Chapter 3
Harry received the book the following day. Hedwig had popped out of the nest on a few occasions, and every time Harry peeked in to see if there was an egg. Hedwig showed signs to being hungry but was hesitant about flying out of his room. Harry decided to bring her up pieces of his meals. Hedwig didn't seem to mind toast and bacon but did draw the line on glazed carrots. Harry really couldn't blame her.
After finishing the book, Harry was amazed to learn so much about his feathered friend. When he was outside pruning the garden Harry made sure to collect a bit of clippings and leaves up to her in his pockets. Harry even took the plunge and trimmed a bit of his hair to help her line her nest. With each offering Hedwig would hoot her thanks and install each piece individually.
Harry woke the following morning and after a quick breakfast ran upstairs to deliver a pancake. As he entered his room he noticed Hedwig flying out of the room for the first time in days.
Glancing into the nest Harry gasped in surprise. Inside the nest, on a pillow of black hair and downy feathers lay 3 small white eggs. Harry ran over to the mirror and began to call Mrs. Weasley.
"Well hello Harry, how are the muggles treating you?" She asked pleasantly.
"Umm mostly we just ignore each other. But I'm getting enough to eat. Listen Hedwig laid 3 eggs last night." Harry announced proudly. "Do you think someone can come by and put a warming charm on her nest?"
Mrs. Weasley smiled at him through the glass. "Harry, maybe Hedwig would prefer to incubate her eggs herself. You may want to help her with food though. I'll floo Dumbledore and have him ask Hagrid to nip you some owl food. He will of course probably want to know everything about your little brood."
Harry nodded and after a brief exchange, Harry said goodbye with her promise to tell everyone at headquarters about his little family. Hedwig had come back and after a bit of preening sat gently on her nest.
"Wow Hedwig, three eggs. I guess you're really going to be a mum in a few weeks." Harry said to his companion.
Hedwig hooted her agreement and adjusted herself on her nest.
Aunt Petunia took that opportunity to walk into Harry's room. "Who were you talking to?" She asked sharply while looking around his room in disgust.
Harry sat at his desk and quietly answered. "Just my owl."
Aunt Petunia sniffed disdainfully till she noticed the new cage. "Where did that come from boy? I won't have you doing anything odd in my house. You just send that log back to wherever it came from."
Harry looked up at his aunt with a surge of anger. "Listen, I didn't make it or you'd have been the first to find out from the Ministry. Secondly, my owl laid her first batch of eggs and she can't be moved till they hatch. So I suggest you leave her and her nest alone."
Petunia stared at him in shock at his tone but something about his eyes made her back up into the hallway. She recovered enough to shout a parting shot while she shut his door. "Fine your bird can keep her nest, but I won't have any room in my house looking like a pigsty, this isn't a barn. Get this room cleaned up and your laundry done, before I toss everything out in the garbage."
Harry glanced around as his door slammed. His room did look a bit like his trunk had exploded and strewn its content over the whole area. Harry slowly sorted clothes while Hedwig watched him with interest. After starting the first load, he came back in his room and put all his school books up on the shelf. All his school papers went into the drawer in his desk and school robes were thrown into the bottom of his trunk.
That afternoon Harry was folding his last load of laundry and placing it in the wardrobe. Aunt Petunia had watched his progress from the kitchen, noting when brooms and mops were taken, and of course returned. She watched to make sure he didn't use too much detergent, and only ran the wash on the cold cycle.
Harry ate his lunch in the kitchen, and washed the dishes quickly. He didn't want Aunt Petunia complaining about anything else that suddenly needed cleaning. When he was finished he ran upstairs and checked to see if the nest had any other occupants. Hedwig however would not cooperate and get up for him to see.
"Sorry girl I just wanted to know if you were only going to have three eggs. Dumbledore said you would probably have more than that."
Hedwig looked offended as though Harry had insulted her egg laying abilities. Harry realized his error before the nesting mom could peck out his eyes. "No I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to make sure you were finished and that you were ok. Three eggs will need a lot of care, and I think your going to be as good a mom as Mrs. Weasley."
Hedwig settled down with his praise and fluffed herself importantly. Harry decided to do his best in the coming weeks not to annoy the new mom and to read the owl book again before starting his school work for this year.
