Better detection than Harry

All in all, I did a good job, I thought.
Good boy, Mouse.
And then magic, dark and ugly, rippled through the air.
And under it was … energy. My kind of energy, but dark and hard and terrible, full of cold, merciless clarity.
I caught a scent: the far-off scent of something I could barely remember. It made me think of mountains and burning oil lamps and cold, bright sky.
My Friend had reacted to the black magic in the air. He was scanning the park, tense, the happy energy around him suddenly replaced with watchfulness and an unconsciously projected aura of confidence and power. My Friend is not to be taken lightly. He is not heart-stupid at all when it comes to defending those weaker than he is. He sensed a threat, a dark practitioner, and he was ready to confront it.
I had a dark feeling roll through me and make the soft spot of my throat itch. A magical threat, here today? My nose told me that the pack of hauntridden children was still trailing us, even if they were keeping a distance.
What were the odds of a threat unique to each of my family appearing? Especially when I’d been working energy to avoid this exact outcome?
Something was out there.
I felt the hairs on my spine try to rise. But my red support-dog vest hid them.
My Friend knew he had to assess the threat he sensed, and that was proper. But he was worried to leave Maggie alone. He trusted me, but no safety measures could ever be thorough enough for him to feel completely sure she would be all right. He was right. Nothing is truly safe in this world—and that being the case, why worry about threats that have not yet appeared? Far wiser to make what preparations one could, face trouble as it arose, and be happy in the meantime.

Brief Cases, Zoo Day, Page 419-420


We’d only gotten to eat a few when one of the haunts simply walked up to our table and began to say mean things to Maggie.
No.
When one of the haunts was pushed to our table to confront Maggie. This time, I sensed a change in the air. Someone was working energy against us.
Outside, partially concealed in some greenery, was a hulking, furry shape that looked like my shadow. I could sense that dark clarity flowing from it in a torrent, strong enough to push the creep toward Maggie, urging the creature to attack.
I felt myself begin to surge to my feet, a growl bubbling in my throat.
But Maggie put her foot on my head and pushed down.

Brief Cases, Zoo Day, Page 420