~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, look Ron," said Hermione at breakfast a few days later. "It's Errol!"
Ron and Harry looked up as the Weasley's owl flew towards their table. Wheezing slightly, the bird crashed face-first into Harry's oatmeal.
"Poor bloke," Ron sighed, pulling poor Errol out of his friend's bowl. "Sorry about that, Harry. But hey, look!" Ron pulled off the letter that was attatched to his owl's foot. "The letter's for you!"
"Go on, open it," urged Hermione, as Harry took the envelope.
"Ron, it's a letter from your mum," Harry said.
"What's it say?" asked Hermione and Ron together.
"'Dear Harry,
I sent you this letter as fast as I could. I just received a letter from Professor Koke telling me the events of your first Quidditch match.
I am so glad that the Professor told me of what you did for Ginny! My poor only daughter could've died, and you were the one that saved her! It took me a moment to take in the fact that Ginny plummeted hundreds of feet, and almost to her death. No words can express my thanks to you!
When you see Ginny, tell her I'm thinking of her and that I love her (you can tell that to Ron too, but under the current circumstances, I'm very concerned about Ginny. By the way Ron, if you're reading this; which you probably are; congratulations on winning the game). Thank you so much again, Harry!
Love, Molly Weasley
P.S. I tried sending some mince pies, but Errol could barely stand up with them attatched to his leg, so I hope this letter is enough.
Harry finished reading the letter. Ron smiled a bit, and Hermione was grinning.
"That was very thoughtful of Professor Koke, wasn't it?" she said.
"I don't know," Harry whispered, thinking for a minute. "Do you think that he really needed to alarm Mrs. Weasley like that?"
"Alarm her?" Ron asked incredulously. "Don't be a prat, Harry! If Koke didn't tell mum, I would have! Or Ginny would have! I think he did the right thing. Mum's right to thank you."
"Maybe you're right," Harry laughed.
Ron, Hermione and Harry stared down at Errol, who had started coughing and making hacking noises.
"Errol!" Ron cried, scooping up his owl. "Errol, are you okay?!"
In response, the bird looked sorrowfully at the students around him, and his eyes slowly closed.
"ERROL!" Ron shouted. "Errol, you can't die!!"
Ginny (now fully healed) snatched the owl out of her hysterical brother's arms. "He's not dead, Ron! I can hear a heartbeat! I've got to get him to Hagrid, quick!" Tripping a bit in her haste, Ginny rushed out of the Great Hall.
Ron looked down at his breakfast glumly. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, worried. "What if Errol dies?" Ron choked. "What am I going to do?"
"Don't worry about Errol, Ron," Hermione comforted him, putting an arm around his shoulder. "Hagrid'll fix him up. He'll be fine." She kissed Ron's cheek softly.
"But what if his case is beyond Hagrid's hands?! What if there's no hope!? Percy's the only one who's got another owl in our family, and he'd never give it to mum, and she needs an owl! I mean, it's not like Percy couldn't afford his own, now! Errol's going to die, I know he is! I've got to go see Hagrid!" He too ran out of the hall.
"I hope Errol's all right," Harry sighed, pushing his oatmeal (now covered in feathers) aside. "Errol was more than just an owl that delivered mail, he was like Scabbers. Ron kept on complaining, but he'll be sorry if Errol goes. At least he'll have Pigwidgeon."
"Harry, stop using pre-tense words," Hermione whispered. "You make it sound as if he's dead already!"
"It's no use, Hermione," Harry decided. "Errol's been sick and weak for as long as I can remember. He can't last much longer."
Hermione stared at her feet. "I hope Ron takes this okay. You remember how angry and upset he was when Scabbers turned out to be a human. I think you're right, Harry."
"Well, c'mon," Harry said, grabbing his bag. "We'd better not be late for Transfiguration."
"I hope McGonagall will understand," Hermione sighed, as they walked down the hallway. "Ron might be a bit late."
"She'll understand," Harry said firmly. "McGonagall may be strict and tough sometimes, but I know she'll be okay with this."
Harry and Hermione took their seats in the front of the classroom. Some of the other students filed in.
"And where is Mr. Weasley this morning?" McGonagall asked, peering down at Hermione and Harry over her glasses.
