✍ Fourth Letter

[fuckilovebooks]

Has anyone seen a crested gecko? He's about six inches long, and he's purple. Well, they're normally orange but he got into a little accident when he was a baby. He answers to Spike. That is, if he answers at all. I mean, he doesn't really come when you call him, but he usually perks his head up when I call his name.

Reptiles are cold-blooded, so I'm worried about him wandering around the castle by himself when it's so cold out. He might have gotten lost somewhere and not had enough body heat to get back. If it gets too cold they'll just shut down and hibernate, but his tank is always toasty so his body wouldn't be prepared for that. If I don't find him soon he could starve to death!

Comments

[donutsanddestiny]

I'll keep an eye out.

[Because if it was his toad...]

What on Earth happened to make him purple?

[fuckilovebooks]

I was practicing a spell for the first time and it... didn't exactly work out.

[donutsanddestiny]

Understandable. I hope it doesn't have any side-effects.

There are worse colors for a gecko to be, anyway. Orange or yellow would have been an eyesore.

[fuckilovebooks]

Oh, he doesn't seem to mind. He's been that way for years now.

In the wild they live in the rainforest, so I suppose it makes sense for them to be brightly-coloured, so they won't be targeted by predators. A cooler colour does seem to fit better in a castle.

[donutsanddestiny]

The bright colours are usually connected to being -- or giving the appearance of being -- poisonous, isn't it?

[fuckilovebooks]

That's correct. Geckos aren't, but it keeps most predators at bay.

Their colours actually get brighter at night.

[donutsanddestiny]

Sounds like an interesting sight.

So, are you generally this knowledgeable, or have you just researched the crested gecko because of, ah, Spike?

[fuckilovebooks]

Oh, of course I read all I could about geckos before I brought him home. I wanted to make sure I would be giving him the best possible care.

But I like to research all kinds of things in my spare time.

[donutsanddestiny]

Yes, I can understand that. Pets are... Well. Odd. In a good way. Having a little life to take care of makes things a bit different.

Do you now? Sometimes I feel like Billy and I are the only ones, even with the Ravenclaws.

[fuckilovebooks]

Absolutely! There's just so much to learn about... especially about magic.

[donutsanddestiny]

There really is -- I can't understand not being fascinated by it.

[fuckilovebooks]

I could just read about it all day. [Oh wait she does.]

[donutsanddestiny]

Read, practice, experiment, discuss -- When there's someone worth talking to.

[fuckilovebooks]

I prefer individual study, mostly, but of course there's always something to be gained by talking to other knowledgeable people.

[donutsanddestiny]

Again, it's just a matter of finding the people who are knowledgeable.

[fuckilovebooks]

Of course. You know, Professor Dumbledore is a fascinating conversationalist if you can manage to get a moment with him.

[donutsanddestiny]

I don't really talk to authority figures.

[fuckilovebooks]

But they're usually the ones with the most knowledge.