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bridgertonbabe · 2 years ago

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Bridgerton Drabble - Harry Potter AU Edition #3

“Alright, let’s divide and conquer.” Violet addressed the gathered group before her as everyone finished off their ice creams. “Daphne I’ll take you to Ollivanders, Flourish and Blotts, and then Madam Malkin’s to get your robes fitted-”

“And the Owl Emporium, mum! You promised I could get an owl just like they all did!” Daphne reminded her, gesturing to her three older brothers.

“Of course, of course.” Violet stroked her hair assuringly. “Now I think it’s best if Eloise, Francesca, and Hyacinth all stay with me,”

“Oh but mum!” Eloise whined. “I don’t want to trail Daphne round all day long!”

“Hey!” Daphne cried out.

“Eloise you’re coming with us whether you like it or not, seeing as you’ll be in your sister’s shoes in two years time.” Violet told her.

“Unless you turn out to be a squib.”

“MUM!” Eloise exclaimed.

“Colin, don’t be mean to your sister.” Edmund scolded his son. “You’re not a squib, honey.” he then said to his second eldest daughter and rubbed her arm consolingly.

“Moving on,” Violet sighed, “Edmund if you could take Sophie and Ben to Madam Malkin’s first to have their new robes fitted, then I think you both needed new quills?” she checked and Sophie and Benedict nodded.

“And then to Amanuensis?” Edmund guessed.

“Can we go Scribbulus instead?” Benedict asked. “Their stationary stuff’s better.”

“Whatever you want, son.” Edmund patted him on the back.

“Right, then Anthony if you could take Colin to Potage’s and get him a new cauldron, seeing as he managed to melt his last year.” Violet raised an eyebrow.

“It was an accident, I swear!” Colin insisted. “Tell her, Soph!”

Sophie remained tight-lipped and kept her head down, not wanting to lie to Violet Bridgerton’s face.

“If you could also go to Slug and Jiggers and fetch everyone’s potions supplies for the next year - here’s the list, dear.” Violet handed Anthony over the potion shopping list as well as a bag of galleons to cover the cost. “And then after you can take Colin and Gregory to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.”

“Yippee!” Gregory cheered and Anthony allowed his kid brother to clamber onto his back as he stood up.

“And then let’s all meet by Gringotts when we’re done, okay? Everyone ready to go?”

There was an affirmative response before the Bridgertons broke up into their respective groups and went off in different directions, with Benedict going with his father and Sophie to Madam Malkin’s first.

“This one’s shot up yet again,” Edmund cheerfully informed the shop assistant and clapped Benedict on the back, “I swear he has a growth spurt every time we pick him up from Kings Cross. And then Sophie here needs a new set after she almost went up in flames last year.”

The incident in question had occurred in the same Potions lesson where Colin managed to melt his cauldron. Fortunately Phillip had doused Sophie with a water spell before the flames could reach her skin, but the same couldn’t be said for her school robes which got the brunt of the sudden wild fire that had somehow been started at their desk. When Benedict had seen Sophie later on that day with her burnt robes still smoldering he nearly burst a blood vessel and admonished his brother, who alongside Michael had already been told off by Professor Slughorn, Professor Sprout, Professor Danbury, Anthony, and Kate Sharma for their reckless tomfoolery and endangerment of their classmates.

Once they had been fitted for their new robes they stopped by Scribbulus Writing Instruments and picked up their new quills that Benedict had recommended to Sophie.

“Right, and then I think someone wanted to spend their birthday money on the latest Firebolt?” Edmund turned to his son after they left the stationary shop.

Benedict had been saving his money up all year in order to be able to purchase the newly released broomstick and had talked about nothing else in his excitement ahead of the trip to Diagon Alley. He gave his father an eager grin but just before they could take a step in the direction of the Quidditch Supplies shop, a little figure ran into their midsts and crashed into Edmund’s legs.

“Daddy!” Hyacinth cried out, hugging him tightly.

“Sweetheart!” Edmund gasped and picked his youngest up. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanna go to Sugarplum’s!” she cheered and pointed in the direction of the pink painted sweet shop not too far from them.

“But where’s mummy, sweetheart? Is she with you?”

“No?” Hyacinth replied, cocking her head in puzzlement, wondering what her mum’s whereabouts had anything to do with her wanting to go to Sugarplum’s.

“Oh dear.” Edmund sighed, realising his wife would no doubt be panicking once she noticed her three year old had run off. “Well we’d better go find her to let her know you’re alright.” He then turned to Benedict and Sophie and passed over a small bag of money. “I was meant to pick up some food for the owls if you don’t mind swinging by there first? I’ll come find you there, alright?”

“Sure thing, dad.” Benedict smiled, unfazed by the slight change in plan seeing as reuniting Hyacinth with their mother was the priority.

