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

Note: So I had a very silly idea and wrote this chapter. I was so pleased with the absurdity, I moved my chapters around to introduce it sooner. This is paradoxically the laziest chapter as well as taking a lot of work to do. As you read, I'm sure you'll understand why. It was not until the end that I realized that I wrote the literary equivalent of a clips episode of a show and I don't know if I should be proud or not. Hope you enjoy reading it.

-0-0-0-

Extended Family

Chapter 77 – Speaking with Words

Takes place all over the timeline, but the first instance starts in Harry's second year, chapter 47 of Family.

Hedwig was already quite irritated.

She never liked travelling in her cage despite it being a nice cage as far as cages went. She knew the necessity of riding in one. However, she knew what it meant. It meant the next few months she would be kept in it more often than not and her poor boy would not be that happy either. The last summer had been terrible for the both of them and she already dreamed of clawing the Dursleys with her talons. She had schemed and thought about ways to make the coming months better for them but she was still unhappy about the entire situation.

She turned her head when she felt her cage being moved down. She looked at Angelina, eyes narrowing at the girl. A quick look around the compartment showed that Harry was still out and Hedwig did not know what Angelina wanted.

"Here," Angelina said and pushed a slip of parchment into the cage. "This has our addresses on it."

Hedwig looked at it carefully.

"If Harry needs us, you come to one of us. Doesn't matter who but us girls first. Even if he can't write us a note, you come find one of us."

Hedwig bobbed her head.

"Do you think she understands?" Angelina asked Katie.

"I beg your pardon," Hedwig hissed angrily. "I'm not an idiot, I know what an address is!"

"I think so. Clapper seems to understand us easily enough," Katie said. "Besides, Harry says Hedwig is really smart." No one understood Hedwig's words, something the owl was used to. Something all owls were used to.

"This is really important," Angelina said to Hedwig. "We're not going to let what happened last summer happen again."

"I didn't like it either!"

"I don't like the way she's looking at me," Angelina said warily.

"You are being mean to her," Hermione sniffed.

"I'm just making sure she understands me," Angelina said defensively, turning to glare at Hermione. She shrieked when Hedwig yanked one of her braids into the cage and started to chew on it. "Ow! Hey! Let go!"

"Do you understand this?!" Hedwig hooted angrily, her sounds muffled by her pulling and gnawing. "I'll teach you to try to teach me how to be a post owl! I'm the best post owl for my boy!"

"You ruddy feather duster!" Angelina shouted, pulling on her hair. The others in the compartment were laughing at the sight while Katie and Hermione tried to get Hedwig to let go. After some gentle tugging and Hermione petting Hedwig through the cage, Hedwig finally let go of the braid.

"My hair!" Angelina growled at Hedwig who growled audibly back. "Look what she did!"

"I'll do it again!" Hedwig screeched indignantly.

"Okay, let's all calm down," Katie said, fighting down a smile.

Angelina looked up when the door to the compartment slid open. Alicia walked in first, gnawing on an almost indecently large bar of chocolate. Harry followed behind carrying a bag of candy and gave pieces to everyone in the compartment including a large package for Katie.

"My sister will thank you," she said with a grin.

Harry sat by Angelina and gave her a large bar of chocolate. She noticed that his bag was not empty and it held the box and satchel.

She hugged him in thanks and took the moment to whisper in his ear. "We gave Hedwig our addresses. She can find any of us girls and Oliver pretty easily now. You need anything at all you just send her to us. If she shows up without a note, we know you didn't have time to write one and will do our best to come find you and help you."

"Thank you," he whispered back. When he pulled away, he looked up at Hedwig's cage and noticed her glaring very angrily at Angelina. "Why is she looking at you like that?"

"I don't know," Angelina said evasively.

"Don't you lie to him!" Hedwig hissed angrily.

"That's not what you said before Harry returned," Hermione said snidely. "You called her a ruddy feather duster. That's what you get for being mean to her."

"I was not being mean to her," Angelina protested while the others laughed. "I just wanted to make sure she understood me. Besides, she's the one that bit my hair through the bars and wouldn't let go!"

"Hedwig! You didn't!" Harry exclaimed, reaching up and pulling the cage down and into his lap.

Hedwig screeched and flapped her wings, clacking her beak at Angelina. "I did! She tried to tell me what to do! I'm a good owl and I'll pluck my own feathers out if I'm not!"

Angelina looked like she was about to poke the cage then thought about it when Hedwig snapped at her. "I'll roast you like a chicken and get Harry a nicer owl!"

The cage danced as Hedwig literally flew in rage. "Not if I roast you first! I'll show you feather duster! I'll dust your feathers off!"

"Now now, she didn't mean that," Harry said soothingly to his irate owl.

"Oh yes I did," Angelina replied. She waved one of her braids that looked like it had been cut at with dull scissors. "She tried to bite my hair off!"

"Now now, she didn't mean that," Harry said soothingly to his irate friend.

The compartment laughed as the girl and the owl gave Harry remarkably similar looks of indignation.

-0-

"Hi Hedwig," Harry smiled, watching his owl land in front of him. He offered her a piece of bacon and she took it from him daintily before happily munching on it.

"Good morning Chick," she said after finishing the bacon. She frowned at him reading notes while eating breakfast. "You're studying too much. Your brain will boil at this rate." She pecked his hand gently.

"Hedwig, O.W.L.s are coming up," Harry sighed. "I have to study. I don't have time to write letters and things."

"Well I wasn't going to force you to write letters for me," she sniffed. "But if they're called O.W.L.s…"

"Ow! Hey, what are you doing?!" Harry tried to look up in astonishment as Hedwig climbed up his arm to his shoulder and pulled herself up his head. She plumped down on his head, hooting with satisfaction.

"Oh hey, this is very warm," she said enthusiastically. "And it feels like a nest already." She yanked his hair around gently and wiggled a bit until she was comfortable. "Mmm, you're a nice butt warmer."

"Are you just going to sit on my head all day?" Harry asked, smiling wide.

