A/n: This should have been part of last chapter, sorry.

*+ovo+*

Harry curled into the arms of his new father and Head of the Family. Nagini guarding them, separating them from the doorway and fireplace as potential entrances.

"We felt the bond snap as you screamed," Severus finally admitted, hours after Harry had finally stopped crying.

"Who would hurt Hedwig?" Harry asked brokenly. "Why? She was just and owl. She was my first gift and my first friend..."

"Most would think that she is only a pet because of how young you are but from your reaction she was a true familiar. Her death, if deliberate, will count as an assassination attempt," Voldemort explained quietly. "If you didn't perform the familiar bonding ritual..."

"The what?" Harry asked, a glimmer of interest sparking in his eyes.

"A natural familiar bond," Severus concluded with a wince.

"A natural bond, especially if the starting creature was non-magical or one of those with lower magical levels with a large magical reserve and a powerful bond... Harry, magic might give her back to you," Voldemort whispered in awe. "It could take years, more years than your life, but there is a high chance that she will be re-born as something far more magical and powerful than a simple owl."

"Really?" Harry asked with hope starting to shine in his tear stained face.

"I had forgotten about that possibility... It takes several important factors, all of which you just told us existed in your bond," Severus said thoughtfully. "Most people can't meet the requirements."

Harry was able to sleep soon after that, leaving the others awake to watch over him.

"The owl should have arrived nearly the same day we did as his familiar," Severus pointed out roughly, fighting with himself not to do something stupid and possibly wake his son.

"Which means she was trapped," Voldemort agreed grimly. "Whether he knew it or not his life has been at risk since her capture by parties unknown. If they kept her in the owlery and he simply didn't try to use her for letters for whatever reason... Harry would never have known. Too many assassination magics can use or require the capturing of a wizard's familiar. The very fact that he isn't dying in our arms means that the owl died on her own terms and not under someone's wand. Find who did this. Use the excuse that we need some of his things and go without us come morning. Hopefully the owl marked the one who killed her."

"By law killing a pet is a fine... Killing a familiar is a murder charge," Severus agreed grimly. "I will head to Hogwarts for breakfast.

Voldemort watched over Harry as he slept through the morning, unaware that his father was raging through Hogwarts in search of Hedwig's killer.

*+ovo+*

A/n: So yeah, there is a chance to bring Hedwig back...