Carmen's Journal - Carmen and Valentino!

[Carmelita de la Cruz]

Day One!

Friday, August 12th.
Immediately after COMC

Okay. Let's get this started. I named my pygmy puff Valentino- even though he isn't much of a 'puff'. I took him to the common room and he and Angelino got along pretty well, so I'm letting them play with Brietta while I write this write now. He seemed a little cold down here, having no fur and all, so I cut up an old robe and ripped open a pillow to modify his cage a little. Since he and Angelino get along, maybe I'll let Valentino sleep in my bed tonight with us. When we go to Hogsmead, I'll probably buy him a scarf and and a stuffed animal for his cage too, so he'll be warm. Also some sort of food, just because the idea of him eating dead bugs disgusts me.

Personality wise, Valentino seems pretty laid back and friendly. He gets along with Brietta and Angelino pretty well. I'm wondering how often he should be bathed... if at all? I mean, he needs to be bathed to stay clean- maybe I'll consult the library for that. Or Professor Baker. I'm guessing wiping him down with a wet cloth will be okay- so his skin wont get too dry. I'll need to find something for water, too. Angelino has food and water here in the common room... Actually, I wonder how well Valentino would take to eating cat food? I could buy him his own double-bowl feeding dish and just fill it up when I fill Angelino's. That'll be something to look into.

From his behavior I know Valentino is very affectionate- he often rubs against others and likes to perch on Angel's head. He makes this happy noise too- something like a hum and a gurgle. At least, I'm lead to believe this is a noise of happiness, considering he has been playing. Valentino will receive the same luxuries Angel does- whenever I leave the common room, he will accompany me and and Angel if he likes. I plan to investigate if there are foods he likes more then othe

A wild smudge interrupts the neat mix of cursive-print writing. A line is skipped, and then writing continues.

Valentino proves to have a ravenous appetite. Angelino rarely eats more then a cup of his food a day, simply because he comes with me most places and only really needs to eat his food if he's been in the common room for awhile. Valentino ate an entire bowl - about a cup of food - in a very short time. I'll have to inquire if they will eat until they rupture, so to speak. For now, I've put the food up and I'll be sure to feed him regularly.

I need to get to the library.

There's another entry logged later, the time jotted down next to it to be 10:40pm.

I managed to get to the library before curfew and found a book with some good information of Pygmy Puffs. It doesn't have much detail since the diet and temperament seem pretty consistently nice, and mischievous. I got to observe the mischievous aspect of there personality. While in the library, Valentino managed to knock a book off the shelf and seemed immediately amused by the dust cloud it produced. This prompted him to knock of two more books, but after I asked him to stop he did so with a pouty look.

Thanks to the book, I've decided on how much of the cat food to feed him a day, though I'm going to try to enrich and expand his diet beyond that. I've also decided that washing him once a week with a wet cloth will be enough so far as bathing goes. Expanding more on Valentino's personality more, hes affectionate and loving, but also holds a bit of mischievousness and, much like a child, does not like being scolded.

[Carmelita de la Cruz]

Day Two!

Saturday, August 13th.
Roughly 9am.

So, I wake up this morning and there are Angelino and Valentino, sleeping happily in my bed. Thats good then, they seemed to be getting used to each other. As soon as I started getting up, so did the boys, and after getting dressed we went to the Great Hall. Valentino seems to prefer riding on Angelino's head, or my shoulder instead of floating by himself.

Arriving in the Great Hall, we sat and I began experimenting foods with Valentino. Angelino was happy to share some of his scrambled eggs- which made Valentino emit a loud chirp, his eyes opening wide. He then devoured half of the plate, so I assume he liked them. Next, I tried a piece of bacon. He seemed hesitant at first, but eventually took a small bite. He seemed to think about it, but ultimately made a broken humming noise, hum hum hum. Guess he didnt like it too much. Pancakes with syrup seemed to be a success again for him, as did apples.

• So far, Valentino enjoys cat food, pancakes with syrup, eggs and apples.
  
• He does not like bacon for some odd reason.
  

I'm supposed to be hitting Hogsmead again with the dream team- I only have a few hours of time to kill before we leave at noon. Valentino and Angelino will be accompanying me. I'm going to buy a Slytherin scarf for his cage (even though I'm doubting he'll ever really be in it) and some sort of plush toy. I know he's only a school assignment, but I want to take care of him. Actually, thinking about it, I think I have a new project. A waste of money, but it'll be nice!

Well, I've been sitting in the great hall for like ten minutes. I'm going to read about Salzar and I'll update anything important- if not I'll be writing again some times during the Hogsmead trip.

Later down, there is another entry, timed to be at noon.