Harry received the book the following day. Hedwig had popped out of the nest on a few occasions, and every time Harry peeked in to see if there was an egg. Hedwig showed signs to being hungry but was hesitant about flying out of his room. Harry decided to bring her up pieces of his meals. Hedwig didn't seem to mind toast and bacon but did draw the line on glazed carrots. Harry really couldn't blame her.
After finishing the book, Harry was amazed to learn so much about his feathered friend. When he was outside pruning the garden Harry made sure to collect a bit of clippings and leaves up to her in his pockets. Harry even took the plunge and trimmed a bit of his hair to help her line her nest. With each offering Hedwig would hoot her thanks and install each piece individually.
Harry woke the following morning and after a quick breakfast ran upstairs to deliver a pancake. As he entered his room he noticed Hedwig flying out of the room for the first time in days.
Glancing into the nest Harry gasped in surprise. Inside the nest, on a pillow of black hair and downy feathers lay 3 small white eggs. Harry ran over to the mirror and began to call Mrs. Weasley.
"Well hello Harry, how are the muggles treating you?" She asked pleasantly.
"Umm mostly we just ignore each other. But I'm getting enough to eat. Listen Hedwig laid 3 eggs last night." Harry announced proudly. "Do you think someone can come by and put a warming charm on her nest?"
Mrs. Weasley smiled at him through the glass. "Harry, maybe Hedwig would prefer to incubate her eggs herself. You may want to help her with food though. I'll floo Dumbledore and have him ask Hagrid to nip you some owl food. He will of course probably want to know everything about your little brood."
Harry nodded and after a brief exchange, Harry said goodbye with her promise to tell everyone at headquarters about his little family. Hedwig had come back and after a bit of preening sat gently on her nest.
"Wow Hedwig, three eggs. I guess you're really going to be a mum in a few weeks." Harry said to his companion.
Hedwig hooted her agreement and adjusted herself on her nest.
Aunt Petunia took that opportunity to walk into Harry's room. "Who were you talking to?" She asked sharply while looking around his room in disgust.
Harry sat at his desk and quietly answered. "Just my owl."
Aunt Petunia sniffed disdainfully till she noticed the new cage. "Where did that come from boy? I won't have you doing anything odd in my house. You just send that log back to wherever it came from."
Harry looked up at his aunt with a surge of anger. "Listen, I didn't make it or you'd have been the first to find out from the Ministry. Secondly, my owl laid her first batch of eggs and she can't be moved till they hatch. So I suggest you leave her and her nest alone."
Petunia stared at him in shock at his tone but something about his eyes made her back up into the hallway. She recovered enough to shout a parting shot while she shut his door. "Fine your bird can keep her nest, but I won't have any room in my house looking like a pigsty, this isn't a barn. Get this room cleaned up and your laundry done, before I toss everything out in the garbage."
Harry glanced around as his door slammed. His room did look a bit like his trunk had exploded and strewn its content over the whole area. Harry slowly sorted clothes while Hedwig watched him with interest. After starting the first load, he came back in his room and put all his school books up on the shelf. All his school papers went into the drawer in his desk and school robes were thrown into the bottom of his trunk.
That afternoon Harry was folding his last load of laundry and placing it in the wardrobe. Aunt Petunia had watched his progress from the kitchen, noting when brooms and mops were taken, and of course returned. She watched to make sure he didn't use too much detergent, and only ran the wash on the cold cycle.
Harry ate his lunch in the kitchen, and washed the dishes quickly. He didn't want Aunt Petunia complaining about anything else that suddenly needed cleaning. When he was finished he ran upstairs and checked to see if the nest had any other occupants. Hedwig however would not cooperate and get up for him to see.
"Sorry girl I just wanted to know if you were only going to have three eggs. Dumbledore said you would probably have more than that."
Hedwig looked offended as though Harry had insulted her egg laying abilities. Harry realized his error before the nesting mom could peck out his eyes. "No I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to make sure you were finished and that you were ok. Three eggs will need a lot of care, and I think your going to be as good a mom as Mrs. Weasley."
Hedwig settled down with his praise and fluffed herself importantly. Harry decided to do his best in the coming weeks not to annoy the new mom and to read the owl book again before starting his school work for this year.