by Natasha Lowe
“Well.” Miss Barlow picked a speck of lint off her cloak. “That was certainly getting into the spirit of things.”
“Except she wouldn’t have practiced mind magic or transformation spells,” Cassie pointed out. “Those things are so dangerous.”
“Well, it may be stretching our imaginations a bit, but you never know,” Miss Barlow suggested. “It was a very different time.”
“And Witch Dupree wasn’t thrown in a dungeon,” Melanie said. “It doesn’t say that anywhere.”
“Maybe that’s just how she felt,” Katrin offered. “Trapped in a dungeon because no one understood her.”
“Good point, Katrin,” Miss Barlow said, “and a very creative presentation, Della.”
* * *
Before lunch Della announced that she was going to go and talk to Ms. Cray about setting up an animal-magic program. After all, Ivan had been brave enough to follow his passion, so the least she could do was try to follow hers.
“Can’t believe you’re actually going to face the evil headmistress,” Sophie said.
Della grinned. “That’s what Witch Dupree would have done.”
Ms. Cray was sitting behind her desk, and she looked surprised to see Della come in.
“And to what do I owe this honor, Miss Dupree?”
Della didn’t reply. She was staring at a picture hanging above the headmistress’s desk.
“I moved it there because you couldn’t see it in the corner, but now I’m having second thoughts,” Ms. Cray confessed. “It’s a little too much in the light, don’t you think? I know why our founder has been hidden in a dark corner for so long.”
“It’s…” Della couldn’t believe this was Ivan’s sketch of her. Hanging in the headmistress’s office. But it was. There was no mistaking that misshapen head, pointy nose, and lopsided eyes. And the smudgy charcoal lines made her look about thirty. Someone had fastened a plaque to the bottom of the frame that said DELLA DUPREE—FOUNDER OF RUTHERSFIELD ACADEMY—1223.
“Interesting.” Ms. Cray tilted her head a little to the left, examining Della and then looking back at the portrait. “There is a slight resemblance between you and your namesake. Something about the eyes, I think.”
“I really don’t see it at all,” Della said, but she couldn’t help feeling rather proud.
* * *
Much to Della’s surprise, Ms. Cray didn’t dismiss the idea of introducing an animal-magic program into Ruthersfield. She didn’t agree to it either, but that was better than Della had hoped for, and when she was in year ten, Della finally got her wish. The old potions lab was turned into an animal center where the first dragon egg was hatched. It had been found, abandoned, beside the old railway tracks at Little Shamlington, and Della had insisted they try to hatch it, wrapping the egg in layers of thistledown and keeping it warm in a cauldron of sunshine.
* * *
Della went on to become head girl, and after leaving Ruthersfield, she set up a groundbreaking organization to bring back extinct animals, managing to reintroduce the dodo in 2035. Although they weren’t the smartest creatures, Della discovered that they made excellent pets and became known for their extremely loving and loyal personalities. True to her history, she also became the first witch ambassador at the United Nations, using her magic to weave peace between countries and mending many a feud with a pot of her famous lasagna.
* * *
Della and Katrin became firm friends, and (much to Della’s delight) Katrin knitted special wing warmers for all Della’s baby bats. To no one’s great surprise, when Katrin grew up, she became the first Icelandic witch to win a Noblet prize, inventing a special knitted cover that could be spread across the earth’s atmosphere, regulating the temperature of the planet so it wouldn’t overheat.
* * *
There were many times Della thought about going back to see how Dame Bessie and the others were doing. But she didn’t want to risk getting stuck there again, and (more importantly) Della was anxious about what she’d find. Because sometimes knowing was even worse than not knowing, as after a trip to the local library one day Della discovered that Castle Hepworth did indeed burn down. But not until the fifteenth century, when one of the cooks managed to set fire to a pie in the castle kitchens.
Della did know, from reading her history of magic book, that Elizabeth Ruthersfield taught at the school until she was 102, and that the first class to graduate included Willow Reynolds of Deckle Mead, Mary Dutton of Potts Bottom, Gwyneth Brooker of Little Shamlington, and Faye Cox of Pig Hollow. As to what happened to Della Dupree? Well, the textbook couldn’t tell her much. It was rumored that Witch Dupree had sailed to the Spanish colonies, where some believed she might have come from. And there was talk that she went to live in the Highlands of Scotland and train dragons, and even a suggestion (which made Della blush when she read it) that she had married a local lord’s son! Of course only one person knew what really happened, and that was Della Dupree herself!
Della’s Tips for Time Travel
In case you find yourself with a time-travel pendant and would like to take a trip back into the past, here are some tips that Della wished she had known about before visiting the Middle Ages. Ask an adult for permission and/or to help you to set up and use kitchen equipment, crack eggs, cut with knives, or take pans in and out of the oven, etc.
