Chapter 5 – Aiden Spellman
Miss Hardbroom had been very confused as Ada had clearly stated that Sapphire Stone was a Potions major, yet the girl had failed all the potions that required an incantation. Not failed entirely the potions she brews are perfect. better than I could do yet she can't seem to get them to work her incantations are failing yet spoken with correct form.
"Who is Aiden Spellman" Miss Hardbroom had queried at the end of the first week, it had been a rather eventful first week, it was a lovely Saturday afternoon.
"Aiden is the deputy head and one of the potions masters at Pentangles, he is coming to check on Sapphire as Pippa is getting worried, he is one of her guardians. He will also be arriving this evening and staying for a few days, I am not going to lie I have had a good word with him, and he seems to find her first week to have been very entertaining. What was he said, ah yes. True Sapphire style".
That evening a man turned up his dark brown hair to his shoulders, he had a square jaw and chocolate brown eyes which danced in the sunlight. He was rather handsome; he stood tall and dressed in old fashioned dress robes. He was the picture of gentleman with a personality to match. He walked up to one of the students and asked to be taken or pointed in the right direction to miss Cackles office, the girl was unable to get her words out and just pointed, the man stood in front of her was too handsome for words.
Aiden made his way to Miss Cackles office which luckily had her name on the door, he had only gotten lost 4 times and found the kitchen last, and Miss Tapioca the school cook had kindly escorted him to Ada's office.
"Aiden?" Miss Cackle asked kindly.
"Well met, I don't believe we have met?" Aiden answered with a confirmation tone.
"Well met, I don't believe we have, how is Pippa these days".
"Very worried" he stated slightly downcast he was Pippa's partner so it bothered him "Although she is teaching potions for the next few days, gets me out of it, you know" he simply stated with a wink as they both knew Pippa couldn't but be around the students a lot.
"Always one, just can't get the staff these days" Ada laughed looking at the man whose eyes were bright, and she hadn't met someone with such a buzz for life.
"Any idea where the reprobate is?" Aiden asked knowing he Knew the girl's personality too well.
Ada laughed at the choice of words for the girl, yet it summed her up perfectly.
"She will be heading to the hall for supper, there is a seat at the staff table for you" Ada responded with lightness to her voice.
As the both of them made their way to the dining hall there were many whispers around them, Aiden's arrival had stirred up quite the conversation.
Aiden was seated between Ada and Dimity; he and Dimity were old friends and had kept in touch over the years. She was still the same old Dimity, very pleasant to be around an easy to talk to. He was intrigued by the woman sat on the other side of Ada as she was very tall and very stone like in her body language, that must be Miss Hardbroom she oozes self-hatred, what has she been through. Aiden much like Sapphire was an empath. Both their assessments of Miss Hardbroom had been correct, yet Aiden had hit the nail on the head with her. He never stared at anyone, one quick glance was all he needed, nothing more, she wouldn't notice.
"It's been so long, what's new with you" Dimity asked.
" Nothing much, getting more students from non-witching families these days, witching families are in decline, it's nothing bad, it just means we get to really see the magic, the excitement of them being able to do what we do as they haven't done it before, its enjoyable to watch the smiles, laughter and the wonder, it really brings the magic to life, you know" he saw Miss Hardbroom's eyebrows raise as if she hadn't heard something so ridiculous yet there was a way he stated it with such passion. Aiden continued to explain "with witching families in decline the only way to end up with more as most girls have children when they get older is take on and teach and shape the students from non-witching families, it's the only way unless we filter out till there is none of us left".
His words hit Hecate hard she had never seen it from that perspective, she had only seen it from her slightly prejudice ways. She couldn't even hate the man it wasn't his looks as to why, as she preferred women.
Hecate felt his aura, she felt the kindness the patience the relaxation he was so similar to Dimity, yet she found she couldn't say a nasty thing to him or ridicule or even be snarky. She carried on eating with nothing to say.
Sapphire had entered the hall; she had refused to eat for a few days which meant she was slightly hungry, but the food given every day made her feel sick. She took one look at the staff table and noticed Miss Drill talking to someone very familiar.
He got up from the staff table and briskly walked to her, arms wide, eyes glittering, he was super excited to see her. They had barely been apart from the day Sapphire was rescued, they had missed each other, and it showed.
"Dad" she muttered softly as she took his big bear hug with a big smile on her face, here was someone who understood her. "mum?".
"She didn't think you wanted to see her" he answered in a small but comforting voice.
It wasn't that she didn't want to see her, she loved her mother, a small voice kept telling her she had been cast aside, abandoned, no longer wanted. She knew the voice was wrong and that Pippa had done what she thought was best for her, it didn't stop the hurt feelings and the anger that came with it. She wanted to slightly punish her mother for putting her at Cackles.
