The dragon actually breathes fire. I. Want. I’m pretty sure it would be ok with Strata. We’re a pets friendly building. This counts, right?
Before we visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Andre and I went onto Pottermore to be officially sorted by the Hat.
Andre answered the questions; he’s a Gryffindor. (Yay!) Then it was my turn.
I answered the questions sure in my Gryffindor future. I was confident the Hat would see my bravery. Or on the off chance that it didn’t, the Hat was sure to recognize my intelligence and place my in Ravenclaw. Or at the very least identify my ambition and cry out Slytherin.
Our mascot is a badger. Isn’t that a rodent?
Imagine my shock when the great Sorting Hat flashed a yellow and black crest on my monitor and congratulated me on joining HUFFLEPUFF.
I’m Hufflepuff? I may never recover.
Thankfully the awesomeness of the being in the Wizarding World dulled my pain slightly.
- We rode a terrifying cart through Gringotts bank vaults. Universal staff took pity on us and let us cut lines twice (we were really short on time and the lines were really long).
- I bought more Honeydukes candy than is healthy for anyone. (“Next witch, wizard or muggle in line please.”)
- And, I met a Hogwarts student that gave me private magic lessons. (Turns out Andre is gifted at yet another thing that I need help with. Not that I’m bitter. At least I’m not a muggle.)
With the addition of the Wizarding World, Florida now runs a close second to the Sargasso Sea for my favourite place on Earth.
PS. Shopping for new (yellow) robes and having a magical mirror tell you that you look fabulous takes the sting out of being sorted into the wrong house.
PPS. Several friends read the description of Hufflepuffs and said that the Hat clearly saw into my soul. (Loyal and unafraid of toil. FINE!)
PPPS. I have been informed that the badger is the old world equivalent of a wolverine and you don’t screw with a badger.
If I can find out how, I’m totally buying one of these and so should every Hufflepuff.
I’m starting to feel better about my sorting experience.
More Awesomeness from my vacation
The goblin (sir) and I had a good chat in the money exchange building. I’m glad Universal decided to hire goblins…it really sells the experience. Jobs for magical creatures! Fair wages! S.P.E.W.!
Knockturn Alley. So creepy pitch black it was hard to take pictures. But on the upside, it was so scary there were very few children around.
OMG they have a real Hogwarts Express. The train actually takes you between Kings Cross and Hogsmead. I’m home.
Loads of unattended baggage. But Andre told me I wasn’t allowed to “adopt” any more pets.
I’m happy to say that I was not the only fully grown adult person who squeed and took pictures of everything I saw.
Writing Exercise:
I never wanted to leave The Wizarding World. But, unlike on the cruise ship (where there were no good places to hide from the TSA search parties) I think I could totally stay in Harry Potter land forever without anyone noticing.
- All the staff wear the same student robes that I now own. (I’m not 100 percent sure that makes me staff…but I think I have an argument to make or at least a compelling disguise if found after hours.)
- With age comes wisdom, and the ability to lie more convincingly. “No, I don’t think we have met. I’m new.”
- Water rides + hand soap = shower facilities. (I’ve got it all figured out.)
Is there somewhere you would want to hide forever? Happy writing.