"Er-well he.it's his owl," Harry answered. "He's terribly sick, and Ron's afraid that he may be close to dying. He took him to see Hagrid."
McGonagall's expression was difficult to read. "If Mr. Weasley does not return to class, please tell him that I am quite sorry about his owl's misfortune." She swept to the front of the class, leaving a dumbstruck Harry and Hermione.
"All right class," said McGonagall, sounding a bit tired. "Today we will continue with the Strauss spells."
Harry glanced at the crow in front of his desk. It stared into his eyes, leering at him. Hermione looked at the pigeon placed in front of her.
"You may begin."
"Last time I had that pigeon," Neville said to Hermione. "She's a pretty tricky one, if you ask me."
"We'll see about that," Hermione said curtly. "I think I may have this Strauss thing down." She raised her wand and pointed it at the pigeon. "Strauss Composius!" With a swish of her wand, Hermione's bird turned abruptly into a flute.
"I can't believe it," Neville snorted. "That pigeon's more trouble that it's worth, and you got the spell to work. Now I'm stuck with a turkey." Neville flicked his wand, saying, "Strauss Composius!" The turkey's neck was replaced with that of a violin, and his eyes turned into the tuners on such an instrument.
"Longbottom, what've you done now?" McGonagall asked with exasperation, walking towards Neville. "I see you've only managed to turn part of your turkey into a violin. That will not do." She waved her wand, and the turkey turned back to normal.
"I must've moved my wand wrong," Neville mumbled, glaring at his turkey with great dislike.
"Potter, let's see how you're coming along," McGonagall said.
Gulping, Harry pointed his wand at the crow. "Strauss Composius!" His bird quickly formed into the shape of a clarinet.
McGonagall picked it up smiling. Then she dropped it from surpsrise. She frowned at Harry. "Potter, I just saw the crow's eyes staring up at me from one of the pad holes. Please try again!"
"Strauss-"
"MISS BROWN!" McGonagall suddenly shouted, storming to the other side of the room. "You are supposed to be turning that peacock into a tambourine, not intriguing it to show off its tail feathers!!"
Harry sank down into his chair, as the clarinet turned back into a crow. "I'll never get this thing down."
"Oh Harry, it's easy," said Hermione, changing the flute into a pigeon and back again. "You almost had it. Maybe you should swish your wand with more gusto."
"More gusto?!" Harry laughed. "I'm trying to turn it into a clarinet, I don't want to chop its head off."
"All right. But if you don't keep practicing, when are you going to master the spell?"
"Nevermore!" cried the raven. Harry and Hermione's heads snapped towards it.
"That was freaky," Harry said. Then, determinedly, he pointed his wand at the crow, swishing it with enthusiasm, and cried, "Strauss Composius!" The crow immediately turned back into a clarinet.
Hermione picked it up, looking through all the holes. "Looks pretty good, Harry! I think you've got it!"
"Excellent, Potter," said McGonagall, walking towards them again. "Ten points to Gryffindor! And ten for you as well, Miss Granger."
"Way to go, Harry!" said Neville, subconsciously swishing his wand towards the turkey. With a sudden "buh-gawk," the turkey turned into a set of bagpipes. The musical instrument suddenly started levitating, playing an Irish folk tune.
"Longbottom, what did you do?!" McGonagall asked desperately. "Turkeys are supposed to turn into violins or cellos, not BAGPIPES!!"
"I'm sorry, Professor!" Neville squeaked. "I didn't mean to, honest!"
Sighing with annoyance, McGonagall turned the turkey back to its regular state. "I know that even YOU can do this, Longbottom. It really isn't that hard!!"
"STRAUSS COMPOSIUS!!" Neville suddenly yelled, clamping his eyes shut and swishing his wand. There was a cracking noise, and he opened his eyes hopefully.
The turkey was still there. But where McGonagall had previously stood, there was an assortment of bongo and congo drums. The class rolled with laughter, as Neville's eyes popped out of his head.
A few seconds later, McGonagall turned back to human form. She glared at Neville, who had sunken very low into his chair. Then suddenly (and quite unexpectedly), the professor laughed. "You know, I've never been turned into a musical instrument before!" she chuckled. "Good show, Longbottom. Five points for Gryffindor!!"
