‘Fitness training in thirty-minutes,’ the owl hooted, as it moved from one leg to the other.
‘What about breakfast?’ Stef asked.
”Fitness training first. Breakfast will be served after that. Head for the grassy area through the common room in thirty-minutes.’ The owl hooted once more before flying off out the window.
‘Wait, come back.’ Alice jumped out of bed and rushed over to the open window, peering out at the clear sky. ‘This is an outrage; I am here to learn witch skills, not to win a triathlon.’
‘I like sport,’ Gerty said, as she scrummaged through one of the drawers under her bed and pulled out her jogging pants. ‘I play tennis with my dad sometimes.’ Her face suddenly fell. ‘Oh no, you don’t think this fitness lesson will involve bumblebees as balls, do you?’
‘Only one way to find out.’ Stef grinned, noticing that Alice had moved towards the bathroom. She raced forwards and barged past her, locking the bathroom door behind her.
‘I will be sure to report you for this.’ Alice bashed on the door.
Charlotte tried to hide her smile by looking down into one of her drawers. She contemplated what to wear, deciding on a plain grey t-shirt and a pair of black shorts.
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine Gerty,’ she said.
‘I hope there’s a giant bee, bigger than this room and it stings Stef on her bottom,’ Alice grunted.
‘I heard that.’ Stef opened the door. ‘Anyway, the bathroom’s free,’ she smirked.
‘At home, every bedroom has a large en-suite, and my bath is bigger than this entire bathroom.’
Stef grinned. ‘Well, us common folk are used to sharing.’
Alice huffed before she stepped into the enclosure.
Charlotte was curious about what the fitness lesson would be like; she was curious about everything that came with this Academy. This whole world was new to her, but at the same time, it was more exciting than she could ever have imagined.
After everyone had used the bathroom, she grabbed a black zip-up jacket, and followed the others out the door and down the hallway, turning to see that Alice who was wearing an expensive looking velour tracksuit, was hurrying along behind them.
They walked through the common room and out onto the large grassy area where a group of first years was standing around a slight woman in a plain dark leotard. She was standing perfectly balanced on one leg, her long light brown hair covering most of her face, her oak broomstick laid out in front of her.
Margaret and Demi stood at the far side and sniggered when they saw Charlotte and the others join the group. Charlotte looked away from them and focused on the large object situated behind the teacher, which was a very realistic model of a fierce looking dragon.
‘I hope it doesn’t breathe fire like the other one did,’ Stef whispered.
Charlotte was about to say that of course it would not because it wasn’t real, but then she saw it move its tail. She jolted back which caused Margaret and Demi to snigger once again.
The last of the students arrived, and the teacher beckoned them forwards.
‘Come on girls,’ she instructed, her tone assertive.
They hurried forwards and joined the row of students. There were curious looks in the direction of the dragon, but no one seemed excited at the prospect of a fitness lesson, especially not Alice who was standing with her arms folded and a miserable expression on her face.
‘Welcome to your first fitness lesson, I am Miss Dread, and I am your fitness teacher here at the Academy. I can see by the looks on some of your faces that fitness may not be your favorite activity, but that will change.’ She looked at Alice. ‘One day you will be in a situation where your fitness will need to kick in when your luck runs out.’
Stef stood on the tips of her toes as she rose her arm into the air.
‘Yes, darling?’ Miss Dread asked as she looked towards her.
‘Then couldn’t we just use magic?’ she asked.
‘Not always. Say for instance your wand broke or you were drastically outnumbered, it’s always best to be prepared and being physically fit is important for all witches.’
Charlotte glanced at Alice and hoped that her own face did not look as opposed to fitness class as Alice’s face did. Charlotte had always been average when it came to sport and worried if “average” would suffice with Miss Dread. She found herself hoping that their teacher was not as severe as her name suggested.
Finally bringing her leg down from her flamingo pose, Miss Dread gestured them to follow her over to the dragon. All the girls made sure there was a large space between them, and the fierce looking creature, which was staring at them with one eye opened.
