The Chief Wizard bowed to them. ‘I’ve been trying to sort things out since our friend Majeika got himself into trouble, but the rules said that I couldn’t make it too easy for him. Yes, this is the Old Back Door, which leads from the ordinary
world into the world of magic.’
‘And it’s in our very own school, and our very own classroom?’ asked Jody.
‘Yes,’ said the Chief Wizard. ‘That’s how we wizards knew about St Barty’s School and Class Three. We used to peep at you all sometimes through the keyhole. We could see how nice you all were – well, almost all of you – and that’s how we decided that you deserved to have a wizard as a teacher.’
‘Thank you very much,’ said Thomas. ‘And now, please can Mr Majeika have his magic powers back?’
The Chief Wizard frowned. ‘I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news,’ he said gloomily. ‘I knew it might happen as soon as Hamish Bigmore stole the map from the Oldest Library in the World.’
‘So you didn’t mean to let him steal it?’ asked Jody.
The Chief Wizard shook his head. ‘Certainly not,’ he said. ‘I failed to recognize him. We knew that you had a troublemaker in the class, but when he came to the library I didn’t realize who he was.’
‘So what’s the bad news?’ asked Jody anxiously.
‘Well,’ answered the Chief Wizard, ‘the rules say that anyone who finds the Old Back Door gets his or her magic powers back, if they’ve been lost. And if they haven’t ever had magic powers, they can get them and become a wizard or a witch. You see, Majeika’s magic powers have been waiting here for him to reclaim them. But I’m afraid they have to go to the first person who turns up and asks for them. And I’m very sorry to say that someone else did get here first, before all of you, and he’s laid claim to Majeika’s magic. Step forward Learner-Wizard Bigmore!’
Jody, Thomas and Pete groaned as, out of the cupboard, there stepped Hamish in a wizard’s cloak and hat, with a wand in one hand and a spell book tucked under his other arm.
‘Ha ha ha!’ he said, in his nastiest voice.
‘Now I can really get my revenge on you, Mr Majeika.’ And he raised his magic wand in the air.
‘Wait a minute, Learner-Wizard Bigmore,’ said the Chief Wizard. ‘First of all, every new wizard has to take a Magic Test, before he can be granted a full wizard’s licence.’
Hamish scowled. ‘You didn’t tell me that,’ he grumbled. ‘I demand fair treatment!’
Suddenly there was a whooshing noise, and Wilhelmina Worlock flew past the window on her shopping trolley. She landed it in the playground, and hurried into Class Three.
‘Is my Star Pupil going to do his Magic Test?’ she cackled. ‘Take my advice, young Hamish, and look up all the spells in your book before you try them out.’
‘Who cares about that stupid old book?’ said Hamish. ‘I know how to do all the spells – I’ve learnt them by watching Mr Majeika, and they’re easy-peasy. Any old fool can do them.’
‘If it’s as easy as you say, Hamish,’ remarked the Chief Wizard, ‘we won’t waste any more time. Let’s start right away, with the first question. Learner-Wizard Bigmore, make yourself invisible, so that no one can see you.’
Hamish shut his eyes and muttered some words. They must have been the wrong ones, because he didn’t become invisible at all. He turned bright green, and smoke came out of his nose and ears.
‘Nought out of ten,’ said the Chief Wizard. ‘Second question. Learner-Wizard Bigmore, make yourself rise in the air and float above the ground.’
‘That’s easy-peasy,’ said Hamish, and he closed his eyes and muttered a spell
again. This time he almost got it right, because Thomas, Pete, Jody, Mr Majeika, the Chief Wizard and Wilhelmina Worlock all rose up in the air. But Hamish himself stayed firmly on the ground.
‘Minus five,’ said the Chief Wizard. ‘You get a penalty for doing the right spell to the wrong people. Now, this is your last chance, Learner-Wizard Bigmore. For your third and final question, make somebody else look like you. I need a volunteer for this one – Wilhelmina Worlock, you’ll do fine.’
Wilhelmina grumbled like mad, but in the end she stepped forward and stood opposite Hamish. He closed his eyes and muttered a spell – and nothing happened to Wilhelmina. Hamish, however, changed completely – into a smaller version of Miss Worlock, except that on his head was the ‘Lulubelle’ blonde wig.
‘Nought out of ten,’ said the Chief Wizard. ‘Learner-Wizard Bigmore is herewith deprived of his magic powers. They revert to Mr Majeika, who becomes a full wizard again.’
‘Do you mean he gets his spell book back, and he can do magic once more?’ asked Pete, as Thomas and Jody cheered at the good news.
‘That’s right,’ answered the Chief Wizard. ‘Remember, Majeika, you’re not supposed to do magic at all, now that you’re a teacher. But I shan’t be watching that closely!’ And he gave a wink.
‘You stupid idiot!’ Wilhelmina Worlock screamed at Hamish Bigmore. ‘I’ll never call you my Star Pupil again, you brainless little weasel.’
Hamish was tugging at the wig, but it wouldn’t come off his head, and he still looked exactly like Miss Worlock. ‘I think we’ll let him stay like that for a bit, shall we?’ said the Chief Wizard. ‘Maybe until next Halloween?’
Mr Majeika and the Lost Spell Book Page 4