“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get going. They need our help and so does Francis,” Ice declared.
“Okay, hang on tight!”
Aaron dug his heavy hooves into the mulch and earth and galloped with such speed, force and meaning that Ice could barely keep a hold of his wildly flowing black mane. Not only did she need to secure herself, she now had the added difficulty of trying to stop Francis from falling, as his grip on Aaron’s mane had loosened considerably and he continually became weaker. Aaron weaved through the woodland, jumping over fallen trees and across streams. The Nomeds were nowhere to be seen. They had travelled at such speed through the tree tops that they were now well ahead of Aaron, Francis and Ice. There was no sign of them at all until Aaron reached the wide section of stream that lay close to the Giant Horse Chestnut. This section of stream was too wide to jump over and Aaron had to cross its rocky bed cautiously.
The moon shimmered on the stream’s rippling surface, as its waters cascaded over the jumbled-up tumble of rocks. Aaron looked into the water, carefully selecting safe footholds for his crossing. It was then that they reappeared… then that Aaron was once again aware of their presence, for as he looked down at the moonlit water, it was not just the moonlight that shimmered as it reflected on its surface, there were also the reflections of red, blue and green lights, the reflection of eyes. Aaron lifted his head and looked above him into the canopies. Directly overhead, Fala, Nebula and Nicor were feasting on what looked like the remains of a badger’s corpse. Aaron was horrified, but at the same time a little relieved. You see, the Nomeds were distracted with their kill and as they tore chunks out of the poor animal, they failed to notice the splashes that Aaron’s huge hooves were creating in the stream below, and so, under the safety of the invisibility enchantment, Aaron was able to get them across to the other side undetected.
As he got nearer to the Giant Horse Chestnut, there was evidence of further kills. The ground was littered with the furred and feathered remains of many of the woodland inhabitants. Tears welled in Aaron’s eyes and Ice wrapped a wing protectively around Francis. She was actually thankful that he was so weak… that he was unconscious and therefore unaware of the dreadful carnage that lay all around him.
They had made it through Bluebell Wood safely.
Aaron stood at the base of the giant tree, dwarfed once more by its sheer magnitude. He gazed up into its dark canopy. The richness of its emerald green leaves was dampened by darkness and sadness, almost as if the huge tree was itself in mourning for the woodland’s dead. Aaron and Ice were still and quiet, unsure of what they should do now. Questions whirled through their minds.
Were there any creatures that had survived this vicious attack?
Where were the woodland inhabitants?
Had they all been killed?
Had they fled?
Were they still hidden, camouflaged and protected by Francis, their Berthold?
They just did not know!
The tree began to creak and groan loudly, the leaves rustled and a huge branch stretched down toward Aaron. They hadn’t known what to do but the tree certainly did. Smaller branches stretched down from the huge branch and they worked together to scoop Francis up and off Aaron’s back. Francis was gently swept upwards by the tree as it passed him from branch to branch, until eventually he was placed very carefully inside his hollow – inside his home. Nestled within his familiar, comfortable hollow, Francis’s cold, tired body gradually began to change. His dull plumage puffed out and became full of warmth and radiance and his huge eyes opened and shone with a vibrancy that had been absent for quite some time. He shuffled his way to the edge of his hollow and perched in its entrance. He was no longer under the invisibility enchantment, he did not need to be, for he was home and while he was here in the safety of the tree, he was able to camouflage himself. As Francis stood looking out of his hollow, he searched with his huge eyes for the creatures of the woodland. They were not visible. Neither you nor I would have been able to see them. But if you looked very carefully, looked closely within their Berthold Francis’s eyes, if you peered within their shimmering reflection, you could see them just as he did. For the majority of the creatures were still there, safely camouflaged, hidden within the structure of the Giant Horse Chestnut tree and its surroundings.
