by Lynne North
Once again, Fang had no reply.
Gertie was enjoying this class, and it had barely started! She loved to see Fang put in his place with such ease.
‘Right then,’ continued Miss Fiendish. ‘Take these important points down, class.’
She turned to her board again and began to write.
1) Be aware of the intentions of others.
2) Always be prepared to use counter actions.
3) Keep your remedies well stocked, and close at hand.
The only sounds in the class were scribbling pens and Bertha breathing heavily at the exertion of writing so much. Once everyone had stopped writing, Miss Fiendish pointed to the first rule.
‘Who can tell me what we mean by this?’ she asked.
‘Never ignore your sixth sense?’ asked Malicia.
‘Yes, good. If you feel something is going to happen to you, then it probably is. Never ignore the warning. There is however an even better way to be aware. You all have familiars, yes?’
Everyone nodded.
‘Good, well, your familiar will serve as a kind of psychic radar for you. Never ignore your familiar if they are acting strangely or out of character. They could be trying to give you a warning.’
Gertie thought about Owl. He always acted pretty strangely. She wondered how she would notice the difference.
‘So, if Vlad, my bat, began to circle or something,’ began Fang trying to redeem himself. ‘Then it might be a warning of danger for me?’
‘Yes, Fang, good example. That is exactly the kind of thing I mean.’
Fang showed more of his teeth.
‘All Jasper ever does is eat,’ Bertha whispered to Gertie. Gertie had no reply to that. Didn’t Bertha realise it was because that’s all she ever did?
‘So,’ the teacher said, ‘always remember that your familiar is not just your friend. It is there to protect you too.’
Gertie considered Owl again. He could barely see her, never mind protect her. She would have to pay very careful attention to the next two points, because she didn’t hold out much hope for point one.
‘Now, to rule number two,’ Miss Fiendish began. ‘Does anyone know any counter actions?’
‘Hit them before they hit you, and run?’ suggested Ghoul.
‘Well, whenever possible, that is one idea,’ agreed Miss Fiendish, ‘but if a spell is already cast, or someone has the Evil Eye on you, the only thing you can do is protect yourself before you can strike back.’
No one escapes Gran’s Evil Eye, thought Gertie proudly.
‘As I’m sure you all know, the Evil Eye is the ability to influence someone else’s well being for the worst, simply by looking at them. Not everyone can do this, but it is a powerful skill to acquire. Together with a good grimace, it never fails. As with all negative spells though, I’m sure you will be pleased to know there is a positive defence. The best defence against the Evil Eye is to quickly reply with the “Devil’s Horns” before it can take you over. To make the Devil’s Horns, you simply hold your hand like this.’
The teacher held up her hand, palm facing the class. She then held down the middle two fingers of her hand with her thumb, leaving her first and little finger pointing upwards like horns.
‘Aim this gesture at anyone trying to give you the Evil Eye to win yourself some time to fight back. All try now.’
At first, Miss Fiendish received some very strange gestures as the pupils tried to get the Devil’s Horns right. ‘Not those two fingers,’ she said more than once.
Gertie got it right straight away, which delighted her. Especially when her favourite teacher said ‘Excellent, Gertie!’
Gertie beamed and blushed, all at the same time.
Bertha’s little finger (which was quite fat so not that little at all) kept getting caught up with the other two, and bending down.
‘Try again, Bertha,’ encouraged Miss Fiendish. ‘You won’t get much protection from half a Devil’s Horn.’
Soon the class had all made a good enough attempt for beginners, so the teacher carried on.
‘One final protective gesture this morning,’ she said. ‘Then we will spend the afternoon on plant remedies that will counter any ill effects you might find yourself struck down by. We will also be going out into the herb garden and woods in order to learn to recognise the necessary ingredients.’
There was a general murmur of approval to this. Everyone liked the chance to get out of the classroom for a while.
‘The final gesture of this class, will be Widdershins.’
Miss Fiendish wrote it on the board, and everyone looked at her blankly.
