The truth is, I sometimes feel like Hedwig gets a level of devotion that's a bit out of proportion. I get the attachment—she's a constant, loyal presence, she delivers the post, she's Harry's first real birthday present. But I think the fandom sentiment, especially the reaction to her death, has been amplified by the films. The books handle it with that brutal, wartime casualty bluntness Rowling does, but the movie... they gave her this whole heroic, sacrificial blocking spell moment. It transformed her from a poignant, off-screen casualty into a full-blown martyr. The visual did so much heavy lifting. My emotional connection is more to what she represents: that last, fragile link to the magical world Privet Drive tries to stamp out. Her death isn't about a pet dying; it's the moment the last shred of his childhood insulation is gone. So, favorite? Maybe not for me. But I understand why she's a symbol. The outrage over her death is really outrage at the war taking even the innocent, silent bystanders.
That said, the memes and the art are incredible. The 'Hedwig's Theme' jokes, the 'she was a real one' posts—that community love is genuine, even if it's built on a movie-enhanced foundation. It's become its own piece of fandom lore, separate from the text.