Chapter 31
Dawn to dusk
As the morning sun dawned above the trees, it bathed the woodland floor in dappled golden warmth. The bluebells were at their most vibrant, displaying a thick, rich carpet of vivid blues and purples and the woodland birds proudly sang their beautiful morning chorus in commemoration of all those that had perished the night before. Francis was also at his most vibrant that morning. Being back where he belonged was just the tonic that he had needed and although he mourned for his dead, he rejoiced in the beauty of his home and in all those creatures that had survived. His happiness was clear for all to see because, as he swooped down from his hollow, his feathers were gleaming and his eyes were full of sparkle and life. He stretched out his wings with pride and then he landed on his stubby tree-stump. The hedgehog brothers, Kai, Logan and Oliver, rolled around, giggling and playing in the bluebells that surrounded the stump and Francis beamed with happiness as he watched over them. The foxes, Rich and Josanne, bathed together in a patch of warm sunlight and the young squirrels, Tash and Hollie, played chase around and around the huge tree’s trunk. Aaron and Ice were relieved to see Francis looking so well and although there had been numerous casualties during that night, they knew that really they had all been very lucky, very lucky indeed and in fact things could have been a whole lot worse.
Aaron made his way over to his feathered friend.
“Good to see you’re looking better, Boogles,” he said.
“Thank you, my friend,” Francis replied, nodding and closing his eyes briefly. He did not need to say anything else, his expression said it all. Aaron knew that Francis was thankful for everything that he had done for him, thankful for all those that had survived and he also knew that Francis was extremely saddened that not all of the woodland creatures had made it.
“So, what happens now then, Aaron?” Francis asked. “Do I remember rightly? Or was I that incoherent and dreamt it? Did I actually hear Zavier saying that he would meet with us here, on his way to collect the Human child?”
“No Francis, you didn’t dream it. That is exactly what Zavier said.”
There was a loud thud.
“George! George! Are you okay?” Mable screamed.
The fat wood pigeon lifted his head. “Yes dear, I’m fine, stop fussing. It’s just… I could have sworn that I heard Francis saying that Zavier is going to collect a… Human child!”
The pair of wood pigeons bobbed their heads into their fat, feathered necks and gulped loudly before turning to look at Francis for some answers.
“Yes, George, that’s right,” Francis confirmed.
“Jock, Joanney, send out the signal. I want everyone’s full attention. I have something very important to tell you all!” Francis ordered.
Jock and Joanney, the green woodpeckers, flew halfway up the Giant Horse Chestnut and tapped their beaks furiously against the bark, drilling out the signal and within a minute or two, all of the woodland creatures were gathered around the tree. Francis told the woodland creatures about the prophecy. After a mixed response of shock, horror, intrigue and curiosity, the creatures formed groups and huddled together to discuss the strange news. Having already lost their elder, Jazbeck and then last night losing Brock, Braxton and Meles were now the only surviving badgers in the whole of Liberty. They made their way through the bluebell carpet, leaving a flattened trail of bluebells behind them. Then they stopped at the stump and stood in front of Francis.
“We want to help,” they said.
“Thank you. That’s very kind and very brave of you both. When Zavier arrives, I’ll tell him of your offer and if there is anything at all that you can do to help, then I’m sure that he
will let you know. In the meantime, I suggest you both get some rest.”
“Okay. We’ll dig a temporary den right here beside the tree. Wake us as soon as Zavier arrives,” said Meles, and her powerful forelimbs and well-developed claws were soon busily tunnelling their way into the earth.
In no time at all, the badgers had dug themselves a warm and cosy den. They dragged some fallen leaves into it to make a bed, then curled themselves together and rested in preparation for whatever challenges may lie ahead.
* * *
It was early evening when Zavier arrived at the Giant Horse Chestnut tree. At first it appeared as if he were alone, but then the hair of his thick silver mane parted and a little furry nose emerged, twitching and sniffing as it investigated the woodland air. It was Benjamin. He had been nestled in Zavier’s mane for the duration of their journey from the meadow to the Giant Horse Chestnut tree. Chester was flying close by and he soon joined Zavier, Benjamin, Aaron, Francis and Ice at the stubby tree stump. Dusk was almost upon them. Francis had no need to wake Meles and Braxton, for they had already been roused from their slumber by the vibrations of heavy hooves on the ground above their den; they knew this must mean that Zavier had arrived and so they rushed above ground to offer their services.
