Familiar Registration and Licence

[vixen]

Vixen walked calmly into the Ministry of Magic, Jo at her side. Those two simple facts were literally astounding in themselves.

Vixen hardly ever walked anywhere calmly, or hadn't for the last five years, and that Jo, a griffon and soon to be mother of one walked beside the girl was a thing unheard of.

In almost every book on magical creatures, it was said that the taming or training of a griffon should only be attempted by a competent wizard or witch, and was extremely difficult and a bad idea in general.

Vixen had raised Jo from the moment she had hatched, and now, at last, she was going to let it be known that she was capable, and more than willing, to care for Jo, and her offspring, and any other magical creature, however harmless or reputedly dangerous.

Vixen was going to get a licence to let her practice as a vetranarian to magical creature, and register that Jo was her familiar, like a sister really, but she was not human, so the term was "familiar".

Vixen just wished that people would stop staring so, it wasn't polite.

[Kiki]

Kiki looked up confused as the portraits she had adorned the walls of her office with informed her that there was a griffin waiting to see her.

"What?" She asked, then pulled open her door. Sure enough, a griffin and a girl stood at her door, waiting patiently to be admitted.

"Please, come in," Kiki managed to say, still puzzled as to why the girl and a griffin were in such close vicinity. She resisted the urge to reach for her wand and Stun the animal, as it seemed to be doing no-one harm.

Instead, she satisfied herself with sitting behind her desk and waiting for the girl - who looked like a student at the school - present her case.

[vixen]

Jo butted Vixen in the back lightly, directing her friend into the room.

No fear, Vix. Cool-headed, you'll do fine. The magnificent beast said to Vixen's mind.

Vixen nodded, but she was a timid girl by nature, and just walking into the office of the Ministress of Magic seemed like something someone with a lot more brass than her would be doing.

She set one foot before the other, and eventually was in the room, Jo still at her back, a reassuring mass.

Swallowing her fear for the moment, Vixen forced the words out of her mouth.

"I - I've come to register Jo, a-as my Familiar, and I wou-would like to apply for a licence to practice as a carer of magical creatures."

Vixen shoved her shaking hands in her pockets, and took a deep breath. Nerves of steel weren't one of her attributes.

Jo moved closer to the girl who had raised her, and put her large head over Vixen’s shoulder, gently rubbing feathered forehead against pale cheek.

Vixen took one of her shaking hands out of her pocket, and raised it almost instinctively to pat Jo's face. They had always taken comfort from each other.

[Kiki]

Kik surveyed the pair over the desk and wondered how she could handle this without being ramapaged by an angry griffin.

Kiki waved her wand, making an old beaten kettle appear and pour tea into teacups. She offered one to the girl and the kettle disappeared, but a small jug of milk and a sugar bowl that tap danced across the table appeared instead.

"My first try in a Transfiguration class," Kiki explained with a smile. "Please, help yourself," Kiki told her, wanting the student in front of her to feel at ease. She went quickly through her memory and couldn't remember if the girl had introduced herself. She hadn't, only the griffin.

"I'm sorry," Kiki said, the twang of her Australian accent somehow more obvious with those two words. "And your name was?"

[vixen]

Normally when a girl blushed, her face would turn red, but Vixen's red blood cells weren't red, they were a kind of fluroe white, so when she blushed, she glowed a little.

She hadn't introduced herself, but the sight of milk and sugar tap dancing on the desk did get a smile out of her.

Sitting, Vixen took the teacup and added enough milk to drown the tea. Her aunt would have asked if she would like tea with her milk.

There was something about the way the Ministress of Magic spoke that reminded her of her aunt. It was the accent. Vixen had been born in Australia, but when she had been about eight, her family had decided to travel over Europe, and she had been restricted to phone calls.

"My name's Vixen Kay, Ministress." She didn't have that wonderful accent, she had a little of everything in her mouth, which came out as all of nothing. Now more comfortable, the stammer of nerves left her. That was something at least.

Don't suppose I get a snack too? Jo asked, shifting so that she could dig into the girl's satchel.

Vixen beat her to it, but only because she had practice, and Jo had to know that any fish would be inside a plastic bag.

When the griffon opened her beak, Vixen poured her favourite fish, atlantic salmon, down the bag and into the magical beast's gaping maw.

"Happy now?" Vixen asked her closest friend.

Jo nodded, and lay down on the floor of the office, though she rested her head on Vixen's lap to be petted gently.

[Kiki]

Kiki smiled slightly, a little amused by the firm bond that the two seemed to have. She sipped her tea carefully and with a slight jab of her wand, the desktop opened and swallowed the milk and sugarbowl. Wondering how she could handle this, she took another sip of her tea, then set the cup on the desk in front of her, shifting a small pile of parchment to one side.

She watched the girl in front of her again and the almost comical sight of the griffin resting peacefully nearby.

"I think I remember you," Kiki said, delving into her memories. "You are a Slytherin, aren't you? But I can't remember for the life of me why your name is so familiar," Kiki shrugged and dropped the subject. She decided that she needed to glean a bit more information from Vixen before deciding what she could do about her and the griffin.