"That I am. I am going to impart knowledge and wisdom while warming my butt," Hedwig hooted.

"The professors might make you leave," Harry grinned.

"They can try," Hedwig snorted.

-0-

"Mister Potter, is that your owl on your head?"

"Yes Professor Flitwick," Harry sighed while his classmates giggled and laughed.

Flitwick smiled brightly. "And what is she doing if I may ask?"

"I think she's trying to help me for O.W.L.s."

"Because she is an owl, I see." Flitwick walked to his desk and came back with a small bag. Opening it, he waved his wand and a few treats came flying up to Hedwig. "For all the hard work," he smiled.

"I like you the best," Hedwig said, munching on the treats. "You understand perfectly."

-0-

"Mister Potter, what is your owl doing in class?"

"Sitting on my head."

McGonagall narrowed her eyes and Harry shifted a little while the others enjoyed his discomfort. "I can see that," McGonagall said. "Why is she doing that?"

"Helping me with O.W.L.s."

"And how is she doing that by sitting on your head? Is your head an egg that needs hatching?"

"Now that's just silly," Hedwig said, sniffing slightly. She returned McGonagall's flat look.

"I have no idea really but I didn't think there was any harm," Harry said weakly.

"Perhaps but she should not be here. Off you go then." McGonagall made a shooing motion with her hand and Hedwig ignored it. "I said, be off with you then," McGonagall repeated.

Hedwig yawned.

"Potter," McGonagall said, her voice reaching a dangerously stern tone.

"Trust me Professor, I've tried," Harry said, shrugging slightly. "Not very hard admittedly, but Hedwig does what she wants."

"I…did she just fall asleep?" McGonagall rubbed her eyes and sighed deeply while the others laughed at Hedwig obviously snoozing on Harry's head. "Very well then," she relented. "Let us proceed with the lesson."

-0-

Katie sat next to Harry, unable to keep the smile off her face. "Harry?"

"Hmm?" he hummed, not looking at her, eyes still on his notes.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's pretty good. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. Nothing out of the ordinary?"

"Not that I can think of."

"Harry…you have an owl on your head."

"Is it Hedwig?"

"Yes."

"Then nothing's out of the ordinary," he said remarkably calmly.

Hedwig hooted in agreement. "Can't an owl watch over her chick?"

Katie laughed. "Care to explain?"

Harry smiled wryly as he continued to read. "Well, it started this morning when Hedwig visited at breakfast. She was a little annoyed at me. I haven't had much for her to do lately since O.W.L.s are very soon, despite flying to France once every few weeks."

"Following you so far," Katie said but secretly did not.

"So I explained to her that I needed to study and couldn't write a lot of letters for her to deliver."

"And she's watching you to make sure you weren't lying to her."

"I trust him!"

"Well, more that she decided since the exams are called the O.W.L.s, then what would be more helpful that an actual owl imparting her knowledge. Owls are symbols of wisdom of course."

"Of course," Katie said, overcome with laughter. "And Hedwig is very wise."

"I'm very wise," Hedwig clacked her beak in a very satisfied manner, looking smug as she sat on Harry's head. She rubbed her head against Katie's hand, nibbling on her fingers. "And don't you forget it."

"So she's been sitting on your head all day?" Katie asked.

"Yep. Only flying off to stretch her wings for a break."

"And none of the professors said anything?"

"Professor Flitwick thought it was funny and gave her treats. Professor McGonagall and her had a staring contest that lasted a few minutes before Hedwig got bored and fell asleep. Professor Snape didn't mention anything surprisingly. Just went straight into teaching and didn't make a single comment."

"That's amazing," Katie laughed.

"I like the small one the best. He understood and gave me food." Hedwig hooted in agreement, fluffing up over her legs as she snuggled down on Harry's head, yanking his hair around to form an impromptu nest. She plumped down, making a noise that sounded suspiciously like a sigh of satisfaction. "Seriously, your head is the best butt warmer. I haven't had such a comfortable seat in a long time."

"I wish I had an owl to help me like that last year," Katie said.

"I'll have Hedwig hunt you some newts next year," Harry offered.

The owl blinked slowly, bobbing her head. "I can certainly do that. There's plenty in the forest."

"That'd be very kind of you Hedwig," Katie cooed. "But you can keep them. Or save them for Harry the following year. He'll need all the help he can get."

Hedwig's hoots sounded suspiciously like Katie's giggles and Harry poked her. "Hey, be nice to me," he chided his owl. "I give you bacon."

"I'll give you my bacon tomorrow," Katie smiled.

"I like her!" Hedwig yanked on Harry's hair until he leaned closer to Katie. The owl then carefully hopped from his head to Katie's shoulder, plumping down and nuzzling her. "You're a good person too."

"Betrayed for breakfast food, again," Harry said with faux sadness.

-0-

"Hey! Come back here!"

"Back off you crazy lady! I'm just doing my job!"

They heard rustling and flapping accompanied by irritable hoots and the door flew open. A large tawny owl flew in frantically, chased by an irate Hedwig. The tawny saw Harry and dove, flying behind him hooting fearfully.

"Save me!" the tawny owl screeched. "She's trying to kill me!"

"I'm not, you poacher! He is my boy and only I deliver to my boy!" Hedwig barked angrily.

"Hedwig! Down!" Harry grabbed Hedwig about the wings before she could continue her pursuit. She clacked her beak angrily at the other owl, kicking at it. The other owl hooted with relief at seeing their pursuer captured. It stuck out their leg, revealing an envelope with the Ministry seal with Hogwarts on it. As soon as Harry removed the letter the tawny fled.

"You have to let other owls deliver things to me," Harry scolded Hedwig gently.

She looked at him flatly, hooting with obvious disagreement. "The hell I do! This is the thanks I get for being the best owl!" She fluttered up to his head and yanked on his hair with displeasure.

"Your owl is intense," Tonks said.

"You have no idea." Harry looked at the letter. "Oh, I think these are my O.W.L.s results."

