Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Harry Potter and world belong to the awesome J.K. Rowling.
(A/N: Thanks for being patient! Here's a longer chapter, as a reward!)
Chapter 3: Teacher Hedwig and a few letters
Hedwig watched Harry for half an hour before she decided to say something. "For crying out loud, Harry, stop it. I can fell your anger all the way over here."
Harry reminded himself not to take out his anger on Hedwig. "They're treating me like a child, even though I just took on twenty Death Eaters and lived to tell the tale! I also faced Voldemort, what is it, five times now? And they still think that I can't even manage to cast a simple spell." Harry resumed pacing; making a path through the feathers that filled the room after his pillow exploded from his accidental magic.
"Well, you can still calm down. They're just concerned about you. If it's any consolation, I think you did marvelously." Hedwig responded.
Harry grumbled. "They could at least have a little faith…" At Hedwig's warning glare, he relented, and dropped his rant. "Thanks Hedwig. You didn't do too bad yourself. How did the Order receive the ribbon?"
Hedwig moved her wings slightly. "Oh, they were frantic. It was about then that Kingsley stopped by, saying that the Ministry was picking up some spells from your place. When he saw the ribbon, he cursed and ran off. Moody decided to follow Kingsley." Her voice sounded almost amused.
Harry snickered. "I did wonder why Moody, a retired Auror was there."
Hedwig inclined her head. "Yes, although I believe I heard something about him itching to get into action."
Harry nodded, then frowned. "Speaking of action, during the fight… some weird things happened to me. Actually, it really started before the fight. See, when I woke up, I didn't know what caused it. I grabbed my wand, and crept silently out of my room. And I heard the charm 'Alohomora' as it was whispered from outside the front door from the top of the stairs."
"Ah good, I thought as much. Please continue, Harry. I'll explain later." Hedwig told her master.
Harry started pacing again, but thoughtfully this time. "That was when I sent you and set up the charms on the Dursleys' doors. Then, when they came up to the top of the stairwell, I exchanged a few words with Bellatrix…" He trailed off as he fought the anger in him. "Hedwig, time seemed to slow down. I heard her heartbeat speed up and her muscles stretch. I heard her breath travel from lungs to voice box, and knew what words she was about to say. I saw her eyes widen just a fraction, and her hands make a signal behind her back! Then time seemed to speed up again… Hedwig, what in the world happened there?"
The Snowy Owl seemed inordinately pleased with herself. "That was the effects of the transfer, although I didn't really expect that much to be active so soon. Harry, I'm very proud of you."
Harry sighed in frustration. "Thanks… I think. Now, would you please explain to me what the bloody heck you mean by 'transfer'? I believe the last time you explained the darn thing; I was half asleep and semi-dreaming. And feel free to go into detail, please."
Hedwig shuffled on her perch, trying to find a more comfortable position. She sighed, and settled down. "I don't know much, only what Fawkes told me. I'll try to make it clear to you.
"Anyway, the transfer is an ancient spell that Fawkes knows. It basically takes whatever is chosen from one group, copies, and places the copy in another group. Fawkes gathered the Beast Council, and proposed this idea to them. Let me add that this wasn't just a split-second decision. Fawkes had this idea floating around in the heads of the Beast Council for a few years now."
Harry blinked. "What's this Beast Council? And what did they 'transfer' into me?"
"The Beast Council is a very old institution. Fawkes doesn't even know how long it's been around. And he's the bloody leader. See, only a Phoenix can be the leader for the Beast Council. The Council is made up of all creatures that can think for themselves in a specific area. In this case, that's the Forbidden Forest. Every year, at a pre-arranged time, the leaders of the various species meet in a place picked by the leader. There are also meetings that the leader, Fawkes, can call anytime, provided there is a need."
Hedwig took a brief break to sip some water from her cage bowl. "Fawkes has been calling these meetings almost regularly since Hogwarts let out. I've been attending as his guest. As for what the Council transferred into you, I have a few ideas, but not much."
"Can you tell me what those ideas are?" Harry was trying to be patient, and commended himself for his effort so far.
"Sorry, I can't. Fawkes has ordered me to keep quiet on your transfer abilities. I'm afraid you'll have to work on it by yourself." Hedwig told Harry.
The wizard took a deep breath to calm down. "So you're saying I'm to be left completely in the dark?"
Hedwig shook her head. "No, I said I can't tell you what your abilities are, and that you'll have to figure them out yourself. I can help you a bit, you know, drop clues, but I can't outright tell you."
Harry closed his eyes, and put his hand to his face. "Okay, answer this. Am I correct in my assumptions that the Council transferred physical abilities, like enhanced senses and so forth?"
Hedwig looked pleased. "Very good, Harry. Yes, they did." She was proud at her master for figuring that out.
"But are the abilities just physical? Or are there more than?" Harry asked, mind racing.
"I cannot say." Hedwig said, although her body language told Harry that he was correct; there were more than physical abilities that went through the transfer.
Harry sighed. "Okay. Now that my curiosity is only mildly sated, when should I expect an owl from the Ministry?"
Just then, an official-looking owl swooped through the open window. "Hello, Hedwig. How are you?"
Hedwig shot an amused glance at Harry. "I'm fine, Numa. Harry, this is Numa, a friend of mine. Numa, Harry."
The owl blinked, looking shocked. Harry smiled at the sight. "Hello, Numa. How are you?"
"How could he possibly understand us? He's a hum… He knew my name. And spoke right after you." Numa was about to dismiss Hedwig's actions, but when Harry spoke, the owl knew it was true.
Hedwig looked cheerful. "Yes, yes he did. Anyway, the Beast Council performed some sort of transfer spell. Oh, and he's supposed to figure out the abilities all on his own."
