Note: Missing bird please help~
With confidence
Y/N had been enjoying her time as an unregistered Animagus, finding fun in the company of her pets and the magical beasts she had been taking care of. She didn't know that having the form of an animal would give her both excitement and thrill. Excitement as some of the animals would play chase with her and thrill when mouths would try to open and gobble up her small form. It was a brief respite from the challenges and mysteries that often came her way at Hogwarts.
But Rowan doesn't agree with her. "Being almost eaten by your pet isn't exactly a relaxing thought," the bespectacled girl said with exasperation. "Gallivanting for a cursed vault is much tamer than that," she added.
"Relax, that won't happen." would be y/n's argument. But she eventually promised Rowan not to play with her more 'dangerous' pet in her Animagus form. Then her days were somewhat more relaxed and normal.
However, her peaceful days were interrupted when Penny called upon her for help. Y/N met Penny in the Great Hall, noticing the worried expression on her friend's face as they exchanged greetings.
"Ah, you're here, Y/N! Thanks for coming!" Penny exclaimed with a sense of relief. Y/N gave her a concerned look and asked, "Of course, Penny. Now, what's wrong? You sounded worried when you asked to meet."
"Its Talbott," Penny said solemnly.
"Talbott Winger, the one who helped us brew an Animagus potion? What's wrong? Is he hurt?" She couldn't help but exclaim her worry. The thought of her new-found friend hurt, making her feel panicked enough to immediately look for him. But she decides to hear Penny out first before taking action.
"No, at least, I hope not. He's been spending all of his time alone recently."
Penny's words reassured her, the mixture of concern and relief evident on her face as she deflated. Though there's still the lingering feeling of worry, she listened intently as Penny talked about why she was feeling a bit worried for the silent Ravenclaw.
"No offense, Penny, but have you met Talbott? He makes Snape look talkative," Y/N said with a teasing note in her tone. In the past few days, she managed to catch the quiet Ravenclaw. She noticed that he was a quiet person and preferred to be alone, so she decided to busy herself by trying to get used to her animagus form before pursuing her continued friendship with talbott.
Penny sighed, still worried. "I know he's a... private person, but I've been his friend for a while. I can tell something's wrong. Plus, he's been missing class, even Transfiguration, and that's his favourite. I'd ask him what's wrong myself, but I haven't been able to find him. I think he's been avoiding me."
Y/N sympathised with Penny's concern and understood the feeling of a friend distancing themselves. "I'm sorry, Penny. I haven't seen him at all recently," she replied.
As Y/N glanced around, an idea struck her. She remembered how, just last month, she had asked around for Talbott, and he had suddenly appeared. Perhaps the same tactic might work again. She turned back to Penny with determination. "Let's ask around. Surely, someone has to have seen Talbott. We'll find him, don't worry."
Penny agreed to her idea and they talked with their fellow students, asking if they saw or might know where the elusive Ravenclaw was.
Though their efforts were in vain, they found no information or clue about Talbott's whereabouts. Although it doesn't feel extraordinarily wrong for Talbott's absence, it still left them worried.
"That's odd. I asked everyone who knows him, and it doesn't seem like any of them have seen Talbott recently. But whatever's going on, it doesn't seem like he's ignoring you specifically, Penny," Y/N reassured her friend.
Penny let out a sigh of relief, but her worry for Talbott remained. "Though I'm glad he's not only avoiding me, now I'm even more worried..."
As they sat there thinking of reasons or their next steps to solve their problem, Penny abruptly stood up and explained that she has somewhere to be. She had promised to tutor and help first-year students in Potions, so that would mean that she would be leaving y/n to solve this alone.
Smiling, y/n assured her with a pat on her shoulder and a gentle push for her to go and leave it to her. Taking on the task of finding and talking to Talbott on Penny's behalf. Overjoyed, Penny gave her a hug, and she then told y/n to seek her out if she needed any help.
"Well, he did help me with the whole Animagi thing, and I've grown to like him," Y/N admitted, her cheeks flushing with a hint of embarrassment. "He's a friend... so yeah..."
Penny's face lit up with gratitude and happiness. "I really appreciate this, Y/N. Let me know how it goes and if you need any help."
Y/N gave a reassuring nod, promising to update Penny on her progress. With a wave goodbye, she headed towards the courtyard, thinking it would be a good start to look for Talbott.
~~~
Talbott landed outside the courtyard as soon as y/n opened the door. Looking around to find that no one was in the immediate vicinity, he transformed back to his human form. Approaching her with a small frown.
"Talbott! When I told Penny I'd look for you, I wasn't expecting you'd reach out and agree to meet me here first," Y/N exclaimed jokingly, her face lighting up with a mix of surprise and relief.
