The royal family of Orillia was spending some time together in the castle gardens. Royal Prep was out for the summer, and the family had just come back from a vacation. They needed the time to relax; Ezekiel, the oldest of the royal siblings, had tried to take over Orillia, and he was now in Azkaban. They had hoped that some time together would be good for them, and it seemed to have worked; everyone was feeling better after all their adventures. Now King Robert and Queen Patricia were watching as their daughter Sandra was teaching her sister Zoe a few magic tricks.

"Okay, Zoe, we have a few minutes before your magic lesson, so I'll teach you a few tricks you can use, and you can surprise Aleena with them," Sandra said as she handed Zoe her training wand. "You already know some of the more basic spells the fairies and Aleena taught you. But this one," she said as she raised her 12-and-a-half-inch hawthorn and phoenix feather wand, "Is one everyone should know. Just think of a really happy memory and use this spell…" She concentrated, aimed her wand in front of her, and chanted, "Expecto patronum!"

However, she got a surprise when they saw the silver creature that came out of her wand. She had always summoned a cat, but this time, a long, sleek creature emerged. "What—where's my kitty?" Sandra asked, using a phrase she and her father often used when playing with her cat Ambre.

"That's odd," Patricia said from where she was watching them. "It looks like your Patronus changed."

"What is it?" Zoe asked.

"I don't know, but it looks familiar," Sandra replied.

"I'd say talk to Aleena about this, but she's preparing to visit her father at Mystic Meadows after Zoe's lesson, then they're both going to attend the week-long Magic Festival and conference in Tangu," Robert agreed. "And Sandra, that's a mink."

"Oh! Like Princess Hildegard's pet!" Sandra realized. She had met Hildegard's pet mink when she had been at Enchancia Castle for a sleepover.

"Why would your Patronus change?" Zoe asked.

"Let's see…The fairies, Zanven, and Aleena all told me that a Patronus can change if the person experienced some kind of traumatic event," Sandra recalled, "And I think having Zeke try to take over Orillia, then being sent to Azkaban would count as a traumatic event."

"Now that you mention it, Aleena used to conjure an eagle as her Patronus. The last time she produced it, which happened a few days after Ezekiel's sentencing, she saw that it had changed into a swan," Robert told her.

"Well, no matter what shape your Patronus is, I'm sure everyone will like it," Patricia assured her.

"Yes they will. And I've got a surprise for you," Robert added. "Though Royal Prep is closed for the summer, Hexley Hall is still open. And not only are they having their monthly Game Day today, but for two weeks, those who are interested get to attend workshops to learn new spells, fighting skills, and magical techniques." He smiled at Sandra's interested look. "They even get to be sorted, as if they actually attended."

"How cool is that! I'm in!" Sandra grinned.

"Can I go too?" Zoe asked.

Robert and Patricia looked hesitant. A lot of the students who attended Hexley Hall were older than Zoe, but Sandra said that there were a few young students, Enchancia's former sorcerer Cedric's niece Callista among them.

"All right, but stay close to Sandra," Patricia agreed.

"But my friend Shawna told me when I went there for my first Game Day that Hexley Hall sorts its students. What if we're sorted into different houses?" Sandra asked. "I mean, I will keep an eye on her, but we don't know that many people who actually go there. Shawna goes there, of course, and I know Sofia's friends Ruby and Jade go there too, and some of our friends attend part time, but that's it."

"Sandra, Mommy, Daddy, please?" Zoe asked.

"If you're sure about this, then yes," Patricia agreed at last, Robert nodding next to her.

"Well, okay," Sandra agreed as the Royal Sorceress came up to them. After Zoe's magic lesson, the girls packed some things they'd need for the trip. After they loaded the coach, Sandra suggested, "And how about if you and I go there in real style?"

"You mean-?" Zoe gasped.

"Cloud and Phoenix do like going on adventures," Sandra grinned as she led their horses out. She boosted Zoe onto Cloud, swung herself up on Phoenix, and the girls were off, with Robert and Patricia riding behind them in the coach.

At the same moment, a royal coach from Enchancia was landing at Hexley Hall and dropping some of the passengers off. Some of the horses who had helped pull it were also unhitched.

"This is going to be brilliant!" James cheered as he, Sofia, Dorrie, Candice, Lucinda, and Amber stepped off the coach and led their respective horses Echo, Minimus, Chestnut, Holly, Thunderbolt, and Saffron out. The group thought they were also going to do some practicing for a flying derby meet, as well as participate in Game Day.

"Well, you seem happier this time," Sofia smiled, knowing that James hadn't been too keen on being at Camp Wilderwood, and the recent family vacation, but she was happy that he seemed to be feeling better about this new trip.

"Why not? You know how good I am at word games," James replied.