‘This is Dexter, the Academy’s trampoline. Rest assured you won’t hurt him, and he won’t hurt you.’
‘We can’t be expected to bounce on that,’ Alice said.
‘It is very easy and rather fun. Here, I shall show you.’ She climbed up the stepladder positioned by the dragon and began to jump in the middle of the belly area. ‘If you feel yourself falling off don’t panic as he will catch you with his tail, tongue or claws and safely put you back onto his belly.’
She purposely jumped forwards, so it looked like she was going to fall in a heap on the ground, but before she could, Dexter flicked out his long pink tongue and tossed her safely back up.
Miss Dread stopped bouncing and climbed down the steps, her hair falling perfectly back into place.
‘Who’s next?’ she asked, and most of the girls took a step backward and proceeded to stare at the ground.
‘Miss, I will,’ Margaret stepped forward.
‘Bravo darling,’ she took Margaret’s arm and led her over to the stepladder. ‘Please refrain from bouncing on this end of Dexter,’ she pointed to the lower part of his belly.
‘Why?’ Margaret asked, as she confidently climbed the ladder and stepped onto the center area.
‘Just follow my instructions,’ said Miss Dread.
Margaret didn’t hesitate in jumping as high as she could, but it wasn’t long before curiosity took hold and she began to jump on the southern part of the dragon’s belly. Before Miss Dread had time to warn Margaret to move, Dexter let out a huge fart that caused all the other girls to laugh and swat the air in front of them as they covered their faces with their hands and sleeves. Margaret propelled high into the air and out of the dragon’s grasp.
Miss Dread grabbed her broomstick and flew over to Margaret, catching her before she fell and pulling her onto the back of the broom behind her.
‘What did I tell you about following the rules?’ Miss Dread asked sternly, as she landed the broomstick and glared at Margaret.
‘S-sorry,’ Margaret muttered sheepishly, the usual smug look disappearing from her face.
‘Don’t do it again or you’ll be in Miss Moffat’s office before you can say beetle bubble broth. That goes to all of you.’ She looked over at the rest of the girls. ‘Right, who’s next?’
Alice immediately put her hands to her stomach and feigned a pained look.
‘You!’ Miss Dread pointed at her.
‘I have a stomach ache; I think I need to go back to my room,’ Alice cried.
‘Nonsense, come on, I’ll help you up.’ she held her hand out to Alice.
‘I really don’t feel well.’ She stared at Miss Dread’s hand, not taking it.
‘Nonsense,’ Miss Dread grabbed Alice’s hand and led her over to the dragon, stopping by the stepladder. She bent over and whispered to Alice, ‘I know that you’re scared. Trust yourself; I know you can do this.’
Alice nodded but didn’t move. Miss Dread stepped in front of her and walked up the ladder.
‘Follow me,’ she held out her hand, which Alice promptly took, and they both stepped onto the dragon’s belly together.
Leading Alice towards the center of Dexter’s belly, Miss Dread grasped both her hands and they jumped, gradually going higher and higher until Alice’s shrieks turned into giggl
es and her frown turned into a smile.
‘Darling, I knew you could do it,’ she gave Alice a congratulatory grin, as she helped her down off the ladder.
‘Now my darlings, who is next?’ Miss Dread looked warmly at the girls.
All the girls had a turn, and they were all forced to admit that it was the funniest and most enjoyable fitness lesson they had ever had. A few days earlier, Charlotte would never have believed that using a dragon’s belly as a trampoline was possible, but now she knew differently. This Academy had opened a door into a new world, one where anything seemed possible, and Charlotte was excited to see what would happen next.
‘Darlings, darlings, fantastic, you were all fantastic!’ Miss Dread pulled out her wand and made a gold medallion with a long white ribbon appear. ‘I give medals out to those who I feel might deserve them the most. Today, I have a certain girl in mind.’ She looked directly at Alice. ‘You, darling, you have shown us all that it’s okay to be scared and that overlooking fear is a triumph that should be awarded.’ She held the medal out to her.
