from the little bird to its owner, she spoke.

"D'you want to hold Hygieia, or do you want me to keep her on my arm when we switch owls?"

"I'm sure he'd be happy to, wouldn't you, Elfie?" she asked the little owl as Aderyn made her request. Elfie hooted shrilly in excitement and took flight again, hovering in front of the girls. "Alright then," Emmy laughed. "Go to the owlery and bring Hygieia back with you!" Elfie hooted again and then zoomed through the door of the room and into the hallway, disappearing in seconds.

Emmy listened to Gaia's speech and giggled as a different scops owl than her own suddenly zoomed towards her, briefly landing in her hair and tugging gently at it before fluttering off again.

After about ten minutes, Emmy heard the rapid flapping sound of her owl's wings and looked around to see him flapping along steadily behind the much larger Hygieia, who was soaring gracefully (and almost silently) along, and then they both landed in one of the trees.

After they got their instructions, Emmy whistled her four note melody for Elfie and he burst out of the tree and soared down to her happily as Aderyn's owl went to her, as well.

"No, I'm perfectly okay with holding her!" Emmy exclaimed, putting Elfie up on her shoulder for a moment while she reached out an arm and gently placed it in front of Hygieia's chest. "Here, girl," she said softly, smiling at the bird.

( )

Aderyn smiled at Emmy's excitement and held her arm a little closer to Emmy. Hygieia, meanwhile, assessed Emmy for a moment before stepping forward onto the girl's arm. She was familiar with Emmy from seeing her in the owlery and she trusted the girl. She settled comfortably on Emmy's arm, clinging on for balance and hooting softly at the girl.

Aderyn, meanwhile, looked over at Elfie, reaching an arm out to him as well. She held her finger out for him to wrap his talons around if he chose to hop on and smiled at him.

"Hello Elfie. Are you enjoying the club meeting so far?"

Emmy smiled as the beautiful owl considered her for a moment before stepping forward and settling on her arm. Emmy carefully moved her arm back towards her chest, being extra careful since she was used to Elfie's negligible weight. Emmy laughed softly as the owl hooted softly at her, and she reached up slowly, making sure Hygieia could see her hand, and gently stroked the owl's chest, feeling the soft feathers under her fingers.

"Hello, beautiful," Emmy murmured to the owl. "Do you like me, then?"

Elfie, meanwhile, looked a bit crestfallen as Emmy's attention left him and was turned to a different owl. He let out a mournful hoot, but then realized someone else was calling him. Elfie made a high pitched, excited noise and leapt from Emmy's shoulder, landing on the side of Aderyn's hand. He hooted happily at her and puffed himself up, looking like a fuzzy tennis ball for a few seconds as she spoke, before he shook himself out and his feathers returned to normal.

Emmy laughed. "He likes you a lot!" She said, still carefully stroking Hygieia's chest.

Elfie hooted in response to the comment and hopped up Aderyn's arm until he was on her shoulder, where he faced her and gently put his beak on her cheek, puffing up again.

()

Aderyn watched as Emmy bonded with Hygieia for a moment before devoting her full attention to Emmy's precocious little Elfie. She smiled at the owl as he looked crestfallen when Emmy's attention was distracted away from him, but his response to Aderyn was immediate and she giggled as he puffed himself up. When he landed on her hand, she moved to bring him in closer so she could get a better look at him, but he'd beaten her to the punch and landed on her shoulder, pressing his beak to her cheek.

"I'm getting owl kisses from such a handsome boy! Aren't I lucky?"

She reached into her pocket and retrieved an owl treat, holding it up near her face for Elfie to take.

"I bet you're the king of the owlery, aren't you? A real ladies' man!"

Meanwhile, Hygieia sat calmly on Emmy's arm, closing her eyes contentedly as her chest was petted gently. She tried to maintain a regal air as often as she could, but she was a sucker for scritches. She opened her eyes again as Emmy spoke to her and turned her head so she was regarding the girl sideways. She clicked her beak softly and leaned down to playfully nip at Emmy's fingers, putting her beak gently around one of them.

"I think that means she wants you to keep doing it!"

Aderyn smiled at the pair and then turned back to Elfie.