"Good?" Lucinda smirked. "James, you're not good at word games." When she saw James' hurt expression, she grinned and said, "You're, dare I say it, brilliant at word games!"

James smirked. "Well played, Lucy!"

"I learned from the best!" Lucinda smiled as she hugged him, causing James to blush.

They were cut off by other Game Day participants approaching. Sofia looked up and saw two more of their friends come up. She waved them over. "Sandra! Zoe! Over here!"

"Hi, everyone," Sandra greeted them as she and Zoe approached. "Thanks again for letting us sleep over at your castle. Zoe had a lot of fun with Callista, and she taught her some new tricks. Those were some Aleena's never seen before, and she wrote them down to use in the future."

"What are you doing here? We're going to watch James mop the floor with the competition in Hexley Hall's word challenges," Amber added.

"And participate ourselves in the other Game Day challenges!" Candice grinned.

Sandra grinned back. "That's going to be fun, and he's going to have some stiff competition, myself included, but didn't King Roland and Queen Miranda tell you? Not only is Hexley Hall having a special Game Day this afternoon, but those who are interested get to attend workshops here for the next two weeks. They get to be sorted and everything!"

"Surprise!" Roland grinned at the groups' astonished looks as the coachmen unloaded some trunks. "And Dorrie, Candice, Violet gave you permission to attend as well."

"Baileywick told us about this after King Robert and Queen Patricia picked your friends up," Miranda smiled. "We thought we'd surprise you."

"Brilliant! We'll get to see Wendell again," James grinned. "He told me that he attends Hexley Hall, but I forgot what House he's in."

"Wendell? You mean that jerk who stole Phoenix goes here?" Sandra asked as Sofia explained who Wendell was to Roland and Miranda.

"Isn't he also that jerk who stole Saffron, Minimus, and Echo?" Lucinda added; Sofia, James, and Amber having told her about the first time they met him.

"Yes, but he's changed," Sofia assured them, and she, James, and Amber told Lucinda, Zoe and Sandra about how they had met their former enemy at Camp Wilderwood, then how he and James had helped win the Inter-camp flag race against the Junior Knights. (Even though James said that they got stuck together by chance; "the wicked wizard and the kid with itching ivy.")

"If you guys are sure, I guess I can give him the benefit of the doubt," Sandra decided.

"Me too," Lucinda agreed.

"So can we," Roland added, Miranda nodding at his side. "Of course, we never met him ourselves, but you did tell us quite a few stories about him. However, it is nice that you all became friends."

Sandra then looked at Sofia's amulet, which was pinkish-red instead of the familiar purple. "But on a different note, Sof, is that necklace new?"

Sofia grinned. "Sandy, I think you and Zoe had better sit down!" When Zoe and Sandra were seated, Sofia told them all about their adventure in Avalor, and how she had freed Princess Elena, who had been trapped inside the amulet.

"And according to the sign-up sheet, it looks like Princess Isabel is attending these workshops too," Amber observed, looking over the list of names.

"Yes! Princess Isabel is Elena's sister," Sofia explained, seeing Sandra's questioning look. "You'll like her."

When it was time for the sorting ceremony, the Headmistress of Hexley Hall, Gayle Lovegood, made a welcome speech to everyone, then explained about the different Houses: Kennicot, Pepperton, Stryker, and Waldgrave. She then put the school's sorting hat on a stool, and invited those who were temporarily attending to come up.

"I think I know what house we'll be sorted into," James murmured to Amber, who smiled back.

As James had predicted, he and Amber were sorted into Pepperton House. This was the house that their mother and her sister had been connected to when they attended Hexley Hall, since they were descendants of Alex Pepperton. As they walked over to the other members of Pepperton House, they smiled at each other as they remembered how the sorting hat chose them for Pepperton.

Flashback

James had been first to be sorted, and as soon as the sorting hat was on his head, he heard the voice say, "Aha! A creative mind, good for Waldgrave House, but what's this I see? Courage, bravery, a thirst to prove yourself…wait…The son of Melinda Pepperton, who was descended from Hexley Hall founder Alex Pepperton! Therefore, it's only fitting that you go into…PEPPERTON HOUSE! And it looks like music will be returning to Hexley Hall!"

When it was Amber's turn, the sorting hat said, "Well, not only do I get to sort the son, but also the daughter of Melinda Pepperton, who was descended from Hexley Hall founder Alex Pepperton! I know just what to do with you…PEPPERTON HOUSE!"

End flashback

Sofia was also sorted into Pepperton House, and she couldn't be happier that she was with her friends and siblings. She, James, and Amber went over to Dorrie, Candice, and Lucinda, who were already members of Pepperton House. Sofia's friends Ruby and Jade were also there for Game Day, and the workshops, and they were also associated with that House.

