Chapter 22 – Finding a Home

The group moved through the reading quickly after meeting Hagrid in the books, they watched Harry's awe at going to Diagon Alley for the first time.

Harry smiled at the memory of receiving his first gift in Hedwig, said owl nuzzling into her owner's face as he petted her.

It was here that Luna spoke for the first time in a while.

"You have an extraordinary bond with your owl, Harry. Did you know that?"

Harry shrugged.

"It's normal isn't it? To bond with your pets."

"Well, no." Charlie interrupted.

"With any animal, magical or not, there is a lot of work that goes into building trust with that animal. Some people have pets, which are animals who trust that person for things like food and shelter but don't have a deep emotional connection, think of Hermione's bond with her cat or Neville and his toad."

Harry frowned realising that his bond with Hedwig was definitely different to Hermione's relationship with Crookshanks or Neville's bond with Trevor.

"Then some people have familiars, these are people who have extremely strong emotional bonds with their animals. These people have an almost unnatural sense for what their animals want and need at any given moment and vice versa for the animal, like the Headmaster and his phoenix." Charlie continued.

Harry thought about it and it made sense. In the times he has been around Albus and Fawkes, it seems like they could almost read each other's minds, having conversations and sensing the other's needs without needing to be asked.

Charlie smiled seeing Harry's realisation.

"Yes, Harry. Hedwig isn't your pet, she's your familiar."

The owl and Harry turned to each other and Harry swore despite being unable to do so that Hedwig was smiling at him as he rans his fingers through her feathers.

Yes, little one. Our bond is different.

Harry almost bolted up from the sofa, panicking at the voice inside his mind.

Don't worry, little one. It's the first time I've done this as your mind has been closed off from many things but we are strong enough now to communicate this way.

Eyes flicking around, Harry's tried to identify where the voice was coming from. Others looked at Harry concerned.

"Does anyone else hear that or am I actually going mad?"

No one else can hear me, Harry. Only you, as you are the wizard I'm bonded to.

At that Harry looked back at Hedwig realising that the sweet, soft voice resonating through his mind was his beloved owl.

"Holy hell!"

"What is it, Harry?" Hermione asked concerned.

"The voice…"

"What voice?"

"The one I'm hearing in my head right now… it's her…"

"Who…?"

"Hedwig…" Harry whispered reverently.

Albus smiled softly at that, thinking of his own conversations with Fawkes.

"It's completely normal for those with familiars to be able to hear them, Harry." Albus explained.

"Really?"

"Yes, I often have conversations with Fawkes, although he liked to shout at me quite a lot." The headmaster said chuckling.

Harry didn't say anything more just scooped the snowy owl into his arms, burying his face in her soft down breathing in the earthy scent of her while she nibbled on the ends of his hair affectionately.

See, little one. You'll never be alone again as I'll always be there.

The scene between boy and his owl brought a tear to Charlie's eye recognising the rarity and strength of the bond between them.

As Harry sat, holding Hedwig, the reading continued.

Molly had read Diagon Alley, Ginny had read the next chapter bringing them to the seventh chapter of the book The Sorting Hat which fell to Minerva to read.

Minerva read about Harry's joy and awe at seeing Hogwarts for the first time, riding the boats with other students, meeting Neville and Hermione properly for the first time and the introduction of the school ghosts.

Seeing her own introduction through Harry's eyes was interesting for the Professor but she continued with minimal fuss until it was time for Harry's sorting.

She and others noted Harry had been fidgeting in his seat for several moments leading up to the sorting, obviously worried or concerned about something that was coming.

Harry, meanwhile, held his breath as he heard himself preparing to have the sorting hat placed on him, he knew what the hat said to him and how he wasn't supposed to be in Gryffindor. He hoped no one who see him differently when they knew the truth.

The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited.

"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting. . . So where shall I put you?"

Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.

"Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that - no? Well, if you're sure - better be GRYFFINDOR!"

All eyes turned to Harry as they realised he was never meant to be a lion and that he had always been a snake at heart.

Hermione did what she did best and rationalised, Ron looked completely stunned, Severus wearing a similar expression but it was Sirius who was most affected by the news.

He leapt up ranting and raving about how his godson wasn't an evil person, he wasn't a snake like his brother.

Harry could see in this moment, the gleam of madness and anger Azkaban had left of Siri.

He bowed his head, hoping Siri would still love him but the chaos was broken by Hermione.

"Actually, it makes sense…"