The Flying Glass (Fanglewick School of Magic Book 1)

by E. M. Cooper

‘Well, what’s eating you then?’

  Marnie sighed. ‘She let me sit the written part of the test again ... said I deserved a second chance. Professor Crawfoot read the questions aloud for me.’

  ‘Goodness, that’s wonderful and unexpected. I’d say she’s very grateful to you and your friends for saving her life—and so she should be.’

  ‘They said they’d tell me tomorrow if I’m in or not.’

  ‘That’s wonderful, so why the gloomy face?’

  Marnie shrugged. ‘I’m nervous, I suppose.’

  Astra surveyed her face curiously yet said no more.

  * * *

  Between nightmares, Marnie lay awake in her bed wondering about the outcome of the test and why Professor Crabwinkle needed a full day to mark and grade it. When someone knocked on her door the following morning, she struggled from her bed trying to keep her stomach from flipping with nerves.

  ‘Marnie?’ a tall elfin girl said.

  ‘y-Yes?’

  ‘There’s a school assembly at eight. You have to come too.’

  ‘But I usually go to the kitchen first to set up breakfast.’

  ‘No, we’re all expected in the great hall.’

  Marnie dressed in her usual navy kitchen tunic and brushed her hair before following students headed up the path to Fanglewick. Seb and Oliver weren’t among the group, so she walked alone, glad not to have to make conversation or explain her strange mood.

  In the hall, she sat at the back of the school assembly in the empty last row, where she could make a quick getaway once Professor Crabwinkle had made whatever announcements she had planned.

  As usual when Professor Crabwinkle arrived, the students’ voices dropped away and they turned their heads curiously to watch her walk down the aisle to the lectern. Today she wore a purple gown with silver embroidery at its cuffs and hem, and her hair piled high on her head.

  ‘Good morning, students. It’s a beautiful day and I have some pleasant news to deliver.’

  Seb, Oliver and Lissa filed into the row where Marnie was and sat either side of her.

  ‘Where have you lot been?’

  Lissa raised her finger to her lips.

  ‘Shh,’ Seb said.

  ‘What are you all up to?’ Marnie whispered.

  ‘Marnie Speck,’ Professor Crabwinkle said loudly.

  As though flung from a dream, Marnie realised the professor was looking straight at her and students ahead of her were turning their heads curiously to see her.

  Marnie felt her face burn with embarrassment.

  ‘Many of you might have already met Marnie. She has been preparing for next year’s entrance exam while working in the Fanglewick kitchen and living at Andromeda House. What many of you wouldn’t be aware of is recently she and her friends, Sebastian Wood and Lissa Sylfer rescued a fellow student, Jax and myself from a dangerous djinn. In recognition of her brave efforts and after speaking with my staff, we decided to give Marnie another chance at the entrance exam. Yesterday she sat the exam.’

  Marnie’s heart pounded as Lissa took her hand and held it.

  ‘It gives me great pleasure to announce Marnie passed the test and will be admitted this morning into Fanglewick as a first year student. Marnie, can you come up here, please?’

  ‘I passed?’ Marnie said faintly. ‘Did you hear that?’

  Seb slapped her on the back. ‘Aye, we sure did.’

  ‘Go, Marnie, hurry, everyone’s waiting,’ Lissa said.

  The stage seemed miles away as Marnie approached it feeling as though she was in a dream. She floated forwards, her fingers and toes feeling numb. The students and teachers clapped as she climbed the steps. She was surprised to see Lexi Spindlewood standing with the staff members in a huddle to one side. Tempted for a few moments out of fright, Marnie thought of running back out the door but steeled herself.

  ‘Now Marnie, we are going to perform a small ceremony to verify your magical heritage,’ Professor Crabwinkle murmured.

  Remembering Sister Yallow telling her this would reveal her true nature, Marnie trembled.

  ‘No need to look so terrified,’ Thigimus said softly. ‘It won’t hurt a bit.’ He was standing on the other side of Professor Crabwinkle with Silas and Aurora Bright.

  Obviously overhearing Thigimus, some of the students in the front row giggled.

  ‘If you would do the honours, Silas,’ Crabwinkle said before turning back to Marnie. ‘This is a mere formality, where we verify you’re a wizard. I promise it won’t trouble you at all.’

  Marnie felt dizzy and her fingertips prickled as she braced for the inevitable disappointment.

