The creases on Coralis’s face softened as he scrutinized Henry from across the small table. It occurred to him that he had just thought of the boy as an apprentice.

Henry awoke to Brianna’s gentle nudging.

“What is it?” he mumbled.

“I smell breakfast,” she said excitedly.

A moment later the door opened and Molly entered the room carrying a tray of tea and fresh-baked cranberry scones.

“Breakfast is served,” she announced, rousing Coralis from his slumber. The Wand Master grumbled unhappily.

“Thanks, Molly. I’m starved,” said Henry. He crossed the room to help, taking the tray from her and arranging place settings at a folding table.

“Such a polite boy,” she said admiringly. Then she winked at Coralis, who scowled. “Oh come on now, Coralis. Henry has shown remarkable character for a boy his age. Especially in these times, when good manners and common courtesy have been all but abandoned.”

Coralis selected a scone, silently acknowledging her comment with a thoughtful tilt of his head, and Henry blushed. As the Wand Master popped a bite of his scone in his mouth, he seemed to sense two beady eyes boring into his back. “Is something bothering you, young lady?” he asked Brianna without turning to face her.

“Speaking of manners!” Brianna snapped. “Do you always talk to people with your back to them?”

Coralis did not try to hide his annoyance as he turned, glaring menacingly at the hedgehog. “Feeling rambunctious, are we?”

Her spikes bristled. “I’ll show you ram … whatever!”

“Brianna!” Henry shouted. She had seen the extent of Coralis’s power the same as he had. Did she honestly believe that getting under his skin was a wise move?

“First of all,” Coralis growled, “rambunctious means wild and unruly—like you. And secondly, if you have a question, just come out with it. With some respect,” he added.

Brianna’s face turned purple as a flush of red anger blended with her blue coloring. Henry saw the tiny digits of her paws move as she counted to ten. He turned away as the beginnings of a smile tugged at his lips. It was good to see her trying to control her temper tantrums, and given Coralis’s mood, it was a wise choice.

“Fine.” Her voice shook slightly. Counting to ten hadn’t worked. “You’ve taken care of him; now what about me? All he had was a lighting problem. Look at me! I’m an eight-year-old girl. I used to have beautiful auburn curls, not blue spikes!” A sob crept into her voice. “Why don’t you use some of that hocus-pocus on me?”

“There, there.” Molly reached out to pet her but drew her hand back quickly when Brianna bristled and snarled at her.