He sits up again, bearing a tome with him, and begins to flip through; she carries on preening, and wonders when he brushed his hair last. He doesn't seem to take care of himself very well, since he left the nest-place again, and he doesn't write unless written to, not even to the wolf-wizard, not since the dog-wizard left for the Far Sky. She wishes she could tell him about the Far Sky, where the hunting is always good and the mice rich and sweet with fat, and all one's nest-mates and perch-mates are whole again, and all pains are healed ... but as well as he understands her, he does not yet understand her that well, and by the time that he does, he might well have found out already.

This is very consistent with First Nations Mythology.  Maybe that's why this one has always felt so right to me. 

Very very cute and unique! I love the bit about the "Far-Sky".

Somehow, through the little we hear about Harry directly, we know an awful lot about him. Please continue! I really loved it.

this is beautiful...please give me more

I knew, just KNEW what Harry's adult coloring was before reading your notes. I felt a jolt in the pit of my belly when I read it. Argh!

I hope Hedwig is right about the Far Sky. There are a few people and some pets I will be mightly glad to see again one day. Sigh....(brought a few tears and sniffs to me I must say)

Well done indeed! I hope you can continue with this story of Hedwig's. Really enjoyed it.

Pamrr16

Oh, that's so touching and sad, and I loved it.

This line: She would pluck herself bald if that were all it took to make him happy.  Guh.  I honestly believe that Hedwig does love Harry that much.

And poor Harry, so sad, with his "adult coloring" coming in so soon.  My heart breaks for him.  Did you plan on writing more?  I think it would be a fabulous idea!

Jen

Awww. When will someone come after the Dursleys?  He would be a perfect person for the job, or

 Actually they deserve a good roasting. Does Harry know that  consider him as her owlet?

How unique and how wonderful!  Excellent perspective.  The emotion was perfect in its intensity. 

even if his nest-mate and nest-minders should have been abandoned for the foxes at hatching

Lovely little bit of biting humour at the Dursley's expense.  Very clever piece all together.  Thanks for writing it.  Story of the week Indeed!

That was lovely.  The sadness and resignation of Harry...I like how he's still doing his homework - remember when he wanted nothing more than to be able to do it at the Dursleys'?  What a long way we've come since then...

And this:

but as well as he understands her, he does not yet understand her that well, and by the time that he does, he might well have found out already.

is wonderfully evocative.

Congratulations on having this delightful story chosen as Story of the Week!  I've reread it several times since it first came out and it never ceases to bring a lump to my throat. 

Besides Hedwig's views on Harry's hands "She knows it won't work, that wizard-chicks who don't learn to turn into proper owls don't get feathers that way... but he knows the affection in it, and that's what matters." and "He is strong, her wizard-chick, and has good perch-mates, even if his nest-mate and nest-minders should have been abandoned for the foxes at hatching ... he will grow, and she will teach him to fly." have become my two favorite quotes.

Thanks for posting a story I love to read over and over and over...

Hello, again!

I knew I'd seen this story here. (Hm, maybe I reviewed "Hero's Burial" here using the old review system.)

This is an excellent story. You have a knack for painting pictures in my mind.

"hands that she remembers barely being able to open her cage that first day, shaking with excitement and incredulous joy, almost too weak to undo the fastening. His hands are bigger now, longer, stronger, but they still shake sometimes, and it is not with joy"

Excellent line. Very evocative of what Harry has been through.

"She would pluck herself bald if that were all it took to make him happy." Great line, your version of Hedwig is wonderful.

“The first of his adult coloring is coming in already.” Poor, white haired Harry!

I look forward to more of your stories!

This was really a beautiful story. It was simply told, yet you could feel the love Hedwig had for Harry, and the protectiveness. Reading it reminded me of the way our pets protected my kids when they were little, thinking they were mommies, and even when the kids were bigger, one or another would settle in to lie down next to them, and slowly lick their feet or hands. The kids always loved them so. This story had some of that kind of warmth in it.

Just a lovely story.

A nice little story.

I am wondering, is that first lock of Harry's adult plummage snow white?

I also wonder at the line "wizard-chicks who don't learn to turn into proper owls"  Is this a bit of foreshadowing should you continue her ruminations?

BJH

Oh, how lovely! And unique... this was just adorable. I love that she cares for Harry so much, and that you've written insight into their relationship. It was bittersweet and extremely well written  I won't command that you write more, though it would certainly be nice if you did!

Katie

This is such a heart-warming story.  Seeing Harry through Hedwig's eyes is certainly a special point of view; I love how she talks about her concern for him, how she treats him like her own real owlet, how she lovingly calls him her wizard-chick.  Best of all, your description of Harry's hands has led me to read this story three times today. Finally, the ending with its note of hope made me smile.

Thank you for writing a story worth coming back to.

Eh? Interesting POV. But Hedwig isn't as smart as she thinks she is, if she considers Dudley to be his brother. LOL

Wow! I really like this story.  Momma Hedwig will take care of her chick well. I would love to see her catch the "rat-wizard" and present her chick with a present. I honestly hope this is just a prelude to a very, very long story.

I would love to see what you would say if Hedwig and Crookshanks had a conversation about her "chick" and his "kitten"..(sorry-hint-hint, I couldn't resist)

Keep up the Great Work

Fabulous. Great idea using Hedwigs point of view. I hope you will post chapters regularly.

Tinnidawg

What a wonderful new way to look at Harry. I really like the voice you have given Hedwig and her world view is superb. I find myself in complete accord with her views, especially- even if his nest-mate and nest-minders should have been abandoned for the foxes at hatching ...   Oh yeah! So with you there, Hedwig!

I look forward to more of Hedwig's eye-view. A most original twist. Well done!