“Aaron, you and Francis should stay here in the woodland to guard the gate. We will be relying on you both to ensure our safety as we enter into the Human world and, much more importantly, we will need you to ensure the safety of the Human child when we return back here with her,” Zavier said. “Meles and Braxton, I would like to take you both up on that offer of help. You will be joining Ice, Benjamin, Chester and I as we enter into the Human world. We will be leaving within the next couple of hours.”
“But it won’t be long now until nightfall, Zavier. Surely it’s too dangerous to leave tonight?” Aaron argued.
“I don’t think that the Nomeds will be quite so active after last night’s bountiful hunt,” Zavier said and he turned toward Francis. “Sorry, Francis,” he said, bowing his head in respect. “We only have a short journey from here to the gate, two hours maximum and I will try to time it so that our return coincides with the safety of the new dawn. Now, I need you all to listen to me very carefully and I’ll explain the plan to you,” Zavier said.
As dusk spread rapidly across the woodland, dampening the vibrant colours of the bluebells into cooler shades of blues and purples, the group gathered round and listened intently to Zavier’s plan.
*The Human world*
Chapter 32
No more sleeps to go
“No more sleeps to go-o-o-o… Now it’s time for the party-y-y… No more sleeps ‘til Grandad Arthur dresses up like an Oompa Loompa and drinks lots of beer… No more sleeps ‘til the party-y-y!” Grace sang excitedly.
She was thrilled to bits to finally be putting on her fancy dress costume.
“Come up here, Chyna,” Grace said, patting her bed, signalling for the little pug to jump up. “Let’s put your costume on.”
The little black pug dog jumped up onto Grace’s bed and happily let Grace dress her. Chyna was quite used to being dressed up by Grace as she had often been dressed in Grace’s teddy bear’s outfits and paraded around the close in front of all the neighbours. Grace fastened the last strap on Chyna’s costume, then picked up the wand that had come with her own costume.
“Little black dog, little black dog, now I’ll turn you into a frog,” Grace said, flicking the wand above Chyna’s head.
“Well, that didn’t work, did it?” she smiled.
“Little black pug dog, sitting on my bed, all dressed up, as I sit beside her, now I’ll turn her into a spider! Ta-dah!” And as Grace flicked her wand, Chyna jumped off the bed and began running round and around and around on the bedroom floor. Grace laughed loudly and fell to the floor as Chyna, still running around and around, jumped over her wearing a black spider costume. Long, spindly, black legs emerged from the pug dog’s well-rounded black body, making Chyna a very convincing spider indeed.
The doorbell rang.
Grace put the finishing touches to her costume and flew down the stairs, barely touching a single step on the way.
It was the first of the guests.
Grace opened the front door.
“HARRY POTTER!” Grandad Arthur said, trying to put on a voice that sounded like Hagrid.
Grace stood in the hallway, grinning and waving her wand at her cranky grandad.
“Doh, Cranky, you didn’t come as an Oompa Loompa, you plonker!” she frowned.
“Nah, I’m Del Boy, ain’t I, and this here is the lovely jubbly, hippy Lizzy,” he said, with a big fat cigar gripped between his teeth and he stepped aside to let Nanny Lizzy enter the front door.
“Whoa, Nan, you look well different with your hair like that,” Grace gawped.
Nanny Lizzy had indeed come dressed as a hippy. She had a long, flowing, psychedelic-coloured skirt on, a psychedelic bell-sleeved top, flower-shaped psychedelic sunglasses and she was wearing a long, straight, brown wig with a psychedelic hairband tied around her head.
“Coooool, a wizard,” Lizzy proclaimed in a hippy voice and then she kissed Grace on the cheek.
“Wow, you two look great!” Mary said, dancing her way into the hallway to the soulful sounds of the sixties’ group, the Supremes.
“Mum, I’m just popping next door with Chyna to show Elsie our costumes, ‘cos I promised I would,” Grace said.