  Silas nodded and took a piece of chalk from his pocket. He leaned over and drew a large triangle on the floor around Marnie.

  ‘I call forward, the representatives from each world,’ Crabwinkle said in a solemn tone.

  Marnie shivered and folded her arms. Puzzled, she watched as Silas, Thigimus and Aurora Bright lifted a glass globe each from a small cloth-covered table. They placed a globe on each point of the triangle and stood behind their globes facing Marnie while Crabwinkle waved a wand and muttered a spell. A small puff of smoke burst from the triangle and when it cleared, Silas’ globe glowed iridescent green, but the others swirled with grey cloud.

  A few of the teachers gasped and all of them stared at Marnie as though she had done something wrong. The students fell silent while waiting for someone to speak.

  ‘I’m sorry, I’m not a real wizard,’ Marnie babbled. ‘I didn’t mean ... I just didn’t know.’

  ‘Quiet, girl,’ Silas said to Marnie.

  After Marnie’s admission, she could hear students whispering and chattering in the background.

  ‘This is quite surprising,’ Professor Crabwinkle finally said.

  Lexi Spindlewood burst into hearty laughter and said loudly, ‘But not without precedent.’

  ‘What is it?’ Marnie asked in a small voice.

  ‘You’re right. You’re not a wizard,’ Professor Crabwinkle said.

  Marnie struggled not to cry.

  ‘In fact, it’s glaringly obvious you’re a witch,’ Crabwinkle said. ‘Fancy that.’

  Stunned, Marnie mouthed, ‘A witch?’

  ‘Yes, and a full-blooded one from the strength of that reaction,’ Lexi said and clapped.

  The witch students followed her lead, clapping and cheering.

  ‘I’m a witch,’ Marnie repeated as though trying to convince herself. ‘How’s that possible?’

  Professor Crabwinkle raised her hands. ‘Quiet, please, everyone. We will commence the presentation immediately, but this calls for a change in our ceremonial staff. Professors Silas, Spindlewood and Crawfoot, will you please confer the gifts?’

  Thigimus, Bertha Balthazar and a young woman in wizard robes stepped away from the small table on the stage and were replaced by the trio of witches.

  Silas came forward carrying a broom, followed by Muriel with a spell book and lastly Lexi with a wand.

  ‘Welcome, little sister,’ Lexi said. ‘You’re one of us now. I’m so pleased for you.’

  Muriel nodded at a cage sitting on the small table with a white owl inside. ‘As you can imagine, we were caught off guard. Wizarding students are given owls but witches receive cats.’

  ‘I will bring yours tonight.’ Lexi smiled. ‘When we’ve selected one that’s suitable or perhaps you’d like to choose for yourself?’

  ‘I-I don’t know.’

  ‘No hurry,’ Professor Crabwinkle said.

  The students sang traditional songs and the witch teachers read formal welcoming speeches from a large leather book.

  ‘Now we will have an official morning tea in the great hall to mark Marnie’s special day. Everyone is welcome.’ Professor Crabwinkle led Marnie into the great hall to the head table adorned with flowers and candles. A wizard’s hat and black cloak sat on the table in front of her seat.

  Lexi burst into laughter. ‘Well they’ll have to go, won’t the
y?’ She moved the clothing to a chair. ‘I’ll bring you the right stuff with your cat.’

  Marnie sat at the table with a stunned expression to enjoy a late breakfast of dark blue cream cake with ‘Congratulations Marnie’ piped on it in silver icing. The students cheered as they raised their glasses of cherry cider and welcomed her into their world as a verified witch. With their last cheer, balloons appeared out of nowhere and rose steadily to the ceiling of the great hall, where a king and queen rode on dragons across a night sky.

  ‘Disappointed about being a witch?’ Lexi said.

  ‘Absolutely not,’ Marnie said truthfully. ‘I couldn’t be happier.’

  After the ceremony, Marnie took her gifts back to her room before returning to the kitchen to tell Astra and the goblins her news.

  Keruncle blew his nose into a handkerchief. ‘So you won’t be coming here anymore.’

  ‘I’ll visit all the time, I promise,’ said Marnie suddenly feeling a rush of sadness.

  ‘I’ll miss you,’ Keruncle said.

  ‘Fancy them discovering you’re a witch,’ Astra said.

  ‘I know. I haven’t got over it yet.’

