The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 107: Hear her Roar

One normally should expect a little bit of surrealness when one attends a school of magic.  Some days however, there was more surrealness than one could reasonably expect.

Katie sat next to Harry, unable to keep the smile off her face.  "Harry?"

"Hmm?" he hummed, not looking at her, eyes still on his notes.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's pretty good.  Why'd you ask?"

"Just curious.  Nothing out of the ordinary?"

"Not that I can think of."

"Harry...you have an owl on your head."

"Is it Hedwig?"

"Yes."

"Then nothing's out of the ordinary," he said remarkably calmly.

Hedwig hooted in agreement.

Katie laughed.  "Care to explain?"

Harry smiled wryly as he continued to read.  "Well, it started this morning when Hedwig visited at breakfast.  She was a little annoyed at me.  I haven't had much for her to do lately since O.W.L.s are very soon, despite flying to France once every few weeks."

"Following you so far," Katie said but secretly did not.

"So I explained to her that I needed to study and couldn't write a lot of letters for her to deliver."

"And she's watching you to make sure you weren't lying to her."

"Well, more that she decided since the exams are called the O.W.L.s, then what would be more helpful than an actual owl imparting her knowledge.  Owls are symbols of wisdom of course."

"Of course," Katie said, overcome with laughter.  "And Hedwig is very wise."

Hedwig clacked her beak in a very satisfied manner, looking smug as she sat on Harry's head.  She rubbed her head against Katie's hand, nibbling on her fingers.

"So she's been sitting on your head all day?" Katie asked.

"Yep.  Only flying off to stretch her wings for a break."

"And none of the professors said anything?"

"Professor Flitwick thought it was funny and gave her treats.  Professor McGonagall and her had a staring contest that lasted a few minutes before Hedwig got bored and fell asleep.  Professor Snape didn't mention anything, surprisingly.  Just went straight into teaching and didn't make a single comment."

"That's amazing," Katie laughed.

Hedwig hooted in agreement, fluffing up over her legs as she snuggled down on Harry's head, yanking his hair around to form an impromptu nest.  She plumped down, making a noise that sounded suspiciously like a sigh of satisfaction.

"I wish I had an owl to help me like that last year," Katie said.

"I'll have Hedwig hunt you some newts next year," Harry offered.

The owl blinked slowly, bobbing her head.

"That'd be very kind of you Hedwig," Katie cooed.  "But you can keep them.  Or save them for Harry the following year.  He'll need all the help he can get."

Hedwig's hoots sounded suspiciously like Katie's giggles and Harry poked her.  "Hey, be nice to me," he chided his owl.  "I give you bacon."

"I'll give you my bacon tomorrow," Katie smiled.

Hedwig yanked on Harry's hair until he leaned closer to Katie.  The owl then carefully hopped from his head to Katie's shoulder, plumping down and nuzzling her.