‘I can see the word is a new one to most of you,’ she continued, ‘but it is quite a simple one. Widdershins movements and motions can be used in spells to counter negative effects, and also in the casting of binding and banishing spells. Not that any of you are quite up to the summoning of demons yet.’ She added with a smile.
Gertie saw Fang’s pointy ears perk up at that. He muttered something about it being the coolest thing to be able to do.
‘All that widdershins is,’ the teacher concluded, ‘is a counter clockwise, circular movement.’
She gestured with her hand, finger pointing, in a movement that circled from right to left like a clock’s fingers going backwards.
‘Though stirring a potion widdershins can cause evil intent, this gesture is still very useful to remember for dispersing negative energy aimed at you, or in curing ills. Right, young witches and warlocks. I’m sure you are all ready for your lunch…
Bertha’s ears pricked up immediately, and she had almost stood up before Miss Fiendish had finished saying ‘…so off you go, and I’ll see you back here at 1.30.’
Gertie had trouble keeping up with Bertha as she hurtled to the dining room, but the young witch felt she was floating on air. This was the class she had been waiting for her whole life, even though she hadn’t known it before. It felt like coming home.
Chapter Eleven
Gertie chatted happily over lunch about how wonderful Miss Fiendish was, and how much she was enjoying the class. Bertha didn’t reply as such apart from with the odd grunt. The big girl didn’t like talking while she was eating. Gertie soon learned this wasn’t out of politeness, but because she had to pause from chewing and it slowed her down. The quicker she ate her own lunch, the more chance she had of getting seconds. If there were no seconds to be had, she still had time to persuade the others who were eating that they didn’t want that last potato or sausage, did they? Bertha ended up eating half of Gertie’s lunch today, because Gertie was so eager to get back to the class. She couldn’t wait to see what she would learn next.
It felt like absolutely ages to Gertie before she was once again sat at her desk. Bertha was complaining that lunch break was never long enough, and she hadn’t had time to nip back to her room for a packet of biscuits to round off the meal properly. She also thought a short nap was more the thing to do than have another lesson so soon after eating.
‘Shh, Miss Fiendish is here!’ Gertie hissed, giving her a nudge. The teacher walked in this time carrying quite a big box. She put it down heavily on the table, and dust billowed up making those sat at the front of the class sneeze.
Everyone stared at the box with interest as the teacher opened the top and reached inside. A groan of disappointment came from many as Miss Fiendish began to take books out. Bertha said she had hoped it might be food. Gertie was the only one who rubbed her hands in glee. Another book!
Miss Fiendish didn’t seem to miss any of the reactions. ‘This book,’ she began, ‘is one I wrote myself some time ago.’
‘She wrote it herself!’ Gertie hissed towards the nodding head of Bertha. She wasn’t nodding in agreement, but because she was heading for her after lunch nap, whether she was in class or not.
Miss Fiendish held the book up, and Gertie could see the front. The little witch read the cover.
“A Beginner’s Guide to Common Antidotes and Cu
res” by Miss Greta Fiendish.
‘Oh look, Miss Fiendish’s name is almost like mine!’ whispered Gertie in excitement. Bertha’s reply was a slight snore. No doubt it would soon build up to a real one, so Gertie gave her a nudge.
Bertha jumped and said loudly ‘I DON’T KNOW.’ It was her usual response to most things.
‘You don’t know what, Bertha?’ asked Miss Fiendish, looking puzzled.
‘Uhm, whatever it was you asked me,’ replied Bertha, digging herself in deeper and going red.
Miss Fiendish stared hard at the girl’s bleary eyes. ‘I didn’t ask you anything, Bertha. Do try to stay awake,’ she added. ‘Gertie.’
Now it was Gertie’s time to jump.
‘Yes, Miss?’ she replied in a small voice.
‘Could you give these books out for me, please?’
‘Oh yes!’ called Gertie in delight, all but running to the front of the class without a care that everyone was looking at her.
‘Bertha, maybe you could help. It might keep you awake for a little longer,’ continued the teacher.
Bertha pulled a face at having to stand up, and then slowly lumbered between the desks. There was just about enough space for her to pass.
