Pigwidgeon is a Little Owl[2] adopted by Ronald Weasley in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He appears throughout the Harry Potter book series.
Biography[]
Prisoner of Azkaban[]
At the end of Ron's third year at Hogwarts, Sirius Black has escaped and gone back into hiding. Sirius finds an eager owl, later named Pigwidgeon, who is willing to deliver a letter to Harry Potter. Pigwidgeon delivers the letter to Harry while he is travelling home on the Hogwarts Express. Pigwidgeon is so proud that he has successfully delivered a letter that he celebrates by flying around the compartment, much to Hedwig's disapproval.[1]
Ron is also in the compartment and notices Crookshanks looking at Pigwidgeon. He holds the owl to protect it in case the cat tries to eat it. Pigwidgeon affectionally nibbles Ron's finger. Sirius also writes that Ron should keep Pigwidgeon now that his former pet, Scabbers, is gone. Ron decides to keep the owl after getting Crookshanks to check he isn't an Animagus.[1]
Goblet of Fire[]
Upon taking Pigwidgeon home to the Burrow, Ron's sister Ginny gives him the name Pigwidgeon. Ron does not like it and tries to change it, but the owl is already used to it and will not answer to anything else. He calls the owl "Pig" for short.[3]
In August, Ron sends Pig to deliver a letter to Harry. When the little owl arrives in Harry's bedroom, he keeps flying around excitedly to the annoyance of Hedwig. Pig collides with Harry when he accidentally flies into his the head. Harry has to tell him to calm down while he is madly twittering so he could use him to send a reply. Pig flutters down on top of Hedwig's cage but she doesn't want him to get any closer to her. When Harry attaches his letter to his leg, Pig flies away.[4]
Harry is later invited to stay at the Burrow and after his arrival, he goes to Ron's bedroom where Pig is hopping and twittering madly in his small cage. Ron tells Pig to be quiet. Harry asks why Ron has shortened the owl's name to Pig, to which Ginny replies that Ron is stupid for not using the full name. Pig has also been irritating the family's other owls, Errol and Hermes, so Ron has to keep him in his bedroom and agrees his owl is annoying.[3]
The day before Ron returns to Hogwarts, Pigwidgeon gets very energetic in his cage when he notices his half-packed suitcase. Harry gives him Owl Treats to calm him down.[5]
The day Ron returns to Hogwarts, they travel to King's Cross in a Muggle taxi. Pig is still acting overexcitedly in his cage and keeps making an "earsplitting racket". After reaching the platform for the Hogwarts Express, Pig heards the hooting of lots of other owls and gets noisier than ever. After entering their compartment, Ron throws his Yule Ball dress robes over Pig's cage to muffle the sound he is making.[6]
After arriving at Hogsmeade station, Ron leaves his dress robes over Pig's cage to protect him from the dourpown of rain and thunder.[6]
Appearance[]
Pigwidgeon is a very fluffy, grey and tiny[1] Little Owl[2], about the size of a tennis ball.[4]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 22
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wizarding World: Owls by J. K. Rowling
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 2
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 11