Thank you all once again for all the comments I had a hard time writing Artemis' bit just because it is so tragic and sad not to mention that I know how his story is going to end so it gave me warm fuzzies and not so warm fuzzies.

Anyway, hope everyone is having a fantastic day and I think this is going to be my last update in 2010! See you all again in 2011

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Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter 5: Slobber and Quidditch

As time passed and summer faded into fall, Hedwig too began to feel the same ominous changes that Fawkes had discussed in his opening speech. Something sinister was within the walls of Hogwarts and it made Hedwig’s feathers stand on end just thinking about what could happen to Harry while she was stuck in the Owlery at night. The only time of day where she felt at total ease was when Harry would make his afternoon visits. He always brought her some sort of treat and shared stories about what happened on the other side of the walls.

“Ron’s cup didn’t fare well,” Harry laughed holding his sides. “Poor Scabbers’ tail was sticking out and Professor McGonagall had a fit. Told Ron that he needed to concentrate more. You should have seen her face!”

Hedwig chirped in alarm, not so much from thinking that Harry’s story was interesting or that she felt sorry for the rat, but rather she was happy that he had not enlisted her help. She was just happy to have him around where she could keep an eye on him and make sure he was safe instead of having to peer through windows during his classes. As Harry continued to talk about his classes, Hedwig found herself not paying much attention and instead going into a dreamy state at Harry’s touch on her back feathers.

“I think I understand why you like it so much,” Harry smiled leaning against one of the wooden pillars. “Flying, there really isn’t anything like it, is there? The feeling of the wind against your face and the freedom.”

Wait, why had Harry’s talk shifted from turning animals into water goblets to flying? Wizards certainly couldn’t fly on their own, could they? She had never seen such a thing. Hedwig chirped her concern and disapproval to Harry, but the boy could hardly contain his excitement at his new discovery and continued to talk about his flying lesson and how he had caught something called a Wemberall – at least, that’s what it sounded like.

“The best part is that I was selected to be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team! I’m the youngest Seeker in a century. Ron was saying that first years never make their house teams, but here I am! I’ve even got a new broom! It’s a Nimbus 2000, the faster broom there is. You should see it Hedwig, it’s brilliant and wicked fast.”

To Hedwig, Harry was going on about utter nonsense. At least she figured out how witches and wizards flew. Brooms, what a novel idea!

“Perhaps we can go flying together,” Hedwig chirped as she nibbled on his right sleeve.

“Well, I’ve got to get going. Oliver is holding extra practice sessions to make sure that I get enough experience before our match against Slytherin.”

“Wait, you’ve only just got here,” Hedwig said in protest as she tugged on Harry’s sleeve. She wasn’t ready for this visit to be over.

“I’ll come back later,” Harry laughed stroking the feathers on her breast. “I heard that there will be some mince pie tonight at dinner. I’ll save you some.”

Hedwig reached out with her beak again to tug on his sleeve, but Harry was too fast and was already heading down the stairs by the time she reacted. Frowning as only owls know how to do, she walked back to her perch with her head drooped and tail feathers dragging on the ground.

“Did Master Potter leave already?” came an eccentric tone from above where Hedwig sat pouting.

“Yes, Errol, he did,” Hedwig sighed as she kicked away a stray mouse bone.

“His visits do seem to be getting shorter and shorter,” he mused as he began crunching on his newest calcium deposit. “It was the same with Percy, I’m afraid. The boy was so excited, despite my being a hand-me-down owl, when I was given to him. Soon, I was passed on to the twins and now to Sir Ronald. Next year, no doubt, I will be given to the youngest of the group.” Hedwig looked up at Errol and sighed. The owl was babbling again. “How are we to compete with what lies within those walls,” he continued pointing his wing towards the castle. “We are merely mail deliverers.”

“We are magical familiars,” Hedwig corrected him. There was no way she was just going to become Harry’s mail carrier.

Errol’s head spun around so it looked as though he were looking upside down. “I suppose you are correct, Miss Hedwig. It has just been so long that my brain has gone to the birds.”

“Errol…you are a bird,” Hedwig chuckled ruffling her feathers.

“Oh, that I am,” Errol laughed back.

“Would you two mind keeping it down, some of us are trying to watch the Quidditch practice,” Artemis said in a very annoyed tone like that of a small child trying to watch their favorite TV program but their view is blocked by a parent.

There was that word again: Quidditch. Hedwig huffed in agitation at Errol distracting her from what Harry had just told her. If it concerned Harry, then it concerned her. Hopping over to where Artemis stood on the edge of the tower, she could see a great field marked with flags representing the various houses and stands all the way around. She could see gold and crimson robes flying around on brooms and one, in particular, zooming around the field chasing after a small golden ball with wings. Hedwig recognized the two red-headed twins watching some ball with their bats from the station. If this was Quidditch, it certainly looked like a ludicrous game.

“Is this…Quidditch?” she asked naively looking at Artemis.

“You really are an Owlet,” he said rolling his coffee eyes in disbelief. “Yes, that is Quidditch.”

“How are the teams shaping up this term?” Errol asked between crunches. “Who do you figure is going to go all the way?”

“Well,” Artemis said as he puffed out his sleeves. “I am afraid that the currently Hufflepuff team is just too nice. Not enough anger there. Slytherin, on the other hand, has got plenty of anger but I am not sure if they have discipline. That bloke they have for a captain is a real rock brain. Wood down there is really working the Gryffindor team and with that new Seeker they have,” he flashed a glance towards Hedwig. “I think they’ve got a good shot. He really looks at home there on his broom.”

“Well, then I shall be placing my owl feed on Gryffindor this term,” Errol tweet with excitement. “Quidditch really is a gentlemen’s sport,” he said nodding to Hedwig.

“It is only a gentlemen’s sport until one of those Beaters gets a good wack on a Chaser,” Artemis laughed squinting his eyes at Errol. “This isn’t bloody cricket. Quidditch is more barbaric than gentlemanly.”

