Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2013 15:11:56 GMT -8
Horace poured a gratuitous amount of whiskey into his tea, he preferred liqueur in lieu of the more common additions, such as cream and sugar. He used a tiny silver spoon to stir the concoction before testing the flavor, relieved to find that it had just enough bite to suit his taste. He sat down at his desk, already feeling rejuvenated by the thought of his next task. For a month, he had been observing the student body, ascertaining their talents and knowledge, and of course their infamous lineages. This years crop of students were some of the finest he'd seen yet, each one had either an exquisite strength or prestigious family member. He pulled a crisp piece of parchment from inside his top desk drawer, grabbing his favorite quill in the process- it had been a gift from Minster Bagnold herself. The wood was intricately carved with Celtic knots, each one pristinely inlay-ed with gold, even on the sharp, metallic point. He dipped the prized utensil into the twilight black viscous ink, letting the access drip off before beginning his note.
There, that looked rather unimposing, now didn't it? An echoing whistle escaped his lips, a call that he'd taught his precious youthful owl, Melanite, named after the priceless black stone. His feathers were of a similar color- jet black, with matching eyes. It was quite rare to find an owl with little to no imperfections, but the bird had been yet another gift from an Alumni, Cooper Donovan Bailey, current Adivser to the Minster. Melanite landed directly on the Professors outstretched arm, and remained perfectly still as he tied the note to the owl's foot. "Now, Mel, this is for the eyes of Andromeda Cassia Black, and hers alone, understand? Her afternoon lessons should be ending, you'll find her about the corridors somewhere, I assume." he explained, though it was unnecessary. These birds were far more clever than they were often given credit for. As the owl took flight, Slughorn sat back down in his seat, taking a few moments to sip his tea and whiskey before grading a few essay's. This year could prove to be quite fun, what with a new batch of students to entertain, and his old friend Tom Riddle back in the castle once more! The possibilities were positively endless.
