Lost and Found

IV

An Owl and A Hippogriff

Despite the fact they both had to work early in the morning, Ron and Hermione spent much of the night attempting to write their letter to Harry. They argued over whether or not to just pose their question in the letter. Hermione thought it might be better while Ron was vehemently opposed, saying that Harry would likely ignore the letter anyway, just as he had all the others they had written.

"For that matter, Hermione," said Ron. "How do we even know he'll respond to this one?"

Hermione thought about it for a moment and then shrugged. "We don't," she said. "But we have to try. That's why we should just put the question to him in the letter. Then if he doesn't respond we know we at least asked."

Ron shook his head. "No," he said. "If he does read it he'll probably just throw it in the bin. But if we tell him you need to talk to him and make it sound urgent then maybe we'll pique his curiosity and he'll actually respond."

Hermione was silent as she considered Ron's words. He actually had a very good point. There was no way of knowing whether Harry was even reading Hermione's letters but if he was then this letter should be different. There should be something about it that would actually convince him to pick up a quill and write back.

In the end, after much discarded parchment littered the floor around Hermione's desk, the letter turned out to be a very short two sentences. Ron was convinced the very brevity of the letter would be enough to cause Harry to write back as Hermione had almost never written a letter that was shorter than a foot of parchment. Hermione was indignant about this but Ron won the argument.

"After all," he said, matter-of-factly, "your letters to Vicky, er, Victor were always short novels."

Hermione bristled slightly but chose not to respond. Instead she read the letter aloud again:

Dear Harry,

Something has happened and I really need to see and speak to you. Please let me know when would be convenient.

Love,
Hermione

"It just seems like there's something missing," she worried.

"Nonsense. It's fine," Ron reassured her. "I'll go find Pig." He left the room and Hermione smiled as she heard him mutter, "It's not like he's going to answer anyway."

Together they stood at the window as Ron tied the parchment to the little owl's leg. Pigwidgeon was aquiver with excitement as he tried his hardest to stay still. He seemed to sense this was an important delivery. Finally, the letter was tied on and Ron looked at Pig for a brief moment before opening the window.

"Don't come back without some sort of a reply," Ron instructed as he unlatched the window and thrust the owl out into the night. Ron took Hermione's hand and held it tightly as they watched Pig disappear in the darkness.

Now, it was all up to Harry.

~*~

By the end of the week there had still been no answer from Harry or any sign of Pigwidgeon.

Friday morning the Weasleys--minus Angelina who was still sleeping--were having a quiet breakfast. Fred, still unaccustomed to the hours required by his new fatherhood, was practically asleep in his eggs. Around him the others were trying to make as little noise as possible.

Suddenly a small voice intruded on the quiet. "Ow!"

Everyone swiveled their heads to look at Girard who was pointing at the window. A number of owls were headed their way with the morning post. Several of them landed in front of Fred or dropped letters on his head before swooping back out the window the way they came. Startled, Fred jumped and when he saw the letters he reached for one. He was reading aloud a letter of congratulations from Charlie when Ron gave a sharp, "Bloody hell!"

Pigwidgeon had flown through the window after the other owls and circled the room twice before buzzing Ron playfully. If Hermione had not been so eager for Pig's arrival, she would have scolded Ron for swearing. As it was, the rest of the family was used to Ron ranting at and about his owl and they returned their attention to Fred as well as their own post.

Ron swatted at Pigwidgeon who finally settled on the table in front of him. Ron was reaching out for a letter when he realized there wasn't one. He looked anxiously at Hermione and when he saw the disappointment on her face he was sorry for having been proven right. Harry wasn't going to respond.

"I told you not to come back empty-handed," Ron hissed at the little owl who hooted cheerfully in response.

Fred had moved on to a note from Oliver Wood that had come in a small parcel with a tiny, red stuffed quaffle, when the same little voice that had proclaimed the arrival of the post again piped up. "Ow!" repeated Girard, once more pointing at the window.

Everyone again turned to the window and wondered whom the straggler owl was for. Hermione suddenly gasped while Ron's mouth dropped open. Around them the rest of the Weasleys wore similar expressions of surprise and disbelief as they watched a large, snowy owl's dignified entrance through the kitchen window. She soared across the room and landed gracefully in front of Hermione and gently nipped her finger in greeting.

There was silence in the kitchen as they all sat motionless and stared at the owl. It was Fred who finally broke the silence as Hermione reached out for the parchment attached to the owl's leg. "That's not--" he started, "That can't be...Hedwig?" He asked cautiously.

No one answered him but Girard took that as a signal to speak and proudly pointed at Hedwig. "Ow!" he said triumphantly. There was nervous laughter around the table as everyone's attention remained on an owl they had not seen in more than two years.

Ron watched as Hermione unrolled the parchment. She gulped and her face turned white. Wordlessly she handed it to Ron who read it and disgustedly threw it on the table proclaiming, "Well, that's just mean!"

Seated across the table, Bill picked up the parchment, scanned it quickly and, after a brief look at Ron, read aloud:

Buckbeak will be at the Burrow at 2:00 tomorrow. Be ready to fly.

They all turned to Ron and Hermione. Hermione was still pale and Ron was seething. "He knows she hates to fly!" he cried defensively.