"That's pretty early this year. Well go on, open it!" Tonks urged.

He did with slightly shaking hands. "Come on, you did great. No need to be afraid," Hedwig hooted comfortingly, and it made him feel better as he opened the letter to look at his scores. His eyes scanned the parchment.

"Well?!" Tonks said.

"I got Outstanding in Ancient Runes, Defense, and Potions! Exceeds Expectations on Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, and Transfiguration! And Acceptable on Astrology and History!"

Tonks squealed and hugged Harry, whirling him about. Hedwig flapped her wings for balance and victory, hooting proudly. "That's my boy!"

"That's my boy!" Tonks cried. "Didn't fail a one, even History! And look at you with three Outstandings!"

-0-

'I am glad that Hedwig seems to not mind the journey. I have come to really enjoy exchanging letters with you. It is wonderful to have something to look forward to every two or three weeks. Colette and Aimee's letters are in the envelope too. We decided it would be nicer to have her deliver everything here and for us to send our replies together.

She and Gabrielle have become fast friends. She likes to roost on Gabrielle's hair. My only complaint is that Gabrielle likes to sneak up on me if I am home and Hedwig will hoot very loudly. It's quite startling. Then my pest of a sister will run off giggling and your owl will hoot like her. It is adorable and annoying.'

"SURPRISE OWL NOISE!"

Fleur shrieked and jumped, clearing the chair by a full inch and she turned to glare at Hedwig giggling on Gabrielle's head. "Gabi! You scared me! Don't do that and don't listen to her Hedwig!" She threw a wad of rolled up parchment at the girl and owl, missing them as Gabrielle ran off. "I'm going to eat all your cake!"

Apolline smiled, standing aside to let Gabrielle and Hedwig by. "Poor thing, tortured by your little sister and our delightful mail carrier?"

"They're trying to scare me to death," Fleur grumbled, rubbing her chest. "Pests!"

Apolline chuckled. "Be nice to Hedwig. Not many post owls, much less personal ones, are so willing to deliver internationally, much less so often."

"That's why I didn't threaten to eat her bacon," Fleur sighed. She glared at her snickering mother. "You just wait until they get you."

"They won't get me," Apolline said smugly before hugging Fleur and leaving.

Fleur rolled her eyes and went back to writing her letter.

'(Splash of ink.)

Drat it all! I would like to say that Hedwig is a terrible influence on Gabrielle, but she is the one with the bad influence, I think. Or perhaps they are both encouraging each other to be awful. Still, she is the one making the long flight so often so I will not chastise her too much. Hedwig, I mean of course. I will chastise Gabrielle often, not that she pays any attention.'

A loud bark followed by a louder shriek could be heard and Fleur smiled as she listened to her mother shouting at Gabrielle while the little girl and the owl made noises of merriment as they ran from her.

-0-

"Hey George, when did we make a white stuffed owl?"

"We did?" George came over to the shelf. "I don't remember making a-ARRG!" He fell over when Hedwig flapped her wings suddenly. "Dammit Hedwig! Fred!"

Hedwig had sat on the counter perfectly still for long moments, waiting for one of the twins to notice. Not a single feather quivered and she sat with her eyes half-lidded and her beak partially open. When the twins came over to the shelf and leaned in, her eyes snapped open and she flapped her wings suddenly. "SURPRISE OWL!"

Fred had reacted the same, lurching back from the sudden motion and clutched his chest. "I didn't know either! Holy carp on a cracker! Did Harry put you up to that?"

Hedwig hooted smugly and shook her head. "No, that was all me." She held her leg out for Fred to remove the letter, her barks sounding like snickers.

"Pranked by an owl," Fred said, smiling and shaking his head. "We'll never live this down…"

-0-

"Hey look what I got!"

"No way!"

The two fourth year Ravenclaw students were huddled in an alcove. One looked quite smug and the other looked quite impressed. "Where did you get it?" the latter asked.

"My brother sent it! Snuck it in through owl post." He gleefully waved the bottle of firewhiskey.

"Your brother is so cool!"

"Right?! Now we can drink this and…" He looked over the shoulder of his friend, voice coming to a halt.

"What's wrong?" The second boy turned and gasped at the gigantic amber eyes that glared from him from within the helmet of the armor that stood in the alcove.

"Hey! Drop it! Right now!"

A harsh scratching noise spilled from the armor, something clawing violently against the metal. The eyes emerged, framed by snow white feathers. The snowy owl slid out of the open visor of the helmet, her wings opened in a threatening display. Her eyes radiated disapproval and for some reason, the boys felt a flash of shame.

"Go away!" the first boy said.

Hedwig screeched loudly, making them flinch. "I know you two fledglings aren't supposed to have that! Now drop it! Bad fledglings!"

"I-I-I'm not afraid of you!" the first boy said unconvincingly. He raised his wand with a shaky hand and he dropped it with a yelp when Hedwig pecked his hand severely.

"You better be afraid of me soon," she hissed. "Point your wand at me again and I'll put it somewhere else!"

"Oh no," the second boy moaned. He pointed at the thing that hung from a silver chain around Hedwig's neck.

"Oh shit! He's the Head Boy?!"

"Don't be daft! I've seen the owl before, she belongs to the Head Boy!"

"Do you think she's patrolling for him?" The first boy sounded incredulous.

Hedwig screeched again, beating the air with her wings and the boys cowered. "By the powers vested in me, by me, I have Chick's authority! I'm Head Owl! So you better run back before I chase you back!"

"Let's get out of here!" the second boy said. They began to move off but Hedwig flew around them, cuffing them in the head with her heavy wings. The first boy left the bottle of alcohol and he joined his friend in fleeing.

Hedwig chased them down the hall before landing. She sniffed, kicking her leg at them before flying back to the bottle and lifted it easily in her talons, flapping off slowly. "This stuff is bad for you. I better put it somewhere safe for Chick to get later."

-0-

"Aww, someone made her a little badge," Tracy gushed.