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Makes 12–14 muffins
It is important not to time-travel on an empty stomach, since you never quite know what to expect and where your next meal will be coming from. So try to have breakfast before you leave and perhaps take an extra muffin along with you in case hunger strikes. These lemon poppy seed muffins are some of Della’s favorites. She often stops in at Poppy’s bakery on her way to school and can never resist the lemon-glazed muffins that Poppy always makes to celebrate the start of spring.
~ INGREDIENTS ~
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ + ⅛ teaspoons salt
⅔ cup sugar
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 eggs
¾ cup plain whole milk yogurt
6 tablespoons butter, melted
zest of 2 lemons, grated
¼ cup lemon juice
Lemon syrup for the tops:
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon water
~ METHOD ~
Preheat oven to 375°F. Put muffin liners in tin.
In a small bowl, blend together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and poppy seeds.
In another, larger bowl, mix the eggs, yogurt, melted butter, lemon zest, and juice. Beat thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just blended. The mixture will be thick, but don’t overbeat because this will make your muffins tough.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake about 15–20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
While the muffins bake, prepare the syrup. Combine the lemon juice, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Set aside.
When the muffins are done, gently poke holes in the tops with a fork and drizzle syrup evenly over each muffin. Let cool in the pan a few minutes and serve warm. Of course they are excellent cold, too, in case you happen to be time-traveling.
Enjoy!
A Really Tasty Pottage
Makes about 4–6 servings
Della found the medieval pottage disgusting, and since it turns up at most medieval meals, it is an excellent idea to know how to make a pot of this extremely tasty soup, just in case you find yourself back there. Most of the ingredients can be found in a medieval kitchen, but feel free to substitute if things like potatoes have not yet been discovered. Not only will this soup wow your medieval hosts, but it will also mean you don’t have to go to bed hungry!
~ INGREDIENTS ~
2 tablespoo
ns olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1–2 stalks celery, chopped (If you don’t like celery in your soup, leave it out. Della hates it!)
2 carrots, sliced
3 cups mixed chopped vegetables, your choice (Try cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli, green beans, corn kernels, potatoes, turnips—whatever is around.)
½ teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs, optional (Use whatever you like. Della usually puts in parsley and basil.)
8 cups vegetable broth
1 15-ounce can chopped tomatoes (Again, this is optional as some people simply don’t like tomatoes in their vegetable soup.)
1 15-ounce can of cannellini beans or a cup of dried lentils, also optional—but a good source of protein
~ METHOD ~
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, garlic, celery (if using), and carrots. Cook gently without burning for about 5 minutes, until onions are soft.
Add the rest of the vegetables, stir, and sprinkle with salt. Cook for another few minutes—to soften, not to color.
Add bay leaf and herbs, stirring to coat the vegetables well.
Add vegetable broth. Then add tomatoes and beans or lentils, if using, and bring to a simmer. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour. If you like your vegetables crunchy, you can cook for less time. Taste, and add more seasoning if needed.
Remove the bay leaf and serve your homemade vegetable soup with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and a nice hunk of crusty bread to dip in!
World Peace Lasagna
Serves 4–6 normal people or 1 hungry knight!
Even though it is a little cumbersome to bring along a dish of lasagna when you time-travel, Della strongly recommends it (unless you have access to a wand and can magic up a pot using the italiomama spell), because this hearty dish can get you out of many a difficult situation. Served up to warring armies, it can bring about peace and will put a smile on the crankiest person’s face. This was a huge hit with Lord Hepworth and his brother, James, and if you happen to lose your time-travel pendant and can’t get back to where you came from, then feel free to eat the whole pan of lasagna yourself!
~ INGREDIENTS ~
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 pound ground beef
1 15-ounce can chopped tomatoes
salt and pepper, to taste
1 bay leaf
4 tablespoons butter
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
2½ cups whole milk
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste, plus 3 tablespoons for the top
About 9 sheets dried no-boil lasagna pasta, depending on the size of the sheets and your dish (You’ll need 3 layers of pasta.)
~ METHOD ~
Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottom frying pan over a medium heat, and gently fry the onion and garlic until softened. Turn the heat up a little, add the ground beef, and cook until browned all over.
Pour in the chopped tomatoes; fill the empty can ¼ full of water and add that; season with salt, pepper, and bay leaf; then bring to a simmer. Cover partially, turn the heat down, and leave to simmer gently for about an hour.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
To make the béchamel sauce, melt the butter on medium to low heat in a medium pan and then whisk in the flour. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring; then gradually whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and continue to stir. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in the grated Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
To assemble the lasagna, take a deep, wide casserole dish and coat the bottom with a third of the meat sauce, topped with a quarter of the béchamel, and finally a layer of pasta. Repeat two more layers, and then top the last layer of pasta with the rest of the béchamel and the remaining parmesan.
