Chapter Twenty-four

‘You are both being charged under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976. Do you understand?’

Harri and Ryan’s dad stood in front of the sergeant’s desk, heads bowed, as the station sergeant formally charged them both. ‘Do you understand?’

It had all been explained to Harri. He’d been at the police station for hours. Because of his age, they’d had to wait for his mum to arrive with a solicitor. She and Imelda had sat in the interview room, while Harri explained everything to the inspector.

‘Magic? You mean like witchcraft?’ the Inspector asked Imelda, incredulously, when he’d heard the whole story.

‘Not witchcraft. Not like you’re thinking, all Halloween and broomsticks,’ Imelda said, shaking her head. ‘It’s Magic, see? The Old Magic — Earth Magic. Most people have forgotten all about it.’

The inspector didn’t know what to do. He thought he’d witnessed everything possible during his career in the police, but this was something entirely new.

Harri was obviously a bright-eyed, honest boy, not the sort to get in trouble with the law. But people could have been hurt at the re-enactment battle and someone had to be held responsible. You can’t let dragons breathe fire all over people! There are laws against that sort of thing!

‘You will be arrested,’ he explained. ‘You will have to appear before the magistrates tomorrow morning. They can decide what happens next.’

‘What about Tân?’ Harri asked.

‘That’s up to the magistrates too,’ said the inspector. ‘Your dragon will have to stay here until then.’

‘He gets very hungry,’ Harri said. ‘He likes worms best … and pepperoni pizza.’

‘Don’t worry.’ The inspector smiled. ‘We’ll look after him.’