I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 157 – Speaking Six, Return of the Hedwig (but she never left and will never leave ever)
As per tradition, all over the timeline with the first part starting in chapter 131.
"I don't know if it's the fact that this baby is number three, but I'm not that uncomfortable," Katie said, rubbing her abdomen lightly.
Harry smiled as he watched Dahlia run around with Iris chasing her. "Or maybe our first two are especially energetic."
"That too," Katie laughed. She smiled when Hedwig fluttered over and settled on her stomach. "Thank you, pretty lady," Katie said, rubbing Hedwig's belly. Hedwig cheeped and wiggled comfortably on Katie's stomach, fluffing up. "This one does feel a bit more calm."
"I think so too," Hedwig cheeped lovingly. "He's not nearly as bouncy as Star Flower and Bright Eye. Thank goodness for that honestly."
"Thank goodness," Harry said and he and Katie laughed. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Is this about what Coach called you for today?"
"Yup." He walked over and handed her the scroll. Katie unfurled it and held it open behind Hedwig and the owl's head turned around so she could read with Katie. After Katie finished, she looked at Harry with sparkling eyes. "That's so cool! You're doing it."
"That's my Chick!" Hedwig hooted happily.
Harry laughed. "Just like that?"
"Just like that," Katie said and Hedwig nodded in agreement.
"Obviously."
"It'll take a lot of my time and energy though," Harry said slowly.
"Oh please. Third baby. And I'm not even that far along yet. Plus we got everyone to help and I do mean everyone. Once you tell McGonagall about it, she'll stop your mastery work willingly. This is an amazing opportunity; you have to do it!" Katie's smile was broad and proud and Hedwig nodded emphatically.
"Everyone must recognize your majesty and ability in the air as well as recognizing that you are only so because of me," Hedwig barked.
Harry grinned. "You're the best, you know that?"
"I do," Katie smiled. "Plus this is going to be amazing to watch." She laughed. "You already won the title in the Village, why not make it official on a grander scale?"
"You know this will encourage me to do things you normally don't approve of, right?" he asked.
Katie frowned slightly. "Okay, well, you can do it carefully." She snorted at Hedwig's flat look. "More carefully than normal," Katie amended.
"You know better than to think that," Hedwig sighed.
"I'll try," Harry smiled.
"I've heard that before," Katie laughed.
"Me too," Hedwig sighed even louder and heavier.
-0-
"You know, you wouldn't expect her to do that when you watch them on a normal basis," Hermione said, looking up into the sky.
Hedwig was helping Harry agility train. The owl followed him like a homing missile that would not be deterred. She dove at him constantly, banking sharply and then charging him from all angles, hooting and barking. Harry dove left and right, up and down, twisting in mid-air in many attempts at dodging her wings and talons and beak. He barely leveled out half the time, constantly twisting. He even had to literally bend backwards and do pin-point turns to avoid her.
"Dive now! Very good Chick! That's it. Don't sit on the flightless stick like a stick. Move your body! More! Feel the wind, be the wind, flutter and flow. Keep your head moving and don't get complacent!"
"She takes flying seriously," Katie said, looking on with approval.
"He's getting better, dodging successfully three out of five times looks like," Alicia said.
The watchers chuckled and laughed when Hedwig managed to headbutt him clean between the shoulders. Latching onto him and pecking the back of his head and hooting with glee as he tried to shake her off.
"Mwahaha! I got you now! Take that, and that! And some of this!"
"I should stop complaining when she comes after me," Angelina mused. "She isn't this insistent when she does."
Fleur shook her head when Harry did a sustained barrel roll, shaking Hedwig off. Hedwig flapped wildly, spinning slightly until Harry spun and caught her neatly, steading her. "AHHHH-oh thank you Chick, such a good Chick." After a grateful nuzzle, the owl resumed the training, chasing him and barking instructions at him. "He has gotten better. It is incredible."
"Well, we better get ready," Fred said, pulling his gloves on and tying the laces tight.
"I still don't feel good about hitting Bludgers at Captain," Mirabelle said.
"Just remember all the hard times he put you through at school," Ginny snorted.
"And at least you don't live here," George said. He looked over at the cheering children. "You don't have to worry about your safety as a consequence at hitting Bludgers at Harry."
"You mean his Baronship," Jimmy chuckled.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Daphne asked. "Three Bludgers with three teams of Beaters?"