Hedwig flapped her wings and shook her head in confusion. What in Merlin’s beard were these two going on about? Hedwig continued to watch the team, her attention mainly on Harry, until she heard a loud thump and saw one of the Gryffindor players take a nasty blow to the face from a tan looking ball.

“Harry is down there,” Hedwig said shakily as she watched the team gather around the now red faced player. “He said he is a Seeker…can they…get hurt?”

“A Seeker’s job is to catch a golden ball called the Snitch,” Artemis explained. “Sometimes teams can go after a Seeker to prevent them from catching the Snitch, but those players just vanished for a little while. They come back in a month or two.” Hedwig gasped. “Why don’t you come watch the match with me? We can cheer on Harry together.”

Hedwig nodded slowly. She wasn’t too sure she was going to like this thing called Quidditch. However, Quidditch soon became the last thing on her mind over the next few days. During one of Harry’s visits, he mentioned the scar on his forehead hurting when a professor by the name of Snape had done nothing more than look at Harry during the opening feast. Then, from what Harry explained about a Potions class with the very same professor, it seemed to Hedwig that this man had it out for Harry. As Hedwig pondered these thoughts from the Owlery, she saw a man with rather greasy hair and all black robes come storming out of the castle and marching towards a small hut. Hmm…very suspicious. She must investigate this.

“I told ya Severus, no one knows how to get past Fluffy beside me,” sausage fingers said in a rather agitated tone. “Fluffy never ‘urt a fly just as long as ya play him a bit of music.”

The Snape fellow said something in response, but the beating of Hedwig’s wings made it too difficult for her to hear. Who was Fluffy? Snape began to exit the hut and it was very clear that he was limping from an injury that Hedwig assumed was caused by whoever this Fluffy guy was. Hedwig was going to follow Snape as he made his way back up to the castle, but found her path blocked by an excessively drooling boarhound dog.

“Whatcha doin’?” the black dog asked as he shook his head and sent drool flying all over the place.

“Nothing that concerns you,” Hedwig snapped as she tried to pass, but the dog stepped on her tail feathers.

“Who are you?”

Realizing that she was never going to catch up to Snape now, Hedwig ceased her struggling and faced the mut. “I’m Hedwig,” she said trying to avoid a few flying bits of slobber.

“Gorsh, you’re Hedwig?! Hagrid told me ‘bout you,” the dog slobbered. “Names Fang.”

“Nice to meet you,” Hedwig chirped hoping that the drool would continue to avoid her.

“Likewise,” Fang replied looking over at the hut. “I’m Hagrid’s magical familiar. He tells me everything.”

Hedwig raised an eyefeather at Fang. Perhaps their chanced meeting wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Really?” Hedwig asked with an almost overly excited spark in her eyes. “Like what?”

“Well, for starters, he’s got a dragon egg in that there hut! Showed it to me and everything. Said he had a won a dragon egg in a card game at the Hog's Head. It’s nowhere near time for it to hatch though. Hafta wait a while yet.”

“Why would someone just give sausa—I mean, Hagrid a dragon egg?” Hedwig asked a bit concerned. “Seems like something rather valuable to use as a bet in a card game.”

“Well, Hagrid told me the fellow was asking him about all sorts of magical creatures and took a real interest in Fluffy.”

Aha! Now they were getting somewhere.

“Who is Fluffy?” Hedwig asked in a sweet and innocent tone. She probably didn’t have to try so hard with this dog. He seemed willing to tell her anything and everything. Hedwig and this stranger certainly had something in common, they were both interested in Fluffy.

“Fluffy is a three-headed dog that Hagrid bought from a Greek chappie,” Fang said rather pleased with himself that he was able to offer so much information. “Used to be a pet, but now he is protecting something in that there castle.”

Both animals looked up at the castle. Whatever Fluffy was guardian, Snape and that guy at the pub were both after it. Hedwig’s thoughts immediately went to Harry.

“What is Fluffy guarding?” she asked slowly not taking her eyes off the castle.

“Something that we magical familiars call the Origin of Species.”

OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I love itt
It's so creative how you did this!!
Anywho PAMS!
xxSara

wow... just wow. This is amazing. Love Hedwigs perspective. She really is adorable
PAMS!!!

is amazing Hedwig is so adorable

Happy New Year everyone! Sorry this has taken me so long to get this chapter up, but here it is! More mystery awaits Hedwig and things are certainly not looking so safe at Hogwarts.

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Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter Six: Troll in the Forest

Hedwig had tried asking Fang more about what he meant by the Origin of Species, but the slobbering mutt couldn’t provide her with any more information than it that the Origin of Species was something small since he had seen his master bring it into the hut in a small brown leather bag before the Headmaster had come to take it and put it somewhere within the walls of the castle. Hedwig had flown back to the Owlery with her tail feathers in a fluff. Origin of Species? It sounded like some sort of textbook you read in school. With so many unanswered questions and Harry to worry about, it was a wonder that Hedwig got any sleep that night.

Just as the sun broke the horizon the next morning, Hedwig awoke to the smell of warm pumpkin pies, juicy pot roasts, and fresh dinner rolls pouring from the kitchens where the house elves were busy at work. Deciding to stretch her wings a bit, Hedwig took off towards the kitchen when she spotted Artemis flying, a little wobbly, towards a familiar window. “What is he up to?” she chirped to herself as she changed her flight course to pursue her owl companion. It took him several tries, but he finally made his way through the narrow window. Hedwig followed, but remained on the stone pane as she observed Artemis slowly waddle towards the mysterious mirror where he then stood very still gazing into it. How often did he come here? Hadn’t he instructed her to avoid looking into it.

