Kirby Gracean made her way from her class magical creatures to spend her free period relaxing in one of her usual places. She liked spending time in the old oak tree opposite the grand whopping willow tree it had its own deck to sit and was indeed cosy. The view was one of her favourites in the whole school seeing the magical flowers, trees and wildlife that surrounded the location how was it possible not to love it?

After around ten peaceful minutes of strolling she was finally beside the tree. She hooked her school bag over her shouldeer and quickly tied up her golden blonde hair into a loose pony as she started to climb the tree. Once she was at the top and looking out she placed her bag over the branch to the left of where she was seated and let her hair down into the wind.

To a young man that'd grown up on an almost three-thousand acre Dakotan ranch, the Hogwarts castle was impressive but dark and stuffy.  Irregardless of the weather, Migs had started finding time in the morning and evening to slip outside and get some fresh air and sun.  Or wind.  Or rain, as the weather that day might predict.  This Monday, though, proved to be gentle as far as weather was concerned. 

Migs was dressed rather casually as he wandered out onto the lawns, Pazi, his gyrfalcon, perched comfortably on his arm.  So far, the bird was being well behaved but the fact they were walking probably kept his tiny brain occupied enough to stave off boredom.  Migs hadn't intended to get involved with traditional falconry when he'd first purchased his bird for letter-totting purposes but Pazi had proven to be such a fidgety bird that he'd get bored when restricted to one purpose.  And, back home, Migs spent enough time on long-distance rides across the ranch that falconry had actually proven useful on a number of occasions. 

It wasn't until after the white gyrfalcon had launched off his hand that Migs spotted the girl sitting in the tree.  "Head's up!" he called, hoping to give the girl enough warning to not be terribly startled as the bird streaked into the air, gaining speed with each flap of his wings.  "Don't worry, he usually doesn't bite other people," he added as the white bird streaked past the tree, hoping his words were actually reassuring.

Kirby brushed off her red gryffindor uniform and perched on her usual branch as she began to look across the view whilst she gradually combed her finger tips through her silky blonde hair. Suddenly out of no where she spotted a small white bird flying towards her and a rather pleasant looking boy below gave her warning. She had never been one to be frightened of wildlife whether magical or muggle. She watched as the bird gracefully soared around. She silently jumped down from the tree landing on her feet elegantly.

She turned to face the boy. He was not much older then her but he must have been one of the foreign students staying in the castle for the upcoming tournament as she had never seen him around before. "Magnificent. What's he walked?" she asked curiously as she continued to watch him soar gently in the air. A draft caught her hair blowing it behind her and releasing the sweet smell of vanilla.

Migs kept a careful eye on Pazi, as the bird caught the same draft of wind that lifted him higher above the treetops, even as he turned towards the girl.  "Don't say that too loud," Migs chided, jokingly.  "It'll go straight to his head.  He's arrogant enough already." 

Given the girl's accent, she was obviously British and one of the Hogwarts students.  Migs slipped the heavy, leather glove from his hand and held it out to the young woman.  "Name's Leonard Nagde - or Migs, as most call me.  If you hadn't guessed, I'm one of the Salem students.  Were you out here studying?" he asked, nodding up towards the tree.  "We didn't mean to disturb you.  Well, I didn't.  I can't vouch for Pazi, though.  I'm afraid he thinks annoying people is a valuable past time."

Kirby joked along with the American boy as he insulted his bird calling it arrogant. "I would class him as proud more then arrogant. And I am Kirby. Kirby Gracean. Nice to meet you Leonard." she smiled politely accepting his hand in greeting. His hand was warm and soft which she enjoyed.

She looked up towards the tree when he gestured towards it asking and also hoping that they had not disturbed her too much if she was studying. "No i wasn't studying. I like to look across the view its very relaxing especially when you have a busy schedule as i do. Being president of the Choir and Orchestra and studying for my NEWTS. And of course the tournament." she replied happily.

Migs laughed and nodded his head.  "Proud," he repeated, seeming to give this assessment due thought.  "At first glance, I guess I can see that,  You British...English?-" he glanced questioningly at the girl,  Migs was still a bit confused about who was what over here - British, English, Celtic, Gaelic.  Tulojow had tried to explain it but Migs still wasn't sure what he was supposed to call them.  "-Hogwarts people- he finally settled on, "use owls, right.  Gotta say, that whole bit about wise old owls seems right on the money."