"Walk?" Aiden asked as he let go of her. Sapphire nodded they went outside and walked to the green at the front of the school and Aiden raised his hand and conjured a picnic blanket and some fruits.
"Sapphire, you know we care, don't you?" Aiden asked and the girl nodded, "She is beside her-self with worry, she like you hasn't been eating or sleeping" he stated whilst looking at Sapphire properly. "She didn't want you to leave, she hates the idea of not having you close, you are our little girl, not by blood but by love, your everything to us".
"I'm sorry" she responded in a small voice which he only just heard.
"We understand how you're feeling even if you don't think we do, she said if you don't want to talk to her, she understands, however you need to keep in touch with one of us".
Sapphire didn't want her mum to have suffered in such a way, she didn't mean for her mum to be not eating or sleeping it wasn't what she deserved, the woman had picked her up from the ashes from the settlement eleven and half years ago and had taken her in, she wasn't officially adopted hence her last name, Pippa had given Sapphire her full name. Sapphire let the tears out she had been holding in all week, she didn't want to be a bad kid she just needed her mum and dad, she had refused herself to speak to them, she had cut them off without realizing what she had done.
The weekend brought a new perspective on Sapphire as she had returned to her pleasant mischievous ways. Aidan would be leaving tomorrow. He had just walked aimlessly around the castle and had just realised he had walked into the potion's lab. Hecate was in there looking very busy with mounds of potion ingredients to label and sort out.
"Need a hand?" he politely asked with anticipation as he was keen to find something to do.
"Hardly" she responded in a rather soft tone, she wasn't aware she possessed. She really couldn't be sarcastic with him or hateful towards him in the slightest.
"I do teach potions and you look slightly over-whelmed" he looked at what was in her hand it was Moonshine a Luminescent dark blue algae which she had just stared at, unable to think of what it was she reached for her potion's books.
"Moonshine Algeria, beautiful isn't it even with it being such a dark colour its rather mesmerising" He spoke in a softly manner.
Hecate still checked the book to find he was correct; he began to help her with the mountain of sorting.
"you're Sapphire Stone's father?"
"That would be me, she is rather relentless isn't she, fabulous potions wizz, if you asked her, she would have been happy to help you with this, she is at home around the potions lab" he spoke with fondness of his daughter. Hecate just looked at him utterly baffled.
"A potions wizz? You're joking right. The girl can brew yes however the spell casting is non-existent how exactly is she a potions wizz she is third from the bottom of the class?" she asked with confusion.
"Have you only given her potions to do that require incantations or have you given her some or at least one that doesn't require one? Have you really looked at her, have you noticed she doesn't use a potion's book it's all done by memory or that she slightly tweaks the potions to get the best possible result, have you given her a chance since she has been here?" he simply put without judgment.
She wasn't sure how to respond.
"I am happy to teach the potions class tomorrow if you would like to see what she can actually do, no offence intended, I am aware you are more than capable, though it might help you see her a tad clearer". She wasn't sure what to make of this had she just been stung with words; did he seriously think that she Hecate Hardbroom wasn't good enough. Then she realised he was trying to help her.
"Go ahead, what did you have in mind" she responded again in a soft voice she didn't recognise. What is wrong with me why can't I speak how I want to, what is this soft voice, Hecate get it together. You will only lose your reputation. Get a grip of yourself.
"What were you teaching them tomorrow?" he asked.
"The Growing solution" she readily replied.
"The rest of the class can do that while Sapphire does Wingamidium, I dare say you would make quite the fairy" he light heartedly stated whilst she looked horrified as thought of having wings come out of her back.
"That potion is university level not third year, ridiculously difficult to get right, but if you insist then go right ahead, I am not sure I have all the ingredients for it though" she remarked with a slight hint of sarcasm. That's much more like me.
He checked her stock and noticed all the ingredients required where there.
The both of them got the ingredient mountain sorted in a few hours Hecate thanked him for his help and went off to check her students where in bed before turning in for the night herself.
Hecate had something to sort out regarding a student and so she had told Aiden that she would be running late. He had not been phased in the slightest by it, it was a chance to see the students before she arrived.
Hecate transferred herself into the potion's lab and she was surprised by what she saw.
"Has everyone been able to identify at least the majority of the potion ingredients?" Mr Spellman enquired.
"Yes Mr Spellman" most of the students had answered with a slight buzz.
"OK, let me see, ah Miss Hardbroom, I am just seeing if they can guess the potion ingredients before we start any potion's" he stated.
Miss Hardbroom seemed strangely amused by the lesson, so she paid particular attention after that.
"Jennifer?" he asked a Ginger haired girl.
"Yes Mr Spellman" she responded.
"Can you identify number 5 for me please?" he quizzed
Hecate moved towards the nearest girl's desk and noticed 10 jars in front of her it was the same for all girls and picked up number 5. She recognised this as ginger root. All the girls should know what this is. In fact, they should know at least 8 of these.
