Mayhem at Magic School

by George Ivanoff

  Never to return.

  You say you’re not thirsty.

  ‘Oh, go on, dude,’ Fringe Boy says, smiling for the first time. ‘Drink. Trust me!’

  Is it you, or are his teeth just a little bit pointy?

  You decide now might be the best time to leave. You say goodbye and bid a hasty retreat.

  Go here.

  You wrap your hand around the jewel in your pocket, thrust your other hand in front of you and say the words.

  A great burst of throbbing light shoots forward, smashing through the window and heading outside.

  ‘Wow!’ say Dougie and Reggie.

  You all rush to the window and look out. The light is hanging high in the air, spinning and pulsing. Some kids come running past and the light turns dark and cloudy. It hovers over them and rains. The kids try to escape it but it follows them, the rain turning to hail.

  ‘Come on,’ says Hermione. ‘We better stop that thing.’

  The four of you chase the spell and the kids as they race towards the main quadrangle.

  Along the way, the spell abandons the kids and takes on a vaguely bird-like shape. As it swoops over the top of Ms Hawthorne, who is on yard duty, it drops an enormous pile of bird poo on her head. Then it zooms off towards the main school building.

  Dougie, Reggie and Hermione are still after the spell.

  You see Ms Hawthorne slip in the bird poo and fall to the ground.

  Perhaps you should help her up and tell her what’s happening? Go here.

  On the other hand, if you do, you might get into trouble. Maybe you should join the other kids chasing the Random Spell? Go here.

  You’re not about to allow this guy to bully you. You thrust your hand into your pocket and pull out the jewel.

  But you don’t know any Latin words to focus your spell.

  Without really thinking about it, you find yourself shouting:

  ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!’

  The bully’s eyes widen in surprise as your spell blasts him off his feet, through the shed wall and into the bikes. You drop to the ground.

  Within seconds, teachers and students gather around. The bully is badly hurt. An ambulance is called to take him to hospital.

  Principal Uganaway confronts you. ‘Causing physical harm to another student with the use of magic is expressly forbidden.’

  You try to explain that he started it, but the principal cuts you off.

  ‘Your actions are grounds for expulsion.’

  You feel your anger rising again. It wasn’t your fault. He was the one bullying you. You were just defending yourself.

  ‘That boy was injured because of your actions,’ the principal continues.

  Do you stand quietly and let the principal speak? Go here.

  Or do you let your anger get the better of you? Go here.

  You help Ms Hawthorne to her feet and tell her about the Random Spell. You’re about to pull the jewel out of your pocket, intending to speak to her about it, but then you change your mind. You think she may have caught a glimpse of it.

  Ms Hawthorne magically cleans the bird poo away, then the two of you race into the building after the spell.

  You find Dougie, Reggie and Hermione outside a classroom, staring in through the door’s glass panel. The Random Spell is hovering in the centre of the room.

  ‘Right,’ says Ms Hawthorne, taking charge. ‘Leave this to me.’

  She opens the door and steps in. Within seconds, she’s got the spell contained in a magical globe that she’s conjured out of nowhere. ‘Now,’ Ms Hawthorne says, ‘it would be better if no one knew about this.’ She waves her hand in front of Hermione, Dougie and Reggie. ‘Oblítus.’

  ‘What’s going on?’ asks Hermione.

  ‘What are we doing in here?’ ask Dougie and Reggie.

  ‘Nothing to trouble yourselves over,’ says Ms Hawthorne, concealing the globe-shaped spell behind her back. ‘Now, off you go to have your lunch.’

  As the students leave, she turns to you. ‘Speak of this to no one,’ she says. ‘And see me after school.’

  You ask her what she’s going to do with the Random Spell.

  ‘Catalogue it and keep it,’ she says. ‘I’m sure it will come in useful one day.’

  And with that cryptic comment, she sweeps from the room.

  Go here.

  You agree to help, and follow Ms Hawthorne down the steps into the gloom beyond.

  At the bottom of the stairs is an incredible stone chamber. It looks like something out of a fantasy film. Lit by dripping candles are shelves of old leather-bound books, a wooden table covered in potions and vials, mysterious paraphernalia in glass boxes, and an intricately carved stone pedestal, on which sits an ancient piece of parchment. On the flagstone floor in front of the pedestal is a red pentagram – a five-pointed star.

  This chamber more accurately matches your idea of magic than the school itself. This is what magic should look like!

  Ms Hawthorne asks you to place the jewel into the centre of the pentagram. As you put it on the floor, you wonder if the pentagram has been painted in blood. You quickly step back as Ms Hawthorne starts reading from the parchment on the pedestal. (Her words are in Latin, of course.)

  Wind blows out of nowhere, whipping Ms Hawthorne’s hair from her bun so that the strands leap around her. The candles flicker and sputter. A deep rumble vibrates through the chamber floor and walls and into your bones. It’s all a bit frightening.

  And then it stops.

  Ms Hawthorne howls in frustration and turns to you.

  ‘It’s not enough! Your ancestral jewel won’t release all its power. You need to focus the jewel for me. You must pick it up and hold it in the centre of the pentagram.’

