Listen. Fiona knew that she was being entirely irrational. She was well aware that her unease was completely in her head. She was a grown woman, and, frankly, this was more than a little embarrassing. She knew this. It's just that knowing something logically, and feeling it in your gut were two entirely different things.

Fiona had never liked animals. Not really. She appreciated the usefulness of, say, horses. She had no idea how to use the muggle postal service--she would literally be useless without owls. Fiona even appreciated that cats were very pleasantly fluffy. None of that changed the reality that animals terrified her, and had done so for as long as she could remember. Was it sensible? Merlin, no. Did that stop it from being true? Merlin, no.

Still, there wasn't always a way around it. It was Christmas Eve, and even though she'd chosen to stay at Hogwarts over the holidays, she still couldn't get through the day without sending something to her family. And so here she was, standing outside the Owlery, letter clutched in her hand, and trying to talk herself into going inside.

At least most of the school had gone home. At least there was a much smaller chance of anyone coming along to see her make a fool out of herself. Well, less of a chance, but still a chance, so she had better actually move before someone wandered past and witnessed her perseverating over something as simple as sending a letter. She'd have to quit her job and go into hiding, and Fi liked her job, despite the number of animals that lived in the castle.

Taking a few fortifying deep breaths--and then a few more, for good measure--Fiona opened the door to the Owlery and stepped inside. If she moved very quickly and got out of there in as little time as humanly possible, well, it's not like the owls could have told anyone else about it, at least.

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