"So, what year of school are you doing? And how long have you known," Kiki paused, thinking of how Vixen had addressed the griffin. "Jo for?"

[vixen]

Vixen bit her lip as she tried to remeber how long she had been at MH. A lot had happened to her in a short time, and then not much had happened at all, all the days had sort of blended into one.

"I've been at Magic Horizons since . . . July. I've been schooling by owl for a few years though, since my parents travelled a lot, and took me and my brother and sister with them." Vixen said, her mind really thought in seasons, and things that had happened.

"And yes, I'm in Slytherin."

Jo wriggled her head in Vixen's lap. Jo's beak really took up half the lap, and the rest of her head occupied the other half.

Vixen smoothed Jo's crest feathers and took another sip of her milk-with-tea before going on.

"I found Jo's egg in an abandoned nest, and when I picked it up, she hatched out. I was hiking with my brother. Jo took to me, and I've been looking for bargains in the fishmongers ever since, as she won't touch the meat of land animals. How long's that been Jo?" Vixen asked, turning to the golden feathered head in her lap.

We celebrated my third hatchday just before we came here. I'm three years, seven months and ten days. Jo said, a smile glinting in her amber eyes.

"Jo has a better memory for lengths of time than I do," Vixen explained. "We've been together for just over a year and an half."

That reminded Vixen of something else, but asking Jo how long a griffon egg would take to hatch was probably not something to discuss right then.

[Kiki]

"Had you been doing much schooling by owl when you found Jo or did you find her afterward? I assume you would have to have done some schooling if you knew what she was, and for your parents to have let you raise her means that you must be of an all wizarding family," Kiki quickly spilled out all she had deduced and other questions she had to ask.

"That would make you about a forth or fifth year then, roughly. I don't, however, recall seeing a griffin within the schoolgrounds. And I'm fairly sure that you had just arrived when I left." Kiki took another sip of her tea and wondered what conclusion she could come to. She had to see some proof of Vixen's handling of other magical animals she supposed before she granted her the ability to care for them. That was something that Kiki wasn't wanting to do right at that second. She decided to let the conversation flow around her, and see how well Vixen and Jo presented their case.

[vixen]

Vixen kept her eyes on her tea, and Jo, and nodded when the Ministress said she was from an all wizarding family.

"I'm a fifth year, I was schooling by owl for two years before I found Jo. And she's very good about staying out of sight," Looking again at the large, golden, beaked head in her lap, Vixen added "Usually."

"Jo built herself a nest in the forest, and some days she picks me up from the lake shore to visit her there. She's only been inside the castle once or twice, and that's only when I can't do my own walking."

Jo remembered Vixen's fall from the Astronomy Tower, Vixen wouldn't, as she had been unconcious, but it had scared Jo something aweful.

And the first time was a real emergency. She said to Vixen, making her bite her lower lip.

Seeing the girl who raised her becoming shy again, Jo made a little suggestion.

Tell her about the other animals you raised, and show her your sketches. She just wants to know about you more. Jo glared out of one eye at Vixen.

It won't hurt to talk to someone you know Vix.

[Kiki]

Kiki watched as there was some form of communication between the two. She didn't mind at all, for one Jo seemed to be nudging Vixen in the directions she needed to cover and two it was easy to see how well Vixen got along with her.

However, that was only the one case. She did need to see Vixen's interaction with others. There was another point she needed to bring up eventually, but before she did, she wanted to see how well Vixen coped with it all.

"How do you think you will survive with your exams? You've got your OWLS this year and your NEWTS your final year. Keep that in mind too," Kiki suggested, then stirred her tea - rotating a finger absent-mindedly over the cup as she winked at Bob Rainbow in the picture frame behind Vixen.

[vixen]

Her studies. Vixen had suspected that the question would come up eventually, and for some reason she had been rather glad that it hadn't for a while.

But now it had.

"I'm about as stressed as everyone else, but I study, and Jo helps me with the things I don't understand, making it easier. My brother used to do that for me, and Jo took over when he died."

Vixen's head caught up with her words.

"I don't want people feeling bad for me, or anything. I'm smart enough where it counts and Codan still keeps an eye on me from the dead."

He mouth had run away from her brain again.

Don't think, just feel. You know what you need to say. And relax, Vix. I'm here for you. Jo said, her head still in Vixen's lap as she stretched out one himd leg after the other.

Needles and Pins is all. Jo explained. Being still does that to me.

Vixen reached out with the sensitive feeling that had somehow come with raising Jo, who was highly sensetive to her surroundings.

It was that very feeling that told Vixen when people were staring at her, or talking behind her back, or just let her know when someone needed help, even when they refused to admit it.

~Love, confidence, respect, trust~

All radiated from Jo, making Vixen feel better. She didn't dare reach for the feelings of the Ministress, but looking more carefully at her face, Vixen detected a wariness, and that she was trying to put something off.

