Emma's Glittering Spell Read online

  I’ve never seen anyone eat as much as Professor Moth did. He ate nearly all the trifle by himself, and most of the sandwiches, as well as half of each of the cakes, and he drank at least six mugs of hot chocolate. Miss Scritch was glowing with pride as he finally put down his fork and said, “I cannot eat one more thing. I am as stuffed full as the Christmas dumpling!”

  I don’t think any of us knew what he meant, but we smiled politely as we started to pile up the plates and mugs.

  “Permit me to help you in your tidiness,” the professor said, and he pulled a small shiny wand from his pocket. Before Fairy Mary or Miss Scritch could say a word, he’d waved it at the table and – WHOOOMPH! – everything was gone.

  “Erm…” Fairy Mary smiled a not entirely enthusiastic smile. “That’s very kind of you.”

  Professor Moth clutched at his head. “I have done wrong! I can see! You do the washing-up here, is that not so? I forget these modern customs.”

  “Well … yes, actually,” Fairy Mary said.

  “I will reverse! See? It can be done – SO!” Professor Moth waved his wand a second time, and every plate and mug reappeared – but spotlessly clean. Gleaming, in fact.

  Miss Scritch jumped up and clapped wildly. “Miraculous!”

  The professor gave her a small bow, and she looked delighted. Fairy Mary nodded at Fairy Fifibelle, who waved her wand and the crockery and cutlery flew swiftly away.

  “Shall we continue, Professor?” Fairy Mary suggested. “You were about to ask Ava and Olivia to show you the Sliding Spell, were you not?”

  Professor Moth looked surprised, then nodded. “Yes. Young ladies, please oblige.”

  Ava picked up a pen and drew a smiley face on the back of her hand before she and Olivia pointed their Star Fingers. The smiley face slid first to Sophie’s hand, then mine, then Lily’s. Jackson and Melody were whispering together and not paying much attention so Olivia left them out, but the smiley face slid on round the table until Ava had it back again.

  The professor twinkled at Fairy Mary, Miss Scritch and Fairy Fifibelle Lee. “You teach your pupils exceedingly well,” he said. “And there is one more spell, I think?”

  “It’s the Copying Spell,” Melody told him, and before she was even asked she and Jackson pointed their fingers first at Miss Scritch, then at me … and something DREADFUL happened. So dreadful it makes me feel weird even now to think about it. All of a sudden, I was on my feet, clapping wildly and calling out, “Miraculous!” exactly the way Miss Scritch had done, even though every bit of me was trying desperately not to. I saw Miss Scritch go pale, but Fairy Mary put out her hand.

  “That,” she said calmly, “is enough!” Her wand flickered between her fingers, there was a shower of shining stars, and I sank into my seat.

  Professor Moth rose to his feet. “This is not good use of a spell!”

  “Indeed it isn’t,” Fairy Mary said. “Jackson and Melody, you will please leave the room. Go next door. Now.”

  Chapter Four

  There was a shocked silence. We hardly dared to breathe as Melody and Jackson got up from the table and walked towards the sitting-room. They both looked very shaken, and at the door Melody turned. “It was only a joke,” she said. “We didn’t mean any harm.”

  “Making fun of people hurts their feelings,” Fairy Mary told her, “and Stargirls don’t do that. Not ever.” Her voice was cold. “I’d like you both to think long and hard about whether you deserve to remain at the Academy.”

  Melody went silently out of the room, and Jackson followed her. Fairy Mary McBee closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. “I think it must be time for Professor Moth to show us the Forgetting Spell,” she said.

  The professor was tugging at his thick white hair. “Such a waste of good talent,” he said. “Those girls! They have skills at magic, and I do not think their hearts are all bad.”

  “I don’t think so either,” Fairy Mary said. “But they need to understand there is more to being a Stargirl than being good at spells. Shall we continue?”

  Professor Moth gave his hair one last tug. “I understand. It is not for me to discuss this little incident. You are right. We should continue. Young ladies? Let us lift up our star fingers.”

