Lottie Luna and the Bloom Garden Read online

  Her thoughts were interrupted by Aggie, who was looking at the trees and frowning. ‘Those are horrible,’ she said. ‘They’re so ugly! If I win, I’ll have them cut down. They won’t be in MY garden!’

  ‘Squeak!’ Jaws had landed on Lottie’s shoulder and was waving a wing. Lottie turned to look where he was pointing, and saw a teacher leading a group of tiny werewolf cubs out from the school. Each of them was carrying a piece of paper and a crayon, but the littlest one was skipping in circles, and not looking where he was going. ‘Be careful!’ the teacher warned. ‘Stay near me. Don’t go too near the lake!’ But just as she turned back round again, the smallest cub dropped his piece of paper. The wind caught it and blew it towards the shining water, and the little cub dashed after it. He slipped – he was in the water and sinking fast.

  ‘Help!’ he screamed. ‘Help! I can’t swim!’

  Lottie began to run. She ran like the wind, forgetting about everything except saving the tiny cub. As she came close to where he had disappeared, she dived into the water – a long, smooth dive without a single splash.

  There was no sign of the cub now, except for a few bubbles. Down Lottie swam, down and down. Where was he? All she could see was water weed. She looked again… and there he was!

  She grabbed him and headed for the surface. The next moment, she was swimming back towards the side of the lake, the whimpering cub in her arms. She climbed out, dripping wet, and gave him a hug. ‘Don’t cry any more,’ she said comfortingly. ‘You’re safe now.’

  As she put him on the ground, she was astonished to hear applause: her classmates, Mrs Wilkolak, and the tiny cubs and their teacher were all clapping. ‘Hurrah for Lottie!’ Wilf shouted, and there was a loud cheer.

  Lottie blushed and shook her head. ‘It was nothing,’ she said.

  ‘Well done, Lottie!’ Mrs Wilkolak smiled warmly at her. ‘You’re an amazingly fast swimmer! It was quick thinking too. Now hurry inside and get dry. And our head teacher will certainly want to thank you when I tell her what you did today – although I suspect she’ll have seen what happened through her window. She sees most things.’

  ‘Oh!’ Lottie looked anxious. ‘Will she be cross with me?’

  ‘Of course not!’ Mrs Wilkolak said. ‘Now, Wilf and Marjory – could you take Lottie to the home room? There are towels there, and some spare clothes. Hopefully there’ll be something to fit you. We keep clothes mainly for the little ones… they’re always getting themselves covered in paint and mess.’

  As Wilf, Marjory and Lottie walked away, Lottie heard Aggie mutter, ‘What a show-off. Did you see her, Bruno? Diving straight in without asking anyone first.’

  Lottie couldn’t hear Bruno’s answer, but she was sure he was agreeing with Aggie, and she sighed. Sometimes having extra-special hearing was a problem: you heard things you weren’t meant to hear.

  Wilf saw her expression. ‘Cheer up,’ he said. ‘You’re a hero, Lottie Luna! I’m really glad you’ve come to Shadow Academy!’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  LOTTIE could feel butterflies in her stomach as she walked down the corridor to the head teacher’s office. She was wearing the strangest collection of clothes and didn’t feel at all comfortable. Aggie, who was supposed to be showing her the way, had sneered at her too-tight jumper and too-large trousers before pointing at a staircase. ‘Up there, then straight on. You can’t miss it. Not unless you’re really stupid, of course.’

  Lottie was sure she could miss it, but didn’t say anything in case Aggie made another unpleasant remark. She headed up the stairs and looked carefully at each door on the corridor until Jaws, who was circling above her, pointed with a claw.

  ‘Up at the end?’ Lottie asked him. ‘Thank you, Jaws.’

  The end door had a small brass plaque on it: ‘Madam Grubeloff. Knock and wait!’

  ‘Be brave, Lottie Luna!’ Lottie told herself, and she knocked as firmly as she could.

  ‘Come!’ The voice was brisk, and Lottie could feel Jaws trembling on her shoulder as she walked in… and gasped.

  Madam Grubeloff’s office was not at all how Lottie had imagined it would be. It was light and airy, and the walls were covered with drawings done by her pupils. A huge window looked out on the lake and overgrown wasteland, and plants tumbled happily over the window ledge. Books were piled untidily against the walls, and a comfortable sofa was covered with heaps of cushions and soft woolly throws.

