14 November 2011, 6pm twilight
Wentworth Menageries


Crack!

A sturdy witch with shock white hair and violet spectacles appeared at the gates of the expansive Wentworth property.  It was an easy Apparition; she'd been here many times before and it was among the most unique places in the countryside. It hummed with magical life, and in growing twilight it was even more so.

She lifted her robes from the earth and flicked her wand. At her command, the world around her bloomed into an active network of auras, nocturnal flora and fauna beginning to awake. With the wand to guide her, she found her way easily to the main building. Tamzin knew better to sneak up on anything or anyone, so she hummed an old song and let her jewelry jangle.

"You can hear them if you try, hissing, twisting from blackened sky. Shut the shutters, lock the doors. Close your mouth, to save your souls." Just a little tune to keep away the spooks.

Young Xavier Tawse, the new owner of the place, had arranged for one of his hands to meet her and take her out. Out to find the unicorns.

Moira wasn't entirely sure where the day had gone. There was so much to do, especially with some employees asking off because their chances for a vacation in December were slim. Having just been there for a little over two months herself she didn't plan on taking any.

Officially her shift was supposed to end at six but working late had become quite normal for the young woman. Rare were the days she left work on time. As such, her boss had no trouble telling her to expect a guest around this time. Straight from the top, he had said. The fact she was expecting the guest and not another ranchhand had to do with her taking care of the unicorns that day.

Having unicorns to take care of at all was a special treat and a temporary situation. They were in transition to a new and better home, staying at the menageries for just a few days. Seeing one unicorn was rare enough. Studying and observing interactions between herd members was an opportunity impossible to pass up. Moira was grateful the higher ups felt her capable of the task.

Hearing the jingling of jewelry and then seeing a new person Moira shifted a shoulder bag, carrying a few treats almost all equines loved, more securely on her shoulder. This must be the guest.

Hospitable. "Hello, I'm Moira McBoid. You're here to see the unicorns?"

Moira McBoid. Accompanying the straight-forward greeting was a remarkably grounded aura which reminded Tamzin of a heartbeat.

"Yes, that would be us. Tamzin Ollivander," she responded as she arrived.  She passed her wand to her left hand so she could offer out her right for a shake.

"McBoid," Tamzin said then.  "Are you the McBoids from around Edinburgh? That's an old family. Good people."

Not as old as the Ollivanders, but there weren't many families that were. McBoids, Tamzin recalled, were among the more community-minded of the old pureblood families. Did their part, if the talk was to be believed.

Moira shook the offered hand, "Aye, Ma'am. Pleasure to meet you." Same as many other students who went to Hogwarts, Moira had received her wand from Ollivander's Wand Shop. Now Moira knew why this guest was so special and what she needed. Unicorn hair, an important ingredient for many wands.

"My father, Angus McBoid, breeds and raises winged horses along with my Uncle Duncan." The younger woman did not mention she helped and had started her own line within the herd. Already Cerys' colt had noticeably grown for only being five months old.

"Shall we get going then, if you're ready?"

Tamzin snapped her finger, memory well-jogged. Yes, she seemed to recall a McBoid Aethonan doing particularly well in one of the cloud courses. Animals then, must be in young Moira's blood.

The wandmaker put her fingers to every inch of a wand inside and out before its first wave. Whenever possible, they selected (and even gathered) the boughs and branches and whips for the shafts. Her old uncle had taught her the lathe himself, so that she'd know every grain-groove and embellishment that became part of the living handle. Each core was individually sourced and painstakingly prepared and preserved before being incorporated into the wood.

Of all cores, Tamzin loved preparing unicorn tail hairs the best. They sang between her fingertips. A single strand felt like a deep breath, a clean clear note full and unbreaking. To be good for wands, a unicorn must give hairs from their tail willingly. A pair of obsidian shears hung around Tamzin's neck, razor sharp and ready for the hopeful scenario these unicorns would be amenable. Tamzin touched them to double-check they were there.

"Ready, my dear. Lead us in."