"He suggested it," Nathan said, shrugging. He threw a nervous look at Dahlia.
"Normally I wouldn't do it but this is Harry and if anyone could, it would be him," Tanya said. "Also, I'm really curious to see what happens."
-0-
"He's not following the routine," Luna said, looking through her omnioculars.
"Oh no, he's gone off course," Alicia groaned.
"What is he doing?" Angelina whispered.
Cheers and screams came from the crowd as Harry rocketed to earth at a 90-degree angle, plummeting straight down. He pulled up at the very last second, flying with a scant few inches between the broom and the ground. He flew over the ground in a large circle, slowly turning it into a spiral and the circle shrank as he came to the center.
"I don't know if my heart can withstand this," Jean said, clutching her chest.
"He's not even sitting on it!" Samantha cried. "His feet would be hitting the ground if he was!"
"Harry's surfing the broom once more!" Kenneth confirmed, shouting with admiration with the crowd joining him. "What control!"
Once he reached the center of the spiral, Harry rose high into the air, standing fully on his broom. He swayed back and forth, his left foot was balanced on the ball while his right foot balanced on the heel. He moved slightly and the broom responded, keeping him upright with little effort.
"Wait a second." Hermione frowned even more severely and her eyes narrowed. "That doesn't look like his normal surfing-" Her voice was drowned by screams and cheers.
"Jumping Jackalopes!" Kenneth shouted. "Harry just spun his broom around with his feet! He kicked it and the broom flipped completely around! His feet were off of it with him so high in the air! He's doing it again and now he's balanced on one foot and the broom is gliding!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHH!" Hermione screamed, pointing with her finger first at Harry and then her father. "YOU SHOWED HIM SKATEBOARDING TRICKS?!"
"He was interested!" David shouted shakily as Hermione grabbed him by the shirt front and shook him. "I didn't know he would do this! I didn't know he could do that sort of thing on a broom!"
"I am going to kill him," McGonagall gasped.
"Oh my goodness, look at Hedwig," Katie said, pointing.
Hedwig's eyes were wide and round as she stared up at the sky. Her beak was open and hanging and she glared up at Harry. The feathers beneath her right eye twitched and after Harry did a complete loop while still surfing his broom, she started screeching loudly. She flapped her wings irately and stomped the table that she was standing on, scolding and shouting.
"YOU BLOODY BONEHEADED BUTTWARMER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! DO YOU HEAR ME?! GET BACK ON THE BROOM LIKE A SANE CHICK RIGHT NOW! YOU ARE GOING TO TURN ME GREY! I DON'T WANT TO BE GREY! STOPPIT!"
"You tell him Mama Bird!" Samantha shouted too.
"What is he doing now?" Alicia groaned when Harry flew down at a slightly more reasonable height. He began to move in a slightly odd way, his legs moving but feet planted. The broom swayed with his movements and Harry flew gracefully but slightly strangely, swaying and gliding.
Andromeda smiled. "He is dancing. That is a waltz."
"Only Harry could literally dance in the air," Fleur smiled.
At the sound of the horn, Harry leapt off and landed lightly on the ground, his broom drifting to his hand. He bowed and waved and smiled as the watchers jumped to their feet, screaming and cheering and clapping. As he rose from his bow, he ducked again as Hedwig flew right as his head and he fled towards his family group with everyone now laughing at the sight of Harry fleeing from his owl.
"You get back here! You're not avoiding this!" Hedwig screeched as she chased him. "You are in so much trouble!"
"You are in so much trouble!" Katie said when he dodged behind her. "Get him Hedwig!"
"What possessed you to do that?!" Andromeda shouted as she grabbed him by the ear, letting Hedwig latch onto his collar and peck him hard.
"I'm going to peck some sense through your solid bone skull!"
Harry grinned weakly, limply trying to fend off Hedwig's pecking and wincing from Andromeda's grip. "I took one look at you all here for me and I was inspired."
"We inspire you to take risks and be a prat?!" Alicia shouted.
"No! When I see you, I feel like I can do anything," Harry said. His smile turned sheepish. "That I can be my best and when I see everyone and think of you, it feels like flying to me."
"Well, you just had to ruin our justified anger by saying something that sweet," Apolline grumbled, softening.