Hedwig watched for a few minutes as Artemis stared into the mirror with his large brown eyes glazed over. What was it that Artemis saw in the mirror? A ridiculous thought struck Hedwig as she remembered the conversation they had had the last time they met in this room. Could it be possible that Artemis was the owl from the story he had told her? Someone as cold as him couldn’t possibly be the same owl that had found themselves so dedicated to a single witch, could he? Hedwig was beginning to think that he could be and was about to ask him when she heard the trees rustle unusually loud in the Forbidden Forest. Hedwig’s head turned 180 degrees around to see what was making such a ruckus, but all she saw was a clump of tress moving as if someone were hitting them very hard with a large log.

Before Artemis could notice Hedwig’s presence, she flew away from the tower and directed her flight towards the trees. Fang had warned her about this forest. How he only ever ventured in there if Hagrid was with him because of all the dangers and something about very large spiders. Not seeing sausage fingers around, Hedwig decided to take it upon herself to do the investigation. Weaving through the trees as if in an airborne dance, Hedwig made her way towards the source of all the movement with her golden eyes the most alert they had ever been. Soon, she found herself in a clearing with a single large tree and something very large sitting next to it thumbing a great bat like object against it. “What is that?” Hedwig squawked in horror. The creature was larger than sausage fingers and made the hairy man look like prince charming.

It was then that Hedwig took noticed of a small quivering figure with a purple mass on his head. Flying for a closer look, Hedwig recognized him from when she had looked into one of the windows of the Great Hall during the opening feast to check on Harry. “Oh, well, that’s a relief,” she said to herself as she touched down on a nearby branch. “It’s one of the professors at Hogwarts. Must be checking on Ugly over there.” She was about to head back to the Owlery when she heard the man speak.

“I promise Master, you will have it in your grap tonight,” the man with the purple mop on his head said with a confident tone as thin as wet rice paper. Was he honestly talking to Ugly? Perhaps Hogwarts was in need of a serious revaluation of their teaching staff?

What Hedwig heard next could hardly have been considered words, but more like a cold hiss that sent a shiver through Hedwig’s feathers and made her get owl bumps. Ugly, who seemed rather content hitting a tree with his boulder-sized hamburger of a fist, made a kind of exciting gargling noise when it noticed Hedwig perched on a branch above him. Hedwig tilted her head to the side. Hamburger hands better not try anything unless he wanted his eyes pecked out. “No, no one suspects a thing,” the man continued clearly showing signs of stress in his quivering voice and nervous glances around the forest. Then there was more hissing, this time not cold but sounding like it was on fire and that the very tree on which she perched would go up in flames at any moment. Carpet wearing man looked as though he were going to either pass out on the spot or throw up when there was some rustling in the trees in front of them. Still keeping hamburger hands visible out of the corner of her eyes, Hedwig looked up to see a familiar black cloaked wearing figure of a certain oily haired professor emerge from the trees with a scowl on his face that even a mother would have a hard time loving.

“Professor Quirrel, out for a stroll enjoying the sunlight are we?” the man said in a taunting tone knowing that purple carpet wearing man was doing nothing of the sort. “What’s this? A friend of yours? I thought only Hagrid was the sort of person who sought the company of such…creatures.”

“P-P-P-P-Prof-f-f-fessor S-S-S-Snape, h-h-h-how lo-lov-lov-lovely to see you,” the other man replied. His sudden change in speech patterns threw Hedwig off guard. He had just been speaking fluidly moments ago.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Quirrel. I’ve seen you sneaking about the castle when you think others are not looking,” Slimey said practically spitting acid at carpet head with each word.

“I-I-I-I was j-j-j-ju-j-just…”

“Save your breath.” If looks could kill, Professor Quirrel would be dead already from the glare Snape was giving him. “I know you are up to something, Quirrel, so why don’t you tell me what it is you are doing or else give me a reason why I shouldn’t go through my storage room so I can brew something that will make you.” At the moment, Snape’s voice sounded more menacing than the hissing noise from earlier.

“I-I-I-I was j-j-ju-ju-just checking on s-s-s-some things t-t-t-t-to use f-f-f-for class. H-H-H-Ha-Hagrid m-m-m-must h-h-h-ha-ha-have t-t-tied this t-t-t-troll up here s-s-s-seeing as s-s-s-some-t-t-thing has b-b-b-been s-s-sm-smashing his p-p-p-pumpkins.”

Snape raised an eyebrow at Quirrel and took a quick glance over his shoulder to look at the troll, but then the man’s gaze stopped rested directly on Hedwig with an unusually soft expression.

“Seeing is I do not care to hear you stutter any more, nor do I care about what Hagrid does with his free time, I will not check on your story. However, I will be watching you, Quirrel, very closely.”

With a wave of his cape and one last look up at Hedwig, Snape turned to walk back towards Hogwarts castle. Just as he did, the hissing grew louder and caused Snape to turn on his heels and stare at Quirrel with an expression not of fear or confusion, but one of disbelief and knowing. Without saying another word, he turned back toward the castle and with extra haste in his step exited the forest.

hahaha !! i was laughing at the way quirrel speaks. hahaha

PAMS

Hello faithful readers so sorry that I haven't posted more chapters here for so long! I have been on a drabble spree recently and have not had more then five minutes to spare to sit down and write out anything more than 100 words Also have my own wedding to finish planning and get ready for - March 27!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next installment. I have been meaning to write this up for a while now since the idea came to me around the same time as the previous chapter. Enjoy!

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Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter Seven: Follow the Leader


Hedwig wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting on that branch before purple carpet man finally decided to leave and head back towards the castle, but it was enough time for her feet to fall asleep and her talons to become cramped. She wasn’t sure she would be able to move them anytime soon. The ugly giant below her was beginning to become restless and would sometimes pick up rather large stones and throw them at one of the nearby trees.

Just then, Errol came crashing through the trees with his usual erratic flight pattern. Herwig let out a chirp when she saw the loony bird crash into one of the bushes. “Errol? Are you alright?” she called still until able to move her talons comfortably. Errol’s head popped out of the bush with his feathers a mess and a few small twigs sticking out here and there. “Perfectly fine, my dear Hedwig. Us owls can handle much bigger spills. Trust me, I once ran into a glass window trying to deliver a letter.”

