By the tender age of eleven, Daphne Greengrass still had no idea what the word no meant. In her mind the word was not a negative, but a request to try harder — to cry, to scream, to tug, to whine, to pester, to kick, and in general cause a lot of grief for their parents.
It was for this reason that her parents did not often take her to Diagon Alley. For Daphne's wandering eye could not help but latch on to all the wizarding products proudly displayed on storefronts.
In this instance, when her parents had taken her shopping for her school supplies, it had been an owl.
"Oh, it's beautiful," Daphne gasped, wide eyed. She tugged at her mother's robes. "Mummy, can I have it?"
Her mother was half distracted weaving through the large crowds that had formed. The chaos of the pre-Hogwarts rush certainly made Diagon Alley to be an unpleasant place to be in. She was all too eager to get out of here and back into the comfort of her house. Not at all patient for a daughter to whom all the gifts in the world would not be enough.
Unfortunately, sometimes the obstinacy of an eleven-year-old is stronger than the logic of a grown-up.
"Daphne," her mother cried. "Why have you stopped!?"
Daphne was stroking the wondrous owl in its cage. It was beautiful and snow white, and Daphne was sure there was nothing else like this in the world. Oh, she must have it. She could only imagine Pansy's face when she brought an owl like this in. Pansy would be so jealous.
The door to the nearby shop opened, and a bell made a little jangle. Outside, came a giant and his ward, a raven-haired boy of eleven wearing clothes that swallowed him whole.
"Hiya folks," said Hagrid amiably. "Seems like Hedwig's made a couple friends. A mighty proud bird if I have ever seen one, but she's a charmer."
"Sorry," apologized Daphne's mother. "We were just leaving. My daughter could not help but notice the owl. She has a fondness for birds."
Her mother wrapped her hand around Daphne's arms and gave it a gentle tug, but Daphne ripped it off. She was not leaving without this bird!
"Mummy, I want it," repeated Daphne again. "Mummy, I must have it! I'm sure there will never be another bird like it. All I want is this bird and I promise not to ask a thing from you again."
"She's not for sale," the homeless boy said quietly. Daphne ignored him, and the rest of their party was too far away to hear him.
Her mother, now with a bright shade of scarlet adorning her face, was now for the first time seeing the effects of her doting on Daphne was having. It was here that Daphne's mother determined she would spoil her child no longer. With her new revelation Daphne's mother tore Daphne away — emphasizing clearly that Daphne was not going to have it.
The answer was no.
Daphne pestered, whined, tugged, kicked, screamed, and then cried, all the while her mother paid her daughter no mind. Daphne was in the midst of learning a very painful lesson.
Harry, meanwhile, watched the prettily dressed girl get dragged away. After having met Draco, Harry now had the troubling worry that all the wizarding boys and girls were like this.
Thankfully, this was not the case. Having met Ron Weasley on the train and the other wonderful witches and wizards of the school, Harry started the term with a renewed excitement filling his heart.
Transfiguration, Charms, Astrology, (not Potions), and Herbology, all classes which brought magic into the palm of his hand and transformed the way Harry saw the world. Hogwarts too was everything he imagined and more — with its grand towers, hidden secrets, and wide green lawns to explore.
Harry felt like it would take years to be acquainted with it all.
So, on this Friday, he and Ron stumbled down the hill on their way to Hagrid's. Hagrid had promised to take them on a tour of the outside. However halfway through their walk down, Ron made an observation that interrupted their visit.
"Hey," Ron pointed out. "Doesn't that bird look like Hedwig."
Across the lawn was Daphne Greengrass stroking a snow-white owl while whispering conspiring words into the owl's ears. Harry could not help but notice that, yes, it was, in fact, Hedwig.
"What are you doing with Hedwig," said Harry in a slightly fierce voice.
Daphne looked up with an unassuming face.
"Whose Hedwig? This here is Princilla." she said, stroking the bird. "The finest bird in all the world."
Hedwig nipped at Daphne. Ow! - Daphne yelped. Although Hedwig appreciated the treats and compliments, the name Princilla would never grow on her.
"Hedwig," Harry called. "Come back here girl."
Hedwig fluttered back to Harry and perched on his shoulder. Daphne was slightly hurt by this betrayal. And after all the treats she had given too!