“Okay, Grace, but don’t be long, more guests will be arriving soon and I’m sure that they will want to meet Harry Potter and his giant pet spider.”
“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute,” Grace said, pulling the front door shut behind her.
There was still snow on the ground. The weather had been so bitterly cold that it hadn’t had a chance to melt any further. Grace shivered. Pulling her cloak tightly around herself, she hurried to Elsie’s front door. She stood on the doorstep and wrestled her hands free, as they had been wrapped tightly inside her cloak, hidden from the cold. Then she knocked on the door.
“One minute. I’m on my way,” Elsie called out, as she struggled to get herself up out of her armchair and to the front door.
Grace jiggled from side to side and tucked her hands tightly under her armpits in an attempt to keep warm while she waited. The door opened slightly and then stopped abruptly as it reached the end of the security chain.
“It’s only me, Elsie. I’ve come to show you my costume,” Grace said.
Elsie took off the security chain and opened up the front door, releasing the smell of baking into the air. Elsie’s house always smelt of cakes due to the fact that she generally baked some every day.
“Well hello, Harry Potter,” Elsie beamed. “And who is this that you have with you? Is it Chyna?” she asked.
“Yes, it is Chyna, but I’ve cast a magic spell on her and turned her into a giant spider, a spider that’s the size of a small dog.”
“Oh, I see, and where did you learn such magic, may I ask?”
“Hogwarts School of Wizardry, of course,” Grace said.
“Oh of course, silly me,” Elsie smiled.
“Anyway, I just wanted to show you my costume, but I’d better get back now, ready for the rest of the guests arriving.”
“Okay, thank you for coming to show me your costume, Grace. Oh, I mean, thank you for coming to see me, Harry. Have fun and tell Grace that I’ll see her in the morning,” Elsie said, with a cheery wink.
Grace reached the top of her front path, just in time to see her mum opening the front door and welcoming three more guests into the house. There was a lady dressed as a nun, a man dressed as a priest and a little girl dressed as an angel. The little girl turned around and gave Grace a spiteful glare. Grace screwed up her face in a grimace-like smile and mustered up a friendly wave for her horrid cousin, Henrietta. Grace loved all people, but there was just something about Henrietta, something that made Grace feel uncomfortable. She still hadn’t forgiven Henrietta
for pulling the head off of her favourite doll and then blaming it on Womble, saying that he had chewed it off. Grace knew full well that it wasn’t Womble that had done it; there weren’t even any teeth marks on it, for a start.
Henrietta had been jealous of the doll ever since Grace had received it on her sixth birthday. It was a present from her great aunt in New Zealand, a one-off that had been especially made for her. Henrietta, the girl who had everything, hated the fact that Grace had such a beautiful doll and that she would never be able to have one like it. She had been at Grace’s house with her parents, Louise and David, for Sunday tea, when Grace had caught her in her bedroom, the doll’s body in one hand and the head strategically placed between Womble’s front paws. Grace could feel anger bubbling up inside her as she remembered what had happened that day, but these feelings did not get a chance to take hold, for as she stood at the top of her pathway, she was distracted by someone humming the theme tune to Superman behind her and, sure enough, as she looked back over her shoulder, there behind her, cape flowing out behind him as he slid across the ice, was Superman, a.k.a. Christian.
Superman was followed in hot pursuit by Batman, a.k.a. his dad, Kyle and Wonder Woman, a.k.a. his mum, Sharna. Grace felt a wave of relief come over her when she was joined by the super-heroes and she decided that the nasty little angel stood absolutely no chance of ruining the party, not against her magic and Christian’s super-powers.
“You look great, Christian,” she said.
“Thanks, you too,” he replied.
“Well, this is going to be a night to remember,” Kyle chuckled as a car pulled up and someone dressed as Animal from the Muppets climbed out, shortly followed by a pretty girl in a cupcake costume.
And so Harry Potter, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Animal from the Muppets and a girl dressed up as a cupcake made their way to the front door, where there, waiting to welcome them inside, was none other than Where’s Wally, a.k.a. Harry.
Hidden Magic Page 16