The Flying Glass (Fanglewick School of Magic Book 1)

by E. M. Cooper

  ‘Luck ... I ran into a boy who helped me out with a bit of magic.’

  ‘You really are unbelievable, Marnie Speck. If I’d known you were coming, I could’ve warned you and helped you.’ He sighed. ‘How did you both find the exam? I thought the first parts were murder.’

  Lissa nodded. ‘But the last paper was much better.’

  Marnie said nothing.

  Seb obviously realised Marnie was quiet for a reason and spoke no more about the exam.

  Marnie watched a tide of teenagers rushing into the hall. ‘Who are they?’

  ‘You haven’t heard?’ Seb said. ‘They’re the guys who’ve already done the exam in the last week. Only thirty or so will get through from around five hundred.’

  Dejected by the news, Marnie wondered if she should just leave now as she could see a few vortices touching down on the grass outside. ‘How come I can see the vortices so clearly here?’

  ‘Different world,’ Lissa said. ‘We can’t see them at home either.’

  After waiting outside in the early morning sun, Seb, Marnie and Lissa heard the gong and the sounds of footsteps of those running to see the posted results in the hall. Instead of joining the stampede, they decided to wait until the crowd had cleared.

  Elated cries from successful students were mixed with the more common sounds of disappointment and anguish as the students read their results. A steady stream of boys and girls who had failed headed to the lawn, where they were ushered into departing vortices. Some were crying or cursing as they took their last look at Fanglewick. When the crowds had thinned to a trickle, Seb stood and urged the girls to follow.

  ‘You go first, Lissa,’ Seb said.

  ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’ She inched up to the lists and with a strangled sound, announced she had passed all of the tests.

  ‘Check the acceptance list,’ Marnie said.

  Lissa eyed the list and leapt into the air. ‘I’m in! I can’t believe it.’

  ‘Congratulations, that’s terrific.’ Marnie watched as Seb checked the lists and returned with a grin. ‘You too?’

  He nodded discreetly.

  ‘Good for you.’

  Seb took her by the elbow. ‘Come on, Marnie, you can’t put this off.’

  Marnie screwed up her nose.

  ‘Wow, you’re tenth on the list for the puzzles!’ Lissa said.

  Marnie felt faint.

  Lissa read the list. ‘And you’re second at numbers! That’s amazing.’

  ‘Charlie’s first at everything,’ Seb said in a disgusted voice.

  Seb and Lissa fell silent as they all checked the third list.

  ‘And last on verbal,’ Marnie said quietly. ‘Out of 503 students.’

  ‘Check the acceptances,’ Lissa said in a sympathetic tone.

  The three stood and trawled through the list of thirty or so names.

  Marnie sighed when she saw a thick black line at the bottom of the list and under it her name with an asterisk and a message for her to report to the Fanglewick Examination Committee at eleven in Professor Crabwinkle’s meeting room.

  * * *

  CHAPTER 9

  On the brink

  Marnie paced outside Professor Crabwinkle’s meeting room before dropping into the seat between Seb and Lissa. A few wizarding types and an elfin pair had entered the room, but the door had quickly shut, blocking Marnie’s view inside the room.

  ‘Are you nervous?’ Lissa asked Marnie.

  ‘A little.’ She hated admitting fear because it never helped.

  Seb grinned. ‘Marnie’s not afraid of anything, are you?’

  She wished it were true but said nothing.

  At exactly noon, the door swung open and a bright yellow creature in a floral green waistcoat and brown breeches ushered Marnie into the room.

  ‘Is it a goblin?’ Lissa whispered.

  The goblin hissed. ‘Nasty manners,’ he said under his breath and glared at Lissa. ‘I am Jax, executive assistant to Professor Crabwinkle. Marnie Speck, please step forward,’ he said in a cultivated, nasal tone.

  Marnie jumped quickly to her feet.

  Jax gazed down at Marnie’s striped socks. ‘Where is your footwear?’

  Marnie stifled a nervous smile. ‘In the demonic halo.’

  ‘Oh dear.’ He shook his head and held the door open. ‘Please enter, Marnie Speck.’

