48. Wand
"There is no way," Reyna began, "that I am spending $40 on a Harry Potter wand."
"Okay, one," Leo said, still turning the stick of wood over in his hands and staring down at it. "This isn't Harry's wand, it's Dumbledore's. Two, it's my money so you can't stop me, and three." He handed the wand to their nine year old son, Miko, who examined it with reverence. "This is our first time," he gestured between himself and his son, "visiting the Harry Potter world. You're the one who suggested this vacation to Florida, you can't just let us go and not expect us to buy anything."
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "He might grow out of this," she pointed out. "And never look at it again after today. We've already bought a Gryffindor robe for him and a Hufflepuff robe for you- whatever those names mean. We've bought hats. Scarves. Even a huge box of jellybeans that apparently I can't eat in case it tastes like boogers or earwax." Reyna stared her husband down. "And now you want to buy wands too?"
"Without a wand a wizard has no tool to direct his magic through!" Leo protested. "How are we supposed to send our son out into the world on Halloween in a Harry Potter outfit without a wand? That would just be tragic!"
Reyna looked up to the sky as if seeking help from above. "We bought the series for him to read," she muttered to herself. "And you end up reading all seven books to him a little bit every night before bed. Somehow you love them just as much as he does. How did that even happen?"
"You're just jealous because you started listening in at the sixth book and didn't understand anything and felt excluded." Leo said.
"And you somehow convinced Percy to pick up a book, despite the fact that he usually doesn't touch them with a ten foot pole, and got him obsessed with the series too!" Reyna continued.
"As you know, Annabeth thanked me for that-"
"And he pleaded for weeks to come with us on this trip just so he could come here, to Hogwarts-"
"With good reason!"
"Making Annabeth and I have to be dragged around with you boys while you all ran through this castle like children in Candyland."
"Come on, Rey." Leo looked up with a smile, completely unfazed by her empty ranting. "You're having fun. Admit it. You liked the saleswoman telling you that you belonged to Ravenclaw. It made you feel superior."
"I don't even know what Ravenclaw means!" Reyna said. "Although Annabeth did seem to like being called a Ravenclaw as well, so it can't be that bad."
"Daddy?" Miko tugged on Leo's wizard robe- which, yes, he was wearing around the fake Hogwarts castle. "Can we get this one?" He held up the wand in his hands with wide eyes, looking so hopeful that Reyna's heart softened.
Maybe it wasn't a passing faze.
"Ask your mother." Leo said, glancing at her.
Oh, gods above.
"Of course, Miko." Reyna said. "Let's go buy it right now."
They had just started to move to the till when Percy appeared out of the crowd, dragging an amused Annabeth behind him. "Have you guys found the Firewhiskey yet?" He said excitedly. "It tastes delicious."
Reyna and Annabeth shared a look as Leo grabbed a bottle from Percy.
It was going to be a long ride home.