I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

Note: An extra chapter this week, actually 2 posted extra this week, because I saw someone who could use a laugh. Enjoy.

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Extended Family

Chapter 33 – Tiny Terror

Takes place during Harry's fifth year, after the Winter Holiday

Inspired by diffident-serpiente

Harry sat outside the Infirmary with his head in his hands. He trembled slightly, from nerves and fright. Katie sat at his side, rubbing his back gently and looked up at the sound of running feet.

"What happened?!" Hermione asked, breathless from running. "Someone mentioned an accident at breakfast?"

"Hedwig was flying down and two other owls collided with her midflight and their packages exploded. The other two owls managed to avoid the explosion and mixture of whatever but Hedwig got doused with it. Harry ran her up here with Hagrid and he and Madam Pomfrey are checking her out," Katie explained.

"Oh no," Luna said tearily and sat beside Harry, hugging him. "I'm sure she will be okay," Luna said softly. "She is very tough."

"I can't lose her," Harry said, voice heavy. "She was my first real friend. I got her the day I found out I was a wizard. I can't lose her."

"Do we know what was involved in the explosion?" Hermione asked.

"Professor Snape took samples of the remains," Katie said. "He's trying to figure it out."

The door opened and Hagrid poked his head out. "Come on in," he said, waving a giant hand at them.

"Is she okay?" Harry asked immediately, jumping to his feet.

"She's alright, mostly," Hagrid said. He was fighting a smile and that alone was enough to relieve Harry. "You better see it though. I've never seen anything like it myself."

They followed him into the Infirmary and Harry ran up to his bed. "What's wrong? Is she okay?!"

"She is fine," Pomfrey said. "For the most part. Severus determined that the explosion was an odd mixture of a rejuvenation potion and some materials and reagents that are very magically strong and have shrinking properties. When mixed together violently on a subject that it was not intended for, it created an interesting result."

She moved the blanket aside and a tiny snowy owlet looked up at them. "It became a…de-aging and shrinking potion of sorts apparently."

"Oh my goodness," Katie breathed. "She's so cute."

Hedwig was a fraction of her former size, barely larger than a small ball or a very large Golden Snitch. She was somehow still snow white with black markings, overlarge amber eyes, and a look of intense indignation on her face. She barked, a much higher and squeakier version of her normal voice.

"Normally snowy owlets are grey," Hagrid said, bemused. "Then again, there really ain't anything normal about this is there?"

"That's Hedwig?" Harry asked, not quite believing his eyes. "Is she alright? Aside from being…an owlet?"

"She's fine as far as we can tell. She seems to be the same mentally, just in a younger body," Pomfrey said. "Though admittedly, that is a giant guess on our part. Like we said, we have not seen this before. She seems to be aging back to her normal age at a swifter rate, but as far as we can tell, nothing permanent has been done and she is not hurt."

Harry lunged and caught Hedwig as she tried to fly off the bed. She barely made it a few inches up before falling off the edge. She puffed up in his hands, looking impotently angry. Harry held her to his face. "Hedwig, are you okay?"

Hedwig peered at him and scooted a little closer, tilting her head as if in confusion. Then she snapped her beak shut on a lock of hair and tugged as hard as she could, scrabbling for purchase in his hand.

"Ow! Okay yeah, this is Hedwig alright," Harry laughed with relief. "I'm so happy you're okay, mostly," he said and held her to his cheek.

Hedwig softened and cheeped, nuzzling against him.

Luna cupped her hands. "Can I hold you, Hedwig?" she asked.

Hedwig rolled her eyes and hooted in resignation before nodding. She sat in Luna's hand, preening a little at Luna's cooing and head scratching.

"So, what do we do? Wait for her to age up the normal way?" Katie asked.

"It might not take it that long, not like the normal aging process. The mixture's effects are wearing off fairly fast but Severus is working on a counter potion and we should still have her drink it when it is done to stop her from aging prematurely. But she is healthy so as long as she is taken care of until she goes back to normal, she will be fine," Pomfrey said.

Hedwig puffed her chest out and barked at Pomfrey. Spreading her little wings, she launched herself off Luna's hand, flapping mightily but began to fall. Harry caught her easily once more. "Hedwig, you can't go flying around like you normally do," he chided gently.

"Good thing you're a Seeker," Hermione smiled. "Good reflexes."

Pomfey tapped the pocket on Harry's shirt with her wand. "There. Enlarging charm, warming charm, and some cushioning and reinforcement charms. Handy Hedwig pocket."

Harry gently put the owlet into the pocket and Hedwig popped her head out, hooting indignantly.

"This is way too cute," Luna gasped.

"Hey, imagine how much bigger the bacon will be now," Harry said. He grinned at Hedwig's shocked look. "See? It's not all bad. I'll take care of you until you get back to regular size."

"Now you'll really be a mama bird," Katie laughed.

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"Harry, what are you doing?"

"Hmm?" Harry looked at Daphne. "What do you mean?"