Hedwig bit him hard on the ear one last time before plumping down on his shoulder and fluffing up, hooting softly, looking proud and exasperated in equal measure. "I suppose I only have myself to blame. You want to be like me and be the best flyer and in doing so, you do something amazing. Amazingly stupid and terrifying but admittedly amazing. Bless my feathers."
"Well, there's no doubt who won," Oliver smiled as the crowd continued to shout and talk about what they just watched.
"There really isn't," Harry said, his arms around his daughters and his wife and his smile from ear to ear.
-0-
"How's the broom testing?" George asked a few weeks later.
"It's still under design for now," Harry said. He set a platter down on the outside dinner table. "And you all should be happy to know that I am asking for and helping fund additional safety measures." He smiled at their collective snorts. "So far, they really only asked me one major thing and we came to an agreement on it."
"The name?" Hermione clapped her hands at his nod. "What did you decide on? Can you tell us?"
"Sure, just don't tell anyone else. They wanted to call it a LightningBolt for obvious reasons and I said no thank you for equally obvious reasons." They all laughed at that. "ThunderBolt was kind of a cool name too but I think they like what I decided on."
"The HarryBolt?" Luna asked, making them howl with laughter.
"The HarryWood?" the twins asked to more hilarity.
"Ugh, no," Harry retched. "No, we're calling it the SnowBolt. It's going to have a white broom top with a speckled pattern and the symbol will be this." He sketched out a flower.
"Oh that is pretty." Daphne looked at him. "Is that a snowbell?"
"It sure is," Harry said. He smiled when Katie wrapped her arms around him and Hedwig plumped onto his shoulder.
"I love you Chick," Hedwig cheeped and cooed. "My Chick is the best."
"You're so sappy," Angelina laughed.
"I like what I like," Harry said. "My friends and my family and flying."
"I'm surprised there wasn't a treacle tart in there somewhere," Alicia teased.
"They shot down the TreacleBolt sadly, same with the TartBolt," Harry said with faux-disappointment and their laughter rang out, lasting for a very long time.
"OwlBolt would have been nice too," Hedwig mused. "No need to name it after me directly. I'm one of a kind."
-0-
"I do like that tradition." Harry hummed for a few moments before the window rattled loudly and opened. Hedwig swooped in and the window closed behind her. He smiled as she flew around the room a little and landed before the fire for a moment to absorb some of the welcome heat. "How about praising Hedwig for being the best."
"Ooh I like that tradition," Hedwig smiled.
"I like that!" Dahlia walked over and picked up Hedwig and hugged her close, bringing her back to the couch. "Hedwig has the softest feathers and is the best owl ever."
Hedwig nodded with extreme satisfaction, cheeping happily and lovingly nipping Dahlia's fingers. "Thank you GrandChick. You are a beautiful Potterlet and a wonderful chickling." She then looked at the other Potters with an expectant expression. "Well? Go on then. Praise me."
"You're the best mama bird," Katie smiled and received a nibble and nuzzle back.
"From one mother to another, you are a wonderful one for both Chick and GrandChicks," she cheeped.
"You're the best head warmer," Harry said, laughing when Hedwig fluttered to his head and pecked him and pulled on his hair.
"You're lucky I love you," she sighed lovingly before wiggling on his head.
Iris gurgled and giggled holding her hands up. Hedwig cooed back lovingly and hopped down to settle on Katie's lap beside the baby. "And you are also a beautiful Potterlet! Such a sweet little chickling. You're going to grow big and strong like me!" She nuzzled the baby, making her squeal happily, and cuddled close, letting her soft feathers envelop Iris' side.
"What next?" Dahlia asked.
"More?" Harry gasped. He smiled when Katie and Hedwig and Dahlia gave him identical flat looks. "Hmm, well, I've always wanted to decorate the home with family and friends," Harry offered. "Remember how I decorated our old house a year or two back?"
"Like a 'spolded snow globe!" Dhalia shouted with glee.
"How about we do it together," Harry smiled. "I'll provide the magic and you lot provide the expertise and the opinions. Go to Mummy's office and to her bookcase, the holiday decorating charms book is in there," he said and watched as Dahlia went running down the hall.
"Dahila asked about them," Katie said softly. "I managed to say you didn't have any from before. But I suggested that we make our own ones."
He hugged her warmly. "I love that idea."
