I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Hello everyone, hope all are having a lovely weekend. I'm doing an extra post today and possibly tomorrow for a reason. On Monday, I'll be having a medical procedure done, wisdom teeth removal, and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to post on Monday since I'm going to be a bit out of it. I also don't know what recovery will be like after, aside from fairly arduous, so I don't know what my writing and posting will be like for the first few days after. So wanted to post a bit extra for you all for thanks and for positive energy.
Wishing everyone the best. Thank you for reading and commenting, it means so much to me. Have a lovely day!
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A Taste of Magic
42nd Course – To be Brave
Harry yawned, blinking lethargically as he woke slowly. He had slept deeply and was thankfully untroubled by nightmares, something he was vaguely worried about when he fell into exhausted sleep the night before.
He had a rough session of practicing the Patronus Charm with Remus the night prior. While he could summon the shield form of the charm, he was still having difficulty summoning the Patronus in the form beyond the shield, much less a fully corporeal one. His weeks of practice had given him confidence but it was still a shaky confidence.
Remus had assured him that he was doing very well and should be proud of his efforts. He had also been honest and said that casting the Patronus in the face of actual Dementors and other dark creatures would be much more difficult. Something Harry did and did not appreciate in equal measure. He did fully appreciate the honesty though. He had said so begrudgingly and Remus had laughed.
For a moment Harry did not know why he had woken so early until he was aware of a weight on his chest. He looked down and blinked myopically, unsure of what he was looking at with his uncorrected vision. He reached to his nightstand and brought his glasses over to put them on. "Sunny?!"
Sunny laid curled on his chest and opened her eyes at him, blinking slowly. She purred comfortably and uncurled, stretching out before lying flat on top of him. She whipped her tail back and forth slowly, looking at him expectantly. She purred more when Harry rubbed her head.
"What are you doing here?!" Harry whispered. "You shouldn't be here. Wait. How did you even get here?!" He looked up when he heard a rasping snore. "Oh no, Ron. Scabbers!"
Sunny looked up at the name, though Harry had no idea how Sunny would recognize it. He panicked a little when she looked in the direction of Ron's bed. "No, you can't. Scabbers is off-limits!"
Sunny yawned and butted his hand with her head, resuming her purring when he scratched behind her ears.
Harry changed clothes and snuck out of the dormitory, holding Sunny securely in his arms. He was dismayed to see Sunny watching Ron's bed, eyes focused on the closed curtains. When he walked down the stairs however, she relaxed a little, putting her chin on his shoulder and made contented noises.
A little while later when Lavender came down the stairs, she saw Harry sitting in his usual early morning chair with Sunny on his lap. She was batting a bit of yarn he dangled above her. "Hi Sunny!" Lavender said with delight. "What are you doing here?"
"I have no idea," Harry said. "I literally woke up with her on my chest."
"Really? Is Millie here?" Lavender looked around the room.
"I don't think so."
"Wow, it's a long way here from the dungeons," Lavender said.
"Do you mind taking me to their common room? I don't know where the Slytherin one is."
"Sure! Let's go."
They left the tower and made their way to the dungeons with Sunny routinely being passed between the two of them. When they reached the place where the Slytherin common room was, Sunny was draped over Harry's shoulder like a very furry towel.
"Now we wait a bit," Lavender said, sitting on a bench across the hall from a bare stretch of stone wall. "Hope someone comes out soon." Luckily, someone did. The door slid open and an older student came out. They stopped when they saw Harry and Lavender sitting there.
"May I help you?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
"Good morning," Lavender said cheerily, smiling brightly. "Would you please ask Millicent Bulstrode or Pansy Parkinson to come out? We have something for Millicent."
The student looked blankly at them for a moment before nodding slowly, turning and reentering the common room.
"I like how nice you are to everyone," Harry said.
"It's easier being nice and cheerful most of the time," Lavender said. She giggled. "Daddy said it's really good because most people are confused when you're super nice to them, especially if they don't know you."
Harry grinned at that and he smiled and waved when Millicent and Pansy came walking out of the common room.
"There you are!" Millicent shouted, running up to Harry. "Where did you find her?!"
"Uh, believe it or not, in my room," Harry said sheepishly.
"What was she doing there? Wait, how did she even get there?!" Pansy gasped.
"I have no idea! I woke up and she was lying on my chest! I swear I didn't cat-nap or kneazle-nap her."