Magnus came into the dungeon with bags under his eyes--looking absolutely worse for wear. It was clear he hadn't been sleeping well. His eyes where glazed over and he was carrying his books. He dropped several and papers scattered all over the place. He picked them up saying, "got ta study." Looking around vaguely he said, "this doesn't look like the library at all." He scanned the room manically trying to will the tables and books in place.

Umbra was restive, staring about intimidatingly and stretching her wings out to their full 5 foot span. The huge owl was also expressing her displeasure at being indoors with an impressive vocal display of hoots, whoops, deep honking g-wuk noises and hawk-like screeches. Sam was so busy attempting to control the irritated owl that she barely noticed Magnus coming into the room.

Umbra being upset

The ball had been a lot of fun, but afterwards Magnus threw himself into studying. He had not slept much at all, instead spending hours pouring over his homework, notes and books in preparation for exams. He was so exhausted he was stupid with need for sleep and stood in the room dumbly still not understanding why he was in the forest. He kept looking through the door seeing a corridor and then back to the forest. He wasn't even noticing Sam's upset owl...as he tried to figure out why the library was missing. Maybe the books grew into trees? At that thought he giggled a little and looked for the librarian.

[img align=left]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/LostDani/EmeliaHufflepuff.png[/img] Emmy smiled and then laughed as Hygieia looked at her sideways as she spoke, then lowered her head and gently grasped Emmy's finger with her beak. She nodded at Aderyn, as her girl friend told her it looked like her owl wanted Emmy to keep petting her. She reached up behind the owls head and scratched the back of her neck next, knowing that most birds absolutely loved having that part of their neck scratched.

Elfie let out a squeak of happiness as Aderyn held up an owl treat, and took it excitedly but politely from her, not nipping her fingers at all. He gulped it down and hooted happily, pressing his beak to her cheek again before opening his mouth and licking her skin for a second, then letting out a cooing hoot and nestling in close to her neck, enjoying the warmth of her.

Emmy was distracted by a very angry sounding owl as Sam, a slytherin girl Emmy didn't really know, fought to keep the owl calm.

"Hey, Sam!" Emmy called, knowing the girl's name from hearing it at some point. "Maybe she'd like some owl treats, these ones are really good for calming them down!" Emmy called, reaching into her bag carefully so she didn't dislodge Hygieia, straightening back up again and tossing the bag to the other girl.

She eyed Magnus as he came in a muttered something about needing to study in the library, turning around and around, looking lost and really out of it.

"Um, you okay Magnus? You're in the dungeons, not in the library." She told him.

( )

"Why would anyone put the library in the dungeons?" he asked. He fumbled to get a list from his pocket dropping his books and scattering more papers all over the place. He picked everything up quickly and handed Emmy his list without really listening at all. "Well, anyway... Let's see, I need Potions and dexes... History Hogwats the of..." The list was barely legible and had half written thoughts all over it. Clearly he wasn't even noticing he was talking to Emmy or at the Magical Creatures Club meeting.

"Thanks, but she's sick of owl treats at the moment." Sam sighed, as she handed the treats back to Emmy "That's the problem. She wants to be outside, hunting. She likes being out in the snow and cold..., me, not so much." "Hey Magnus. You look beat." She said to Magnus as he handed Emmy a scribbled list of books. Looking at the list she added, "I have the potions book checked out. My sleeping potion is still deadly, and I have to get it right if I'm going to pass the class." Tapping a handful of dried meat with her wand she cast a Snufflifors spell, and half a dozen mice scurried for the shelter of the illusory forest, with Umbra swooping after them. "At least I'm getting good at transfigurations." she said happily.

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/X09SVTi.png[/img] ( ) "You are doing quite well with the owls. I would like for you to teach them a tick. Train the other owl to do something fun, entertaining, or useful." Gaia took a treat from her pocket and placed her SCOPS owl on the table "Now Briggs act like a dog." Immediately Briggs began to move his tail feather from side to side, did his version of sit by placing his tail on the table and bending his legs in flight position. Then he dropped to the table and didn't move for a few seconds. Gaia looked at the girls "he learned to play dead with my dad. They scared me the first time they did it!" Gaia rolled her eyes. "Here Briggs, a big boy treat!" Gaia had taken a treat bigger than he is used to and placed it on the table. Smiling at the girls she pressed on around the room. "I'll be back in a little while."

