Eagles

“Iris, have you seen the eagle that's been flying around?” Rowan asked, and Iris felt her stomach fall to her feet.

“What are you talking about?” Iris asked wide eyed at Rowan, but the black haired girl didn't even look up from her book.

“I've seen an eagle flying around the school grounds a lot recently, it's brown. I know you like birds, and I thought you could go look for it.” Rowan explained and Iris let out a sigh of relief. If it was brown, that means she still hadn't been spotted, but that would mean it could be Talbott. “I hope all the pet rats are safe.”

“Oh yeah, me too.” Iris nodded.

“That bloody bird tried to nest in my hair earlier!” Merula howled in Rowan and Iris's direction.

“Well it looks so much like it's natural habitat.” Iris stated.

“You shut your face Rosewood! At least I know what scissors look like!” Merula shouted back to the blonde. Iris rolled her eyes and looked back to Rowan.

“Have you seen Penny? She wrote me a note and asked me to meet her here.”

“Not yet I haven't.” Rowan told her, “I'd wait with you but I have to get to my tutoring session with Barnaby.”

“It's ok, I'll read a book while I wait.” Iris assured her as Rowan made her exit. Iris sat down at the table and pulled out her book, and she was only a few pages in when Penny came up behind her.

“You're here, Iris! Thanks for coming.”

“Of course Penny.” Iris told her, closing her book. “Now, what's wrong? You sounded worried when you asked to meet.”

“It's Talbott.”

“Talbott Winger?” Iris clarified. “What's wrong? Is he hurt?”

“No... At least, I hope not.” Penny admitted. “He's been spending all of his time alone recently.”

“Um... No offense, Penny, but have you met Talbott? He makes Snape look talkative.” Iris told her with a smile. Talbott, as much as she wanted him to be more outgoing, and start hanging out with their friend group, she knew he was quiet and she knew not to push or else she would just push him away.

“I know he's a... Private person, but I've been his friend for a while. I can tell when something is wrong.” Penny assured her. “Plus, he's been missing class, even transfiguration, and that's his best and favorite class. I'd ask him what's wrong myself, but I can't find him. I think he's avoiding me. That's why I asked you to meet me, I was hoping you may know where he is.”

“Sorry Penny, I haven't sen him at all recently, but we can ask around and see if anyone else has seen him.” Iris told her, Penny nodded, although did not seem to hold much hope.

“Sorry Iris, I've been too busy studying to pay much attention to who is and who isn't in class.” Rowan told her. “If Talbott wants to be alone, shouldn't we give him his space?”

“Winger? Picking up another weirdo to add to your collection of friends?” Merula had sneered.

“Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Talbott Winger around the Ravenclaw Common room much either.” Tulip supplied.

“Talbott Winger is that bloke who keeps to himself a lot, right?” Andre asked.

“No, I'm afraid Mr. Winger hasn't told me anything. But if you do see Mr. Winger, please tell him that we need to discuss his attendance.” Flitwick told the girls.

Everything lead them to a dead end.

“That's odd. I asked everyone and it doesn't seem like any of them have seen Talbott recently. Whatever's going on, it doesn't seem like he's ignoring you specifically, Penny.” Iris shrugged, starting to feel a bit worried herself.

“Though I'm glad he's not only avoiding me, now I'm even more worried.” Penny was almost tearful, and Iris knew that she was truly concerned. “I want to keep looking for him, but I promised a few first years I'd tutor them in potions.”

“Don't worry, I'll look for him, and when I find him, I'll talk to him.” Iris assured her.

“Really?!” Penny exclaimed.

“Yes. Talbott's my friend even if he doesn't like to admit it. I'm worried for him too, and want to make sure he's ok. Besides, this might be a good opportunity to try and get to know him better.” Iris hadn't said anything to Penny, but she had a little crush on the quite Ravenclaw, she did like mysteries and puzzles that needed solving, and he seemed to be the embodiment of that. She knew in her head it was just a silly little crush, and nothing would come of it, but she hoped maybe he would accept her friendship.

“Thank you Iris. It's a relief knowing you'll be there for him if he needs help, you're the best!” Penny look visibly more relaxed and Iris smiled, happy to help both of them. “Talbott might say he wants to be alone, but I don't think he really means it.”

“Of course, I'll start my search now, I have time.” Iris waved Penny off and headed to the courtyard to start her search. Even if he wasn't there, it was a good area to transform herself into a Harpy Eagle and search by the air.

“Iris?” Ben called her name and she smiled at him.

“Hey Ben!”

“I have this for you.” He handed over a note and she read it. To her shock, it was actually from Talbott. Meet me in the Courtyard.

“Thank you Ben! Did Talbott give this to you?”

“If you mean the brooding Ravenclaw who looks like he'll bite your head off, then yeah.”

“Sounds like him. Thank you, Ben.” Fortunately for her, she was already on her way to the courtyard. She turned the corner and went through the double doors to see Talbott standing in front of the fountain where they had played Gobstones the year prior, just before she had turned into an Animagus.

“Talbott! When I told Penny I'd look for you, I wasn't expecting you'd reach out and agree to meet here first.”

