"Be careful, Pig," Ron stroked his owl with trembling fingers. "I don't want to lose you, too."
The tiny ball of feathers hooted cheerfully and nipped Ron's finger, then winged its way out the window with two red envelopes held tightly between talons.
"Don't die," Ron whispered, but the owl was long gone.
For hours it flew, tiring but not giving up, not when it could feel the letters' recipients were close, not when its owner had finally returned and given it something to do, and with a last burst of strength Pigwidgeon flapped into Malfoy Manor.
"What's this?" Bellatrix Lestrange asked, snatching the diminutive owl out of the air. It squeaked, tightening its hold on the letters, and the madwoman peered at them. "Howlers?" A grin rent her face. "For ickle babies Potter and Granger. Ah, it's very naughty to read people's mail behind their backs," she sang, clutching the owl in her hand as she turned towards the dungeons. "Let's see who wants to yell at the ickle children, shall we?"
Pigwidgeon hooted in discomfort, but the mad lady just took it as agreement. "Yes, let's get all the babies in one room – plenty of howler to go around," she snickered, getting the guards to drag 'baby Potter' into the cell of his friends.
"Now, go on, deliver the things," Bellatrix tossed Pig into the air, and with a relieved hoot he darted forward to hand over the two letters.
Hermione shared an uneasy look with Harry, then started when Luna's chin landed on her shoulder.
"Go on, open it," the blonde said, her high tone curious, and the two complied.
"SAY HOME," the voice of Ron Weasley boomed, and Harry stuttered, "Home?" before disappearing with the whooshing sound of a portkey.
"Home!" Hermione screamed as Bellatrix lunged at her, immediately feeling the hook behind her navel and falling to the ground with Luna half on top of her.
"Oof," a voice said, and Hermione spun in alarm to see Ollivander lying beside them, his frail hand firmly held in Luna's.
"Hermione! Harry!" Ron's voice cried nearby, and Hermione scrambled up from the ground to run towards him.
"Brilliant, Ron, brilliant," she laughed, relief making her lightheaded as he caught her. "You got us all, I can't believe it-"
"-and right under Bellatrix Lestrange's nose, too-"
"Pigwidgeon!" Hermione cried suddenly, pulling out of Ron's arms to look around in alarm, "Did he make it? Oh no, what if she got him?" she moaned, sinking to the ground, and Luna's hand came to rest on her shoulder.
"He's smaller than a Kimdinger; he'll be fine," she said, and Hermione couldn't for the life of her say why she found that so reassuring.
"Luna!" Ron cried, sweeping up the missing blonde in a hug that the girl returned hesitantly, patting him on the back as though she wasn't used to hugs. Hermione resolved to hug her often in the future.
"Ah, thank you, Mister Potter," the reedy voice of Ollivander drifted over, and Hermione looked to see Harry helping the old man up off the ground. "Might I inquire as to where we are?"
"The Burrow, of course," Ron grinned, just as pops heralded the arrival of members of the Order. "Home."