She was sitting at dinner with Daphne and Luna. Hedwig had fluttered into great hall, causing more than a few students to flinch and cower at the sight of her. Not finding her usual person, she had flown to the small group of friends, landing neatly in front of Luna and cheeping at them. "Hello ladies."

"I wonder who." Daphne's eyes narrowed. "Wait a moment. That's…no it cannot be."

Luna giggled. "It is."

"HEDWIG JANE POTTER!"

Hermione stomped into the great hall. She looked around for a few moments before catching sight of her quarry and made a beeline for her. Hedwig looked unconcerned, turning her head away from the girl with casual disdain. She started to preen her wings, utterly uninterested.

"Hedwig's full name is Hedwig Jane Potter?" Tracy asked.

"Well, I assumed her last name would be Harry's and her middle name a reflection of his." Hermione flushed before shaking her head. She pointed a finger at the owl. "You are in big trouble!"

Hedwig yawned. "No I'm not."

"You can't go stealing his badge and then flying around the school acting with his authority!"

Hedwig barked. "What's Chick's is mine and I act with my authority and his authority."

"No! It doesn't work that way. It doesn't matter that you're his owl nor should you be taking his badge!"

Hedwig barked louder, flapping her wings. "It does work that way! He doesn't care that I have the shiny badge!"

"The ends do not justify the means!"

"Are you actually arguing with her?" Tracy asked incredulously.

"Of course she is," Luna said. "Hermione started the argument, what would you expect Hedwig to do?"

The snowy owl nuzzled Luna's cheek, making her laugh with delight. Tracy and Daphne laughed at Hermione's look of exasperation.

"I'm taking this back before you can continue to abuse the position," Hermione said, reaching out for the badge.

Hedwig snapped her beak at Hermione's fingers. "I took this fair and square! Mine!"

"Oh don't you start this, you're already in so much trouble!" Hermione said, snatching her hand back.

Hedwig mooned Hermione, shaking her tail feathers condescendingly.

"Five Galleons on Hedwig," Daphne said confidently.

"That's a sucker's bet!" Tracy said. "No one's going to bet against Hedwig."

"I'll bet on Harry resolving things," Luna said.

"That's also a sucker's bet," Tracy laughed. "He's the only one that can normalize weird things."

Luna gently gathered Hedwig in her arms. "Let's go upstairs. Harry will need to mediate before things become more violent. And we can have Harry made dinner."

-0-

"Really? Hedwig Jane Potter?" Harry asked, his lips curved in a big smile.

"That's what you're focusing on?" Hermione asked, annoyed.

Hedwig hooted smugly. "Chick knows what's important."

Harry plucked the badge off her chain, braving Hedwig's irritated pecking at his hands. "Hedwig, while what you did today was good, I think, you really shouldn't do that. You're technically not allowed to."

Hedwig hissed at him, beating her wings. "I looked at the rule book. There wasn't anything saying I couldn't! With my help, you'll have time to do more important things."

"I write plenty of letters! You fly to France every two to three weeks and you go to England every other day!"

Hedwig glared at him, stomping a leg. "What's the harm?! All punishments I doled out were within the limits of the rule book! It's not like I have anything better to do!"

"Being bored is not an excuse! And doing my job doesn't mean I'll have more time to write more letters!"

"Now he's arguing with her?" Tracy asked. "I mean, I shouldn't be surprised yet I somehow am."

"Hedwig is an excellent debater," Luna said, slurping up a strand of spaghetti.

-0-

Luna glared at Oliver and George before she walked into the kitchen. She pulled out a handful of bacon from the ice box and grabbed a pan, running into the yard. Over the firepit she conjured a blazing fire and threw the bacon onto the pan and slammed it down on the pit.

"What are you doing?" Daphne asked.

"Summoning help," Luna said, staring into the sky.

The others looked at each other, perplexed.

A loud crack made them jump and Lyla reappeared with Samantha and Bailey. Bailey groaned in canine distress, panting fitfully. "I know baby," Samantha said soothingly, rubbing her belly. "I'm sorry, I know you hate apparition but we need you here."

A loud hunting call split the air. They turned and watched with open jaws as Luna cupped her mouth again and made the sound again, louder than before. An answering call came back and Hedwig swooped down from the sky. "Yes? You called?

Luna held her arm out and Hedwig landed on it. "Hedwig, Dahlia is missing. We need you to find her," Luna said urgently.

Bailey picked her head up, as if understanding Luna. She rose on all fours and barked loudly.

"That's right Bailey. We need your help too. Go find her," Lyla urged.

Bailey tore off, running around the property a few times, head to the ground. Hedwig glared at Oliver and George who shivered from her amber eyes, feeling like mice being hunted. "How did you two lose Star Flower?! She's a babe and you two are fathers! This isn't over."

Hedwig launched herself into the air and fluttered about the house a few times, making big circles, before flying back down. Bailey ran into the house with Hedwig following her. The humans tore after them.

Bailey sniffed around a few times before running to the master bedroom, barking loudly. Hedwig landed on the doorknob, trying to scrabble for purchase to remain upright. "Bloody doorknobs! I need Chick to install some owl friendly ones!"

"I thought we checked it," Hermione said as she opened it.

The dog and the owl pushed in and they went straight to the closet. There was a minor traffic jam as all the people tried to enter the walk-in closet at the same time. Hermione backed off, dragging George and Oliver with her. Samantha and Luna peeked into the closet. Bailey was lying down on something, panting with satisfaction while Hedwig perched on something that was not there.

"Thank goodness she's here," Hedwig sighed and Bailey huffed in agreement.

Luna reached out and felt around, fingers touching something unseen. With a sigh of relief she pulled, making Hedwig flutter up slightly. She held the invisibility cloak in her hands, revealing Dahlia waking from her nap. "Grandma!" the little girl said cheerfully, arms outstretched.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Samantha walked out, holding Dahlia in her arms. Bailey barked proudly, dancing around Samantha's legs and trying to jump and lick Dahlia. Hedwig flew and roosted on Hermione's head, glaring daggers at George and Oliver. "I'm going to pluck out your hair strand by strand! What were you two doing?!"

