by Lynne North
She hugged Owl more closely, and reached into her pocket to stroke Wart’s smooth back. ‘At least you’ll be my friends,’ she whispered. Her words were carried away by the rushing wind as the brooms sped through the air, and Gertie said no more.
Despite the speed of the brooms, it felt like an awfully long journey, but Gertie settled to it. She enjoyed the thrill of passing over land she had never seen before. Her first sight of the Academy was as exciting as she had been led to believe.
The Academy was set on Dark Moor, in the middle of nowhere. This was on purpose. ‘Witches can get quite a bad name,’ Gran had explained to Gertie. ‘Whether they deserve it or not.’ She failed to add that most did deserve it, and were proud of the fact. ‘So, it wouldn’t have been very wise to build the Academy in, or near, a busy town.’
‘Mortals can be strange about these kinds of things,’ Ma had added. ‘They don’t appreciate learner witches heading through their streets on low flying broomsticks, though badness knows why not. They even disapprove of cauldrons bubbling away sending black smoke and sparks belching into the air, can you imagine that?’ she shrugged in disbelief. ‘Would you believe they don’t even like the midnight chanting and dancing naked around huge bonfires?’ She didn’t wait for a reply. ‘Like I said, people can be very peculiar.’
For this reason, and the fact that the Ancient Guild of Professional Witches and Warlocks couldn’t get planning permission anywhere else, the Academy was built on a blasted heath.
Everyone who saw it was impressed. Gertie and her family were no exception.
‘Look, Mummy, look!’ Gertie pointed as they went in to land.
‘Yes, dear. Do sit still until we touch down,’ warned Ma to the squirming girl. ‘You don’t want to drop in too suddenly, do you?’
The building itself was made of large dark stones that looked like they were held together by the sprawling cobwebs that covered it from top to bottom, and side to side. It was huge, bordered on all sides by an evil smelling, murky moat. Ma and Gran circled the Academy twice before coming in to land. They didn’t want to miss the full impact of the wonderful sight from above. The bleak, uninviting scene below them brought a tear to Gertie’s eye. The walls of the Academy were tall, and topped by little low parapets like on a castle. Just below the top of the building, on a ledge that ran all around the walls, were huge gargoyles. They were by far the ugliest Gertie had ever seen, with oversized ears, googly eyes and long floppy tongues. Their bulbous eyes seemed to be staring off into the distance in all four directions across the blasted heath. The four corners of the Academy were rounded into huge turrets obviously large enough to have strange circular rooms inside.
‘You’ll be so happy here,’ said Gran as they landed and made their way along the stone bridge that crossed the moat. She was obviously impressed too.
Gertie smiled, too much in awe to speak.
Gargoyles also lined the sides of the bridge, staring inwards menacingly at the ones crossing it. Gertie nearly jumped out of her skin when the largest gargoyle on the left, half way across, yelled ‘STOP!’
Ma stopped. In fact, she stopped so fast that Gran bumped right into her and dropped Owl’s log. She managed to catch it before it bounced up and hit Fang’s mother who was following along closely behind. Ma was still staring at the gargoyle as if wondering if it really had spoken at all.
Fang hurried past them all with a look of smug satisfaction on his face. His expression seemed to say, I know something that you don’t know.
‘Don’t tell me you don’t know about the Stone Guardian?’ he asked.
‘Course we do,’ replied Gran, with her bloodshot eye daring Fang to contradict her.
‘Oh,’ he replied, just as smugly. ‘Go on then.’
Gran looked like she had the urge to turn him into a bat, but held her temper. After all, his mother was a friend. Sort of. She got a cunning look on her face instead.
‘No, you go first,’ she replied. ‘So we can see if you know about the stone garden.’
‘Guardian,’ corrected Fang.
Gertie saw Gran’s casting finger begin to quiver.
‘Go along then, Fang,’ his proud mum urged. ‘The little imp. He’s so excited,’ she said as she passed Ma and Gran.
Gertie stared around herself, not believing all this was real.
Fang proudly stopped in front of the gargoyle and loudly announced ‘Fang Malign, reporting for my accepted place at the Academy.’
