She’d almost made it to homeroom when Cassie pounced on her and pulled her into the empty computer lab. Except Cassie wasn’t alone; Murray was waiting for them. He closed the door and the two of them faced Ali, who steeled herself for the worst.

“I owe you an apology,” said Cassie.

Ali flinched, then shook her head. “Wait—what?”

Murray gave Cassie an encouraging nod, and the girl continued. “I kind of freaked out yesterday. I shouldn’t have. I could tell you were upset, and after I told Murray—”

Ali’s eyes widened. “You told Murray?” This was worse than she’d expected.

Murray bobbed his head. “This is the biggest thing to happen at this school ever!”

Ali dropped into a nearby chair and put her head between her knees. On the way to school she’d played out possible scenarios. None involved Cassie and Murray acting thrilled.

Murray crouched down in front of her. “Was that the first time you ever changed? Did you know you could change?”

Cassie jumped in. “Could you hear what I was thinking? How did you change your clothes so they matched mine?”

“If I asked you to change into me right now, could you?” Murray asked.

The rapid-fire questions made Ali dizzy. Cassie squatted next to Murray and placed a tentative hand on Ali’s arm. “Sorry for throwing all this at you. We’re just trying to understand.”

Ali’s eyes filled with tears. “Well, that makes three of us,” she said, then groaned. She’d forgotten that she was supposed to deny everything. Digger would not be impressed.

Murray smiled. “It’s like you’re a superhero or something.”

“A superhero?”

“Sure. You are now the most interesting person at Princess Elizabeth School.”

In spite of her predicament, Ali smiled. She’d never been the most anything.

“You don’t drink something to make yourself change, do you, like Polyjuice Potion in Harry Potter, because if you do, could I try some?”

“No Polyjuice Potion.”

Murray’s shoulders sagged.

“Who else knows about your powers?” asked Cassie.

“Does Alfie?” added Murray.

“Just my family. Please don’t tell Alfie.”

“Why not?”

“My family doesn’t want anyone to know in case we’re subjected to weird experiments.”

Murray nodded. “Makes sense. Okay, no telling Alfie. Can you turn into something right now, before school starts?”

“Don’t turn into me,” said Cassie. “I mean, I think it’s cool and all,” she hastened to add, “but do Murray this time.”

The hall outside the classroom was beginning to fill with students. “I can’t. Someone might see two Murrays.”

Murray seemed disappointed. “You’re right. How about something small, like a mouse?”