Hello! This is my first ever attempt of writing an actual fanfiction! If you like it, then thank you very much for your support! If you don't, then go away, and don't hate!
Disclaimer: Everything Harry Potter is absolutely not mine. I wish it was though. I need J.K. Rowling's imagination and writing skills. Like seriously. I only own Theodora and Owen Langley.
Hope you enjoy it!
Soft golden beams of light fell down gently on Tuddlesmith Grove, a small town that was completely normal in just about every single way. Rows of beige colored houses with dark brown roofs made up the entire village. The dads were mowing the lawns, the mums were making lemonade, and the kids were splashing around in the mud, wanting their last moments of the summer holidays to be memorable.
However, there was one family that was particularly different than the other Tuddlesmith residents. A man and his daughter, who unlike others, lived in a light yellow house with a bright scarlet roof top, that was perched on top of a tall, grassy hill. They were isolated from society surely, but the magnificent view of the sun blazing over the horizon was worth it.
Actually, there was another reason for their separation. The odd family up on the hill had magical powers. The man, Owen Langley, was a wizard. And his daughter, Theodora, was a witch. The two were currently at their owl ranch, a family business that trained owls to deliver mail; the usual way of communication in the magical world.
"It's been two weeks since I've seen Flo," Theodora said. "I don't think she's ready for flights over sea yet."
"Alright," Owen agreed, scribbling down notes with his quill. "Let's get someone to help her."
She nodded, heading over to the more experienced owls, stopping at Rolan.
"Hello," she petted the Langley's family owl. "I need your help again. Do you mind finding Flo?"
He nipped her finger affectionately, before spreading his wings, and taking the cerulean skies.
Theodora smiled and walked through the farm, writing down all the progress of each owl as she passed by. After a few minutes, she heard a familiar cry.
"Hedwig?" she asked, spotting a blur of white flapping her wings, as she gracefully landed on an owl stand.
"Back already? That trip was all the way to Australia!" Theodora awed. "And it's only been a few weeks!"
The owl only hooted, flying onto her shoulder, nuzzling her caretaker's cheek.
"I'm very impressed. You think you're ready for the real deal?" she asked.
Hedwig cooed, nodding her head. Giggling, Theodora drew a star next to Hedwig's name on her chart.
"Okay," she said. "Let me pick up some other owls, and then we'll all go to Diagon Alley."
Diagon Alley was literally an alley where wizards and witches shop for robes, supplies, broomsticks, and more! It was also the home of Eeylops Owl Emporium, a regular customer of her family's business: Langley's Owl Training.
After selecting a batch of newly trained owls, Theodora went inside her house, with a flock of birds behind her.
"Dad!" she called.
Owen immediately came into sight, with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with him.
"Yes darlin'?" he asked, with his mouth full.
Theodora scrunched up her nose is disgust.
"You know how I feel about talking with your mouth open," she sighed. "And if you wanted lunch, you could've just asked me instead of eating that rubbish. We have just enough tomato sauce for some pasta."
"Theo," he grumbled. "I'm a full grown man. I don't need my own kid cooking food for me."
"Please don't call me Theo," she cringed. "Anyways, I got this month's shipment."
Owen gulped his lunch down, nodding. "Right. Who's going?"
"Shadow. Nut. Leon. Hedwig. And Todd." she said.
"Okay," he crossed off their names off his list. "Let's go and drop them off at Eeylops."
"I know the drill," Theodora picked up the bowl of Floo powder that was sitting casually on the table. "Did you put them into the cages, yet?"
"Doing it now." Owen locked Todd in, much to the tan owl's displeasure.
Taking Hedwig and Nut's cages, Theodora balanced them in one hand, a palm dull of magical dust in the other. Standing underneath the fireplace, she cleared her throat.
"Diagon Alley!" her voice was loud and clear.
An overwhelming sensation washed over her like a tidal wave, as her vision was blinded by green flames of fire. A few seconds of stomach-churning and dizzying swirls later, she felt her feet hit the ground.
"I'll never get used to that." Theodora swallowed, stepping into the Leaky Cauldron, the local pub.
"Tell me about it," Owen's voice perked up from behind her. "You should experience apparating then. It's awful."
The two carried their owls outside and into the crowd of magical families, who were shopping last minute for the new school year.
Theodora spotted Eeylops Owl Emporium immediately, squeezing through the mass of people. "Come on, Dad!"
A loud bell rang throughout the emporium as she opened the doors. Placing the cages onto the front desk, she looked around for their favorite customer.
"Eeylops?" Owen asked, his deep voice echoing through the room.
It was quiet until Theodora heard a slight ruckus in the back. Curious, she followed the noise, coming face to face with a familiar half-giant.
"Hagrid!" she greeted, happily. "It's so great to see you!"
"Well, if it ain't little Theodora. How are yeh doin'?" he patted his massive hand on her head, ruffling her short, light blonde waves.
"I'm good. You know, working at the ranch," she rolled her eyes. "As usual."
"Eh," he chuckled. "Well've yeh done a good job."
Before Theodora could thank him, Owen came up behind her. "That's my daughter, alright."
Turning around, she beamed, noticing her dad's companion. "Eeylops!"
The man smiled at her, fondly. "More owls, I see? How lovely. Especially that snowy owl."
"Hedwig? Yeah, she absolutely smashed the test runs."
"And she'll be a great acquaintance for a young wizard, won't she Hagrid?"
Theodora's gaze snapped to Hagrid, the half-giant smiling proudly.
"I've been, eh, lookin' for an owl for a special someone who's goin' to school with yeh this year, Theodora. It's his birthday today." he explained.
"Aw," she cooed. "That's really nice of you. He'll love Hedwig, I promise."
"Based on yer work, Theodora, I don't doubt yeh for one second!"
The group went back to the front, where the owls were. Theodora pushed the black cage with Hedwig in it, to the front.
"Hello," she said to the owl. "This is Hagrid. He's been thinking of giving you to a boy as a birthday gift."
The bird nodded at him as a greeting. Hagrid, with stars in his eyes, threw his hands up in the air, almost knocking over the chandelier.
"I'll take her! She's perfect!"
With a few galleons spent, Theodora was now saying goodbye to her beloved friend. Tears gathered in her large caramel eyes as her bottom lip quivered. She shook her head, feeling childish. It was just an owl! But the bird's shining eyes made Theodora lose her composure. She just loved her owls so much!
"Thank you for behaving so well," she sniffed, kissing Hedwig on the top of her head. "You'll be great. I'll miss you."
Hedwig cuddled into her neck as Theodora choked down her cries. Hagrid, with a bitter smile, took the bird away from her.
"Bye, Hedwig. Bye, Hagrid. And tell that boy I say happy birthday, okay?" she asked, her face all blotchy and red.
"Of course I will," Hagrid assured. "See yeh at Hogwarts, Theodora." he said his last words, leaving the store.
"There, there." Eeylops comforted. "You'll see her again at school, remember?"
"Right." she breathed shakily, pulling herself together.
Owen and Theodora waited, as they gave him the owl records of the other ones they had trained, with Eeylops paying them some money in exchange.
"Goodbye, Eeylops!" she said as Owen and her left.
They strolled back to the Leaky Cauldron. Theodora spotted Hagrid and gave him one more farewell with the wave of her hand as she headed to the fireplaces. Ducking her head, the feeling of butterflies attacking her stomach came back, as she felt herself leaving the pub.
The last thing Theodora saw before green flames of Floo powder bursted out like fireworks, was a boy.
And his emerald eyes were even more striking than the fire washing over her.