A/N: Hmm. Didnt think so many would like this. Oh well. Here's chapter two.
Harry finally managed to pry the white haired girl off of him, much to her displeasure. Hell, Harry wasn't sure if she really was Hedwig or not, he just had a hunch to go by. He sat back to ponder things and the girl gave a small grunt of displeasure. As he sat there thinking, his gaze was drawn to her…assets. If this really was Hedwig, she had been given a very nice figure. She blushed prettily and smiled under Harry's scrutiny.
Harry estimated that she stood about 5' 2" tall and weighted about eight to eight and a half stone (110 to 120 pounds). Her hair, now that she was out from underneath the bed canopy, was snowy white and hung down to her mid back. Her skin was pale and her eyes were large and a bright yellow color. The thing that stood out the most though was her finger and toe nails. They were long and very sharp, much like talons would be.
He decided to ask the girl some questions. "Can you understand me?" he started. The girl nodded. "Good…" He stopped for a moment to think of some suitable questions to ask her. Obviously if she was Hedwig first and foremost. He also needed to find out if she could speak. Finally, if she really was Hedwig, he needed to ask if she remembered anything from the trip and if she could change back into an owl. For that matter, he needed to see if he himself could still change, but that could come later.
"Are you really Hedwig?" he asked. The girl nodded again. Harry couldn't sense any lies from her with his meager legillimency skills, so he decided to take that answer as truth. Still, he was having a hard time reconciling the fact that the very attractive girl sitting on the floor with him was his faithful owl familiar. "Really?"
Hedwig looked put out. She sighed and nodded again, a little more forcefully this time.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," he placated. "Can you speak? English I mean."
Hedwig looked at him like he was stupid, and as they made eye contact, Harry got his first empathic feeling from the girl. She was irritated and very confused. But what worried him more was the fact that he couldn't hear her thoughts. He sincerely hoped that the trip hadn't damaged their familiar bond.
"Can you change back?" he finally asked. His answer was more confusion from the girl. "Into an owl." Hedwig blinked owlishly at him, something that Harry found inordinately funny given the circumstances. Once his howling laughter calmed down and he was able to think coherently again, a thought occurred to him. Did Hedwig not know that she had changed? If she could change back, she might be the first ever humanimagus…
"Do me a favor and look at your wing, girl."
Hedwig did so, and with a startled shriek, nearly fell over in shock. Once she recovered herself she seemed fascinated with her hand and fingers. She spent the next ten minutes examining them then moved on to feeling her face with her new hands. She was absolutely absorbed in exploring her new body. Harry stopped her before she started doing something questionable. He gently took her hands in his. "So, can you change back?" he asked.
But that was the last thing on Hedwig's mind. She looked like she had a sudden epiphany. Her intense gaze met his and Harry was almost overcome with intense feelings of joy and love before she pounced on him, trapping him in a very passionate and very naked hug. Only Harry could be caught up in a situation like this; having a beautiful girl who used to be his owl familiar trying to seduce him. Still, he had to admit it was a very nice feeling. Looking down at Hedwig's nakedness, he changed his game plan slightly.
"First things first…clothes…"
(((o)))
An hour and a half an hour later found Harry and Hedwig fully dressed and sitting in the study. Harry fished something out of the dresser in his room, and the house elves found a periwinkle and powder blue set of robes for Hedwig to wear. As Hedwig dressed, Soxy asked if Hedwig was going to eat her too, since she imagined that elves didn't taste too different from owls. How she had come to that conclusion, Harry wasn't sure, so he dismissed the elves for the day.
One problem had been solved, but a few more popped up in its place. The first and most important was that Hedwig was for all intents and purposes fully human now. Half an hour ago, she had tried for ten minutes to change back into her normal, snowy owl self, but only managed to shatter every piece of glass in the house with a burst of uncontrolled magic. The house elves went about repairing the shattered windows and dinnerware glaring angrily at Hedwig while Harry picked himself up off the floor. He dusted himself off. "Well, at least we know now that you're a witch."
