Thank you all for your comments *smothers all of her readers* I am really glad that everyone is enjoying reading about Hedwig and how I imagined she spent her time at Hogwarts. This chapter is still more of character introductions, but I think things will be picking up in the next chapter or so.

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Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter 3: A Phoenix Gaze

Despite the crisp chill on the air, Hedwig felt like her body was circulating liquid fire. She just couldn’t bring herself to fly directly to the Owlery and instead flew around the grounds as she took in all the new sights and smells. Truth be told, she was flying all over the castle because she didn’t know where the Owlery was and she didn’t want to look like a frantic newbie, so she decided to take her time. She flew over a hut near a tree that tried to kill her by throwing it’s giant branches in the air. Mental not: do not go near that tree if you don’t want to come out a feather duster. She made her way around one of the larger towers and then found herself flying in front of a great stained glass window. Slowing down her flight, she used her owl vision to look through the window and was able to make our Harry wearing a rather disgusting looking old hat on his head.

“What…is that?” she asked to no one by the night as the hat was removed from Harry’s head and a table of crimson and gold clad students jumped up and cheered. “Oh, good, that nice red-headed boy is with him,” she smiled as she decided to resume her flight.

Hedwig probably still would have been flying around in circles had it not been for a handsome looking barn owl that came flying in her direction.

“E-E-Excuse me,” she tweeted as she flew gracefully towards the other owl. Expecting him to stop, she waited for him to answer. However, he hardly gave her a glance and continued on his way towards the castle. “Hey! I’m talking to you!”

“And I don’t feel like talking to you,” the owl spat back as he continued to fly with his eyes focused straight ahead. “Owlets,” he sighed.

“For your information, I am not an Owlet!” Hedwig snapped her beak. What had this owl’s feathers in a knot?

The other owl continued to fly on in silence as Hedwig beat her wings furiously to keep up. The barn owl finally came to a rest at the top of the West Tower and ruffled his feathers a bit before he began slowly walking forward. Hedwig stopped behind him and began to follow him. The barn owl in front of her turned his head several times to see that she was still behind him and he began waddling faster towards a large circular structure with only holes in it for windows. The windows were clearly large enough for an owl of her size to fly through, so why had the barn owl chosen to walk in?

“Excuse me,” she chirped again as she hopped next to the other owl.

“I heard you the first time,” the owl sighed as he continued to walk forward. “You’re new right?”

“Yes and I am very ex---“

“Save it,” he sighed stopping his approach. “Look, I like being alone and I definitely do not associate myself with bright eyed Owlets like yourself.”

With that, the owl continued to move forward until he found an empty spot on the ground instead of in one of the higher perches.

“Aw, don’t mind Artemis, Miss Hedwig,” came the familiar yet loony voice of Errol. “He has always been rather unpleasant. I say he must have eaten a bad rat a few years back, but the others disagree with me.”

Hedwig very much doubted that eating one bad rat would make you grumpy for years. Then again, this was an entirely new world she was entering in, so maybe it was possible that there was some sort of demon rat that cursed those that ate it to be grumpy handsome owls for the rest of their lives. Hedwig shook her head trying to erase those ridiculous thoughts from her head.

“Errol…why doesn’t he fly into the Owlery like the rest of the owls?” Hedwig asked as she watched Artemis plumb his feathers with his beak. She couldn’t imagine not using flying as a means of getting around. Sure, the space was a little cramped with all the owls flying in and out, but flying was like being free. Who didn’t want to feel the wind running through their feathers?!

“Artemis cannot fly in small spaces,” Errol said sadly looking at the barn owl. “He says it is something that muggles call Claustrophobia. However, I believe it is something totally different. I will not discuss that now though. For now, you must meet everyone! Fawkes should be coming along in a while for his opening speech.”

Letting Errol lead the way, Hedwig followed the older owl into the Owlery and decided to take a perch on the ground level next to the one Artemis had chosen. Artemis did not look all that happy to have her sitting next to him, and he turned his attention back to his feathers. Hedwig sat in silence watching all the other owls as they each took their own perch and were chirping back and forth with one another. So far, she had met an old and loony owl and another owl that looked like he hated being an owl. This was not turning out to be so good. Maybe Harry would let her sleep in his room. Just then, a grey owl with black spots came swooshing into the Owlery.

“Fawkes…come…come….ing” the owl said panting and his beady yellow eyes ablaze.

Hedwig turned her head so far to the side that it was nearly upside down – nothing too strange for an owl when they are confused mind you. The owls began hooting and flapping their wings as if they had seen the most delicious looking mouse in the world scurry across the floor.