  We held up our little fingers, and the tiny stars glowed as Professor Moth held up his own hand. There was a star on his little finger too, and it was shining so brightly I could see it from right across the room.

  “Jeepers creepers,” Lily whispered. “Is he a Fairy Godfather?”

  Fairy Mary McBee put her finger to her lips, but she nodded as she did so. “A very special Fairy Godfather,” she said softly.

  The professor hadn’t noticed Lily’s interruption. “Listen with all your ears,” he said. “This spell is to be used on one person to wipe from the mind all that has just happened. What is it you would say? Ah, yes! It will delete the memory that is most recent. And also, this spell can be used the one time only; one time, and then it is gone.” He waved a hand in the air. “And now we are ready. Say after me, Memory hold not, memory care not, memory slip slide slither away…”

  We repeated his words slowly and carefully, and the professor nodded as a flurry of glittering sparkles swirled round his head. “This is good. Keep up your hands.” He walked round the table, and as he came to each of us he touched our tiny glowing stars.

  When it was my turn I jumped; my little finger felt red-hot, and a Tingle buzzed in my elbow.

  “Good.” Professor Moth went back to his seat. “So now the spell is safe within your heads. Again the words, if you please?”

  “Memory hold not, memory care not, memory slip slide slither away…” we chorused.

  “That is correct.” The professor folded his arms. “Now, please to use this only when it is truly necessary to delete the memory. As I have told you, it will work once in a day, so we will have no practising. There are many types of spell; this is of the type Glittering. Puff! and it is gone.”

  Miss Scritch gave Professor Moth a congratulatory pat on the back. “A fine example of how to teach,” she said, and she gave Fairy Fifibelle Lee a sideways glance. “Some of us are not so precise.”

  Fairy Fifibelle looked offended. “We all have our different styles,” she said.

  “Indeed we do,” Fairy Mary agreed. “Just like our Stargirls. It would be extremely dull if we were all the same. Professor Moth, I wonder if you would do us the honour of joining us for the Spin?”

  “You will do the Spin?” The professor looked as if he’d been given a wonderful present. “I did not think there were any people left who do this!”

  Miss Scritch hurried to where Fairy Mary McBee’s Golden Wand was hanging on the wall, and placed it on the table in front of the professor. He touched it gently, as if it was very precious, then handed it to our head teacher. “This is your magic, most honourable Fairy Mary. The magic of the Fairy Godmothers.”

  I watched as Fairy Mary put the wand down. The Spin is the most extraordinary part of our day at the Academy; it’s when we find out who will choose what sort of adventure we’re going to go on, and who we’re going to help. It’s very strange and magical … but something didn’t feel right. We weren’t all there, and it made me uncomfortable. After all, weren’t Stargirls meant to look after each other, and work together?

  “Please, Fairy Mary,” I said. “What about Jackson and Melody? Aren’t they going to be here for the Spin?”

  “Darling girl!” Fairy Fifibelle swooped down and gave me one of her famous hugs where you get buried in fluttering scarves and floaty sleeves and ribbons. “Such thought for others!”

  Miss Scritch didn’t sound nearly so enthusiastic. “Really, Emma! Surely you don’t think Melody and Jackson deserve to be here?”

  I wriggled in my chair. “I don’t know. That is, I know they SO shouldn’t have made fun of you, but sometimes they do things because they want to look clever and they haven’t thought about what’ll happen afterwards or how it’ll m
ake people feel. But the Spin is so very special that they’ll feel terrible at being left out…” I stopped. I was talking too much, again.

  Everyone was staring at me, except Fairy Mary McBee. She was looking thoughtful. “Does anyone else think Melody and Jackson should take part in the Spin?” she asked.

  Olivia put up her hand, but I could see Madison and Ava and Lily hesitating. Sophie shook her head. “I’d say they should be left alone while they think about what they’ve done.”

  Fairy Mary turned back to me. “Well, Emma? Is Sophie right, do you think?”

  Chapter Five

  “Erm…” I bit my lip while I tried to make up my mind. I thought about how I’d feel if I knew that the Spin was happening without me, and I knew that I’d be completely miserable … but maybe Sophie was being sensible, and Jackson and Melody did need some time without interruptions. It was all so difficult that I sighed the most enormous sigh.