"What were you doing out there anyways?" Katie asked.
"Getting this one some snow," Harry said, poking Hedwig gently. "I still don't know why you want some. I know for a fact you don't like sitting on cold things."
"You don't like to sit on cold things either. Don't think that's unreasonable. Like most of my wants, there's a good reason." Hedwig nipped him back before waddling to the end table. She flipped the lid of a tin open and waddled back with a piece of candy in her beak.
"Candy?" Katie asked, taking it from her and breaking it into small pieces.
"Oh, I know," Harry smiled. "You pour hot maple syrup in the snow and it freezes over." He ate a piece of candy when Hedwig nodded, doing the same.
"I saw it done once and it looked like fun!"
"That does sound like fun," Katie smiled.
Dahlia returned with the book, Holiday Household Charms, and Harry found the box of decorations from the attic. He opened it up and Dahlia and Kati paged through the book together while Iris held Hedwig's feathers as she dozed.
After some hours of work, the living room was newly decorated. The Ever-falling Snow charm had magical snow gently drifting down from the ceiling, melting away cleanly before landing on anything and leaving no chill. A small cauldron bubbled in the corner, releasing scents of citrus and cinnamon and mint and pine. Their favorite though was the tiny Hogwarts Express that chugged on a small track all around the room. At Dahlia's request, they extended the track so that it would puff up and down the stairs, visiting their rooms for a circuit, and it would make a stop in the kitchen. A small car was expanded to hold candy, though Harry enchanted it so that it would only dispense one piece every so often.
He smiled as Dahlia chased after the train with Hedwig perched on the engine, looking very pleased with herself. "This is more fun than the regular train," Hedwig giggled. He felt arms wrap around his middle and Katie leaned against him, her chin on his shoulder. "I like this tradition," she smiled.
"Me too," he said, resting his hands on hers.
They ended the day with Harry boiling some maple syrup and they sat around a big pan of snow, drizzling the syrup onto it and making fun shapes. The syrup cooled rapidly and made delightfully sticky and chewy candy with the texture of taffy.
"Hey, nice broom stick," Harry said admiringly.
"Thanks! The tail's a bit wonky, but it's good," Katie smiled. She laughed when Iris stuck a sticky syrupy finger in her mouth. "I like your owl."
"Thank you," Harry smiled. "I'm pretty good at making owls, right?" He smiled even more when Hedwig inspected the candy owl critically before giving a nod of approval. "Aww, beautiful flower, Hedwig."
Hedwig fluttered in place with a ladle clutched in her talons. She dribbled the syrup expertly and made a beautiful dahlia blossom in the snow. When she finished, she fluffed up with extreme self-satisfaction. "Like with flying and being a post owl and being your owl, I am the best. I would amaze myself if I didn't already know all that."
"What did you make Dally?" Katie asked.
"I made a lightning bolt," Dahlia said, tongue stuck out with concentration as she laboriously created a candy lightning bolt. She missed the look between her parents as she finished it. "Now I can eat it and Daddy will feel better." She did as promised and gobbled the candy in one massive mouthful, chewing away with focused vengeance.
Harry pulled her into his lap and kissed her. "I love you, Dahlia," he said with a soft smile and a warm heart.
"I love you, Daddy!"
Harry laughed as he was covered by sticky kisses.
"Ahh no, don't get my feathers sticky!" Hedwig ran from Dahlia half-heartedly as the little girl chased her. "I love you very much but hate sticky feathers! Nooooooooo!"
"I've never seen Hedwig run from Dahlia before," Katie laughed. "Unless you count their exercise where Dahlia chases her."
"She doesn't like sticky feathers," Harry smiled. He laughed as Hedwig was caught and subjected to sticky kisses too before Dahlia ran off shrieking with laughter while Hedwig chased after her.
"Come back here!" Hedwig hooted happily. "I'm going to nip you!"
-0-
"Hedwig doesn't like it?"
"Not to just chomp on. Which I also have to agree with her. It's great in a dish like this though." He smiled when the window to the flat opened and Hedwig swooped in. He dished up some of the carbonara and set it on the counter and Hedwig landed. She barked a greeting and nuzzled them before she joined them in eating.
"Hello my loves! Oooh carbonara. Thank you, Chick, that looks scrumptious."
