“Get in Avis!” she called bobbing above the surface.
I had to really didn’t I? I tried to look cool as I soared through the air. And failing as all the water went up my nose. Tina laughed.
We bobbed in the cold water and I tried my best to stop my teeth chattering. “It feels amazing to have Ernie back you know,” she said. “Some people say you shouldn’t mess with the dead, but… this felt like the right thing to do.”
“I know what you mean,” I shivered. “Erm… there aren’t any dangerous things in this water are there?” I swear I felt something touch my leg.
“I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough…” she came closer.
“You don’t need to,” I said. “This is enough.” My heart was hammering so hard.
“I don’t know how you thought of it all and… had the courage to face him like that. I just froze.”
For the rest of the day we lay, drying off on the grass together. As we lay, the noise of people playing outside the school drifted through the air. Tina’s hand slowly found mine.
The next afternoon, me, Robin and Tina met up for Dinner in the Chamber. Ernie had loved his new found fame at first, but now I was sure he was using Magic to evade being seen by anyone. “If I have to sign another autograph I will spontaneously combust!” he said. “I am sure I signed Arthur Cook’s book twenty times already!”
Then, a shadow fell over our table, as Ross followed by Hamish and Gascoigne, stood over us with a strange glare in his eyes.
“You happy with yourself?” he said a little loudly. “Hanging around with the enemy.”
“Enemy?” said Robin.
“Cork it lamppost!” said Ross, as people in the Chamber started looking round. “Yeah, the Partington’s…” he pointed at Tina.
I whacked his arm away. “Don’t point at her.”
“And that Ernie. He’s the one who… to Malakai… what do you think our parents will think? Think they’ll be happy with you hanging around with him?”
I stood up slowly, my head barely up to his shoulders. “I don’t care what they think… strikes me, he did us a favour.”
“Yeah, and how do you work that out, runt boy?” Ross looked really angry, his eye was twitching.
“Don’t talk to him like that,” said Tina.
Ross exploded. “SHUT UP!”
I swallowed, he was dangerous when he was angry. “I said… don’t talk to her like that…”
“And what are you gonna do about it?” said Ross, prodding me in the chest.
A voice behind Ross rang true. “Avis has enough manners to never harm a brother. So I am thankful that you and me, are not related.” Ernie, now standing, was inspecting Ross.
“Oh look who it is,” said Ross. “And what are you gonna do ghost boy?”
All eyes in the Chamber were now on Ross and Ernie. “Go on Ross, show him who’s boss!” said Hamish in his deep nasal voice. Ross, gee’d on by his friends, raised his arms and threw a Spell at Ernie. A whizzing green bolt of fire shot across the Chamber.
Ernie didn’t even blink. With one nonchalant click of his fingers, a black circle of water appeared before his face. The spinning green fire Spell hit it and instantly dissipated into smoke.
Ernie winced as if he was sorry for the lack of challenge Ross showed him. Ernie clicked his fingers again. A fizz and a crackle lit the air. Sticky brown tape flew out of nowhere and bound Ross’s hands, feet and mouth.
Everyone in the Chamber launched into applause. “Pick your fights,” said Ernie, leaving Ross writhing around on the floor with Hamish and Gascoigne attempting pathetically to Spell the tape from the writhing Ross.
“Brilliant…” I said high-fiving Ernie, then watched as Ross’s friends carried him out of the Chamber like he was an old carpet.
***
In no time at all, it was the last week of school. You could sense the emotion in the air. The last years had finished all their exams and proceeded to fly about the school, sending Spells whizzing all over the place. They went crazy! Hunter, Jake and Ellen were all picked up and thrown in the air (playfully of course) as they ran through the Chamber and were told off by Magisteer Dodaline.
With three days left I was sitting by the fire in my dorm alone, finishing my last homework assignment and wondering why I missed the clock tower so much. There was a knock and Tina came in, sitting down on my bed.
