JKR owns it all

The door behind them creaked open, momentarily allowing the muffled yelling to crescendo.

Ginny emerged, flopping next to Harry she rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't go down there."

Hermione grimaced "Your Mum's furious I'm sure."

"Beyond furious. I've only seen her that upset when Fred and George glued Ron's-"

Ron cleared his throat, his face reddening.

"We really don't need to re-live that one do we?"

Ginny shrugged, and turned to Hedwig's form.

"Is she okay? She looks a little..."

Hermione nodded sadly "Shell shocked."

Hedwig was still; propped up on Ginny's pillows she stared blankly at the Weird Sisters plastered upon the wall. Her wispy light hair was pulled back from her pale face, not a word escaped her lips. She appeared almost transparent, fragile, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

At least she had improved form her original unconscious state. The absence of Ron's filth seemingly helped her health.

They had sat with her for what seemed like days, Mrs. Weasley angrily bustling through, waving her wand violently this way and that. It didn't help her venomous mood that George and Fred paid a surprise visit to the Burrow.

Harry knelt beside his former owl, "Hedwig, its Harry. Come on girl, want some food?" He gestured to the owl treats. Hedwig turned her orb like eyes to Harry, shuddered and opened her mouth.

Her jaw hung loosely, slowly moving it up and down as she tried to grasp the mechanics of speaking.

Hedwig struggled slightly, and emitted something between a hoot and a gurgle.

The group nodded encouragingly, but Hedwig closed her mouth. Harry smiled at his old bird, handing her an owl treat.

She stared at the food sitting forlornly in Harry's moist palm. After a minute, she quickly pecked down on his hand, her teeth clumsily trying to grasp the item.

Falling back in defeat, Hedwig closed her eyes, a mournful sigh escaping her thin lips.

Hermione looked close to tears, Ginny grasped Harry's hand and Ron stood to go.

"Come on Harry, she needs to sleep."

With one last look at his Hedwig, Harry left Ginny's room, shutting the door behind him.

Hermione sniffed, dabbing at her eyes quickly.

"P-poor Hedwig, c-can't even e-eat. I should h-have never picked up that tube."

"That wasn't your fault, if anything its Fred and George's. Those prats." Ginny glared at Ron.

"What? I didn't do anything!" He held up his hands.

"If you thought about cleaning your room for once, this would have never happened." Ginny snapped.

Turning back to Hermione she continued soothingly. "She's a smart bird Hermione, Hedwig will be alright." She assured, glancing at Harry.

"She'll be fine" Harry echoed, reassuring himself more than Hermione.

Would she?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A pretty short follow up, sorry it took so long; I had two other versions going on.

I'll try to update once a week, if not sooner. Thanks to all who have stuck with the story so far. Also, thanks to all the wonderful reviewers, BaltaineShadow, bharned1, littlemiss-imperfect, Dragonladysally, bella~tricks, RebeccaRoy, you know who, Ranger Dragen, Harpy Prince, and desperate. for. love. You all are great!

~Julie