The second problem presented itself in the missing telepathic bond. It was well and good trying to interpret Hedwig's emotions and all, but Harry quickly grew frustrated trying to pick out what she meant among the overwhelming feelings of affection. He wondered just how long Hedwig had these feeling for him and honestly found it a bit creepy. Plus, since she couldn't speak either, she couldn't cast any spells with her newly acquired magic.
The third was what to do about their situation. Harry wasn't quite convinced that the spell worked. Sure, he now had a trio of strange house elves replacing Dobby, but everything was where he had left it. The house did have a strange, un-lived in feel to it, but beyond that everything was genuine right down to the placement of his owl feathers. Hedwig had taken to wearing one in her hair and following Harry like a lost puppy.
After a wonderful lunch prepared by the trio of elves, Harry sat down with the book that got him into this mess and decided to find out just what had happened. Hedwig decided to chase a shrieking Soxy around the house once she found out that the tiny elf was afraid of her. The two of them made a game of it.
Adjacent Reality Spell
Harry reread the warning just to make sure that he hadn't missed anything and was relieved to see that he hadn't. This time he skipped the incantation, wand movement and preparation and studied the spell effects. The more he read, the more he realized just how screwed he was.
The Adjacent Reality Spell will only take the caster and their desired possessions into a reality where the caster is dead or different.
Well that's specific, Harry groused. What exactly did they mean by 'different'? Could there be an evil Harry running about in this dimension instead of a Voldemort? Or had Harry somehow died here? Harry decided to find out later and started reading more.
There are a few restrictions on this spell. First, while it can be cast at any time, any where, it is best cast out of doors to minimize damage to the surroundings. Secondly, it will only affect the caster. Nothing organically living can be taken along. The effects to the spell are unknown should the caster do so, but you can bet that it will not be good.
"I bloody well know now, don't I?" Harry sighed. The spell may have simply sucked him up and spit him back in the same dimension a few days later after changing Hedwig. He may have cursed his friend to a horrible fate as a human. Harry knew that should he ever get stuck in his owl form, he would probably go crazy. It may have had something to with Hedwig's feelings for him. She seemed so very happy to finally be able to be with Harry as a human and didn't look disappointed at all that she couldn't manage to change back. And she didn't seem to mind the current situation at all, judging by her and Soxy's giggles from the living room.
Harry finished reading about the spell a few minutes later. The only other thing that he got from the book was perhaps the most worrisome.
Upon the next total solar eclipse, the spell will finish its duration and pull the caster back to their original reality.
To Harry, this meant two things. First, if the spell hadn't worked, either nothing would happen or he would be pulled into another reality and be stuck there. Secondly, if it had worked, would he be able to bring Hedwig back with him or would she be stuck here?
Harry went over to a cubby where he kept his star and sky charts to check when the next solar eclipse would be. According to the chart, the next one would happen in a little over a week. Until then, he needed to figure things out.
Hedwig came back into the room with Soxy giggling and slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. When she saw Harry's forlorn expression she set Soxy down and ran over to sit next to him. She threw her arms around his shoulders and nuzzled the nape of his neck while making cooing noises. Harry supposed that she could feel his dark mood. He hugged her back until she let go, though she kept on hand on his leg. They needed a course of action and looking into Hedwig's eyes, Harry decided on the first move. "We are going to teach you to speak."
Hedwig proved to be very bright and over the course of the afternoon she learned communicate in broken English. She tended to pronounce her 'w's' with a definite 'wh' sound, and had trouble with pronouns like 'you', 'me' and 'I'. Instead she referred to everyone by name, but if those were the only problems she had, Harry was still very proud of her. Her voice was melodic and tinkling and reminded Harry of Fleur's. By the time they were ready for bed the owl-girl was talking his ears off and showed no sign of stopping.
Finally, Hedwig showed signs that she was tired and yawned widely. Harry guided her upstairs into his parent's old room and left Soxy with the task of helping her change for bed. But as he went across the hall into his room, he was overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness and fear. He turned around and saw Hedwig looking at him imploringly. Her hands were clutched over her heart and she was shaking. Soxy was looking helplessly up at Hedwig from the hems her blue robes. After the day they had, Harry couldn't fault Hedwig for feeling the way she was but he didn't feel comfortable sleeping with her. "I'll just be across the hall," he said soothingly.