“Comfy…” she said. “Listen Avis, what are you doing for summer?”
I sighed. “I don’t know.” I put my pen down and sat next to her. “Thought I’d just go home.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea what with, everything that happened?” I knew she was worried about what Ross had said.
“They don’t know it was me.”
“Yeah, but Avis, Ross knows you’ve been hanging around with us… the enemy.”
“True…” I reasoned.
She bit her lip. “So come and stay at mine.”
My heart gave a little flutter. “Wow, thank you, I am sure I will, but…”
“But what?” She looked offended.
“But, I need to go home, I need to face them… it’s hard to explain, but after this year and all that’s happened. It wouldn’t feel right ignoring them. I need to… face them.”
Tina nodded. “I get it. I do. But, just so know you can come to mine whenever you want.”
“Thank you…”
Funnily enough Robin had said the same, in as many words. “Come and stay at mine this summer, you’ll love it in Yorkshire!” I politely declined, saying the same as I said to Tina, but promised if things got tough, or I just wanted to come for a week or so then I would. Obviously I didn’t invite them to mine, as it might scar them for life. Literally.
On the very last day, emotions ran at fever pitch. Hailing Hall was all of our homes now. We all piled into the Chamber for the end of year assembly. I sat next to Robin and the rest of the Condors at a table spilling over with food. Jess and Florence sat opposite each other, staring in opposite directions with Hunter further away from them still.
Ernie had joined a sixth year form, the Phoenix’s, with their charismatic form tutor Magisteer Nottingham. They were receiving jealous glances from the other sixth year forms. Obviously they wanted the celebrity in their form.
The air was buzzing. We ate and drank for what would be our last meal together for months. I had a bit of everything because there was so much to choose from! I gorged myself until I felt particularly fattened up, much to the delight of Tina, who worried about how thin I was.
Soon enough the entertainment began. The third years took to the stage to perform a play, as was customary at the end of the year. I’m not sure if it was supposed to be a comedy, but that’s what it turned out to be. The stage looked incredible and was littered with Magical illusions: holographic backgrounds like clouds, floating furniture and even a dragon. Vivian Kirkwood, a small, uptight, serious boy and the narrator of the play, walked out onto the middle of the stage. Just as he opened his mouth he fell straight through the trap door, there was a second of silence, then a thud. It was absolutely hilarious.
The play continued in this calamitous vein for the entirety. They kept getting lost on the stage, due to an overpowering cloud illusion Spell which also caused several coughing fits. Vivian narrated the rest of the play in a neck brace, one boy accidentally came on without any trousers on and Curtis Blackwell managed to swing his sword so hard, it flew off, hit a fire bracket and set the curtains on fire. Magisteer Mallard, the director, stood by with his head in his hands.
Eventually, we gathered that the play was about the famous Wizards Jermain and Shaun-John, who invented most of the modern Spells we have today. But I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in all my life. The great warrior Wizard Jermain was played by Gerry Sanders, a boy smaller than me with the most high pitched, squeakiest voice in the world! At the end, the curtains fell over poor Colin Clapper before he could get off stage, so he just stood awkwar
dly until he was forcefully escorted off by Magisteer Mallard.
“And NOW!” bellowed the Lily taking to the lectern. “We crown the champions of this years Riptide League! Please put your hands together for…” everyone in the Chamber began drumming on their tables. “…The CENTAURS!” The room erupted in cheers as golden confetti exploded into the air above us and rained down. The Centaurs stood proudly from their table and walked to the front amid a standing ovation. Clasping each other in celebration and beaming wide, the Lily put solid, dazzlingly golden medal around each of their necks. Jenson Zhu, Gemma Icke and Marshall Compton-Campbell received the biggest cheers. Then the huge golden cup in the shape of an R was handed across to the big team captain - Ingrid Bloater (I did find that quite amusing, and nearly choked on my cake when that was announced.) She took the cup and raised it high in the air as golden fireworks erupted from the ground, nearly scared me half to death. Robin was annoyed because a firework case went in his drink. Magisteer Straker was on his feet applauding, he looked more animated than I’d ever seen him and even wiped a small tear from his eye.
