Chapter Text
“Oh, wow!”
Harry resisted the urge to squirm at the sudden, awed exclamation. The magical world was amazing but he really could have done without the fame.
“Hi-….?” He trailed off the greeting when he turned to find a boy - red haired with so many freckles it was almost a tan instead - ignoring him entirely.
“Hey…” The boy said absent-mindedly, his entire focus on Hedwig.
Harry, puzzled but not about to argue over the situation (what would he even say? Why are you looking at my owl as if she were the famous one?), watched the boy watch Hedwig preen. Eventually, she seemed to have enough of being the center of attention and tucked her head beneath a wing.
“She’s beautiful.” The boy said, finally looking at Harry. “She looks young, fully mature mind - I think that you’re her first wizard. That’s not a bad thing! You don’t have to worry about her not delivering your letters! You being her first wizard is a good thing, really!”
The boy smiled as if to reassure him. It was a bit crooked and not all the teeth were straight - one even looked sharp enough that Harry wondered about the existence of vampires - but it was a nice smile all the same.
Then the boy was barreling onwards, “Owls are loyal and have a very strong sense of duty, it’s why they’re the main means of communication for the Wizarding World, but they’re very particular to their first owner. And yours is a female, one who never had any chicks before and you yourself are still young - which she knows - so she’ll be doubly loyal to you and likely protective on top of that.”
The boy paused and, just when Harry was about to ask his name, said, “What’s her name?”
“Hedwig.” Harry answered in the expectant silence that followed, asking, “Do you like owls?”
“Sure,” the boy said agreeably. “They may not be my favorite but they’re kind of amazing, you know?” He paused as if a thought hit him. “Sorry, who are you?”
Harry hesitated but eventually said, “Harry….Harry Potter.”
“Huh.” The boy said instead of commenting, “I’m Charlie, Charlie Weasley - it’s nice to meet you and Hedwig, Harry.”