Title: Pen Pals

Author: Nekoanima

Summary: What if Harry had a pen pal as a child another boy who was all alone. Harry makes friends with the young Tom Riddle as their letters bounce through time to the one they needed the most.

A/N: this is the compressed version of Penpals. The great number of chapters that make up the standard version will be compressed so that it will be one uber chapter per year. it will update far slower than the standard but this should halt any complaints about the starting chapters being too short. unfortunately if you all want to see my random author's notes and regular updates you will have to go to the standard version.

"He's such a strange boy he doesn't associate with any of the other children."

"I know it will only hurt him in the long run if he doesn't learn how to make friends."

"I've got a wonderful idea why don't we let him have a pen pal then he can read and write as much as he wants and he can have a friend to talk to. Tom watched the two adults discussing him from a hidden spot just outside the room.

"If you want to try it, but don't get your hopes up Martha."

"Alright I'll go tell him right now." She smiled. Tom bolted silently back up to his room. A moment later Martha walked in.

"Tom, Mrs. Cole and I have a wonderful idea for you. You are such a smart boy and we thought it would be a good idea for you to have a pen pal. Now why don't you start writing a letter to introduce yourself and I will mail it after your done."

"Yes ma'am."

Harry looked at the letter that had no name of who to give it to curiously. He decided he would have to open it to find out who it was meant for.

Hello

My name is Tom I am seven years old and I am being told to write to a person I don't even know so they may become my pen pal. The matrons of the orphanage want me to make a friend for some reason thus concluding my purpose in writing this letter.

Sincerely, Tom

A happy bubble filled Harry's belly, he could have a friend that Dudley wouldn't be able to scare away quickly he searched through one of the kitchen drawers and found paper to write a reply on. He quickly scribbled out his reply while Aunt Petunia was outside spying on Mrs. Nextdoor again. He hurridly put the letter into the post box and prayed Tom would write back

Hi Tom,

My name is Harry. I am seven too. I was the one who got your letter. I would really like to be your pen pal.

Harry

Tom looked at the childish reply in an untidy scrawl he was not particularly impressed but he thought of a way to remedy his problem. None of the other children wanted to be around him when they found out what he could do so maybe writing what he could do would make this child not want to write to him. It was a perfect plan.

Hello Harry,

As we are now pen pals I believe I should tell you a few things about me.

I am seven years old,

My favorite colors are green and black,

I am an orphan,

I can speak to snakes,

Unexplainable things happen around me.

If you still wish to be my friend then respond to this letter.

Sincerely,

Tom

Harry read Tom's letter in the gloom of his cupboard and that happy bubble in is belly expanded. Tom was like him. He would understand. He wanted a friend more than anything. But Dudley always scared them away. Tom wouldn't be scared.

Hi again Tom,

I still want to be your friend so I'll tell you some things too.

I'm seven,

My favorite color is green,

I'm an orphan,

I can talk to snakes too,

I know what you mean I don't mean for them to happen but they do. My uncle punishes me for it when they do. You're my first friend I don't want to stop writing you because then I'll be alone again. I want to be your friend too I think you would understand me better than anyone.

Harry

'This changes everything'. Tom thought after reading the letter.

Harry,

Please send me a picture of you so I might know what my new friend looks like.

'Harry's a girl!' he thought looking at the picture that had arrived with his letter. The picture showed a soft-faced youth with either an exceptionally large shirt or an ill-fitting dress belted at their waist. The child in the picture was small and lean sitting on the ground beside a flowerbed. But one thing confused Tom about her picture. Her picture was in color. It must be something new he decided but he was pleased with it the color showed him her almost glowing green eyes that sparkled behind her large spectacle frames. She had a smile on her face was just contagious it made Tom happy inside just looking at it.

"Is it another letter from your pen pal Tom?" The boy looked up from the letter he was writing

"Yes ma'am, her name is Harry. I thought she was a boy at first then she sent me a picture."

"It is probably short for Arietta or Harriet." Martha smiled sweetly at the little boy it seemed that having a pen pal was a good idea for him.

"Harry fits her just fine." He said stubbornly.

"Can I see her picture?" Tom looked up at her with cold eyes for a moment but just as fast as the terrifying look came it was gone.

