Not so long ago, we were standing in the cobblestone Diagon Alley. It was a dream come true for Hannah. She drank her Butter Beer while contemplating which wand from Ollivander’s Wand Shop was going to go home with her.

She spent a long time in the wand shop, finding the right match. We didn’t think she would actually purchase one — but she couldn’t pass it up. “I’ve always wanted to be here,” she said, “I just had to get a wand.”

Her right match was Hazel wood. It is associated with wisdom, protection and magical skills. According to the box, “Hazel people are often wise beyond their years. They make inspiring teachers, combining creative talent and practical knowledge.”

“It’ll be perfect for my classroom, when I become a teacher!” she announced.

It’s fun when dreams come true.

“My senior year is awesome,” Hannah told me before she went to bed that night. “I never thought I’d be in Diagon Alley, but then we were. I thought if I’m in Diagon Alley, I can do anything.”

It’s been a rocky road leading to senior year. That happens when kids start the first years of their lives in hard places like foster care. Hannah’s been fighting the good fight, and Diagon Alley seemed to be a reminder that dreams can come true. It gave her the gusto to keep fighting for good.

And now…

Hannah is feeling cheated out of senior year. “Everything a senior looks forward to is getting canceled,” she said.

I want to tell her she is being dramatic, yet I know she’s right. Her senior year took a hard turn away from “normal.”

“At least you had Daigon Alley,” I offered.

“That’s true,” she said. “And my wand. I’m so glad I was unreasonable and bought a wand.”

I laughed.

I’m reminded that dreams are very good when they come true, and that sometimes dreams have to be adjusted. Either way, I think a magic wand makes it all go a little better.