Vacation

At the top of the West Tower, a figure climbed the narrow spiral staircase step by step.

The Owlery, also known as Hogwarts's largest staff dormitory, housed hundreds of owls. Some had been brought from home by young wizards, while others had long been employed by the school. Occasionally, they took on small temporary jobs in Hogsmeade to earn some extra money for better meals.

The Owlery was regularly cleaned and tidied by House-elves, keeping it spotless. Wizard-kept owls were highly intelligent and did not have the bad habit of relieving themselves everywhere, so there was barely any smell.

A few strands of straw were scattered over the stairs, probably brought down by the owls as they flew in and out.

Before he even entered the Owlery, the sound of flapping wings reached him. A Spectacled Owl with gray-brown feathers fluttered down onto his shoulder, affectionately rubbing its beak against his cheek and hair.

"Hoo! Hoo!"

"All right, all right, stop rubbing against me."

Loren smiled and stroked the owl's feathers, running his hand from its head and neck all the way to the base of its tail. Hānhan trembled comfortably. "You're already a grown owl. You should learn to be composed. What kind of behavior is pouncing on people and rubbing against them...?"

"Hoo! Hoo!"

The Spectacled Owl, Hānhan, tilted its head, looking as though it had no idea what he was saying.

"It's fine if you don't understand. Once the weather warms up, I'll find you a mate and have them keep you in line."

As he said this, Loren fell into thought. Supporting his chin with one hand, he looked Hānhan up and down. "I remember you're female. Owls don't undergo any bizarre development, do they? But you are a magical creature, so maybe you're different from