"The Great Horned Owl is not native to the British Isles."

Hermione blinked at Brennan's rather abrupt greeting, glancing at Ron uncertainly. "Erm . . . no, it isn't."

"But that was a Great Horned Owl who delivered your note," she continued as if daring Hermione to disagree.

"Yes it was."

"Bones . . ." She froze her husband in place with a glare.

"He did not fly here from North America." She resumed questioning the young witch as if the interruption hadn't happened.

"No." Head tilted, Hermione regarded Brennan curiously.

"So where did he come from?"

"Originally or before he delivered my letter to you?"

Brennan paused. "Both."

"We purchased him four years ago from Eeylops, in Diagon Alley." Hermione explained. "But he came to you directly from our home, where he lives."

"You keep an owl as a pet?"

"Well, no," Hermione shook her head. "Apollo isn't a pet exactly. He's for the mail, you see."

"You purchased an owl for the purpose of delivering your mail?"

"She didn't seem this dense last night, did she?" Ron murmured in a quiet aside to Harry.

"Yes. After Pig died."

"You also have pigs delivering mail?" Brennan was stuck somewhere between fascinated and appalled.

Seeing Booth's narrowed eyes, Ron quickly turned his snicker into a cough.

"No, Pig was the owl's name," he spoke up, avoiding the other man's gaze. "Well, Pigwidgeon really, but who would call an owl Pigwidgeon?"

"Yea, calling an owl Pig makes a lot more sense," Booth inserted sarcastically.

Ron shrugged. "I agree with you, mate. Blame my sister."

Hermione hurried to interrupt what looked to be another round of scathing comments tossed back and forth between Ron and Booth. "There's a wizards post office in Hogsmeade, Dr. Brennan, with all sorts of different owls. We'll make sure to stop in so you can see it all for yourself and have a chat with the owner. He can explain how owls came to be used for the mail, if you'd like."

"Yes," the anthropologist answered with a lift of her chin. "That would be a very good idea."

Hermione offered her arm. "If you're ready, then . . ."

"Wait!" Booth grabbed for Brennan's arm and leveled a direct look at the witch. "She'll be okay? She's safe with you?"

"Yes," Hermione answered seriously, speaking over the other woman's huff of irritation. "She will be completely safe with me."

"I'm the one who should be asking that question," Brennan interrupted, turning on Ron and Harry. "How do I know you two aren't sneaking off to teach Booth how to fly a broom so he can play this . . . this ridiculous game?"

"He wouldn't be able to ride a broom alone even if we . . ." Ron's voice tailed off when Brennan's eyes locked on his. "Right. No brooms."

Harry restrained his smile. "Not only no brooms, Dr. Brennan, but we'll also be using conventional Muggle transportation to get to the Ministry." She raised a brow. "We have to take him in through the visitor's entrance," he explained. His open, honest face seemed to reassure her.

Booth pulled his wife close and kissed her hard. "Keep your cell phone with you," he advised, "and call me if you need me."

"Right then," Ron chirped, holding the door of the suite open. "Off we go now!"

"Ron . . ." Hermione's voice held a warning note.

"No worries, Hermy-my-own," he grinned. "You have my word we'll bring the Muggle back in one piece."

"One HUMAN piece," Hermione insisted.

Ron glanced at Harry and shrugged. "One human piece," he agreed before he and Harry escorted Booth out into the hallway, shutting the door behind them with a firm click.

The two women stood in silence for a heartbeat.

"He will be safe, won't he?" Brennan asked finally, seeking a final moment of reassurance.

Hermione sighed. "Seeing as Harry is with them, yes. Mind you," she added, holding out her arm for Brennan to grasp, "I wouldn't trust yours and mine all alone." Her playful smile melted the last of Brennan's apprehension. "They'd have entirely too much fun together."

With a quiet pop, the two women disappeared.

.

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I'm shocked and appalled that neither Brennan nor Hermione trust their men to behave. Shocked and appalled, I tell you. Really, what kind of trouble could they get into? hehehe