Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR The following day I woke up to sunshine streaming through the treehouse window and the sound of leaves rustling outside. 'Sunshine!' cried Dad happily as he burst into mine and Wilbur's room. 'How cheering! Time to get up, you two. We're meeting Beatrix's family to go dragon trekking, remember?'

'Oh yes!' I said, jumping out of bed and feeling a tingle of excitement in my toes. I hurriedly got dressed, and then went out onto the deck where Mum was having her usual breakfast of spider sprinkled toast and Dad had used his wand to magic up some flower petal fairy yoghurt. 'You ought to practise using your fairy wand, Mirabelle,' said Dad. 'I'd like

to see you magic up your own breakfast with it this morning.' I hurried off to my room and rummaged in my suitcase to find my wand. It was right at the bottom sitting alongside my witch kit. 'What's that?' asked Wilbur, coming to peer over my shoulder. 'What's what?' I asked, closing the lid of my suitcase quickly. I felt my cheeks turn a bit pink. I saw some of your witch things in there!' said Wilbur. 'I thought Mum and Dad told you not to bring them.' 'Oh, well...' I began. 'I...' 'Mirabelle!' said Wilbur. 'You'd better

not be planning to play any tricks on me!' 'I'm not planning anything!' I said. 'I'm not going to use it. I bet you brought your wizards things.' 'I'm allowed to bring my wizard things,' said Wilbur, 'because I'm sensible with them!' He looked so smug that I felt immediately cross. 'Just don't tell Mum and Dad,' I huffed, and stomped out of the room with

my fairy wand. I cheered up when Mum and Dad let me magic up whatever I wanted as a special holiday treat. I had chocolate cake for breakfast with a strawberry crush drink. 'Very good, Mirabelle!' said Dad approvingly as I waved my wand above my plate, sending stars and sparkles flurrying through the air. 'You see, fairy magic isn't all boring!' 'No,' I agreed as I munched on my cake.

After breakfast we walked back to the Great Hall where we met Beatrix's family for the dragon trekking. 'Hello, Mirabelle!' shouted Beatrix happily. She was wearing a full explorer's outfit and had a pair of binoculars hanging round her neck. 'Hi, Beatrix!' I smiled. We didn't have much time to talk because the tour guide suddenly appeared and beckoned for us all to follow him into the forest. We walked down a winding path away from the treehouses until we got