Cook in oven for about 45 minutes to an hour, until golden and bubbling.
A Sweet-Smelling Pomander Ball
Since people didn’t wash very often in medieval times, and the smells could get rather overwhelming, it might be a good idea to bring a pomander ball along with you when you time-travel. The sweet scent of cloves and orange zest will help mask any powerful odors, which, if you are heading into the thirteenth century, you are bound to encounter on your trip.
~ MATERIALS ~
1 firm orange
whole cloves
ribbon, if you’d like to hang your pomander
~ METHOD ~
Stud whole cloves all over an orange, making a pattern, or until the orange is completely covered. If you are having trouble sticking the cloves in, use a toothpick to make the holes first. Be creative and arrange the cloves in diamond, circular, or other patterns. As the orange dries, it will release a delicate, spicy fragrance.
Next tie a pretty ribbon around it, making sure you include a loop to hang it from. Dangle in a place that could do with some freshening up! Note: If you want your pomander to last, store it in a paper bag for a few weeks. Use lots of cloves, which are a natural preserving agent. The cloves will draw out the juices, and the orange will shrink in size.
Homemade Jester’s Hat
To enter into the spirit of castle life, you can whip up one of these jester’s hats to wear. People in the Middle Ages loved being entertained, so if you are looking to make friends, put on your hat and turn a few somersaults, and you will find yourself the life and soul of the party. Knowing a few card tricks can’t hurt either, so you might want to practice some on your family and friends before you start time-traveling. Pulling a coin out of someone’s ear always gets a laugh!
~ MATERIALS ~
Any paper will do (Feel free to recycle old drawings, as this will make your jester hat nice and colorful.)
Scissors, tape, and glue
~ METHOD ~
Begin by making a headband out of paper, but don’t tape the ends together yet. The headband should be about 4 inches wide and long enough to fit around your head with a 1-inch overlap.
Now cut 6 paper triangles, each with a 2-inch-wide base and around 10 inches high. You can color them different colors or draw patterns on them if you like. It’s up to you.
Tape the base end of each triangle, evenly spaced, along the top inside edge of the headband. Fold the triangles so they flop over the outside of the headband to make it look like a jester’s hat. Tape the two edges of the headband together so that it fits on your head.
Cut out small circles about an inch wide and glue one onto the top point of each triangle. These are your bells! They won’t jingle, but they look fun!
Homemade Magic Wands
Magic was much more common in medieval times, so if you are traveling back there, you may find it stirs up magic you didn’t know you possessed and you are actually able to cast spells. Depending on when you were born, you will have a stronger connection to particular types of wood. Find your birth month below and use the wood that fits you best (documented by the first high priestess of magic in her guide to witchcraft). Remember: Be very careful when you cast your spells, as natural wands can be extremely powerful. So PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
January—Oak
February—Ash
March—Cherry
April—Pear
May—Apple
June—Beech
July—Alder
August—Chestnut
September—Maple
October—Birch
November—Hawthorn
December—Holly
Stripping the bark from your wand will make for a smoother flow of magic. Feel free to wind ribbons around the handle and decorate with jewels, feathers, or whatever you would like.
~ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ~
Thanks to Ann Tobias, my brilliant agent, for all her support and guidance. To Paula Wiseman, my equally brilliant editor, and the entire Simon & Schuster team.
&nbs
p; Thanks to Chloë Foglia for her beautiful book design, and Seb Mesnard for his gorgeous illustration of Della.
A huge thank-you to my sister Annabelle for reading many early drafts, helping me work out the kinks, and patiently explaining how time travel works!
Thanks to Jane Gilbert Keith for her excellent feedback.
I am so grateful to Dale Fisher for sending me an email suggesting I write Witch Dupree’s story—so thank you, thank you, Dale!!
As always, many thanks to my parents for reading each chapter as I wrote it, and putting up with my daily phone calls!
And last but never least, thanks to Jon, Sebastian, Oliver, Ben, and Juliette—I’d time-travel with all of you, anywhere!!
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~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~
Natasha Lowe knew as a child that she wanted to be either a writer, an adventurer, or a fancy teashop owner. So she did a little bit of everything, traveling from her native London to America, where she ran the Tea House bed-and-breakfast and wowed guests with her grandmother’s shortbread recipe. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children. She is the author of The Power of Poppy Pendle, The Courage of Cat Campbell, and The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel.