"Yeah that's fair. Wouldn't like this in a breakfast normally either I don't think." Katie continued to eat. "What other kinds did you not like?"
"The peameal bacon was super weird. It's like ham rolled in cornmeal," Harry said. "I like Canadian bacon, but it's not very much like streaky bacon either, and it's a bit different from regular bacon too. Hedwig wasn't a fan," he added when Hedwig mooned the icebox. "She really hated the turkey bacon."
"I like ham but it's ham! Not bacon! Ham and bacon are two different things!
"Just like Dora," Katie smiled, giggling at the face Hedwig made.
"It was not bacon at all! Atrocity!"
"I mean, turkey bacon is tasty, it's just not bacon," Harry smiled.
"Maybe you two should try to make your own," she suggested. She smiled at Hedwig's loud gasp.
"YOU CAN DO THAT?!" Hedwig gasped
"You can totally make your own bacon! Dad and my uncle used to do it every now and then. It takes some time but you can do it and it tastes pretty good," Katie laughed.
"CHICK! CHICK! WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR OWN BACON!"
"We'll go to Linette's after we finish eating," Harry laughed when Hedwig flew to his head and tugged on his hair energetically. He smiled when she flapped back down and started eating her carbonara once more only more swiftly. "No need to rush and give yourself indigestion."
Katie giggled when Hedwig rolled her eyes at Harry as well as rolling her rump at him. "Probably shouldn't make her wait too long though."
"No you should not," Hedwig cheeped as she continued her emphatic rump rolling.
-0-
"You want what?!" Linette gasped theatrically, holding one hand to her head. "You don't want my bacon anymore? Oh what am I to do?! My best customer, forsaken me!" She laughed when Hedwig fluttered over the counter and landed on her shoulder and nuzzled her reassuringly. "Aww, thank you my sweet. I knew you wouldn't abandon me."
"Don't worry," Hedwig hooted. "I like you too much. You're nice and give us good meat and wonderful bacon."
"You're the one that wants to do it the most!" Harry cried and Katie and the others at the market and the butcher stall laughed merrily.
"Oh no, I don't believe that, he's putting you up to it so I don't blame him, is that right?" Linette asked.
Hedwig tilted her head and thought for a moment before shaking her head and barking some. "No. As funny as it would be to blame Chick, I just want to make our own bacon too."
"At least she's an honest bacon-obsessed owl," Harry grinned.
"It's good to be passionate," Linette chuckled. "And it just so happens I have some lovely pork belly and a nice cut of the loin and the belly so you can do both regular and streaky." She laughed when Hedwig cooed lovingly and nuzzled her more. "Come with me, we can pick out the best of the lot for you."
"Let's go Mistress of Meat!"
"Wow, Linette doesn't treat anyone else like that," one of her employees laughed. "The other day, someone complained about a cut of beef and she filled a sack of scraps and threw it at him."
"Hedwig can either make people adore her or fight her," Harry said. "And Hedwig knows who belongs in which category."
"Really? She's so adorable though. Who would want to fight her?" the other person gasped.
Harry and Katie laughed knowingly. "Hedwig can be a bit belligerent," Harry said. "And can really keep after you. Carries a grudge too."
"Hey! I hear you talking about me out there! Owls have excellent hearing! I mean you're not wrong but still!"
Linette returned with two large wrapped packages that she handed over the counter to Harry. "There you go! One pork belly and one loin cut with a part of the belly attached. Just what you need for both kinds of bacon." She pointed to a few stalls down. "You'll want a bit of curing salt for the belly. Make sure you get some from the spices place."
"Thanks Linette. Throw in some bacon of both kinds too, in case we mess up or she can't wait," Harry grinned.
"Already had her pick out the best of that too," Linette laughed, handing over two more smaller wrapped packages.
"You're so spoiled," Harry smiled when Hedwig hopped daintily from Linette's shoulder and onto the counter before cheeping at Harry to hold his arm out for her to walk up. She nestled on his head and tugged his hair some, looking plump and pleased.
"Am I spoiled or am I getting my due for being the best owl?" she cheeped. "Not to mention having to take care of you."
"She deserves it," Linette smiled. "And bring me some when you're finished!"
Harry and Katie and Hedwig promised her they would and they walked down to the spice stall together. After consulting with the owner, they bought an array of spices with a heaping amount of regular salt and curing salt returned to their flat.
