Hedwig, we salute you

Illustration by Brittney Lee for a 2011 HP tribute show.

This week, amidst the jubilation over Harry Potter's heroics (not to mention Neville Longbottom, Severus Snape, the Weasleys, et cetera et cetera), let us not forget the story's great communicator, Hedwig. As cousins to the snowy owl, we Bard Owls may be a bit biased, but really, what is the wizarding world (or the Muggle world, even) without timely correspondence?

Hedwig, you delivered stuff, you nipped Harry on the ear when he deserved it, you suffered at the hands of Delores Umbridge and lived locked in a stupid closet every summer. You've endured much, my friend, including life in a non-native climate zone. And for this, we salute you.

We're certainly not the first to pay tribute to this great raptor.  First, there was the "Hedwig's Theme" remix by Virtual Boy.



There's also a pretty bad YouTube video tribute with an absurd song choice. And then, of course, the crop circle in Wiltshire.

And most recently, this precious illustration of the owlry by artist Brittney Lee (see more of the piece on her website).

Finally, on the latest score for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Alexandre Desplat brilliantly combines "Hedwig's Theme" and "Lilly's Theme" for an original track titled "Snape's Demise." It's a touching mix that expresses one of the story's more complex relationships. [listen] [buy]