Miss Fiendish reached the books out, and Gertie darted about placing one on every desk. Bertha managed to deliver a couple.
‘Teacher’s Pet,’ muttered Fang as Gertie put his book down then hurtled on. He stuck his foot out to try to trip her up as she moved off. He missed her leg. Gertie was moving too fast and enthralled by the books, eager to get her own. She turned as his scream echoed off the stone walls of the classroom. Bertha had followed behind and stood right on Fang’s outstretched foot.
‘Fang, whatever is wrong now?’ asked Miss Fiendish.
Fang was too busy trying to get his breath back to reply at first, then managed to get out ‘My…foot…I think…it’s…broken’
‘Oh don’t exaggerate, Fang,’ replied the teacher. ‘If it had been where it should be under your desk, then it wouldn’t have happened. Did Gertie stand on it?’
‘B,B,Bertha,’ replied Fang, obviously fighting back tears.
‘Ah, I see,’ replied Miss Fiendish. ‘That’s different. Let me see.’
She carefully examined Fang’s foot, gently pressing it in places as he winced.
‘Nothing broken,’ she finally decided. ‘I’ll put a poultice of leaves on it for you to take down any swelling. You see, Fang, even warlocks need herbal remedies sometimes. Come with me,’ she added.
By now, Gertie had finished delivering all the books.
‘Thank you, Gertie, and Bertha,’ said Miss Fiendish. ‘This one is yours, Gertie,’ she added with a smile.
Gertie clutched the book to her chest, thanked Miss Fiendish very much, and hurried back to her desk.
‘You may keep these books,’ the teacher addressed the class. ‘We have had enough printed for all of you.’
Gertie almost squealed in delight. She wondered if Miss Fiendish would sign it for her.
‘You may check through your books while I’m away,’ instructed Miss Fiendish. ‘We won’t be long. I will answer any questions you might have when we return.’ Off she went with Fang limping, and looking very sorry for himself.
‘You’ll regret that,’ Malicia called to Bertha.
‘I didn’t do it on purpose!’ exclaimed Bertha, back at her desk and looking quite worried.
‘And Fang probably won’t mean it when he feeds you to a demon,’ taunted the other girl.
‘Ignore them,’ reassured Gertie. ‘Fang doesn’t know any demons.’ Well, she hoped he didn’t.
Bertha didn’t look very reassured. She said she wished she had something to eat, preferably of the chocolate variety, to calm her nerves. She also suggested nipping off for some before the teacher got back, but thought better of it.
Gertie had her nose in her book immediately. It was made up of many different chapters with titles like “Trees”, “Herbs”, “Weeds”, “Natural Remedies’’ and so on. It also had lots of pictures. It even had sections about the best time to pick each ingredient, and which part of the plant to use. Sometimes it was the leaves, at other times the flowers, or the root. There were even details about whether to chew the remedy raw, or to mix it to a pulp, or dry it out to grind into a powder.
Gertie was so fascinated; she didn’t notice Miss Fiendish return to the classroom until she was standing behind her asking ‘Is there anything you would like to ask yet, Gertie?’
‘Would you sign it for me, please?’ Gertie asked without thinking it might sound foolish.
Miss Fiendish gave a little chuckle. ‘Well, I’ve never been asked that one before. I would love to.’
She turned back to the first page and wrote “To Gertie, for protection always, Greta Fiendish”.
Gertie beamed. This was one of the happiest days of her life.
Bertha’s day wasn’t going quite so well. Fang was doing a very good impression of giving her the Evil Eye. Gertie believed she could almost hear a demon being summoned. She didn’t think Miss Fiendish was aware of the looks passing between Fang and Bertha. Anyway, there probably wasn’t much the teacher could do about it.
After a while of quiet book reading; there was a questions and answers session. Following that, the teacher announced it was time to go out to study the plants first hand. Everyone liked the idea.