  Madam Grubeloff herself was quite young, with pale grey fur and big brown eyes. She jumped up from her desk, ran towards Lottie and shook her hand so enthusiastically that it made Lottie smile. ‘So you’re our heroine! Well, Lottie Luna – I can’t tell you how delighted I am that you’ve joined us here at Shadow Academy! You saved little Bernie – such a naughty little cub! He has seven much older brothers and I’m afraid he’s just a little bit spoiled. I’m so very, very grateful to you.’

  Lottie blushed and a warm glow spread up from her toes. ‘Thank you!’ she said, and then something caught her eye. Madam Grubeloff was wearing a moonstone necklace… a necklace very like her own. Lottie’s heart skipped a beat; Jaws quivered. ‘Please, Madam Grubeloff… may I show you something?’ And she pulled out her own necklace.

  ‘You were born when there was a full moon and a lunar eclipse,’ said Madam Grubeloff. She sounded as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world. ‘As soon as I saw you running, I knew.’ She suddenly looked serious. ‘Your powers are a gift, Lottie – they make you special. But they will bring great responsibility, and may sometimes be a problem too.’

  Lottie sighed. ‘I just want to be plain Lottie Luna, not someone special.’

  The head teacher looked at her thoughtfully. ‘I see. And am I right in thinking you don’t want your friends to know that you live in Dracon Castle, or that your father’s a king?’

  Lottie blushed again. ‘People make such an awful fuss about kings and queens and princesses and stuff like that,’ she said. ‘I’d much rather be ordinary.’ She leaned forward. ‘Can I ask you a question, Madam Grubeloff – about the powers? Sometimes I hear things I’m not meant to hear… What should I do when that happens?’

  Madam Grubeloff threw back her head and roared with laughter. ‘Oh, Lottie! You and I will have to have a little secret! Everybody wonders how I know the things I know… but I’m like you – I can hear pupils and teachers talking from the other end of the corridor. Sometimes I can even hear what’s going on inside a classroom when the door is closed!’ Madam Grubeloff stopped laughing. ‘But we, with our special powers, must always respect people’s privacy. The only time we should make an exception is if we hear something that might endanger others. It’ll be up to you to decide what you should hear – and what you shouldn’t.’

  Lottie nodded. ‘I’ll try my best.’

  ‘Good! Now, hurry back to class, and please give this note to Mrs Wilkolak. I want to have this evening’s Howl a little earlier than usual.’ The head teacher suddenly looked questioningly at Lottie. ‘Did you have an Evening Howl at your last school?’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Lottie nodded. ‘We always all got together at the end of the day to sing at moonrise, unless it was summertime.’

  ‘It’s just the same here,’ Madam Grubeloff told her, and she handed Lottie a piece of paper and patted her arm. ‘Thank you again, Lottie Luna.’

  As Lottie made her way back down the long corridor, she gave a little skip of happiness. ‘Hey, Jaws, I didn’t need to worry! I’m going to love being here! I’ve already got two new friends, and Madam Grubeloff is AMAZING! And I’m sure Awful Aggie and Bruno will be okay too. After all, what can they do?’ And Lottie gave another little skip.

  Jaws didn’t answer. He was pleased to see Lottie so happy and her moonstone necklace glowing pure white, but he had his own opinions about Aggie and Bruno.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  MRS Wilkolak nodded when she read the head teacher’s note. ‘Evening Howl will be early tonight,’ she announced. ‘Madam Grubeloff is going to announce the winner of the garden competition.’

  Aggie sat up, looking very pleased with herself. ‘That’ll be me!’ She gave Lottie a superior smile. ‘I win everything, you see. My father says I’m very, very special.’

  Wilf growled something under his breath, but Aggie just stuck her nose in the air. ‘Some people are just SO jealous!’ she said. ‘I can’t help being clever. It just comes naturally.’

  The rest of the day went very quickly. Lottie found, much to her relief, that she could remember the names of most of the stars in the astronomy lesson, and after astronomy they had moon studies.

  ‘I’ve written a WONDERFUL poem about the moon,’ Aggie announced, and she read it out. Lottie was surprised to find it was very good, and she joined in the clapping at the end with enthusiasm.