  Marnie followed him into a room with a brilliant stained glass window to the right that cast soft orange and red tones across the room. On the opposite wall were shelves of fine tubular bottles with bright coloured liquids that kept changing colour as miniature clouds passed through them. In front of the shelves in a bubbling tank, tiny blue and orange fish jumped clear of the water to flip and somersault before diving back. A long narrow table stretched the length of the room and around it sat about a dozen wizards, witches and elves, who had stopped talking to stare at Marnie.

  Professor Crabwinkle sat at the top of the table near the window. Overhead, a black owl fluttered across the room and perched on a cabinet watching Marnie’s every move. Sitting on a cushioned window seat was Charlie, who gave her a smug look before turning to enjoy the view out an open window.

  ‘Please sit, Marnie,’ Professor Crabwinkle said as she flicked through the papers before her.

  Marnie dragged the heavy chair at the opposite end of the table, embarrassed by the noise it made as it scraped the stone floor. ‘Sorry,’ she murmured.

  ‘Marnie, we have a conundrum,’ the professor said.

  Not having any idea what a conundrum was, Marnie looked at her blankly while trying to ignore the stares of the other committee members.

  ‘Ordinarily, we don’t accept students who fail any section of the exam.’

  Charlie leant forwards with a sly smile.

  ‘Your marks for the logical section were very good and the numerical result was outstanding. In fact your and Charlie’s marks for that section were the best we’ve ever seen by a long way.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Unfortunately, your results for the verbal section weren’t as impressive. Perhaps you’d like to present your case?’

  Bewildered, Marnie stood. ‘Um,’ she began as her face grew hot and her tongue thick.

  ‘Marnie, I’m Sandra Pentwhistle and a witch,’ said a smiling woman closest to her. She was big-boned with a large nose and protruding teeth. A colourful scarf knitted from glittery wool hung around her neck and dangled from her broad shoulders. ‘I realise this is daunting for you, but perhaps if you told us a little about yourself and how you came to be here.’

  ‘Yes, who sponsored you?’ a wizard asked from the far end of the table. Marnie instantly recognised him as President Thigimus, who had stepped down from the Northern England Chapter of the Wizarding Elite to be replaced by Mr Arnold.

  Breathe. He doesn’t know you. ‘I’m Marnie Speck.’ She pointed at Charlie. ‘Charlie’s parents foster me.’ She could see the look of surprise on Thigimus’ face.

  ‘Did you not understand the verbal questions on the examination?’ an elegant young man of about thirty asked in a blunt manner. He was the same blond haired man who had chastised Marnie for talking when she first entered the exam hall. ‘Or do you speak a foreign language?’

  ‘I read slowly,’ Marnie began, ‘and obviously too slowly.’

  ‘You only managed to answer five questions,’ said an older wizard, who was puffing on a pipe while flicking through her exam papers.

  ‘All my life, I’ve had trouble with my eyesight and only recently got glasses, so my reading’s very slow,’ Marnie explained. ‘My sponsor, Theodore Mystilic, the Downfell librarian kindly gave me the glasses.’

  A flurry of muttering and grumbling swept through the gathering.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ Marnie asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Professor Crabwinkle said firmly. ‘I’m afraid Theodore Mystilic is no longer an active chapter member on Earth. You’ll need to find a new sponsor.’

  ‘She’ll have to return home
,’ the young blond man said in a matter-of-fact tone.

  ‘Come now, Silas,’ Thigimus said. ‘Surely we can bend the rules for this bright young thing, who has obviously overcome hardship to be here.’

  A tall, athletic elfin woman with gold decoration around her green eyes raised her slender hand.

  ‘Yes, Professor Bright?’ Professor Crabwinkle said.

  ‘With Marnie’s excellent results, I’d like to see her in my arithmancy class.’

  ‘She failed the verbal section abysmally, Aurora,’ Silas said to the professor in a moody tone. ‘We have rules for a reason.’ He scowled after he spoke as though he had eaten something sour. ‘Not to mention, we know nothing of her heritage, and she doesn’t have a real sponsor.’

  ‘I agree with Bengt Silas,’ said the older, pipe-puffing wizard, who was now making small purple smoke rings.

  A few others agreed.

  ‘Come now, Silas, she’s just a wee girl,’ Thigimus said, ‘and obviously a mathematically exceptional student. She might have huge potential.’

  Marnie bristled with his words about being a wee girl but decided now wasn’t the time to object.

