The three teens left the Wing arm in arm, and wandered down the deserted hall. Luna took the lead as she guided them to the stairs that were least used. "Now, Harry, since you don't know how to use your tricorder, you need to stick close to us," she said as she firmed her arm that was around his waist. It felt good to have someone to hug. Not since her mum died, had she walked arm in arm with anyone. Her daddy hugged her, but he was a very busy man. It was nice to have friends.
"Don't encourage him," whispered Hermione under her breath, though both parties heard and ignored her.
Right as they were about to descend the stairs, a snowy white owl came winging in their direction. She landed on Luna's shoulders, but her yellow eyes were fixed on Harry.
"Woah, I remember you," he said with a great deal of excitement, making Hermione perk up.
"You remember Hedwig? That's great," she said as she bounced in place, making our hero's eyes drift from the owl to her… jiggling assets.
"Is that her name? Yeah, of course I remember her," he said, turning his attention back to the owl. "She chased off some of the more persistent thieves, when I was on the streets," he explained, as he dropped his arm and petted the owl's chest.
Hermione deflated and just said, "Oh."
"Thanks for that, girl," Harry cooed. "I wonder why she never approached me in the alleys." He had tried almost anything to get her down to him, but she would just hoot at him and stand guard.
"She knows something is wrong with you, but she's doesn't understand what. So like any other animals she's being cautious. She knows you, but she doesn't know how you will react to her. Magical animals are smarter than most," explained Luna in a very serious voice as she too fawned over the owl. "You will notice that she didn't land on you, but she is letting you pet her now. That is because she feels safer in this environment," she added with a general wave of her hand indicating the castle as a whole.
"Well, Hedwig, I am very pleased to re-meet you. I hope for a beautiful friendship with you," Harry said softly as he continued to pet her chest, marveling in how soft those feathers were. "Who does she belong to?" he asked, partly guessing she was his, but wanting to make sure.
"She's your owl," Hermione confirmed.
"Well, that just makes it all the better to be friends with her," Harry said with a big smile. "Why do I have such a cool pet as an owl?" he asked to both girls.
"Hagrid, you remember him, gave her to you. She was your first ever birthday present," Hermione informed him softly.
"Oh, well, that's… good, I guess. I mean, how old was I?" not really wanting to think that his childhood had been so bad that he never received gifts when he was younger. Now he was going to have to reevaluate his opinion of the giant man.
"You were eleven," she answered reluctantly, hoping he didn't get angry again.
"Well, shite," he stated in frustration. He really hated that he couldn't recall his childhood, from what little Hermione had told him, he would really like to… repay, his relatives… generosity.
"Language," the bushy-haired witch said.
"You really need to stop saying that to me, if you want to stay on my good side," Harry said with a great deal of steel in his voice.
She simply looked warily at him and nodded.
Hedwig decided she had had enough human interaction, butted her head on Harry's hand and then flew off.
"Right, I'm hungry, what day and time is it anyway?" he asked, judging from when the old woman picked him up, and how long he had been here it should be early Monday evening, which means close to dinner. He wrapped his arms around their shoulders again and they walked down the stairs.
"It's Monday, November 7, 1994 around 5 pm," Hermione answered as she looked at her watch. Thank Merlin she found a wind-up in a junk store.
"Why weren't you in class then?" our hero wondered, she didn't seem the type to skip classes. Especially not with the way she was trying to get him to attend.
....
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