"Yes ma'am." The young Riddle said quietly before taking out a picture from his pocket. Martha looked at the picture, she was worried in a moment as with the color in the photo she could see fading bruises on the back of the girl's neck and she looked to be wearing boy's clothing that was much too large for anyone her size.

"Tom maybe you should ask her what her home is like it would be something nice to know and you could tell her all about all those wonderful books you read." She saw the boy's eyes light up at the thought of his books it seemed that all he really cared about was his books and their knowledge, and perhaps this little girl. Martha sighed at least he cared about one person now.

Hello Harry,

Would you tell me about your home? I've already said that I live in an orphanage. It is rather dull here and all the children are just as dull in personality and intelligence. The Matron Mrs. Cole is a stern woman who keeps us all under her thumb while Martha is a odd woman who wants all of us to be friends with each other or some such nonsense.

All the other children are afraid of me because of the things that happen around me. I hate them particularly Amy and Denis, but Billy I loath. I had a snake friend who would speak with me from time to time, Billy killed her.

You said you were an orphan as well I believe I want to know what it is like to have a family around me. Could you tell me?"

Tom

Harry read Tom's letter and cried a little for his friend because he was the same.

Hi Tom,

I really cant say much about it here I don't know if I could call it home. I mean I live here but my aunt and uncle don't want me here. I'm a burden to them, that's what they tell me. My aunt says my mother was a whore, whatever that is, and my uncle says that my father was a lay about and a drunk. I wish I could tell him he's a liar but I never knew them so I don't know maybe it could be true.

During the day I do my chores I do all the housework so my relatives don't have to my uncle says that I'm supposed to be pulling my weight. Funny he says this when I don't think he could pull his weight if he tried. My uncle is a very big man. He scares me sometimes when the bad things happen he yells and turns purple in the face sometimes he'll just hit me and throw me in my cupboard without food. But its only for a few days so its not bad. I know I'm a burden to them but they still keep me even though my uncle threatens sometimes to send me to an orphanage. If he ever does I'll make sure to end up with you. You're my first friend Tom.

The bad things make the other kids scared of you? That's okay as long as they don't hurt you. Dudley makes everyone scared of me they all think I'm either crazy, a bad kid, or a freak. And the ones that aren't scared of me are scared of Dudley hurting them. Dudley and his friends like to play Harry Hunting. I don't like that game at all.

I'm sorry about your friend Tom, no snakes come into my relatives' yard but I don't know why, I've never seen any in the park either. It makes me sad I like them but I've only met one he was nice he was the class pet he was black and red and white. The teacher called him Stripes but she got rid of him. Until you said you could hear them too I thought it was just my imagination. Stripes liked to sing. It kind of made me feel special when I could hear him sing but nobody else could. I think Stripes knew more about science than the teacher did cause his songs were sometimes about her lessons.

As for knowing what it feels like to have a family… I don't mind it they are very strict with me and I know they don't like me but they keep me so that must count for something. So I try to make their lives easier. I don't know though sometimes I look at Dudley and wonder why he doesn't have to work like I do, but I guess its because he's actually their son and I'm not.

I have to go now.

Love,

Harry

Tom read Harry's letter and felt anger coarse through him at how she was treated. What was worse was she seemed to be okay with how she was treated. His friend thought she deserved to be treated so horribly. He could imagine her with her sweet smile simply taking a beating from a huge man because she thought it was okay.

"Tom darling what's wrong?"

"Her uncle hits her and she gets sent to a cupboard with no food for days. And she acts like nothing is wrong with it."

"Oh sweetie." Tom always found Martha odd he hated people in general but she always used such endearing terms on him even though he had clearly never shown any liking to her.

"Sometimes things like that happen and they go on so long that the ones they are happening to think its ok and that nothing's wrong with it because it became normal for them."

"No. I wont accept that she's like me I wont let her be hurt."

"Tom we cant do anything about it but I think you just being her friend is better for her than anything else because then when she realizes that whats happening is wrong she knows there is someone out there who cares."

"She needs me to care?" the brown eyed boy looked confused at how his caring could affect his friend at all.

"Yes because just because she sounds fine with it in her letter doesn't mean she is in fact it probably hurts her a lot. You said she was just like you Tom would you tell anyone if you were hurting."

"No you wouldn't you would try to solve it yourself. But I think the biggest problem with Harry's situation is they are her family and she's so young that she can't solve it herself."