Rolling her golden eyes, Hedwig tried to stretch her wings a bit, but they too had become stiff and her left one had lost most of the feeling in it. “Great,” she hooted stretching her right wing out completely. “Carpet head better not do anything while I am like this.”

“Ah yes, didn’t anyone ever tell you as an owlet that it is important to stretch your wings every 30 minutes or so? That way your wings will not freeze,” Errol said hooting rather loudly and flapping his wings for extra emphasis.

The troll took notice of this and locked his gaze on the brown owl. “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYFFT!” the troll roared reaching one of it giant hamburger hands towards the owl.

“Errol! Look out!” Hedwig screeched loudly flapping her good wing. The feeling was beginning to come back into her left one, but it wasn’t enough for her to be able to fly well.

“Oh dear!” Errol exclaimed flapping his wings. There was a loud thud and the next thing she knew, Errol was up in the air and the troll had left a rather large imprint in the ground where Errol had just been. The troll had managed to get a piece of Errol as a few of his tail feather were pressed a good six inches into the dirt. “That was close!”

Errol flew right in front of the troll’s face, and the troll followed his flight path. “TOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUU!”

“What does that mean?” Hedwig asked nervously glancing at Errol who had just landed next to her.

“Well, I’m afraid that my troll is a bit rusty. Were the creature we are dealing with a gnome or perhaps even a crup, then I would be able to give you a much better translation,” Errol explained fluffing his feathers a bit. “I can speak over 6 magical creature languages you know. The first I learned when I ---“

“Errol! Move!” Hedwig chirped whacking the owl backwards with her right wing – and just in time. The troll’s hands were grabbing at the branch where the two had been sitting, and he had managed to get one of his oversized sausage fingers around Hedwig’s tail. Why did that owl have to talk so much. If she survived this, she was going to make sure he choked on one of his mouse bones. Errol managed to find his bearings before he became friends with a rock at the base of the tree. Flutter his wings a bit and trying to get some distance between him and the troll, he turned around to see that Hedwig was stuck, and the troll’s other hand was slowly reaching up. “Miss Hedwig! I do believe it would be best for you to remove yourself from your current position!”

“Try telling me something I don’t already know!” she said snapping her beak back. What was she going to do? She hardly could fly the way she was right now. Looking at the troll’s hand that had her feathers clutched between its fat fingers, Hedwig swallowed her pride and jabbed at the nearest one with her beak. The troll let out a loud groan that echoed in the empty forest, but still did not let go. Trying again, and this time with much more force, she jabbed her beak into the finger and found she had a new problem: now the tip of her beak was stuck in its green and smelly flesh.

“Miss Hedwig! Troll is not good for you! Didn’t anyone tell you that you could break out in owl pox?!”

All Hedwig could do was glare at Errol. Yep, he was definitely choking on a mouse bone later. The troll howled again and began waving his hand around in the air in attempt to remove Hedwig’s beak. Hedwig was being tossed around so quickly that she had to close her eyes to keep from becoming too dizzy or anything getting into her eyes. Being blind and unable to fly would make her a pretty poor excuse of an owl. Suddenly, she felt her beak break free from the troll’s finger and she went tumbling through the air towards the trunk of a tree. Opening her eyes now, she saw that the trunk was becoming dangerously close. Flapping her wings frantically, she attempted to regain balance, but her left wing refused to cooperate.

The troll, now very unhappy and with green goo oozing from his thumb, began to pull on his bindings. Hedwig somehow managed to regain enough feeling in her left wing to maneuver herself away from the tree trunk and fell instead into a nearby bush. Errol, seeing all this, hopped over to her. “Miss Hedwig! Are you alright?”

Hedwig was going to snap back with some smart remark, but all sarcasm escaped her when she saw what was coming at them. “Ugly!” she managed to yell.

The troll had now broken free of its bindings and was charging straight for them.

“Quick! To the Owlerly!” Hedwig commanded flapping her now back to normal wings.

“Roger that!” Errol chirped following suit.

The two owls took off as fast as their wings could carry them, weaving through trees, avoiding rocks being thrown at them from behind, and just all in all trying not to get killed. Finally, the two saw Hogwarts Castle and Hedwig chirped with a sense of relief.

“Almost there!”

She picked up speed, and Errol tried his best to match it zigging this way and zagging the other. They were close enough now that she could smell all the food in the Great Hall. Seemed like the Halloween Dinner had begun. Looking over her right wing, she assumed that they had lost the troll. To her horror, she saw that it was still tromping after them carrying its giant wooden club with it. Hedwig and Errol flew high enough to be out of reach of the troll, but that soon became a minor detail.

Realizing that the two little birds that had hurt his finger were too far away – and after making a few holes in the side of the castle out of frustration – the troll whacked the great door with his club. The door shattered into tiny splinters and the smells from inside came pouring out. Howling once more and dragging his club behind him, the troll entered the castle and vanished from the two owl’s sight.

“Errol…we lead that thing right to the castle!”

Great Chapter Pixieluv!

You are a genius! This is such a clever story. I love Hedwig, she's sooo cute!

Hedwig is amazing, I love her *hugs* :tackle: loves it so far.

OHMYGOSH! This is great and such a different point-of-view! I love it! Poor, poor, Artemis, even though he is a bit of a grump (He has his reasons though), andI LOVE HEDWIG! PLEASE post more soon!

Thank you all so much for all your comments! I am so happy to see that there are people who enjoy reading Hedwig's story as much as I enjoy writing it

Here is a rather...deep? Intense? Perhaps both of those things! We are approaching the climax of our story!