  ‘That was excellent, Aggie,’ Mrs Wilkolak said, and Aggie bowed, pink with pleasure.

  She does love being best, Lottie thought to herself.

  The last bell went soon after. There was just enough time to tidy the classroom and get ready for the Evening Howl. Lottie was sent to change back into her own clothes, which were now dry. When she got back, she found to her disappointment that the class had already started leaving the classroom. Wilf and Marjory were nowhere to be seen, so she had to follow behind Aggie and Bruno.

  Quickly, they walked down corridor after corridor and into the Great Hall. Lottie gasped. She had never seen anything quite like it. The ceiling was painted with swirling clouds and silver stars, with walls of midnight blue. There were no windows, and the hall was lit entirely by tiny sparkly lights. Soft music was playing, and Lottie was sure she could hear the distant sound of owls hooting. ‘It’s beautiful!’ she breathed.

  Aggie sounded almost friendly as she said, ‘It is, isn’t it?’ Then she gave a self-conscious little cough. ‘Actually, my grandfather built it.’

  ‘Wow! He was really, really clever!’ Lottie was so obviously impressed that Aggie smiled at her.

  ‘My dad’s a builder too,’ she said. ‘And so is Bruno’s dad.’

  ‘No he’s not!’ Bruno was scowling. ‘He’s a teacher!’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Aggie was flustered. ‘I forgot. He’s a teacher now, but he used to be a builder.’

  Lottie wasn’t sure what to say in answer, but at that moment Madam Grubeloff sailed on to the stage, and everyone was silent. She was wearing a long black cloak trimmed with silver, which made her look much grander than she did when Lottie met her earlier. The music stopped, and she looked around. ‘Good evening, everyone.’

  There was an answering chorus of, ‘Good evening, Madam Grubeloff.’

  ‘Before we have our Howl,’ the head teacher said, ‘I have an important announcement to make.’

  At once there was a rustling and whispering, and Madam Grubeloff held up her hand for silence. ‘As you know, you were all asked to design a garden for the wasteland behind the school. The owner has said that she will let us have it if we can make it truly beautiful, and you have all been working hard to create a very special place where we can feel peaceful and at ease, walking among flowers, looking at the water—’

  ‘I did fall splosh in the water, though!’ a squeaky voice interrupted.

  ‘Thank you, Bernie. So you did.’ Madam Grubeloff smiled at the tiny cub. ‘And before my announcement, I’d like to thank one of our pupils, a pupil who not only joined us today, but did a very brave thing too.’ Lottie felt herself begin to blush and she stared hard at her feet. ‘She saved little Bernie from drowning,’ Madam Grubeloff went on. ‘Thank you, Lottie. Not only that, but she has also designed a delightful garden. It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that our competition winner is… Lottie Luna! Lottie, would you please come and collect your certificate of honour?’

  Wilf and Marjory led the applause as Lottie made her way up on to the stage. Only two people didn’t join in – Aggie, who stood open-mouthed, and Bruno.

  As Lottie took the certificate, Madam Grubeloff smiled at her. ‘Well done, Lottie!’

  Lottie smiled back. ‘Thank you most enormously,’ she said. ‘And could we…’ She hesitated, in case she was about to ask too much, but Madam Grubeloff looked at her encouragingly.

  ‘Yes? What is it, Lottie?’

  ‘Could we possibly call it the Bloom Garden? I’ve chosen flowers that look extra beautiful in the moonlight… Would that be all right?’

  ‘Oh, yes!’ The head teacher clapped her hands. ‘That would be PERFECT. It would make our full-moon parties and ceremonies extra special. I love that idea!’

  It seemed that everyone else loved the idea as well. The applause grew even louder as Lottie made her way down from the stage, but as she passed Bruno he sneered at her. ‘You only won because you can swim,’ he hissed. ‘Your garden’s rubbish! Aggie’s was much better.’

  Lottie was saved from replying by the sound of an owl hooting three times, and the hall fell silent.

  ‘The time has come to join together,’ Madam Grubeloff said. ‘Everyone – take your neighbour’s hand.’

  Aggie didn’t look at all happy as she held out her hand to Lottie, but Lottie gave her a friendly grin. ‘What happens now?’ she whispered.

