Zak Turner - A Twist In Time

by Noel Pogson

  Sartrina’s heart was pounding as Steven arrived, and her mind was racing, wondering what to say, but she needn’t have worried. Her loquacious boyfriend would never be stuck for words, and it already felt as though they’d never been apart.

  “Hi handsome. Welcome to Mhonarr Castle!”

  “Thanks. Woh! What a fabulous room! I never thought I’d be meeting you anywhere as posh as this.”

  “Do you like it? This is nothing. Wait ‘til you see the entrance hall and the banqueting room, and the castle walls! Come on, we need to get you out of sight somewhere until the boys come through at three.”

  “Is there anywhere we can be private? I’d like a few minutes alone with me girlfriend.”

  “She’d like a few minutes alone with her boyfriend too, and yes there is. It’s not very romantic, but it’s very safe! Follow me.”

  The two eleven-year-olds set off hand in hand down the intertwined spiral staircases to the grand entrance hall below, with Steven staring wide-eyed at the magnificence of it all.

  * * *

  Orion Trell looked up from his crystal ball with a smile as the image of two young people in the portal room faded away. He’d been to Netherdale secretly a few times to check up on Steven Robson, and liked everything he saw about the happy-go-lucky farmer’s son. Having the nerve to be smuggled into Mhonarr Castle though was something else indeed, courageous bordering on reckless, but entirely in keeping with the boy’s character! It bode well for Zak and Tallion to have this boy numbered amongst their friends.

  He couldn’t of course let what was happening pass by uncorrected, but much good would come out of it, and Steven was going to find himself with a lot more on his plate at dinner time than just a meal! By the time he got back to his beloved farm in the dale, his life was going to look very different indeed!

  He’d have to reprimand Zak and Tallion too, together with Miss Whitestone, for breaking the rules and taking things into their own hands, but not too harshly. Their adventurous spirits needed to be nurtured, not neutralised, channelled and controlled, not allowed to run wild as they were currently in danger of doing!

  “Professor McCathie,” he said, as he waved his hand over the crystal ball on his desk. “When you have a minute can you organise a special feast tonight. Robes are not required, but I would like everyone to be present for the feast at six p.m. instead of wandering in when they feel like it any time after five thirty.”

  “Of course Orion, but why the formality, and why the feast?”

  “We will have a guest in the castle this evening to whom we need to give a welcome, and show hospitality.”

  “I trust it’s someone important then?” asked the deputy head, fishing for information.

  “Yes indeed, one of the most important visitors we’ll have all year! That is all.”

  Cleo McCathie stared at the crystal ball on her desk as the headmaster’s image faded away and rolled her eyes. She actually got on very well with Orion Trell, but sometimes he could be downright infuriating!

  * * *

  Tallion got back in to Lofthouse Castle without any difficulty, and went down to the portal room with Zak at ten to three. His mother was already waiting there with a couple of small bags.

  “Your Moncero Balayage robes, and a few extra bits and pieces for next week,” she said in response to their questioning looks.

  “Thanks Mother,” said Zak with a smile.

  “No getting into mischief please, boys, you’re not just there in your own right, you both represent the Middleham family while you’re at school, and you need to behave accordingly. However, Mhonarr Castle doesn’t have to be boring, it certainly wasn't for me, so make sure you enjoy yourselves too!”

  “I agree with that, have a good time,” said Sir Philip as he joined them to say goodbye. “Barty says you’ve become a bit of a pro at porting Tallion, and even managed to guide Zak during an accompanied port earlier on. Well done! That’s something to be very proud of, for an eleven-year-old.”

  The boys glanced round to see Barty entering the room and he winked surreptitiously at them. He clearly hadn’t said anything to Sir Philip about the practise session with Bjarne!

  “I’m having a week off boys, so don’t you dare come back early by getting expelled or something. I’m going to see my brother in Africa, and you know what?” he asked reaching in to his pocket and pulling out a passport, “I’m going by plane, not by magic! Much more comfortable, and much quicker. Porting in short hops takes days to get there, and the only other options of a broom stick or magic carpet are far too uncomfortable!”