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Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter Eight: Handpicked Destiny


As if the troll strolling leisurely into the castle hadn’t been enough of a sign, the tiny little brown owl that came to deliver a message on behalf of Fawkes was certainly an indication to Hedwig that her and Errol were in big trouble.

“I told you not to go poking your beak in things that you had no business in,” Artemis sighed flapping his wings before he returned to gnawing a mouse bone.

“I told you it was an accident,” she refuted whacking the bone away with her wing. “I was watching you looking into that ruddy mirror again when I saw movement in the forest and decided to check it out. Technically, this is all your fault.”

“MY FAULT?!” Artemis squawked with a crazy look in his golden eyes. “Someone as daft as you has no right to have a Coeur! You are an insult to the very name! I hope Fawkes summoned you to tell you that this honor has been taken away from you!”

Hedwig snapped her beak at Artemis and managed to pull a few feathers out in the process. If she was daft, then he was delusional.

“AT LEAST MY COEUR IS ALIVE,” she screeched. “AT LEAST I HAVE DONE A DECENT JOB PROTECTING HARRY THUS FAR SO I DON’T HAVE TO SPEND HOURS SITTING IN FRONT OF SOME MIRROR WASTING MY LIFE AWAY BECAUSE I FAILED!”

Artemis flapped his wings furiously, but not in attempt to attack Hedwig. No, he flapped his wings in attempt to get as far away from her and the Owlery as possible. Looking over his tail feathers only once before he took off towards where ever it was he was going to, Hedwig saw a mournful sparkle in his eyes that was enough to make her own small beating owl heart.

The other owls turned their gaze to Hedwig briefly before turning their tail feathers towards her.

“I say, Miss Hedwig,” wheezed Errol. “That was a bit harsh.”

Hedwig wanted to tell Errol where he could stick the bone he was chewing on, but her heart was sobbing about what she had just done to Artemis.

“Artemis has a good head on his shoulders,” Errol chirped finishing off his mouse bone. “He won’t do anything drastic or dangerous.”

Hedwig nodded her snowy head at the owl. She would have to find some way to make it up to Artemis. For now, she and Errol had a meeting they were going to be late for with Fawkes.

“Come on, Errol,” she clucked walking towards the entrance. “Let’s get this over with.”

The two arrived at the Headmaster’s window just in time to see the slimy haired man from the forest speaking with the grey Headmaster. It must have been the end of their conversation, for the moment Errol tapped his beak on the window, the man left the room with an elaborate twirl of his robes.

Dumbledore, hearing the tapping, glanced over a Fawkes knowingly and glided over to the window.

“Ah, I see Fawkes has some visitors,” he smiled as he invited the two owls in. “I’m afraid that my licorice snaps will prove less than appetizing to your taste buds. If only I had a stash of Cockroach Clusters left. Those would probably be more appealing.”

Dumbledore then glided over to his desk where he flipped through a few parchments, picked up a licorice snap and popped it into his mouth.

“I believe that Fawkes would like some privacy with you two,” he said nodding at them both. His eyes remained on Hedwig for several moments as his cerulean gaze seemed to pierce her very being. Hedwig waddled her feet in discomfort. “No need to be afraid,” he whispered before he too left the room.

The room was swallowed by silence as the two owls waited nervously for the phoenix to speak. Sitting on his perch, Fawkes watched the two with his dark ebony eyes, still choosing to remain silent.

“Y-Y-You summoned us…”Hedwig murmured taking a small baby owl step forward.

“I did,” the phoenix replied in an alarming calm voice. “Errol, you should have known better and done a better job watching over young Hedwig.”

“Forgive me,” Errol said bowing his head in shame.

“Just something to remember for next time,” Fawkes chuckled extending one of his sparkly crimson wings towards the window from where they had come from. “You may leave, but, not you Hedwig. You stay.”

Errol looked sideways at Hedwig and shrugged his brown wings. “Ms. Hedwig…good luck,” he bowed before flying with an unneeded haste back to the Owlery.

Hedwig watched Errol until he vanished from sight and then turned her attention back to the phoenix who was watching her and, as she felt, judging her. Fawkes jumped down from his perch and walked across the Headmasters desk, pacing, deep in thought. Hedwig opened her beak to speak, but felt that it was not the place for her to initiate any sort of conversation.

“Hedwig, do you remember the first day we met?” the phoenix finally asked breaking the silence that stood between the two of them like an impenetrable wall.

“Of course,” she chirped. “It was the first day of the term and you…”

“No,” Fawkes interrupted sternly, but not without a hint of a smile in his black eyes. “We met long before then. You were only a hatchling then though. Fresh out of the egg and as innocent as the first blossoms in spring.”

“That was you?!” Hedwig chirped and fluffed her feathers in surprise.

“I thought you would remember,” he chuckled. His laughter coated the room with a pleasant glow that put her quivering feathers at ease. “Do you know what I was doing with Headmaster Dumbledore on that day?” He paused for a moment for Hedwig to tilt her head to the side in confusion. “I was there with Professor Dumbledore to look at the new owlets. You see, we were looking for a very special owlet. One that would one day be given to a very important young wizard. One whose parents were hunted down and murdered by the most powerful dark wizard of our time, perhaps the most powerful in the history of magic. Do you have any idea who this young wizard is?”

“Harry Potter,” Hedwig replied swallowing hard. There was no hint of hesitation in her answer, but now came the part she had feared.

“Yes, Harry Potter,” Fawkes nodded. “This boy, while me may not look it, holds all the hope the wizarding world has left.”

“But sir, didn’t he already defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”

“Banish for a time, yes. But defeat? No, the Headmaster and I do not believe that he has been defeated. This is why we specially handpicked you to become his Coeur.”

Hedwig’s feathers ruffled up even more now. He wasn’t going to tear all her tail feathers out for leading a troll into the castle? Or, was this an elaborate way of making her feel guilty about doing so? She was beginning to think it was the latter.

“Hedwig, has the concept of a Coeur been explained to you?”

