The Houses Competition: Round 2

House: Gryffindor

Class: DADA

Category: Drabble

Prompts chosen: (Word) Rainbow

Word Count: 772

Summary: It's always hard when a beloved pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge, luckily Arthur is there to help his daughter through the pain.

Title: Chickadee

Ginny was in tears, heartbreaking sobs racked her body as she buried her face into her father's chest, her tears staining his flannel pajamas. The family owl, known as Chickadee, passed away early that morning with Ginny being the one to find her deceased body on the kitchen table. Ginny's gut-wrenching screams woke the entire house with Arthur racing out of his bedroom in nothing but his boxer shorts, wand in hand, to find their beloved family owl splayed out on the table, its wings sprawled out against the wood like spiderwebs, eyes wide and her beak slightly opened.

Chickadee was a beautiful owl, even in her old age. Her ear-like tufts were reminiscent of those on a child's teddy bear, yet her large, round, yellow eyes were befitting of a panther. Her secondary feathers were a mottled grey-brown color while her primary feathers were a deep chocolate brown. Arthur got her when his oldest son, William, started Hogwarts because he and his wife wanted a way to keep in contact with their child. Chickadee soon became a member of the family.

She had a personality like no other owl that Arthur had met and at times, it seemed like she was like one of the kids.

"I…loved…Chick…a…dee" Ginny sobbed.

"I know sweetie," Arthur said softly as he took out his handkerchief and cleaned up the tears and snot that had been flowing down his daughter's face ever since she discovered Chickadee. "I know that you loved Chickadee. We all loved Chickadee and we are all going to miss her."

Arthur tried to reassure her, hating seeing his daughter so upset and unable to do anything to make the pain go away.

"And I'm sure Chickadee is going to miss you too," he said, knowing the bond that his daughter and Chickadee had.

"Why…did…Chick…a…dee…have...to…go?" Ginny asked through her tears.

Arthur couldn't help but frown, wishing there was an easier way to explain death to his young daughter.

"Chickadee didn't want to go sweetheart, she loved us very much and if she could have stayed then she would have but Chickadee was old and it was her time to leave us," Arthur explained as he pushed some of Ginny's hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "You know, Chickadee is in a better place now. When an owl like Chickadee passes away they get to go to the Rainbow Bridge"

"…..The…Rainbow…Bridge?" Ginny asked, sniffling in between every word.

"The Rainbow Bridge" Arthur nodded, "is an amazing place up in the skies that owls get to go to when their time is up with us. There's meadows and hills as far as the eye can see. There's lots of food and water and sunshine. Chickadee gets to fly around all day and there's even mice for her to catch."

As Arthur explained, a slight smile appeared on his face.

"I'm sure Chickadee is having a great time up on the Rainbow Bridge right now and I know she wouldn't want you to be sad, she wouldn't want these tears," he said as he continued to wipe away Ginny's tears with his handkerchief.

"….Will I ever get to see Chickadee again?" Ginny asked, her eyes wide with hope.

"Sure you will, sweetie, but not for a long time. But I know that when that time does come, Chickadee is going to be very happy to see you." Arthur resured. "I know it hurts that Chickadee is no longer with us but she's not really gone. She's still alive in spirit and as long as you keep her memory alive she will always be with you, looking after you from the Rainbow Bridge."

"Maybe...maybe we can get another owl and I'll be able to send letters to Chickadee?" Ginny asked as her sobs came to a stop, being replaced by tiny hiccups.

"I don't see why not. I'm sure Chickadee would love to hear from you." he replied as he took his handkerchief and cleaned up the dried tears on Ginny's cheeks. "Why don't we get you cleaned up and we can say a proper goodbye to Chickadee? We can pick some flowers from the garden for her," Arthur asked, receiving a small nod from his daughter seconds later.

Arthur smiled as he pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead.

"Alright then, let's get cleaned up," Athur said as he set Ginny on the ground and led her to the bathroom.

An hour later Ginny was setting a bouquet of every flower they had in the garden on Chickadee's grave and wishing her safe travels to the Rainbow Bridge.