The stone guardian was the only thing Gertie had not seen flinch from the spit that flew from Fang’s mouth every time he spoke.
A moment passed, and then the deep rumbling voice boomed, ‘YOU MAY PASS.’ It sounded like the beginning of a rockslide. Fang and his mother walked on proudly to approach the huge wooden doors bound with iron hinges that were now swinging open.
‘Hm,’ muttered Gran, watching the pair vanishing into the dark mouth of the building. ‘Nowt clever about that. Gertie’s here,’ she shouted at the gargoyle, as the doors swung shut with a dull echoing thud behind Fang’s mother.
A moment or two passed, but there was no reply from the gargoyle.
‘Are you deaf?’ called Gran, obviously wound up by Fang. ‘GERTIE’S HERE.’
‘I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME,’ the gargoyle boomed. ‘GERTIE WHO?’
‘GERTIE GRIMTHORPE,’ yelled Gran, leaning closer to the gargoyle so it could get the full impact of her bloodshot eye. It was now very bloodshot.
‘NOT ON MY LIST,’ replied the guardian. ‘GO AWAY.’
‘There must be some mistake,’ Ma said, seeming to be in fear of Gran doing something she might regret. Not that Gertie had ever known Gran to regret anything she had done. When Gran turned that bright shade of purple however, something usually died.
‘I DON’T MAKE MISTAKES,’ replied the gargoyle.
‘WELL YOU HAVE DONE THIS TIME, BUSTER,’ threatened Gran, waving Owl’s log about. ‘CHECK AGAIN.’
‘I DON’T NEED TO CHECK AGAIN,’ said the stone guardian in a bored voice. ‘I ONLY HAVE ONE LIST…OH…I HAVE TWO LISTS THIS TIME DON’T I? THERE’S AN EXTRA ONE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO…’
‘Yes, we know,’ interrupted Ma before the gargoyle could say another word. Gertie wondered what her Ma didn’t want him to say.
‘YOU’RE JUST THE FIRST TO ARRIVE WHO HAS TO…’
‘OKAY!’ yelled Gran. ‘We get the picture. Just check your OTHER list.’
A few more moments passed.
‘UHM. I DO HAVE A GERTIE HERE. I SUPPOSE YOU CAN GO IN,’ replied the gargoyle, rather grudgingly.
‘Thank you,’ replied Ma, before she set off after Gran who was already stomping up to the double doors.
If they didn’t open, Gertie knew Gran was ready to batter them open with Owl’s log. She hurried along holding her Ma’s hand; Owl encircled by Ma’s other arm. Owl looked like he was trying to keep sight of his log, but wasn’t succeeding very well because Gran kept swinging it this way and that.
‘Is everything alright, mummy?’ asked Gertie.
‘Of course!’ Ma replied. ‘Just a mix up with the silly list, that’s all.’
Before Gran got to do any battering, the huge doors creaked open. She still gave the one nearest to her a knock with the log for good measure. She entered through the doors still muttering to herself. ‘You would think a place like the Academy would make sure their animation spells worked properly’
Ma and Gertie followed quietly behind.
Chapter Six
Gertie’s first sight of the inside of the Academy left her staring up with her mouth open. The entrance hall was so big, Gertie truly believed it must take up half the building. This wasn’t the case of course, it was just the impression most visitors to the Academy had when they entered for the first time. Cobwebs festooned the dark ancient walls and windows, making the inside look gloomy and creepy. There were iron wall brackets high up, probably to provide the light at night with flickering flames. To the left and right were hea
vy, dark oak doors, closed right now. Another oaken door was open before the crowd of witches gathered in the hall. Through it Gertie could see some long wooden tables and benches. To the right of the room, and leading up, was a flight of well worn, wide stone steps winding around the far wall and up to the next landing. A wooden rail topped the stone pillars edging the steps as far as the eye could see. The room was full of ‘Ooooh’s’ and ‘Ahhh’s’ as the families talked together while waiting for everyone to arrive.
‘Isn’t it wonderful, Mummy?’ Gertie whispered. She was too excited to even breathe properly.
