Chapter 3

Marcia Overstrand rolled over for the hundredth time that night. She just couldn't sleep; her arguments with Sarah kept coming back in her mind.

There is no way I am letting my son be apprenticed to someone who doesn't even care about him!

She groaned.

You have to admit this Madam Marcia, Septimus doesn't think of you like this mother.

Another groan.

I am not so sure what he thinks of you but I would not be surprised if, to him, you are nothing but a troublesome tutor who cannot seem to leave him alone!

The wizard's moaning was dulled as she stuffed her head in the pillow.

There is no way I am letting my son be apprenticed to someone who doesn't even care about him!

Marcia sat up with a start. Her breathing was shallow and her cheek wet. She inwardly reprimanded herself for her weakness and raised a shaky hand to dry her salty eyes. That last action became pointless when another tear rolled down her pale cheek. Followed by two, then three, then four… The lady threw off her covers: there was one thing that could cheer her up.

NO, she stopped her legs, which were swinging over the side off the bed, firmly. This was not the solution! For twenty years she had been destroyed inside out by the secret hidden in her personal potion cabinet. It was twenty years ago that everything had started—or more exactly ended and it was time to turn the page!

But just one little peek, begged Marcia to her stern side. What harm could it make? Her state couldn't get any worst!

The extraordinary-wizard slipped out of bed and hesitantly walked across the purple carpet until she reached a small door underneath her sink. She rummaged inside for a moment and slowly dragged an ancient plastic box out. It was a lavender colour originally but was bleached white in certain places. Places which had been hugged and sobbed on restlessly, far too many times to count.

Marcia was proud to notice that the lid of the box was hidden under a very fine lining of dust. It had been at least two weeks since she had last opened it. Her addiction was gradually wearing off and with it, so were the memories of her youth; the end of which had been tinted black all because of her ambition and pride. At least she had been getting better until today. Knowing perfectly she would regret it later, Marcia let her craving hand slowly lift the lid up revealing the last recollection of her happy days.

There was a hollow silence as Jenna Heap stared at her adoptive brother in shock.

"What do you mean Mum won't let you be Marcia's apprentice anymore?"

"She thinks I'm unhappy."

"But you're not—are you?"

"No…I'm not."

"Well then say so Sep! You've got to tell Mum!"

"Tell me what?" inquired Sarah, her wavy blond hair tied back in a loose bun.

From where he was standing, next to the door, Beetle had a clear view of his best friend's mother as she entered and he decided that the new hairstyle made her look even more like a busy hen, searching for all her stray chicks.

"Tell me what Septimus?" repeated Sarah, raising her pale eyebrows at her youngest son.

"That I'm very happy with Marcia and want to remain her apprentice."

"Ah yes Septimus. That is what I wanted to talk to you about. And your father too, that is when he arrives. He should be there soon, he was right behind me. I think he's making tea."

"Oh OK." Septimus reflected on how to phrase his argument. It needed to be persuasive and determined but not hurtful and because what he wanted to say concentrated on a very sensitive subject, he resolved to trail carefully.

"Hey Mum. Um…I don't know why you seem to have such a bad opinion of Marcia. I mean I know she's grumpy and stuff but, inside, she is really kind!"

"Well I disagree. Personally I think she's a little too full of herself. She can be quite biting when she wants to!"

"What do you mean? Did she tell you anything?"

"Oh not much. She just happened to mention that she would be a better mother for you than I am," said Sarah, failing miserably to sound indifferent.

Although the young boy would rather die than tell his mother, Marcia's words had been true. She had been the real motherly presence in his life and he was grateful for it.

"Oh really?!" asked Septimus, faking surprise and praying that he wasn't as hopeless at acting as Sarah.

"Do…do you think that's true?" demanded the latter, her voice threateningly low.

"Huh!" jumped the former apprenticed, caught off guard. He hadn't expected to fool his mother very long but he hadn't expected her to get to the point so directly either.

"Well of course Mum! You are my mother and you're really good at it!"

There was an awkward pause as Sarah eyed her son suspiciously, who was busy staring at the cracks in the tiles of the palace living-rooms. Jenna and Beetle, who were now realising that they shouldn't be there, attempted to wedge their way to the door.

The moment—and their escape—was interrupted when Silas Heap walked in to the room, carrying two mugs of tea, one of which he handed to his wife, causing her to finally look away and Septimus to relax.

AN: OK here goes! Sorry for the long update, I was in bed with a cold and a fever. Anyways please reviews and tell me what you think... :)