Chapter Two…written way earlier in the morning than should be allowed…anyways, enjoy…

I want three (3) reviews before Chapter 3.

Chapter two

"That was rather brave of you two." Rodger said as they walked to the playroom. "Standing up to Dad like that, I mean."

"Yes, well, we did what we had to." Janet replied. "Cat, did you say that they were using his signature?"

Cat nodded, concealing a smirk at her quite obvious change of attention. "Yes."

"Yet Chre-Christopher said that he'd taught you how to protect you're signature, so his own should be protected too, right?"

"Right." Cat agreed. "With the seal of a nine lived enchanter. The only thing is-"

"Cat is a nine lived enchanter too." Julia finished. "Whatever do you think they were trying to do, besides convince Cat that daddy was an evil enchanter?"

"I wish I could remember." Cat replied ruefully.

"Well, let's go then." Rodger said.

"Go?"

"Dad and Conrad will be going somewhere, won't they? Well, we might as well follow."

Cat sighed. "Fine. But I'll cast the protection spells. And the invisibility too."

"Yes sir, oh great Chrestomanci to be." Rodger performed a mock bow.

"And we'll have to stand rather close." Cat added. "Holding hands, preferably. Not all of us together, in pairs. It'll be easier for me."

And with that, Julia and Cat immediately gripped hands. Janet gave Cat a death glare, to which he replied with an innocent smile. Rodger took Janet's hand awkwardly, and nether of the two looked at each other. Cat and Julia could barely keep in their grins as they turned invisible.

-----

The witch at the entrance of the alley looked stunned as the rather plain looking man entered. It was not, of course, Conrad that surprised her. It was his companion.

"'E's flippin' alive…" Conrad heard her mutter.

"What was that?" Chrestomanci asked cheerfully.

"Nuffin, sir. Just an ol' gal muttering to'erself. Now, what can I do fir yeh?" the witch asked, hands shaking slightly.

"Nothing terrifying, I assure you. My associate here just wants to take a few photographs of your charming little street."

"Photographs?" Julia hissed, invisible, from behind them

"There is no need to whisper, you know. I have cast a rather strong spell of silence." Cat sounded rather smug. "But I have about as much idea as you as to why he would need to take pictures."

"I'll whisper, if it's all the same to you." Julia replied.

Meanwhile, Conrad was, as mentioned, taking a few photographs of the alleyway. "That's all." he said. "Thank you very much."

The witch nodded, looking rather terrified.

Chrestomanci and Conrad began to walk away.

"Oh, and Cat, getting too cocky tends to limit your magic, especially if you have the unfortunate tendency to brag." Chrestomanci called backwards, and then glanced at the spot on the ground, moving his hand around a little. The witch looked even more terrified when four rather guilty looking children appeared out of nowhere.

"I was not cocky." Cat said defensively, while the other children giggled nervously and Conrad laughed outright.

"Take it from someone who knows." Chrestomanci replied, smiling at him.

Oh good, they weren't in trouble.

The witch looked ready to faint when Cat spoke. She turned and walked away.

"That evil old cow." Janet muttered.

Chrestomanci turned to face her, a politely bewildered expression on his face.

"I…err…I'll explain on the way back to the Castle, shall I?" Janet asked nervously. "And we…we won't get punished for being here, will we?"

"You aren't in trouble this time." Chrestomanci said, much to the relief of all four. "However, I'd like you all to remember the meaning of the word 'forbidden' please. It is rather irritating to make rules only to have them broken repeatedly."

"Sorry, Daddy." Julia muttered, all sweet like.

"Now, Janet, what were you saying about that charming old woman?" Conrad asked about ten minutes later as Chrestomanci zoned off into another world (no, not literally) while they walked up to the Castle. Janet explained her two rather unpleasant meetings with the witch in the past, and Conrad nodded.

"Alright." he said as they neared the Castle. "Now, neither Christopher nor I can see much point in sending you to the playroom, as you'll probably attempt following us again."

"We will, however, suggest it strongly." Chrestomanci said pleasantly.

"One thing first. What did you say that first day you were here?" Cat demanded of Conrad.

Conrad looked at Chrestomanci, who gave him a bored and vague look which he took to mean 'Oh, go on then'

"I told Christopher that there was something going on in my world concerning children." Conrad replied frankly. "Did you see any other children while you were in Seven, Eric?"

Cat shook his head.

"Alright. You can go now."

-----

Later, the four children were playing Mirrors and dreading the next day when lessons would restart when Conrad came in followed by Chrestomanci.

"You know, you two really should spend some time apart." Rodger teased. "Mum'll be getting jealous."

Chrestomanci gave him a look, but he looked ready to laugh.

Conrad, the ever so subtle, was already laughing.

"What is it, Daddy?" Julia asked demurely as Cat and Janet both wrestled with the flying mirrors behind the adult's back.

"We need to show something to Cat." Conrad answered, and behind him, Janet sat on both mirrors and gave Cat a look, the look that says "Some nine lived enchanter you turned out to be!" which she gave him frequently when his magic didn't work out, which was rather odd for someone who didn't use magic at all.

Cat stuck out his tongue in a rather immature fashion before walking in front of the adults. "What?" he asked.

Conrad held out a photograph, and Julia and Rodger came in closer to see, while Janet tried her best to look over Chrestomanci's shoulder (It was ridiculous – no one had the right to be so tall and handsome) to where Conrad was holding out the picture.

"It's the alley!" Julia said. "But what's that in the background?"

"It's the alley." Cat said in an odd voice.

Chrestomanci and Christopher exchanged a look.

"Thank you, Cat, that's all we needed to know." Chrestomanci said, and with that the two older ones left.

The young Chants looked at each other. They pondered this strange thing for a while, until Mary brought lunch, and they ate a lot and made themselves dizzy, and not a little sick, by playing air-skating with the mirrors, and the photograph sufficiently vanished from their minds.

Three reviews aren't too many. Besides, I'm pretty sure my good sta…friend Flavius will supply the first two. I already have one. Okay, I'll stop rambling now. Review…