  “Is that a real passport Barty?” asked Tallion, who was rather proud of being the first Middleham ever to have both a birth certificate and a passport.

  “Yes, and just like yours it needed a little bit of ‘help’ to get hold of. Enjoy yourselves!”

  * * *

  A minute later, the boys were in the hidden cellar at Kirkstall Abbey, and fifteen seconds after that, they were in the Portal Room at Mhonarr Castle.

  “Welcome back Tallion, welcome back Zak,” beamed the headmaster at them. “I don’t usually greet returning students here in the portal room, but I wanted to make sure you arrived safely. Not very many people have been through that portal since it blew up behind you a couple of months ago, but the odd one or two have sneaked through…”

  Zak and Tallion both felt their stomachs lurch, but the headmaster gave no other indication that he knew what had happened thirty minutes before, so they restricted themselves to saying thank you, and that it was good to be back.

  “No announcement has been made that you’re coming back, and the fact that it’s now half way through Sunday afternoon will mean that even the hopeful ones, like Harry and Alfie, will probably have decided that you’re not coming back this weekend either. You should be safe therefore to make your own way to Moncero Tower. I would advise though that during the week you stay together with the other first years as much as possible. I know Arcturus and Sam will insist on someone escorting you everywhere the moment you show up, but you still need to keep your own guard up, okay?”

  “Yes sir, we’ll be careful.”

  “Good. Right, go and cheer up Harry and Alfie who are longing for you to be back with them in the dorm! Dinner is at six o’clock tonight, and is to be a feast. No need for robes, but make sure that you and whomever you’re with come to the feast dressed smartly, no jeans please, no matter how well-tailored they are!” said the headmaster cocking his head to one side and raising his eyebrows as he looked at the boys’ legs.

  Zak glanced down at his and Tallion's very skinny jeans and hi-tops with a grin. His wardrobe was very important to him, and he liked it when people noticed what he was wearing. His mind then processed a bit more of what the headmaster had just said, and his own thoughts caught up with Tallion’s, who was wondering if they’d received another hint that the headmaster knew what was going on. Before they got chance to ask though he vanished down the stairs.

  Do you think he knows?

  It is a bit suspicious, but surely we’d have got into trouble if he knew?

  It’s more than suspicious. I’m sure he knows!

  Is that good, or bad?

  Well, he wasn't mad with us was he? If we were going to get into big trouble then I’m sure it would have happened by now, and we’d have all been lined up in his office getting a talking to!

  Should we warn Steven and take him back to the dale?

  I thought we were going to smuggle him into dinner tonight?

  Oh, I forgot that bit. Yeah, we should still do that. I hope no-one asks any awkward questions about him sitting at our table!

  We need to tell Harry and Alfie, and then the four of us can hide him, more or less!

  This is a bit mad don’t you think? What will Father and Mother do if we get caught?

  That depends on what happens to us, but it’s too late now anyway, I’m certain he knows!

  * * *

  Steven and Sar
trina had gone to the trophy room for their bit of ‘privacy’, safe in the knowledge that no-one ever went in there after the new first years had explored it during the first couple of weeks of term. There were a few seats scattered around, presumably to give people a chance to rest their aching legs after having viewed all five thousand trophies!

  It wasn’t particularly romantic, Sartrina had been right, but the room had dim lighting and a good atmosphere, and it gave the two novice lovebirds somewhere to work out how to be boyfriend and girlfriend!

  They’d started by wandering around the room hand in hand, with Sartrina explaining the strange activities for which the trophies had been awarded, but they soon stopped talking about trophies, and sat down, talking about themselves.

  “You know, now I’m ‘ere, I’d be quite ‘appy ter stay an’ learn magic wi’ all t’ other witches an’ wizards,” said Steven watching his girlfriend’s sparkling hazelnut eyes.