“Yes,” Hedwig said feeling a sting in her chest as her thoughts traveled to Artemis. “Owls that become a witch or wizard’s magical familiar may find that they have an even stronger connection with them. That connection, like a spark, is a Coeur. It means I have to protect Harry.”

“Yes…and no,” Fawkes replied looking at the Headmaster’s empty chair. “What you have described is not much different from what a magical familiar is. Having Harry as your Coeur does not just mean you have a strong connection with him. It means that you are within his very heart and mind, so much that you can hear his thoughts and feel his pain. This is why many magical familiar, when they have found their Coeur, are unable to make the connection again with another witch or wizard. The connection is so intense that it really is like sharing a part of your soul.”

Fawkes looked at Hedwig and she had the sinking feeling that he already knew what had happened between her and Artemis.

“I do not think I need to tell you how foolish your actions were this evening regarding the troll,” he continued as his eyes hardened, but his tone remained lighthearted. “Just remember this, Hedwig. It is not only your soul that will be harmed if you cannot fulfill your Coeur. The souls of the entire wizarding world are at risk.”

Hedwig felt the air around her grow thick and heavy, as if she were trying to breathe in a pool filled with molasses. She hadn’t even thought about the impact that Harry was having, and would have, on the wizarding world and that realization was too heavy for her small owl shoulders to hold up.

“But…sir…I cannot do this alone,” she hooted.

“You are not alone,” Fawkes said smiling with his eyes. “Remember that and make sure Harry knows that as well.”

Aww this is so adorable

Ooooh new post! Yayay! I love it! Poor Hedwig, poor Artemis, poor...um..Errol! (though mostly just the first two because Errol isn't like,all sad)

SO PamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPamsPA MS!

~Abbeh~

Woot! Yay for the new chapter. I love it.

Your unbelievable post more as soon as you can!!!

I adoreee this! Please PAMS!

MERLIN! I am so sorry that it seems like I have forgotten this story! I haven't! Real life has just been INSANE for me recently and this is the first time I have been able to sit down and write for this.

Sadly, this chapter is a bit of a filler, but we are fast approaching the climax of our story!

*★*―――――*★*―――――*★*―――――*★*―――――*★*



Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter Nine: Unexpected Results


The next few weeks dragged by like flying into a fierce wind that no matter how hard you flapped your wings, you never seemed to more foreword. The other owls had all but ignored Hedwig since she had lashed out at Artemis. In fact, the only acknowledgement she had received was from some haughty barn owl who had flung some of their own scat at her. Errol, of course, was always there with his Miss Hedwig’s and whatnot, but Artemis had been nowhere to be found.

“Errol,” Hedwig said as she used her wings to bat at a stray mouse skull on the ground. “Do you know what has become of Artemis?”

“I have not seen him for several days now,” Errol chirped as spat some fragments of the bones he had been gnawing on – for calcium of course – at her. “I do believe that the Headmaster gave him an important letter to deliver to someone in a distant land. I do suppose it was of the upmost importance for even Fawkes seems to be a bit on edge with the matter.”

Hedwig ruffled her feathers and her head drooped. “I guess… I will never be able to apologize for what happened,” she cooed softly.

“Never say never Miss Hedwig,” Errol responded by placing one of his ratty brown wings on her snowy back. “You never know when an owl may turn into a phoenix you know.”

Hedwig looked at Errol and cocked her head to the side. Yep, this owl was never going to make sense to her. “Um…right, whatever you say Errol,” she responded flapping her wings a bit. “I’m going to go find Harry. His first match is today and I want to wish him good luck.”

“I do say, that is mighty kind of you!” Errol called as Hedwig took off into the morning sky.

As she circled around a tower, Hedwig realized that she had no idea where Harry was. She knew that he wouldn’t think to come visit her in the Owlery, not when he had something like Quidditch to think about. Harry’s visits had become even less frequent since the troll incident, and Hedwig couldn’t help but feel like Harry knew that she was to blame for the whole incident.

Adjusting her wings so that they pointed more downwards, Hedwig sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. Suddenly, she felt her heart grow warm and there was a flash of a stone passageway and a girl whose head looked like it was going to be devoured by her own hair. Where had she seen that place before? As she came around the front of the castle, Hedwig looked down and she screeched loudly.

Of course! The courtyard!

Swerving around air currents that would only slow her down, she made her way towards the student filled area, listening to her heart beats to guide her towards the one she was seeking. It didn’t take her long to find him speaking to the girl she had just seen in an instant only a few moments ago. Screeching cheerfully, Hedwig landed right next to Harry and nipped at his robes to get his attention.

“Hedwig!” Harry smiled with surprise. Hedwig hardly recognized him in his new crimson and gold robes that she assumed were his new Quidditch ones. “What are you doing here?” he asked looking down at her feet, obviously searching for a letter.

“I just wanted to come and wish you luck!” she chirped as she nipped lovingly at his fingers.

“You’re owl’s gone mental,” the red-head boy said peering closely at her. Well, that was a bit uncalled for! Hedwig had thought she had liked this one, but perhaps she needed to reevaluate her decision now. “Bet she’s been hanging around ol’ Errol too much.” Hedwig had to hand it to him on that one, he was right.

“You think so?” Harry asked as he petted the top of her head. She immediately felt warm all over and there was a tingle like electricity flowing through her at his touch. “Maybe she was just worried about me and my first Quidditch match?”

“Harry, she’s an owl,” Hedwig’s new least favorite person said. “I bet she was just lookin’ for a mouse and happened to land by you.”

Hedwig was about to fly into his face, perhaps take a go at the rat in his hands, when Harry’s words stopped her. “Naw, I think she was just fancying paying me a visit.” Hedwig turned her head to look at Harry, and ignored the obvious eye rolling going on in front of her. Could Harry understand her? Hedwig sure hoped that he could, because she could understand everything about him. “Not to worry, Hedwig, I’ll be alright.”