Harry looked back at Daphne — at the sour expression on her face. Then taking pity on her he said-
"Why don't you get your own owl if you want one so bad?"
"Another bird!?" Daphne said, wrinkling her nose. "Why would I want another bird when I have already found the best? How could I ever be happy with another bird knowing that Princilla is out there so beautiful and pretty? Why don't you get another bird yourself Potter? I will offer you 1000 galleons for Princilla and that would be that. You finally be able to buy yourself a new set of clothes."
Ron's eyes bulged with the amount. The price of a new nimbus 2000! Ron went to whisper this information to Harry, but for Harry the decision was already made.
"No," said Harry, setting his foot down. "I won't sell Hedwig for the whole world. She is mine — always and forever,"
"That's what you think Potter," muttered Daphne ominously.
Harry kept a hand on Hedwig as he walked away, feeling somewhat unnerved with the way the conversation had ended. He would have to make sure to keep a closer eye on his bird.
Hedwig, however, was quite pleased with the way things were heading. She had been quite lonely these past couple weeks, and when the honey haired Slytherin had walked in ready to spoil the bird with praise, soft pettings, and a bag of candied ruby snacks Hedwig had no objections.
After this day, things descended into a game of whack o mole for Harry. Catching Daphne and Hedwig in all sorts of places. First in the owlery, where Daphne was trying to sneak in some snacks for Hedwig, then on top of the astrology tower, where Daphne was whispering loving words to Hedwig in the late of night, and finally in the chicken coop outside Hagrid's hut where Daphne had tried to disguise Hedwig as a chicken. At the end of the first month of this never-ending chase, finally Harry had enough.
He approached Daphne with a compromise to share. Daphne reluctantly agreed.
Year 3
Sharing, they found, was much easier done in Hogwarts than outside. Where at Hogwarts Daphne had the peace of mind that Hedwig could always be found in the owlery if need be, outside Daphne had to endure days at a time without her beloved Hedwig.
Hedwig certainly did not enjoy abandoning Daphne, but Hedwig, with a sense of duty similar to her owner, felt it was her job to help Harry.
So, to and fro Hedwig went. All across Britain delivering to Harry an outside connection that was hard to come by at the Dursleys. A sense of hope during Harry's dreary days. Especially now, with Aunt Marge visiting and Harry's patience ready to boil over.
However, that wasn't to say Daphne wasn't suffering as well. For Daphne had problems of her own she was dealing with.
Namely, her little sister, Astoria Greengrass.
The excitable girl hopped up and down, following Daphne around their house peppering Daphne with questions about Hogwarts — how big is the lake?, do the ghosts try and possess you?, how many quills do they expect you to bring?, if I run out of quills, will they provide me with more?...
"I don't know!" yelled Daphne. "Can't you leave me in peace Astoria?! I am trying to do something here!"
Daphne was hunched over her desk in deep concentration as she wrote a letter. Biting her lip every now and then when she considered her next words.
"Hey Daphne," said Astoria, now peering over her shoulder. "What are you writing that letter for?"
"This," Daphne said. "Is so that my bird comes back to me. She only comes when I have written long enough letters for Harry. If they are too short, she doesn't come for them. She is smart that way."
"Who's Harry?" Astoria asked.
"A bird poacher," answered Daphne.
Astoria furrowed her brows, but Daphne, with a swirl of her quill, finished signing the letter. Ta-Da! She was done. Daphne could finally execute her plan.
Daphne walked outside with her letter in hand. She placed it into the middle of her lawn and hid herself inside a bush.
Now, it was time to wait.
"What are we waiting for," Astoria whispered from beside her. Daphne spared her sister an annoyed glance. Leave it to Astoria to ruin a good plan.
"If you insist on bothering me, the least you can do is make yourself useful." Daphne passed Astoria a net. "When the bird comes, you trap it in here."
"What does the bird look like," Astoria asked anxiously, clenching the net tightly in her hand.
Daphne pointed across the lawn.
"It looks like that white one that's across the lawn grabbing the letter."
A moment passed before them. Then-
"Wait!" Daphne cried. "Wait Hedwig I'm sorry!"
Daphne popped out of the bush. Hedwig swiveled her head and startled at the sight of two girls charging at her. Hedwig, who was planning to stay a few days with Daphne, took off in fright now.