  “I thought you said you didn’t want to study here?”

  “I don’t, but I’d do anything ter be with yer! If that means studying here, then I’d be content ter be ‘ere …”

  “That’s so lovely Steven,” said Sartrina, as a very pretty smile lit up her face. “I wonder if Sir Philip would let me study magic at Lofthouse Castle with you three, if I came back to the dale and went to the academy with you.”

  “You’d do that, ter be wi’ me?! Well, I’m sure he would love, but you need ter be here. T’ academy ain’t the right place fer a witch. Here’s t’ right place fer you! And in ‘ere too o’ course,” added the surprisingly romantic young farmer as he pressed Sartrina’s hand over his heart.

  The couch they were sitting on was just long enough for Sartrina to lie down on her back with her head in Steven’s lap and her legs hanging over the armrest at the other end. The two youngsters lost track of time as the enjoyed being with each other again, talking about school and farming, and plans for the future. They even planned what to do at Christmas and how they were going to break the news to Sartrina’s mum!

  “She’ll have a complete fit Steven. I’m sure I’ll be thrown out of the house until she calms down!”

  “That’s a bit rich! Who’s she ter decided who yer friends are?!”

  “That’s how it is in our world, you have to mix with similar people, and find someone at your own level to get married to. It’s always been like that, although it seems to be a bit more relaxed these days, certainly here at school! There’s all manner of relationships that cross over all the old boundaries! We’d have no trouble being boyfriend and girlfriend here!”

  “Well, maybe I should come an’ study here after all, but you still need somewhere ter go when yer come ‘ome! Yer can always come to t’ farm! Bit rough and ready mind, but you’d be more ‘n welcome!”

  “I’m sure there are loads of people who’d look after me Steven, I’m not worried about it. Nether Bank Farm would be my first choice though if it came to it!”

  * * *

  “ZAK! TALLION! Woohoo! You’re back!”

  Alfie jumped off his bed and ran to greet his two dorm mates as though they were long-lost relatives!

  “Steady on Alfie!” exclaimed Zak as Alfie grabbed his bag with one hand and threw his other arm round Zak’s shoulders and dragged him over to where he and Harry had been sitting chatting together on their beds!

  “We thought you’d have been pleased to have the dorm to yourselves, now you’ll have to share it again!”

  Harry and Alfie glanced at each other with a grin and rolled their eyes with a sigh each.

  “We knew you’d say something like that when you finally turned up. Blimey, have we got some stories to tell you about what’s been going on around here! There’s a mountain of gossip to share, and then you need to get yourselves sorted for Balayage! We put your names down for the team try-outs in the hopes that you’d be back at the weekends, but they were ages ago now and the first team’s all sorted, so your best hope’s for a game as part of the second team. Everyone gets a shot at playing in a second team match if they want to.”

  “There’s also been loads of rumours in the last couple of weeks too, about some kind of pagan ritual that took place somewhere in the castle, but no-one’s dared ask the professors about it, and nothing’s been said officially. Me and Harry have been trying to find out about hidden rooms and dungeons and stuff, but none of the first years in Draco will talk about the dungeons, and they certainly won’t take us in there to snoop around!”

  The waterfall of chatter from Alfie in his rather posh Home Counties accent was very refreshing somehow, and it certainly helped Zak and Tallion get their heads round some of the activities that were going on in the school.

  “The next Balayage practise session for Moncero is tomorrow evening - perfect timing! I assume you’re going to come out with us?”

  The waterfall stopped for a moment as the question hung in the air, but it was actually Harry, who spoke next, rather than Zak or Tallion.

  “Alfie, let the guys breathe! You’re like a blooming strangler vine wrapped round them!”

  “We’ll be coming out for practise,” answered Tallion with a grin, while Alfie busied himself unwrapping his arm from Zak’s shoulders, and taking his bag over to his bed.