"I believe you," Millicent said, lifting Sunny up and cradling her in her arms. "She was in our room until we went to bed. I woke up this morning and she was gone and I panicked. Me and Pansy were searching our room and our common room until the prefect told us you two were out here."
She held Sunny up and looked her in the eye. "Did you leave in the middle of the night and go to Gryffindor tower?"
Sunny yawned and nodded.
"Why?"
Sunny blinked slowly and made a noise that sounded like a growl and a purr in one.
"Watching? Watching what? Watching Harry?" Millicent asked.
"Perverted beast," Pansy muttered before swaying back when Sunny swiped at her.
After giving Pansy a cool look, Sunny looked back at Millicent and made the noise again and did a very human-like shrug.
"You know what she means?" Lavender asked.
"Sort of. That sound she makes is when she's hunting something or watching something to hunt," Millicent explained.
"She was really interested in Ron's area," Harry groaned. "He has a pet rat."
"Sunny is a really good mouser," Millicent winced. "She won't eat them though. She's too picky to eat mouse or rat."
"I'll make the same deal with you that I made with Crookshanks," Harry said to Sunny. "Don't eat Scabbers. He's old and stringy and probably bad for you. I'll make you food, okay?"
Sunny rolled her eyes but nuzzled Harry's cheek before squirming until Millicent let go. She landed daintily on her paws, curled around their legs, and minced into the common room.
"Was that a yes?" Lavender asked.
"That was a maybe," Pansy and Millicent said together.
"As in she will sort of do what you ask but not exactly," Millicent said.
"Oh boy. Poor Ron and Scabbers. He already has to deal with Crookshanks," Harry groaned.
"It's weird, she normally doesn't go after anything if it's not in her territory. People have snakes and rats in our common room and stuff and she's never gone after them," Millicent said.
"I guess she considers Harry her territory," Lavender giggled.
"Sorry," Millicent said, grinning.
"Could be worse I suppose," Harry said, smiling with pink cheeks.
"At least if she goes missing again, we can try and find you first to make sure," Pansy said, shaking her head.
-0-
Hagrid hummed softly. "Hmm, well, I suppose you could introduce them to each other and try and reinforce that he's a friend and not a food."
"No way," Ron said, shaking his head. "You haven't seen the way that cat looks at him!"
It was the end of Care of Magical Creatures class and Harry, after talking to Hermione and Millicent, went up to Hagrid and under the guise of trying to acclimate Scabbers with Crookshanks, and Sunny, asked Hagrid for advice.
"Probably like prey," Hagrid said matter-of-factly.
"Exactly!" Ron said angrily.
"Ron, Crookshanks is a kneazle and a cat. That's what they do. Especially when they bond with their owners. It's a part of their nature. They protect them," Hagrid said.
"Scabbers isn't a danger to anyone," Ron argued.
"And we know that but remember, the animals don't think like us. They have their instincts and they see small prey like that and it speaks to them on a primal level. They feel the need to protect their owners and their homes as well as eat. Rats and mice have traditionally stolen food and things, polluted places, and made people sick. Not sayin' yours has or will, but that's nature."
"I still think you're putting him up to it," Ron said sourly, glaring at Hermione who glared back.
Hagrid snorted. "Kneazles are incredibly contrary. They don't have to listen at all."
"Then why is hers the only cat or kneazle in the tower that seems to go after Scabbers?"
"That's actually a fair point," Hermione admitted, still giving Ron a cool look. "I've noticed others don't seem to care."
"Yours might be a bit more overprotective," Hagrid said kindly. "Don't take it personal, either of you. It's just animals being animals and nothin' wrong with that."
"Is it owls too? I've noticed his owl glaring at Scabbers when I bring him to meals sometimes," Ron said, pointing at Harry.
"She has?" Harry asked. "I'm sorry, I never noticed."
"Owls eat small rodents too and his owl is especially smart," Hagrid said proudly. "I picked her out meself. Well, actually, she picked you too," he said to Harry.
"She did?" he gasped.
"Sure did! I was walkin' about Eeylops and mutterin' out loud like I do, sayin' I needed to find a good owl for you. Needed a smart one with a lot of love. She came walkin' out, proud as you please, and stared at me. The clerk was surprised. Said she was legendarily unfriendly with a lot of people even though she was only there for a few days. Said she came in and looked like she was waitin' for the right person."