"She makes things happen too. She can protect herself. "

"Your such a good boy Tom. I think if you keep writing to her Harry will keep being brave."

As time went on Martha watched her favorite of her kids. Her clever one, when he received a letter from Harry he was always so happy. When he found out she had been hurt again he was angry. When the other children were cruel he faced them, if he was beaten he got even.

Sometimes she worried about her boy, she considered him her son in all but blood, even more so than the other boys. Because Tom was special she had held him in her arms the night he was born, she had nursed him from a bottle and now she was watching him grow up and save a little girl from drowning in her own life. She knew that Tom didn't care that she cared for him if he even realized it at all. She wasn't always there but when she was she tried to make it count as the other caretakers never seemed to pay him any mind at all. She had realized long ago that the children were cruel to her boy, and in time he learned to be cruel back. But she was pleased that at least he learned to hide his darkness behind those beautiful smiles and angelic looks. At least he cared for his Harry. Yes Tom was going to be a very special boy when he grew up.

Hello Harry,

Not much has happened in a while but Billy and the others tried to corner me in the yard today. He was laughing and calling me a freak. I was so angry; I remember he was laughing while he killed my friend as well. Then they were all screaming. Billy's rabbit was hanging from the rafters twitching. They ran and told Mrs. Cole but she believes that I did it. She called me a devil child for doing it. Martha said it couldn't have been me she was holding me the entire time. I don't understand that woman she knows I don't like people yet she does things like that.

After I left Mrs. Cole's office Martha kneeled down to me and looked me in the eye I hate that I hate when people do that, make me feel inferior to them. Then she told me 'No matter what they say it wasn't your fault Tom' what a stupid thing to say. I know I didn't do it but I think it was my fault whatever this is that happens around us got even with Billy. It made him pay for killing her. It makes us special. I think if you need it to it would protect you.

Tom

Harry read his friend's letter and he was scared, the things that happened were his fault. 'I don't want any one to get hurt.' He stowed away Tom's letter with all the others in a shoebox under his cot. Then he curled in a corner and cried, everything he was punished for was his fault. The Duresly's had a right to hate him, and call him a freak, it was true.

Tom,

I'm scared I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me.

I think Martha is kind of like your mom. She takes care of you even when you don't want her to. I wish I had someone like that.

Harry

Tom looked at her letter and sighed, Harry was too good of a person to be in this world. She didn't want anyone to hurt even if they hurt her.

The years rolled by for both Harry and Tom, their letters being the only comfort they had at times. With Harry's suffering and Tom's torment in those short years they had aged decades. They were now ten and wiser to the world than they had been before but no aid could be given to them as they suffered in silence. While Tom raised his head high and got even Harry lowered his eyes and took every wound from every punishment that came.

Hi Tom,

Sorry I couldn't write to you I was on restriction. I was only allowed to do my chores, go to school, and sit in my cupboard. The teacher's wig turned blue and Dudley told my uncle. Sometimes I think Dudley just likes seeing me get punished.

Harry

Such notices of Harry's restrictions were far more common than Tom liked but he knew that she wouldn't complain about them and she would ignore the pain it caused her.

Harry,

Its alright so long as you can write to me again. The caretakers took us to a beach today. I found a cave on the coast to explore it was rather interesting to tell you the truth. There was a water snake living there she was very old and very clever. When I was talking to her Amy and Dennis followed me into the cave. They saw me speaking to her and they tried to stop me. They called me a freak and yelled at me. I told them to forget what they saw and then something strange happened. They started screaming and then their eyes glazed over and they acted like it never happened but they are scared of me now even though they cant remember why.

Tom

Harry worridly read Tom's letter, he loved his friend dearly and didn't want anyone to hurt him. He didn't want Tom to lose another friend. But he was happy Tom met the old sea snake.

Tom,

Its really great that they don't remember that, I don't want them to be mean to you for being special. You're my best friend Tom, everything about you makes you even more special to me, you make me feel like I matter, I'm glad you met the sea snake she must have been really wise. I wish I could have been there with you to meet her too.