  That made the professor laugh, but it was a kind laugh. “She does much thinking, this little Emma,” he said.

  I was already thinking about something else, but I didn’t like to mention it. Melody and Jackson hadn’t learnt the spell; did that mean they wouldn’t be able to win another star on their pendants? My stomach went into knots at such an awful idea.

  Madison leant against my arm. “Do you think they’ll get to go out with us when we’ve chosen who to help?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know,” I whispered back.

  “No whispering!” Miss Scritch gave us a stern look. “Fairy Mary, shall we continue?”

  Fairy Mary was still looking thoughtful. “Emma, dear, why don’t you pop your head round the door and see how Melody and Jackson are getting on?”

  Miss Scritch looked horrified. “Is that REALLY a good idea, Headmistress?”

  “I think it might be,” Fairy Mary said.

  Fairy Fifibelle nodded. “Darling Emma.” I rather suspected she was going to give me another hug, so I got up quickly and headed for the sitting-room. I opened the door very quietly, and peeped in.

  Melody and Jackson were sitting close together on the sofa … but they weren’t alone. Three of the Fairy Godmothers had climbed out of their picture frames and were sitting with them, and judging by the look on Melody’s face, they’d been giving her and Jackson a terrible telling-off. Jackson was blowing her nose, and Melody was very pink around the eyes.

  “They won’t want me to see them looking like that,” I thought.

  I was about to tiptoe out again when one of the Fairy Godmothers looked up and saw me. “Goodness!” she said. “We have an observer! Come along, girls. I think we’ve said enough. Off we go!” And she and the other two ancient ladies hopped up off their seats amidst a shower of twinkly little stars and when I looked again they were back on the wall.

  “Thanks, Emma.” Jackson put her hankie back in her pocket. “I thought they were never going to stop talking.”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” I said. “I didn’t know there’d be anyone else here with you.”

  Melody shook her head. “They were waiting for us.”

  “They made us feel as if we’ve been really mean,” Jackson said with a sniff. “Did you know Miss Scritch looked after her ancient mother for years and years and years, and couldn’t take the final Fairy Godmother exam? THAT’S why she’s Miss Scritch and not Fairy Angelica.”

  “Oh,” I said. I’d never even thought to wonder about Miss Scritch’s name.

  Melody pushed back her hair. “So we’re going to tell her that we’re sorry. And we are, aren’t we, Jackson?”

  “Yes,” Jackson said. “We are.”

  “Perhaps you’d better come back,” I suggested. “We’re about to do the Spin.”

  “Really? We haven’t missed it?” Melody brightened. “What about learning the Forgetting Spell?”

  I shook my head. “Sorry. Actually, we’ve just done that.”

  Melody shrugged. “Well, at least we haven’t missed everything. Come on, Jackson.”

  She took Jackson’s hand, and they walked past me into the workroom. As I followed after them I heard a cracked old voice behind me ask, “Do you believe them, Fairy Roseberry? Are they genuinely sorry?”

  And an even older voice answered, “They think they are, Tottie dear. But we’ll see what we see.”

  Back in the workroom, Jackson went straight to Miss Scritch. “I want to apologise,” she said.

  “We both do,” Melody added. “And we don’t want to leave the Academy— ” her voice suddenly wobbled— “because we do want to be Stargirls.” She glanced at Fairy Mary McBee. “If you’ll let us have another chance, that is.”

  Fairy Mary picked up the Golden Wand from the table. “What do you think, Miss Scritch?”

  Miss Scritch hesitated, and looked at the professor. He was staring upwards as if there was something very interesting about the bunches of herbs that were hanging from the ceiling. Miss Scritch coughed, but he still took no notice. “Hm,” she said at last. “I think you both have ability. Real ability. So I accept your apology.”

  “Such generosity!” Fairy Fifibelle Lee floated across the room, but Miss Scritch sidestepped her neatly and avoided the oncoming hug.

  The professor smiled. “A right decision indeed, I think.”