"She's my best friend," Harry smiled and hugged Hagrid. "Oh sorry, should I not do that during class?"
"I'll allow it," Hagrid grinned. "Anyways, no offense Ron, but owls and cats and kneazles chase rats and mice. It's part of their nature."
"I thought it was personal because we weren't friendly in the beginning," Ron mumbled, ears red.
"Oh, no not at all," Harry said and Hermione nodded, agreeing with him.
"Here, let me scribble down somethin' for you. You get these plants and put them around your bed and it'll keep the kneazles and cats away," Hagrid said kindly. "Nothin' poisonous, just smells they don't like. I actually have some of the stuff in my cabin and what I don't have, I'm sure Professor Sprout does." He led a happier looking Ron away with Neville in tow.
"Well, hopefully that'll keep things under wraps then," Harry said as he and his friends walked up to the castle.
"Even if Hedwig and Crookshanks were pursuing some latent vendetta for their owners," Pansy said, smiling insincerely at Hermione who glowered and Harry who groaned, "Sunny wouldn't know Scabbers from literally any other rat in the whole castle, owned or not. Why would she be going after him?"
"I guess protecting her owner?" Millicent said. "But I've never met Scabbers either, what could he possibly do to me? Bite me?"
"Eat all your snacks," Harry smiled.
"Oh well, that is serious business," Millicent said with a return smile.
"Hopefully this will be the end of it though," Hermione sighed.
"Me too," Harry sighed.
-0-
"The best thing to eat with chips is fish," Susan said. "Nice piece of fish fried up with a splash of malt vinegar, delicious."
"You don't need fried fish to enjoy with chips, that's a way to ruin chips," Terry said. "All you need is a decent sandwich, something meaty."
"Fish is meaty," Susan argued.
"Fish is fish," Terry argued back.
Harry sat down at the table, watching Terry and Susan arguing with interest. "What's going on?"
"They are debating which is the best to eat with chips," Pansy sniffed.
"I guess you disagree?"
She huffed. "More that they said my preferred dish with chips is too 'fancy'. Steak frites isn't fancy."
"It's a little fancy if you call it that," Millicent smiled.
"I like chips with my chips," Luna said, nibbling on a chip.
"What do you like to eat with chips?" Pansy asked Harry.
"I like fish a lot, but steak frites is good too and so is a nice sandwich. My favorite is probably a hamburger though."
"What's that?" Millicent asked. She looked around when things got quiet. "What?"
"You don't know what a hamburger is?" Hermione asked.
"No, something with ham I assume?"
"No, it's beef mince in a patty." Harry smiled when Lavender grabbed his arm and started shaking him excitedly. "Yes Lavender, we can make hamburgers."
"Yes!" Lavender squealed. "I've been wanting one for so long and I completely forgot until now!"
"Are they really that good?" Pansy asked, interested.
"They're amazing," Lavender said whole heartedly. "I love them."
"They can be really good," Parvati said.
"Or really bad," Padma said. "But I doubt that'd be the case here."
"The ingredients are super simple. I'm sure we can do it for club tonight," Harry said. "I'll go ask Inky before afternoon classes starts just in case."
-0-
"I know you're normally a very cheerful person, but you are entirely too cheerful right now," Pansy said, her smile taking away any sting in her words.
Lavender hugged her excitedly. "You'll understand once you have your first burger."
Harry grinned as he was preparing the ingredients. He had tomatoes sliced and waiting, as well as onions, pickles, and lettuce leaves. Bottles of ketchup and mustard were at the ready as well as a large bowl of mayonnaise. Slices of cheese and rashers of bacon sat out as well. He was forming patties of ground beef and seasoning them with salt and pepper while a pan heated on the hob. "She was excited all afternoon."
"It really threw off Professor McGonagall," Parvati laughed. "She kept looking at Lav all funny."
"So these aren't hamburger buns exactly, but we have plenty of these soft ones that Inky and the Elves made. The texture is pretty close so it'll be good." Harry plopped the patties into the pan and a delightful sizzle filled the air, accompanied by the smell of searing beef.
"So why're they called hamburgers?" Millicent asked, looking at Hermione.
"Why are you asking me?" Hermione asked.
"Because you usually know things, especially Muggle things."
Hermione snorted. "You're not wrong. Well, there's disputes on where it originated, but common belief is that they were invented in Hamburg, Germany. There was a history of a beef patty put between bread and eaten that way. It became more popular in the States and goes from there. There's also something called a hamburg steak where it's not a piece of beef but a steak made from minced up beef and served with gravy like a regular steak."
