Ron patted Pigwidgeon on the head. “Don’t screw up, okay?” he said to the tiny owl. “Make sure this gets to Mum in good shape.”
Pigwidgeon hooted importantly. Ron carried him over to the window and let him go. He watched as the owl fluttered away in a wavering line. “I wonder what happens to him on his journeys,” he said to himself, watching Pig until he became a dot on the horizon.
After leaving the Hogwarts grounds, Pig made his way over the rocky terrain and grassy fields of Scotland, more or less making his way in the direction of Ottery St. Catchpole. He flew rather like Woodstock in the Snoopy cartoons; that is, he sometimes flew backwards or upside-down, always on a shaky course. If he had been a cartoon, a dotted line would have marked his progress through the air.
Around nightfall, Pig heard a strange array of sounds. A woman's sobbing echoed over the crackle of flames. As Pig drew closer, he saw that the woman's house was on fire! The woman was sobbing into her hands. "My baby! My baby!"
Pigwidgeon carefully placed Ron's letter in a tree, and fluttered down to the flaming house. He swooped in through the window, carefully avoiding the flames. He heard the baby crying and followed the sound into the nursery. Demostrating strength no one had ever expected of him, Pig grasped the back of the baby's shirt and lifted him out the window, into his mother's arms.
"My baby! Oh, thank you, little owl!" the lady cried happily.
Pig hooted and retrieved Ron's letter, then continued on his lopsided way. He fluttered along all night, and finally stopped to rest. Then he heard a soft cheeping. A baby bird had fallen out of a nest! Carefully, Pig swooped down to the baby bird and reassured it with gentle hoots. He then picked up the baby bird in his talons, carefully, and carried him back to his nest. The baby bird chirped excitedly, happy to be back with its siblings. Pig hooted and flew off.
Soon he was flying over London. He heard a shriek. "Help! My purse!"
A robber was running away, clutching an old lady's handbag. Hooting loudly, Pig shot out of the sky and into the robber's face, attacking with claws and beak, his wings fluttering in the robber's face.
"Blimey! Stupid - what the-" the robber swatted at Pig furiously, swearing. He dropped the lady's bag, but didn't notice until the old lady started beating him about the head with it, screaming. Pig disengaged himself from the fight as several bobbies joined in, swinging their clubs at the robber.
"Thank you, little owl!" the old lady called after him.
Finally, Pig fluttered down on the sill of the Burrow's kitchen window. He hooted. After a few minutes, Mrs. Weasley appeared and retrieved the letter Pig bore. It had gotten a little crumpled and dirty in the fight with the robber, and Mrs. Weasley sighed.
"Honestly, Pigwidgeon.... you're getting just as bad as Errol these days."
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