  ‘And I thought wizards had a reputation for being stuffy.’ Thigimus chuckled. ‘You don’t want to give witches a bad name, do you, Silas?’

  Breaking the silence, Silas drummed on the table with his fingertips as though ready to explode.

  ‘May I say something?’

  Crabwinkle nodded at Marnie.

  She pushed her chair back and stood. ‘I can cook and weed and clean. Could I stay and work at Fanglewick until the next exam? You wouldn’t have to pay me.’

  Thigimus laughed. ‘Sounds like a bargain.’

  Professor Crabwinkle peered over her glasses. ‘Mmm, this is highly unusual.’

  ‘Unusual?’ Silas spat. ‘More like, unheard of.’

  Several of the board members clapped in support of Silas.

  Professor Crabwinkle gazed absently at Marnie for a few moments as though thinking. ‘I’m agreeable to giving you this opportunity, Marnie if I can gain a consensus here.’

  ‘I promise to work hard,’ Marnie said.

  Silas grunted. ‘Unbelievable.’

  Thigimus looked squarely at Silas. ‘Surely you won’t turn her down?’

  Silas drummed his fingertips harder on the table and glared at Marnie. ‘You’re prepared to work with the servants?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘You do know they’re goblins?’

  Although startled, Marnie fought not to show it. ‘I don’t mind—should I?’

  ‘In the past our kind has only lasted days working with them,’ Crabwinkle said.

  Marnie didn’t flinch. ‘It’s fine by me.’

  ‘This is highly unusual, but if no one else has any objections?’ Crabwinkle looked around the table. ‘Very well. Jax will take you to their quarters in the morning, but you’ll sleep in one of the students’ houses.’

  ‘Do you have a library I might use?’ Marnie asked.

  Silas murmured something to a dark-haired man beside him, who sniggered.

  ‘Jax will show you.’ Crabwinkle glared at Silas before turning to Charlie, who was smiling at the exchange. ‘Now, Charlie, I’ve brought you here before the committee to congratulate you on your spectacular exam results. We’ve never had any applicant with scores as outstanding since, um—never mind.’

  Charlie stood. ‘Thank you, professor. I owe it to my wonderful father, President Zachary Arnold.’ He paused after saying ‘president’ while glancing at Thigimus, who didn’t flinch.

  ‘The committee has decided unanimously to appoint you the first years’ student representative for our monthly academic meetings.’

  Charlie bowed pretentiously. ‘It’s an honour, Professor Crabwinkle. I hope I’ll be able to repay your faith in me by performing to the best of my ability.’

  Marnie nearly gagged at his bad acting and when she caught a flicker of a smile from Professor Pentwhistle, she had to focus on the black owl to stop herself bursting into laughter. The bird was trying to free a window clasp with its beak, no doubt unable to take any more of Charlie and trying to flee.

  ‘Now the two of you head off to lunch while we finish up here,’ Professor Crabwinkle said.

  As they walked to the door, Charlie hissed at Marnie. ‘How dare you come here. You won’t last long at Fanglewick; I’ll make certain.’

  ‘Why thank you, Charlie,’ Marnie said loudly as he opened the door. ‘I’m so lucky to have a caring brother with me at Fanglewick.’

  In his rush, Charlie bumped into the haughty goblin Jax, who was standing outside the room as though he’d had his ear to the door. After interrogating the goblin for directions to the dining hall, Charlie stormed off.

  Seb and Lissa waited quietly obviously trying to gauge Marnie’s face as she walked down the hall towards them.

  ‘Well?’ Seb asked finally.

  Marnie gave them a wide smile. ‘I’m staying.’

  ‘Yes!’ Seb patted her on the back. ‘Fantastic. I knew you could do it.’

  Lissa smiled. ‘That’s terrific. Congratulations.’

  ‘Some of them wanted to send me back after I told them Theo was my sponsor.’

  ‘No wonder,’ Seb said and grinned. ‘You should have told me. He’s known as a bit of a rebel because he turned down a job at the Imporium and helps scatterlings.’

  Marnie covered her mouth. ‘I told them he was the Downfell librarian.’

  Seb laughed. ‘Theo would find that hilarious.’

  ‘Won’t he be in trouble now that I’ve revealed he’s the librarian?’