It wasn’t long before the double doors swung shut for a final time. Everyone knew it was the last time, because the doors locked themselves too. It was then, and only then, that the tall, dark, figure proudly descended the stone stairs. She was obviously a witch of many years, and her very aura radiated power.
‘Well, that’s a bit more like it,’ muttered Gran. ‘At least she looks the part.’
The new arrival lifted her arms in the air, and the room fell silent almost immediately, such was her presence. The figure stared around the room, seeming to take everyone in at first glance. Once the room had been completely silent for a few moments, she spoke.
‘Welcome fellow witches and warlocks, to the Academy. I am the Head Witch, Miss Wick.’
She paused to let her importance fully sink in.
‘The Academy is where you will learn the real meaning of being a witch or a warlock,’ she continued. ‘If you will now all follow me, I will give you a tour of some of the main rooms of the Academy.’
The group followed along behind Miss Wick, all of them surprisingly quiet. Even Gran, who seemed to have forgotten her earlier anger. Everyone was too interested in what they were being shown, though there was too much for them to take it all in properly. The first room they entered was the one at the bottom of the stairs with the long wooden tables and benches. They were told this was the dining hall. Next they were shown various classrooms, study rooms, and bedrooms. There was so much to see! It was a building of many rooms and corridors, with dark eerie cellars.
Gertie felt totally lost almost right away. She hadn’t realised in her small village that anywhere in the world could be quite so big. She didn’t have much time to look around at the other witches and warlocks. Gertie saw they were looking at her though. She noticed Fang whispering to many, and pointing her out. Gertie ignored him. Ma and Gran didn’t seem to notice, which was as well. Gran certainly wouldn’t have stood for any more cheek from Fang.
‘As you can see,’ Miss Wick was proudly saying. ‘We are an old and established school of great renown.’ She stared at each witch and warlock in turn to see they were properly paying attention, parents and pupils alike. They were.
‘If she looks at me like that again, I’ll give her the Evil Eye,’ Gran threatened to Ma.
‘Shh. Listen or you’ll miss something,’ whispered Ma.
‘We have rooms in which to attend lectures,’ continued Miss Wick, ‘places where we can practice spells, and a very impressive library,’ she added, opening a huge creaking door on the second floor. Books bound in countless dark colours seemed to loom from floor to ceiling, and the smell of old paper and leather wafted out as the witches entered.
‘Oh, Mummy, look. I love books!’ squealed Gertie.
Her interruption was silenced by a glance from Miss Wick.
‘As you can see,’ she continued, ‘we have all the classics such as “Necromancy for Beginners”, “Witchcraft the Easy Way”, “The Devil’s Companion”, and “Know Your Own Broomstick”. We are also proud to possess such elusive volumes as “Every Witch’s Guide to Blighting and Injury”, and “How to Make Your Own Hell on Earth.”
A general murmur of approval rumbled through the crowd. Gertie joined in, though she didn’t know what elusive meant, and planned to ask Ma later. Maybe it was another word for big. They sounded like they had to be huge books.
‘There are also many more bedrooms than you have seen, and a large kitchen.’ Miss Wick gestured dismissively. ‘In fact, the Academy has everything a young witch or warlock could possible want,’ she added, having led them all back to the choking dust of the entrance hall.
Miss Wick was thanked for the eye opening tour, and then the family groups were left in the dining room with tea and devil cakes. Later they would meet back in the entrance hall for bedroom allocation.
Through the large window, the view from the back of the Academy was breathtaking. It even brought a tear to the eye of the least sentimental witches who attended or visited. Several gnarled oaks stood nearby, shrivelled and blackened by being struck repeatedly by lightning. A steep hill, burned black at the top by ceremonial bonfires, overlooked the building. To Gertie, it seemed to tower protectively over the Academy. She could already imagine the flaring shadows it would cast across the stone walls of the Academy when the bonfire was lit.
‘Oh, Mummy, isn’t it wonderful!’ Gertie said with a sigh.
‘Yes, it is, dear,’ Ma replied, her expression calm. Gertie saw her worries were receding now she had seen what an impressive place the Academy was.