Gaia had noticed Magnus() come in and new something was off and it was not the full moon. Good thing she had seen thing coming. Taking the extra time to make the potions and get them right was a good choice. she thought to herself pulling out a small vial from her jacket pocket. She examined it and was pleased with herself it took 3 tries but she achieve a rich turquoise color; she handed it to Magnus who was blabbing about the library. "Here take this. It will help you reduce anxiety and a little agitation. I will give you something else later, but first let's see how this works." Gaia waited for him to take the Draught of Peace.

Gaia had been quietly observing the interactions when she noticed Umbra and a struggling Sam () "May I take a look at Umbra?" Gaia looked at Umbra "would you please come with me? This behavior is not acceptable, but I do understand." Gaia extended her arm for Umbra to rest.

[Spoiler=OOC: Trivia Daily Challenges Begin Today!!!!][/spoiler]

Magnus took the draught in his hand. "Pretty colour. It almost looks like a potion," he said with a grin as he drank it. It was as if a visible weight went off his shoulders as the potion washed over him. His demeanour shifted from manic to calm. "'Llo Sam, Llo Gaia, Llo Emmy..." he said with a slow drawl as he finally noticed the girls. He looked around a little confused but rather mellow. "Um...this a study party? I seemed to 'ave all me books in 'and." He teetered a little with exhaustion. "Nice mice, Sam. Ey, that rhymed." A slap-happy grin appeared on his face.

Gaia nodded to herself () "You need to be more careful with your studying habits. You are in the dungeon where we have our Magical Creatures Club. We are working with owls. Put your books away." Gaia took another vial from her pocket and handed it to Magnus "This is for later. I had professor Mathers check my work on that one. Take it before bed. It should be enough for 8 hours of dreamless sleep, maybe 9. Plan accordingly. You need rest."

Yes, he vaguely remembered there was a meeting today, but had decided to study instead. His fellow Gryffindors like had been trying to get him to sleep but he'd refused point blank, only dosing at odd intervals and waking to shout answers to questions that no one asked. He even suspected some of his classmates trying to slip him a sleeping draught but he was stubbornly refusing to sleep owning to need to study. He planned on getting top grades, of course the less sleep the worse he got and he was too far gone to notice it. "Okay," he said agreeably taking the vial and putting it in his robes then setting his books down out of the way. Gaia could see he would take the potion when he got to his dormitory that night, her Draught of Peace making the boy even more agreeable than normal.

"Good" Gaia smiled at Magnus "I knew you would, just wanted to make sure." Gaia winked "Find your owl. You can always borrow Briggs. He likes you." Without invitation the little owl jumped from Gaia's shoulder and landed on Magnus head; laughing Gaia left them to find more treats. ()

Umbra swiveled her head to look over her back at Gaia's proffered arm. A mouse tail dangled from her beak and a second mouse, still squeaking and struggling, was clutched in one talon. Blinking at Gaia, the owl swallowed slowly, then deliberately released the living mouse, only to pounce on it again. After two more play-hunts Umbra finally gulped the second mouse, and with a leap and two silent beats of her long wings, flew to Gaia's outstretched arm. For such a large bird the great gray owl was surprisingly light. At only 3 pounds she was half the weight of a snowy owl three quarters her size. She was, as Sam had said, All feathers and attitude. Sam took magnus' list form Elena and puzzled over his cryptic scribbles. " I've got to go to the library later anyway to pick up a copy of Potions Made Easy, I'll pick these up for you. Maybe we can meet by the lake after you've had some sleep and study together."

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/Opcpxwd.png">/imgGaia took Umbra on her arm while Ares was on her shoulders. "I need you two to go retrieve my parchment rolls and parcel with today's prizes from my room. Can you do that for me Umbra? You can take the long way there!" Gaia scratched the owl's chest and snuggled her with her cheek; Umbra was surprised by the act, but just hooted softly and they took off to the Ravenclaw Tower.