"Congratulations. Where does one acquire witchiness?"

"Some combination of talent and practice, same as anything else."

"With what educational materials, was more what I meant."

"Got it. I mostly learned from my parents - they've got a badass library, but it's in Massachusetts. My Gran's got books, but not much for beginners, and there's a magic shop here but you have to know which books are the real deal and which are so-mote-it-be, put-good-energy-into-the-world bullshit."

"Massachusetts is a bit out of the way. Hmm."

"Interested in learning?"

"Quite."

"I'll introduce you to my brother. I hear patience is a thing one needs when attempting to teach."

"That does sound like an asset, though I'm a fast learner when I'm motivated."

"Still," Delilah says firmly. "You don't want me, I promise."

"As you like. What's your brother like, besides patient?"

"He's a junior, massive bio nerd, wicked smart," she says, overemphasizing the Boston accent. "So kind and dependable you want to hate him but can't."

"I like him already. How quickly can introductions be arranged? Is he gonna charge me for lessons?"

Bella holds her hands up in a placating gesture. "I'm very nice!" she assures Delilah.

"You seem nice! I'm just saying."

"Do you hex people a lot?"

"Nah. Not very often."

"Not very often, not very severely, not very permanently?" asks Bella hopefully.

"Oh, yeah, never permanently. I've hexed a toenail or two off when I'm really pissed, but those grow back."

"Okay, I will not have to disassociate from you on principle, then."

"Cool," Delilah says, more amused than relieved.

"And very convenient, I probably couldn't count on finding another helpful witch so promptly if I ruled the first one out on ethical grounds. Oh, I have a question you may be able to answer - is there a particular reason witchcraft and barbecue forks and so on are not common knowledge?"

"Because most people are morons?"

"Is that just why they haven't tended to notice, or also the official reason to coordinate on not telling?"