Chapter 26 – A Centre's Magic
Mildred was awoken the next day by her friends, and she pulled her duvet over her head.
"I'm too tired". Mildred told Enid and Sapphire.
They knew she had a tough day yesterday and so they left her to sleep and headed to breakfast.
Mildred fell back asleep and woke up mid afternoon and found she could not get back to sleep. She slowly removed her duvet and got changed into her gym wear, so that she felt comfortable and then she headed towards one of the spiral staircases that led to one of the turrets. The students knew them as lookout towers and hardly anyone used them. As she walked up, she noticed that the grounds were rather silent and then she heard a canon. Though she didn't bother to find out who or which team had been eliminated from the trial. She was out and she was glad. As she entered the Turret, she noticed that the walls came to her stomach. The view was breathtaking, she could see the lake that nearly tried to drown her team and the entire forest and four ponds. She slid down the wall to sit on the warm floor and she cried more. A few hours later there was a knock at the door and she looked up as a teacher she didn't know approached her and knelt down. It was a woman with auburn hair and bright green eyes. She was not one of Pentangle's staff.
"Hello Mildred, I am Zira Stormweather".
Mildred looked very confused.
"I am the headmistress of Weatherly's; I have upgraded my school to accommodate both boys and girls starting from next year. I couldn't not notice that you are in need of some help".
"I am staying here unless Miss Pentangle says otherwise". Mildred stated with disbelief.
"I am not trying to take you away from here, though I wouldn't refuse an application should you send me one. I have however had previous experience with someone's centre magic bursting out as you did yesterday, I have spoken to Mr Spellman and Miss Quickstep and we are looking at giving you a few lessons to help you control it. Your Centre is not dangerous, It means your magic hasn't had time to grow and flourish. Is this your first year using your magic?"
Mildred nodded with her mouth open. "How did you guess?"
"It's a lot more common than you would think for a student from a Dormant witching family to experience this kind of thing. We will discuss this in more detail once the trials are over and Miss Pentangle is back with us. Don't panic as your magic is coming out when it feels you need it the most".
Mildred watched as the teacher walked back down the spiral staircase and somehow, she felt better knowing it was rather normal and that what she was feeling was normal. She headed back downstairs, and she was so deep in thought she hadn't looked where she was going and she walked into Verity.
"I am so sorry; I wasn't looking where I was going". Mildred told her.
"It's ok, I was actually looking for you, I was wondering if we could talk?"
The girls walked towards the grassy courtyard and sat down.
"I didn't mean to scare anyone".
"I know, I knew what a centre's magic is and how strong the magic can get. Instead of being understanding, I let my own fears come between us. I should have waited for you. I have had the last few years pain-free, and I just didn't want to end up injured and instead of trying to calm you down. My behaviour made you feel like you were dangerous. A centre's magic isn't known for being dangerous by the way. It's a defence and it's super powerful. Once you learn to control it all your incantations will be a walk in the park. I bet a lot of the schools here will be wanting you to transfer".
"Weatherly's headmistress is working with the staff here to help me control it, she says it's common in those from dormant witching families for their centres to burst out".
"It is and I should have expected it. We learn about Centre magic in third year. It's an awesome subject. If you need anything at all just let me know".
The girls were talking for another hour before the tea bell rang and they headed into the hall and Verity took Mildred to the rest of the team. Cobain and Zack smiled at her and there was no bad feelings between them and they tucked into their tuna pasta whilst deep in conversation.
"I really want a moving pic of me being chased by a dragon". Zack blurted out.
"I want to see it from the teacher's perspective, that trial must have looked awesome". Cobain stated.
"That can be arranged" A voice behind them could be heard.
Zack and Cobain spun around and saw Miss Drill stood there. The girls looked confused.
"Did you all sleep well last night?" Miss Drill asked.
The four of them nodded.
"Mildred, can you stay behind once dinner is over? There is something I would like to discuss". Miss Drill then walked to sit next to Miss Trinket who taught chanting.
