On the day of Professor Murray's party, Wade changed into the formal robe and Dragon Hide Boots Fiona had carefully chosen for him after breakfast. He stood before the mirror while Fiona circled around him, adjusting little details from time to time.
"You look so handsome, sweetheart!" Fiona kept letting out all kinds of exaggerated praise. "You'll definitely be the most eye-catching little gentleman at the party. Seriously, why not wear the necklace I picked out for you? The bow-and-arrow pendant is super cool. It'll absolutely make the other kids jealous."
"No! Mom, I'm not a three-year-old." Wade refused firmly without hesitation.
Fiona sighed. "You didn't want to wear it when you were three either—"
"So I definitely won't wear it when I'm eleven."
Ferdinand kept raising his wrist to check the time, occasionally glancing toward the door.
"That professor said he'd come pick you up at ten, right?" he confirmed with his son.
"Yeah, that's what the letter said."
But with only a minute left until ten, there was still no one outside.
"Is he late?" Fiona guessed.
"Maybe something held him up." Ferdinand looked outside again. "I just hope they don't suddenly appear at the door."
"They wouldn't. There are ordinary people all around here! How many people would see that?" Fiona said with certainty. "Something must have delayed them. Maybe we'll get a letter delivered by owl any moment now."
As Fiona spoke, she ran over and opened a window so the owl could fly in easily. Just as she turned around, the flames in the fireplace burst green with a boom, bathing the whole room in an emerald glow. Then a dark figure stepped out of the fireplace.
Ferdinand sprang to his feet, his right hand swiftly reaching behind his clothes to draw a pistol while