I have a story to tell you...something really magical happened to me tonight. Made me feel warm all over and prickled the hair on my neck at the same time, know what I mean?
The neighborhood party was in full swing, lots of kiddles and moms and dads milling about. We were all taking turns answering the door for the TOTers, and my hubby (Professor Snape) and I were taking turns giving tours of the house and showing the different Potter decorations, doing a little explaining for those who were not Potter afficianados.
Knock on the door...my turn to answer...open the door just as the fog machine let out a blast, and there, coming into focus through the fog, was a young boy, about 10 or so, dressed as HARRY POTTER!!! Gryffindor robe, scar, tie and all! His face immediately lit up when he saw my costume, and he said "Trick or Treat, Madam Hooch!" I, too lit up, and asked if he was a Potter fan..."Oh, yes", he said, "I've read all the books and seen all the movies." I asked if he would like to see the rest of the decorations, and we checked in with his Dad who was standing on the walk (in a costume, too, good for him!), and he agreed. They both came on in, and I wish you could have seen the look on that child's face when he saw Hagrid standing there!! As we walked around talking about each of the "classrooms", his little mouth never closed...he was absolutely slack-jawed with amazement. He noticed every little detail, right down to Tom Riddle's diary, and even opened it, to see that I had written the conversation that Harry had with Tom through the diary. (Only a POtterphile would have looked for THAT!!!) Right there all my hard work was rewarded...I mean, of course I enjoyed everything I did this year, and it was great fun and a real challnge to see how I could re-create Hogwarts in my humble home...but the look on that kid's face....now THAT is why I do what I do, and THAT to me is what this is all about.
The only thing our Harry didn't have was a wand. We had several, and I brought them out so that he could try them all (the wand picks the wizard, you know) and see which he liked. You could just see him brimming over with excitement. I'm actually getting a little teary talking about it. So off he went, wand in hand, and a HUGE smile on his face...and I hope that someday someone will ask him..."What's your favorite Halloween memory?" And he will say, "you know, there was this house decorated just like Hogwarts, and this lady dressed as Madam Hooch gave me a wand...."
Happy Halloween everyone!!