With a practiced motion, Tamzin looped her hand around Moira's elbow. As they began making their way, Tamzin began her bold interrogation.

"How old are you, then? Oh, just out of Hogwarts. Causing loads of trouble, I hope? Seeing anyone?"

From the main building the enclosure housing the Unicorns was a bit of a trek. They were kept away from most of the other animals as much as possible to help maintain a natural habitat for them. For the unicorns to be at ease was beneficial to everyone and made the transition between homes much smoother.

Matching the wand maker's pace was easy and Tamzin's sudden looping of arms was, surprisingly, more natural than the younger witch would have expected. Casual touch was not usually a part of Moira's daily life. Even among her two family members a hug happened only once in a while. The horses and other animals were her only regular source of physical contact, sometimes for days.

Shaking her head lightly as they walked, "Eighteen, and no... to both questions. I'm too busy for either. Right now my life is filled with work."

Moira knew what some other people thought, even her coworkers. Things like she needed to lighten up, not be so serious or work so hard, live a little and make bad decisions. Even if she was a more social person there was a goal in her mind's eye. Magizoology. There was always more to learn and discover, of course, but she wanted to learn as much as she could as quickly as possible.

One of the cows they passed caught a whiff from Moira's bag and began following them. Would one treat satisfy the beast or would it be greedy?

Tamzin gave young Moira a little squeeze as they walked, a friendly bump.

"I was exactly the same way. Straight out of Hogwarts right into my uncle's workshop. I don't think I felt a breeze again until I was thirty," she said with a smile. It was an exaggeration, but the spirit of the statement was true: she'd worked very hard and perhaps at the expense of what others might deem valuable for youth.

"As long as you know what you're trying to achieve? Worth it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And ah! Don't look now, dear, but I think something's following us. Not subtle is she?"

Moira glanced appreciatively at Tamzin's statement, grateful for the other witch's understanding.

Even her friend scientific study obsessed kind wouldn't let her become a complete hermit, as she was prone to do from time to time. He and his girlfriend would invite her out occasionally when she had a day or evening off. With them being her friends and her caring about them Moira would agree to join, even if she wasn't feeling particularly up to it.

When the guest mentioned to cow following them a small smile escaped Moira's expression, "No, she's not. I'm trying to figure out if she'll be greedy or easily pacified."

Not a talker this one, but Tamzin didn't mind. She'd found that to be the case with outdoorsy folk: they were either boisterously loud, too loud to be welcome indoors, or calm and steady all the better to take it all in and not spook the pegasi.

"So tell me about the blessing[1]," Tamzin said. "How many are there? I understand they're only here a short while."

Unicorns, at the same time, appeared to be unconcerned with the trivialities of the mundane and as shy as deer. It was hard to predict how they'd be adjusting to an unfamiliar place especially if they'd recently traveled. "Has anyone approached them since they arrived?"

Either they'd allow her access to their gossamer tails or they would not.

1.	Googling tells me that's the name for a group of unicorns. Shrug!

Moira nodded some. To business then. "There's seven total. One young stallion, an older mare, and two almost grown foals." Once they had settled somewhat to their temporary location the two foals would sometimes get spirited and play. It was a wonderful thing to watch. "They'll be here another two days before they leave for their permanent home." She hoped she could care for them during the rest of her shifts.

"The older mare is quicker to relax and accept contact; from her experience and wisdom, I guess. The others come around once they're sure a person means no harm. They do accept bribes." That was part of the reason Moira had extra treats in her bag. Perhaps the cow would get some afterwards if any were left.

"There, I can see them now." There was still a small distance to travel to reach the herd but even in the growing dark their shining white coats were unmistakable.

Tamzin was grateful for the dossier and appreciated the young witch's having noted their temperaments. As they neared the unicorns, Tamzin raised her wand to cast for their aurors and they hit her wand like a flash of warmth, deep and calm. Their warmth mingled together. And then the funniest thing happened: they reached out to Tamzin. She felt suddenly perceived, that she was the subject of their attention.