‘Will your foot be alright for a walk, Fang?’ asked Miss Fiendish. ‘The swelling will have gone down now, and your painkilling powder should be doing the trick’
Fang sullenly agreed. On their way out of the classroom, Gertie heard him say he wasn’t going to miss some time outside. He also muttered to Malicia that he didn’t want to miss a chance of getting his own back on ‘Fatty Bobbit.’
Still carrying their books, the class followed Miss Fiendish out the back door of the Academy and into a well stocked herb garden. The teacher began to point out various herbs, and told the class which page to turn to in their books to read about them.
After describing a few in this way, Miss Fiendish pointed to another herb with blue flowers. ‘Now, can anyone tell me what this herb is?’ she asked.
There was a mad fluttering of pages as everyone tried to find the right picture.
‘Is it borage, Miss?’ Gertie asked without looking at her book.
As soon as she had spoken, Gertie wondered how she had dared to volunteer an answer. She had never done that before. She hadn’t even checked in her book to make sure she was right. She just strongly felt she knew.
‘Excellent, Gertie!’ enthused Miss Fiendish. ‘I don’t suppose you have any idea what it can be used for?’
‘I think your book says it can reduce fevers, and ease coughs. It’s also quite good to use in treating rashes or arthritis, I think,’ said Gertie, pausing for breath.
‘Gertie, that is wonderful!’ replied Miss Fiendish.
The class were staring at Gertie with a variety of expressions that ran through disbelief, to envy, to something close to hatred. The last one was Fang.
What Gertie had also remembered, but not mentioned, was that borage could help to ease the ill effects of too much alcohol. She had made herself a mental note to let Grothilde know when she next saw her. Gertie herself had no idea how she had remembered all this from reading the book so quickly. She felt that somehow she had already known in the back of her mind. She didn’t understand how.
Miss Fiendish was pointing at another herb. ‘This one, anyone?’
‘Thyme,’ Gertie replied instantly.
‘Right again!’ Miss Fiendish said with a smile. ‘Can anyone else tell me what it is used for?’
Gertie knew it was used to treat infected wounds, sore throats, breathing problems and indigestion. She didn’t say anything though, because she was suddenly very aware of the looks from her fellow pupils. Even Bertha looked a little jealous.
No one knew the answer, so Miss Fiendish pointed them to the right page in the book
.
‘As you will see,’ she explained, ‘one use for thyme is as a lotion to treat infected wounds. Something to always remember however, is never use the forefinger of your right hand to spread the lotion on the wound. As some of you will already know, the forefinger is the one you use to cast a poison spell, so it is not the best finger to use to try to cure someone. Always use your longest finger when spreading lotions.’
Gertie was scribbling madly in her notebook again. That was something she didn’t know.
‘Does anyone, other than Gertie, know what this one is?’ asked Miss Fiendish pointing to what Gertie knew to be coriander.
‘Swot,’ hissed Fang into Gertie’s ear.
Gertie was feeling a little anxious now. She DID know what they all were, and a lot about what they were used for. She didn’t however want the rest of the class to be against her even more than they already were (if that was possible).
With no correct answer forthcoming, Miss Fiendish said ‘Would you like to tell us, Gertie?’
The little witch was now in an awful dilemma. In a small voice she said, ‘I’m not very sure about that one.’ She then felt terrible because she had told a little lie to Miss Fiendish.
The teacher looked slightly surprised, then she glanced at how close Fang was standing to Gertie.
‘Never mind, Gertie, no one could know them all right away.’ She gave Gertie a look that somehow made the little girl know she understood what was going on. ‘This is coriander, class,’ she addressed them all again. ‘It is used in the treatment of stomach aches, indigestion, sickness and flatulence, amongst other things.’
Several smirks came from the class. ‘My Gran could do with some of that,’ whispered Ghoul. ‘She always has wind.’
‘Pay attention, Ghoul,’ called Miss Fiendish. She continued through parsley, rosemary, and many others, but made a point of not asking Gertie again. Miss Fiendish obviously knew Gertie was having a hard enough time because of her looks, without being shunned by the others because she knew so much more than they did. At least Gertie had high hopes of doing well in these classes.
