At the precise moment that they took wing, a colony of the same species that my wife was watching near the bottom of the mountain, also sent its queen on a wedding flight.

It studies them a moment, beating its huge wing membranes to keep up. It lets out a piercing shriek (hence the name) and then Banks away, diving like a jet fighter.

Harry lost the thread of his thoughts for a moment and Hedwig did nothing to help him retrieve it, but continued to sit with her head under her wing.