The uproar over the notice hadn't died down by the time they left for History of Magic.
"Harry! Ron!" Angelina came sprinting toward them, desperation written across her face.
"Okay, don't panic," Harry said quietly once she was close enough. "We're still trying to—"
"Don't you realize her notice includes Quidditch teams?" Angelina cut him off. "We have to get her permission to reform the Gryffindor team!"
"What?" Harry practically shouted.
"No bloody way!" Ron looked horrified.
"Listen, Harry, I'm saying this one last time—please stop going on about You-Know-Who to Umbridge, or she might ban us from Quidditch entirely!" Angelina's eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"All right, all right," Harry said quickly. "Don't worry. I'll try to keep my mouth shut."
The four of them arrived at History of Magic weighed down by worry. Professor Binns floated a foot above his chair as usual, preparing to drone on about the Giant Wars in his trademark monotone.
Orli spread parchment across her desk, scribbling down prank potion recipes—effective but traceless—when something blocked the sunlight from her window. A plump shadow fell across her notes.
She turned. Hedwig stood on the windowsill, head cocked as she peered into the classroom.
"Harry!" Orli whispered, poking his arm with her quill feather and pointing.
Half the class noticed Hedwig too—the snowy owl was impossible to miss, and most students recognized her on sight.
Orli glanced at Professor Binns, who remained utterly oblivious. She slipped to the window, carefully sliding the latch and easing it open.
She expected Hedwig to extend her leg so she could take the letter and send the owl back to the Owlery. But Hedwig had other ideas—she squeezed through the gap and flew straight to Harry's shoulder.
"She's hurt!" Harry said quietly, voice tight. He took the letter carefully, fingers ghosting over Hedwig's wing. The owl trembled, flinching when he touched her. Only then did Orli notice the strangely ruffled feathers, one wing hanging at an odd angle.
Hermione and Ron leaned in, Hermione abandoning her notes entirely.
"Hedwig needs the hospital wing," Hermione said firmly.
"Professor Binns," Harry called out loudly. Every head in the classroom swiveled toward him. "I'm not feeling well."
Professor Binns looked up from his notes, staring vaguely at the room as if he'd never seen students before in his life.
"Really not well," Harry said, hiding Hedwig behind his back as he stood. "I think I need to go to the hospital wing. Right now."
Professor Binns might have nodded. Or maybe not. He made some vague sound of acknowledgment before returning to his lecture. Harry bolted for the door.
"What happened?" Hermione asked quietly, sliding into the seat beside Orli.
"No idea. Hedwig just showed up at the window," Orli whispered back.
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