Alice was unable to hide her smile as she stepped forward and took the medal. She pulled the ribbon over her head and held the medal up so she could study it.
‘Thank you girls; you’re free to go. I’ll see you tomorrow morning bright and early for your next fitness lesson.’
All the girls dispersed and headed back to their rooms.
‘This medal suits me, don’t you think!’ Alice exclaimed after they had walked into their room.
Charlotte smiled. ‘You deserved it.’
‘You were really brave Alice,’ Gerty said, as she fell back onto her bed. ‘I’ve never bounced on a dragon before; it was definitely better than the bouncy castle I had for my seventh birthday. It got a puncture, and the whole thing collapsed inwards on us all.’
‘I’m sure that I’ll get plenty more medals.’ Alice took the medal off and laid it out proudly on her bed. ‘I’m leaving it here because I don’t want it to get damaged.’
Stef grinned. ‘And because we have class after breakfast and the teacher might be distracted by its shininess.’
‘I wonder what we’ll do in fitness tomorrow?’
‘Dunno.’ Gerty shrugged.
‘I can’t wait, I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll be the best lesson by far,’ Alice said cheerily.
‘It’s intriguing how you only have to give a girl a medallion, and she does a total back-flip,’ Stef smirked.
‘You’re just jealous because you didn’t get one,’ Alice replied.
‘Yeah,’ she snorted, as she searched through her drawer and pulled out her uniform.
‘My mother says we should pity those who are jealous of us because it’s not their fault they were born less fortunate than ourselves.’
‘You just wait until I have my wand, then the next time you comment like that, I will turn you into a slug!’ Stef sounded serious.
‘You would get expelled for doing that.’ Alice could not hide her worried look.
‘It’d be worth it!’ Stef grinned.
Charlotte looked down at the uniform she had laid out on her bed. It consisted of a black pleated skirt, a white blouse and a black, green trimmed cardigan with a crest that included the letters MMA written above two crossing broomsticks. It was the nicest uniform that she had ever owned, and she was eager to put it on.
They all changed their clothes as they chatted about the fitness lesson and the Academy, at the same time, wondering what they’d be given for breakfast. The bell rang to signal that the meal was ready, and they left their room dressed in their new uniforms, with excited smiles on their faces and as they headed down the hallway.
Chapter Eight
The girls walked over to the same table that they had sat at for dinner the night before and stared confused at the three flowerless plants that were set out centrally along the middle of the table.
‘Do they seriously expect us to eat that?’ Alice said snobbishly.
Charlotte could not hide her smile at the thought of Alice eating a plant. She looked over at Margaret and Demi who were sitting where they had last time. There was a group of older girls at the end of the table, but the spaces next to Margaret and Demi remained empty.
All the staff including Miss Moffat were already sitting at the top table, each of them with the strange plants in front of them as well. The bats flew through the windows holding bowls and placing them down in front of the teachers, then more bats came in and placed bowls down in front of each of the girls. The bats flew off and soon reappeared, dropping pieces of corn into each dish.
‘How can they call this a breakfast?’ Stef asked.
‘There’s no way that I’m eating that,’ Alice added.
Charlotte looked curiously down into her bowl, and that was when the corn began to pop up into her face. All the girls squealed with delight and Gerty in particular, was so surprised that she almost knocked her bowl over. The bats flew above them with jugs full of milk while the girls shrieked loudly and covered their heads with their arms as the bats tipped the jugs. The milk flowed into their bowls like water from a tap, none of it spilling. The plants in front of them began to shake, as fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries grew on each.
Everyone reached out excitedly and ripped off the fruit, placing it on top of their cereal. Stef and Alice both picked up their spoons and began to eat. The room filled with clanging sounds as the spoons hit the porcelain bowls, echoing across the hall.
‘Ahem,’ Miss Moffat said, as she rose up from her dragon chair, her eyes fixed firmly on Stef and Alice before she led the rest of the girls into saying the witches’ creed.