"What?!" Neville cried in astonishment, as McGonagall walked away. "Did she.I just.I got us five points!"
"Wow, that was great, Neville!" Harry cried, patting him on the back. "I think McGonagall really needed a laugh!"
**
After class, Harry ran into Ginny.
"Oh, sorry Harry," she whispered.
"Ginny, what's wrong?" Harry asked. Her eyes were a bit red, and she looked extremely depressed. "It's Errol, isn't it?"
"Yes," she sniffed, wiping away a tear. "I just feel so terrible! Mum's had Errol for as long as I can remember, and now he's gone! Died delivering a letter about me! Oh Harry, I feel so guilty!"
"Don't blame yourself," Harry comforted, putting his arms around Ginny awkwardly. "Errol's been old and sick for some time, now. It's not your fault."
"I suppose you're right," Ginny said, breaking away from Harry. "I'm just worried about what Mum's reaction will be."
"I'll send Hedwig to tell her," Harry said.
"Thanks Harry.I'd better be going to Potions." Blushing a bit, Ginny headed towards the direction of the dungeons.
"C'mon Harry," said Hermione, grinning a bit. "We don't want to be late for Herbology." The two of them walked out of the castle.
"Poor Mrs. Weasley," Harry sighed.
"I know," Hermione said wistfully. "I wonder how Ron is taking this."
At that moment, Ron walked up to them from Hagrid's cabin. He too looked down in the dumps, but apparently hadn't cried (or at least not that much).
"Errol died," he said simply.
"We know," Harry said. "Ginny told us."
"I always thought Errol was such a bloody nuisance," Ron sniffed. "I feel like we just took him for granted, and now he's gone! Hagrid tried his best, but Errol just.we were too late. I think that last trip finally knocked the wind out of his sails."
"We're so sorry, Ron," Hermione whispered. "Harry's going to send your mum a letter about Errol."
"No, let me send Pig," Ron sighed, as they walked into the greenhouse. "I want to do it. It might make.mum.you know, I think she may want to hear it from me."
"All right," Harry consented quietly. "Whatever you think is best, Ron."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I hope you don't mind that Errol died-I've always loved him too!
"Hey, look Ron," said Hermione at breakfast a few days later. "It's Errol!"
Ron and Harry looked up as the Weasley's owl flew towards their table. Wheezing slightly, the bird crashed face-first into Harry's oatmeal.
"Poor bloke," Ron sighed, pulling poor Errol out of his friend's bowl. "Sorry about that, Harry. But hey, look!" Ron pulled off the letter that was attatched to his owl's foot. "The letter's for you!"
"Go on, open it," urged Hermione, as Harry took the envelope.
"Ron, it's a letter from your mum," Harry said.
"What's it say?" asked Hermione and Ron together.
"'Dear Harry,
I sent you this letter as fast as I could. I just received a letter from Professor Koke telling me the events of your first Quidditch match.
I am so glad that the Professor told me of what you did for Ginny! My poor only daughter could've died, and you were the one that saved her! It took me a moment to take in the fact that Ginny plummeted hundreds of feet, and almost to her death. No words can express my thanks to you!
When you see Ginny, tell her I'm thinking of her and that I love her (you can tell that to Ron too, but under the current circumstances, I'm very concerned about Ginny. By the way Ron, if you're reading this; which you probably are; congratulations on winning the game). Thank you so much again, Harry!
Love, Molly Weasley
P.S. I tried sending some mince pies, but Errol could barely stand up with them attatched to his leg, so I hope this letter is enough.
Harry finished reading the letter. Ron smiled a bit, and Hermione was grinning.
"That was very thoughtful of Professor Koke, wasn't it?" she said.
"I don't know," Harry whispered, thinking for a minute. "Do you think that he really needed to alarm Mrs. Weasley like that?"
"Alarm her?" Ron asked incredulously. "Don't be a prat, Harry! If Koke didn't tell mum, I would have! Or Ginny would have! I think he did the right thing. Mum's right to thank you."
"Maybe you're right," Harry laughed.
Ron, Hermione and Harry stared down at Errol, who had started coughing and making hacking noises.
"Errol!" Ron cried, scooping up his owl. "Errol, are you okay?!"
In response, the bird looked sorrowfully at the students around him, and his eyes slowly closed.