Daphne watched him put a piece of meat into his shirt pocket. "Are you…saving that for later? Surely there is a better way to do that."

"Oh, no it's for Hedwig."

"Saving it later for Hedwig?"

Harry smiled. "No, she's eating it now." He patted the pocket gently. Hedwig popped her head out, her beak full of steak and she looked around.

"Oh my goodness," Daphne breathed. "That is Hedwig?!"

"Yeah, there was an accident this morning and she got younger and tinier as you can see. I didn't want to leave her anywhere so I'm carrying her around."

"She is adorable," Daphne cooed. She started to lean in closer.

"Oh careful," Harry warned. "She's a bit grumpy."

Hedwig glared at Daphne beadily and clacked her beak after swallowing the bite of steak.

"She feels a bit undignified," Harry explained as Hedwig burrowed back down into his pocket. The pocket shook from her hoots and he put another piece of steak inside.

"Because she has been relegated to riding in your pocket?" Daphne said with a smile.

"Yeah and she can't fly very well right now."

"How long will it last?"

"No idea honestly. But I have to say, I don't mind it. It's nice having her around all day and I can just feel her in the pocket, you know?"

"You are utterly besotted with her," Daphne grinned.

Hedwig poked her head out again and looked up at Harry. He gently rubbed her head with a finger. "She's my first real friend and link to the magical world. I got her the day I found out I was a wizard. Hagrid gave her to me. So yeah, I really care about her and love her."

"That is very sweet," Daphne said as she dabbed her eyes. She kept a respectful distance from Hedwig and smiled at her. "Your owner loves you very much."

Hedwig cheeped softly.

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"Oh my goodness," Alicia said as she and Angelina walked up to the team corner.

Harry pulled a small table to it and Hedwig was running around the tabletop. She held her wings out for balance as she scampered up and down and left and right. Lyla and Mirabelle were playing with her, rolling small things for her to chase and kick, playing tug of war with her with quills.

"Just giving her some exercise," Harry said, "since she can't fly right now."

"She is pretty cute like this," Angelina admitted as she sat at the table. Hedwig stopped running and looked up at her, eyes wide and innocent-looking. She cheeped inquisitively and tilted her head. "You are a lot sweeter like this. Maybe you're nicer with you younger and smaller."

"Angelina," Harry started to say as Angelina reached out with her finger.

Hedwig's eyes narrowed and she lunged, biting Angelina hard on the finger. "Ow! Bloody hell!" Angelina shouted and tried to pull her finger back. Hedwig hung on, flapping her wings and digging her talons into the table.

"Hedwig! Let her go!" Harry scratched her head and Hedwig released Angelina and screeched indignantly at Angelina. "So uh, it's not a baby version of Hedwig. It's the same Hedwig, in a miniature form."

"You bloody chicken!" Angelina looked at her bitten finger and then glared at an unrepentant Hedwig. Mirabelle, Lyla, and Alicia laughed at the sight. Angelina ground her teeth as Harry tapped her finger with his wand, healing the wound.

"You deserved it this time," Alicia said, still laughing. "You provoked her!"

"I did not!"

"You did by being really condescending," Alicia continued.

Angelina flipped Hedwig off and Hedwig flapped her wings, trying to fly at Angelina.

"Okay, that's enough," Harry said. He held Hedwig in his hands. "We're all friends here. Just, more belligerent of ones sometimes."

"You're lucky I care about Rabbit," Angelina said to Hedwig.

Hedwig's angry hooting seemed to share the sentiment.

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"Mate, I think you've gone around the bend," Seamus said, laughing his head off.

"What'd you mean?" Harry asked.

"You're like one of those old ladies who carry around their little dogs in their purses. Dress them up and talk to them like they're people."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Hedwig is really smart for an owl and I like taking care of her, thank you."

"She's a bloody genius of an owl you mean," Ron said warily. "Seamus, shut it. You do not want to piss her off."

"I've eaten chickens four times her size," Seamus said without concern. "Not worried about her at full size, less worried about her when she's barely bigger than a Snitch."

"Don't mind him," Harry said to Hedwig who stared bloody murder at Seamus. "He's just jealous."

"No I'm not," Seamus snorted. "I don't want you caring for me. Now if one of the lasses were, that'd be a different story."

Harry snorted as Seamus, Dean, and Ron started a conversation of who they wanted to take care of them. Neville rolled his eyes but made his opinion known as well. Harry finished making a small nest out of an old Quidditch jersey and a pillow he shrank. Putting everything together, he set it on the corner of his bead at the head and watched as Hedwig clambered in. "How is it?"

Hedwig hooted happily, hopping up and down until Harry put his hand inside. She nibbled on his fingers lovingly.

"I'm glad. Don't worry girl. You take good care of me on the regular, I'll take good care of you." He read for a bit longer, watching her fall asleep. By then the others fell asleep as well and he finally turned off his light and put his glasses on the tiny owl that Percy gave him so long ago.