"How does she know it was our fault?" Oliver asked.

"I have no idea, bloody bird is a menace," George muttered. He tried to smile winningly. "Alls well that ends well yeah?" He gulped at the expressions of the younger witches and the owl.

-0-

A hoot cut through the argument and they all looked up. "Alright you flightless babies! Your captain wants you on the pitch and you better be out on the pitch fast or else I'll tan your back feathers!" Hedwig sat on the mantle over the fireplace and she looked at them severely. A small gold badge sat on the chain around her neck.

"Aww, she has a tiny captain's badge," Mirabelle gushed.

"Oh dear Merlin," Ron moaned. "Let's get out of here then."

The team left the common room, followed by Hedwig flying behind them. Ron tried to stop at the great hall out of habit but Hedwig bulled into him from behind, hooting and nipping. "No! Captain Chick has breakfast already ready for you and you're taking forever and my bacon will get cold! Out! Come on!" Eventually the team reached the pitch where Harry stood waiting.

-0-

"So what will you be shooting at them?" Daphne asked.

"Me? Nothing." Harry made a chirrup sound. Hedwig took to the air, eagerly. He smiled at her. "Time to work off that bacon. And remember our agreement." She barked hungrily and took off, keening her hunting cry.

"You're a monster," Tracy gasped.

Harry smiled ferally. "This will teach them to give me nicknames." He poked Lyla. "Don't think I forgot your role in it either."

She batted her eyes at him. "But big brother, I'm just your cute little sister. You wouldn't do anything to me that will get Katie mad at you would you?"

"You know that I know that she would say you deserve everything and more."

"I love my boy. He gives me good food and cuddles and gifts and now he lets me prove my superiority in the air." Hedwig flew high and hovered above the players on their brooms. She ensured the sun was behind her and any that looked at her would have to squint against the sunlight. "I'm going to have to give him extra loving later. Well, time to earn my title as co-captain and my bacon. OWWWWWLLL ATTTTAAACCCCKKK!"

Everyone watched as Hedwig flew at the players like an irate ping-pong ball fueled by bacon and mal intent. She bounced between them, alternating her attack path and hooting shrilly all the while. "On your left! Now your right! You babies are terrible flyers! I've seen fledglings outfly you! Ha! Thought you can dodge me?! Never!" She would ricochet off them and fly to the next, cuffing them gently with her wings or nipping at them with her beak or scratching at them with her talons.

"You really shouldn't weaponize her," Hermione said, her censure ruined by her laughter.

"Are you kidding? When I asked her if she wanted to do this, she was ecstatic."

"What was the agreement?" Daphne asked.

"Every few tags she gets is a quarter-rasher of bacon."

"That's stingy," Luna sniffed.

"She eats more than enough as it is. If I offered a whole rasher per set tags, she'd keel over from clogged arteries."

Everyone laughed as she bounced between Ron and Ginny several times, hitting them with each bounce. "You might have invented a new sport," Daphne giggled.

Erica completed the task first, flying to the ground with naked relief. Jimmy was next, followed by Demelza. Mirabelle descended next, rubbing at her cheek where Hedwig had cuffed repeatedly. They all watched as Ron and Ginny continued to fly, harassed by Hedwig. At one point Ginny chased the Hedwig, screaming at the hooting owl.

"I'm going to catch you!" Ginny screeched as she tried to home in on Hedwig.

"You couldn't catch bacon falling from the tray to your plate!" Hedwig cackled.

The Weasleys finally completed the exercise. Hedwig fluttered to land on Harry's shoulder, looking proud of her work.

"They are passable I suppose," she said with professional disdain. "As passable as babies on flightless sticks are."

-0-

Hedwig delicately took a slice from him, chewing this new offering carefully. She gave him a look. "What is this?! This isn't bacon! The texture is not bacon-like at all. What is wrong with the Canadians?! Why do they call ham bacon?"

"This does taste more like ham," Harry said. "Canadian bacon is a back bacon. Chewy and nice but not what I'd think bacon should be." He laughed as she moodily kicked the card further down the counter. "It's not that bad. I bet there'll be one you find worse than that. Don't believe me?"

She watched him with a disbelieving air as he made the next one. When he offered her the slice, she licked it and immediately dropped it on the table before kicking it to the floor, hooting with distaste. "WHAT IS THIS ATROCITY?! That has no business being remotely related to bacon! That is vile! DISGUSTING!" She then took the card and flew to the trashcan and threw it in, after shredding it with her talons.

"Guess you're like Dora then and don't like turkey bacon." He chewed it. "I mean, it's not bad but it's not bacon either."

Hedwig's hoots were incredibly offended. "Not bad doesn't mean good either! Get rid of it now! Never bring it home again!"

-0-

"And with Angelina there, we might have some Quidditch games. We should bring our brooms in case." Katie pushed Harry down and sat on top of him. "So, what noise does the mirror make when I call on mine?"

"Something very lovely," Harry said evasively.

Hedwig started hooting loudly and urgently flapping her wings and hopping from talon to talon. "Hey! Hey! Your mate is calling! Answer the mirror, quickly!"

"Hedwig!" Harry groaned. "Not cool!"

"That's my call sound?!" Katie gasped, poking Harry in the chest.

"It's to ensure I answer it very quickly! In case it's an emergency or something!"

Katie crossed her arms. "The others better have worse ones."

Hedwig screeched at the top of her lungs. "I'M A LAND CHICCCCCKKKEEEENNN!"

"Lemme guess, Angelina?" Katie asked with a big smile. She laughed at Hedwig's nod. "What's Alicia's?"

Hedwig somehow managed to make a raspberry sound, making Katie fall over from laughing. "Okay, I suppose mine isn't that bad," Katie said. "Hedwig, you'll help me make sounds for mine, right? We need something suiting for Harry."