“That’s two years in a row!” announced the Lily. “So lessons to be taken from the Centaurs, for all of you.”
“Doesn’t matter how many lessons in Riptide we have,” said Robin. “We’ll still never win!” Jake and Gret shot Robin a fierce glance as Simon clapped Graham on the back.
“You owe me another ten gold pieces.” Graham grimaced and reached for his gold bag.
After pudding, we moved on to the school awards. The Lily took to the lectern again.
“And now for the Hailing Hall School Awards! Given out to pupils who we, the Magisteers, think deserve it… Firstly, the award for best kept dormitory. The winners are… the Hesserbout form!” A girly scream shot into the air as the fourth year Hesserbout form jumped up collecting their certificates and Magical boxed prizes.
“What’s in them do you think?” I whispered to Robin.
“Ernie said they usually give a pot of Everlasting Ink, or something…”
“Really? Is that all? I’d be well annoyed if thats all I got for keeping my room clean all year.”
The Hesserbouts retook their seats as the Lily bellowed again. “And the award for the form who excelled in their studies above all others this year are… Jaloofias!” A table of snooty looking fifth years stood and gave bows and courtesies. “Well done Jaloofias,” finished the Lily as they sat back down with their small boxes.
“Now, we have a couple of special awards to give out… It’s important in this school to be, not just academically astute and clean, but to have something else. Sometimes life requires you to be more than just clever, more than just determined, more than just skilled. Sometimes it requires a multitude of skills, skills that come from being a good person and deciding what the right thing to do is, even if it means sacrificing something that you hold dear.” The Lily’s eyes subtly swayed towards our table and my heart began hammering. “The next winner then…” he called. “Goes to somebody, who under extreme pressure, triumphed. This special award goes to… Robin Wilson!”
Robin froze in his seat as the crowd erupted all around us. He turned to look at me with absolute terror plastered across his pale, be-speckled face.
“Go on!” I said pushing him up. Robin limped to the front of the Chamber. The crowd clapping and cheering even though they didn’t know what he’d done. Tina was standing on her chair, clapping and whistling as loud as she could, until Magisteer Dodaline pulled her down.
“What did he do?” said Hunter.
“Well done Robin,” said the Lily, clapping him on the back and turning him to face the Chamber. He looked like a frightened deer, being held up before a room of hungry wolves. The Lily ordered silence again. “Robin Wilson, you have displayed qualities which the average person should be severely jealous. Not only did you come here an Outsider, oblivious to the knowledge of our race, and adapted yourself quickly and knowledgeably, so much so, that most of the Magisteers thought you were a born Wizard, but also you forgave, at a time when all others didn’t and wouldn’t. Not only that further, but you saved two lives, with little time, no prior knowledge and performed what is one of the hardest Spells known to Wizardkind. That deserves a special prize, and a special round of applause.” The Lily threw his arms into the air and the Chamber erupted.
Robin took his seat back next to me, a small leather box under his arm. Eyes all around watching him curiously as he sat down, wondering what on earth he did to deserve such a special award.
“Next is a three way award. For three people who, playing David, took on Goliath, with selfless determination. These people have shown amazing attributes in morality, guts, and perseverance at a time when all seemed lost…” the Lily smiled. “Something that takes immense courage and belief. So, can we have Ernie Partington, Tina Partington and Avis Blackthorn up here please!” I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. Everyone on my table began clapping me on the back.
Why was this happening? Had Partington told the Lily?
“Your turn now mate…” said Robin pushing me up. Tina looked shell shocked too and copied my jelly leg walk to the front, joining Ernie.
