A/N: Another scene that didn't quite fit into the last chapter, but I wanted to share anyway.

**Bonus Scene(s)**

*Bonus Scene 3*

A/N: This scene takes place later in the evening on the first Monday of term, after Harry and Matthew practice a little left handed magic together.

After thanking Matty sincerely for all of his help, Harry let him go and rejoin his friends back in the common room. Harry headed into the 6th year boys' dormitory, fiddling with his wand, deep in thought. At least it wasn't like he was starting from zero with left handed magic. He still knew all of the spells and had five and a half years of practice under his belt- it was just a matter of redirecting it. He could feel his magic stirring familiarly within him, but he was wrestling it in a new, unfamiliar direction, dragging it down his left arm instead of letting it flow down his right. The spells were all definitely still possible- they just took a little more convincing to come out. Because his magic didn't seem to naturally want to flow that way, Harry was just having to expend a little extra effort than he was used to in order to force it out.

With a sigh, Harry slumped down on his bed. He was kind of exhausted. Not just from fighting his magic all day, but just from being up and on his feet and walking around the castle. It really was the most exercise he's gotten in a long time, having been relegated to his arse for most of the break. Between being sick and injured and the general difficulty of getting around with the crutch, Harry hadn't spent longer than maybe fifteen or twenty consecutive minutes on his feet in almost a month. And his body was now loudly protesting the rapid change in treatment. Harry flopped back and pulled his legs up onto the bed so that he was properly laying down. His right leg ached and Harry just knew that was going to be mighty sore tomorrow.

Resting his eyes for a minute, the rest of his body began to relax into the soft bed. Then, Harry heard a small scratching sound. Cracking his eyes open, Harry's gaze swept tiredly around the room. He was ready to shrug it off as just his imagination when he heard it again- a little louder and more insistent this time. Pausing for a moment, Harry tried to place the noise- it was definitely something that he'd heard before. It was not quite the scamper of little claws across the floor, but it was similar. The sound had an almost tinny quality to it, like something was rattling. And then it hit him and Harry quickly pulled himself to his feet and made his way over to the window. It was the same noise Hedwig made when she knocked on the window.

Pushing open the pane, Pyrrhus hopped onto the inside ledge, giving a dramatic shudder and showering Harry with small droplets of cold water. The little owl glared over at Harry, as if it were his fault that it had been raining somewhere along the journey. Well, technically, Harry had been the one to make him fly back to Hogwarts rather than coming along in the car and on the train, but Harry stood by that decision as 'for the best'. He didn't need the crazy bird flitting around inside of the car and causing Mr. Potter to crash. 'Auto accident' was pretty low on Harry's list of desires at that moment. And Harry could only imagine turning up at a muggle A&E and trying to explain to a doctor how he had been mauled by what appeared to have been a saber-tooth tiger. 'I fell into the lion enclosure at the zoo' seemed like an excuse that might not hold up very well under scrutiny.

"I'm sorry bud, but flying is good for you," Harry insisted to the disgruntled owl. "Do you want me to dry you off?" He offered.

Rather than answering, Pyrrhus chose to ignore Harry, and instead swooped across the room, landing on his bed where the little owl proceeded to roll around all over Harry's sheets. He even went over and rubbed his face into Harry's pillow to make a complete job of it. Once he was fully dry, Pyrrhus puffed himself up, seemingly quite satisfied with his work, and flew back over to settle on Harry's shoulder.

"Prick," Harry huffed, walking back over and casting a drying charm on his bed instead of the owl. "Are you done being a drama queen and throwing your little hissy fit? I have some friends that wanted to meet you."

Pyrrhus nuzzled up against Harry's cheek and the boy just rolled his eyes. Ruddy owl. But Harry dutifully made his way back down to the common room with his tagalong in tow. The rest of the 6th years were all gathered around one of the low tables, spread out on the floor and neighboring couches.

"Hey, guys," Harry greeted them. Everyone turned to give him a nod or say 'hi' back, but were interrupted before they got the chance.

"OH MY GOODNESS!" Haleigh shrieked, jumping up from her spot on the couch.

"What?!" Harry said with a hint of panic, quickly looking around behind him to try and see what she was yelling about.

"HE'S SO CUTE!" Haleigh screamed, rushing forward. She climbed up onto the couch Harry was standing behind with little regard for the people already sitting there. Sirius let out a grunt as he was kneed in the stomach. Milli had fortunately been fast enough to get out of the way before she got trampled.

"Oh," Harry said with a bit of relief, looking down between Haleigh and Pyrrhus. The girl's eyes were large, almost pleading, as she stared at the owl. Leaning his cane up against the back of the couch, Harry reached up towards the bird. Pyrrhus hopped onto the offered hand and Harry lowered him down so that he was eye-level with Haleigh. "This is Pyrrhus. I- uh- may have accidentally conjured him during Transfiguration one day and he's been kind of hanging out in our dorm ever since," Harry told them.

Haleigh made an excited little noise as she reached out to pet the fluffy owl. The other girls made their way over more calmly, but soon Sirius had been fully evicted from his spot and they were all crowded around the little owl, cooing over him.

"With all this attention, his head's gonna get so big he's gonna topple right over," Harry laughed, nudging Pyrrhus forward so that he was standing on the couch, freeing Harry to go around and take a seat on one of the other ones. Pyrrhus seemed to be quite enjoying himself and all of the flattery he was receiving. He allowed the girls to all pet him and pick him up and cuddle him. Pyrrhus was particularly fascinated by Lily's hair. It was almost the same shade of fiery red as his own feathers and he seemed quite taken with it, climbing up on her shoulders and then disappearing into the crimson waves.

"I think we've found his natural environment," Gretta teased as Pyrrhus peered out from behind the curtain of Lily's hair. Lily just giggled as the little owl explored her head.

The guys all looked on, smiling, and a little exasperated, at the stupid owl as it won over the hearts and minds of the girls.

"I'm not sure if they're gonna give him back, Bambi," Sirius warned as he watched Lily rub the bird's tummy. When his comment didn't earn a response, he looked around and found that Harry had fallen asleep on the couch. Sirius just smiled, shaking his head as he turned back and continued to watch the sickeningly sweet scene unfolding before them.

A little while later, Pyrrhus seemed to have gotten his fill of the doting. He gave a little yawn and stretched his wings before taking off from his spot in Haleigh's lap. He flapped his way over to the far couch where he landed softly on Harry's shoulder. Harry's head had lulled back and sideways when he fell asleep, exposing the crook of his neck. Pyrrhus shuffled over, snuggling himself up against the pale skin and Harry seemed to unconsciously lean into the warmth.

There were a couple of 'awwes' from the girls as James leaned over and slapped Sirius on the back. "Sorry Pads, but nothing can break up a boy and 'not his owl'," James said heartily.