It was the Christmas before Dennis went to Hogwarts. This was a special Christmas like none before it, and Dennis honestly couldn’t see how there would be a better one after! Last summer something truly amazing happened: he had his first instance of magic ever! At 10 years old, Dennis thought he was doomed to be a squib, not that his family ever looked down on him but he could tell there was going apprehension as he neared his 11th birthday. But it had finally happened! Now all they needed to do was wait until his birthday and hopefully he would get a letter saying he was accepted into Hogwarts!

For months, his parents had been so secretive about what they were getting him for Christmas. Every time he asked they would say they were handling finances and were too busy to talk about it, or would switch the conversation to what he thought they should get his siblings. None of this was what he wanted to hear of course, but he got a glimpse of what they were up to in November. One of the papers sticking out of his father’s briefcase was an authentication certificate. He couldn’t make out what it was because his father had quickly cleaned up when he saw his son snooping.

So it was something that needed authenticated. Maybe a collectible or he was getting a broom! Dennis daydreamed for days about getting a broom before he even had his first class! It was coming less and less likely as December waxed on. He had not seen a broom shaped box anywhere. Not in their home and not in either of their parents offices or classrooms. What on earth would need a certificate. He would have to wait to find out.

And wait he did. Or if you could call it waiting. He couldn’t remember getting any sleep at all for the week leading up to Christmas. But not being a nuisance finally paid off on Christmas Day. He was the oldest so as tradition stated, the youngest got to open his present first. His parents weren’t poor or stingy but they preferred to give everyone one really nice gift as opposed to a bunch of little somethings that were easily forgotten the next day. This really helped Dennis understand the value of his own possessions and the value of waiting for something extra special instead of just spending easily on cheap things.

His brother got a really nice bike. Dennis was quite surprised. He knew his father and his brother really loved cycling and watched all the races they could catch on the television. But the brand was not cheap at all! Would they spend that much money on him and not the rest? His sister opened her present and got the artist marker set along with extra art books that she had wanted. It was apparently a brand by some art influencer online that she had been addicted to. Also not cheap but substantially less than the bicycle. His sister however loved them no less than his brother loved his new bike. What on earth could he have gotten? He saw no box, no bag, and no card with his name on it. He watched as his parents exchanged gifts, now he feared they forgot him. Perhaps his invitation to Hogwarts was going to be his Christmas present.

“But…where’s my gift?” Dennis pleaded as everyone seemed really preoccupied with what they received. They all looked shocked, even his siblings. They all looked at each other and back at Dennis.

His mom came to sit beside him on the floor. “Denners…didn’t you see it in your room? We put it there when you insisted you wanted to stay downstairs. We could have sworn you would have seen when you went up to change.” She said softy. She made a motion with her head signaling for him to go upstairs and check again. His heart was racing as he launched himself off the floor and rocketed up the stairs.

He dashed into his room and there sleeping on his bed was a small kitten. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets! He couldn’t believe it! He scanned the room quickly and found the certificate that he had seen earlier propped on a pillow. It was an authentication certificate for the breed of the cat saying it was a pureblood. He approached her quietly to get a better look, barely able to contain his excitement and urge to squeeze the little fuzzball. It was a light tan cat with dark rings filled in with a brown. It looked like a little mini leopard. He heard foot steps behind him and then squeals as his siblings saw it too. He motioned for them to be quiet as he continued to make his way over careful not to startle it.

The kitten, with its eyes impossibly big for its head, looked up at Dennis. With a yawn and a big stretch the small fur ball hopped down the bed and trotted over to Dennis and rubbed all over his pant leg looking for pets and cuddles. He picked her up and she wiggled free of his embrace, preferring to perch herself across his shoulders. “You got me a Bengal cat!?” He said turning around. With a nod he walked gingerly over, so that the kitten wouldn’t jump away, and hugged his parents.

“What are you going to name her, son?” His father asked, stroking his sons hair and then giving the kitten a gentle pat on the head as it meowed for attention.

“Jules,” Dennis said after giving it some time. “Short of Juliet.” His new kitten purred as she fell asleep around his neck.