  “And we also need you two to tell us everything that’s been going on. We’ve got some news for you too, and we’re going to need your help later, but you talk first while we unpack.”

  He’s crackers!

  Nah, he’s just happy to see us back. I didn’t realise we’d made that much impression on them when we were here before.

  I can feel that you’re pleased about it though, and about being back.

  Yeah. I know I said I was happy studying in the dale, but there’s something about being here that makes it feel… well, right.

  Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m still nervous about lessons tomorrow though! We’ll be like newbies all over again!

  Yep!

  Thanks! You were supposed to say something comforting!

  Get used to it. We need to stand on our own two feet in here!

  By the time they’d unpacked the few things they’d brought, Alfie, with an occasional interjection from Harry, had filled them in on each of the teachers they’d encounter, which other first years to avoid in class, who was a snitch and who wasn’t, who was good at Balayage, a bit of gossip about the other first year Monceros who were apparently just as anxious to see them back again, and what they’d get for dinner that night.

  “Professor Trell met us as we came through the portal and told us that there’s going to be a feast tonight, starting at six. Does that mean there’ll be a different menu?”

  “Woh! We hardly ever see him, except at mealtimes, although he did come and take our transfiguration lesson one Monday afternoon when Professor Lengua was sick. Yeah, I expect there’ll be different food for a feast, although we haven’t had one since you left! Must be a ‘Welcome Back’ feast just for you!”

  “It better not be! We need to keep a low profile, especially tonight. Umm, can you keep a secret?”

  “Of course!” said Archie instantly, although Harry was a little bit more hesitant.

  “We have a friend in Netherdale who’s only a little bit magical, enough to see magical things, and enough to ride a broomstick, but not much else. He wanted to come and see the school, but he’ll never join because he doesn’t reckon he’ll ever be able to do any magic! Well, we smuggled him in with us this afternoon when we came back, and we wanted to take him for dinner before we take him home again this evening.”

  Alfie’s face had registered incredulity to start with, and then respect.

  “Blimey! You don’t want an easy life do you! If you get caught then you’ll be in detention for a month at least!”

  Harry was a bit further on than his friend, and asked quietly, “What do you want us to help you with? Getting him into dinner?”

  “Yeah, well, more precisely sort of hiding him between us
all at the table. We reckon if the four of us are sitting round him then no-one else will likely notice him.”

  “Normally you’d be fine with that plan, especially with a first year, because we’re all allowed to sit at each other’s tables at the weekends and no-one ever recognises first years from other houses. If it’s a feast though, we’re supposed to sit with our own house, and if a stranger’s sitting at our table then the other Monceros will definitely notice, even if no-one else does!”

  “Rats!” said Zak with a frown. There was silence for a minute before Alfie spoke up.

  “We need the other first year boys to help us out. If we all crowd together then one extra face amongst us will be less noticeable. I’ll go and get Ross and Ben, they need to know you’re back anyway!”

  “Wait,” said Zak, but Alfie shushed him as he scooted to the door.

  “Once he’s decided to do something Zak, you can’t stop him, no matter what you say!” Harry was grinning out from under his rather shaggy mop of curly chestnut hair. “I reckon even if you put a body-bind curse on him, he’d still manage to keep going!”

  “We don’t want to get you all into trouble though, the last thing we need is for the whole house to suffer because of something we did!”

  “Monceros are a family, Zak, we all stick together. You’ll see that during the week. You are staying for the whole week aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, we’re staying for the whole week.”

  “Good. Well, you’ll see that the whole house gets right behind everyone, even if they do something silly, or get into trouble. No-one will get mad at you and they’ll help you sort it out if something goes wrong.”

  “We think Professor Trell already knows what we’ve done,” said Tallion, who’d barely spoken since they got back. “If he does, then I expect we’ll get hauled in after dinner or something, and we really don’t want anyone else getting into trouble!”

  “We won’t. Just sitting next to you and your friend at dinner is hardly against the school rules! Where is he by the way?”