  Miss Scritch’s cheeks went pink. “I do hope so.”

  “Then that’s settled.” Fairy Mary sounded relieved. “Take your places, Melody and Jackson, and we’ll begin.”

  Chapter Six

  I absolutely LOVE the Spin. It’s so very magical, and it sends little shivers up and down my spine. The room goes dark and mysterious when Fairy Mary McBee begins, and none of us knows how it happens … but you can feel the magic in the air.

  This time it grew even darker than usual, and the Golden Wand glowed incredibly brightly as it spun round and round and round. It made a low humming sound that got right inside my head and made me feel as if I was humming too.

  “Spin, spin, spin,” Fairy Mary sang softly. “Who will choose? Who will it be? Whose destiny will change today? Spin, wand, spin…”

  We watched and watched, and still the wand went on spinning. Just as I thought it was going to go on for ever, the humming grew fainter, and then, with a sudden jerk, the wand stopped dead.

  Who was it pointing at?

  Me!

  The daylight came back into the room as if someone had clicked a switch.

  We rubbed our eyes, and Lily patted me on the back. “It’s your turn, Emma! Who do you want to help?”

  I didn’t know what to say. It may sound silly, but I’d never expected to be chosen. When the wand pointed at Madison and Ava and Jackson, they knew at once who they wanted to help, but I didn’t have a clue. “Erm…” I said. “I’m not sure…”

  Melody frowned at me. “Come on, Emma. You must be able to think of someone.” Jackson elbowed her, and Melody changed her frown into a smile. “I mean, you must know somebody who’s in trouble?”

  The only person I could think of was Mr Appleby, and I wasn’t sure he exactly needed help; it was more the people around him who needed help to get away from him! “Erm…” I said again. “There’s a man who lives next door who talks a lot.”

  Jackson gave me one of her despising stares and began to say something, but then she saw Fairy Mary looking at her, and she hastily changed it to a question. “What does he talk about?”

  “He’s always complaining about the family next door,” I told her. “I don’t know them – they’ve only just moved in – but he says they’re ever so noisy. He says the two boys play football up and down the stairs and never go out, and the baby cries all night and keeps him awake.”

  Olivia gave me a beaming smile. “It sounds to me as if they’re the ones who need us!”

  Sophie nodded. “Poor little baby.”

  Fairy Fifibelle Lee leant across the table. “May I make a suggestion, darling Emma?” she said. “Why don’t you take the Travelling Tower and find out
a little more about your neighbours? Moving into a new house is always difficult, and the family may well need your help.”

  I thought that sounded like a brilliant idea, and I said so.

  Madison took off her spectacles, and waved them in the air. “Stargirls to the rescue!”

  “That’s settled, then,” Fairy Mary said. “Professor, would you like a cup of coffee in the sitting-room? There’s a spell Miss Scritch and I are considering teaching our girls sometime in the future, and we’d very much value your opinion.”

  The professor gave a little bow. “I would indeed be most honoured!”

  Miss Scritch took his arm. “No, no,” she said. “We are honoured to have you here!” And she marched him away.

  If Fairy Fifibelle Lee felt left out, she didn’t show it. She gathered us round her. “My chickens,” she said. “Have you all got your necklaces on? In case you need to be invisible?” Of course we had. I don’t think any of us ever take them off; they’re much too precious. Fairy Fifibelle clicked her fingers, and a wonderfully shimmery scarf came drifting down from the ceiling. She wrapped it round her head and shoulders, then floated her way to the door. “Sweet girls. Follow me to the Travelling Tower!”

  We followed her through the sitting-room, and saw Miss Scritch sitting next to the professor, waving her hands about as she talked. He was smiling politely, but Fairy Mary was dozing. I had a quick look up at the portraits of the old Fairy Godmothers, and most of them were asleep as well.

  “It can’t be a very interesting spell,” Madison whispered, and I had to try hard not to laugh.

  Chapter Seven

  “Why is Fairy Fifibelle showing us the way?” Jackson wanted to know as we left the sitting-room and walked into the corridor on the other side. “We’ve done this loads of times.”