A New Life
1988
Crystal never expected to be reborn as an owl. Or in general.
A snowy owl was born in a magical community far up in the frozen lands, known to most as the arctic.
Here, she was raised by loud humans and older owls in a safe, warm atmosphere. It was a small breeding center specially focused around snowy owls.
She gained consciousness around three months of age, or awareness. Whatever it might be called.
From a young age, she was trained into being a postal owl.
To her, this quickly became a part of her new life, delivering packages and messages to the people who were waiting for them.
She didn’t understand why or how she was here, but she thinks she adapted rather quickly.
Maybe it was the benefit of having an animal brain.
When gaining her old memories back, she grieved and moped, for she could not physically cry.
She missed her life as a human, despite all the troubles it brought. She still longed for the taste of human food and the feeling of clothes on her body.
Despite those feelings, she went on. She grew to like this new life. Birds don’t care as much as humans. Everything here is much more… simple.
Humans really did overcomplicate every single thing. The humans had it so wrong, making life so difficult for themselves. Here, there are no worries of moralities or world wars. Or if the color red matches their undertones.
This is a world full of magic. Real actual magic.
She was just three and half months old when she discovered this.
She never really understood how pigeons were trained in her old life, but surely this couldn’t be how?
She was given an envelope with an address on it. It was just a couple of streets away but she wasn’t expected to just figure this out, was she?
The head guy came close to her and put his hand on her head. She immediately gained a strong memory of a place and the view of streets as if she had been there before.
She might’ve freaked out a little.
She scooted backwards off of the perch she was sitting on, her little owlet legs swinging as she fell to the ground with an ungrateful thump, gravity cruelly stealing her away.
All he did was laugh at her.
She was taught how to track someone’s magical signature.
Your average postal bird was taught to go to the local magical post office with the mail they had. There, they had birds that knew of different areas. Those birds were sent out into the different locations that they were already familiar with.
More magically inclined birds, birds like her, were the ones who were trained into tracking down magical signatures.
The new freedom and independence that came with her job took root in her. As long as she made sure her tasks were completed within a reasonable time frame, she could do whatever she wanted.
But once she turned three years old, her world was torn apart. The familiar simplicity of her former life had now been replaced. Gone were the scents and sights that once filled her days; replaced now with air rich in exotic, strange aromas. No longer was she enjoying life in her cold region.
She was aware of her community occasionally selling owls to chain stores for money, but she never fathomed that she would be one of them.
She didn’t know where she was and she was stuck in a small cage.
Luckily, she’s only been here for a day or two.
Kids have been running amok through here nonstop. A tornado of youthful energy began blowing through with no signs of stopping.
Crystal watched from her cage as an overwhelmingly tall man squeezed through the door.
Strangely enough, the entire atmosphere began to shift.
The giant looked around at the owls, considering his options. She can’t lie, she was a little intimidated. Also, he reminded her eerily of a local butcher that she once snuck into the shop of when she was a human. Considering how similar they look, and even though the other one was covered in blood while this one with animal hair, she thinks she’s justified in her fear. Is she about to be slain?
Acutely aware of the vast difference in their sizes, she felt very meager as she watched the giant nine foot man approach her area.
Against her wishes, he made eye contact with her and strolled on over.
He picked up her cage and examined her closely.
“Great.”
What kind of choosing was that?
He seemed a little too excited to be getting her and she didn’t understand why. Wariness settled in.
Crystal didn’t know what to make of this giant who just bought her. He seemed kind enough, not like those who buy for nefarious reasons.
He hobbled with her cage down the road, approaching a small boy. He was probably around eleven years old, like the rest, and he was staring at her with fascination.
She couldn’t help but think sarcastic thoughts as she was handed over to the boy. Great, she was stuck with a child for an owner. Would she even be let out of this cage?
The thought of her future made her feathers ruffle.
Just when she thought she was free.
The giant explained to the boy that she was his birthday present. She heard him call the kid “Harry.”
As she really took a closer look, she saw a scar on his forehead. He was wearing incredibly worn clothes.
There’s no way though.
She took another look at the giant again.
She looked back at Harry.
…
She knew she was screwed the minute he named her Hedwig.
“Hedwig” let out a large squawk of annoyance. If she could sweat, she surely would be, for her fate was really sealed now.
She has just been sold into this life, the life of Harry Potter. Crystal thought she got the chance of a lifetime being reincarnated into a bird.
She never experienced a life of fame and fortune. And almost dying on a monthly basis.
Why would she want to? Well, she wouldn’t never say no to money but…
She felt an unholy rage not fit for a bird.
Hedwig was pissed. She was pissed she got reincarnated in the world of Harry Potter. She was pissed she had to be his companion. She was pissed she hadn't had a choice in the matter. She was pissed that her life had turned out this way, and she was even more pissed that her former trainers sold her off.
She was pissed, but she had no choice but to go along with it.
Moreover, she would make sure to make a deposit all over his items.
She would leave gifts on his pillow.
Her displeasure would be known.