The first task was over and AJ had made it out in one piece. He figured he'd better write to his parents. They usually liked the owls coming in at a minimum but they had said to write after every task this summer.

AJ climbed his way up to the owlery to send of the little note. He didn't have an owl of his own so always had to use the school owls. Which he didnt mind. As he was walking through the threshold he bumped into someone who he hadnt seen for a very long time.

"Oi!" he said before he noticed who it was. "Oh, you! Well how the hell have you been?" he asked giving a friendly hug.

Sora had just climbed the very long staircase up to the Owlery. His elder sister was going to have a baby and he wanted to check up on her. He was out-of-breath, sweaty, and red-faced by the time he reached the drafty room. The piercing wind normally would have irritated him but it was enjoyable once he reached the room. The last thing he need was for someone to see h-CRASH! Sora smacked hard into another student. He whipped around to face the person, a retort half-way formed on his lips before he smiled and bit back the insult.

"It's you! Thought it was..." His voice faded away at the unfinished thought as he looked his friend up and down. "You seem okay. Saw you in the task but not anywhere else." He said, grinning impishly at the Ravenclaw boy.

AJ and Sora had known each other for quite a while, were good friends, but ceased talking for unknown reasons.

"Yeah, it's me. Alive and well." he smiled. He was just leaving and didnt know if he should stay and bother Sora or not.

"Erm, so you're staying over summer I take it? Or are you leaving soon?"

AJ looked out into the sky, wishing he could be flying in it at this very moment.

Sora shrugged at the question. His home situation was...null and void. As it had been since last year. Thanks to that git. "I might say." He said simply. He didn't want to explain the complicated answer that was the truth.

"You going down to dinner? I'm avoiding that place right now." He tapped a pale forefinger against his temple, indicating his usual excuse. " 'nother headache." He muttered grimly. "You going to be here or not?" He asked, staring down at the dropping-strewn floor. He cringed slightly at the filth.

"Over summer? Yeah....I'm in the tournament." He said answering the questions in reverse order. "But as for dinner, no. I had planned on going somewhere." He didnt want to say flying because Sora might think at the pitch...with brooms.

"Headache eh? Doesnt sound to pleasing."

"Oh. Yeah. I forgot." He said, hoping AJ would glide over his moment of foolishness.To cover the moment, he walked gingerly toward one of more large, impressive owls. It was black for the most part, save a small patch of feathers on the nape of it's neck that were a dull red.

The bird glared fiercely at him for a second or two and than, relaxing, held out it's leg. Sora fumbled in his pocket before pulling out a crumpled ball that was once the letter. He smoothed out the paper and took a quill from his bag. He hastily added his straight and neat signature before tying the letter onto the owl and leading it toward the glass-less window.

"Yeah, but it's settled down now. Er, the heachace I mean." Sora said, his back to AJ as the bird pondered flying out into the grounds.

AJ felt like he was making Sora feel uncomfortable. AJ had already mailed his letter but lingered in the Owlery. He felt at home with birds. He could just imagine himself flying among these owls, but obviously sticking out by being almost twice their size.

"Well thats good," he said referring to the headache.

AJ walked around Sora, like an eagle would circle his prey. AJ had become more birdlike since his transformation, but he hadnt noticed.

"Well then..."

"Hm?" Sora asked as at AJ's unfinshied centiment. There was something different about his old friend. Something that hadn't been there when they first met. But the Slytherin boy couldn't put his finger on it. It hung, just out of reach. He almost had his mind around it but wasn't quite there. He snorted angirly. It always bothered him when he couldn't grasp something fast enough. It made him feel foolish. And that was a feeling Sora never enjoyed.

He jumped slightly as he felt the bird's talons release his arm from it's steel-like hold. The bird flew away into the sky, wings flying furiously. Sora wondered if he had done the bird an injust by not sending it off correctly while he was lost in his thoughts.

AJ watched as the bird flew. He was tempted to just run and jump out the winder, transforming in mid air. It was a favourite of his to do.

He didn't really know where this conversation was leading or if it was over. "Spose we could head out now?" he suggested. Both had mailed their letters.

"Where to?"