AN: Hello readers. So... you're reading my story? Huh. That feels weird. This is my first fanfic, ever, after all. I made it way back in 2018, but only decided to publish it here now lol. So, I'm sorry if it's bad or there are false spellings, or - God forbid - it's cringe. Haha, joking. Enjoy!

-MZA


Chapter 1: The Story of Norman Babcock

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It was a normal day in Blithe Hollow. Sun was shining bright, birds were chirping. Just a good day that couldn't be more normal. Even for the 12 year old Norman Babcock. Sure, it was different from how it was a year ago. Since he saved the town from the evil witch's curse, it was very much different for him.

People no longer called him a freak. People no longer bullied him for his "weirdness". And he became the talk of the town for a while. Of course he didn't hate it, but he couldn't say it was his dream. He'd rather be left alone, as long as people don't bother him. Now that people are used to his special ability, it can't get better for him... Or can it?

"Hey Norman! Wanna play some hockey?" greets his friend Neil on the way home from school.

"No thanks Neil, I gotta go somewhere else." replied Norman.

"Are you going to her tree again?"

"Yeah, you know, the usual stuff."

"You miss her don't you?" asked Neil. "You know she won't come back."

"I know, I just feel like, I have to do it."

"Alright then, maybe tomorrow?"

"Sure" said Norman, ending the conversation.

Neil was right, Norman continues his walk, straight to the tree he has visited every month since the last year. The tree where exactly a year ago he calmed down the angry spirit of a little girl, who was the so called "Blithe Hollow Witch". Not many people know, that the witch was not a witch at all. It was just a little girl, not older than Norman himself, who had the same powers as Norman. Unfortunately for her, the people of her time was not so tolerable about her powers, not saying that people at Norman's time can tolerate much. But the people of Norman's time didn't kill him for it, which is exactly what the people at her time did to her. Her soul was left suffering for 300 years, until finally Norman ended it last year, sending her soul to the afterlife, letting her to move on.

But Neil was also right about one other thing. Although Norman ignored it at first, he starts to miss her after a while. And the feeling grew bigger and bigger, now he keeps thinking about Agatha Prenderghast. Her black Puritan dress and her white skin, so smooth on touch, couldn't get out of his mind. So much in fact that it starts affecting his grades, which is the main reason he tries to stop thinking about her, although little did it succeed.

And now he does this thing where he visits her grave, her tree, every month. At first he did it just to honour her death. But then he starts to do it as a must. He felt like if he didn't do it he's making a big mistake. But he realised that doing this was making him think of her even more. He stopped doing it for a month, but that just made it even worse. So he thinks he better just do it. After all, it doesn't hurt.


Norman's thoughts ended when, without even realising where he was going, he arrived at Aggie's tree. It was the same tree as it was a year ago, except this time it is much more flourishing. It was not the old, brown, dry woods the way it was, it's now a beautiful lush garden with green grass and flowers everywhere. And the tree itself, Norman had never seen it any better before. Its trunk was dark brown and strong, its branches were filled with leaves everywhere, green and lush, giving it a great shade, and a good place to sleep.

"Hello Aggie, how are you?" greets Norman, the same usual way he always does it. "I brought you more flowers, I hope you like them." Norman stops a for a moment, thinking about what he should say, even though he knows very well what he is supposed to say. "I also brought this book I found at the library. I think you'll like them, it's about witches and wizards, the good ones." He stops again, silence engulfing him and the forest around him.

And before he could hold it, he spat out the words out of his mouth. "You know Aggie, I miss you a lot. Like, a lot. And I don't know why. I just wish, that you were here." He stops again, thinking about what he just said. Urgh, gosh, what am I doing. He then starts reading the book, even though only a part of his mind was there.

And after a couple hours of him reading a book for a girl that he doesn't even know if she is there or not, he ended the meeting. "It's getting late Aggie, I should go home now." He touches Agatha's tree, whispering "sleep tight" to it, and went home.

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So... first chapter. Took me a while to figure out how to work this per-chapter publishing system. I hope you liked it, and I'll see you on the next one.