Astoria tried her best with the swiping of the net, a swoosh this way and a swash that way, but the elusive bird was able to dodge it.
All too soon the bird was flying away. A distant white spec fading away on the horizon. Daphne watched it go with a sad heart. Summers were never a good time for Daphne.
Year 4
It was now Daphne's fourth year, and the girl had discovered her new favorite word.
That word being no.
A seemingly end all be all, solution to all her problems. Do you want to work on charms together? No. Do you want to go through witch's weekly's most fashionable hats catalog? No. Do you want to go to the yule ball with me? No.
"Really?" said Harry in surprise.
"Of course not Potter," Daphne said bluntly. "What would put a silly idea like that in your head?"
"Well, the letters you would send me made me think…"
And then Harry paused — trying to organize his thoughts.
"What about that one letter where you said that my butt was molded as fine as that cupid statue that's on the 3rd floor?"
"That's not a compliment Harry, that's a fact." Daphne explained. "And the only reason I added those observations is because Hedwig thinks it's important for you to hear. She thinks you have no confidence."
"Does she now?"
"Yes," confirmed Daphne. "And she also thinks you should try harder in classes. And that you should wear more green since it brings out your eyes."
"And since when did you become such a good communicator with birds?" asked Harry, amused.
"Harry, Harry, Harry," Daphne chided. "The signals she gives are all there, you just have to listen."
"Well…now that you say it Daphne, I think she was talking to me the other day too. I think she was trying to tell me how you should stop taking all the treacle tarts from the kitchen, and that you should also give Ron a Firebolt broomstick."
Daphne giggled.
"Don't be so silly Harry, we both know Hedwig would never say that. Hedwig is not a materialistic bird. She is of the utmost refinement. Just like me."
"Right," said Harry rolling his eyes. There was no point in arguing further. Harry decided to call it quits here. He still had to find someone to go to the Yule Ball with and there wasn't a lot of time left.
"I'm going to go," he said. "I'll see you around Daphne."
And Harry walked off.
—
One week later.
"Hedwig," said Daphne pacing anxiously. "I'm worried Harry is not going to ask me to the Yule Ball."
Hedwig who-hooted in agreement.
"Oh, how I do wish he would try harder though." Daphne confessed. "How could he have expected me to accept him the first time? It is just so unbecoming for a lady to accept on the first time. That's not even mentioning that boys hate girls that are so easy to get."
Hedwig who-hooted in agreement. Or wait no, maybe it was in disagreement. It was really oh so hard to tell. Daphne would have to check out Runkus Lovegood's Guide to the Discernment of Owl Talk again.
So, Daphne left the bird and went to the library to check up on her book. For without her bird to guide her, Daphne was very much useless.
Hedwig who-hooted again.
(She really just wanted more snacks)
Year 5
Daphne was livid. However, this isn't to say much as Daphne was usually angered no fewer than 5 times per week. The last time being when Goyle forgot to wipe the porridge off his mouth, and Daphne was forced to watch the disgusting sight for the entirety of breakfast.
Some people have no consideration! She thought.
Well, no matter, this time it was different. This time Daphne had reason to be angry.
Hedwig, poor Hedwig, had been injured. Caught with a broken wing, and in a serious pain that broke Daphne's fragile heart.
Oh, how she couldn't stand it!
She had discovered the tragedy halfway through the day when she went to the owlery. (She usually stopped there once per day when Hedwig was there) Finding Hedwig missing however, she went to accost Harry on the subject of his missing bird.
It was then Harry told her the terrible news. Professor Umbridge had targeted Hedwig to spy upon Harry's mail.
Daphne didn't know what malignant methods Umbridge used to do this. She was only able to see the aftereffects.
The snow-white bird watched Daphne with fear as Daphne snuck into Professor Grubbly-Plank's office. Her wings quivered when Daphne put a finger to it.
Dreadful! Nothing but misery Daphne was feeling.
Daphne was lost. What was the meaning of life without a Hedwig in it? It was nothing. Idly Daphne started to feed Hedwig handful after handful of snacks and treats. An unconscious task that made her feel somewhat better. The poor bird, not knowing when to stop, soon found her belly full, and started vomiting some of it up.
But, despite that, Daphne continued sticking out her hand full of treats. Hedwig, who had a hard time saying no, eyed the snacks painfully.
