"AAAH! This is driving me crazy!"
After a busy afternoon, Harley collapsed helplessly onto her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as she let out a scream.
Hedwig, who had just finished bathing and shaking herself completely dry, happened to hear Harley's wail.
She landed on Harley's chest, rubbed her little head against Harley's cheek, and gave two smug hoots.
"Don't gloat. You're the one who has to deliver all these letters!" Harley flicked Hedwig's perky owl butt and pointed at the thick stack of letters on the table, speaking with ill intent.
"Hoot!" Hedwig leapt straight into the air in fright. She looked at the letters, then at Harley, seemingly unable to process what she'd heard.
Once she finally understood, Hedwig charged over angrily, apparently trying to peck Harley.
But Harley merely glanced at her with her bright green eyes. There wasn't a trace of emotion in them, yet the little snowy owl shrank her head in fright and obediently landed on Harley's stomach, rubbing her head against Harley's chest ingratiatingly.
Harley rubbed her head in distress. Just now, she'd finished replying to most of the less important letters.
For instance, Ron's letter about discussing their Transfiguration homework, and Dean's letter about solving their Charms homework.
For crying out loud, they just wanted to "borrow" my homework. Why go around the houses?
Those people were fine, at least. When Harley hadn't replied, they'd probably assumed she hadn't finished her homework, so they hadn't pressed her again.
But some people had sent Harley more than one letter. Hannah, Susan, and Lavender, for example.
These close friends of Harley's had sent her several letters, and the worry in each one had grown more urgent.
They kept asking why Harley hadn't replied and whether something had happened to her.
It was strange.