  Her eyes are ablaze with fervour. Now you really are scared. What is this spell that she’s trying to cast?

  Perhaps coming down here was a mistake? If you want to run away, go here.

  But if you’re too afraid to, you have no option but to help Ms Hawthorne. Go here.

  You don’t want to be part of Ms Hawthorne’s plans. You make a break for the stairs.

  You hear her call out words behind you and the steps flatten out, making them impossible to climb.

  You turn to see her holding up her hands, her nails growing into razor-sharp talons. Boy, does she need a manicure.

  ‘Into the pentagram,’ she hisses. ‘Now!’

  Heart pounding and hands shaking, you edge your way over to the pentagram, trying to stay as far away from Ms Hawthorne and her claws as possible. Carefully, you pick up the jewel. The steps return, Ms Hawthorne’s nails retract and she starts chanting in Latin. The jewel is warm.

  The edges of the pentagram blaze with light, reflecting in Ms Hawthorne’s eyes like flames. Again the chamber is whipped by wind as a deep rumbling throbs through the floor and walls. The jewel grows hotter, its power sizzling through your hands and into your body.

  You try to move but discover that you can’t. You’re trapped in the pentagram!

  Go here.

  You chase after the kids and the Random Spell, into the main building. The spell zooms down the corridor, school lockers bursting open as it passes, littering the hall with torn books, parchment and leftover lunches.

  It streaks into an empty classroom at the end of the corridor. You slam the door shut on it and look through the panel of glass.

  The spell is now hovering quietly in the centre of the room.

  ‘We should get help,’ says Hermione. ‘The principal will know what to do.’

  You stick your hand into your pocket again and feel the jewel. You created the Random Spell using this – perhaps you can get rid of it the same way?

  If you want to use the jewel again, go here.

  But if you think that Hermione is right and you should get the principal, go here.

  When Principal Uganaway has finished telling you off, you explain to him what happened – that the boy had been bullying you, that you were
defending yourself, that you had not intended to hurt him.

  You show the jewel to the principal and tell him how you used it. His attitude towards you changes.

  ‘An ancestral jewel,’ he says, taking it from your hands. ‘This holds the combined magic of an entire Enchanted family line. It has great power … but it is also difficult to control. No wonder you hurt that boy.’

  He gives the jewel back to you. ‘It’s not entirely your fault, though. You had no idea of its incredible power. But I think it’s time now that you learned all about it.’

  The principal takes you to his office.

  Go here.

  Allowing your anger to get the better of you, you yell out that the boy deserved it.

  ‘That is it!’ says Principal Uganaway. ‘I cannot allow someone with this unacceptable attitude to remain in this school. I am calling your aunt to collect you. You are officially expelled!’

  You don’t wait around. You run.

  Away from the school; away from the principal; away from everything. Your mind is in turmoil. You are furious at the principal and at the world.

  As you sprint through the streets, passers-by are magically knocked aside, trees bend away from you and cars stop as if they’ve crashed into an invisible wall.

  Eventually you start to calm down. You slow down to a walk and wonder what you are going to do now.

  Go here.

  ‘Now!’ snaps Ms Hawthorne. ‘We have no time to lose. You must hold the jewel!’

  Heart pounding and hands shaking, you carefully step into the pentagram and pick up the jewel. Ms Hawthorne starts chanting in Latin. The jewel is warm.

  The edges of the pentagram blaze with light, reflecting in her eyes like flames. Again the chamber is whipped by wind as a deep rumbling throbs through the floor and walls. The jewel grows hotter, its power sizzling through your hands and into your body.

  You decide to make a run for it … but your legs won’t move.

  You’re trapped in the pentagram!

  Go here.

  The jewel caused this problem. Using it again may make things worse. You decide that Hermione is right and you should go to the principal.

  You race to his office, show him the jewel and tell him what you’ve done.

  ‘An ancestral jewel,’ Principal Uganaway says, taking it from your hands. ‘This holds the combined magic of an entire Enchanted family line. It has great power … but it is also difficult to control. No wonder your spell has gone rogue.’

  He gives the jewel back to you. ‘Only you can control this.’

  But how?

  The two of you return to the classroom, where the Random Spell is waiting. You hold the jewel out.

  ‘Concentrate on the Random Spell. Visualise it ceasing to exist,’ says the principal. ‘Now say these words: peregre abeo.’

  You follow his instructions and, much to your surprise, the spell vanishes.

  You apologise for what’s happened.

  ‘It’s not entirely your fault,’ he replies. ‘You had no idea of the jewel’s power. But I think it’s time now that you learned all about it.’

  Principal Uganaway takes you back to his office.

  Go here.

  You ask Hermione how to do the Reversing Spell.

  ‘Well, I suppose there are a few options,’ she says. ‘Reverto or revertere is Latin for “return”. But you could use pedem referro, which means “go back”. Then there’s remeo or remetior, or possibly recedo. I’ve never done this before, so I’m not sure what’s best.’

  You decide not to take chances. You remove the jewel from your pocket, hold it in both hands and say all the Latin words Hermione just told you.

  There is a bright red flash of light, the classroom door bursts open and the spell streaks past you. Books and half-eaten sandwiches are swallowed back into the lockers as they slam shut.

