Welcome Muggles and Wizards alike to my humble abode. To those few of you who may not know me, I am Hedwig, the much revered messenger owl of the famous Harry Potter. I deliver his letters, packages, and run his errands. I also pick up his letters from others, help struggling old owls, and make sure that he gets birthday presents from all of his friends and companions. Many think that is all I, the great Hedwig, can do. However, I listen closely and watch intently about everything concerning my owner. To read the juicy and  important messages I've picked up along my route, click "The Walls Have Ears." Since I have amazingly soft feathers which make it nearly impossible to hear me coming, I hear and see more things than most people in the magical world. I have also included an update on the condition of Harry Potter, the despicable Dursleys, and a few of Harry's closest friends. If you would like to get to know the real me a little better, click "Meet Hedwig." Because of the downright frosty weather recently, I have come down with a bad case of Owlingitis, so I'm unable to grant the usual live interview you've probably enjoyed. Try again when it's warmer.  Enjoy!

Harry Potter Update
        Summer holiay is over! Back to Hogwarts again, I suppose, although I do hate those train rides. Stuck in there with all those  sorry excuses for post owls. Sigh... Anyhooo, Harry has promised me (as well as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher) that he will focus more on studies this year, due to his quite dismal showing in finals last year. Well, granted that's probably due in part to the explosion but - oh dear, I've said too much already.  With He Who Must Not Be Named loose and all Dumbledore is taking all  the precautions he can with Harry's saftey, so I can't say anymore.

The Disgusting, Despicable, Dirty, Dursley Update
      After taking Dudley off his diet, (Aunt Petunia claims he's lost 10 pounds, although, by the look
      of him, you'd think he must have gained weight, if that's possible...) life at the Dursley household
        has returned to normal. Uncle Vernon is  Aunt Petunia is as gossipy as ever and has been in an
uncommanly good mood this week, after she caught the next door neighbor's husband kissing
         someone other than his wife. Dudley has returned to school, much to the dismay of his teachers.
Three reports have been sent home thus far and Dudley has had to have someone hand make pants
in his size. Harry is far from being forgiven for the tounge-engorgement incident and I've heard Uncle
             Vernon plotting to keep Harry in school during next year's summer holidays.
I wouldn't mind if he succeeded. 

  Friends, Companions and Acquaintances Report

• Ron Weasley, owner of that hyper-active fluff ball and disgrace to the Owl Post known as Pigwidgeon, is back at school with Harry.  As a back-to-school gift, the Weaslry's got Ron a new pet. His new rat, Maroon, is nothing like the ill-fated Scabbers and actually has magical powers. She is constantly helping Ron with his homework, and his grades are now equal to Hermoine's. There was a litle problem over the exploding pumpkin incident on Halloween which was directly connected to him, but he eventually worked out of the problem with only 200 hours of detention, which is pretty lenient, considering what he did... sheesh... I doubt if the Great Hall will ever stop glowing neon orange thanks to him.
• Hermoine Granger is taking 5 new classes and hardly ever gets back to the Common Room before 10:00. She is studying Arithmancy in her free time and trying to construct a Pensieve, so that she can remember what teachers talk about in class even better.  She and the much acclaimed Viktor Krum (Seeker for the Bulgarian Quidditch team) are sending massive amounts of Owl Post to each other, and after her trip to visit him this summer she says, "We are closer than ever."  I would like to thank Hermoine for the "Make Your Own Mouse" kit she sent Harry for his birthday. They are quite tasty.

• Sirius "Snuffles" Black has left his mountainside home for the time being. I can't tell you where he is, seeing as it might fall into the wrong claws, but he has his eyes on Harry, Voldemort, and the rest of the world. He did manage to send Harry the best birthday gift EVER! but, because it is technically illegal and all, I can't tell you about it.

Hedwig's Riddle-o-the week If you kept your eyes and ears open, like me, you can easily answer: What kind of food was served at Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Portington's deathday party?  Need a hint? Send me an owl at Furrydog12@aol.com.  If you're correct, I'll post your name right here. Last weeks's riddle was first solved by: Softball Chica 15	Hedwig's Quote of the Week: "The ochestra, however, stopped playing at that very moment. They, and everyone else in the dungeon, fell silent, looking around in excitement, as the hunting horn sounded. 'Oh, here we go,' said Nearly Headless Nick bitterly."  I remember that party. If only Nick hadn't been so morose about it all, we could have sat back and enjoyed his death