It was there that Professor Grubbly-Plank returned to her office — finding the bird cage covered in vomit, and a depressed girl in their mist. Professor Grubbly-Plank shooed the girl away scolding Daphne for her recklessness.
However, Daphne didn't hear most of it — her mood being what it was.
It was then Daphne walked slowly throughout the castle. The surroundings around her were a blur. So lost was she that she didn't take any notice when she stumbled upon the room of requirement.
"They've found us!" cried Zacharias Smith as he stepped out of another lesson of Dumbledore's Army. "We are all going to be sent to Azkaban!"
"Oh, stop yelling," scolded Ron. "That's only Daphne, she's one of the good ones."
"A good Slytherin?" questioned Ernie MacMillan. "I've never heard of that one before."
Daphne looked up and blinked. Her watery eyes could not see much.
Harry saw her and his heart quickly dropped for the miserable girl. He yelled at the rest of the crowd to go away, and guided Daphne into the room of requirement for some peace. Harry sat Daphne at a table and offered her tea that she accepted with a shaky hand.
Daphne took small sips of the liquid and said nothing more until her mind settled itself down.
"It's awful," Daphne said quietly. "I can't believe anyone could be so wicked."
Unconsciously, Harry rubbed the back of his hand — right where Umbridge had imprinted her mark.
"To hurt Hedwig so…" said Daphne again. "Why nothing, but a monster could be capable of that."
Harry sighed.
"I wish there was something we could do," said Harry.
Daphne, however, turned the words over in her head — 'something we could do.' Why, there was something she could do!
Daphne shot off her chair and threw the teacup against the wall. Harry jumped at the shattering cup.
"There is something we can do!" she exclaimed. "My papa will be able to do something! He is quite high up in the ministry. I am sure he will figure something out."
Daphne then hugged Harry and kissed him on the cheek.
"Oh, thank you Harry! Thank you! I wouldn't know what I would be able to do without you!"
Harry rubbed his cheek as he watched Daphne run out. In the end, Harry couldn't help but feel that things weren't all that bad.
Hereafter, things started to change between Harry and Daphne. No longer was Hedwig a dividing factor, but rather a facilitator in Harry and Daphne's growing love for each other.
In the owlery, when Harry came in with a wounded hand, bleeding and painful to touch, Harry let the peace of watching Daphne feed Hedwig soothe the pain away. Other days, when there was nothing to do, they would take walks throughout the grounds — watching as Hedwig soared high above them. And finally, when Daphne used her father's influence in the ministry to get Umbridge fired, Harry kissed her on the cheek.
Harry stepped back.
"Sorry," he stammered.
Daphne turned away and blushed readily.
"It's ok," was her quiet reply.
Harry too found himself blushing.
They were down a downwards spiral. More and more it became harder and harder for them to ignore each other.
"Pay attention Potter," Professor Snape drawled on one Potion's lesson. Harry blinked and tore his gaze off Daphne. He went back to his cauldron. Then, finding it not very entertaining, he started to think of Daphne again.
Harry did not know how he hadn't seen it before. The beauty in her every move — the way she walked in her dignified manner, the way she swatted at her sister Astoria for stealing her stuff, the way she yelled at Draco for messing up the potion. Why, it made Harry's heart want to sigh again and again.
Sometimes their eyes would meet, and the world would dissolve around them. What they were thinking — who knows! All Harry could remember was that it was the highlight of his week.
After a while, Harry could no longer keep it contained. He had to confess his love. He went to Daphne — catching her, as always, in the owlery.
"Daphne," said Harry.
The moonlight shone through the tower — illuminating Daphne's beauty in a way that Harry would never forget.
Daphne didn't catch Harry's words. She was lost in thought slowly stroking the owl.
"Daphne," Harry said in a little lower voice.
Daphne turned. She froze upon seeing who it was. Her blue eyes widening in fear. Harry felt the weight of a thousand worlds placed on top of him. Uneasiness continued to eternity as time slowed its pace to a crawl. Harry's lips dry as he tried to find the next three words.
Hedwig stood watching it all. Unabashedly watching them as they shared their love and their first kiss. Pride was beating in her chest. 'I did that!' she would tell the other owls.
Hedwig then went on to live a happy and healthy life with the Potters and her own family and never once got zapped by an Advada Kedavra by Voldemort.
Thee end.