"Harry no leave Hedwig," she pleaded. Her eyes were wide and watery and she looked about to cry.
Harry couldn't resist. He was never very good with weepy girls, especially those as close to him as Hedwig was. "Fine," he sighed. Hedwig rushed over and clung to him like a toddler and he led her into his room.
Once in the bedroom, she let go and looked around in wonder. It was the first time she had been in there as a human and everything looked different from her perspective. Harry stripped down to his boxers and pulled the bed covers back before crawling in. He watched Hedwig for a minute before saying, "Well? Come on."
Hedwig stripped off her robes revealing that while the house elves had done a good job dressing her, they hadn't supplied her with any undergarments. She was naked. Again. And she was about to crawl into bed with Harry. He groaned miserably. Why couldn't normal women act like this around him? Why did it have to be his owl of all people? Hedwig did one more thing, pulling the black feather out of her hair and setting it reverently on the night stand before crawling under the covers with him and cuddling to his side.
Harry sighed resignedly. "Good night, Hedwig," he said kissing her on the top of the head.
"Good night, my Harry," she replied sleepily.
As Harry tried to fall asleep with an attractive naked woman clinging to him, he decided that tomorrow he would go into Diagon Alley and find out just what was going on.
(((o)))
The next morning got of to a terrible start. Harry woke with a migraine that he attributed to the stupid spell and had Hedwig's face buried in his crotch of all places. Hedwig didn't want to get up either, just moaning and clinging to him tighter when he tried to wake her. Finally after a few minutes of struggle, it took apparating out of the bed to get away from her. It was also helpful in that the loud crack it created startled Hedwig out of the bed and treated Harry with a nice sight since she was still naked.
"Harry mean…" she mumbled sleepily. Her hair was rumpled and Harry had to admit that she really was cute.
He gathered his stuff together and went to take a shower but stopped when he realized that Hedwig had followed him into the bathroom. "What is this room?" she asked.
Harry froze. Hedwig had never seen him bathe before so she wouldn't know what the bathroom was. She also wouldn't know how to bathe herself. Harry gritted his teeth and resisted the urge to swear. "It is the bathroom," he answered. He didn't really know how or even want to explain what the room was used for and hoped to Merlin that she wouldn't ask. She did.
"What does Harry do in here?"
Harry groaned. What followed was a stuttering, red faced and clipped summary of the uses of a bathroom. Hedwig looked slightly confused.
"Owls go on ground. Is easier that way," she said matter-of-factly. Harry laughed in spite of himself.
"Okay then, well I need to shower so…" he said. He turned back to the tub and twisted the faucets. It was harder this time to resist the urge to swear as Hedwig stepped into the tub. She slipped slightly but managed to catch herself.
"Harry show Hedwig how to clean?" she asked innocently. Harry could only feel honest curiosity through the bond.
Harry nearly choked and he felt himself blush all the way down to his chest. He was no stranger to women, but there was something about this situation that had him flustered like a first year all over again. Hedwig was his best friend of nine years now. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that this situation would happen. Still, he could feel nothing but the curiosity and desire to learn through the bond. There was the slightest undertone of lust, but he wasn't sure if it was Hedwig, or himself. "I-I suppose…" he stuttered.
Hedwig jumped happily, her chest doing interesting things before she nearly slipped again. This time Harry caught her. She blushed slightly as he set her upright, his earlier embarrassment all but forgotten. "Careful now," he admonished lightly.
Harry stripped out of his underwear and closed the curtain. He grabbed the soap and wandlessly duplicated the slightly used bar. While Harry knew a few charms to clean oneself in the shower, he still enjoyed lathering up. "This is soap," he explained handing her one. "You use it to wash your skin with."
Harry watched mirthfully as Hedwig sniffed the white bar of soap then took a small bite of it. She grimaced and spat the small chunk out. "Why Harry not tell Hedwig soap taste bad?" she asked. She scraped her tongue with her fingernails only managing to get more soap taste in her mouth. Laughing quietly to himself, Harry scooted to the side and let her wash her mouth out under the warm spray.
