Harry had gotten a beautiful female snowy white owl with small black spots checkered across her wings, he had named her Hedwig. Whereas Hermione had gotten the exact opposite, a black male with white spots in the same checkered pattern. She had named hers Aristotle. They both sometimes flew in to nibble their ears and have a bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owlery with the other school owls. This morning, however, Hedwig fluttered down between the marmalade and the sugar bowl and dropped a note onto Harry's plate. Harry tore it open at once when he recognized his Father's elegant and delicate script: