“Have a problem with what?” I asked, suspicious. I turned around slowly, only to be pelted by something warm – and fragrant.

Only then did I realize that the baby Hippogriff was latched to my face.

My first instinct was to start flailing, but I luckily didn’t do that. I wasn’t about to lose my decorum around Mother Hannah; not after the fight.

“I’ll be traveling to Capital this weekend,” Mother Hannah said, her tone suggestive.

“I am not babysitting this pile of … pillow stuffing,” I growled, wrenching the baby Hippogriff away from the soft skin of my face and holding it at arms length, even though it scrabbled to press itself against me again.

“Yes, you are. It’ll be a good lesson for you.”

Mother Hannah glided ethereally out of the room.

I waited, still holding the Hippogriff away.

5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1.

“And besides,” Mother Hannah popped into the room again, and I spoke her next words with her; sometimes, she just spews the same stuff.

“It’ll be good for building character.”