“Harry!” said the bushy hair girl. “You’d better get going. You don’t want to be late.”

“Sorry Hedwig, I’ll come and visit you after the match,” Harry replied in a rush as he took off towards the pitch. Hedwig chirped after him knowing fully that he wouldn’t come and visit. He was far too excited to remember her right now. Hedwig’s heart sank a bit. Her heart was connected with his, the string tied tightly, but it wasn’t yet the same for Harry.

Just then, a shadow appeared on the ground in front of her and Hedwig’s head snapped upwards to see that Artemis was flying overhead towards the Headmaster’s office window. “He’s back!” she thought to herself as she once again took flight. However, she soon found herself distracted when she saw the man with the purple carpet on his head standing alone in a secluded area of the Courtyard.

“F-F-Forgive me M-M-Master,” he stammered as his fingers aimlessly intertwined themselves with one another. “I-I-I did not expect the t-t-troll to get l-l-l-loose the way it did…t-t-t-that was not p-p-part of the p-p-plan!”

There was the eerie hissing noise that Hedwig had heard the day of the troll and it made all her feathers stand on end and even the temperature around her seemed to drop. She had assumed that the man had been talking to Ugly previously, but now there was no one else around – unless this mad made it a habit to talk to walls.

“I-I-I know he suspects us, Master,” the man continued. “B-B-But you saw just as I did. H-H-He had returned to the castle.”

The hissing noise intensified and Hedwig felt a sudden surge of pain in her head that made her lose focus on her flight path and she went tumbling right into a nearby tree. The hissing continued and it seemed as though Mr. Mop Head was also in pain.

“N-N-No one else was around, Master! I-I-I swear!” The man was now cowering on the ground, as if some invisible force were pushing him down into the ground. “I-I-I promise I will be m-m-more careful…t-t-today…yes…no one will suspect u-u-us at the match…”

The surge ceased and Hedwig found herself able to see straight once more. What…had just happened? Blinking her owl eyes for a moment, Hedwig stumbled across the branch until her head was able to peek out of the leaves of the trees only to see that the man was already halfway across the courtyard and heading towards the pitch.

What in the name of the moon was going on? Her thoughts completely distracted from wanting to speak with Artemis, Hedwig took off towards the pitch, but was unfortunately interrupted by another unwanted visitor.

“Gorsh! It’s you!” the great dog barked shaking his head and sending slobber all over the place. “Hagrid left me to go watch them match. I thou’t I’d come ‘ere to look at them clouds. They make all sorts of pretty shapes! Saw one that look just like a rabbit the other day.”

Hagrid, right, that would be Sausage Fingers. Hedwig really didn’t have time to discuss clouds and their shapes at the moment, she was on a mission to follow Carpet. “That’s, lovely, really,” Hedwig clucked as she tried to maneuver her way around the dog, but he only matched her movement.

“I didn’t know you liked to play tag!” the dog yelped, spraying more saliva around the area.

“I don’t,” she replied. “If you will excuse me, I really need to go…” However, she had already lost sight of the man. Sighing she turned her golden eyes at the dog and very much wanted to pull out his frizzy whiskers one by one. “Never mind. What do you want?”

“Gorsh, I want many things,” he replied flopping over on his side. “I want my belly rubbed…a nice big steak…”

Hedwig stared at the canine as he continued to list of desires. Obviously, that isn’t what she had asked. Now she was even more frustrated with the mutt. Not only had he distracted her from following Mr. Carpet Head, now he was entirely wasting her time.

“Well, I hope that all works out for you,” she scoffed as she pruned a few stray feathers before turning her attention back to the sky. She could hear the crowd from the Quidditch stadium now as they loudly cheered on the match – their voices carried on the wind. Bloody dog, getting in the way.

“You aren’t leaving already, are you?” he whimpered rolling onto his stomach.

“I was seriously considering it…”

“Gorsh, I thought we could keep each other company! Hagrid’s been acting all funny-like ever since the troll incident. He’s been payin’ more attention to Fluffy than me!”

Hedwig’s head snapped around again when Fang mentioned Fluffy and she remembered the brief conversation they had had a while back. “Why is he spending more time with Fluffy? Isn’t…isn’t Fluffy busy protecting whatever needs protecting?”

“Yep, which is why Hagrid is spending more time with ‘em. He wants to make sure that Fluffly is in tip top condition at all times.”

Right, that did make some sense to Hedwig. “Is what Fluffy is guarding really THAT important?” she asked in somewhat disbelief.

“I reckon it is,” he nodded. “When the troll got into the castle, Professor Snape got in a bit of a scuff with Fluffy. Fluffy bit him actually. Poor bloke.”

“Fluffy bit him?!”

“Yarp! Hagrid ain’t too worried about that though. Says Professor Snape knows what he’s doin’. He reckons that someone else was trying to sneak past Fluffy. But they don’t know how to. That, and Professor Snape was there to stop him.”

Hedwig’s head began to spin as she recalled the events on the day and what she had just heard right now. Could it be possible that her leading the troll to the castle when she had had actually done more good than bad? She flapped her wings at this realization. THAT WAS IT! Mr. Carpet Head had been wanting to sneak past Fluffy and get whatever it was that the beast was protecting.

“Fang! Thank you!” she chirped as she didn’t wait for him to respond and took off immediately towards the castle. She needed an audience with Fawkes right away.

Hello all my faithful readers, and perhaps those stopping by for the first time

First, I just want to say a GIANT THANK YOU to those who nominated Hedwig for the Golden Goblin Awards. I am so happy that this story is connecting with you and that you are enjoying reading it.

If you haven't already, you should head on over and vote! There are loads of fantastic authors out there and great stories to discover!

I have been working on the next chapter for some time now and will hopefully be posting it soon. Real life has just been insane with working on VISA paperwork, moving into a new place, redoing everything for the wedding because it was postponed, and just dealing with day-to-day issues.