After an hour passed, Hedwig's eyes popped open. She looked around the dark room for long moments, making sure everyone was asleep. With some effort, she climbed out of the nest and gave a sleeping Harry a nuzzle on the cheek before she slowly fluttered to the floor. Scampering across the room, she managed to climb up an errant shoelace into Seamus' trunk and went to work. A while later, a very tired but pleased Hedwig climbed up the curtain around Harry's bed bit by bit and crawled into her nest, finally going to sleep.

The next morning, Harry and Neville went to the great hall first with a sleepy Hedwig still dozing in Harry's pocket. They sat and ate, discussing the herbology work as more of their friends arrived for breakfast. Eventually, Neville looked up and noticed something, nudging Harry with his elbow.

Harry looked up. "Why are you wearing your cloak indoors Seamus?"

"As if you don't know!" Seamus said angrily.

"I really don't. What're you on about?"

"I told you he left before us as he normally does," Dean said and his face was bright red from laughter. Ron's face was bright red as well.

"So you didn't do it?!" Seamus asked.

"Do what?!"

"Every pair of Seamus's pants and knickers have giant rips in the bum area," Ron said and everyone listening exploded into laughter. "Not a single piece survived intact!"

"Hedwig did it!" Seamus yelled, face red from embarrassment.

Harry glared at him. "She's tiny! You really think she was able to fly across the room and go through your things and fly back? She can barely get around."

"Maybe your arse grew," Neville suggested with a surprisingly straight face.

"Nope," Parvati and Lavender said at the same time, increasing the hilarity at the table.

"I still say she did it!" Seamus insisted. "My pants were fine last night before bed. I make some remarks about her, and this morning they were all shredded!"

"You were making fun of Hedwig in her state?" Hermione asked incredulously. "That's just pathetic."

"Hedwig is a sweet owl and wouldn't do that!" Lyla said indignantly.

"Even I'll agree with that. Not the sweet part but she'd sooner bite the shite out of you first," Angelina deadpanned.

Harry watched with satisfaction as more people upbraided Seamus and he tucked several pieces of bacon into his pocket. "That's my girl," he said softly and smugly.

Hedwig's sleepy hoots sounded like bacon being eaten and merriment.

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Angelina rifled through her bag. "I thought I had some spare quills in here. I just opened a new pack of them."

"Clearly not, if you did they would be in there," Alicia said, not looking up from her notes.

"Gee thanks. For that, I'm taking one of yours." She opened Alicia's bag and looked inside. "You don't have any spares either."

"What?!" Alicia took her bag back and looked through it. She opened it wide and shook it upside down. "I had spares! I know I did!"

"Clearly not," Angelina said snidely.

Alicia scowled at her snickering friend. "Harry, may I borrow some quills and Angelina not borrow any?"

"Hey!"

Harry smiled. "I have enough for both of you." He opened his bag and looked inside, eyes widening in surprise that he managed to smooth away swiftly. He handed three to each girl.

"Oh thanks Rabbit," Angelina said with relief.

"Of course. I'll be right back, going to swap out a few things." He walked up to his dorm room with his bag and when he entered, he sighed loudly. "Hedwig, don't go around stealing things like that."

Hedwig sat on a pile of quills in his bag and she looked smugly up at him. She hooted, flapping her wings.

"Actually, yes. I'm very impressed that you manage to steal them in your state without getting caught." He rubbed her belly and she cheeped at him. "What am I going to do with you?"

She tugged on his finger and when his hand stilled, she climbed up his arm. She then nestled into the crook of his neck and sighed contentedly.

"This is good too," he smiled.

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Snape handed the potion vial to Harry. "This will undo the shrinking properties and ensure that she does not age prematurely."

Harry poured out a spoon full and Hedwig drank it, making a face as she did. "How long will it take to work?"

"She should be back to normal in three days' time. If she seems unwell before then, tell me or Hagrid or Madam Pomfrey. I doubt it will make her ill, however, I was careful to follow the guidelines that animal healers set for owls."

"Thank you, Sir," Harry said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."

"You are welcome. It was an interesting situation and I was able to brew something new. I appreciated the opportunity."

Snape was correct. Hedwig grew in size and stature steadily and after three days, she was back to normal size. Harry hugged her gratefully, burying his face into her feathers as she cooed and cheeped at him, nibbling his ear and pulling on his hair. "Glad you're okay!" he said, deeply relieved.

Hedwig flew around the common room a few times to prove she had her full flight capabilities back, diving and putting on an aerial display that delighted the watchers. She landed primly on Harry's lap and puffed her chest at him.

He scratched her belly. "Very good," he praised. "I did like carrying you around in a pocket though. That was rather nice."

Hedwig peered at the pocket and then squirmed under his shirt. "Hey that's ticklish!" Harry laughed as Hedwig moved around under his shirt. She finally popped her head out of his shirt front and plumped up comfortably against him.

"Okay, this is nice too," he said and she hooted in agreement, snuggling closer to him.

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diffident-serpiente - Here is your chapter, hope you like it and it's what you were thinking of when you suggested it.

alix33 - She's going be ahead when she gets to Hogwarts.