Harry shrugged. "You seemed very intent on it," he laughed. Hedwig went back to examining the soap that was now wet. She was having a hard time holding the slippery bar. "Okay, now make a lather with it," he instructed showing her how to make a thick lather.
Hedwig tried, but with only one day of practice with her new body, she was clumsy and dropped the bar. It slid down toward the drain at the end and she bent over get to pick it up giving Harry a very nice view of her bum. Harry whimpered. "God, why are you making this so hard for me…?" he whispered.
Once Hedwig managed to grab the soap she gave it a death glare. She ended up dropping it again, but before she could get it again, Harry said, "Here, let me." He gave her his bar and helped her lather up. He tried to keep his thoughts out of the gutter as he washed her and was only marginally successful. Hedwig couldn't resist tasting the foamy soap and immediately spit it out. "Stop it," Harry said.
"But it look so tasty," Hedwig complained.
"Well, it's not, is it?" Harry asked. Hedwig shook her head. Next Harry showed her how to wash her hair. She was able to do that fairly easily, only getting the suds in her eyes once. Harry helped her get it out of her eye. Once they were clean, he dried Hedwig and wrapped her in the towel. He called for Soxy and the young elf popped into the bathroom. Harry had conveniently forgotten that he was naked, but Soxy didn't seem to care.
"How can Soxy help Master Harry?" she squeaked.
"Please take Hedwig to her room and help her get dressed. Make sure you give her proper undergarments this time," he said.
Soxy nodded and led Hedwig out of the bathroom. As soon as they were gone Harry sagged in relief. That had been one of the most awkward and humiliating experiences of his life.
Twenty minutes later, Harry was dressed in black jeans, a dark green sweat shirt and a black robe and was still waiting on Hedwig. "Of course," he muttered as he paced back and forth. "She's only been a human female for a day and she already has one of their most annoying habits down."
In Harry's opinion, the worst was Hannah Abbot. The two of them had dated briefly out of Hogwarts and Harry had found out the hard way that Hannah was very vain about her personal appearance. It had taken the blonde girl over an hour to simply get ready for dinner and a muggle movie. Surprisingly enough, Lavender had been the most lax with her appearance in direct contrast with how she was in school. That's not to say she didn't care for herself, but by the time they had dated, Lavender knew she had a natural beauty.
Finally, Soxy came down the stairs all but dragging Hedwig. Hedwig looked resplendent in yellow robes that matched her eyes and had the black feather stuck in her hair again but the expression on her face was anything but. She looked very uncomfortable and the emotions Harry felt through the link matched. "What's wrong?" Harry asked.
In response, Hedwig plucked at her rear through the robes. "Hedwig no like Knickers," she said with a glare at Soxy. The elf looked defiantly back up at her.
At this point, nothing could faze Harry and he calmly explained. "Today we are going into Diagon Alley. I wouldn't make you wear them, but you need to look proper in public so we don't attract attention."
Hedwig reluctantly nodded. Harry took her arm. "Hold on," he said. "We're going to apparate there." Hedwig had experienced apparation only once as an owl and found it to be decidedly uncomfortable. She took hold of Harry's arm in a vice like grip and whimpered.
(((o)))
Hedwig's face was an unhealthy shade of green when the two of them popped back into existence. Harry held her gently until she stopped looking like she was going to hurl. "You okay, gi- uh...Hedwig," he asked. It was hard remembering to call her Hedwig as opposed to 'girl'. She wasn't exactly his familiar anymore.
Hedwig straightened up and wobbled slightly but grabbed onto Harry's arm to steady herself. "No more popping…" she pleaded. "Hedwig no like popping."
Hedwig no like much, Harry joked to himself.
Harry glanced around. Before the bloody spell, the last time Harry had been to the Alley was a little over a month ago. He had visited, in spite of his hermitage just to take in the atmosphere. He missed the bustle of the place, and bustling was what it was. Here, the apparation point just behind the Leaky Cauldron seemed to be devoid of people. A quick glance down the Alley told him the same thing. The few people that were there were subdued and hurried from shop to shop to get their shopping done. He had a hard time believing that in just under a month the population of the Alley would have dwindled so much. His belief was leaning more toward an alternate reality more and more.