"Oh that's interesting," Millicent said.
"Did you know all that before?" Sue asked.
"Well, when I finished my homework over the summer, I picked up a book or two about food history because I got more interested in it." She rolled her eyes at a grinning Harry. "You're a terrible influence."
"Who, me?" Harry asked insincerely. "How so?"
"It certainly surprised my parents," Hermione laughed. "I never cared too much about food before but have been showing more interest. It made them do the same and it's been fun trying new things and learning other stuff like that."
"You can't blame him for liking to learn though," Parvati smiled. "That's a pre-existing condition." She yelped when Hermione pushed her.
"Yeah, get her," Padma praised.
Lavender and Hermione and the Patils helped Harry with grilling the buns and putting the patties on the bottom part. "Now you can add whatever you want," Lavender said brightly. "Pile the toppings on and put the sauces on the top bun then close it up and eat them!"
"Wait!" Harry opened the oven and pulled out sheet trays of oven baked chips. "The reason why we're doing this after all."
Everyone chatted happily as they put what they wanted on top and then silence reigned, broken by chewing and noises of delight.
"Okay, this is delicious," Millicent said with a full mouth. "Why do we not have these?!"
"Because our Society does not like new things, to our total detriment," Pansy glowered as she ate hungrily. "This is wonderful!"
"And it looked really easy," Susan said as she chewed away. She bit into a chip. "Okay, I might be changing my opinion."
"Same here," Terry said as he ate too. "Wait, are hamburgers sandwiches? It's something between two pieces of bread."
"I think they're technically different," Parvati said, licking her fingers. "I never understood why."
"Some people get really hung up on labels and names," Padma said loftily.
"Yeah," Harry said with a mischievous smile. "Like how there's Indian curry and Thai-" He flinched and shied away from the looks that the Patils threw at him.
"I'll tell Grandmum," Parvati threatened.
"No not that," he pleaded, "I take it back!"
Everyone ate happily, practically everyone getting a second or splitting one with someone else. Harry noticed Pansy sitting there quietly as she munched on her second one. "Is something wrong?"
"No not at all, well not with the burger," Pansy said. She dabbed at her lips with a napkin. "It's…I was just doing some thinking. Muggles really do make nice things, don't they?"
"Yeah," Harry agreed, nodding.
Pansy looked introspective. "Kind of makes you think about things differently."
-0-
A few days later, Harry looked up from his book. "Sorry, what was that, Ron?"
"Parkinson is outside wanting to see you," Ron said, pointing at the portrait door into the common room.
"Oh, thank you." Harry got up and walked to the door and went into the hallway. "Hi Pansy."
"Hi Harry. Is Sunny in your room?" she asked.
"I don't think so but let me go check really fast. She's missing?"
Pansy sighed. "Yes, we can't find her in Slytherin."
Harry chuckled and ducked back into the common room, climbing up to the dormitory. He looked around for a moment and noticed Ron doing the same. "Missing something?"
"Scabbers," Ron sighed. "He's been hiding more and more lately. I really thought the stuff Hagrid recommended would work."
It actually had. Sunny had visited a few more times and she had stayed clear of Ron's bed area, going so far to stick her nose into Harry's bedding or bed clothes, but she had still watched the bed area closely. But Harry was not going to tell Ron that. As far as he knew, Ron did not know about Sunny's visits.
Sweating nervously, Harry looked about for Sunny and could not find her. He left Ron behind and went out into the hall. "She's not there nor is she in the common room. Bad news though, Scabbers is missing too."
"Oh no, that's just what we need," Pansy groaned.
"Hey what's up?" Lavender said, walking up to them.
"Sunny is missing and so is Scabbers," Harry said.
"Oh no! Do you need help finding them?" Lavender asked.
"Please," Pansy nodded. "I don't care about the rat but let's make sure the beast didn't kill it and isn't hiding it somewhere." She rubbed her head. "But it will be nigh impossible finding the cat in the whole castle. If she isn't here or in Slytherin, she could be anywhere."
"On the grounds," Harry said.
"Ugh, I hope not," Pansy said.
"No, I mean, I think I see her." Harry pointed out the window. Lavender and Pansy looked too.
"Wow, you've got good eyes," Lavender said. "And yeah, I think that's her. Is that Crookshanks?"