"ERROL!" Ron shouted. "Errol, you can't die!!"
Ginny (now fully healed) snatched the owl out of her hysterical brother's arms. "He's not dead, Ron! I can hear a heartbeat! I've got to get him to Hagrid, quick!" Tripping a bit in her haste, Ginny rushed out of the Great Hall.
Ron looked down at his breakfast glumly. Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, worried. "What if Errol dies?" Ron choked. "What am I going to do?"
"Don't worry about Errol, Ron," Hermione comforted him, putting an arm around his shoulder. "Hagrid'll fix him up. He'll be fine." She kissed Ron's cheek softly.
"But what if his case is beyond Hagrid's hands?! What if there's no hope!? Percy's the only one who's got another owl in our family, and he'd never give it to mum, and she needs an owl! I mean, it's not like Percy couldn't afford his own, now! Errol's going to die, I know he is! I've got to go see Hagrid!" He too ran out of the hall.
"I hope Errol's all right," Harry sighed, pushing his oatmeal (now covered in feathers) aside. "Errol was more than just an owl that delivered mail, he was like Scabbers. Ron kept on complaining, but he'll be sorry if Errol goes. At least he'll have Pigwidgeon."
"Harry, stop using pre-tense words," Hermione whispered. "You make it sound as if he's dead already!"
"It's no use, Hermione," Harry decided. "Errol's been sick and weak for as long as I can remember. He can't last much longer."
Hermione stared at her feet. "I hope Ron takes this okay. You remember how angry and upset he was when Scabbers turned out to be a human. I think you're right, Harry."
"Well, c'mon," Harry said, grabbing his bag. "We'd better not be late for Transfiguration."
"I hope McGonagall will understand," Hermione sighed, as they walked down the hallway. "Ron might be a bit late."
"She'll understand," Harry said firmly. "McGonagall may be strict and tough sometimes, but I know she'll be okay with this."
Harry and Hermione took their seats in the front of the classroom. Some of the other students filed in.
"And where is Mr. Weasley this morning?" McGonagall asked, peering down at Hermione and Harry over her glasses.
"Er-well he.it's his owl," Harry answered. "He's terribly sick, and Ron's afraid that he may be close to dying. He took him to see Hagrid."
McGonagall's expression was difficult to read. "If Mr. Weasley does not return to class, please tell him that I am quite sorry about his owl's misfortune." She swept to the front of the class, leaving a dumbstruck Harry and Hermione.
"All right class," said McGonagall, sounding a bit tired. "Today we will continue with the Strauss spells."
Harry glanced at the crow in front of his desk. It stared into his eyes, leering at him. Hermione looked at the pigeon placed in front of her.
"You may begin."
"Last time I had that pigeon," Neville said to Hermione. "She's a pretty tricky one, if you ask me."
"We'll see about that," Hermione said curtly. "I think I may have this Strauss thing down." She raised her wand and pointed it at the pigeon. "Strauss Composius!" With a swish of her wand, Hermione's bird turned abruptly into a flute.
"I can't believe it," Neville snorted. "That pigeon's more trouble that it's worth, and you got the spell to work. Now I'm stuck with a turkey." Neville flicked his wand, saying, "Strauss Composius!" The turkey's neck was replaced with that of a violin, and his eyes turned into the tuners on such an instrument.
"Longbottom, what've you done now?" McGonagall asked with exasperation, walking towards Neville. "I see you've only managed to turn part of your turkey into a violin. That will not do." She waved her wand, and the turkey turned back to normal.
"I must've moved my wand wrong," Neville mumbled, glaring at his turkey with great dislike.
"Potter, let's see how you're coming along," McGonagall said.
Gulping, Harry pointed his wand at the crow. "Strauss Composius!" His bird quickly formed into the shape of a clarinet.
McGonagall picked it up smiling. Then she dropped it from surpsrise. She frowned at Harry. "Potter, I just saw the crow's eyes staring up at me from one of the pad holes. Please try again!"
"Strauss-"
"MISS BROWN!" McGonagall suddenly shouted, storming to the other side of the room. "You are supposed to be turning that peacock into a tambourine, not intriguing it to show off its tail feathers!!"
Harry sank down into his chair, as the clarinet turned back into a crow. "I'll never get this thing down."