Hedwig shall be back soon, along with all of her crazy friends.

OMG NEW READER!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!! Hedwig is one of my favorites! In fact, I dressed up as Hedwig for the DH2 premier and I love that this is in her pov... everything fits together perfectly! most of the plot is kinda how i saw it happening in my head actually, so its really great! PAMS

New Reader this story is amazing! When the dog first appeared I thought it was sirius black in animal form but then I remembered this is the 1st Book!

PLEASE PAMS!

Wow, you're amazing! The way you write! Update please!

OH MY! I had read this when you posted it, but I see that I forgot to comment!

GREAT JOB!

I can't wait for more!

PAMS

*★*―――――*★*―――――*★*―――――*★*―――――*★*



Year 1: Hedwig and the Origin of Species
■□Chapter Ten: Flying Lessons


Hedwig flew towards the Headmaster’s window as quickly as her wings could take her. Just as she was about to guide herself through the narrow opening reserved only for owls from the Owlery, Artemis appeared and blocked her path. Hedwig chirped out of fright and tried to weave her way around him, but he consistently blocked her path.

Having not spoken to him since the incident in the Owlery, Hedwig found her feathers ruffled even more.

“Will you please move,” she screeched as she tried once more to move past him.

“No,” he said flatly as his almond eyes narrowed further.

“I need to speak with Fawkes, this is an emergency of Hogwarts security and Ha--.”

“You are late for flying lessons,” Artemis interrupted as his head turned 90 degrees to the right, indicating the direction of the Owlerly. It was precisely in the opposite direction that she wanted to go in.

“Flying lessons? Are you pulling my feathers?” Hedwig snapped back, trying once more to fly around him. “I’m an owl, why would I need flying lessons?”

Artemis hung his head. He didn’t want to be here talking with her any more than she seemed inclined to talk to him. He had better things to do, more important things. “Look, there is no arguing,” he said sharply. “All owls must go through a training so that they can be proper delivery owls.”

“But I’m not just some boring old delivery owl!”

Artemis eyes narrowed further and he lashed out with his beak to grab a hold of her wing. He was in no mood to deal with her attitude right now, not after the task Fawkes had given him. It wasn’t that he hated playing second fiddle to the Phoenix, it was an honor to be thought of in such high regard, it was more he was tired of sticking his feathers out for witches and wizards. Been there, done that, and it had left him empty. Artemis began flapping his wings and literally dragging Hedwig through the air towards the Owlery.

“Artemis! Stop this! If you are doing this because you are upset about what I said earlier then…”

“Will you just shut it,” he said, releasing her wing. “They’re waiting for you.”

He clicked his talons on the stone a few times before taking off into the sunlight. Hedwig remained motionless as she watched him fly away. Flying lessons…he HAD to be kidding.

Hanging her head in defeat, the snowy owl waddled forward to a sight that she certainly had not been expecting.

Standing in the front of a group of young owls like herself was Errol with what looked like a large pinecone on his head. It had several of its scales, so it sat comfortable on his head like a helmet – but it didn’t make him look any less ridiculous. To the owl’s right were several different size objects that looked like they had been pulled from the student garbage. There was a partly broken Remembrall, a few empty plastic bottles, and a heavy looking rock.

“Ah, Miss Hedwig, lovely you could join us!” hooted Errol as he gestured with his wing towards the group.

Reluctantly, Hedwig took a seat and waited. Errol…of all owls…was going to teach them how to fly? That rat she had met on the train could probably do a better job at teaching them how to fly than this old hoot.

“Ladies and gentleowls,” Errol began, spreading his wings wide and fluffing his feathers to make himself look more important. Hedwig thought it made him look even more insane, but she was trying to keep her thoughts to herself for now. The other owls were already looking at her like she had eaten a student’s pet rat or something. “Today you earn your wings in what is considered to be one of the more difficult tasks of our species, delivering. Now, it is important to remember the thee P’s, please repeat after me, Posture, Power, Poise, and Patience!”

Hedwig was the only owl to not repeat after him. Was he serious? Three P’s? She was pretty sure that he had listed four and was just about to correct him when he continued.

“These THREE P’s are what makes a delivery owl. Posture, because carrying heavy loads with hunched backs and non-straight wings will do terrible things to an owl’s bones, Power, because without it one wouldn’t be able to fly, Poise, because leaning too far to one side is simply a terrible idea, and Patience because it takes longer to fly when you have things in your talons and beak.”

Hedwig coughed and attempted to muffle the noise by hiding her wing in her own feathers. Why was she sitting here when there was someone trying to sneak into the castle and get past Fluffy, but that person wasn’t who she had first suspected and…
Ug…could she just leave now? Please? She really didn’t see why Artemis has been so insistent that she be here. And Fawkes had to be a bit insane himself to let Errol teach them how to fly.

“Now, to distribute your items,” Errol squawked as he waddled to the side. “Miss Hedwig, you will take the Remembrall.” He bent down and picked it up with his beak before tossing it to her. It crashed at her talons and made an awful noise like something breaking. “Oops, looks like you could use one to help you remember how to catch,” Errol chirped.

Hedwig rolled her golden eyes and clutched it in her right talon.

“Once around the castle should do,” Errol nodded as he turned his attention to the other owls to hand out there practice objects.

Hedwig looked at the broken Remembrall. It was small, almost the size of a stone the way it had broken. Why would she need practice carrying something like this?

“Errol,” she chirped looking up at him. “Can I have the letter instead?” That looked like it would take less effort and she could be done sooner.

“Afraid not Miss Hedwig,” he replied shaking his tail feathers. “Fawkes was insistent that you be given that particular object. Perhaps he thinks you need to remember something?”

Hanging her head in defeat again, Hedwig turned her back on the rest of the owls. Once around the castle…that should give her plenty of time…

Oh my?

What is going on?

Why wouldn't Artemis let her in?

PAMS