With Edmund and Hyacinth gone, Benedict and Sophie traipsed to Eeylops Owl Emporium, grabbing a sack of owl food as well as several bags of treats that Benedict paid for. As he packed away his purchases in the muggle shopping trolley bag his parents found very useful to cart around the wizarding shopping district, Benedict spotted Sophie admiring some of the owls scattered around the store.

He pulled up beside her and watched as she interacted with a particularly squat and small owl, who hooted and hopped along it’s branch and nuzzled against the finger she held out to it. When Sophie moved her finger to the left to get the little owl to bounce back along the branch, the little bird took a wobble and actually fell from it’s perch. Sophie gasped but Benedict darted a hand out to save the little owl from falling flat on it’s face.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” Sophie apologised to the little owl and stroked it’s head as Benedict held it. “I didn’t mean to disorient you!”

Benedict found it sweet how concerned she was with the bumbling little owl as she took it from him and cradled it in her own hands.

“Doesn’t take a lot.” grunted a nearby shop assistant. “That one’s absolutely useless.”

“Surely not. It’s still young.” Sophie cooed as she gazed down into the owl’s big bright eyes.

“Looks young but that’s a fully grown one for it’s kind.” the shop assistant informed her. “Pretty sure it’s the runt of it’s brood. She can’t fly for too long and she can barely hold a post-it note.”

“Doesn’t mean she’s useless.” Sophie defended the little creature.

“Oh yeah? Then what else would you have her do?” the apathetic shop assistant snorted.

“Well maybe she needs a little more training than other owls.” Sophie suggested. “I don’t see any reason to just give up on her and write her off altogether.”

“Trust me, I’ve worked here seven years now, and I know a dud when I see a dud.” the shop assistant said. “The most useful thing she could do is feed herself to one of the cats next door.”

“That’s a bit harsh.” Benedict replied as Sophie’s face fell in horror.

“Harsh but true. We’ll probably have to cull her anyway, seeing as she’s taking up room and no one’s remotely interested in her.” the shop assistant shrugged before turning away to help another customer.

“That’s not fair. That’s so not fair.” Sophie murmured as she stroked the owl’s head, with the little bird giving a hoot of appreciation.

“Why don’t you take her?” Benedict quietly suggested.

“What?” Sophie’s eyes widened, almost resembling the owl in her hands who also peered up at Benedict curiously, almost as if she understood what he had said.

“Well you could do with an owl.” he pointed out.

“Not really.” she shook her head solemnly. “It’s not like I have anyone to write to.”

“Of course you do!” he argued with an encouraging tone. “Mum and dad would love to write and hear back from you! Eloise can’t get enough of writing letters to anyone who will respond to her, and Frannie would love to write to you too! And then after he leaves at the end of this year Anthony will be another person you can correspond with. And Gregory and Hyacinth could send you drawings and cards all the time!”

“I guess.” Sophie gave a small shrug in an equally small voice. “But he said she can barely fly or carry anything.” she noted and inclined her head towards the surly shop assistant.

“Well of course he would say that. His attitude stinks as much as his body odour does.” Benedict muttered, prompting a snort out of Sophie who immediately clapped a hand over her mouth in embarrassment. “What she needs is someone who has the patience to train her, like you said, and I can’t think of anyone better to take the time to build her up than you, Soph.” he enthused. “You’re not the type to give up on anyone! I mean, hell, you’ve been Colin’s friend for two whole years when most other people would have thrown in the towel after a single week!”

“Benedict.” she laughed in a poor attempt to scold him for mocking his brother.

“I am serious though. You should take her.”

“I don’t have much money left.” Sophie bit her lip. “I wouldn’t be able to afford her.”

“Considering they’ve already got her on the chopping block, I’m sure they’d be happy to sell her off for cheap.” Benedict shrugged. “Watch. Hey!” he then called out to the shop assistant who had spoken to them earlier. “How much for the little one?” he enquired and motioned to the owl still cradled in Sophie’s hands.

“That thing?” the shop assistant spluttered. “You want to buy that thing?”

“Yes.” Sophie firmly replied, no longer able to tolerate his dismissive attitude towards the stout little owl she held.

“Honestly? You can have it for free,” he began to reply.

“I beg your pardon?” his manager suddenly appeared with a furrowed brow aimed at his employee. “Were you seriously about to let them take it for free?”

“Well we don’t want it.” the assistant shrugged carelessly.

“And you’re just going to let us lose a profit just because they’re stupid enough to buy a creature that useless?”

“Uh, we can hear you, you know!” Benedict called out in annoyance.

“You can have her for ten galleons.” the manager said.