The older mare raised her head on the hill and shook her mane. The others shifted. Tamzin had encountered unicorns many times before, but this was the first time they seemed to know her somehow.

"My stars! They certainly see us. Magnificent."

At their awareness, Tamzin slowed and adjusted herself. She laid her bag on the ground in the glass. Her tiny crystal shears were on of the charms around her neck. The vellum envelops were waiting in a pocket. She lowered her wand again respectfully but didn't quiet her charm - not just yet. She'd done this before, but she placed some trust in Moira who was acquainted with this particular blessing and their history.

As Tamzin walked slowly forward, she kept her wand against her stomach and her empty hand palm up. Her jewelry gently jangled as she took careful steps.

"Aye, they're very perceptive creatures." Moira could almost feel the unicorns' gaze when their attention shifted to them. As the two witches approached, the herd stood as a unit, almost of one mind. Most importantly they remained calm. A creature in a calm and relaxed state was one that could listen. The last thing they wanted were for the unicorns to be spooked.

Staying close to the older witch, Moira let Tamzin lead and gave a soft Gaelic greeting, one she had used before when meeting them. The equines could easily be seen now.

The old mare left her unit first, walking up to them having accepted their approach. The others, as Moira had anticipated, took a little longer before also coming forward one by one. Moira smiled, unable to help herself. Not many people could say they were surrounded by a blessing of unicorns.

"Here." Taking some of the treats from her bag she passed a few into Tamzin's hand.

Tamzin couldn't take her attention away from the luminous beasts. They radiated power and tranquility. Wands made of unicorn tail hairs had but the tiniest ounce of that potency, but it was enough to do amazing things, anything a wix would want...

"Thanks you," Tamzin breathed and closed her fingers around the little sweet-smelling morsels. Smelled like rosewater and cinnamon. She then slipped her arm free from Moira's kind arm and nodded her head to the mare.

"Good morning, sweet one. You're kind to come over. I'm Tamzin Ollivander, a wandmaker."

Scholars and hedgewitches argued ever if unicorns could truly understand humans; Tamzin hoped they could, but even if they didn't understand English, she knew they could ken to your meaning, if you were sincere. They'd have to sense she'd come in supplication, begging a thread or few.

Tamzin held out her hand palm open. She felt the warm breath of the mare before she felt her silky nose. Tamzin couldn't help but beam without inhibition.

"Hello..."

Hearing someone else talk to animals the way Moira did was kind of nice. Of course the young woman didn't always talk, but she said more to the creatures than she did most people, especially to her Aethonan mare Cerys.

It might have been her imagination, but Moira felt as though the unicorns understood. They knew why Tamzin had come and they weren't shying away. A good sign. Those tail hairs would make for some incredibly powerful wands.

Her own wand held a phoenix feather at it's core. Something that still sometimes puzzled her. She didn't have a fiery personality the phoenix invoked the image of. At Hogwarts she had looked up information about it and learned it could be due to her versatility with all different types of creatures.

Moira watched as the mare took the treat from Tamzin's hand, munching gratefully. She was grateful the unicorns liked it as well as the cows and other horses. She had been the one to bake them after all.

Glancing back as one of the foals nudged her she gave a soft chiding remark in Gaelic, "Don't push. There's plenty." Moira offered him a treat as well.

Moira was so calm and gentle, Tamzin admired that. She found herself, as always, wondering about the wand at her side. Now that they were amongst the unicorns, Tamzin slid her wand into her sleeve so she had both hands free.

"May I?" she asked the mare and turned her hand to touch her fingers lightly to the unicorn's cheek. She was both warm and crystal cool at the same time, and that warmth radiated into Tamzin's hand. She felt the unicorn settle, so Tamzin laid her whole palm on the great beast's head. She began, slowly, to move her hand along her neck.

"You're wonderful, dear," she said still overcome with awe. It was time to make the request. She unclipped the tiny crystal shears from her necklace and held them in a flat hand for the unicorn to inspect.

She gently patted the unicorn's shoulder. "Just a dozen of your tail hairs, if you would spare them," she all-but whispered.