Hogwarts

Rafael was now eating one of his burritos, and Nina was standing next to Nader, who was still looking the other way, at where she had been a moment before. For Nader, it happened in the blink of an eye. In that blink, Rafael and Nina had had an entire conversation.

“Are you really not going to join us because you can’t bring your friend?” Nina asked, trying to keep her anger under control.

“Whoa,” Nader said, reorienting himself to Nina’s new location. “You have powers too!” Nader looked from Nina to Rafael, trying to understand what he’d missed.

“Try to keep up, slowpoke,” Nina said dismissively.

“Hey, only I can insult the slowpoke!” Rafael said between big chews of his breakfast burrito.

“Bring me where?” Nader gave Rafael’s shoulder a smack with the back of his hand. “Dude?”

Rafael took another bite, glaring at Nina. “She won’t let me bring you to Hogwarts.”

“It isn’t Hogwarts! We’re an elite organization with global reach, and we consist of the world’s most powerful people. Your friend isn’t one of those people, and he will never be. And if you’re incapable of understanding anything that isn’t a Harry Potter reference, let me put it this way: he’s a Muggle and exactly zero Muggles got to go to Hogwarts.”

“Does Neville count?” Rafael asked.

“Neville was a freaking wizard! He might not have been a good wizard, but he at least had magic. Besides, both of his parents were powerful wizards.” Nina exhaled, her patience having run out.

“You sure know a lot about Harry Potter, Miss . . .” Nader began.

“Nina,” Rafael said, biting into his cinnamon bun between burrito bites.

“Miss Nina. What about Filch? He was a Muggle. What if I was a custodian or something?” Nader asked hopefully.

“He was a Squib, which is still more than you’ll ever—” Nina bit her tongue and took a deep breath. She looked Nader in the eye and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Nader.”

“Nader, look at your life. You’re at university, you have career goals or dreams, yeah? Do you want to give up basically everything to clean our toilets and mop our floors for the rest of your life?”

Nader looked down, his shoulders slumping.

Nina placed a hand on Nader’s shoulder. “That’s why you can’t—”

“Yes. If I can go to Hogwarts and if my friend’s there and if I can help him or you and be a part of a bigger world, then yes. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”

“Godda—” Nina dragged her hands up over her forehead and then down past her chin. “Alright, eff it. We’re doing it live. You’re coming too. Finish your meals. We leave in five.”

“To Hogwarts?” they said in unison.

“Yes, we’re going to freaking Hogwarts. Seriously, guys? Grow up.” Nina stormed off toward the restrooms.

“Bro, you got me in.” Nader smiled harder than he’d ever smiled.

“Dude! This is crazy. Are you really gonna have to clean toilets, though?” Rafael wondered out loud.

“I don’t care if I do! I get to be a part of something big with my best friend!” Nader’s heart swelled with excitement and appreciation. Magic is real, and even if I don’t have powers, I get to be a part of it. I get to go to Hogwarts!