Going to Hogsmead with Ade, Gar can join us later. Maybe, if Valentino and Angelino behave, I'll buy them some candy later. As soon as we get there, they are both highly intrigued. Valentino stayed close to Angelino though- or he hummed and chirped until the cat went with him. If they were ever out of sight, simply calling them was enough for them to return. Our first stop was Gladrags Wizardwear, where I bought a two smaller scarfs. One will be put in Valentino's cage, and another on for Angelino to wear. Not that bad. Also, while in there, we found little teddy-bears dressed in house robes. I bought one, so it can stay in Valentino's cage. At the same store Ade got her crickets, I bought another double feeding dish.

Our next stop was Honeydukes, and like I mentioned I decided to buy them some candy. I told Valentino he could pick whatever he wanted- He flew around and pressed his face against it as close as he could. Eventually, he decided on some gummies, sour and sweet. When I asked him why he chose that candy, he made a deep hum that could be comparable to an 'mmmhmmm' and opened and closed his mouth a few times. I bought him a pack, and told him if he behaved I would buy him another next week. This seemed to make him very happy, and he nuzzled against my hands.

Ade also bought some candy, before Brietta jumped from her and flew under a table. Valentino moved to join, but I asked him to please stay. He did, and Ade soon retrieved Brietta as Garbear walked. Valentino then asked for more candy, and seeing how much Ade and Gar were buying I told him he could pick a few more bags. I bought him some more candy- he obeyed the 'only a few' rule perfectly.

Back at the common room now, I set up both the bowls and put the teddy in his cage, which has been placed on my nightstand. He seems to prefer sleeping with me and Angelino though. He seems to be getting used tot he fact he can do whatever, so long as he stays nearby. Before going to sleep tonight, I witnessed him rubbing against Angelino, like he had done with Brietta. Angelino rubbed back, though I'm pretty sure it holds more significance to the puff.

[Carmelita de la Cruz]

Day Three!

Sunday, August 14th.
Roughly 9am, again.

Morning Professor Baker. Usual morning- woke up with the boys, got dressed yada yada and went to breakfast. I've started carrying some of Valentino's candy with me- to praise him when he's being good. Today at breakfast, I got a fruit salad and tried fruits with him- he ate apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe, blueberries and raspberries with no problem, though he seemed to get a tummy ache later. Along with that, he drank milk too.

We went outside again today when we had some spare time, and it seems Angelino wants to teach Valentino how to hunt. I think there is a sort of father - son or older brother - younger brother relationship between the two. It seems like this is just some healthy fun between the two, and I allowed them to stalk some birds. Angelino eventually caught one and pinned it down- but Valentino started showing strange behavior. He started chirping in a very high pitch, repetitive manner and bouncing up and down. It was weird, I've never seen him do this before. Angelino seemed really confused and let the bird go.

Valentino came back to me and wouldn't get off my shoulder or acknowledge Angelino for a good ten minutes. Like a pouty child, he eventually seemed to forgive Angelino and they were back to being friends. I think Angelino has decided against teaching him how to hunt now.

For the most part, Valentino likes to be treated just like the cat. If I ever stop him from doing something Angelino does (which is rarely) he will pout for awhile. I think he enjoys the freedom he has, and like Angelino he normally responds to any direction that is given to him. He's a pretty good pygmy puff. He enjoys playing with Angelino, too, he'll often ram into Angel's side and chase the cat around and let Angel do the same thing. If it ever gets to intense, Valen flies into the air, and its over.

The writing continues a line down, dated to be at 8:30pm.

Wow. I had given Valen a few pieces of his candy. After three or four, I told him that was enough fro the night. And like the child I kept comparing him too, he absolutely threw a tantrum. Hopping around and chirping and humming like an entire hive of bees. I swear, his entire face turned red. He hopped around and hit things off shelves, plowed into papers so they flew off the tables- it was horrible. I didnt know how to react.

I kept saying his name in a calm voice, and after awhile he seemed to get burned out. He came flying back at me and buried his face and body into the crook of my arm. He made a humming noise that started loud and faded out, with occasional breaks. I comforted him, but told him it was was not nice to act like that. We agreed he can have five candies a night and no more then that. After being comforted and reaching a solution, he did his best to help me pick things back up.

[Carmelita de la Cruz]

Things~

The following is written on another, unattached piece of paper and is paperclip-ed the front cover.

Personality:

• Laid-back.
  
• Friendly.
  
• Glutton.
  
• Mischievous.
  
• Throws tantrums when he is very upset.
  
• Listens well, but you have to be patient.
  

Favorite Foods

• Fruits.
  
• Eggs.
  
• Pancakes.
  
• Cat food. (Gets one half-cup in his bowl every morning for when I'm in class.)
  
• Candy. (Specifically sour and sugary- sweet things.)
  

Bathed: Every Wednesday night


Friends:

• Brietta and Bowen (Ade's puff and Raven)
  
• Kleiner and Nevermore (Gar's puff and Raven)
  
• Angelino