“What?!” Benedict screwed his face up (as did the shop assistant). “That’s what you charge for owls double her size!” he argued, considering his eagle owl, Clement, had been nine galleons. “That’s totally unreasonable!”

“Take it or leave it.” the managed said. “If you want her so badly.”

“Ben.” Sophie murmured quietly. “I... I can’t afford her. I don’t even have one galleon.”

Benedict’s heart stuttered at the sombre expression on her face as she looked down mournfully at the little owl in her hands, with the small bird making a sad little noise, as if knowing she wouldn’t be leaving the store with Sophie. He couldn’t believe how heartlessly greedy the manager was being, charging such an extortionate amount to two students of all customers.

He knew his parents wouldn’t have hesitated to pay for the owl for Sophie but he also knew the money he now had left from his father wouldn’t be enough to afford the bird - but with that being said, Benedict did still have some other money on him...

“Fine!” he snapped, rummaging around in his jacket pocket and handing over the ten galleons, slapping them down into the manager’s hand. “And that had better come with a cage!”

“Deal.” the manager smirked triumphantly, clearly delighted with the daylight robbery he had just pulled off.

“Ben, you really shouldn’t have!” Sophie said. “I won’t be able to pay you back any time soon-”

“Pay me back for what?” he asked. “It’s my treat.”

“But... but what about your Firebolt?” her eyes shone at him worriedly.

“No, no, no, no.” he quickly assured her. “That wasn’t from my own pocket money. No. No, mum and dad had money set aside to treat you today to something special. They mentioned it to me and Ant last night.” he expertly fibbed, knowing if he admitted to spending his own money on her that she would stubbornly try to turn his offer down to pay for the owl.

“Really?” Sophie’s eyes rounded with astonishment.

“Really.” he nodded. “It was always the plan to get you something extra special, Soph. Mum said if one of us was with you, without either her or dad, to buy whatever might have caught your eye. And nothing else has caught your eye quite like this little one.” he smiled and booped the owl on the head before the shop assistant took her from Sophie’s hands and placed her in the cage he had brought from out back.

“Oh, thank you, Ben!” she cried and gave him a crushing hug. “Thank you so much!”

“Of course, Soph.” he grinned and hugged her back, elated to have brought her such joy.

When they exited the emporium they met his parents laden with shopping bags and his sisters.

“Sophie!” Eloise gasped. “Did you get an owl?!” she asked as she and the rest of her sisters quickly surrounded the cage and awwed at the little bird, who hooted in greeting at her admirers.

“Isn’t she adorable?” Sophie beamed as Daphne took the cage from her to get a closer look. “And thank you ever so much!” she then smiled at Violet and Edmund, both of who looked bewildered by the gratitude before Sophie supplied them with the explanation Benedict had just made up and then proceeded to hug them both.

Over Sophie’s head his parents gave him a questioning look and he returned it with a silent plea, begging them to just go along with it.

“But of course, dear.” Violet cupped Sophie’s face. “You deserve a treat. And we were saying you deserved an owl of your own.” she smiled and brushed a curl behind Sophie’s ear before giving her a quick peck on the forehead.

Sophie positively beamed back at her and then returned to her new pet and eagerly began discussing names with the Bridgerton sisters.

“Son? You ready to get your Firebolt?” Edmund asked him.

“Oh. Right. Um, actually, I’m not going to bother.” Benedict quietly replied, making sure Sophie didn’t hear. “My old one’s fine and anyway it turns out I haven’t saved up enough.”

“Honey, why don’t you take the girls to Sugarplum’s?” Violet suggested to Edmund, a silent communication taking place between them with a single glance.

Edmund then steered Sophie and his daughters in the direction of the sweet shop, much to young Hyacinth’s delight, and then Benedict was left with his mother.

“Ben, I’ve watched you count up and check and check again all the money you’ve saved for this Firebolt. You’ve talked of nothing else all summer. How come you suddenly can’t afford it?” she enquired with a raised brow.

Never one to be able to keep anything from his mother, Benedict explained the situation at the emporium and how he paid out his own money just to make sure the little owl came home with Sophie.

“And I’m sorry for lying and claiming that you had treated her but I knew she wouldn’t have accepted me paying for the owl if she knew it was with my own money. But I couldn’t just let them cull that little owl, mum! And I couldn’t bear to see Sophie so distraught.”

Benedict wasn’t expecting it when his mother drew him into a hug, stroking a hand through his hair and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“You are an incredibly kind and thoughtful young man, Benedict.” his mother hummed. “That was a very sweet thing of you to do.”

“I mean, I know you would have done the same if you had been there-”

“I know, I know. But still, you did it without hesitation. I’m so proud of you, Ben.”

“It was nothing. Really.” Benedict swallowed, feeling uncomfortable with the unnecessary praise. “Sophie deserves an owl.”