Vixen took a deep breath, and calmed herself down.

"I expect that I will live through my OWLs, and my NEWTs. I'm not confident of passing with flying colours, but I'll certainly go flying if - "

When Jo butted in.

" - I pass." Vixen gave Jo a meaningful look, though what the meaning was, could be any observers guess.

[Kiki]

Kiki grinned.

"Good answer," She told her, then took a sip of her tea.

"I'll need to see you with other animals before I can grant you anything. However, if there's another way you can convince me, then go for your life." Kiki's purple eyes twinkled at Vixen, leaving the floor open for anything she might want to show her or say.

[vixen]

Vixen sighed with relief when the Ministress smiled, then sat up again abruptly.

"I'll need to see you with other animals" She had said.

Vixen could have hugged herself. More magical creatures, or perhaps just regular, non magical ones. Both were really just as gentle or dangerous as the other, only in different ways.

Now Jo stood, really reached into Vixen's bag, and pulled out the girl's sketchbook. Gently placing it on the Ministress desk.

Now you are going to climb on my back, and let her stare for a few seconds. Jo said, knowing how much Vixen liked to keep her sketches to herself.

"You are so getting your beack buffed later, Jocasta Alletta Norma Kay." Vixen fumed quietly as she put her right foot on the griffon's front left ankle, and swung herself unto Jo's back, just in front of the wings.

Jo nipped Vixen's hair in responce, but said nothing. It was Jo's way of saying that threats wouldn't intimidate her today.

Vixen kneed Jo in the neck, trying to tell the golden beast to behave.

Jo just preened her chest feathers.

"Sometimes I wonder who's in charge of this relationship." Vixen muttered.

Don't be silly Vix. You're the mother, and I'm the pain in the neck teen. Of course I'm in charge. Jo joked, shifting Vixen's weight on her back a bit.

[Kiki]

Kiki turned the pages in the sketchbook over slowly, not hiding how impressed she was by the sketches. Some were quite rough, others were clearly more laboured over. All showed good potential and beautiful artwork.

She got to the end of the book, far too quickly in her opinon then closed it softly.

"I've a confession to make," She began, looking at Vixen straight in the eye.

"I can't give you a license to train and care for animals. You are too young, and despite your obvious love and immediate affinity for the beasts that we have in the magical realm, to gift a fifth year student with such a certificate - even if I wanted to give it to you, the Wizenmagot might not be so tolerant," Kiki took a deep breath.

"As for appointing Jo as your familiar, that is not in my power. That is entirely up to Headmistress Claire, who always has to see to the safety of her students first. I can't exactly overrule her run of the school and allow you and Jo to keep each others company. If Jo loses her temper and strikes out, it could be dangerous, and griffons are infamous for tempers. Regardless of how tame and good-natured Jo is, I cannot appoint her your familiar. And for my part, if people see you with Jo, many first years will get it into their heads that they are allowed to have familiars and try to befriend some creatures that are small and cute, but others will go for the whole hog and that could also be dangerous."

Kiki sighed, hating to break the news to Vixen. She slid the sketchbook back over to her and smiled slightly.

"I'm really sorry," She sipped the last dregs of her tea, then set it down on the saucer to read the tea leaves later.

"Oh, Vixen, have you ever considered selling any of your sketches? After you'd polished them up a little of course. I know a few people who would be interested in buying some," She let her smile grow a little, lending the girl some support and perhaps even a friendship with the Ministeress.

"One more thing. I have no hesitation on giving you a license once you complete your schooling. In the meantime, why don't you come back periodically and we can extend your skills in animal welfare while we wait? You are most welcome to bring Jo,"

[vixen]

Both the griffon and the girl were disappointed that they would not be able to leave with what they had come for, but they understood the Ministress' reasoning.

Vixen had blushed terribly when it had been suggested that she sell some of her sketches, they were her memories, she couldn't really sell them. Maybe others, that were just portraits of things she had seen everyday, or of places she had been, and already had many sketches of. That would be alright.

But it was the thought of coming back to learn more about caring for magical creatures with the ministress that really got Vixen smiling.

That and the comment about griffon tempers.

"Jo is really more famous for trying to set me up, and take care of me in some of the most ridiculous ways. But I know what you mean, and I understand."

Vixen climbed down off of Jo's back, and motioned for Jo to sit down for just a little longer.

Contrary as ever, Jo walked forward a pace to rub her crest feathers under the ministress' chin.

"Perhaps we should have waited a couple more years, but I really just couldn't become a griffon's gran without knowing the rules." Vixen said, eyeing Jo back to the floor.

Maybe we'd better show her my egg sometime, Jo queried. I mean, it won't hatch for a few months at least yet, but the ministry will want to know about it.

Vixen just nodded absently, and turned to leave the office, gesturing for Jo to follow her.

"We'd probably better check on it before you leave me at the edge of the grounds." Vixen murmered.

I'll worry about my egg, you just get to class, and some sleep wouldn't hurt you either. I know how late you've been studying.