"Oh Harry, it's easy," said Hermione, changing the flute into a pigeon and back again. "You almost had it. Maybe you should swish your wand with more gusto."
"More gusto?!" Harry laughed. "I'm trying to turn it into a clarinet, I don't want to chop its head off."
"All right. But if you don't keep practicing, when are you going to master the spell?"
"Nevermore!" cried the raven. Harry and Hermione's heads snapped towards it.
"That was freaky," Harry said. Then, determinedly, he pointed his wand at the crow, swishing it with enthusiasm, and cried, "Strauss Composius!" The crow immediately turned back into a clarinet.
Hermione picked it up, looking through all the holes. "Looks pretty good, Harry! I think you've got it!"
"Excellent, Potter," said McGonagall, walking towards them again. "Ten points to Gryffindor! And ten for you as well, Miss Granger."
"Way to go, Harry!" said Neville, subconsciously swishing his wand towards the turkey. With a sudden "buh-gawk," the turkey turned into a set of bagpipes. The musical instrument suddenly started levitating, playing an Irish folk tune.
"Longbottom, what did you do?!" McGonagall asked desperately. "Turkeys are supposed to turn into violins or cellos, not BAGPIPES!!"
"I'm sorry, Professor!" Neville squeaked. "I didn't mean to, honest!"
Sighing with annoyance, McGonagall turned the turkey back to its regular state. "I know that even YOU can do this, Longbottom. It really isn't that hard!!"
"STRAUSS COMPOSIUS!!" Neville suddenly yelled, clamping his eyes shut and swishing his wand. There was a cracking noise, and he opened his eyes hopefully.
The turkey was still there. But where McGonagall had previously stood, there was an assortment of bongo and congo drums. The class rolled with laughter, as Neville's eyes popped out of his head.
A few seconds later, McGonagall turned back to human form. She glared at Neville, who had sunken very low into his chair. Then suddenly (and quite unexpectedly), the professor laughed. "You know, I've never been turned into a musical instrument before!" she chuckled. "Good show, Longbottom. Five points for Gryffindor!!"
"What?!" Neville cried in astonishment, as McGonagall walked away. "Did she.I just.I got us five points!"
"Wow, that was great, Neville!" Harry cried, patting him on the back. "I think McGonagall really needed a laugh!"
**
After class, Harry ran into Ginny.
"Oh, sorry Harry," she whispered.
"Ginny, what's wrong?" Harry asked. Her eyes were a bit red, and she looked extremely depressed. "It's Errol, isn't it?"
"Yes," she sniffed, wiping away a tear. "I just feel so terrible! Mum's had Errol for as long as I can remember, and now he's gone! Died delivering a letter about me! Oh Harry, I feel so guilty!"
"Don't blame yourself," Harry comforted, putting his arms around Ginny awkwardly. "Errol's been old and sick for some time, now. It's not your fault."
"I suppose you're right," Ginny said, breaking away from Harry. "I'm just worried about what Mum's reaction will be."
"I'll send Hedwig to tell her," Harry said.
"Thanks Harry.I'd better be going to Potions." Blushing a bit, Ginny headed towards the direction of the dungeons.
"C'mon Harry," said Hermione, grinning a bit. "We don't want to be late for Herbology." The two of them walked out of the castle.
"Poor Mrs. Weasley," Harry sighed.
"I know," Hermione said wistfully. "I wonder how Ron is taking this."
At that moment, Ron walked up to them from Hagrid's cabin. He too looked down in the dumps, but apparently hadn't cried (or at least not that much).
"Errol died," he said simply.
"We know," Harry said. "Ginny told us."
"I always thought Errol was such a bloody nuisance," Ron sniffed. "I feel like we just took him for granted, and now he's gone! Hagrid tried his best, but Errol just.we were too late. I think that last trip finally knocked the wind out of his sails."
"We're so sorry, Ron," Hermione whispered. "Harry's going to send your mum a letter about Errol."
"No, let me send Pig," Ron sighed, as they walked into the greenhouse. "I want to do it. It might make.mum.you know, I think she may want to hear it from me."
"All right," Harry consented quietly. "Whatever you think is best, Ron."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I hope you don't mind that Errol died-I've always loved him too!