Hedwig looked thoughtful for a moment before she headbutted her roost, making a dull thunking noise. That made the woman and the owl shriek with laughter while Harry shook his head, grinning. "You two are so funny," he said wryly.

-0-

Hedwig groaned and shook her head. "Ugh, I'm going to get those two fat flying sacks! Stupid birds. Watch your damn flight paths. Flying into me like that." She blinked and coughed. "Wait. Why do I sound like this."

She stood up and fell over, falling on her rear with a feathery thump. "What's wrong with me? I feel strange." She looked down at herself and her eyes widened with horror. "What. The. Fu-"

"Well, she sounds okay," Pomfrey said as she watched and listened to Hedwig's tiny hooting. She waved her wand and looked at the results of the Animal Diagnostic Charm. "She seems healthy despite being shrunk and in a younger form."

"Hey! Hey! Fix this! You have to fix this! I can't deliver mail and take care of Chick like this! I don't want to be a bloody chick again! Big Heart! Life Saver! FIX ME!" Hedwig hopped up and down, beating her tiny wings and hooted and barked shrilly.

Hagrid smiled. "She just sounds a bit miffed so she must be feeling okay."

"That's a bit miffed?"

"Okay, maybe more than a bit. Let me go get Harry, he'll want to see her and know she's okay for the most part."

-0-

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. "Don't let Chick see me like this! This is embarrassing!"

"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. "Of course I'm okay aside from the fact that I'm tiny and can't do my duties!"

"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. "I mean, I'm mostly okay."

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

Hedwig rolled her eyes and hooted in resignation before nodding. "If you must." 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. "I am better than fine!" 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. "HANDY HEDWIG POCKET?! THIS IS MORTIFYING!"

"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.

-0-

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.

"Make fun of me will you? Make fun of my Chick will you?! I'll show you! Let's see what dignity you have left after I fix your clothes you overgrown idiot! I've seen you waggle your rear around. Even if you had tail feathers, you wouldn't be able to attract any mates!"

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.

-0-

A low keen grew in strength and they looked up, smiling at the white silhouette coming closer. Hedwig extended her wings wide and landed on Harry's head. She hooted with welcome, tugging on Harry's hair and leaning over to nuzzle Katie's head. Then Dahlia made a noise and her head snapped, eyes widening as she looked down at the baby.

"Oh. Oh my feathers. Look at you, you beautiful Potterlet. My goodness," she cooed.

"Hedwig, this is Dahlia. She's here with us now," Harry said. He reached up and took Hedwig in his arms and brought her close to Dahlia. He noticed Katie's look of concern. "I'm sure Hedwig will be really careful."

Katie smiled wryly. "I'm sorry. I know she will. Guess I'm just being overly cautious."

"You're being a mum," Harry said warmly. "Let's go inside."

They walked into the house and smiled at the decorations their friends and family had left: fresh flowers, floating garlands, and lots of gifts and things sitting about. Katie gently set Dahlia down on a large pillow on the living room couch. "There we go," she said softly. "Do you like your home baby?"

Dahlia looked around, blinking and gurgling softly.

"I think she will," Harry chuckled. He gently released Hedwig who flew around the room for a little bit, dodging between floating things. "They really made things homey for us, didn't they?"

"They sure did," Katie said fondly. "I'll call them later. Let me call the mums. They'll want to be here soon."

"Good idea. I'll call the others and tell them we got back okay." He went to put their things away and was called back by Katie. "What's up?" he asked as he walked back in.

Katie was looking down at the couch with the softest expression. She beckoned him over.

Hedwig was sitting right beside Dahlia, plumped up and hooting softly. The baby was nestled against her downy feathers and looked indecently comfortable. She had one tiny hand in Hedwig's feathers, holding a handful gently. Hedwig continued to hoot softly, musically, her large amber eyes never leaving Dahlia's face.

"Sleep little Potterlet,
Your worries kept at bay.
I will watch over you,
Through the night and day."

"That's my girl," Harry said proudly. "With my other girl."

"I have nothing to worry about," Katie said. She rubbed Hedwig's head gently. "Thank you so much Hedwig.

Hedwig cheeped and nibbled on Katie's finger's lovingly, blinking slowly at her. "Of course. This is Chick's and your first chick."

"I guess she considers Dally to be her chick," Harry smiled.

The owl bobbed her head in agreement. She shuffled closer to Dahlia, enveloping her side in soft feathers. "Naturally. What's yours is mine and she's my chick too."

"We're really lucky," Katie said.

"We really are," Harry agreed.

-0-

"What's wrong Hedwig?" Dahlia asked, noticing how the owl had stilled and was staring off into the distance.

Hedwig barked and butted Dahlia's arm. "Run home Star Flower!" She pointed back towards home with a wing, barking sharply. "Now! It's not safe."

Dahlia never questioned the owl and got to her feet, beginning to walk back home. "What about you?" she asked, concerned.

Hedwig barked again, clacking her beak at the girl. "I will be fine. You run home to your mother." Message received, Dahlia took off towards home and Hedwig launched herself into the sky. She landed at the apex of a tree, looking down at the ground below. She started to keen, a low warning sound full of threat.

"I know you're out there. You want what you can't have. This is my home. She is my family. You better walk off unscathed while you can. Go away!"

The wild dog ignored her. It continued to prowl along the ground. It scented something, something large and helpless. It was utterly unconcerned by the sound of an owl. What owl would be brave enough to attack a large dog? The dog began to lope faster, searching for prey. It ignored the second and final warning, a deep throaty bark.

"Last warning! Find other prey. She is not for you! She is MY chick and I will not let you near her!"

The dog sped up, seeing its prey far ahead. It was small and would be helpless to his teeth and jaws.

Hedwig struck the dog in the face at speed, coming at a sharp dive, screeching a war cry. "DEATH ON THE WIND!" Talons sank deep through fur and skin and her beak flashed as she bit and barked. The dog screeched in rage and pain, snapping its jaws and jumping frantically, trying to shake the angry owl off. Teeth just missed feathers as the dog tried to fight the owl off.

