“Hey, Hedwig?” Harry asked, as he stood next to her favorite perch in the Owlery, “Do you think it’ll get better from here?”
There was no reply, not that Harry had expected one. Hedwig was a proud bird, and she had never been one of many hoots.
“I just… I don't know where to go from here. Maybe Grimmauld Place? But… its never going to be the same without Sirius, you know?”
The rays of the rising sun flooded the Owlery, mixing with the flickering orange light of the castle grounds, as Harry sighed, one hand coming up to sweep his messy, matted hair out of his face.
“Everyone’s waiting at the Great Hall, you know. I should really get going. But…” He paused, taking a deep, trembling breath. His hand reached out for her pristine white feathers, to stroke them again like he knew she loved… but it stopped midway.
“But so many people didn't make it, Hedwig. Dumbledore and Remus and Fred and Tonks and… and… I know its over, and He’s gone, and we did it, but… ”
He leaned against the empty perch heavily, tears slipping down his soot stained face “I… I guess I just wanted to say…. I wish you were here too Hedwig. I miss you, so much. I’m sorry.”
With that, Harry turned, and left what remained of the owlery, as the sun rose over Hogwarts once again.