"They're really going to do that, are they?" Jenna growled. "Making us write letters to people we don't even know? That's insane!"
"I don't have a clue how this Owl Pal system is going to work either," Elizabeth replied to her friend, swinging her book bag onto her shoulder. "But we'll have to do it or get detention."
That morning at breakfast Dumbledore had announced that, in order to branch out and help the students befriend others in their year who were in different houses, their names would be picked at random and put with someone else's who would then be their 'Owl Pal'. They would be required to send at least one letter each week to their Owl Pal to ensure that communication was happening.
But there was a catch. They weren't allowed to tell their Owl Pal their real name or what house they were in. The secrecy would be lots of fun.
At least, that's what Dumbledore said.
"I hope I don't get someone stupid, and especially not a Slytherin." Jenna sighed and turned to the door, pausing with her hand on the handle. "Come on, Liz."
Elizabeth muttered a 'coming' and zipped up her bag, following after her friend as they made their way down to their first class of the day, which was Herbology.
"Honestly, why did I pick this class again?" Jenna asked as they entered the greenhouse. Liz smiled and shrugged, moving over to where the plants she was growing were sitting in their pots on a bench.
"You ask me that every time we come and I'm not going to give you the reason." Elizabeth laughed.
"Fine, then I'll say it again," Jenna laughed. "It's because Neville does Herbology. And he loves it. Oh yeah, and you're my best friend so I'd be lonely if I chose anything else."
"Honestly, sometimes you can be so shallow." Elizabeth smiled.
"Eep!" Jenna said, suddenly ducking behind one of her plants. Elizabeth grinned and turned around to see where Neville had entered the room, a plant in his arms.
He loved his plants so much.
"Maybe he'll be your Owl Pal." she shrugged.
"Liz, you're a genius! All I have to do is suck up to Dumbledore a bit, mention how I'm great friends with... him... and he'll end up as my Owl Pal!" Jenna said ecstatically.
"That plan is going to take a bit more than wishful thinking." Liz replied thoughtfully. "And when are you going to suck up to him anyway? He said it would all be sorted out by lunch time."
"I'll just have to skip Defence." Jenna shrugged, standing up straight again as Neville reached the back of the greenhouse.
"Skip Defence? Are you a lunatic?" Liz exclaimed.
"Come off it, Snape isn't going to care." Jenna said pointedly.
"Jen! You're threatening to leave me alone in a class which we have with Gryffindor!" Liz protested still.
"Oh, of course. I should have known that was why you were upset." Jen grinned cheekily and Liz raised an eyebrow in warning.
"I don't think you should say a word more." Liz said, folding her arms.
"Really? Well I think you should get over your grudge against Granger. It's not her fault she's smarter than you." Jen snickered at the look of annoyance on Liz's face.
"She should at least give some other people a chance at being top of the class every now and again!" Liz snapped. "I get so mad every time we have class with her because I feel like I'm competing to make the Professor notice how talented I am."
"Oh, fine. I'll go to Defence only so that I can stop you from your urges to strangle her when she raises her hand." Jen laughed.
"Right, good." Liz said shortly, turning back to her plants and picking up the watering can which was on the bench beside them.
"Anyway, you don't think they'll pair us with Slytherins for the Owl Pal thing, do you?" Jen asked, changing the conversation back to where it had begun. Liz shrugged.
"It's supposed to be random, isn't it?" she asked.
"Well yeah, but you never know..." Jen sighed, leaning back against the bench and watching Neville as he pampered his plants happily.
"I'm really not worried, to tell you the truth." Liz said with a small sigh, rolling up her sleeves. "As long as I'm not paired with you..."
"Hey!"
Liz laughed and Jen threw dirt at her, the two girls now thoroughly enjoying themselves. The Owl Pal system couldn't be too bad.
*
When lunch came, Dumbledore called for everyone to assemble in the Great Hall and silenced them all, holding his hands up before lowering them again.
"You will each be given a number, and that number will be the number of the person who you will be sending letters to. This is so that you don't find out their name in the process." Dumbledore waved a hand and magical numbers floated down in front of each person. "I advise you to memorise it properly before you leave this room. If you do forget it, however, any of your Professor's will be able to remind you if you ask them. Now, enjoy your lunch!"
"Ninety-three... ninety-three..." Jen was muttering over and over, staring at the number hovering in the air in front of her face.
Liz smiled and pulled a quill out of her bag, along with a small inkwell, and dipped the quill in before writing the number '7' on the inside of the flap on her bag. She'd never forget it now. And thankfully ink was horrible at staining material.
When the two girls went to their dormitory after eating, Liz immediately pulled out some parchment and started writing a letter to her Owl Pal. She was curious to find out about this person and figured that there was no better time than the present.
Dear Owl Pal,
This whole system is interesting, don't you think? It's also a bit strange, I'll admit, but I'm willing to give it a go and see what happens. I wish I could tell you what house I'm in, but apparently detentions will be given out to people who do.
I don't particularly want to go on calling you 'Owl Pal' the whole time, so what should I call you? And I suppose I should think up a name for myself as well. A secret name, one which only you refer to me as.
Alright, I give in. I really am excited about this.
So, what name can I give myself?
What about Spark?
I hope to talk to you again soon,
From Spark
"There." Liz said, standing up and folding the parchment. "I hope they don't take too long in replying."
"You've already written a letter? Merlin, you're insane." Jen shook her head and flopped onto her bed and Liz just smiled and walked over to her owl, giving it the letter and instructing it to give the letter to '7', as that was all she knew her Owl Pal as so far.
She was wondering what she would do if her owl had no idea where to go, when her owl leapt off her hand confidently and flew out the window.