Really only a sort of filler chapter…
Chapter 3
It was Sunday, and as customary, the Family were eating dinner together around the table. Michael was going on about something or the other, and Bernard was still muttering about stocks and shares, both of which annoyed Cat rather.
"When I am the next Chrestomanci" he said loudly. "I shall forbid everyone from talking about their work at the table. Ever."
Chrestomanci seemed to find this incredibly amusing. "Is that so, Cat?"
"Yes, it is." Cat decided firmly.
Julia grinned. "You'll never get Bernard to stop with stocks and shares, Cat."
"Ah, but he might when he's taken over the post." Conrad supplied. "Chrestomanci is a rather powerful magician."
Chrestomanci and Cat both looked incredibly irritated by this. "Piffle! Magicians? How dare you!"
The others all burst into laughter. Even Bernard.
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"Tell me about your photographs." Cat asked Conrad later that day. "However did you get a picture of that place?"
Conrad replied "It's my magic. I can take pictures of other probabilities, and-"
"Probabilities?" Janet interrupted. (Yes, they were still following Cat around)
Conrad explained.
"But isn't that what makes other worlds?" Janet enquired.
"Not minor changes." Conrad replied.
"Oh."
"So I was in another…another probability?" Cat asked, confused.
"It appears so." Conrad agreed. "Christopher doesn't really get it either." he added, in way of comfort. "But don't tell him that."
"Dad doesn't get it?" Rodger asked gleefully.
"Don't you dare, Rodger." Conrad warned his godson.
"Oh, alright." Rodger replied. None of them really believed him.
"Anyway, you four best be getting to bed. Millie will kill me if you're late for classes tomorrow." Conrad said. "And I must be getting-"
"Back to Dad?" Rodger suggested, and the four children cracked up laughing and headed to their individual bedrooms.
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Lessons the next day were boring as ever. All four children were in Michael Saunders' room."
"Tell me how you say 'The enchanter is very powerful', Janet." Michael asked.
"L'enchanteur aime le fromage" Janet tried. She wasn't good at French.
"Yes, I am rather partial to cheese." Chrestomanci agreed, entering the room. Julia and Cat stifled giggles, but Rodger tried his best to keep a straight face.
"Is it time for Cat's lesson already?" Michael looked up in surprise.
"No, but I have come to ask him something. Is it inconvienent?"
"Not at all." Michael said, and Cat got up. Julia half stood to follow, but Michael told her to sit back down and get on with her French.
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"Cat, I really must urge you to tell me a bit more about this man you thought was your father." Chrestomanci sounded rather urgent, and Cat was quite startled.
"Um…he was an older man…" Cat replied. "Quite old, about as old as my grandfather on my father's side. Of course, that didn't bother me at the time, but…"
"As old as my Uncle Conrad?" Chrestomanci frowned. This was obviously not good news.
"Well, around that age, yes." Cat agreed.
Chrestomanci sighed. "Thank you Cat. Oh, and I must be away, so no magic lessons today. You may sit in with Julia and Rodger, or go with Janet. Vous pouvez retourner à la classe maintenant."
Cat nodded, evidently confused. He did as he was bid, and went back into class.
"What was that all about?" Rodger muttered as he sat down. He had obviously been listening through the wall using magic.
"Je n'ai aucune idée" Cat replied.
"L'enchanteur aime le fromage" "The enchanter likes cheese"
"Vous pouvez retourner à la classe maintenant" "You may go back to class now"
"Je n'ai aucune idée" "I have no idea"