So we cooked up some surprises to build some excitement for the trip. This is what happened...
About a week before they were to set out, postcards arrived in the mail addressed to each girl from Hogwarts! ...bearing Hogsmeade postmarks! A hand-written note explained that their arrival was much anticipated and that owls would be delivering more packages later on.
Then, the Saturday before they left, they opened the front door to find two brown-paper wrapped packages (one for each girl) amidst a scattering of white bird feathers... The packages were opened to reveal a Gryffindor robe and broomstick for each girl.
There was also a mysterious map-of-sort--although most of the map was blank--with instructions to follow the directions and meet with a Hogwart's representative for more supplies. Hurricane Irene was gusting all around the area, but they piled in their car and followed the map and the cryptic clues that mysteriously appeared as they progressed on their odyessy.
Finally, they arrived at a cemetery...in the middle of a rain storm from the hurricane. Standing beneath the awning of the visitor's center was a spooky, dark-robed person. Cautiously the girls approached and got his attention.
What's this? Imagine everyone's surprise when the fellow turns around to greet them...and it's Damian! It is revealed that Damian (being a magician) has a side-job as an "Associate Wand Maker" for Olivander's Wand Shoppe in Hogsmeade, and the girls were his appointment for today.
Damian explains that typically students don't get their wands until they are officially enrolled at Hogwarts at age 11. However, since so many "prospective" students visit now-a-days, a new system has been started. Damian goes and meets these students-to-be and offers them a selection of hand-crafted wands. These wands aren't "activated" (since the youngsters aren't students yet), but their choice of wand will reveal a lot about what sort of wizard the youngster will be and what house they are likely to be sorted into.
So I showed them the wands and let each girl hold each wand and tell me what sort of magic they would create with the wand.
The girls made their selections (and not at all the choices I predicted they'd make) and then were presented with large book-shaped boxes (bought and modified by Russ) to store thier wands and other trinkets.
Then we fled the storm and went back to our house for a party since the girls were the only appointments Damian had that day.
The actual morning of their trip, the final packages arrived by owl. Inside the girls found a box of Every Flavor Jelly Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Golden Snitches, miniature Sorting Hats, trading cards, and a card game.
And then they boarded the "Express" and steamed down to Orlando all pumped up with excitement. (and sugar)
Mission Accomplished!
