CHAPTER 5
HUGH
CECILIA WAS SOMEHOW able to find us what we needed in a matter of hours.
How she pulled it off, I couldn’t be sure.
After a few calls, she put us in touch with an old connection of hers who worked at the Harry Potter studios and was going to let us borrow what we needed for my disguise.
Sam had everything for her and the kids, but I needed something to wear. Not everyone visited wearing costumes, as it was entirely optional, a bit like how some people went to Comi-Cons dressed up as their favorite character and others went in casual clothes.
Cecilia’s friend Jay was showing the kids some of the props they had in storage, and Sam was helping me choose from the things Jay had given us.
“I’m going to need a cloak, right?
“A robe,” my wife corrected me with a teasing smile. “Wizards don’t wear cloaks, they wear robes. Muggle mistake, mo gradh.”
“What’s a Muggle?”
“Oh, dear. Where have you lived the last twenty years? We are, after all, in the country where Harry Potter was created and published.”
“I was too busy . . . what do you Americans say? Oh, yeah—I was too busy hustling.”
She shook her head and gave me a playful look.
“Whatever, you have no excuse. You’ve watched the movies, right?”
“Yeah. Once, I think.”
“Once? Looks like between the books and the movies, you’ve got some homework to do.”
“Why are you so into it? What’s so special about them?”
“We don’t have enough time for me to list all the things I love about Harry Potter and why it’s one of the best sagas ever. In due time, you’ll find out. Here, you’re also going to wear this hat and this long beard.”
She fixed the beard around my face and put the hat on my head. She was wearing a wide-rimmed witch hat and a purple velvet robe.
“You look like a younger, handsomer version of Dumbledore.”
“Dumble-who?”
“Dear Lord, who have I married?” she asked, pressing her lips together and shaking her head in disbelief. Apparently, I was saying all the wrong things and asking all the wrong questions. When I frowned at her, she smiled and let out a sigh. Then, she patted me on my arm reassuringly.
“It’s okay, you’ll learn. I’ll make you a bloody expert.” She glanced around and when she saw that the kids were still busy with Jay, she wrapped her arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. I wrapped my hands around her waist.
“I hope you know I’m teasing you,” she said with a smile.
“I do.”
“And that despite the fact that you seem to know very little about Harry Potter, I still love you very, very much.”
“Why, thank you,” I replied, leaning down and brushing my lips against hers.
“Can you just do me a favor, though?” Her voice was gentle, almost shy.
“What?”
“Don’t ask any questions during the tour, okay?”
“Why?”
“I don’t want the kids to be embarrassed,” she joked, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
“The kids or you?” I teased her.
She smiled, her beautiful brown eyes looking downright naughty.
“Both.”
THE KIDS HAD A BLAST.
Sam was worried they might be a bit young for the exhibit, explaining that the Universal Studios in the States might have been more fun for them with the rides and all, but both Claire and Rory seemed equally captivated with looking at every little thing, from makeup to set props.
Sam had the idea of having a little contest, telling them she’d keep a tally of all the things they could correctly name. The more things they spotted, the more presents they’d get from the gift shop.
“Look, Sam! It’s the Monster Book of Monsters!” Claire cried out. The book was in a glass case, and whenever someone got close, it would move as if trying to take a bite out of you.
“Are you sure you’re not going a bit overboard?” I teased her.
“Shhh, this might help them pay a little more attention. We really should try to get your brother involved and take them to Florida. That would be lots more fun. We could make it a family vacation!” she said excitedly, lacing her fingers with mine.
“I like the sound of that,” I whispered against her ear.
“Look, Sam! It’s Fred and George’s store!” Rory said.
“What was it called, Rory? Can you remember that?” she asked him. Rory shook his head, and Sam pointed to the letters on the front door. “Can you read those words?” She knelt next to him and waited for him to read them out loud.
“Weasleys’ Wizard Whee-whee-”
“Wheezes!” Sam said, tickling Rory until he was giggling and begging her to stop.
“Sam! Can we go in Ollivander’s wand shop?” Claire asked.
“We most certainly can! Come, give me your hand. Let’s go check out all the wands!” After the shop, we spent more time checking out other sets and props used in the movies. The kids loved going on the triple-decker bus, and Sam told me the magical purple vehicle was introduced in the third book of the series, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban. My wife told me it was her favorite book in the series, and her favorite movie as well. After we made it through the whole exhibit, we spent nearly an hour in the gift shop. Sam calculated the kids’ points; for each five correct answers, they got one present.
When I glanced at the paper Sam was holding in her hand, I saw Claire had gotten a total of twenty-eight and Rory twenty-two.
“Your numbers were very close! I say you get five presents each. What do you say, Uncle Hugh?”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
She turned toward me so the kids wouldn’t see her and said, “Do you think we’ll ever get out of here if we let one of them walk out with more toys than the other? We’ll never hear the end of it,” she whispered.
The kids weren’t paying any attention to us, already too busy browsing all the shelves and trying to decide which things they wanted the most.
Sam’s eyes never left them. She was so good with them, so patient.
I hugged her around her waist, startling her. She was jumpy that day.
“You make one hell of a witch, but I’m a bit upset about this velvet robe—it’s in the way. I can’t wait to go home and…disrobe you.”
She laughed softly, her back pressed against my chest. She took her hat off, and I kissed the top of her head as the kids kept zigzagging through the store, their attention bouncing from one thing to another.
Sam turned around to face me.
“Is it hot in here or is it just me?” she asked. “Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to wear this robe.” She fanned herself with her hat and made a face.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You look a little pale.”
“I think I might be getting sick. Can you watch the kids? I think I better go to the restroom.” She shoved her hat into my hands and rushed off before I could ask what was wrong with her.