Chapter 13

Frowning, the shopkeeper said, "It's unheard of in this day and age for owl mail to be intercepted because the penalties for such are quite severe. Furthermore, it disgusts me that someone would do such a thing - invade someone's privacy like that.

"However, if your mail is being intercepted, or you're just worried it might be, I do have an answer to your dilemma," he replied. "Is your owl used by your Head of House?"

"Yes, sir," replied Harry. After a quick look around to ensure there was no one who could listen in, he flashed his Head of House ring to the shopkeeper. "The owl belongs to the Head of House Potter," he quietly said.

Looking a little surprised at the ring on Harry's finger, the shopkeeper said, "Well, it's good to finally know your identity, Mister Potter. And I can understand why you're concerned about your mail being intercepted. And, thank you for your trust. You'll have my discretion in this matter."

The old man walked into the back of the store for a few moments before returning with a small wooden box. Placing it on the counter between them he opened it to show what was inside.

Reaching in he withdrew a small harness with tiny buckles, leather straps and a blank shield on it. "This is the deluxe model," he said. "It's a harness that affixes to the chest of your owl and identifies it as the personal owl for official correspondence of a Head of one of the Noble and Ancient Houses.

"You strap it on to your owl and then touch the crest of your ring to the shield. The shield is charmed to them automatically display the crest of the House to which it belongs - in your case, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter - and also cause the straps to auto-size to the bird. I assure you it doesn't harm the bird in any way, and we've been using these for years.

"The harness is charmed to repel water, dust and damage. It also protects the bird from mail interception up to and including Ministry sanctioned interceptions, protects the bird from other raptors, provides some protection from spell damage and provides the bird with auto-healing of light injuries, an intent-based Notice-Me-Not charm from those who would do her harm, an energy boost similar to a Pepper Up Potion for those extra long flights, and aids in providing a Featherlight Charm to any packages over a quarter of a pound in dead weight up to twenty pounds."

"Are there any other charms that can be added you think might be useful?" asked Harry.

Shaking his head the shopkeeper replied, "No, after many years of trial and error we've found this particular combination to be the best available. The only thing more you can do is make the owl your personal familiar. That grants her, or him, a higher level of intelligence. And will mean she'll be able to better protect your mail, herself."

Nodding, Harry asked, "And how do I do that?"

The shopkeeper reached under his counter and drew forth a small fact sheet on the subject. He placed it on the counter next to the box. "You'll be surprised how many ask just that," he replied with a wry smile.

Harry grinned back and said, "Alright, then; I'll take it."

Nodding, the shopkeeper said, "That'll be fifty-seven galleons for the harness. The pamphlet is free. The harness has a lifetime guarantee to the life of the owl. If you need to replace either or both, come back and see me."

Harry paid the man after also picking up six months worth of owl treats as stock to take to Hogwarts with him.

Next, he headed for the Diagon Alley offices of the Daily Prophet and organised a year's subscription in advance to the newspaper.

Recognising that near enough to an hour had passed he returned to the Jewellers.

Bringing the rings back onto the main floor of the shop the Jeweller had them side-by-side on a black velvet cushion.

"These are beautiful rings," said the shopkeeper. "I hope you don't mind; but, I've also polished both back to looking like new."

"No, that's fine," replied Harry. "And, thank you. What can you tell me about them?"

"The ladies ring is charmed to auto-size, has an anti-theft charm, has an anti-peril feature - which monitors the wearers heart beat and adrenaline levels, so that if both suddenly shoot up it sends a vibration to a matching ring - it has the ability to be linked to that other ring to allow the wearer of it's partner to track them down by pressing on the stone and vice versa; and has a built-in potion, poison and mind-altering charm detector, which causes the ring to vibrate and stone to glow slightly when it comes into near contact with such. The ring will also provide a minimal protection from the Imperious, Confounding, Obliviation and similar Curses. But, it's not foolproof against those.

"The other ring is the matching ring and has the same charms. The only thing missing is a new charm which detects if the wearer is hit with a harmful curse or hex and alerts the other wearer the same way as the anti-peril feature," said the shopkeeper. "However, it only detects those curses and hexes that are common knowledge. Some hexes and curses, such as those that are part of family magics, it might not detect.

"Are there any other protections you think could be installed?" asked Harry. "I want my betrothed as safe as she possibly could be."

Shaking his head, the shopkeeper said, "No, but I can update the anti potion and poison detector, and harmful curses and hexes indicator, with a more modern list. I suspect they'll both be missing quite a few. Plus, you may want to be on my mailing list I maintain to advise my clients when either indicator charms are updated."

"Alright then," said Harry, coming to a decision. "Update what needs to be updated on both rings and add me and my betrothed to your mailing list."

The shopkeeper drew forth a ledger from under his counter and asked, "And what names do I include on the mailing list, young sir?"

"I'm trusting in your discretion in this, sir," said Harry before flashing his Head of House ring. "It's Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass."

Taking a moment to glance at Harry's forehead, the shopkeeper said, "Never fear in my discretion, Mister Potter. I've never broken faith with a customer yet in over twenty years of business." Then he said with a small smile, "And might I say congratulations on your betrothal, Mister Potter. I dare say there will be many a young witch - and possibly some young wizards - who will be most distraught when it is learned you are betrothed and off the market, so to speak."

Harry harrumphed a little and said, "At least that's something I won't have to worry about facing any more. And, thank you."

Nodding a little, though otherwise distracted, the shopkeeper said, "Give me - two hours? - with these rings and they'll be ready for you to collect, Mister Potter." Before he picked up the velvet cushion and turned to walk back out the back with them.

"Thank you," called Harry to the man's retreating back before he left the store once more.

Heading back to The Leaky Cauldron, Harry went straight back to his room and hoped Hedwig had returned. She had, and with a short reply from Madam Longbottom. She advised caution with dealing with the Greengrasses and said she'd meet him on the platform at Kings Cross to make sure he was still okay.

While Hedwig was resting on her perch with her little tray of owl treats and water, Harry brought the harness out of his pocket and showed it to her. "Feel like being gussied up a bit, Hed? This will identify you as the personal owl of the Head of House Potter, my owl." He grinned at her.

Hedwig looked at the harness with interest before giving a soft hoot and huff. Harry figured she approved so moved forward with it to fit it to her.

Working carefully, so as not to damage her feathers, Harry took his time in fitting the harness and making sure all the buckles were done up securely. Then he made a fist of his right hand and, holding the shield with his left hand, pressed the face of Head of House ring to the face of the shield.

The shield gave a little flash of light before the entire harness began to glow. He pulled the ring away from the shield and left go with his left hand as the entire contraption shifted until it shrank down to fit.

When it finished auto-sizing the shield gave a final flash with an embossed copy of the Potter crest appearing in the middle of it.

Stepping back, Harry said to her, "Wow, girl! You look great. It really suits you."

In response, Hedwig stood up a little straighter and gave a happy little hoot. Harry even moved her to his shoulder and then moved to stand in front of the room's only mirror so she could see it for herself.

When she saw the image she gave a couple of little huffs and nibbled on the top of Harry's ear in pleasure.

Harry chuckled and moved her back to her roost. "You'll be fighting the boy owls off now, Hed. You look gorgeous."

Next he pulled the pamphlet that described how to make Hedwig his familiar out of his pocket and read through it.

"Hmmm - this is pretty straightforward and easy," he said to her. "So, girl, how about it? Do you want to fully bond with me as my familiar?"

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