Numa shrugged her wings. "Fine by me. Nice to meet you, Harry, I'm Numa. And don't believe anything she says about me. Here's your letter." The owl held out her leg, and Harry took the attached parchment. Then the owl nodded at Hedwig and Harry. "Well, I'm off. See you later, Hedwig. Once again, nice to meet you, Harry." The owl flew off.
Harry opened the letter and read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed a variety of spells at fifteen minutes past seven this morning in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of Muggles.
Although this normally would mean your expelling from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry does not have that power. You are being allowed to retain your wand, based on the testimony of some of the Ministry representatives that investigated your use of magic.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under section 13 of the International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 10 A.M. on June 23rd.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda HopkirkIMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE
Ministry of Magic
Harry snorted. It was almost exactly like the letter he'd received a year ago, after the incident with the Dementors. "Basically says I have to go to a hearing, yet again."
Hedwig clacked her beak. "You do seem to like those, don't you, Harry?"
Harry stuck his tongue out at her. Then he paused, and looked toward the window. "Two more owls are coming. One from the Burrow, I believe, and the other from Hogwarts."
Sure enough, two owls swept in. One was Errol, the Weasley's family owl, who immediately collapsed on Harry's bed. The other landed next to Hedwig and stuck out his leg. "Hedwig, Numa was saying that your human could understand us. Is that true?"
Harry grinned as he took the letter. "I would say it is. What's your name?" Hedwig hooted softly in laughter as the owl almost fell off.
"I am Ra, her mate. Numa said that the Council gave the gift to you." The owl hinted.
Harry nodded, as he opened the letter. Once he saw the handwriting, he closed it, and looked at Ra. "Yeah, they did. I don't understand it completely, but they did."
Ra nodded. "The Council does have their reasons, whatever they were. I have to be off. Nice to meet you, Harry, and I'll see you at Hogwarts, Hedwig." He flew off.
Harry moved to untie the letter from Errol, picked him up, and set him in Hedwig's cage. The old owl hooted its thanks, and began drinking water.
Harry grinned as he read Ron's letter.
Harry,
Kingsley told Dad what happened, who told us. Congratulations, mate! And from what Dad says, the Ministry is as pleased as punch that you captured all those Death Eaters. That means they probably won't give you as hard a time as last year.
Rumor has it that Dumbledore is going to go over to your house and talk to you about whatever it is you did. Don't worry, though, he won't do anything. I think he fears Mum. She promised to never cook him another meal if he did anything to make you upset.
I have to go. Please write back mate, it's boring over here. And I'm always here if you need to talk.
Ron
Harry smiled at the thought of Professor Dumbledore cowering in front of an enraged Mrs. Weasley. The happiness of that thought allowed him to open the letter sent to him from the Headmaster.
Harry,
First of all, let me congratulate you on your spectacular work. Taking on twenty Death Eaters and living to tell the tale is a great feat. Kingsley tells me that you did everything right until the Aurors got there to capture the Death Eaters.
Second, I am sorry to ask that you remain inside your house at all times. We have no idea how the Death Eaters managed to find you, but rest assured, we are working on it. Until then, your house is the safest place for you to be.
Last, I will be coming over to your house tomorrow to question you about the attack. It is important that I know every detail so that the Order can best protect you.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Anger coursed through Harry, and he clenched his fists. Professor Dumbledore was treating him like a child. And Harry had just about had it. Then Harry saw the postscript.
P.S. It would also be wise for you not to let Hedwig out anymore, as there may be people watching your house.
Harry crumpled up the letter. "Hedwig, how would you feel about leaving?"
The owl hooted. "I'm all right, but where would we go? As soon as they discover you're gone, they'll watch Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron."
She watched as Harry started to act, packing up his trunk, and cleaning up. As he searched under the loose floorboard, he looked up at her and winked. "Yes, when they discover me. I'll be there and gone before they even start."
Hedwig settled down, and watched as he went around checking for anything he would miss. Inside, she was smirking. It was about time Harry was going independent.
A knock sounded at the door, and Harry opened it to find Aunt Petunia. "Harry? What's going on?"
"Aunt Petunia, I'm going to leave for now. It'll be much safer for the three of you if I'm not here to draw Death Eaters to you." Harry closed his trunk and locked it.
Aunt Petunia looked around his room, and sighed. "Just… be careful, Harry. I also want to thank you for this morning. I don't think we'd have made it through alive if you weren't there."
Harry was oddly touched. "You're welcome, Aunt Petunia. Oh, and if anyone comes looking for me, tell them I've left them a note on my dresser."
Aunt Petunia nodded, hesitated, then engulfed Harry in a hug, something she'd never done before. Harry stood still, shocked. "Me and Vernon and Dudley… we wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you. Please, Harry, be careful." She let go, and then walked out of the room. Harry could smell the saline tears getting ready to fall.
Harry sealed and placed the letter he had pre-written to whoever came on his bed. Checking one last time for anything he might've missed, Harry tucked his wand in his jeans pocket, and left via the front door, his own invisibility cloak protecting him from the eyes of any watchers under theirs. Hedwig was perched on his shoulder, also under the cloark.
The pair maneuvered themselves quickly away from Privet Drive, and Harry called the Knight Bus.
Thanks for all your reviews! It brightens up my whole day when nice people review! It also makes me want to update more (hint, hint!)
PsychicLunar: Yay! A repeat reviewer! Nice to hear from you again. Anyways, thanks for your patience, and I hope you have fun with your super-advanced classes! (I was being a bit sarcastic there, couldn't you tell?) Oh, and it pleased the heck out of me when I found out that I'm on your Story alert, and fav's. Made my day, that did. Oh, and thanks for your words of wisdom.
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