Talbott couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her reaction. "So it's true that you and Penny have been looking for me."
Y/N, curious about how he had known, questioned, "Where did you hear that? Everyone I talked to hadn't seen or talked to you in days."
"A little birdie told me," Talbott replied with a sardonic grin.
Y/N wasn't easily distracted, though. She crossed her arms and said, "Nice try, but bird puns won't distract me from asking about what's going on with you."
Talbott chuckled nervously but knew he couldn't evade her inquiries much longer. "It was worth a shot," he admitted with a grimace, but still held a somewhat sarcastic tone.
Y/N grew more serious, her concern evident in her voice. "Talbott, I'm being serious. You've even been missing class. When Penny told me you were missing, I thought you could've been affected by the cursed vaults, or worse."
"I appreciate the concern, but as you can see, I'm fine," Talbott replied, avoiding her gaze.
Y/N pressed on, determined to get to the bottom of things. "Are you actually fine? Or are you just lying and telling me you're fine so I'll leave you alone?"
"If I tell you I'm lying, will you keep pressing me to find out what's wrong?" he asked, almost giving up. "Yes." She grinned, knowing she almost had him.
"Then I'm actually fine," he said, trying to keep his defenses intact.
But Y/N was relentless. "Talbott!" she exclaimed, causing him to wince.
"So, I've spent a lot of time alone lately. That's not exactly newsworthy," he attempted to dismiss the issue.
"Why do you care if there's something bothering me anyway?" Talbott asked, hoping to deter her from her interrogation.
"Because Penny cares about you!" Y/N insisted. She then added more softly, "I care about you..."
Talbott heard her admission, and he couldn't help but stare in shock, but his eyes soften as he fidgets with his fingers. That was a first. "Sorry, I just have some things I need to deal with on my own," he explained, his cheeks tinged with a rosy hue.
Y/N decided to compromise, suggesting a game of Gobstones. "But if I win, you have to at least consider telling me why you've been extra distant lately."
Talbott contemplated her offer, then agreed. "Alright, Y/N. If you beat me at Gobstones, I promise to hear you out."
~~~
Talbott's guarded demeanour had always been a part of his character, but Y/N was able to take it apart and make him slightly more willing to open up. They had just finished a game of Gobstones, with Y/N emerging as the victor. As they collected the colourful stones, Y/N couldn't help but express her concern for him.
"Talbott, I know you don't like talking about yourself, but you shouldn't be afraid to tell me what's bothering you," she began, her voice gentle. "You trusted me with your secret that you're an unregistered Animagus..."
Her words trailed off as she looked down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. When a realisation so hard came crashing down her mind, Her stomach churned as she tried to deny it as she continued speaking. "I guess what I'm saying is... I hope you know you can tell me anything—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Talbott's hand suddenly covered her mouth, and he leaned in closely, urging her to be quiet. Y/N was taken aback by his sudden actions, and when he removed his hand, she couldn't help but feel hurt by his rudeness.
"I know you don't want to talk, but you don't have to be rude," she said, her tone reflecting her wounded feelings.
Talbott quickly explained that he had heard footsteps and suspected someone was listening. He unconsciously moved in front of Y/N and cast a revealing spell that exposed a disillusioned Merula crouching near a stone statue. Y/N was shocked to realise that Merula had been spying on them.
"Merula, you're spying on us!" Y/N exclaimed in disbelief.
Talbott, with a panicked and aggravated tone, stepped closer to Merula, trying to intimidate her with his height. As he asked the reason she was spying on them, the Slytherin girl just claimed she had only been passing by. However, he was not convinced and accused her of using a concealment charm to hide her presence.
Merula left, and Talbott's anger was palpable as he muttered about the potential danger of someone like her knowing their secret. His harsh words stung y/n, and she felt responsible for the situation.
"I'm so sorry, Talbott. I had no idea Merula was listening in on us," she meekly apologised, wanting to make him relax so they could plan a way to prevent Merula from spreading their secret.
Talbott sighed, his anger not directed at Y/N but at the situation itself. "It's fine..."
He rejected y/n's suggestion of help and claimed to solve it by himself. His anger and horror at someone else knowing his secret were evident in his cold and distant demeanour, which also made y/n feel hurt and confused. She tried to protest, but he had cut her off by quickly transforming himself into his avian form, flying away from the courtyard, and leaving her there alone.
Talbott's decision to not include y/n in his plan of taking care of Merula was terribly rude, but he believed it was necessary to protect his secrets and keep her out of his problem. As he flew away, he tried to bury the emotions that had welled up during their encounter, focusing on his plan to confront Merula and the potential consequences of her knowing their secret.
To be continued.
A/N: Oh no, a bit of angst.... Well, romance always needs that. So let's bear with it
See you next chapter!!!