Chapter 24: Hedwig's Safety and Pig's Madness

During the time he had free after Professor Confessus' lesson, Harry went to the Owlery. He found Hedwig sitting on her perch. She looked down at him and Harry stroked her head.

"You're not safe," he whispered. "Someone wants to make you go mad – to kill me."

Hedwig hooted in disbelief.

"I need to take you somewhere," continued Harry, not thinking about where. "Somewhere where you'll be safe."

Hedwig looked down at him mournfully, and he picked her up and walked out into the cold air. Where could he take her?

He tried the pavilion, but that seemed to far away. He considered taking her into the dormitory, but that wasn't allowed. Maybe he could send her home – but what would she do and who would deliver his letters?

In the end he decided – he would take her to the old man below the stables. He looked after the horses, so surely he could be trusted to look after Hedwig.

Harry checked his watch. He had half an hour – plenty of time. He carried Hedwig to the stables, brushed back the straw, and descended into the dark tunnel.

Hedwig gave a hoot of fright, but Harry lit the tunnel – with his hand, this time – and made the walls reflective. Then he set off down the narrow passageway.

The journey took slightly longer with Hedwig on his arm and his hand raised to create light. The owl was slightly disapproving of the bats, and Harry was glad when he finally reached the door. He knocked once, and then entered.

"I told you not to return," croaked the old wizard, who was eating at the low table.

"I'm sorry," said Harry. "Listen, could you do me a favour?"

"I told you –"

"I said, I'm sorry," stressed Harry. "But my owl's in danger. I need your help."

The wizard smiled slyly. "She's in danger, is she? What can I do?"

"Keep her here with you, if you could."

"Gladly," said the old wizard. "Gladly, yes, I could care for your owl. For how long?"

"As long as it takes."

"Of course, of course. I understand. As long as it takes. All right, then. I'll take her. Go now. When you want her back, leave a message in the horses' trough."

"Thank you, thank you," said Harry, and put Hedwig down on the table. He checked his watch. He had ten minutes. "I've got to go now."

The wizard nodded. "Of course," he croaked.

As Harry closed the door, he was sure he felt something hot surge up behind him. He ran through the tunnel, and arrived at his lesson, Spell Creation, just in time.

The first end-of-term exams were upon them, it seemed, in a flash. At Hogwarts it would have been snowing by now, but further south you were quite lucky to see snow. The exams seemed reasonably simple, however, as everything that was tested was still fresh in Harry's mind.

In Charms Harry had to charm his own broomstick. It was more successful than the one he had made in the Spell Challenge Arena, and Harry was given 8/10.

In Curses they went into the Arena, where they had to navigate through a dark castle until they reached the top, where they found a 'completion certificate'. This displayed their final score – for Harry it was full marks.

Concealment and Disguise was also in the Arena – they had to sneak past dummies. Despite getting a burn to his leg, Harry did quite well. Stealth and Tricking was the exact opposite – they had to find the dummies. Professor Confessus awarded Harry a nine.   

Harry felt that he did unusually well in Potions – he was top of the class with his Time Twisting Tonic, which also got nine. He didn't do so well in Herbology, though – they had to breed Gillyweed by artificial selection using special specimens that grew very quickly, but Harry chose the wrong plants. His final mark was only 40%.

In Spell Creation, Harry succeeded in creating a rock that exploded to create a lava river. He received 10 and wasn't far behind in Transfiguration, with an eight. In Physical Training, he completed the exercise circuit in a personal record time, and Madam Hooch gave him 10/10.

Finally, in Care of Magical Creatures, Harry did really badly, though it wasn't his fault. He combed his horse's wings the wrong way, and Madam Masters gave him a fifteen-minute time penalty, as well as making him clean out the stable afterwards for the next week. His mark was just two out of ten.

He was feeling unusually happy when the Headmaster dismissed them all from assembly for the last time that term the week before Christmas. He felt a bit guilty about leaving Hedwig, but it seemed best to not disturb the old man underground. He regretted his choice after what happened later that afternoon – it seemed that Millstew had already struck.

The five first-years climbed out of Professor Gabriel's car and it drove off. Lizzy and Hannah Disapparated, but Harry, Ron stayed behind to say goodbye to Rudolf.

"Bye!"

"See you!"

"Auf Wiedersehen!"

That was when it happened. Pig had been unusually fretful all throughout the drive, and Ron let him out of his cage to stretch his wings. There was an angry squawk, and the bird attacked its master.

Ron yelled out in pain: Pig was pecking madly at his face. Rudolf and Harry looked on in horror as Pig forced Ron down onto the floor. Their friend's face was now covered in as many spots of blood as it was in freckles. Harry drew out his wand and yelled "Stupefy!"

Pig glowed red, but nothing else happened. Harry repeated the spell, and so did Rudolf, to the same effect. Then the German tried to pull off the bird, but he ended up with torn and bloody arms. Rudolf looked at Harry in exasperation, then:

"CRUCIO!"

Pig didn't seem to feel the pain. Ron was now lying on his front, face pressed into the pavement, and Pig was tearing off chunks of red hair and flesh.

Harry plunged his arm at the bird – and was glad of the one he tried to use – his left. It didn't real any pain, though Pig scraped and pecked at it. Harry threw the owl into its cage, and then pulled Ron to his feet.  

"Thanks," breathed Ron. He was sweating, and water was running into his wounds. "Why did that happen?"

"I dunno," Harry lied. "Let's hope it wears off. Let's get you home and clean you up."