"Good to meet you, Kirby."  Migs turned and peered out across the lawns.  "It is beautiful.  I bet it looks remarkable in the winter.  Do a lot of the trees stay green?"

Migs grunted slightly at the mention of NEWTs and shook his head as he slipped the leather gauntlet back over his hand.  Pazi had just slipped back into sight above the trees and was streaking back in their direction.  "Yeah - I'm in my last year.  That scary adult life everyone keeps reminding us of is approaching faster than I'd like."  Migs whistled and lifted his wrist as the white falcon flapped and lighted on his arm. 

Kirby smiled at the boy warmly. He was certainly beautiful to look at which scared her slightly as she was never good at communicating and trusting people yet ahead of it all she seemed to be attracted to the Salem student. "I..i'm English, and it can be especially when the snow falls and the trees become bare during winter." she replied as she answered his questions. "And yes we use Owls. I have a barn owl called Ayla. What do you use? If you don't mind me asking." she asked him nervously but not downheartedly.

"Owls seems calmer," Migs commented scratching Pazi on the flat of his head, just above his cere.  "More level headed.  At least, just from what little I've seen."  He turned back to Kirby.  "Well - Americans like their eagles.  And, they're a little more useful when people are as spread out as we are.  I suppose a few of my classmates have falcons, too.  Some have owls.  They're easier keepers.  But, not many."  All around, owls were definitely much simpler birds to keep but far less popular.  They're diet tended to stay much more consistently rodent-based unlike some of the larger eagles who had a habit of dining on larger prey - including other birds and cats.  Bald eagles tended to be popular; they usually could be kept contented with fish.

Kirby smiled. She knew how birds worked. Being brought up in a small town in the north west of England in the muggle world. You were used to seeing the larger birds of prey including the kestrel too. Around an hour away stood the largest owl sanctuary in the entire of England that she waited often and used to work as a volunteer there. "I know what you mean but i love my barn and tawny owls but i am fond of the kestrel too" she answered the boy wisely.

 "So, you're one of the Hogwarts clan."  Migs asked, turning his attention fully to the young woman.  The bird launched himself off and took flight over the trees, again, and out of sight.  "I think I've seen you in my classes.  Are you looking forward to the tournament?  Are you going to put your name in?"  Migs knew he would be and was looking forward to it.  But, whether or not he was chosen, he was looking forward to seeing Salem show the other schools what they were made of.  "It's going to be exciting."

Kirby smiled at the Salem senior as he seemed to pick up more interest in her. Usually people tended to stay away from her well actually she tended to avoid conversation. She wasn't the best person to communicate with other people. "I suppose you can class me as part of the hogwarts clan. Your from Salem ain't you?" she replied happily for some strange reason she felt like she was able to talk to this boy which she couldn't usually.

Migs tugged his hand free from the gauntlet once more, letting it fall unceremoniously to the ground.  He then followed suit, crossing the short distance towards the tree and sitting down in the grass, his back against the tree trunk.  "School, yes," he answered.  "I go to school in Salem but I'm actually from sort of the center of the US.  A little place called the Turtle Mountain Reservation - most Americans haven't heard of it.  It's in North Dakota.  Almost to the Canadian border.  It's very different from here." 

Kirby smiled and imagined a entirely different world that he could have come from. She had been to Canada once before to Toronto so knowing how different their lifestyle was to theirs in the muggle world it would be worse with the wizarding world. "Cool. I can't say i have heard of the reserve but i know how different Canada is to here i have been once. A long time ago of course" she explained intrigued by his story.

"Most Americans haven't heard of it," Migs assured the girl.  "We're kind of tucked away in the middle of nowhere - up in the northern Great Plains?"  He wasn't sure how much this Kirby was aware of American geography.  "Where it's either really hot or really really cold.  My family has a ranch there - there all muggles.  I'm the only one who's not; other than my Great Aunt."  He dipped his head in the general direction of the Hospital Hut. 

Kirby nodded trying to recapture the American map she had studied years back when she was normal. American plains? It wasn't familiar to the English girl. She did know about life as a muggle born though. "I know what its like to be surrounded by muggles. I am muggle born so everyone i have known and grown up with before i came here were muggles. So i know how difficult it can be." she added to the conversation trying to make him know that he was not alone.