Dudley and his gang were playing Harry Hunting again I really hate that game. If they manage to catch me Piers holds my arms behind my back while Dudley or one of his stupid friends hits me. Most of the time they go for my glasses that's why there's a lot of tape on them, cause of how many times Dudley broke them but my aunt wont ever buy me new ones she just gets mad at me for breaking them again. But what I was saying, they were playing Harry Hunting and I was running I meant to jump behind the bins but I think the wind caught me and I ended up on the roof. Now I'm suspended by the headmistress for supposedly climbing the buildings. My uncle isn't pleased at all. I've been in here for three days now and I'm kind of hungry but if I sneak out of here and my uncle finds out I'll be in more trouble I don't know if it's worth the risk or not to try and get food. I can barely eat anything but chicken soup after restrictions like this anyway. And I think two of my ribs are broken again.

Fresh rage was felt for his friend's situation. Tom felt rage because if he didn't no one would for her, Harry would never feel rage for herself or her disdainful relatives. She really was too good of a person for this world. A thousand times before he had thought that of her and he knew that no one would ever change that.

Harry,

Don't your doctors notice that your bones have been broken? When have you had your ribs broken before?

Tom

Tom knew her relatives hurt her frequently but she had never told him that they had broken her bones before. In the three years they had been writing eachother she had never mentioned it. Admitting that her abuse had gone so far, so casually both enraged and worried him.

Hi Tom,

I've never been to a doctor. I broke three ribs when I was five, I was going upstairs to clean Dudley's room when he told me to stay out and he pushed me off the landing and down the stairs I cracked my head on the base board and my ribs on the bottom stair. There was a lot of blood for me to clean up Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were furious. After I fell Dudley tripped and broke his nose. They took him to the hospital while I cleaned up the blood. Funny the first time they ever leave me alone in the house and I couldn't see straight enough to do anything.

Tom read Harry's letter and realized sadly just like he had every time before, that there was nothing he could do to make it any better so a change of subject was required. 'I hope she realizes that this is wrong one day. Hopefully before it gets her killed.'

Harry,

There is something that I've been curious over how do you send letters to me even when you're on restrictions like the ones your uncle gives you?

Tom

Harry sighed happily at the change in subject

Tom,

It's no problem. I send them to you when I'm allowed out to do my chores I'll hide the letter in my shirt and put it in the box when I'm supposed to get the mail for them. They haven't gotten wise to it yet. There have only been a few times when I was punished bad enough to not even be allowed to do my chores mostly that happens when the weird things happen in front of other people. My relatives don't like being associated with anything abnormal and things like that ruin their reputation

Harry

Harry,

Their reputation shouldn't be a reason to hit you. They are your family they should take care of you not the other way around. I know how bad the world can be but they are supposed to look after you.

Tom

Harry looked at Tom's letter with confusion, he had always taken care of his family. He didn't know any different, why else would he be punished when he did a bad job of it if it wasn't his duty?

Tom,

I feel humiliated right now I know it does no good to whine about it but I need someone to talk to. This morning Uncle Vernon looked over his paper and said I needed a haircut. This is nothing new he hates my hair. I think I have had more haircuts than my entire class combined. The thing is when my aunt cut it she got fed up with doing so and she cut it all of until I was almost bald but she left my bangs. As if I don't get picked on enough for wearing Dudley's clothes, broken glasses and being scrawny. I have to go to school tomorrow like this. It makes me want to cry but I wont because that never solves anything. Its funny how that works, my real tears are worthless and don't do anything for anyone but Dudley's fake ones could make his parents give him the world. Stupid piglet brat. Tom do you think I ever did something wrong to make me worthless to them?

Harry

Harry,

You aren't worthless. Your relatives are terrible people what they've been doing is wrong I hoped you would see that Harry. Your uncle shouldn't be allowed to hit you. Dudley shouldn't either and you shouldn't have had to do all their housework since you were four. Nothing about them is right. I wish I could help you out of that place. When I grow up I will come and get you and then you'll be safe.

Tom

After reading Tom's letter Harry held it closely to his chest and cried. His hair may have grown back but the humiliation was still fresh in his mind as it had been that night. He knew how his relatives treated him was bad but he had always thought that it was okay because they were allowed to do it. It had taken him years to realize that this was not how family should treat people. He was glad that Tom was there for him even if it was only in his words, he took comfort in them.

Tom,

When I got up the morning after I sent your letter all my hair was back. My uncle yelled at me as if I could help how it grew.

