Hedwig, who had been previously silent, trilled loudly.
"What is it, girl?" I said softly but hurriedly. She looked pointedly at a piece of parchment.
"Does he have a response for me?" I asked Hedwig. She shook her head.
"Talk to me, girl." I said.
Hermione, dumbarse.* Hedwig said to me telepathically. I winced.
"It's gonna be a howler, isn't it?" I asked. Hedwig trilled.
"Alright, go get it" I told Hedwig. She flashed away and flashed back with a bright red letter that burst open as soon as it saw me.
"Hadrian Jameson Potter-Black! How dare you let yourself be killed! Kingsley told me the plan, but I expected a letter from you as soon as we arrived, you jerk! I was scared you'd died, arsehole! You'd think you'd tell your soulmate that you're alive but no, radio silence! Send me a damn letter or I'll send you a howler every day until you do!" Hermione's voice shouted at me. I winced. Griphook winced in sympathy and Sirius laughed at my expense. I quickly wrote Hermione that I was fine and Sirius was already out of Azkaban due to a slight tweak in my plans. Hedwig went off with it and returned a few minutes later with a return letter containing an apology for the howler and she didn't know my plans had changed. I laughed softly but wrote a response that it was okay. Hedwig left and returned empty handed.
"It's alright, girl." I told Hedwig. She settled into my lap and I took Sirius to an empty Peverall property and activated the wards before going back to the Dursleys.