Hermione suddenly grabbed the parchment, jumped up from the table, and ran from the room. Ron sat dejectedly in his seat lamenting the fact that while Harry had unexpectedly answered Hermione's letter he had sent such a cruel reply. He knew that not only did Hermione dislike flying but she had hated her one and only ride on Buckbeak. Ron remembered the horror on her face as she had recounted it to him on a visit to the hospital wing third year while Ron's broken leg was still mending. He remembered how her voice had been laced with fear and when she had given a little shudder at the memory of the flight, he had felt strangely compelled to reach out and hug her. He had, however, managed to restrain himself.

Ron could feel everyone's eyes on him as they waited for an explanation. He was not quite sure what to say, as they had not told anyone their idea of living with Harry in case it did not work out. He was saved from speaking when Hermione raced back into the kitchen. She went straight to Hedwig and tied a piece of parchment to her leg. The owl nodded, hooted, and took off through the window.

When Hedwig was out of sight Ron turned to Hermione and asked, "What did you say?"

Taking a deep breath, Hermione answered, "'I'll be ready.'"

Ron closed his eyes and shook his head as he heard his father ask, "You're going to see Harry?"

"Yes," he heard Hermione reply.

"Blimey," said Fred and he let out a long, low whistle.

"What's this all about?" Bill put in.

Ron opened his eyes and exchanged a nervous look with Hermione. Finally Ron answered, "We'll tell you about it after tomorrow." Picking up his fork, Ron attacked what remained of his breakfast while Hermione sat back down and shoved her plate toward him.

~*~

Saturday afternoon Ron and Hermione stood tensely outside the back door of the Burrow. Hermione kept chewing on her lower lip while Ron was shifting from foot to foot. Various faces kept appearing at windows of the house as other members of the household hoped to catch a glimpse of the awaited hippogriff. Even George had apparated over, having left Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in the capable hands of Lee Jordan for the afternoon.

Hermione looked at her watch and Ron heard it squeal, "It's two minutes since the last time you looked at me!" She sighed and returned her gaze to the clear blue sky before exchanging glances with Ron who simply shrugged. Buckbeak was late.

A window opened above them and Fred's head poked out and scanned the sky. He looked down at the pair and asked, "Nothing yet, then?" Hermione shook her head. Fred then called down, "Oy! Ron!"

Looking up, Ron asked, "Yeah?"

"What do you think of 'Rupert?'"?

Confusion clouded Ron's face. "What?"

"As a name for the baby. Angelina's suddenly fixated on 'Rupert.'"

Ron scowled and that was all the answer Fred needed. "Yeah," he nodded, "that's what I keep telling her." His head disappeared back inside.

Ron and Hermione turned away from the house and returned to their vigil of the sky. Suddenly Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and with her other hand pointed up. "Look," she said. "Do you see that?"

Ron squinted and a moment later he noticed a dot that seemed to be getting bigger. "Yeah," he answered. "Yeah, I do."

Hermione swallowed nervously and they heard more windows opening in the house behind them. The entire family watched Buckbeak's approach.

The hippogriff soared into the yard as gracefully as Hedwig had the kitchen the day before. Ron distantly heard Girard exclaim, "Ooh, Mummy!" followed by Fleur shushing the little boy. Buckbeak stopped about ten meters from Hermione and looked at her unfalteringly with his eagle eye. Remembering Hagrid's lessons from way back in third year, Ron and Hermione bowed. There was a pause and then Buckbeak bowed back.

They sighed in relief and started to move closer but Buckbeak snapped at Ron who instantly stopped in his tracks.

"Hey," he cried angrily, "I just want to help her up and say good-bye."

Buckbeak snapped once more in apparent warning and then turned to Hermione and bowed lower, clearly indicating she would not need help climbing up on his back.

They heard George mutter, "Seems he has his orders," from where he was standing in the kitchen doorway behind them.

"Nice," snarled Ron, curling his lip. He turned to Hermione and fussed with her cloak. "You don't have to do this, you know."

"I know."

"We could still find a flat somewhere."

"I know." Hermione smiled at Ron and he knew she would not change her mind.

"You be careful."

"I will, Ron. Don't worry."

"I still don't like this, Hermione. I don't like the idea of you flying off all alone like this."

"Somehow, I think he'll take good care of me," she said, indicating Buckbeak. Ron knew she sounded braver than she felt. He heard the very slight wobble in her voice and noticed how weak the smile she now gave him was.

"I really don't like that Harry would do this to you. You could have apparated or something."

"It's a test, Ron. If I don't do this, I'll fail." Hermione's smile grew stronger. "And we all know how I feel about failing, don't we?"

Ron snorted and tried to hide a grin as Hermione reached up and kissed him. "I don't think we should keep Buckbeak waiting," she said.

"All right." But Ron held on to Hermione and kissed her again more thoroughly. When they pulled apart Ron brushed the hair out of Hermione's face and said, "I love you."

"I love you too, and I'll be back before you know it."

Hermione waved to the faces in the windows as she headed off toward Buckbeak. Ron watched her climb gingerly up on the hippogriff's back. She looked at him and waved bravely. Ron gave her a half-hearted wave in return, his expression still stony.

Buckbeak turned quickly, took some running leaps and then extended his wings, beat them once and stepped up into the air.

~*~