Regardless, he and Hedwig had errands to run and information to find out. He wanted to see about a wand for Hedwig so he could start teaching her magic and he wanted to check for records of his existence at Gringott's. The two of them kept to the shadows like the other shoppers and quickly made their way toward the end of the Alley where Ollivander's was located. Hedwig seemed to instinctually pick up on the severity of the situation and remained silent and subdued.
As they walked, Harry noticed small squads of men dressed in formal military robes marching down the street. They moved in groups of two to five and all of them wore red armbands with the symbol of a fist clutching two wands on it. He could feel the dark magic almost radiating off of them. Eventually they reached the wand maker's shop and they ducked into the building. Once Harry had shut the door behind him he peered through the slats in the blinds on the door to see if he had been followed. The military wizards had left him with a bad feeling.
"Mr. Potter," a man said from behind him. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled around, one hand clutching his heart and the other leveling his wand at Ollivander. Hedwig laughed at him. "I never thought I would see you again."
"Yeah, well…My friend here needs a wand," Harry said as he put his wand away. He didn't want to say anything damning. Harry met the creepy man's stare and felt that his soul was bared to the wand maker. He fidgeted uncomfortably before Ollivander nodded. He was sure that Ollivander somehow knew everything but he was confident that the old man would keep things secret as long as necessary.
Ollivander turned toward Hedwig as his tape measure flew into action then nodded and headed into the stacks of wands. Hedwig giggled as the tape tickled her and pouted when it finished. She obviously liked being tickled. Harry filed that information away for later use. Ollivander then came back, his arms laden with boxes of wands. He dumped them unceremoniously on the counter and smiled at Harry's shocked look. "I have them spelled against breaking, Mr. Potter," he said.
Harry blushed, wondering just how transparent he was.
Ollivander opened the first box and handed the wand to Hedwig. "Nine and a half inches, maple with dragon heartstring from a particularly docile Welsh Green," he said. Hedwig took the wand and simply stared at it. "Go on, give it a wave."
Hedwig did so, and Ollivander's hair stood on end. He frowned. "No…not that one." He took the wand from Hedwig and fished another out of the stack. "Try this one. Eleven inches, oak and a tail hair from a proud female unicorn."
As Hedwig reached for the want, it spewed black sparks from its tip and Ollivander snatched it away before Hedwig could so much as touch it. Ollivander looked determined, like Hedwig was a challenge to be surpassed and she might very well have been. Hedwig just looked confused.
Harry took it upon himself to explain. "He needs to find out what wand works best with you. Those two didn't like you for some reason, but don't worry; he'll find you one." Hedwig nodded.
Ollivander pulled a shiny grey wand from the stack. "Ten inches, ash with a phoenix feather core. Try this one, my dear." No sooner had Hedwig taken the wand did it burst into flames and crumble into ash in her hands. She looked about ready to cry. Harry and Ollivander looked at each other, Harry wondering if he would have to pay for that wand. Ollivander evidently didn't care much. He simply fished another wand from the pile.
An hour later, Hedwig had burst into tears, feelings of inadequacy flowing over the link. Harry was bored, but trying to comfort his friend. Ollivander looked vexed. "Never…in all my time, have I found a challenge such as you, Ms. Hedwig," he said cryptically. "Even Mr. Potter here didn't present as much of a problem."
Hedwig's sobs renewed and Harry glowered at the old man. "You're not helping," he hissed. He rubbed comforting circles on the girl's back.
Ollivander looked thoughtful. "Perhaps…perhaps…yes," he said. He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ms. Hedwig, may I see that feather in your hair?"
Hedwig looked ready to protest but Harry whispered in her ear, "Trust him, Hedwig. He knows what he is doing."
Hedwig took the feather reverently in her hands and gave it to the old wand maker. "This feather from Harry," she said.