I think I'd like that Tom, when I was little I used to imagine some unknown relative coming to take me away but that was when I was little. Now I can imagine it being you. Would that make you my knight in shining armor? *Smirks*

Harry

Hi Tom,

I am once again on restriction only this time I don't know when it will end. Dudley's birthday was the other day and my aunt and uncle were going to take him to the zoo. The lady they normally get to watch me broke her leg so I was allowed to go with them. I was so happy I even got to have ice cream for the first time. But then we went to the reptile house. I think the glass there is sound proof I couldn't hear any of the snakes talk. Dudley and Piers found the biggest snake in the whole place really quickly. It was a Brazilian boa constrictor. He was sleeping when they found him so they kept banging on the glass to wake him up, he didn't move though. I felt bad for him so there I was leaning on the glass talking to him. I told him sorry about Dudley and his friend, I was just there talking to him I think he could hear me even though I couldn't hear him cause he would nod. I felt terrible when I found out he never knew his parents either he was bred in captivity it felt like when I write to you it made me feel like there is one person in the world who understands.

Then Piers noticed me and him and Dudley waddled as fast as they could and knocked me out of the way. Then the glass disappeared Dudley fell in and the glass came back. The boa constrictor escaped as fast as he could but as he was leaving he said 'thanks amigo.' I wonder if he's going to make it to Brazil.

As fun as it was being there I got punished for the vanishing glass when we got home thus where I am now I'm sneaking this letter into the mail when no one's looking though I suppose that's nothing new they would probably make me stop writing to you if they knew. You're my secret my favorite secret.

Tom read Harry's letter and was immensely pleased even though he was still angry at her punishment. He liked the fact that he was the only one who knew her, he liked that she kept him her secret like this was something that couldn't be tainted by the rest of the world they were the only ones who knew each other.

Harry,

I like the idea that we have something that nobody else can touch, you aren't a secret from those around me but speaking with you is enjoyable.

Tom

Harry knew that Tom liked writing to him but it made him warm and fuzzy inside when he actually said it.

Tom,

I got a letter. After I hid yours I noticed it and I couldn't help but stare at it the only one who's ever written me is you. But I looked at it too long and my uncle took it and burned it. The only good thing that came out of it is that I got Dudley's second bedroom. But I'd really rather be in my cupboard with my letter than up here without it.

I have to hurry I'm gonna try and sneak one of my letters after they arrive.

Love,

Harry

Tom had just finished reading Harry's letter when Martha walked into his room.

"Tom there is a man here to see you he says his name is Professor Dumbledore." Tom didn't like the look on Martha's face when she spoke about the man. He may not like Martha but if she didn't trust the man he would never like him.

"Hello Tom. My name is Professor Dumbledore. I am here to invite you to the school that I work at."

"She wants me sent away doesn't she? Mrs. Cole she wants me sent away. She thinks I'm mad I never did anything to the other kids." Tom could feel his anger rising.

"Hogwarts is not a place for the mad, Tom. It's a place to learn magic." He studied the dark haired boy carefully. "Had anything ever happened to you Tom, things when you were angry or scared?" a look of delight flickered in Tom's eyes.

"I knew I was special. " But just as suddenly as the joy entered the boy's eyes it was gone replaced with a glare of suspicion.

"you're lying. Prove it."

Dumbledore waved his wand and the wardrobe in the corner of Tom's room caught fire.

Tom watched in horror and amazement as the wardrobe burned. Horror because all of Harry's letters were in a box in there. Amazement because it had been set alight without anyone touching it.

"Make it stop." Tom orders the man. Dumbledore just frowned and swished his wand.

Instead of reaching for his treasures first he kneeled down and pulled out the box of letters he had received from Harry. None of them were any more burned than the wardrobe; even her picture was still fine. After he was sure that her letters were safe he looked at the professor his box of treasures was shaking behind him.

"What are you waiting for then Tom I believe there's something in that box that doesn't belong to you." Tom carefully reached for his treasure box and opened it revealing its contents to the professor.

"Thieving will not be tolerated in Hogwarts." The man's twinkling eyes looked at him sternly.

"I understand sir, professor I have a question for you." Dumbledore looked into the little boy's eyes and in his mind was the picture of a little girl at a snake exhibit. And a memory of the boy himself with a small corn snake.

"what is it Tom?"

"is it normal to be able to talk to snakes?"

"it is not unheard of but it is a very rare gift."