"Good thing we already had these curing containers," Harry said, digging through his cabinet and taking them out. "Makes it handy."
"Oh we need to get stuff for smoking," Katie said. "For the streaky bacon."
"Oh right. Well it's going to cure a little first before we get to the smoking part so we'll have time," Harry said. He washed his hands. "Let's get things ready, shall we?" They found a simple recipe for a cure for both kinds of bacon in one of Harry's cookbooks and Katie measured out the spices and mixed them well in bowls while Harry cleaned and trimmed both cuts of meat. Hedwig watched from the counter top, fetching a bowl or something when Katie asked her too before returning to watch critically.
"Don't trim too much fat. I like a bit of the crispy fat to chew on. That's where the flavor and nutrients are. Yes, perfect, like that," she encouraged.
"Brown sugar, salt, curing salt, and a little pepper for the back bacon," Harry said, rubbing the dry cure into the loin cut. After making sure it was completely rubbed in and covered by the cure, he set it in the curing container. "Salt, curing salt, pepper, and sugar for the streaky bacon," he said and did the same thing to the piece of pork belly. He also put that into a curing container and put both in the cool box.
"There. Now every few days we take it out, wipe it dry and pour out the accumulated liquid, and do that until seven days are up. Then we can smoke the streaky bacon for a few hours and cook and eat both." He smiled as Hedwig hopped up and down excitedly, hooting with glee.
"What is curing salt?" Katie asked, looking at the package.
"It has nitrites in it to help preserve the meat against bacteria and it gives it the pinkish color. It also tastes a little differently too. Now all we have to do is wait." He blinked at Hedwig who looked at him expectantly. "What? We need to wait for it to cure. Unless there's a spell that speeds up the curing process which I actually want to look up because that would be interesting."
"I know that! The waiting thing, not the charm thing. But I'm hungry now and there's already ready bacon to be made and eaten."
"I think she wants some of that bacon," Katie smiled, pointing at the last two packages on the counter top. "And to be honest, so do I."
"Then I guess we need to make some," Harry laughed as Hedwig flew to Katie and both gave Harry wide-eyed looks of want and adoration. "Don't do that! You know I can resist that!"
"You know," Katie said, her voice low and silky. "I've been thinking about a new broom…hey! Get back here! Get him Hedwig!"
"Get her a broom and get me bacon!" Hedwig barked happily as she flapped after Harry energetically.
Harry fled from them, laughing as he ran around the flat. "The more you chase me, the longer it takes for me to cook the bacon!"
-0-
"Why is Hedwig nibbling on wood?" Katie asked. She had gotten home and had changed into more comfortable clothing before joining Harry and Hedwig in the sitting room.
"We're deciding on what we want to smoke the streaky bacon in," Harry said. "Apparently the best kinds are hickory, apple, or maple. So I got a stick of each for Hedwig to nibble on and then we'll get the pellets to fill the smoker with."
Hedwig nibbled on each one thoughtfully, giving each stick due consideration. She finally decided on one, putting her decision in Harry's hand. "Hmmm, this is nice but a bit too sweet. I know some like bacon sweet but I'm a purist and prefer nice savory bacon. This isn't bad either, but also a touch sweet. I like the scent though. I prefer to munch on an apple for an apple though. Hmm, woody in a good way, a nice gentle aroma. Yup, this is the one I want!"
"Hickory then?" Harry held the hickory twig. "It's the most traditional for streaky bacon I think."
"Sounds good to me," Katie said eagerly. "And we can always try the others in the future. I'm assuming this isn't a one-time thing."
"Probably not," Harry smiled. He had carefully taken the bacons out to wipe clean and to clean the containers of any liquid before putting them back. Now it had been seven days and they were ready for the next step. He left and returned with a bag of hickory pellets and he laid them out at the bottom of a metallic smoker he had transfigured out of metal sheeting. With a Smoldering Charm, he lit the wood pellets and then laid the pork belly on top of the grate within the smoker before sealing it with a lid. They put the smoker on the balcony and the pleasing scent of hickory smoke filled the air.
"I have to admit, this has been fun," Katie smiled.
"How did Dad and your uncle do it before?" Harry asked.
"About the same. We have that small outdoor grill thing we can put in our back yard. It's been a while though but when I told Dad about what we're doing, he started talking about doing it again."
