With a grin, Harry drew his wand out of his left sleeve, held the parchment up so he could read it, and stood in front of the owl’s perch.
Pushing a little with his magic he made the required wand gestures and spoke the required incantations.
When he was finished there was a light glow for a few moments around and between the two of them.
Stepping back and away a little, Harry closed his eyes and focussed on feeling his connection to Hedwig.
It took a few minutes but he realised he could sense it quite easily.
Plus, he also felt he could feel the – though, primitive emotions coming from his avian friend.
She was very happy.
Turning back to face her again, he said, “Now, according to this pamphlet, you should have a boost in your intelligence, had transferred to your mind some of my skills, be able to sense my thoughts and emotions similar to how I’m able to do the same with you, and it’s extended your life expectancy somewhat. I think this will prove to be a very good thing for us both.” He grinned at her.
“Now I’m pretty much all packed here, girl,” he said.
“I’ll just give you a message to give to – Isabel to let her know I’ve sent you ahead of me and that I’m still on schedule to arrive at Greengrass Estate at 1.00pm, and you can be on your way.”
He then sat down at the little table in the room and quickly wrote the message before using the little strap on the harness to attach it to the owl’s leg.
He sent her on her way before packing the last items up and stowing the portable owl perch in the lid of his trunk.
He shrunk the trunk down and pocketed it in his robes before leaving the room for the last time and heading back to the Jewellers.
As soon as he walked in the door the Jeweller shopkeeper spotted him, smiled, and reached under the counter where he was standing and brought out a small ring box of deep blue coloured velvet.
Opening the box he showed Harry the two rings sitting within with the stones facing up.
“All done, Mister Potter,” he said.
Harry grinned at the box and said, “Thank you very, very much. How much do I owe you?”
“Just fifteen galleons, Mister Potter,” he replied.
“And might I say it was a pleasure to do this for you.”
Harry quickly handed the man the coins and peered intently at the two rings nestled within the box.
“You do very nice work, sir,” he said.
“I dare say that when I upgrade these in a few years to husband and wife rings I’ll be back.”
Nodding graciously, the shopkeeper said, “And I look forward to that happy day.” “Again, thank you,” said Harry as he left the store.
The ring box was now safely stored within one of the pockets of his robes.
Back at The Leaky Cauldron Harry finalised his bill for his stay and ordered a light lunch.
While sitting there an owl arrived and dropped off a response letter from Madam Bones.
As with Madam Longbottom she advised caution and said she’d try and meet him on the platform at Kings Cross before departure of the Hogwarts Express, just to ensure herself he was still fine.
It gave Harry a bit of a warm feeling to know that there were now people who were interested and caring enough to care about his welfare.
It felt odd but nice at the same time.
At precisely 1.00pm Harry stepped through the floo into Greengrass Manor – and promptly fell on his butt again.
Climbing to his feet and grumbling to himself Harry heard the soft tinkle of feminine laughter coming from a few feet away.
Glancing up he saw Isabel waiting for him chuckling to herself.
He gave a wry grin in response.
“My apologies, Harry,” she chuckled.
“But that, a dignified entry, does not make.”
“I think it’s now official,” grumbled Harry, dusting himself off, “The floo system hates me.” Chuckling again, Isabel stepped forward and waved her wand over Harry.
Instantly, the soot was vanished away.
“Actually, there’s a trick to it,” she said.
“I’ll be happy to show you when we travel through it together to the old Midland Grand Hotel, if not before.”
“Midland Grand Hotel?” asked Harry.
“Why there?”
“The Midland is an old muggle hotel pretty much built almost right on top of Kings Cross station. We use a hidden floor and hidden rear entrance in the old hotel as the floo point to get onto the platform. Then it’s only a short walk through the muggle side of the station to the barrier to Platform 9 ¾.”
“Oh,” said Harry.
“I did not know that.” As they were talking Isabel was leading Harry upstairs to the second floor.
She then turned to the right and entered the upstairs wing, which, Harry thought, would place him somewhere over the formal lounge.
Stopping at one of the doors to her right, and therefore at the rear of the Manor, she opened it wide and ushered Harry inside.
“This will be your rooms for the next few days, Harry,” she said.
Stepping in through the door, Harry saw a large four poster bed with side tables dominating the room.
Off to one side he saw a small desk with a lamp and chair ready for use, and two other doors.
Inside Harry saw a neat and tidy bathroom with it’s own separate bath and shower, toilet and hand basin with a mirror above it.
The other door, on the same wall as the door to the bathroom, was a small walk-in robe.
With all the clothing he had, Harry didn’t believe his entire wardrobe would fill even a tiny fraction of the space available.
“Now, set yourself up in here and come downstairs when you’re done,” Isabel instructed.
“The girls and I are currently in the kitchen at the informal table in there.”
“Thank you,” said Harry as the older woman left.
He reached into his pocket and unshrunk his trunk placing it at the foot of ‘his’ bed.
Opening it, he pulled out Hedwig’s portable perch and set it up near the window.
And refilled the owl treat and water bowls for her.
To burn off a few minutes he then unpacked his toiletries and transferred them to the bathroom.
All done, he walked out of the room and took the stairs back down to the Ground Floor, and went off in search of the kitchen.
He figured it’d be near the dining room somewhere; and probably at the rear of the house.
After leaving his room upstairs, Harry headed straight back downstairs and headed for the formal dining room.
From there he heard the sounds of voices coming through another door so moved to that one and pushed the door open.
He was greeted by a second, smaller dining room with the opposite wall wide open and showing a large kitchen.
Sitting at the table were Isabel, Daphne and Astoria.
As soon as Harry stuck his head through the door, Astoria spotted him.
With a cry of “Harry!” she launched herself off the chair, covered the intervening few feet at a run and tackle-hugged him.
“Welcome back!” she exclaimed.
With a grin, Harry hugged her back and said, “Thank you, Astoria. It’s good to be back.”
She then let him go, grabbed him by his hand and dragged him over to the table.
Pulling a chair out for him next to her own she commanded, “Sit!” With a chuckle, Harry sat.
He was sitting opposite Daphne, who looked back with a wary half-stare.