"I see. Thank you sir." Dumbledore looked at the young boy warily, such erratic emotions and a gift like being a parselmouth made the boy before him very dangerous, he would have to keep an eye on this one.

Hi Harry,

I received a letter of my own, I have been invited to attend a boarding school this fall. I will try to keep writing to you while I am gone.

Tom

A new school would be good for Tom, he was sure that his friend would love it , to be able to escape the orphanage for most of the year. But at the same time he felt bad. Harry knew it was selfish of him to want Tom to turn down the chance. He perked himself up, it wasn't right to want to keep Tom to himself. Brushing away his previous feelings he allowed himself to be completely happy for Tom.

Hearing the sound of his door being unlocked he hid Tom's letter in his pillowcase.

"boy come down an make dinner."

"yes Uncle." With that the large man watched with his beady pig-like eyes as the petite boy submissively began his trek to the kitchen. The boy was nothing but a burdon to his family, albeit a useful one. His wife never had to cook or clean, his family was always fed and they never had to buy him anything. The only thing that caused a dark cloud over his family was that boy's freakish powers. Vernon Dursley credited himself as being an intelligent man, the freak's kind were starting to want him back. No matter he thought a good whipping would fix the boy right, make him a decent member of society he would. No one would care how it was done just that it was.

He heard the mail slot click and in the entrance he saw the boy looking hopeful. That wouldn't do at all the boy wasn't going and that was final.

Or it would be if Vernon Dursley had the last say.

Tom walked back into his room after having spent the entire day in Diagon alley, he had begun to explore the knowlage his new world had to offer and it was amazing. Every book he found he devoured and remembered, perhaps Harry's letter was similer to his own invitation to Hogwarts, it would be wonderful to share that with her he thought.

He opened his bedroom door and his lips quirked upwards, on his bed were three letters all with his name on the front in Harry's untidy scrawl. A pearly white Snowy Owl was perched on his window sill looking at him regaly. He looked at the three dates on the letters and opened the oldest one first.

Hi Tom,

My grand plan to get my letter was a bust my uncle was waiting for me to try something like that. Then when three more showed up he barreled down the stairs and took them from me.

A few days latter on Sunday he was way too happy, he said that there was no post on Sundays then all of the sudden hundreds of letters came shooting out of the fireplace. Some how I still didn't get one. Now he's muttering to himself about something I'll send you another letter when I can to give you the update to my letter getting mission.

Harry

Tom smirked at her mission to get her letters but he understood why it was important to her. He opened the next of them and began to read it's short message as well.

Hi Tom,

I think my uncle has gone mad. He thinks that the person sending me letters is stalking us. I don't know why anyone would want to spy on such a boring family as mine. The letters kept coming and now we are at a hotel somewhere. The weather just seems to be getting worse here I hope its better where you are.

Harry

Tom wondered where Harry was now as the weather in London had been dry and hot for several weeks by then. He then opened the last of her letters, the first words made him smile, truly smile.

Tom,

Its magic, what we do is magic! I got a letter. About a hundred of the letters showed up at the hotel after I had mailed yours. I almost got them but my uncle signed for them and then he made us move to another place. My uncle thought moving us away would get the letter sender to give up we ended up on this miserable little rock out at sea in a shack on the last night then on my birthday a giant man arrived and he gave me the letter.

At first I couldn't believe that it was magic, my relatives always told me that my parents died in a car crash because they were drunk but then the man told me that they were killed. I can't believe that my mum and dad were a witch and wizard.

Maybe your mum and dad were wizards too and that's why you have your magic. I will be able to write you as often as I want now. By the way her name is Hedwig I found her name in my History of Magic book she acts rather queenly doesn't she.

By the way. Why didn't you tell me what kind of school you were going to? But I think I can understand why, I probably wouldn't have believed you if you said you were a wizard. But don't leave anything out anymore Tom. I am back at my relatives'' house again, I'm going to be here until school starts.

Love,

Harry

Tom's smile was an ear to ear grin at this point they were magical, the muggle world was no place for them now and now Harry would be getting taught how to use her powers, even if it wasn't the same school as him she would be away from the muggles soon. He stroked the feathers of the pristine bird who really did have a princess like manner.

"Hedwig are you. My Harry has a princess in her midst." Hedwig puffed herself up importantly her wizard had worthy suitor indeed to pay her compliments. She approved most certainly.