"I think so and…no way."
"What's wrong?" Pansy asked.
"That dog. I've seen it before. It's the one I've seen in Hogsmeade a few times and I got it a sandwich the first time. And I swear it's the same one I met in Surrey."
"What is it doing with the kitties?" Lavender asked.
"We better go get them," Pansy said and she set off at a fast pace, making Harry and Lavender rush to catch up to her. "That cat will be the death of me."
"You love her," Lavender smiled.
"Not that I'd admit it," Pansy said with a small smile.
The trio ran out of the castle and onto the grounds to where they last saw the animals from up in the castle. They looked around, trying to find them.
"Sunny!" Lavender yelled, cupping her fingers around her mouth. "Crookshanks!"
"When I catch you, I will shave you and damn the consequences!" Pansy called out.
"That's not a reason to come to you," Harry remarked.
"Look!" Lavender pointed and they saw movement in the distance, close to the Forest. "I think they're there."
"They're chasing something," Harry said and took off running after. The two girls followed close behind. As they got close to the Forest though, Harry stopped and they bumped into him. "We shouldn't go any deeper, the Forest is no joke."
Pansy peered into the trees. "I don't see them anymore, just as well, I'd hate to tell Millie Sunny got lost in the Forest."
"Plus with all the other things in there, poor kitties and dog," Lavender said.
Pansy snorted. "Sunny can handle herself against them. Murderous thing she is."
"Let's go back and search the grounds close to the castle, maybe they doubled back and we missed them," Harry suggested. They went back, looking around as the sun set into the distance, fingers of night creeping towards them as the shadows grew long.
"Brr," Lavender shivered. "It sure gets cold in spring at night."
"It's rather fast too," Pansy said, teeth chattering.
"Run!"
"What?" Harry asked, looking at the girls.
"What do you mean, what?" Pansy replied.
"Lily, run!"
"Oh no," Harry said, eyes widening in horror. He saw his breath in the suddenly cold air. "We need to go, now!"
Lavender screamed, seeing dark cloaks flying towards them.
"Run!" Harry grabbed Lavender and Pansy's hands and ran for the castle, dragging them along. After a moment's stumbling, they caught their stride and the three of them ran for the safety of the school. Pansy whimpered when she turned and saw the Dementors flying towards them, seemingly speeding up.
"They're getting closer," Lavender half-sobbed, also looking back.
Harry turned and saw the Dementors eating the distance between them, arms outstretched. He could hear their terrible rattling voices, calling for them. He felt the terrible memory from that terrible night growing in his mind, being drawn up by the Dementors in an attempt to slow him down. He felt Lavender and Pansy's hands growing colder in his as their breathing became ragged, the miasma and malaise dragging on them too.
"Run," he gasped. He let go and pushed them both forward and stopped, turning to face the pursuers. His heart pounded deep in his chest and his brain screamed to run away, his spine shivering. His feet stayed planted and he pulled up his wand and aimed it at the Dementors.
"Harry!" Lavender and Pansy screamed, turning. They made to run back to him but the full force of the Dementors' dread aura hit them, making them stumble. They tried to push past it, tried to approach on shaking legs.
"Don't do this!" Pansy yelled.
"We can make it!" Lavender screamed.
"Expecto Patronum!" he gasped. His wand grew warm and the silver light poured forth, forming a barrier. It glowed but the light was feeble against the coming darkness.
"Expecto Patronum," he said again, desperately willing the magic into being. The silver light flared and the shield grew but it was still very small. The malaise faded only a little and he felt himself slipping back into the nightmare of his memories.
"Why?" Lily sobbed. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because it must be done," Voldemort said coldly, without warmth. "Stand aside girl. Only he needs to die. His father died out of foolish pride. Do not make the same mistake."
"Expecto Patronum," Harry said, his voice weakening like the shield did against the onslaught of the dark magic.
"Kill me instead," Lily said. "Not him."
"Very well," Voldemort said.
"Ex…pecto…Part-onum," Harry whispered, his hand falling. His magic, failing.
Through sheer force of will and strenuous physical effort, Lavender and Pansy pushed through the aura and grabbed onto Harry, trying to pull him back. "Harry!" they cried together.
"Harry!" Harry remembered seeing Lavender and the Patils walking into the Great Hall, happy to see him. When Lavender and Pansy touched him, he felt them at his back, felt them pulling on him. At their touch, he remembered.