Hedwig let go and rolled in the air, flying up slightly before diving once more. She stabbed with her talons, one set into the dog's muzzle and other into its neck. She bit hard into the dog's ear and pulled, her beak sawing and snapping.

The dog cried in pain as the ear came off its skull. It no longer wanted to fight, felt no hunger or rage. Instead it was filled with fear. It had found a match in this snowy owl and the dog wanted to flee while it still could. It ran away from the prey, yelping and whining and tried to shake the attacker free.

Hedwig clung on grimly, holding the dog's ear in her beak, beating her wings wildly. At the last moment she practically dragged the dog in a direction and let go, flapping away and the dog, lost in pain and panic, ran straight into a tree. The dog fell over, whimpering in pain before climbing onto unsteady legs and running away.

Hedwig dropped the ear from her beak and caught it in her talons on her right leg. She puffed out her chest and barked loudly and shrilly. "I want all you would be predators out there to hear me! This is MY home! This is MY territory. THAT IS MY FAMILY! If you come near me and mine, I will maim you the first time and kill you the second! You will be meat to be wasted! Left to rot in the sun! I will leave your corpse as a warning to all others to tempt fate at your own risk. Last warning! DO NOT FUCK WITH ME!"

Every animal in the vicinity froze at the pure threat and anger in her voice, cowering at the sound. Her cries rang off the trees and countryside, a warning cry, laced with intent. The more predatory animals slunk away, they knew a territorial cry when they heard it. Between the threatening display and the yelping dog, they knew easier hunting grounds could be had with much less trouble.

She waited for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction at the ensuing silence. With a dismissive flick of her tail feathers, she flew back to home, still holding her earned trophy of conquest.

-0-

Hedwig flew home, humming happily.

"I'll have to get something nice for Chick. I like this place. Lots of interesting things to see, plenty of room to fly and hunt when I feel the need to snack and exercise." She gulped down the last beakful of prey and licked her beak. "Frogs here are fat and tasty. I do like a nice bit of frog here and there. It's not bacon but still. Oooh, bacon wrapped frog. That would taste good. I'll have to see if I can get Chick to make that for me."

She flew through the window, the panes moving for her as she got close. Landing on her roost, she wiped her beak fastidiously on a napkin tied to the roost for that reason. She smiled and looked around, satisfied and content.

"There's my family. Such a good one. Chick is cooking something tasty. Sun-Hair is reading. Star Flower is coloring. Potterlet is…wait a second."

She narrowed her eyes at Katie and after a moment she smiled. "Oh! A second Potterlet! My family grows! I don't think Sun-Hair realizes it yet. It takes a while for humans to realize their chicks are growing. Must be inconvenient." She hummed softly, clacking her beak gently. "Still a bit small. I better go help her incubate."

"Hi pretty lady," Katie smiled. Lately Hedwig had sat with her a lot at night when Katie relaxed. The owl would puff up on Katie's abdomen, sitting comfortably and hooting serenely at Katie.

"Aww, you two look very comfortable," Harry smiled.

"Hedwig is a very lovely cuddle buddy," Katie said. "She's been so sweet to me too lately. I mean, she's always sweet to me but it's been really nice with the extra cuddles." She rubbed Hedwig's belly.

"She usually sits on my head or shoulder for cuddles," Harry said. "She only sits on my chest or stomach when she has something to say."

Katie giggled. "Yeah, she used to be like that too. But for a while she's been on my stomach. The last time she did that was…" Her voice faded and she looked into her memories. She stopped and her eyes widened and she looked at Harry.

"What?" Harry asked, alarmed.

"When I was pregnant with Dally," Katie whispered. She looked back at Hedwig who blinked slowly up at her.

"About time you realized it," Hedwig hooted smugly.

Harry cast a diagnostic charm on Katie. Then a second one. Then a third. "You're pregnant," he said softly, eyes wide.

"I'm pregnant?!" Katie gaped at him and looked down at Hedwig. The owl plumped up more and wriggled back and forth, sitting down firmly on Katie's front. "You…you knew I was pregnant?"

Hedwig cheeped. "Obviously."

She looked at Harry. "We're going to have a second baby."

"We're going to have a second baby!" Harry leapt forward and crushed Katie in a hug and Hedwig squawked as she was smooshed between them. She flapped her wings irritably, nipping at Harry through his shirt. "Hey! Careful there Butt Warmer!"

"Ouch! Sorry sorry!" He laughed and hugged them both more gently. "We're going to have a second baby!"

Katie smiled through her tears and laughed. "What a way to find out!" She hugged Hedwig who bit her nose gently. "You're protecting your second chick already?"

Hedwig hooted and nodded, nuzzling Katie's cheek. "Of course I am! Chicks take a lot of work after all and I have to make sure they grow up big and strong."

Katie sat back and let Hedwig settle back down on her stomach. "I can't believe it."

"I can, Hedwig is very smart," Harry praised and rubbed her head. "Want me to call everyone?"

"No, it can wait until tomorrow. Let's all just sit like this together and we'll need to tell Dahlia she's about to be a big sister."

Hedwig blinked slowly, puffed and plumped on Katie's abdomen. She looked at her family with pride, soaking in Harry and Katie and Dahlia's happy voices and expressions. She hooted with satisfaction as she wriggled comfortably on Katie, perfectly content. "Take your time Potterlet. You'll be coming into a wonderful family when you come and I can't wait to raise you proper too."

-0-

Hedwig flew fast and went flying through the window into the flat. She had been out doing some night hunting but she felt something odd and broke off to return home. She pushed the bedroom door open and found Harry sleeping on the bed, curled around a pillow.

"What in the world? I thought you were out tonight. Where are the others?" Hedwig fussed around Harry, growing more irate seeing him sleeping there by himself and in a state of extreme magical intoxication. "Those idiots! They're supposed to be caring for you! I should go teach them a lesson! But I don't want to leave you alone…"

She puffed up on his side and seethed silently for some time, thinking of what to do to the ones that let her chick get that way before looking up when the door opened.

