Menniker jumped awake as Menthor barged in wielding a rifle "Who's there? I'm warning you. I'm armed!". The door was hit with such force that it swung off its hinges and fell to the floor with a deafening crash. A massive purple cat squeezed through the door and stared at the group. He took a tired breath "Sorry about that" he said casually before lifting the door and putting it back in it's place. He then went over to the couch where Menniker was still frozen in fear "Budge up, ya great lump". Menniker ran and hid behind Cynthia who in turn was hiding behind Menthor. Silver stared up at the large cat and saw that he was smiling "Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby". Big used his hands to cover the view of Silver's fur so he could only see his face "Yeh, look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes". Menthor made a noise that sounded like an attempt to be authoritative "I'm warning you, sir, you're breaking an entering. I demand you leave at once" "Ah, shut up, yeah great prine!". The Cat reached over the couch, yanked the rifle out of Menthor's hand and with ease tied it in a knot. Menthor made another noise that sounded like a dying mouse. The Cat turned his attention back to Silver "Anyways, a very happy birthday, to yeh. Got summat fer yeh here, I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all right". He handed Silver a squashed box. Silver, still trembling, opened the box revealing a large chocolate cake with Happy Birthday written on it with icing. Silver was about to say thank you but so many questions were buzzing in his head that he accidently said "Who are you?".

The Cat chuckled "True, I haven't introduced meself. Big the Cat, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Soleanna". He held out his hand and shook Silver's entire arm. He then looked back at Menthor "You got any tea? Something stronger, maybe?". When they didn't answer Big rolled his eyes and went over to the fire. In just a few seconds he got it going. Silver felt the warmth wash over him like he had just gotten onto a bath. Big then took out a kettle, a pan, some sausages, few cracked mugs and a bottle of some amber liquid which he took a swig of. The house was quickly filled with the smell of sizzling sausages but nobody said anything. Once Big put about six sausages onto a place Menniker made a quick motion that made Menthor grab him "Don't touch anything he gives, Menniker" "Weren't for him anyway, don't worry" Big said handing them to Silver. He was so hungry that he scoffed it down but still didn't take his eyes off the cat "I'm sorry but I still don't know who you are" "Just call me Big. An' like I told yeh, I'm Keeper of Keys at Soleanna. Yeh'll know all about Soleanna, o' course" "Er… No". Big was shocked which made Silver think he offended him "Sorry" "Sorry?". He glared at the others making them cower further into the corner "It's them who should be sorry! I knew yeh weren't gettin' yer letters but I never thought yeh wouldn't even know abou' Soleanna, fer cryin' out loud! Did yeh never wonder where yer parents learnt it all?" "All what?".

Big was stunned and stomped over to Menthor "Do you mean ter tell me that this boy… this boy… knows nothin' abou'… about ANYTHING?". Silver thought this was going a but far. He had been to school and got fine marks "I know some things. I can do maths and stuff". Big waved his hands dismissively "I meant our world. Your world. Yer parents world". Big looked like was ready to tear Menthor in half "Does he not know about his parents. They're famous. He's famous" "Famous?" Silver asked in surprise. Menthor seemed to find some of his courage "Stop. Stop right there, sir! I forbid you to tell him anything!". Braver men would cower and the glare Big gave him "I was there. I seen Locke leave a letter and you kept if from him!" "Kept what from me?" Silver was getting more eager by the minute. Big kneeled down to be face to face with him "You're a wizard, Silver". There was a few seconds of silence before "I'm a what?" "A wizard. An' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a bit. With a mum an' dad like yours, what else would yeh be? An' I reckon it's abou' time yeh read yer letter". Big held out the letter and though he didn't mean to Silver instinctively snatched it out of his hands and quickly opened it.

Mr Silver the Hedgehog

The Floor

Hut on the Rock

The Sea

Soleanna School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Locke the Echidna

(Order of Forelock, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr Silver,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Soleanna School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your Flicky by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Echo the Dolphin

Deputy Headmistress

So many questions were buzzing inside Silver's head so he asked the one that had a word he could recognise "What do they mean await my Flicky?". Big gasped "That reminds me" he then took out a flicky from his pocket. A real live flicky that didn't seem at all panicky from being inside someone's pocket Big wrote something on a piece of paper "Dear Mr Locke, Given Silver his letter. Taking him to buy his things tomorrow. Weather's horrible. Hope you're well. Big". Big gave the flicky the letter who took it in his beak and flew out of the house. Big looked back to Silver as if he just finished a telephone call. Silver realise his mouth was open and quickly closed it. Big was about to speak when Menthor marched over to them "He's not going!" "I'd like ter see a great Muggle like you stop him". Silver didn't understand "Muggle?" "Non magic folk. And these're the worst group of Muggles I ever seen". Menthor wasn't backing down so easily this time "We swore when we took him in we'd put an end to this rubbish". Silver finally got to his feet "You knew? This whole time?". Cynthia who hadn't said anything so far gave a scoff "Knew. Of course we knew. How could you not be, my dratted sister being what she was?".

