Becoming someone's familiar was a strange experience. The boy who had taken her from that stuffy, loud shop had walked right up to her without sparing any of the others a glance. He was a smart boy to see how much better she was so quickly. And as he gave her a name, she felt the beginning of the bond between them, his cautious reach for her soul and her acceptance. She had never heard of a bond developing at such a young age, but her boy was special.
Hedwig disliked humans in general, but her boy, Harry, seemed to be an acceptable bonded. Harry smelled of earth and the spices humans used on their prey. He smelled like home.
He was altogether better than that man with him. Hagrid had the sharp smell of liquor hanging on him and he was very very loud. Harry spoke quietly and walked softly but Hagrid was always yelling and stomping around in a way that the ground shook.
She felt strongly that he didn't like her, either, so he clearly had a bad taste as well.
Hedwig was very glad when he was finally gone, even though they were now sitting in a rattling tube of metal (train, her bond-mind told her) that made her want to yowl. Harry took her out of the cage and whispering calming things until she felt herself relax. Finally, they escaped the metal prison and Harry led the way to a very boring house in a very boring street. Hedwig saw another cat smelling of notquitemagic come towards Harry and hissed possessively until the other one left. She felt Harry softly chiding her but with it came a sense of happiness that she was his and he was hers.
Hedwig was not impressed with their home, and even less with Harry's room. The air was stale and the bed creaked in protest when she jumped on it.
She looked on him with distaste and could feel his embarrassment.
Harry indicated she should follow and so they went down the stairs together. He gave her a shallow bowl of water and started rummaging in the cold box (fridge) for something. Her whiskers twitched when he gave her a slice of cold, dead prey. She barely looked at it before she went to the large glass door and meowed. Harry clearly didn't have enough prey for himself and should not share with her. She was entirely capable of finding her own food.
Seemingly reluctant, he opened the door and Hedwig jumped out for a quick hunt. When she came back with a mouse in her stomach and one in her mouth, he was sitting at the table, eating his cold prey between slices of bread.
As she laid the mouse at his feet, she could feel amusement radiate through the bond and Harry gestured at his prey (sandwich). So there was food available in this house. And yet he was as thin as though they were in the middle of winter. This would need observation. She wouldn't allow her familiar to be weak.
When they were both finished with their meals, they went upstairs. Harry started reading to her as she lay in his lap, purring. As night fell, Hedwig made her way downstairs to examine the neighborhood and Harry followed, opening the door and disappearing into the kitchen.
On her way through the bushes, she observed another two notquitemagic cats circling and scenting the house before making their way towards a house on a different street, a house smelling of cabbagecatalmostmagic. Hedwig didn't like it. Someone was spying on her boy. She went back home and instantly marked her territory to keep the intruders away. If that didn't work, she would have to make Harry do something about it.
He was waiting for her when she came back and scooped her up in his arms. Hedwig climbed onto his shoulder and let herself be carried upstairs and into their bed, where she lay down right next to his chest, head pressed against it to hear his heart beat and with it, their bond. She felt some of that golden magic energy twisting itself around it.
They spent several days in comfortable relaxation, and during all of it, Hedwig felt the bond growing.
When she concentrated and really wanted it, doors would open and close for her, and she'd seen Harry pounce on more than one bird.
He was growing stronger, faster, more away of sounds and smells, and she became smarter and more powerful.
They were going to be unstoppable soon.
Eventually however, Harry's "family" appeared.
A boy slightly taller than Harry and significantly better fed started oozing a smell of wantWANTmineMINE at the sight of her. A fat man and thin woman were behind him, both of them shouting.
Harry was baring his teeth and said nothing.
As the man came towards them, smelling like rageviolencefear, she jumped before him and started growling protectively.
Still, he moved to Harry, trying to hurt herfamiliar and she jumped at the man's arm, biting as hard as she could. He started yowling and unsuccessfully tried to shake her off as his mate screamed. Only once the stench of them turned entirely to fear did she release him and return to Harry. Harry, who scooped her into his arms and left the three without a word. And while she knew there was fear in him, his family did not. Hedwig purred, satisfied with the way her boy was growing stronger.
Harry did not change his routine to acknowledge the return of his family, and neither did they acknowledge him. The house had a persistent stench of fear, but that was a price they were willing to pay if it kept them safe.
And then, the day of freedom came.
Harry sat in the car, Hedwig on his lap as the fat man drove them to the magic train.
Finally, there would be people smart enough to happily submit.