  Astra stuffed a cardboard box into Marnie’s hands. When she peeked inside, she saw cakes and sweets.

  ‘Well, you’ll need to celebrate with your friends, won’t you?’

  ‘Thank you, Astra.’ Marnie tried not to think too hard about how much she’d miss her goblin family.

  ‘I’d rather be a witch than one of those stuffy wizards,’ Keruncle said. ‘Makes sense you’re not one of them.’

  Marnie grinned. ‘Thanks, I think.’

  Seb and Lissa were waiting for Marnie at the top of the stairs when she emerged.

  Lissa threw her arms around Marnie and hugged her. ‘Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.’

  ‘Will you be wanting to move to Lyra or Capricorn House?’ Seb asked tentatively as they walked together from Fanglewick.

  ‘No way.’ Marnie raised the bag. ‘Come on let’s all go back to Andromeda and celebrate.’

  ‘But we’ve got classes,’ Lissa said.

  Seb put his arm around Marnie and Lissa’s shoulders. ‘No, not this morning. They won’t miss us.’

  The three friends ran along the path back to Andromeda. When they reached Marnie’s room, she opened the box on the bed to reveal tarts, chocolates and sweets.’

  Oliver peered into the open room. ‘Here you guys are!’

  ‘Come in, come in,’ Marnie said. ‘Join the party.’

  ‘It’s fantastic. Congratulations, Marnie,’ Oliver said. ‘Show us what you got.’

  Marnie picked the wand off the shelf. ‘It feels so weird to have my own.’

  ‘It’s a beauty ... looks like cedar wood,’ said Oliver sniffing it. ‘Smells like it too.’

  Lissa peered over Marnie’s shoulder at the tiny gold dragons and scrolls carved into the wood. ‘Look at the markings. It’s quite beautiful.’

  ‘Griselda Fox is an artist,’ Oliver said. ‘She has a workshop in Wandermere and provides all our wands and staffs although you rarely see her in her shop ... she’s reclusive. She also makes leather holsters and carrying cases and does tattoos. She even has a couple of apprentices who went to school here.’

  ‘Tattoos?’ Marnie said.

  ‘Yes, some people love the designs on their wands so much; they get them tattooed on their skin. Every design’s special and individual.’

  Marnie stroked the wood and admired the design.

  ‘Witches tend to get the pretty ones—maybe because she’s one herself.’ Lissa said.

  ‘But wasn’t she told I was a wizard before the ceremony?’

  ‘They say she’s a powerful psychic.’ Oliver laughed. ‘She probably had the wand ready before you even finished the exam.’

  Marnie frowned. ‘How does she make the wand or staff magic?’

  ‘It’s her gift and one that’s been in the Fox family for centuries,’ Oliver said. ‘The apprentices she chooses every four years must have aptitude.’

  ‘How do you know so much about her?’ Seb asked.

  ‘I’ve looked into it because it’s something I’d love to do. That or become a dragon handler. Most of the kids here are aiming for the Imporium, the Font or the Repository of Knowledge—but not me.’

  Later in the evening when the others had gone, Marnie lay on her bed flipping through her new spell book filled with curious strings of words, odd illustrations and recipes for potions. After reading the directions for a spell to close the door, she decided it was simple enough to try it with her new wand. She was certain now that Fanglewick had accepted her as a fully certified witch, her magic would work.

  She followed the formal scripted E shape with her wand while whispering, ‘porto closeti’. Disappointed when the door remained stubbornly open, Marnie repeated the spell several times but altered its pronunciation each time.

  ‘Hello there, Marnie.’ Lexi Spindlewood stood in the doorway, lugging a hat and cloak and a sleek black cat with an orange collar. ‘Practising already?’

  Marnie sighed.

  ‘I heard you down the corridor.’

  ‘It didn’t work.’

  ‘Which one were you trying?’

  She held up her new spell book. ‘The door-closing spell ... porto closeti.’

  ‘It takes practice. I wouldn’t worry.’

  After Lexi stepped into the room, Marnie glanced down the empty corridor before shutting the door.

  ‘But I am. You see, I’ve tried to do magic before.’

  Lexi nodded as she stroked the cat’s head. ‘That’s odd, unless ... tell me, how old are you?’

  ‘I’ll be fourteen after Christmas—in the summer break.’

