Harry was flying through the harsh winter weather. A stiff, cold westerly wind made the flight tough. Daphne had obviously offered him a place in the bird cage to take him home with her on the train for the winter holidays. But he had refused to be locked up in such a tiny place. This time Daphne had not tried to convince him much to come along on the train ride. Instead she had wished him a good flight, she had faith that he would follow her.

Actually he preferred the long flight to Greengrass manor, the words of the old man with the beard that looked like it would make a fine a bird's nest were still spooking around in his head. He could not forget the intense eyes that seemed to look in his soul, the way in which he spoke, the magical energy which he gave off as he was talking about him. He needed the cold air and the altitude to clear his head. Was he truly missing something in his life? Was the boy named Harry missed by people in this world? Was he in fact lonely as a crow?

He continued to ponder these questions over the hours long flight. Darkness started setting in as he slowly continued on his voyage. The gusts of wind turned harsher and the rain that accompanied him turned into hail. He still had such a long way ahead of him, but he continued to flap his wings, pushing himself forward.

When he finally arrived in the garden of Greengrass manor, he was exhausted. Yet, he did not know what took more of his energy, the flight through the stormy weather or the dark thoughts that played through his mind.

Looking from the dark garden through the windows of the manor he watched Daphne and her family. She obviously had arrived hours earlier and was talking animatedly to her family, telling stories about her first trimester at Hogwarts. Her mother was sitting next to her in the sofa, her arm around Daphne's shoulder, listening to her daughter. Her father was watching her proudly from his chair with a drink in his hand. Her sister, Astoria, sat at her feet, her arms and head in Daphne's lap while she was stroking Astoria's hair. It was the perfect family picture.

It was now that Harry truly felt lost, for the first time since he had turned into a crow, he wished he could turn back into a boy. A boy who could share stories with his parents while they watched with all their love, who could stroke his sister's hair, who could enjoy the warm atmosphere of a home.

But, sitting on a branch in the garden in the winter night, he realised their was only one place where he wanted to be right now. He took off and flew the final distance.

Daphne was telling about the time Tracey had brewed a shrinking potion that accidentally also turned you blue and that she had nicknamed the Smurf potion, Smurfs were a muggle thing apparently, when she suddenly heard a familiar scratching at the window. Dread was here, she shook Astoria's shoulder to get her head out of her lap, so she could get up and open the window for a moment.

When she cracked the window open, Dread scrambled in joined by a cold breeze. He practically jumped in her arms and she quickly closed the window. Dread was really snuggling close to her.

"What is wrong, sweet Dread? Did you have a tiresome flight?" The bird just kept his head hidden in the nook of her arm, while he kept close to her. "Did something hurt you on the way here? Was your flight too hard?"

"Is something the matter Dread? I am so glad you are back, I have missed you to." Astoria said. She got up and when Daphne sat back down, both of them started stroking the birds feathers.

"I will ask the elves to send over some bacon and some water. Or would he prefer something else, Daphne?" her mother asked.

"Thank you mother, that will be fine. I don't know if something is wrong, he is usually not this cuddly."

"You have a strong familiar Daphne, suitable for a strong witch. Probably he just missed you." her father said.

Daphne just continued stroking the crow and placing small kisses on his head. She whispered to the bird: "Is that true sweet Dread, did you miss me? Do not worry, I am here with you now."

The warm family evening continued, now with a crow in Daphne's lap, still the perfect family picture.