A Hoot of a Holiday
December 25, 2025 | Kennedy Cheek | Cheek Family Household | WC: 655
It had been a semester for Kennedy, and she was overjoyed that she was finally home for winter break. She had almost forgotten what her home was like, but not quite. Everything was just how she had left it, and she spent every day reveling in the time she had left with it. Christmas day however marked half way through break, signaling when she would have to leave her home. Normally when she woke up on Christmas day, she was excited, but however she couldn't pretend to fake happiness this time. She trudged down the stairs in the morning, and didn't even smile when she smelled the cinnamon rolls her father was baking.
"Hey chickadee," He said as he danced his way around the kitchen.
"Good morning," She offered weakly taking a seat in the stool at the countertop. Her dad pause for a moment, studying his daughters face.
"What's wrong," He asked, leaving the dough on the counter and sitting next to her. No one was awake yet, still asleep in their beds.
"Dad, I don't think I want to go back." She admitted.
"Why chickadee, I thought you liked it, is someone being mean?" He asked pulling her into a hug.
"It's not that, everyone's nice, but I miss it here. I miss you." She sighed.
"I think that you'll find that soon there will be things that you will miss at Hogwarts too." He said, standing up and returning to his baking.
"Not much, Elise and the owlry maybe."
Her father only chuckled, holding a secret that Kennedy would soon find out.
Her mood soon improved as her and her sibling settled in to open gifts. Her brother received several items from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and her little sister some new dolls. As Kennedy searched under the tree for her gift she found a small envelope with her name on it. She opened it slowly, careful to not rip the paper inside. It was a smooth piece of parchment with only three words, "Look Behind You." When Kennedy turned her head, she started sobbing tears of pure joy and happiness. Behind her stood her dad, holding a bird cage, in that bird cage was a young barred owl. Kennedy had been wanting an owl, specifically a barred owl, since the age of 4. She really couldn't think of a more beautiful creature with its brown and white feathers and elegant, almost heart shaped face.
"I-is it r-really mine?" Kennedy asked through her tears, unbelieving that it could possibly be real. Her family laughed at the question, all smiling at her joy.
"Yes, sweetie, he's all yours." Her mom said, pulling her into a hug.
"We thought you deserved him, after being so brave in your first semester at Hogwarts," Her father added.
For the rest of the day, nothing else mattered. As soon as she could, she took her new owl up to her room. Grabbing her beloved sketchbook from its spot on her nightstand, she flipped to a well loved page. On it was all her name ideas for the event that one day she got a real owl. As she scrolled down the list, none of them seemed like the right fit. She thought back to when her father had called her brave, even thought she didn't fell brave, and that's when the name hit her.
"Hello Valor," she said to herself as much as the owl. "I think you and I are going to be good friends." The owl hooted in response and ruffled its feathers, as if agreeing with her. He then settled in for a nap, but Kennedy didn't mind, she was content just admring.
It didn't take long for the winter break to come to a close, and for Kennedy to have to go back to Hogwarts. But this time, she didn't dread it, not when she knew that her new friend Valor was coming with her.
It had been a semester for Kennedy, and she was overjoyed that she was finally home for winter break. She had almost forgotten what her home was like, but not quite. Everything was just how she had left it, and she spent every day reveling in the time she had left with it. Christmas day however marked half way through break, signaling when she would have to leave her home. Normally when she woke up on Christmas day, she was excited, but however she couldn't pretend to fake happiness this time. She trudged down the stairs in the morning, and didn't even smile when she smelled the cinnamon rolls her father was baking.
"Hey chickadee," He said as he danced his way around the kitchen.
"Good morning," She offered weakly taking a seat in the stool at the countertop. Her dad pause for a moment, studying his daughters face.
"What's wrong," He asked, leaving the dough on the counter and sitting next to her. No one was awake yet, still asleep in their beds.
"Dad, I don't think I want to go back." She admitted.
"Why chickadee, I thought you liked it, is someone being mean?" He asked pulling her into a hug.
"It's not that, everyone's nice, but I miss it here. I miss you." She sighed.
"I think that you'll find that soon there will be things that you will miss at Hogwarts too." He said, standing up and returning to his baking.
"Not much, Elise and the owlry maybe."
Her father only chuckled, holding a secret that Kennedy would soon find out.
Her mood soon improved as her and her sibling settled in to open gifts. Her brother received several items from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and her little sister some new dolls. As Kennedy searched under the tree for her gift she found a small envelope with her name on it. She opened it slowly, careful to not rip the paper inside. It was a smooth piece of parchment with only three words, "Look Behind You." When Kennedy turned her head, she started sobbing tears of pure joy and happiness. Behind her stood her dad, holding a bird cage, in that bird cage was a young barred owl. Kennedy had been wanting an owl, specifically a barred owl, since the age of 4. She really couldn't think of a more beautiful creature with its brown and white feathers and elegant, almost heart shaped face.
"I-is it r-really mine?" Kennedy asked through her tears, unbelieving that it could possibly be real. Her family laughed at the question, all smiling at her joy.
"Yes, sweetie, he's all yours." Her mom said, pulling her into a hug.
"We thought you deserved him, after being so brave in your first semester at Hogwarts," Her father added.
For the rest of the day, nothing else mattered. As soon as she could, she took her new owl up to her room. Grabbing her beloved sketchbook from its spot on her nightstand, she flipped to a well loved page. On it was all her name ideas for the event that one day she got a real owl. As she scrolled down the list, none of them seemed like the right fit. She thought back to when her father had called her brave, even thought she didn't fell brave, and that's when the name hit her.
"Hello Valor," she said to herself as much as the owl. "I think you and I are going to be good friends." The owl hooted in response and ruffled its feathers, as if agreeing with her. He then settled in for a nap, but Kennedy didn't mind, she was content just admring.
It didn't take long for the winter break to come to a close, and for Kennedy to have to go back to Hogwarts. But this time, she didn't dread it, not when she knew that her new friend Valor was coming with her.