Chapter 3- The New Arrival

At Cackles academy the staff had checked their classrooms where to their standard ready for the year ahead. They were currently standing on the green to the front of the castle. Many students had already arrived with a few more yet to arrive. All around them the staff had noticed the students greeting each other. "Well met" was the most used phrase in the last twenty minutes. All the students had their brooms in hand and in their school uniforms.

Hecate had noticed she hadn't seen the transfer student yet all the students she already knew. It was annoying her, yet there was another hour yet for the students to arrive. Pippa would no doubt wait till the last second to transfer her.

Dimity was also looking for Sapphire she knew the girl's parents before that devastating day, they were best friends, it was lucky Pippa found her and took her on, but the worst was yet to come and she had strong feeling about it.

As the next hour went on many more students arrived and the grounds where loud with girl's laughter and hellos and the usual phrase of "well met"

Miss Cackle was also on the green around her staff and she was very nervous and the other staff had noticed, she had been offered a drink to which she had politely declined, a calming solution which she again had declined. The problem was that Pippa had mirrored her and she had explained Sapphire's response and that the girl was livid. Ada knew the girl would be trouble the first few days, however strangely enough she wasn't too bothered about the girl refusing to wear the uniform. She would be sure to end up wearing it whilst not wanting to be the odd one out. The girl's magic could not be managed by even Hecate Hardbroom the very best witch at Cackles academy who also happened to be the deputy headmistress, if the girl couldn't control her magic there would be a catastrophe.

As the remaining hour came to a close the girls were checked off to ensure everyone had arrived safely and luckily as a good start to the term, they all had, everyone was accounted for except for Sapphire. Where is she, was there a problem in getting her here, was pentangles infiltrated already, Ada Cackle wondered to herself slight panic rising.

As Ada was deep in thought, there where butterflies, fireflies and dragonflies of all colours fluttering all over the green, it was a gorgeous sight Hecate thought, though she would never admit it she was deeply impressed. These were made by magic.

Within a few seconds two figures had emerged one was Pippa Pentangle who was very well known for many great reasons, this had the students talking in awe of her. Next to her was a very pretty yet plain girl. Her brown wavey hair was long and cascading just past her bum in a low ponytail, and she has a face that sported many freckles big doe eyes and round shaped face. Unfortunately, the girl was not in her uniform she was in all black, black trainers which were very well tied, black jogging bottoms which had pockets which currently housed her hands a black hoodie and the most impressive scowl on her face which would give Hecate a scowl opponent.

Pippa had walked off with Ada to her office for a deep discussion.

Sapphire was left standing there, she slumped up against the wall her left leg bent and leaning on the wall, and she had thrown her hood over her head which she thanked for being far too big for her smallish head. She clearly wanted to be left alone.

Hecate made straight for Sapphire, how dare a student arrive without her uniform on, how dare a student not-acknowledge anyone. It was rude. As she made her way to her, Hecate noticed all the black. Hiding in the shadows will not hide you from me.

Hecate stood in front of the girl and looked her up and down taking in what she saw, the girl didn't bother to look up she had been warned about Miss Hardbroom whom she was sure was stood in-front of her.

"Sapphire Stone, I presume?" she quipped.

"Yep, that's me" Sapphire answered.

"Where is your uniform, your hair is far too long for you to just put it in a low ponytail, it needs seeing to" Miss Hardbroom stated with importance. This is going to be an interesting year; the child can't even dress herself.

"Ah ye about that, I am not going to be caught dead in that" Sapphire responded with the tone that stated she knew it would annoy this formidable woman, she was making it quite clear this woman was not going to scare her.

Hecate looked at her in such disbelief that a student dare talks to her in that manner.

"I will escort you to your room and you will get changed and sort your hair out before coming down for dinner, do I make myself clear" she stated through gritted teeth.

"Crystal" was the only response she could think of that would slightly annoy this woman further and she was correct, if looks could kill Sapphire would have been incinerated on the spot.

The room she was escorted to, was an ok size a single bed in the middle and a window which had a window seat, there was a desk and a set of draws. The room was hexagonal and luckily there was a smallish staircase which only led to her room.

"Get yourself sorted" Hecate seethed.

In true Sapphire stone style, she indeed did get her hair sorted she took of her hoody and put it back on ensuring her hair was hidden beneath it and she put the purple sash that had been left on her bed for her to wear over her shoulder and tied it around her waist, which she knew was not how it was supposed to be worn. She knew this would anger Miss Hardbroom