"Ginger root?" Jennifer questioned.
"Good girl" he responded.
He then went around most of the girls asking about the other 8 that they should know and then it came to the curve ball the Moonshine Algeria which was not well known and asked if anyone knew which ingredient it was, no-one knew.
"Sapphire, would you care to enlighten the class?" he sheepishly asked.
"Moonshine Algeria" Sapphire responded and then proceeded on as he was waiting for her to go into detail regarding the ingredient "it's found in hidden lagoons and has many properties to it which is not limited to healing, scent and relaxation. The ingredient itself is commonly used in Wingamidium, most healing elixirs but not the balms or creams. It's also used in many sleep remedies. Its luminescent so easy to spot in dark places, the hardest ingredient to lose."
Miss Hardbroom and the rest of the class was deeply impressed with this she had looked up the ingredient thoroughly the night before. She noticed that all the students were paying close attention and were eager to answer all questions in a manner of which was different to how they responded to her. They were not scared of him, and it showed as the students were enjoying the class for what seemed like the first time.
"Ok, so now we are going to look at the growing solution however Sapphire. I would like you to do the Wingamidium please and yes all the ingredients you use are here" Mr Spellman stated.
The class was eager to please, all the students picked up the ingredients they required and started their potion's. Sapphire was still grabbing the fifty different ingredients required for hers, she would need the remaining hour and twenty minutes to complete hers. As both teachers walked around the classroom Mr Spellman was the clear favourite he never tutted or pulled anyone down, he was kind and very helpful giving many students praise. Miss Hardbroom stayed closer to Sapphire and was truly amazed at how the girl did not require her potion's book. The whole class finished before Sapphire did and and tried their growing solution on a leaf, some leaves bigger than others, everyone had managed to do it correctly, as a result, they ended up watching Sapphire from their seats. She had finished her potion and had only needed to let it simmer for a few minutes.
"Would anyone like to try the Wingamidium?" Mr Spellman asked the class; many hands were raised.
One by one the students tried the potion and were admiring their wings most of the class has fairy wings most were different colours and styles. The potion was perfectly executed. Mr Spellman had wings of different Blue's and dragon like.
He held up a ladle of the potion for Miss Hardbroom to try. She looked mortified. Yet she never refused to try any of her student potions if they looked correctly brewed. She took a sip.
Her wings were magnificent, bat like and long, to her relief they were black. The wings created a sensation down her back which felt very strange. The wings matched her Black and blue dress perfectly. She was shocked still can't do incantation though.
"Perfectly done, well done today everyone, don't forget to keep looking at your ingredients regularly you never know when you might get tested next" Mr Spellman stated as it was the end of the class and everyone's wings had disappeared from their backs, they were all back to normal.
Aiden had left the grounds to return to Pentangles and he had left her something on her bed. It was a memory vial she pulled the stopper after making sure the window and door was closed. It was her mother's voice echoing around her room.
"What if she refuses to come home? what then? what have I done to her?" Sapphire could hear her mother crying; she was clearly alone. "I want her home. At least she is safe at Cackles, I just need to know from her that she is ok".
She knew why her father had left the memory vial it was so that Sapphire understood fully his words wouldn't sink in as much as hearing her mother's voice. Sapphire had a heart of gold, but she could be very stubborn.
Sapphire hadn't noticed for the first time in her life that someone was in her presence, Miss Hardbroom had transferred in halfway through her mother's memory.
"At least write her a letter" Miss Hardbroom had quipped.
Sapphire turned around and let all her anger out.
"WHY ARE YOU IN MY ROOM? I DON'T WONDER INTO YOURS AND FOR THE RECORD DON'T BOTHER TRYING TO TRANSFER ME AGAIN IT WILL NOT WORK, ITS RUDE AND I FIND IT DANGEROUS TO DO WITHOUT THE OTHER PERSONS CONSENT, I CAN'T KNOW IF YOU'R SENDING ME INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION, I COULD HAVE BEEN GETTING CHANGED OR BEEN ON THE TOILET OR IN THE SHOWER, HOW EMBARASSING WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN? MY MOTHERS MEMORY WAS PERSONAL.
Sapphire was furious and Miss Hardbroom got the message loud and clear and she realised she wouldn't be able to treat her like she did the rest of her students. What had happened that day when she couldn't transfer Sapphire finally sunk in. Sapphire prevented me from transferring her, how? That kind of magic is seldom seen, its powerful. She looked at the student in front of her and saw her properly for the first time. The girl was hurting more than anyone had realised there was a strange secret here and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out what it was. The light from the candle on the desk caught sapphires eyes and for the first time Miss Hardbroom saw 4 colours circling each eye, a bluey grey, teal, forest green and a dark yellow. She wasn't sure what it meant. She transferred herself to her room.