PoA CH 1-3 post DH look

[Bex]

No: HPFGUIDX 181377

> > > Alla:
> > > Yeah Hedwig seems to be very smart. Do you think other owls 
> > > are just as smart?
> > 
> > Liz:
> > I always thought that owls were magical in their own right. 
> > How did they know where everyone was? Case in point the 
> > delivery of the Prophet. No matter where the person was 
> > they always seemed to know to where to deliver it. An owl 
> > found Hagrid out on that great big rock when he first went 
> > to find Harry.
> 
> Geoff:
> I think you are right about all owls being magical (or fitted 
> with SatNav perhaps???). If the letters at Cokeworth were 
> brought by owls, they certainly found Harry in three different 
> locations at the beginning of PS , in addition to your quoted 
> example of Hagrid.
>

Bex:
Not necessarily all owls, but all the mail owls are clearly magical.
They have a higher understanding of human speech and feelings than
nearly any other animal in the series (save Phoenixes), and they have
the ability to locate a recipient in all but the direst of
circumstances. I have always assumed that you *could* hide from owls,
though - otherwise Voldemort would not have eluded capture for so long
(along with Sirius while he was on the lam, and HRH in DH). They also
have different eating habits than "normal" owls and obviously
different sleep patterns.

I have wondered if magical mail owls were originally bred from
crossing owls with a magical bird. Phoenixes are the only ones who
come to mind at the moment, but I don't have my copy of FB handy right
now. Seems like it would be incredibly difficult magic to charm an owl
down to its DNA, then have it pass the charm on to its offspring.

Bex