"Oh hi Hedwig," Hermione said as she opened the door into the bedroom, making Luna and Fleur sigh with relief. "Wait…is that…Harry?"

Luna and Fleur went running and ran right into Hermione's back, making her stumble in. Fleur breathed a deep sigh of relief at Harry lying in the bed, snoring lustily and with Hedwig sitting on his side. He was curled around a pillow and looked remarkably at peace.

"Thank goodness," Luna sighed.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, concern driving the intoxication away. "Is something the matter?"

"No, no, of course not," Fleur said, laying it on thick. "Just surprised to see Harry here. I suppose his party must have ended earlier."

"Yeah I guess," Hermione hiccoughed. "You'd think they'd have someone here sitting with him just in case."

"I'm sure Hedwig took very good care of him," Luna said with a sharp smile. She reached out and Hedwig hopped onto her wrist. "Why don't you go tell them the good news?" she said, eyes blazing. "Make sure they get the point."

Hedwig clacked her beak, her eyes mirroring Luna's. "Oh yes. Don't worry. I'll make sure they get every point!" She bobbed her head very enthusiastically and she tugged Luna's hair lovingly before flying out the window.

"I would feel sorry for them but they do deserve it," Fleur said softly to Luna.

"They certainly do," Luna said as she tucked Harry in.

-0-

"Where are you," Hedwig growled as she flapped over Diagon Alley. "I know you're here somewhere. I can feel you two. You two are responsible, I just know it. Ah ha!"

She saw George running down the Alley, calling out for Harry and looking about wildly. "At least you're looking for him but that won't spare you! Time to do as Moon-Song suggested and make sure you get the point!" Staying silent until the last moment, she dove and struck, digging her talons deep into George's arse.

"DEAR MERLIN!" George screamed. "HEDWIG?!"

Hedwig flapped her wings and was able to drag George a good length of the way down Diagon Alley, ignoring his panicky pained cries. When she dragged him around the corner, she saw her second target and let go of George only to dig her talons deep into Fred's arse and drag him up Diagon with powerful sweeps of her wings.

"OW MY ARSE!" Fred howled. "Hedwig let go!"

After some dragging, she did and she flew after them as they ran screaming from her. "You left Chick alone! You were supposed to watch him! Get back here you feckless idiots!"

"Oh, thank goodness," Oliver breathed.

"That made you say that?" Percy pointed at his brothers running screaming from the vengeful owl.

"No way she'd be doing this if Harry was in a bad way. He must have gone home somehow," Oliver said reasonably.

"Did any of us actually check his flat?" Percy asked. He groaned at Oliver's sheepish look. "Why are we idiots?!"

-0-

A tapping sound on the window drew their attention and they saw Hedwig standing on the outside lip, tapping on the glass again with her beak. She looked very concerned and she glared at the girls standing there.

"This will be interesting," Hermione said and she opened the window.

Hedwig flew in and fluttered around the corner a few times before landing on the table. Katie lifted owl-Harry and set him down gently on the table and Hedwig's eyes went wide as she looked down at him. She tilted her head back and forth and Harry barked up at her.

"Chick?! Is that you?" she gasped.

"Yes," Harry barked.

"Why are you an owlet?"

"The twins," he sighed.

"Of course," she sighed. "Well, might as well take advantage of the moment." She then cuddled close to Harry and began to preen his feathers. "Now I can groom you properly."

"Oh this is the most adorable thing ever," Katie said.

"She looks very happy," Luna observed.

-0-

"I found a book called Household Holiday Charms," Harry smiled. "So I started casting when you and Mummy went visiting. Well worth the work, I think. Hedwig helped me with the garlands too and you should see her. Hedwig!"

Katie and Dahlia exclaimed with delight as Hedwig came swooping in. She wore a red Santa hat, shrunken to fit her and stuck to her head to prevent it from falling off. A tiny medallion of red holly berries and two green holly leaves hung from the silver chain around her neck and she had a pair of silver bells tied to her legs. She landed on Harry's head and danced up and down, filling the air with tinkling music.

"Look at me! I am the personification of the festive season! Praise me and my cuteness!" Hedwig cheeped and danced.

"Oh my goodness, you are adorable," Katie praised.

"The medallion and the bells are from the Delacours," Harry smiled. "I found the hat and shrunk it for her. She loves them as you see."

Hedwig barked cheerfully, bobbing her head. "I am glorious! The epitome of holiday beauty!"

"Just perfect," Katie said.

-0-

Katie yawned and blinked slowly. She looked down and smiled at Dahlia and Iris sleeping on top of her.

"Have a good nap?" Harry asked, smiling.

"An amazing one," Katie said sleepily.

"You looked so comfortable; the girls wanted to join you." Harry's smile was warm and loving. "All of them."

Katie looked up and saw Hedwig perched on her head. "No wonder I feel so warm," Katie said. A look crossed her features. "Do you ever get the feeling that Hedwig can talk?"

"She talks every day," Harry said.

"Oh I know but I meant in like English."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, I really do sometimes. Especially in dreams."

Katie smiled. "Yeah, I had a good one about that." She reached up and gently lifted Hedwig off her head. The owl struggled for a moment, glaring with indignation before she realized Katie was bringing her down and settling her on her stomach and in between the two girls. "Such a good cuddle buddy," Katie sighed happily.

Hedwig cheeped just as happily and fluffed up some, warm and content between the Potter women.

-0-0-0-

odonnellz0099 - It was fun to revisit this time and give Katie some support and little the French girls have some fun too. It is a different atmosphere and feeling but still a good one. Thank you.

jouve25 - You know I like my fluff. I hope you enjoy today's chapter. I was very happy with the humor in this one today.

alix33 - Care packages are the best.

Imaginer.012 - So good to see you. Hope you are doing well. Shucks, I'm hardly anything close to perfect. Wishing you the best.