“She does.”

“And she deserves to be treated.”

“Of course.”

“So it’s no big deal.” he shrugged.

“Mmhm...” she regarded him with an unreadable look that Benedict knew was going to bug him if he tried to figure out what it meant. “Now, how about we get you that Firebolt?”

“Mum, I can’t afford it anymore.” he reminded her.

“Yes you can.” she narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ve got to reimburse you for the money you spent on Sophie for the treat we were meant to be paying for, after all.”

Benedict tried to argue that his mother needn’t pay the difference since it was his own choice to spend his money, but Violet wouldn’t hear of it, and ten minutes later he emerged from Quidditch Supplies with the brand new Firebolt tucked under his arm.

#and that's ember's origin story #harry potter au #bridgerton drabble #benophie drabble #benedict bridgerton #sophie beckett

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kathleenseiber · 4 years ago

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The ‘anthropause’ during COVID-19

Pumas leaping onto walls in Santiago, Chile; wild boar trotting along streets in Haifa, Israel; dolphins unusually far up Bosporus waters near Istanbul, Turkey. After the COVID-19 pandemic caused lockdowns across the globe, wild animals rarely seen in urban areas became a news and social media staple.

Scores of posts and reports documented these wildlife encounters, with observations from metropolitan areas suggesting that some animal species responded to lockdown in a “yippee! – let’s check this out!” fashion.

Mountain goats roam the streets of Llandudno, Wales. Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Other urban-dwelling animals more accustomed to human interaction – such as gulls, rats or monkeys – may have struggled to make ends meet without access to human food. In more remote areas, it was suggested that reduced human presence may have put endangered species, such as rhinos or raptors, at increased risk of poaching or persecution.

In an paper published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the leaders of a new global initiative explain how research during the coronavirus crisis can inspire innovative strategies for sharing space on our increasingly crowded planet, with benefits for both wildlife and humans.

They suggest that this period of unusually reduced human mobility can provide invaluable insights into human-wildlife interactions. They’ve even coined a cute new word for it: anthropause.

“We noticed that people started referring to the lockdown period as the ‘Great Pause’, but felt that a more precise term would be helpful,” they write. “We propose ‘anthropause’ to refer specifically to a considerable global slowing of modern human activities, notably travel. We are aware that the correct prefix is ‘anthropo-’ (for ‘human’) but opted for the shortened form, which is easier to remember and use.”

While emphasising that society’s priority must be to tackle the human tragedy and hardship caused by COVID-19, the authors argue that this is an unmissable opportunity to chart, for the first time on a global scale, the extent to which modern human mobility affects wildlife.

To address this challenge, researchers recently formed the “COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative”. This international consortium will investigate animals’ movements, behaviour and stress levels, before, during and after COVID-19 lockdown, using data collected with tracking devices on animals called “bio-loggers”.

“All over the world, field biologists have fitted animals with miniature tracking devices,” says biologist Christian Rutz, of the University of St Andrews, UK, the article’s lead author.

“These bio-loggers provide a goldmine of information on animal movement and behaviour, which we can now tap to improve our understanding of human-wildlife interactions, with benefits for all.”

Sika deer stand at an entrance to a restaurant in Nara, Japan. Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

The team will integrate results from a wide variety of animals, including fish, birds and mammals, in an attempt to build a global picture of lockdown effects.

“The international research community responded quickly to our recent call for collaboration, offering over 200 datasets for analysis. We are very grateful for this support,” says Francesca Cagnacci, from the Edmund Mach Foundation in Trento, Italy.

Matthias-Claudio Loretto, from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Radolfzell, Germany, says that the initiative will make it possible to address previously intractable questions.

“We will be able to investigate if the movements of animals in modern landscapes are predominantly affected by built structures, or by the presence of humans,” he says. “That is a big deal.”

These insights will in turn inspire innovative proposals for improving human-wildlife coexistence.

“Nobody is asking for humans to stay in permanent lockdown,” says the Max Planck Institute’s Martin Wikelski. “But we may discover that relatively minor changes to our lifestyles and transport networks can potentially have significant benefits for both ecosystems and humans.”

The researchers have lofty but not unreasonable hopes.

“Coordinated global wildlife research during the anthropause will make contributions that go well beyond informing conservation science – it will challenge humanity to reconsider our future on Earth,” they write.

“There will be unforeseen opportunities to reinvent the way we live our lives, and to forge a mutually beneficial coexistence with other species. It would be wonderful if careful research during this period of crisis helped us to find innovative ways of reining in our increasingly expansive lifestyles, to rediscover how important a healthy environment is for our own well-being, and to replace a sense of owning with a sense of belonging. We hope that people will choose to hear the wake-up call.”

The ‘anthropause’ during COVID-19 published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

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