When it was her turn to be sorted, Sandra was sorted into Waldgrave House. Dorrie and Candice grinned at each other, remembering a conversation the three of them had had once about the houses. Sandra caught their knowing looks and joked, "What did I tell you?"

When Zoe went up, she was sorted into Stryker House. She was sad at first that she wouldn't be with Sandra, but Sofia assured her that this was the house that Callista was in, and Dorrie said she'd be there in a little while, since she wanted to finish up some business at the castle.

Sandra told them that her friend Shawna was in that house as well. "Besides, you know Shawna," she said, hoping to comfort her sister, "She sometimes comes over and plays with your hair when Mom and Dad announce a formal event. Maybe she'll do that here, too."

"She was with you when you were a Tulip Scout, right?" Sofia asked, remembering some stories they had shared.

"That's right, and she's a Tulip Scout aide now, just like I am for the Buttercups. But we are both Lily Scouts, too," Sandra explained.

Everyone who was sorted each received a goodie bag containing their house T-shirts, papers with information on the houses, and pens, pencils, and stationery.

As she watched Zoe going over to Callista, who had arrived a few minutes after the sorting had begun, Sandra looked for her fellow Waldgrave House housemates when she bumped into a boy. "Sorry," she apologized.

"No harm done," the boy smiled, offering her a hand. "Welcome to Hexley Hall. My name's Wendell."

Sandra looked up at the familiar name and accent. "You!" she aimed her wand at Wendell as she assumed a dueling position. "I ought to hex you and hex you good for what you did to Phoenix, but my friends say you changed, and I promised them I'd give you the benefit of the doubt! But I warn you: Phoenix is staying in Hexley Hall's stables, as is my sister's horse Cloud, and my friends' horses, and if you pull anything at all on any of them, I'll-"

"Point well taken," Wendell gasped, remembering how they'd first met, and his first duel with her; she hadn't been too bad for her first duel against a wizard, and if they got to know each other, he might teach her some tricks. "I was just going to find the other Stryker House people."

"Well, my sister Zoe's over there, and she and her friend Callista, and my friend Shawna are also in Stryker," Sandra pointed over at Zoe, Callista, and a girl with dark skin and light hair around her own age who was giving Zoe a hug. "And if you mess with any of them, you will answer to me." She put her wand at her side and extended her hand. "Sorry about that…let's say we start over. I'm Zoe's sister Sandra, and new member of Waldgrave House."

Sofia and their friends came up at that moment. "Are you okay, Wendell?" Sofia asked, having seen Wendell being held at wandpoint, and recalling Sandra's first meeting with him as well.

"I'm fine now," Wendell replied. "One word of advice though: Don't get on this girl's bad side!"

"Give her time," James advised. "You and Sandra will be friends before you know it."

Wendell smiled. He was always up for a challenge. Little did anyone know a new challenge would present itself to everyone.

Author's Notes

Dorrie and Candice Cooper, their horses Chestnut and Holly, and Gayle Lovegood are characters of Niagara14301 and are used with permission. (Gayle Lovegood replaced Headmaster Grimtrix Truesdale in chapter 13 of Niagara14301's Dorrie Book 2.)

Kennicott, Pepperton, Stryker, and Waldgrave, the four houses at Hexley Hall, are mentioned in Niagara14301's Dorrie Book 2. And fun fact, James and Amber's birth mother Queen Melinda, and her sister Claire, attended Hexley Hall and were connected to Pepperton House, so they would also be connected to that house.

Shawna is an original character of mine, and was referenced in my stories Pet Stories and The Rise and Fall of Eze Grey.

Wendell is from Minimus is Missing, but he reformed in Camp Wilderwood. He was also the antagonist in my story A Puzzling Mystery Weekend (that story was published before Camp Wilderwood aired). Wendell being a member of Stryker House is from chapter 13 of Niagara14301's Dorrie Book Two.

Tulip and Lily Scouts were first mentioned in Niagara14301's story Dorrie.

Princess Isabel is in Elena of Avalor, and was seen in Sofia and the Secret of Avalor.

James' bad experience with camp is from Camp Wilderwood, and his bad experience with a vacation is from Royal Vacation.

Sandra's experience with Wendell is from A Puzzling Mystery Weekend, and her knowing about Hexley Hall's houses is from chapter 10 of my story The Rise and Fall of Eze Gray.

Readers of the Harry Potter books will remember that in book 6, Tonks' Patronus had changed due to her love of Remus Lupin. Patronuses can also change when the person casting it suffers a traumatic event. Also, while members of a family can go in the same house (the Weasleys all went into Gryffindor), sometimes they go into different houses (in the books, Parvati Patil is in Gryffindor, while her sister Padma is in Ravenclaw; in the Goblet of Fire movie they're both in Gryffindor).