32 The Tale of an Owl

August 1994

Quidditch World Cup Final

With a flash of lightning, Harry and the bird appeared in another corner of the camp site of the tent.

The lightning around the bird faded revealing a snowy white owl, Harry's first real firend Hedwig.

All of this began few days later after Harry's magical reserves was unbound. Harry started to feel these changes when Hedwig felt more intelligent to him. Even since beginning, Harry had acquired Hedwig, she was most intelligent bird in Hogwarts.

Initially Harry ignored these changes but one time he saw small bolts of lightning around Hedwig's claw.

For some time Harry assumed it to be some kind of hallucination but then he witnessed the same lightning bolt again after some time.

This threw Harry in state of confusion and worry. To solve this riddle about his most trustworthy friend, Harry threw himself in deep study of all kind of pets. He went through all the books he had acquired from the vaults of his 5 families.

Ultimately he discovered some clue in a book from Slytherin's vault. It informed Harry that owls were not used as magical bird for communication in all the world.

The book particularly mentioned about the country India, where the owls were considered birds of wisdom and intelligence. Not only this this nocturnal bird represented wealth and was considered a good omen.

Even though Harry discovered some related information, Harry had no clear answer to what was happening to Hedwig.

As the time passed, the lightning flashing around around Hedwig increased.

Though Harry had a gut feeling that whatever was happening to Hedwig was a good thing, but could not stop himself from worrying.

This happened some days back, when suddenly Hedwig suddenly flew from its perch and landed at Harry's study on which Harry was reading some book.

Hedwig stared at Harry for some moments when, Hedwig struck its beak on the backside of Harry's palm drawing blood.

This came as shock to Harry but before he could register what truly happened, he felt a magical connection growing in his subconscious.

This connection was nothing like the bond he had with his elfs but a deeper connection. Though he had no idea what was happening, Harry trusted his instincts and allowed the magical connection to settle in his mindscape.

As the connection finally completed, the duo of the bird and wizard were surrounded in a magical lightning.

Over the time period, Harry deduced that Hedwig was no ordinary owl. She was a very special bird. For now Hedwig had given access to two of her powers.

Hedwig allowed to travel Harry freely just like teleportation. It a similar method too Phoenix travel but Harry had no complete information about Hedwig's teleportation power.

The second power which Harry now had access to lightning. With the help of Harry's connection with Hedwig, Harry was now very highly attuned to lightning.

For now Harry could fire spells similar to what he used against the death eaters in his last attack.

With a quick thought, Harry quickly discarded his invisibility cloak attire and started to walk in direction towards the tents.

He had not even taken few steps when a short distance from him a loud boom sounded and huge skull floated in air.

Harry muttered in frown, "Death Eater Mark."

He quickly changed his direction and started to walk towards the mark.

In minutes Harry reached a clearing in the woods and was surprised to discover few familiar faces.

Hermione and Ron stood in the centre of the clearing. A few other wiards had their wands pointed at the duo.

The group of wizard was being led by Crouch. Among the group Harry recognized another minister wizard, whom Arthur had told them about, Amos Diggory. He was father of Hufflepuff seeker, Cedric Diggory.

Harry could see Ron almost whimpering in fear muttering something and though Hermione stood some what bravely, Harry could feel the small shiver in her spine.

Harry roared at the top of his voice, "Who dares?"

Harry's roar brought all attention on him but before anyone could say anything, another wizard, Arthur Weasley came running in their direction.

He shouted, "Crouch, he is my son and his friends."

Harry also moved quickly and stood next to Hermione, pressing his hands on her shoulder, trying to reassure her.

Crouch pointed towards Ron and Hermione, "They were found at the crime scene."

He continued to press forward, "Tell me girl what were you doing here?"

Before Hermione could answer, Harry intervened, "Enough of your nonsense Crouch. Even a fool could tell that teh dark mark was fired somendistance away from this clearing. Instead of checking up you are here accusing minors."

Crouch almost shouted in anger, "Don't teach me boy. I have dealt with more death eaters you can ever imagine."

Harry's anger flared and his slow and heavy voice boomed in the clearing, "I know a lot how you dealt with Voldemort's..." everyone flinched at the name, "stooges. Half of them freed themselves in name of the imperius curse and at least there was one wizard you put in Azkaban without trial."

Harry continued, "So brave that have no courage to even speak his name."

Harry's eye glowed green as he stared at Crouch and the Ex-DMLE head took a step behind in fear.

Amos stepped forward, "Why don't we calm down and you Miss and Ron, why don't you tell us something?"

Hermione eager to tell spoke quickly and pointed to her right, "The spell was fired from there. We heard the spell and some rustling of the leaves."

Amos quickly went into the woods followed by few other wizards while Crouch remained in the clearing.

The group in the clearing remained in silence, while Crouch was seething from anger on his humiliation.

Minutes later Amos returned back, with an extra wand in his hand.

Crouch was about to question when the other wizards stepped back in the clearing with a shivering house elf with them.

Harry recognized the elf as the same elf who was kepping a seat for Crouch in the VIP Box, where Crouch never came.

[Thankyou for reading. Rate, Review and Comment on my novel. Also send the power stones]

[For many of you worrying if Harry would be nerfed or would be too Op. Here is my take: Harry would be powerful and I am not nerfing him with all the boosts I gave him. Also though Harry intends to hide his titles and powers but in doing so he would not be acting like a pathetic and whimpering wizard.

As shown in the chapter when needed Harry would take people head on without fear as with Crouch.

I don't find any logic in any powerful person suffering all insults just so that they hide their identity. For powerful people there is a certain pride and they will not lower it for anything.]