“What is everyone so excited about? Who is Fawkes?” Hedwig wondered a loud.

“You really are an Owlet, aren’t you,” Artemis sighed turning his head to look at Hedwig. “Fawkes if the Headmaster’s phoenix and a very powerful magical familiar.” He could tell that she had no idea what a magical familiar was. Looked like he was going to have to spell everything out to her and bright blinking letters. “A magical familiar is an animal associate with an intimate and bonded relationship with a human,” Artemis continued with a hint of gloomy undertone in his chirp.

Before Hedwig could ask about it, a majestic and powerful crimson bird with long flowing tail feathers and its entire body glowing with golden flames flew into the Owlery and landed without a sound on the highest perch so everyone could see him. Hedwig felt her beak drop in awe – it reminded her of how the red-headed boy had looked when he saw sausage fingers for the first time. Something about this phoenix looked familiar and Hedwig began getting images of a large wooden table and her hopping towards the great bird with a bearded wizard standing in the background.

“Welcome! Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts,” the great phoenix spoke with ebony eyes that felt like they pierced Hedwig:s very being. “The Sorting has now ended and the Headmaster has returned to pacing in his office. As is customary, I have a few words to share with you all. First, there is to be no eating of any rat’s or mice found on the Hogwart’s grounds. Several students have brought these as pets this year, and I would hate to see a young child cry. Any hunting should be done well away from Hogwarts.” Several owls nodded in agreement. “Second, I would like to welcome the new owls into our Owlery. Pumpernickel whose owner was just sorted into Hufflepuff. Cranberry whose owner was also just sorted into Hufflepuff. Casino whose owner has been sorted into Slytherin. And finally, Hedwig whose owner has just been sorted in Gryffindor.” The phoenix paused for a moment to allow the owls to flap their wings and chip in applause. “This next news may be the most important bit of information I will give today, perhaps this year. We all understand the importance of our roles, even those among us who do not share the status of a magical familiar. As owls, your job is not merely to deliver letters and other mail to the students. No, your jobs are protect and observe as it may be necessary for us to provide hints and guidance to the wizarding folk that call this great school home. Now is the time for us all to come together more so than we ever have. It is true. Harry Potter has arrived at Hogwarts.”

At once all the owls began tweeting and chirping and making so much noise the Hedwig could hardly hear herself think. Harry was really that famous that even the owls knew who he was?

“Within his wand lies one of my tail feathers,” Fawkes continued saying this bit with pride. “We all know where the other tail feather I allowed Ollivander to use went. Harry Potter may have come to Hogwarts, but the Headmaster and I can feel…sense…that something terrible and great will soon befall not only this school, but the boy as well. It is up to all of you,” he paused to look at Hedwig in particular. “…to make sure that he remains safe. Now, I must be off. The Headmaster will be wanting his lemon drops.”

Just as graceful as the phoenix had made his appearance, he flew off and glided back towards the castle. Hedwig felt a shiver run through her body, but it wasn’t from the cool breeze that came through the holes. The phoenix’s gaze wouldn’t leave her. Her dazed expression broke only when she heard the cheerful voice of her Harry enter the Owlery.

“Hedwig? Hedwig? Where are you?” Harry asked wrapping his scarf more tightly around his neck. “Oh, there you are!” Harry smiled as he spotted Hedwig and rushed over to her. “I know it’s not much, but I brought you some berries fruit from the feast.” Harry then took a seat on a patch of straw that wasn’t totally covered in owl droppings. “I’ve been sorted into Gryffindor. I had to beg the Sorting Hat to not put me in Slytherin. So, now I am in the same house as Ron. It’s brilliant!” Hedwig wasn’t really paying attention to Harry by this point as all the owls had their eyes fixated on Harry. Their golden globes began switching back and forth between Harry and Hedwig in disbelief. Even Artemis seemed to have taken an interest in Harry’s arrival. “Well, I’ve got to be going. I promise I’ll come back and visit tomorrow,” Harry smiled as he gently stroked Hedwig’s head.

After Harry had gone, the Owlery remained totally silent as all eyes remained on Hedwig. Had she done something wrong? Was there berry on her feathers?

“Hedwig, right?” Artemis said cautiously looking directly at her. She nodded. “You are Harry Potter’s magical familiar?” More nodding. “You have no idea what you have just got yourself into…”

Never were anyone’s words to Hedwig more true. Hedwig had no idea how her fated meeting with a phoenix and a young boy would forever change her destiny.