Ollivander looked pleased and puzzled at the same time. "Are you an animagus Mr. Potter?" he asked. Harry nodded. "Ah, excellent. And if I may ask, what kind of tree did Ms. Hedwig like to perch in?"
That did it. Ollivander was officially the creepiest old man on the face of the planet. How he knew everything about his clients, he would never know, but Harry trusted him. "She liked the white willow tree," Harry said slowly.
Ollivander looked like Christmas had come early. "Excellent! I have some willow wood left over in my stores. You have proven to be my most challenging customer yet Ms. Hedwig. Never have I had to custom make a wand for anyone. I thank you," he said excitedly. "Mr. Potter, if you would please come back in an hour I will have your familiar's wand ready."
Harry nodded, thanked the wand maker then led a more cheerful Hedwig out of the shop. It wasn't until the door had shut behind him that he remembered he wanted to ask about the strange military police. He shrugged. All in good time. Looking down the alley, he spied Fortescue's Ice Cream shop opening for business. "Would you like to try some ice cream Hedwig?" he asked.
As it turned out, Hedwig adored strawberry ice cream. She was a messy eater, getting the pink treat all over her face, so Harry had to teach her to use a napkin but it didn't dampen the girl's spirit any. While they were eating, he noticed the police were giving the two of them odd looks. He had planned to visit Gringott's for a few pieces to the puzzle of this place but scratched that off his list. The sooner he could get Hedwig's wand and get out of here the better. Still, they took their time. Better to be observant and not look conspicuous.
An hour later, Ollivander was just putting the finishing touches on Hedwig's 'white willow and Harry feather' wand. It was shorter than normal; only about eight inches long and polished to a gleaming shine. "Perfect timing," Ollivander said happily as the shop door closed. Harry found it interesting to note that he made no effort to sneak up on them this time. "I am just about finished with the wand."
Ollivander put another coat of varnish on the wand and magically dried it. "I must say, this is perhaps one the most special wands I have ever crafted. It isn't much for power, but I have no doubt that it will suit you perfectly Ms. Hedwig!" Harry was reminded of a young boy who just finished a special project his father had given him. Ollivander handed Hedwig the wand and she took it with kid gloves. "Go on, give it a wave."
Hedwig did so and giggled with glee as a wind pick up and ruffled her hair and silver and yellow sparks shot from the end. "Wand feels like Harry," she exclaimed hugging it to her chest.
"How much do I owe you?" Harry asked, fishing a handful of galleons out of his pouch. Hedwig entertained herself by shooting sparks and colorful smoke from the end of her wand.
"The standard seven for Hedwig's wand and ten for the ones that need to be repaired." Ollivander said. Harry handed over seventeen galleons with a question in his eyes. "You didn't think a wand could be completely destroyed in my shop, did you Mr. Potter?"
To prove his point, he waved his own wand and the pile of ash that was the phoenix feather and ash wand reformed into the wand. Ten galleons to fix some fifty five ruined wands wasn't a bad deal. "I was a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Ollivander," Harry said.
"You as well, Mr. Potter.
Harry led Hedwig out of the shop and back into the afternoon sun. The girl was happily twirling her wand but stopped suddenly, her sight affixed on something across the street. "Harry...?" she said worriedly.
"I see it," Harry said.
In a recess between the two shops across from the wand shop, a group of the black uniformed men were accosting what looked to be a young mother and her young daughter. They weren't casting any spells; instead they were kicking her as she tried to defend her child. Harry knew that he should ignore it, but everything he was screamed that he needed to help the young woman. He was torn between fleeing and fighting but fleeing was winning. That was until he looked into Hedwig's large pleading eyes. Damn it all to hell…
"Stay here," he hissed to Hedwig. She nodded her assent and hid in the dim shadows under the awning covering Ollivander's wand shop while Harry crept across the street.
Finally reaching the altercation, he tapped one of the men on the shoulder. He turned around with a sneer on his face, but it faded away into a look of shock as he focused down the length of Harry's wand. "Three against one…Hardly fair odds. How about I even them up a bit?"
As his first bludgeoning hex ruined the man's face, the only thought going through his mind was, So much for staying low…