  ‘Not a chance. He’s a powerful mage and always a step ahead.’

  ‘Who was your sponsor?’ Lissa asked Seb.

  He grinned again. ‘My foster father, Mage Arnold, although he didn’t know it. He such a fat-headed wizard, he’ll keep quiet if they ask him, and pretend he was responsible for sponsoring two boys through the Fanglewick exam.’

  ‘There’s one hitch though,’ Marnie said. ‘I wasn’t accepted into the school. I’m going to be working in the kitchen with the goblins.’

  * * *

  CHAPTER 10

  Andromeda House

  After a long lunch served by a horde of small sharp-toothed goblins, Marnie tagged along with Seb and Lissa in Fanglewick’s great hall while they were sorted into houses and fitted with school uniforms. A team of goblins had cleared away the examination desks allowing Marnie to fully appreciate the hall. Graceful arches curved above them and beautiful ornate windows allowed the midday light to illuminate the vast space. Old tapestries of dragons flying over mountains and unicorns in a forest lined one wall while the other house tapestries hung on the opposite side of the hall. At the head of the hall, a row of old statues in shining armour stood behind the lectern and portraits of important witches, wizards and elves decorated the wall.

  Marnie tried hard not to feel envious as goblins with tape measures hanging about their necks measured and fitted each student with dark green jumpers, white shirts, grey trousers and skirts. Once the newcomers had their basic uniforms, they were given black cloaks for formal dinners and ceremonies, black shoes and a small book-sized bag. Jax busily checked each student’s pile to make sure everyone received the right items.

  ‘Did you know he has two brothers, Grib and Meeb?’ Seb said as they advanced in the line towards Jax. ‘They’re triplets.’

  ‘Goblin triplets?’ Marnie said.

  Seb nodded. ‘I overheard some of the kids talking about them. They’ve been Fanglewick’s official caretakers for decades. Jax is Crabwinkle’s assistant, but the other two roam about Fanglewick at night keeping an eye on the grounds and buildings.’

  ‘Are they identical?’ Lissa asked.

  ‘Not quite. Jax’s the tallest. He speaks in a snooty tone and wears formal stuff while the other two dress in overalls and sound rough. Jax grooms his hair with oil, Meeb’s bald and Grib has the wispy
, electric hair.’

  ‘If they wander about Fanglewick, how come they don’t get swallowed up when the rooms change?’ Lissa asked.

  ‘I guess they know how to avoid them.’ Seb peered inside the bag on top of his pile of uniforms. Inside was a diary with a few pages holding tiny cards in slots. ‘I wonder what these are?’ He plucked a card no bigger than the top of his finger from the diary. As he brought it into the light, it grew suddenly and within moments was a full-sized textbook. ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’

  ‘The bag must have a shrinking spell,’ Lissa said. ‘It’ll make it easier to carry books to classes from our houses.’

  Seb thrust his hand in his bag and seconds later withdrew it while shrieking with laughter at the sight of his miniature hand, which slowly regained full-size outside the bag.

  ‘I’d love to learn that spell,’ Marnie said as her mind churned with the possibilities of using such magic. ‘Do you think if you could squeeze yourself into the bag bit by bit, you could shrink your whole body?’

  ‘What would be the point?’ Lissa seemed puzzled. ‘Once you left the bag, the spell would reverse.’

  Marnie shrugged. ‘It’d be fun to try.’

  ‘Name?’ said Jax in a haughty voice when Marnie, Seb and Lissa reached him.

  ‘Marnie Speck.’

  Jax looked down the list. ‘You’re not here.’

  ‘Um, I’m not a student. I’m the new kitchen help.’

  ‘Oh yes, now I remember you.’ He rummaged under the desk and retrieved a brown paper bundle tied with string and a pair of black boots. ‘Report to me here at six tomorrow morning. I’ll take you to the kitchens. Your uniform is in there. Wear it. By the way, you’ll be staying in Andromeda House.’

  Embarrassed, Marnie quietly accepted the bundle. ‘What if nothing fits?’

  ‘They will.’

  Marnie was delighted and relieved to discover Seb was in the same house as her but disappointed Lissa was in Gemini House. It was twilight when they parted and Seb and Marnie set off on the path to Andromeda House.

  ‘Not lost are you?’ a voice called behind them.