  Lexi smiled. ‘There’s your answer.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Witches don’t come of magical age until they turn fourteen unlike elves and wizards at thirteen.’

  Marnie felt like jumping up and down on the bed as her heart soared. ‘You’re joking? All this time I thought I was ... you know ....’

  ‘Unmagical?’

  ‘Yes. You can’t imagine how worried I was.’

  ‘The ceremony today showed quite the opposite. Have confidence, little sister, you’re indeed one of us. I must say the revelation left Silas reeling, which was delectable.’

  ‘You’re absolutely certain I’m a full-blooded witch?’

  ‘Positively.’

  ‘So that means both my parents were witches.’

  ‘That’s the way it works.’ Lexi frowned. ‘It just occurred to me. How did you get through the demonic halo unscathed? I’ve never heard of a pre-magical child crossing the halo and living to tell the tale.’

  Marnie shrugged. ‘I did lose my boots, socks and jacket.’

  Lexi chuckled. ‘Be glad that’s all you lost.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s a major mystery, isn’t it?’

  ‘I have a photo of my parents.’ Marnie rummaged under her mattress and brought out the photograph. ‘Did you know them?’

  Lexi gazed at the image for several moments. ‘No, I don’t think so, but there are lots of us.’ She smiled. ‘I’m sure I can help you track them down though. You don’t have to hide the picture here, you know.’

  Marnie gazed longingly at the photo again before propping it on her desk.

  ‘I think it needs a frame. Maybe Muriel Crawfoot has one in her craft room.’

  ‘Did you know I was a witch?’ Marnie asked. ‘With you being psychic.’

  She grinned. ‘I had my suspicions.’

  ‘But you didn’t say anything.’

  ‘That would’ve spoiled the lovely surprise.’

  The cat stretched its back legs and purred loudly.

  Marnie smiled. ‘She’s a beautiful cat.’

  ‘Her name’s Bella.’ Lexi raised the animal from her lap and handed it to Marnie. ‘She’s yours now, if you’re happy with her. Otherwise you could travel to Wandermere and choose one for
yourself.’

  ‘Mine? Hello, Bella. I’ve never had a pet before. She’s gorgeous, thank you.’ Marnie stroked the cat as it snuggled into her. ‘Do you suppose I might be able to visit Wandermere anyway? I’d love to go there with my friends and show them what I saw and have time to visit the shops and see more.’

  ‘Yes, it’s a delightful city to wander through—hence the name. I tell you what; I’ve planned a trip to the Imporium later in the year. Perhaps I might convince Professor Crabwinkle and you could come with a couple of friends. I think she owes you that. You could bring Bella and we could visit the pet shop for them to check her over before she returns to Earth with you. Although I was given a certificate to prove she has already been immunised, I’m sensing she might need a booster.’

  Marnie beamed. ‘That would be amazing. Thank you.’

  ‘Look after Bella and she’ll be your closest friend.’ Lexi reached into her pocket and handed Marnie a small scroll. ‘Here’s your timetable for tomorrow. Professor Crabwinkle asked me to give it to you.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Marnie took the paper. ‘So are you visiting Fanglewick for long?’

  ‘Didn’t you hear? I’m officially a staff member now—the welfare officer.’ She laughed. ‘It’s the perfect job for a psychic. It should be fun.’ Lexi stood to leave. ‘Well I have to get going.’

  ‘What should I feed Bella?’

  ‘The usual,’ Lexi said before she walked out the door. ‘Goodbye, no doubt I’ll see you soon. Before I forget, you’ll need a protective spell for when you go home in the holidays. Until you’re fourteen and have some basic magic, it’s very risky to travel in vortices. Bella will need a special carrying bag too. We’ll pick one up in Wandermere.’

  ‘Thanks, Lexi, for everything.’

  Bella purred loudly as Marnie closed the door.

  ‘What would you like for dinner? I’ll have to ask the goblins for something.’

  ‘Eew,’ Bella said in a high-pitched, cat-like voice. ‘Goblin fare? I don’t think so. Just let me out the window and I’ll round up some tasty titbits of my own—mouse or rat would be tooth-pleasing.’

  Marnie dropped Bella to the floor in shock. ‘It’s been a big day. You’re tired,’ she said aloud to herself.

  ‘Are you? Well if you’re droopy-eyed, go to bed and sleep,’ the cat said. ‘That’s what I’d do.’