“So it's true you and Penny have been looking for me?” He asked, feeling mildly irked.

“Where did you hear that? Everyone I talked to haven't seen or talked to you in days!” Iris was shocked when he admitted he knew they had been looking for him, and a little perturbed he would do that to Penny.

“A little birdy told me.” He told her, his face voice of any emotion.

“Haha, nice try but bird puns won't distract me from asking what's going on.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Worth a shot.” He shrugged.

“I'm serious. You've been missing class. When Penny told me how concerned she was by your behavior, I couldn't help but be worried too.”

“I appreciate your concern, but as you can see, I'm fine.” He told her. This girl had taken up enough of his time and his energy. He was not about to-

“Are you actually fine? Or are you just lying and telling me you're fine so I'll leave you alone?” She asked, and she knew she had struck a nerve by the flash of shock in his eyes. He contemplated turning into an eagle and flying away, but he knew she would just follow him, and she was a bigger bird that could easily pluck him out of the sky. His lips pressed together tightly.

“if I tell you I'm lying, will you keep pressing me to find out what's wrong?” He asked.

“Yes!” She shouted exasperated. This boy was infuriating sometimes.

“Then I'm fine. I've spent a lot of time alone lately. That's not newsworthy.” He looked away from her, and her soul piercing eyes. They were almost opalescent in color, gleaming and bright, both commanding and compassionate at the same time, prying into his brain. Talbott wasn't sure if he found them irritating, or beguiling. He tended to lean towards the latter. “Why do you even care of there's something bothering me anyway?”

“Because I care about you.” That answer surprised him, and he looked to her with narrowed eyes. “And I care about Penny, she has enough to worry about and I wanted to give her piece of mind by helping you.”

“Penny is that worried? Why?”

“She thinks you're avoiding her.”

“I'm not trying to make Penny worry, and I'm not avoiding her specifically. I just have things I need to handle on my own.”

“Fine.” He made the mistake of thinking fine meant she was going to drop the topic. “We don't have to talk about what's wrong. We can play Gobstones instead.” She smirked and Talbott found his blood pressure rising as she pulled out her little bag of marbles from her purse. “But,” of course there was a but. “If I win, you have to at least consider telling me why you've been extra distant lately.”

“If I win?”

“I'll tell Penny you're actually fine and never bring this up again.” He should have known better then to trust her at Gobstones.

“Deal.” He quickly sat down, dividing the stones. “I've been practicing.” He was ready to flick the little round pebble-

“I've been bird watching.” He fumbled and missed the green marbles completely. She had known exactly what she was doing, and he was reminded how clever she was. He had never seen a fox with blue eyes, but he was sure he sat across from one.

“You're trying to distract me.”

“Distractions? I'm just making small talk.” She shrugged, hiding her smile as she flicked her marble, hitting what was needed for him to get sprayed.

“I'd rather keep to myself.” He told her, hoping to talk to her rational side... No. There was no rational side of this girl because she answered with,

“Well, I'd rather not have to report you to the ministry.” Iris might as well have punched him square in the face because any and all concentration went right out the window. He flicked the red gobstone across to her and sat back.

“I know when I've lost. I can hear you out.”

“Don't you want to finish? You've only had two turns.”

“I already am finished.” Talbott told her as he stood up. Iris collected her Gobstones and stood up.

“Talbott, I know you don't like talking about yourself, but you shouldn't be afraid to tell me what's bothering you.” Iris said in her kindliest voice she could. “You trusted me with your secret of being an unregistered animagus... And as an unregistered animagus too, I understand how much that trust requires. I hope you know you can tell me anything.”

“Shh!” He suddenly hushed her rather sternly.

“I know you don't want to talk, but you don't have to be rude.” Iris crossed her arms over her chest.

“No, I mean, I heard footsteps. I think there's someone listening.” Talbott followed a sound that Iris couldn't follow and then- “Homenum Revelio!” He cast quickly, pointing at air.

“Merula!” Iris shouted, wanting to pul her hair out. “You were spying on us!”

“She must have been under a Disillusionment Charm. That would explain why we didn't notice her until she moved.” Talbott looked ready to hex her into next week. “How much did you hear?” Merula, as per usual, rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and said.

“Nothing, I was just passing through.”

“Like I believe that. People who are just 'passing through' don't feel the need to use concealment charms.” Talbott was beyond irritated. He was livid, and Iris almost felt the need to step between them.

“Even if I heard you, what makes you think I'm interesting in your gossip? I have better things to do with my time.” Merula rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Even though she denies it, Merula had to have heard that we're unregistered animagi. If that's not bad enough, everyone in school knows her parents are in Azkaban for supporting You-Know-Who! Now, a child of two death eaters knows we're unregistered!”

“I had no idea she was there, I'm sorry.” Iris told him honestly.

“It's fine.”

“Let me talk to Merula, she's hotheaded but maybe I can-”

“You've done enough, Iris.” He told her angrily.

“But I know Merula. I can at least try to convince her to keep our secret, if she even heard it. In fact I'll go find Merula and talk to her right now.”

“I don't need any more of your help. I'll handle Merula on my own.”

Iris, of course, went anyway.