  You follow it outside and watch as the bird poo, rain and hail all disappear in the spell’s wake, leaving a bunch of confused people. As the Random Spell returns to the disused classroom, the window repairs itself.

  And there it stays, hovering in the centre of the room.

  ‘Now what?’ asks Reggie.

  ‘I reckon we keep it,’ says Dougie.

  ‘Too dangerous,’ says Hermione. ‘We need to get rid of it.’

  Is the Random Spell worth keeping? After all, you never know when it might come in handy. Go here.

  But perhaps Hermione is right? You might be better off without it. Go here.

  ‘Surgent! Exsurge!’ Ms Hawhorne shouts. Then, dropping the Latin, she adds, ‘Arise!’

  The lines of the pentagram burst into flames. You scream and again try running, but you can’t get your legs to move.

  The flames gather together, coming into shape in front of the pentagram – a gigantic bulbous body with a misshapen head that bows at the ceiling of the chamber.

  The flames part to form a gaping maw. And the creature speaks.

  ‘Why have you summoned me, human?’

  The voice – if you can call it that – is somewhere between a screech and a wail. It tears through you, straight to your brain like claws down a blackboard. Your legs feel like jelly and you almost collapse with fright.

  But Ms Hawthorne seems unfazed.

  ‘I have summoned you, oh daemon, to do my bidding – to bring this puny world to its knees … at my feet,’ she says.

  You are horror-stricken. Despite your fear, you can’t stay silent. You protest.

  Ms Hawthorne laughs. ‘I have a proposition for you,’ she says. ‘Join me and become my apprentice – help me rule the world … or die!’

  You glance at the jewel in your hand and then at the fire daemon. This is all your fault! Your jewel helped summon the creature. You look at it again and wonder if it can also banish the daemon.

  If you feel you must try to use the jewel to get rid of the daemon, go here.

  But joining Ms Hawthorne would be the easier option. And second-in-charge to the ruler of the world doesn’t sound like such a bad gig. If you choose to follow her, go here.

  Or maybe the solution is a lot simpler? Perhaps you could smash the jewel onto the stone floor? Go here.

  You agree to join Ms Hawthorne … but only if she ensures your family’s safety.

  ‘Your family?’ She laughs. ‘How awfully small-minded of you. But, very well, no harm shall come to them.’

  ‘Have you perchance finished your tawdry negotiations?’ screeches the daemon.

  ‘Be silent!’ Ms Hawthorne shouts in reply. ‘You are here to do my bidding – not to interrupt.’

  ‘It appears I am the bearer of bad news.’ The creature’s shrieking voice holds a touch of amusement. ‘I am bound to do the bidding of the one who possesses the ancestral jewel.’

  Ms Hawthorne turns to you. ‘Give it to me,’ she demands.

  You hesitate.

  ‘You do not know how to master this daemon. But I do. Hand over your ancestral jewel and we shall rule the world together!’

  Ms Hawthorne cannot control the creature. But you can … in theory.

  Do you take the risk and try to control the creature yourself? Go here.

  Or do you forfeit the jewel to Ms Hawthorne so the two of you can dominate the world, side by side? Go here.

  You ask Hermione how to get rid of the Random Spell.

  ‘We need something to erase it.’ She pulls out her scroll and starts going through slabs of text for something that might help.

  ‘Here, this could work.’ She looks up at the pulsing light and points a finger. ‘Erado.’

  The light flickers, diminishes slightly, then pulses stronger.

  You take the jewel from your pocket, hold it tight and say, ‘Erado.’

  The light flickers again and shrinks. It looks as if it’s working and you pocket the jewel. The light is down to a pinprick. But as the light winks out, you see that something is still there – a tiny point of blackness. Slowly it grows.

  As i
t gets bigger you see that it’s like a hole, hanging in the air, leading to nothing. And as it increases in size it starts pulling things into it, like a cosmic vacuum cleaner. First it’s just loose papers. Then the suction gets stronger! You can feel the force as books and other objects fly towards it.

  ‘We’ve created a black hole!’ Hermione shouts.

  ‘Let’s get out of here,’ cries Reggie.

  As you head for the exit, you can feel the black hole trying to pull you back. The other three make it out the door … but you don’t. You hold onto the doorframe, to stop yourself from being drawn into the gaping nothingness.

  But the hole is bigger than a basketball now and continuing to grow.

  The tugging seems to be stronger on your blazer. You reach into the pocket and pull out the jewel with one hand, while tightly grasping the doorframe with the other. The jewel is almost sucked from your grasp. It’s as if the black hole wants to take your precious stone.

  If you let go of the jewel, you might be able to escape.

  But without the jewel, how will you get rid of the black hole?

  If you decide to forgo the jewel, escape and worry about the black hole later, go here.

  If you choose to hold onto the jewel, go here.

  Dougie digs an old metal box out of the cupboard. He holds it up under the pulsing point of light and raises it until the spell is enclosed within, before slamming the lid shut. Reggie finds a padlock and secures the box.

  As the end-of-lunch bell rings, you leave the box in the cupboard and head to class.