‘Why, when the bonfire is lit, the reflection on the black stone will make it look like the whole building will burst into molten flames at any minute,’ announced Gran in awe. ‘And you know the room in the cellar, the one full of rack upon rack of ingredients for spells?’
‘Oh yes, what a collection,’ agreed Ma.
‘Yes, but not just that,’ continued Gran as she bit into her second devil cake. ‘Did you notice it had its own running water?’
‘Really?’ asked Ma.
‘Yes,’ replied Gran, spitting crumbs. ‘Right down the middle of the back wall it was, seeping through the bricks. It must come from the moat. They had their own fungus growing all down it. Just imagine, fresh fungus to simply walk up to and scrape off whenever you need it.’
‘How wonderful,’ agreed Ma in a dreamy voice.
Their talk soon turned to the bedrooms, to be allocated next. Some of the bedrooms they had seen overlooked a murky swamp and a stagnant pond. Gertie knew that on moonlit nights the whole area would be bathed in a beautiful eerie glow. The new intake of trainee witches and warlocks would have to draw lots to see who got the best rooms. On the tour, Miss Wick had explained that even the blue skies and a bright sun of summer were made more bearable when seen across the swamp. She also said that the swamp smelled even stronger in the heat, and the aroma would drift in through the windows of the left wing. Everyone wanted the rooms with the view.
Before long, they went back to the entrance hall where Miss Wick and another witch stood. A small cauldron had been set up in the centre, and all the new recruits gathered around it.
‘Please, please…’ Gertie begged quietly. ‘Wart would love it, Mummy, and if I got one of those rooms I could wave at him from my window.’
‘We’ll have to see,’ replied Ma in a hushed voice. ‘Quiet now, they’re making the choices.’
Gertie was so nervous when her name was called to go forward, she wondered if her legs would get her to the cauldron. They did, and she dipped her delicate pink hand into it. Taking out a slip of paper, she handed it to Miss Wick as she had seen the others do.
‘Left Wing,’ announced Miss Wick in a loud voice that carried easily around the hall.
Gertie couldn’t believe her luck, and neither could Fang or the others who had not chosen the best rooms. She danced around gleefully, ignoring Fang’s sour looks. Her Ma looked a bit embarrassed, so Gertie tried to calm down again as she walked back to them. It was just so exciting!
The teacher allocated to show Gertie to her room was Miss Fiendish. Gertie saw her head over towards them, only pausing near to Miss Wick who was talking to the other teacher standing by the cauldron. They were both staring at Gertie, and she had the distinct feeling they were talking about her.
They both tutted, shaking their heads, and then carried on with the draw.
&nb
sp; Miss Fiendish gave the two witches quite a look, then smiled at Gertie as she came over to introduce herself. Gertie was so excited about the room, she tried not to think about the other witches. Miss Fiendish had given her the first kindly look she had received from any of the staff since arriving at the Academy.
The teacher led the way up to Gertie’s room, and Gertie smiled sweetly at her. The teacher looked a bit taken aback by this, but returned her most pleasant grimace back to Gertie.
‘Here we are,’ she announced, swinging open a big oak door on its dark hinges and standing back to let the family go in.
Gran entered first, almost at a run. She hurriedly dropped Owl’s log over by the wall, and headed straight for the window.
‘Oh, Gertie, come and look at this view!’ she called. Gertie went to join her, and the sight that met her was magnificent. The swamp looked even nearer to her room than it was to the bedroom they had been shown earlier.
‘Wart will love it there, Gran,’ she grinned happily. ‘Look, Wart’ she exclaimed taking the sleepy toad out of her pocket and holding him up to the window. ‘That will be your new home for a while!’
Wart gave a disinterested croak, and closed his bulbous eyes again. He seemed irritated at being disturbed. Gertie thought he had probably been having a nice dream about eating huge tasty flies.
‘I think he’s excited’ Gertie said.
‘Uhm,’ replied Ma looking at the motionless green blob on Gertie’s hand. ‘We’ll take him over there together before we leave.’
Ma had been carrying Owl since they arrived, so now she took him over to his log and placed him on it. He stared at her, closely, then down at his log. Seeming quite happy that he knew both, Owl settled for a nap.