Flitwick praising him and his skill in cooking and learning the new charms.
Remus telling him he was proud of him and sharing stories of his parents.
The meal at Sheen with Dumbledore, the teas they shared.
Seeing Nicolas and Perenelle smiling, telling him they came to visit him.
The clubroom, full of warmth and light, savory and sweet scents, chatter and laughter. His friends in the club, people who became his friends.
Cooking with Inky and Ebbers and the other House Elves.
"I'm glad you're here," Luna said as she hugged him.
"You can do it, Harry," Pansy said to Harry. "Go on, challenge him back on your terms."
He felt his two friends at his back and he felt something deep in his chest, remembering the first time he hugged them, the first time they hugged him. His eyes opened and his arm rose. "Expecto Patronum."
His wand tip flared, silver light blazed from deep within, driving the Dementors back. The pressure around the three of them melted, letting Pansy and Lavender breath easily. The light was almost painful to look at and it gained a shape, collecting and forming. A burst of argent light accompanied a thunderclap, making the girls scream and when they could see again, they goggled at the form that stood between them and the Dementors.
"Is that-" Pansy gasped.
"-Hedwig?" Lavender gasped.
The Patronus was a perfect silver facsimile of a snowy owl. The owl looked up at the trio, head tilted in a very familiar manner. She hooted, a warm and comforting sound they have heard so many times before. The Patronus turned and looked up at the Dementors before it started to grow. By the time she stopped growing she was the size of one of the carriages and she screeched loudly, making the Dementors wail. With a flap of enormous wings, the gigantic snowy owl Patronus launched herself forward, talons first.
She caught the first Dementor and tore it in two, tossing the halves aside. A snap of her beak ripped another in twain and by then the rest fled for their unlives. The Patronus screeched again, the sound filling Harry and Lavender and Pansy with energy while driving the Dementors away even faster. She chased after them, driving them back and the warm spring evening returned as the supernatural chill dissipated.
Eventually she returned, shrinking to normal size. She settled down on Harry's head and hooted a victory song before dissipating slowly, leaving a bit of silver light that clung to him before it too faded eventually.
"That was amazing," Pansy breathed. "A corporeal Patronus! And you drove them off!"
"Of course it was Hedwig," Lavender smiled.
Harry smiled too. "She really is the best, isn't she? I love magic." He toppled over, fainting from the exertion of the spell.
"Harry!" Lavender shrieked, catching him and nearly falling over.
Pansy managed to grab his other arm and hauled hard, keeping him from falling over completely and flattening Lavender. "We need to get him to the Infirmary!"
"Right, let's go!" Lavender and Pansy draped his arms around their shoulders and ran as fast as they could for the castle, carrying him between them.
-0-0-0-
poka - He needs a bit of emotional growth as well, at least I think so. I thought him and Luna's moment was nice and sweet in a melancholy way.
Kaya - Luna, being delightfully odd, has a different way of looking at emotions that is actually kind of poignant and also sad. She and Harry are rather similar in some ways, and I always liked her character so thought this would be a nice moment.
TimothyB - I'm glad you do, thank you so much.
Uber Ghidorah - Hold onto that thought. I think you'll enjoy the coming chapters with that in mind.
odonnellzoo99 - You know me, I like surprise owl attacks a lot. I had the smoothie story line in mind since I started planning for this fic, thinking it would be fun to make a magical way of making smoothies. And then the pun in the title let me lead into the emotional growth part of the chapter with some reflection. Something I hope a lot of people can empathize with.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Bold of you to assume that I know how things are going to go. I mean I do, perhaps. Allegedly.
alix33 - Hedwig ambushing people is my favorite mental image too.
l4w - Thank you, I was rather proud of that. It made sense to me and it was fun to think about.
darthjohn - I normally don't go for sweet bacon admittedly myself, but a Hedwig special needed to have a taste of it.
DustieDaven - Thank you, glad you are enjoying things. I'm grateful for your comments on my other fics too, thank you so much.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
Urgwaew - Hey there, it's really good to see you again. I've missed seeing you about. Hope you have been well. Glad you are enjoying the story. I'll admit, it's been difficult for me to work the Hufflepuffs in so to speak, which that line Sprout made about under-representation a few chapters ago was a bit of a personal call out and fourth wall break, but they'll eventually be seen more. Susan will be more about compared to some of my other stuff. All my best to you. Hope things go well with you.