The Lily was much taller when you stood next to him and he smelt like lavender. He shook Tina’s hand, then mine. Handing us both a small, black hexagonal leather box with our names written in scrawling golden ink. Now he turned us to face the room. A sea of eyes watched us, across a huge room that flickered orange firelight and multi-coloured robes shimmering rainbows across the walls. I locked my shaking legs into place and tried to muster some saliva in my dry as a bone mouth.
“It takes tremendous courage to…” Please don’t say what we did, I kept thinking. “…to stand up and do the right thing even when others would tell you otherwise,” nodded the Lily. “We know why Ernest is up here. For what he did, we must be eternally grateful. And Tina, who single handedly took over her brothers quest so amicably, helping to restore him to mortality. Without you're helping hand, Malakai would still be at large…” then, after a long applause, the Lily’s tone changed to a crippling sincerity as his eyes rested on me.
“But… a special thank you must be said for Avis Blackthorn. Someone with a name that we all judged.” Many faces dipped apologetically as the Lily looked around. “With some… bad luck, this year, Avis was wrongly accused of the attack of his form mate, and friend, Hunter. What I was saddened to see, was the quick judgement of those who know better. As you are all well aware, Malakai paid several visits to our School this year, which fortunately, was ended by Ernest. However, in one of these visits he stumbled upon Hunter, Robin Wilson and Avis. It was Malakai who attacked Hunter…” There was a huge, long gasp, and then whispering. Hunter looked proud, for he had survived a Malakai attack. Jess and Florence were looking adoringly at him. As I stood there, legs shaking, I saw Partington grinning at us like the cheshire cat. David Starlight didn’t know where to look and Ross, livid, stared at the ground.
“Poor Avis received the blame, as was Malakai’s intention. Yet he dealt with the painful accusation with valour. He dealt with the months of solitude with staggering spirit, and he dealt with his enemies with tremendous daring. I can categorically state that Avis Blackthorn is a good Wizard!”
There was utter silence for what seemed an age. Head’s turned and whispered, blinked… then smiled. All of a sudden a giant wave of cheering and applause exploded like a canon. Surges of emotion ran through me to see the whole Chamber applauding. The Lily had let on a lot, but I didn’t mind. And now, the greatest gift he could give me — the treasure of being known as a good Wizard was granted. I was a Blackthorn yes, but I was a good Blackthorn and my family would have to deal with that.
After a long mauling of claps on the back, hair ruffling and teary apologies, I retook my seat. Tina and Ernie joined me and Robin on our table and we had a long, blissful afternoon drinking Mango Perry, nibbling scrumptious food and talking. Towards the end of the afternoon, the Ma
gisteers all stood up as one. The next moment, a bonanza of trumpets blared out across the room from nowhere. The tables and chairs expelling us from their seats and slid to the sides of the room with a scraping noise.
“Seventh years!” called the Lily. “You’ve completed your time with us. I, the Magisteers, and your fellow pupils who have shared in your time here, will forever remember you.” Sniffs and welling of eyes soon began as the Lily walked solemnly through the middle of the Chamber.
“When things get tough, or difficult out there, always remember you belong to the growing Hailing Hall family. Now go and be great Wizards!”
Ghosts floated into the Chamber in one mass of white and blue glowing light as suits of armour around the side of the Chamber began blowing on wind instruments that appeared out of nowhere. We all applauded as loud as we could, as the seventh years, through lots of tears and hugging, slowly began to make their way out of Hailing Hall, as, surprisingly, the ghosts began singing!
We thank you for you time with us,
We hope you’ve learned your fill,
It’s your time now to enter the world,
And make it a better place, still.
Take all that you’ve learned here and turn it into good,
Make people’s lives and all their strives properly understood.
Go forth now all equal,
We give you our thanks,
Now you are a part of the schools sequel,
Go join your new ranks.
For all that you taught this place,
We thank you,
Forever learn and live with grace,
We hope you’ve learned your fill,
It’s your time now to enter your the world
And make it a better place still…
Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! Page 21
