Fantasy Advent Day 3: An ode to Hedwig

Welcome to Fantasy Advent, Day 3. We're not to the 12 days of Christmas yet (old off until Christmas itself), but I'm reminded that the gift of the third day is that of three French hens and it inspired some ornithological thoughts. In 2001, I spent nine weeks in language training to learn Spanish. We weren't allowed to make phone calls or correspond by e-mail, so most of our contact with the world outside the school was by "snail mail." It was a treat to find a letter or parcel in the box for your group that was addressed to you and my younger sister recognized that so keenly that she wrote me letters every school day and dropped them off at a mailbox that would deliver them the same day. So, when I read Harry Potter's stories and find evidence of the owls at work, I can't help but feel fond of them.

Owl Post

I always wanted to see the scene inside Eeylops Owl Emporium when Harry met Hedwig. By the time he leaves the shop, his pet owl is asleep and he can't "stop stammering his thanks" to Hagrid. It's as practical a gift for a Hogwarts student as the cauldron and spell books he bought earlier, but Hagrid is giving him a friend and a family member in that same shop.

According to BehindTheName, the Old High German name Hedwig is made up of words meaning combat and duel. That seems like a very aggressive name for the snowy owl who likes snitching toast when she brings Harry's deliveries, but it maybe foreshadows that she will be a casualty of one of the battles that nearly costs Harry his life.

For years before that tragic loss, though, she was devoted to Harry. She traveled to find Ron and Hermione to make sure their birthday presents would arrive in time for Harry's thirteenth birthday. She brought him a message from Sirius in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. even though she had been injured in the execution of her duty. In perhaps my favorite moment of owl audacity,, she pecked Ron and Hermione relentlessly when her owner sent her on a mission to get real answers from the friends who hadn't written to him since the rebirth of Lord Voldemort.

She does sometimes get huffy and with just cause. Harry loses his temper or fails to appreciate her help, but as quick as she is to anger, she's quicker to let fences be mended.

Here's to a faithful companion who should have been one of the owls to carry news of Harry's victory to friends and family across the United Kingdom. We don't know if Harry ever got a successor, but we can't blame him for mourning her loss with a sense of keen loss.