‘Witches old and witches young
owls and bats and black cats too.
Come together in this castle
to bring out the best in you.
With perfect love and perfect trust
we learn the spells and witches’ rules.
Acting for the good of all
now let’s eat in this great hall.’
All eyes were on Stef and Alice who had finally realized what was going on. Both girls tried to quietly put their spoons down and swallow their food as quickly as possible. Stef began to choke and attempted to stifle the sound, reaching out for a sip of pineapple juice, the golden liquid that had magically appeared in each of the goblets. She tried to take a sip but had begun choking so much that she couldn’t manage to drink any, and her face turned into a light shade of purple.
‘Open your mouth,’ Molly said, as she appeared by Stef’s side.
Stef opened it the best she could as Molly called over a bat, and with a wave of her wand, she caused it to shrink until it was the size of a small coin. Stef looked on in horror as it flew into her mouth and down her throat, appearing a few seconds later gripping the stuck piece of cereal.
The rest of the girls cheered, and Stef looked sheepish, annoyed with herself for causing drama again and bringing negative attention to herself.
‘Are you okay?’ Charlotte whispered to her and Stef nodded back.
Breakfast was by far the tastiest one that Charlotte had ever had. She’d never tasted fruit as delicious before and looked on in awe as the goblets continued to refill with pineapple juice.
When the meal was finished, and the staff departed, Molly, whose hair was in a side braid, addressed the girls.
‘I’d like all the new girls to stay behind, please, so I can take you to get kitted out with wands and broomsticks.’
Each girl smiled excitedly at the mention of the equipment they’d all be receiving. They knew that once they were in possession of such magical items, they would be well on their way to becoming experienced witches.
Following Molly into a section of the castle that they hadn’t previously seen, they passed classrooms where bubbling sounds and explosions came from within. All the doors were shut, so the interior of each room was hidden, which only made them all the more curious.
‘What’s happeni
ng in there?’ Margaret asked.
Molly grinned. ‘I don’t know; maybe someone messed up their potion or something. Standard class antics really,’
They headed along a quiet corridor until Molly paused by a lone door and chanted some spells while giving a wave of her wand. The door clicked open, and she gestured for them all to follow her. On entry, they found a dim-lit, low-ceilinged room, with grey stoned walls and row-upon-row of boxed up wands.
‘You must pick the right wand for your potential powers. If the wrong one is sought it will ensure that you cannot claim it,’ Molly explained.
Charlotte wondered how they were supposed to find the right wand when each one was packaged and out of sight, but Molly simply smirked at the girls’ bewildered expressions. Then, with a flick of her own wand, dozens of wands burst from their boxes and floated in the room around them.
‘When you’ve found the right one, it will light up in your hand.’ Molly gestured for the girls to go ahead.
Each of the girls went wild, chuckling as they chased after a wand. Demi was the first to find hers and Molly gave her an impressed look that caused Margaret to scowl.
Stef was trying to catch a long black, and gold trimmed wand, but it kept shooting out of her reach. Gerty was trying to grasp for any wand that she could, giggling when each one shot away from her.
Charlotte did not attempt to take any of the wands; she concentrated on studying them, wondering which one would accept her. Her eyes then fell upon a plain oak wand that was floating alongside her. No one else seemed interested in it, but Charlotte stood on tiptoes and reached out for it, half expecting it to fly away. Instead, however, it remained in place. Her hand firmly gripped it, and immediately it glowed. She studied it carefully, noticing that close up it had orange patterns intricately carved into the wood; it wasn’t plain at all.
‘Great, we have two more,’ Molly said, as she looked from Charlotte to Margaret who was also holding a glowing wand.
Realizing that Charlotte had found hers at around the same time, Margaret gave her a stern look then walked over and stood next to Demi.
Gerty was the next to find her wand, followed by Stef. Last up was Alice who was still chasing an elegant looking silver wand even though it kept whizzing away from her.
WITCH SCHOOL - Book 1 (Books for Girls - WITCH SCHOOL) Page 5