“Twick o Tweat!”

This was the newest phrase that our 21 month old son Zachary learned last week—thanks to the residents of Hogwarts School of . . . I mean Brooks College.

The residents of Brooks College truly outdid themselves preparing the residence hall for Trick or Treat night. Starting at Platform 9 and ¾ at the King’s Cross station, through the Sorting Hat, and up to the four houses—Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff—it was a magical transformation.

There are definitely some Harry Potter scholars among the residents at Brooks. I’m sure that there are many details that I missed as I was chasing Zachary down the halls. Luckily I’ve got it all on film! The moving staircase signs, Snape’s potions lounge, Crabbe and Goyle’s rooms, the Tri-Wizard Cup proudly displayed, the Gray Lady passing out candy, the advertisements for Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Professor Sprout’s herbology class, the rack of broomsticks, and perhaps my favorite—Sirius’s head in the fireplace!

While Zachary didn’t really know what was going on when we started, he quickly learned that those three magic words brought him lots of gifts. By the time we got to the second floor, he was performing on demand.

Since we have a hard enough time getting him to eat anything but Os (as those of you who join us in the Great Hall know all too well), he will likely not get to eat very much of the candy. But for him that wasn’t really the point. He felt loved, and he felt at home—as do we.

Thanks for a great night!


Michele Henry is a professor in Baylor's School of Music and faculty-in-residence in Brooks Residential College.