  ‘Look up,’ Aggie said, and Lottie glanced up at the beautifully painted ceiling. Slowly, very slowly, a silver moon floated out from behind the swirling clouds. Lottie held her breath as it shone brighter and brighter, almost as if it was real.

  WOW! she thought, when at that moment Madam Grubeloff began the Howl. It started very low, gradually building to a wonderful harmony as all the teachers and pupils joined her. Lottie could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prickling as the noise grew louder and louder. At her last school, the Howl had been nothing special, but now she felt as if she was swept up into something so grand and magnificent that her heart swelled with pride.

  I’m so very glad we moved, she told herself as the Howl gradually died away and Aggie let go of her hand. Goodness! I’ve SUCH a lot to tell Ma and Pa!

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE next day, Lottie woke up early and, much to her mother’s surprise, bounced down to breakfast before King Lupo had even started on his boiled egg.

  ‘Lottie!’ Queen Mila said. ‘What’s happened to you?’

  ‘I can’t wait to go to school!’ Lottie told her. ‘I want to meet up with my new friends so we can make a start on my Bloom Garden. I had such a lovely day yesterday!’

  ‘I hope they treated you with the right and proper respect, Lottie. Remember, you’re a princess now!’ King Lupo sliced the top off his egg. ‘Oh, it’s runny! I do hate runny eggs.’

  Lottie shook her head at him. ‘Don’t go on and on about that princess stuff, Pa. I’m fine.’ And she grabbed a piece of toast and headed for the door. Jaws, who was dozing on the curtain rail, woke with a jump and flapped after her.

  As soon as she reached Shadow Academy, Lottie ran round to the wasteland. She was delighted to see that there were already signs of action. There was a large board pinned on the fence with a rota on it, and two young werewolf pupils were already pulling up thistles and weeds. An older werewolf in a suit was standing watching, but when Lottie wished him a cheerful ‘Good morning!’ he frowned at her.

  ‘And what exactly do you think you’re doing here?’

  Lottie stared at him in surprise. She had seen him before, at the Evening Howl, and had wondered who he was. He’d been looking cross then, as if he wasn’t enjoying it.

  ‘Excuse me,’ she said politely. ‘I’m Lottie Luna… I designed the garden. I’ve come to help.’

  ‘And I’m Mr Gnawbone, the deputy head of Shadow Academy. I’d have thought a clever little werewolf like you would have known that. Aren’t you supposed to be the best at everything, Lottie Luna?’

  As the older werewolf sneered at her, Lottie noticed that he had the same strange green eyes as his son, Bruno. He was still sneering as he added, ‘It’s no good trying your goody-goody tricks on me. You should be in school, not wandering about where people are trying to work. Your name isn’t on the rota until later. Don’t let me see you here again unless you’re with your teacher.’

  ‘But… but…’ Lottie wanted to remind him that it was her garden design that had been chosen for the wasteland, but she didn’t want to sound rude. Jaws, hovering above her, saw her moonstone necklace turn dull, and knew she was upset. Flying down, he settled on her shoulder to comfort her.

  ‘Do you understand?’ Mr Gnawbone growled. His eyes were very cold.

  ‘Yes, Mr Gnawbone,’ Lottie said, and she hurried back inside the school.

  As she walked down the corridor to her classroom, with the little bat still on her shoulder, she wondered why Bruno’s father had been so mean to her. Maybe Bruno told him that I nearly got him into trouble for eating mints, she thought.

  ‘Hi, Lottie!’ It was Marjory. ‘Have you been to look at the garden?’

  ‘Yes, but Bruno’s father told me off for being there on my own,’ Lottie said, and Marjory pulled a face.

  ‘He’s horribly strict. He’s new, so we’re all hoping he won’t last here for long. No one likes him – he’s not a bit like the other teachers.’

  Lottie didn’t like Mr Gnawbone either, but she decided not to let that spoil her day. ‘What lessons have we got today?’ she asked.

  Marjory looked vague. ‘Night shadows, I think… sort of mixed up with working out distances. We’re doing a study on night running and how long it takes to get to different places. Hey! You can run really fast, can’t you? We saw you yesterday. You were mega-speedy.’

  ‘Only because Bernie was in trouble,’ Lottie said.

  Marjory gave her a sideways look. ‘I don’t want to pry, but is there something special about you, Lottie? You can run like the wind, and I’ve never seen anyone swim as fast as you did.’