Big made a move at hearing Silver's mother be insulted but Cynthia didn't seem to notice. She had apparently been holding this in for a while "Oh, she got a letter just like that and disappeared off to that that school and came home every holiday with her pockets full of frog-spawn, turning teacups into rats. I was the only one who saw her for what she was, a freak! But for my mother and father, oh no, it was Tikal this and Tikal that, they were proud of having a witch in the family!". She took a breath and then went right back to it, there was so much resentment and venom in her voice "Then she met that boy at school and they left and got married and had you, and of course I knew you'd be just the same, just as strange, just as… as… abnormal and then, if you please, she went and got herself blown up and we got landed with you!". Silver had gone white "Blown up? You told me they died in a car crash!" "A CAR CRASH!" Big yelled. He was disgusted "A car crash kill Shadow and Tikal? It's an outrage! A scandal! Silver not knowin' his own story when every kid in our world knows his name". His anger turned to worry "Oh, I never expected this. I had no idea, when Locke told me there might be trouble gettin' hold of yeh, how much yeh didn't know" "And he won't learn any more!". Silver jumped completely forgetting that Menthor was standing right there "Now you listen here, boy. I accept there's something strange about you, probably nothing a good beating wouldn't have cured and as for all this about your parents, well, they were weirdos, no denying it, and the world's better off without them in my opinion. Asked for all they got, getting mixed up with these wizarding types. Just what I expected, always knew they'd come to a sticky end-".

At these words Big drew out a yellow umbrella and pointed it at Menthor's chest like it was a sword "I'm warning, Menthor. I'm warning you! One more word…". Menthor back away in cowering silence. Big looked back to Silver with great warmth and respect. Silver however was quite sure Big must have made some kind of mistake. A wizard? Him? How could he possibly be bullied by his Aunt and Uncle if he had magical powers "Big, I think you've made a mistake. I can't be a wizard". Too his surprise Big chuckled "Not a wizard, eh? Never made things happen when you was scared, or angry?". Silver looked into the fire. Now he came to think about it every odd thing that had ever made his Aunt and Uncle furious with him had happened when he had been upset or angry. Chased by Menniker's gang, he had somehow found himself on the roof. Dreading going to school without any quills, he'd managed to make it grow back. And the very last time Menniker had hit him, hadn't he got his revenge, without even realising he was doing it? Hadn't he set a snake on him? Big could tell that Silver was having these thought and he was beaming "See. Silver the Hedgehog, not a wizard? You wait. You'll be right famous at Soleanna" "I told you he's not going" Menthor yelled with a trembling voice. Big growled "If he wants ter go, a great Muggle like you won't stop him. Yer mad. His name's been down ever since he was born. He's off ter the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world. Seven years there and he won't know himself. He'll be with youngsters of his own sort, fer a change, an' he'll be under the greatest Headmaster Soleanna ever had, Locke the-" "I WON'T PAY TO HAVE SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICK!". Silver could tell Menthor had gone too far that time.

Big raised his umbrella and spoke through clenched teeth "NEVER… INSULT… LOCKE… IN… FRONT… OF… ME". He waved his umbrella and pointed it at Menniker. There was a white light and quick sound like a firecracker. Once the light disappeared Menniker's fur had turned blue. Despite no physical harm being done to the boy he as well as his parents started screaming. Menthor pulled Menniker and Cynthia into the next room and shot Big a last terrified look before closing the door. Big put his umbrella away "Shouldn'ta lost me temper. Didn't work anyway. Meant to get rid of his fur not turn it blue". Silver wasn't complaining, the only reason he wasn't on the floor laughing hysterically was that he wanted to keep talking to Big. Big leaned down in front of Silver "Be grateful if yeh didn't mention that ter anyone at Soleanna. I'm, er, not supposed ter do magic, strictly speakin'. I was allowed ter do a bit ter follow yeh an' get yer letters to yeh an' stuff. One o' the reasons I was so keen ter take on the job" "Why aren't you allowed to do magic?". Big's eyes shifted "Oh, well – I was at Soleanna meself but I, er, got expelled, ter tell yeh the truth. In me third year. They destroyed me amulate an' everything. But Locke let me stay on as gamekeeper. Great man, Locke" "Why were you expelled?". Big quickly looked at his watch "It's getting late. Loads to do tomorrow. Gotta get up ter town, get all yer books an' that". Silver wanted to argue but decided against it so went over to the couch. Big took the thick warm blanket Menniker was using and put it over Silver.