"Oh Hedwig, you might not want to sit on the smoker," Harry laughed, seeing Hedwig sitting on the top of it. "You might smoke your feathers."
Hedwig flapped off and landed on his head and hooted happily, sounding eager and hungry. "Oh good point. Don't want smoky or grey feathers. That wouldn't be good. I'm so happy we can make our own bacon!"
"Not too much longer," Harry said, rubbing her belly. "After a few hours, we can cook them up and try them with the back bacon!"
"How do we want to eat them for the first time?" Katie asked excitedly.
"I got some nice bread to make butties," Harry said. "And some cheese to eat alongside. Also have eggs to fry up too. We'll definitely just try them as is, of course." He smiled when Hedwig nibbled on his fingers. "I know, you're excited too." He looked at Katie. "She's been with me for every wiping and turning. Looking at them with tasty thoughts."
"I'm sure that'll make them taste better," Katie said confidently.
"It does! Thinking positive thoughts makes everything better!"
Hours later, Harry put the two large cuts of bacon on the counter top and the three of them admired them.
"They look just like bacon should," Katie admired. She got the rest of the food ready while Harry cut slightly thicker than normal pieces from both and set to cooking them in the pan. The crackling of the oil and the deep savory scents made their mouths water and Hedwig danced on the countertop, unable to contain her excitement.
"Crackle crackle crackle!
Dance in the pan!
Fry bacon fry,
As fast as you can!
Bacon is the best,
With flavor you can't beat,
Chewy meaty tasty,
All that I can eat!"
Finally, they were done and Harry put the finished pieces on a fancy wooden serving tray in the middle of the table.
"Help yourselves," he said and smiled when everyone did just that. They all bit into the rashers of the back bacon first and chewed thoughtfully.
"Mmmm, that's really nice," Katie said, licking her lips. "Meaty, not too salty, a hint of sweetness. It's great!"
"Yeah it is," Harry agreed happily. He bit into a piece of the streaky bacon next. "Oh man, that hickory smoke added so much flavor. It's so good!"
Hedwig chomped noisily with an expression of pure bliss on her face. She barked happily as she continued to munch on rashers and pieces, wiggling with satisfaction. "Mmmm! This is so good! It tastes homemade and wonderful!"
"You're right, takes a bit of time, but well worth it," Katie said. "I still like the store stuff for snacking or for when you need it quick, but I'd be happy to have a supply of the good stuff that we make."
"Definitely," Harry nodded as he made himself a sandwich and ate hungrily. "It was fun going through the process from beginning to end," he said. "Right?" he asked as he rubbed Hedwig's head.
She nodded and barked thickly through a full beak. "Seeing it from beginning to end makes you really appreciate it all the more. And we did it together! That means we're the best at baconing! Yet another thing I am the best at. Talent, thy name be Hedwig."
-0-
Harry smiled as he felt arms envelope his middle from behind. "Hi sleepyhead," he teased.
"Hi," Katie said, yawning and pressing her face into Harry's back. Hedwig, who was sitting on Katie's head, hooted sleepily and pressed her face into the back of Harry's head.
"Double sleepyheads," Harry laughed. "Good nap?"
"Very," Katie said with Hedwig nodding in agreement. "Gave me a bit of an appetite though."
"You too?" Harry asked, smiling at Hedwig's hoot of agreement. "What do you two want to snack on?"
"I was dreaming about bacon oddly enough so how about some butties?"
"You probably dreamt about bacon since Hedwig was napping with you," Harry smiled. "Happens to me too.
Katie stretched and yawned and smiled with Hedwig doing the same. "Probably! There's a lot worse things to dream about so I'm not complaining."
Hedwig nodded sagely and fluttered to sit on Harry's head, licking her beak as Harry opened the box with the owl on the cover and started slicing thick rashers, ready to be cooked and consumed.
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Arnie1701 - All the bacon.
odonnellzoo99 - That was one of my favorite chapters out of any fic I have written and the name was so perfect for it. I was just astounded at how such a silly premise became such a fun chapter.
poka - Lazy in the sense that I am just adding more to something I had already done the bulk of the work before haha. I'm glad people like them though. It's fun revisiting them.
TheSphynx - Thank you so much.
Ghostwriter - Thank you. She has a delightful POV.
alix33 - She probably has the most right to chew him out.