Mr Spellman stood up and projected his voice around the room. "One of Cackle's Academy groups are currently in their last trial, would anyone like to watch it?".
There was a loud eruption of cheering. Mr Spellman then proceeded to hold his hands out and slowly widen his arms, almost like a curtain being pulled back. The air in front of them all, showed the trial. Which could be seen from the students' side and the staff's side. Miss Drill was very keen to see how her schools' participants were getting on.
"It's Maud's group". Mildred and Enid breathed.
The entire school watched as they entered the final trial which was Miss Hardbroom's. they watched as the lake engulfed them. How they all looked panicked yet remained calm. The group was thrashing around, trying to keep their heads above the water. Mildred's team noticed they tried a few of the ideas they had had, and just like them, each one was futile.
"Useless".
A portion of the students in the hall turned around at the spoken word. Ethel Hallow was stood leaning against the door.
"Bit rich coming from someone who tried to get a member of her team killed". Cobain roared.
"Are you for real?" Verity stated.
Ethel stood there with a stunned expression on her face as she hadn't expected some of the older students from Pentangle's to put her in her place.
"You need to take a visit to Wormwood and stay there". An older student told her.
Ethel looked up and continued to watch in silence.
Twenty minutes later Maud's group had successfully completed their final trial.
A trumpet sounded and Maud's groups faces came up in the hall as well as above the forest with their celebratory scroll and the words underneath read: The Trial Of The Times. Just like Mildred's team had.
Mauds team climbed through a Golden door that had appeared in front of them and they came out in the Hall.
The Hall erupted in cheers and there was plenty of whooping. The staff had risen to ensure the group was OK. Dimity had been the first to rise and the first to reach the group.
"Well done girls, I am sure Hardbroom will be thrilled, in her own way". Miss Drill told them, she noticed how exhausted the group was. "Grab yourselves a seat, the servers are heading this way with some food and drinks.
Mauds group had decided to sit with Mildred's, and it wasn't long until they were swapping trial stories with each other.
A couple walked up to Maud from behind, and the woman placed her hands rather gently over her eyes. Maud spun around and stood up as she noticed her parents and hugged them both. They then proceeded to sit either side of their daughter. They were very polite people and spoke to both teams with the same level of respect and they were happy to listen to both groups experiences with the trials.
Mr Spellman and Miss Drill walked up to the Spellbody's. "Could we have a discussion in my office, if possible, please?". Mr Spellman asked.
Maud's parents nodded and followed both teachers to Mr Spellman's office.
"That will be a discussion about Ethel in the wondering Willows trial". Zack told both groups.
"There is no way he is letting that slide, just wait till Barbie and Hardbroom come back. They will both be fuming". Jasper stated who was seated near the trial winner's table.
"I wouldn't want to be Ethel's parents, that's for sure". Sapphire stated who was sat next to Jasper.
The rest of Maud's groups parents were currently being transferred and there was quite the reunion and some very ecstatic parents.
Miss Hubble had been sitting with the Pentangle's staff and she had been thrilled to hear how well her daughter had been doing all year, she had also been offered to stay a few days the day before. She rose from her chair and went to sit next to Mildred who was thrilled that her mum was still there. Mildred and her mum were very close, and Mildred loved spending time with her.
It wasn't long until dinner was over. Everyone was filing out to head to their next classes and the trial competitors went to chill out.
"Aren't you going with them, love?" Miss Hubble asked her daughter.
"Miss Drill wanted to see me". Mildred replied as she noticed Miss Drill enter the Hall and signal to her to come over to the staff table. Mildred headed over to the staff and they had a discussion with her about not worrying or stressing about her centre and to congratulate her on her success with The Trial Of The Time's.
She then left the hall with her mum to give her a tour of the school.
A few days later and all the teams from the trials were back including the staff.
Miss Pentangle and Miss Hardbroom were stood just outside the school's front door when the Weatherly's member of staff that had run the Wondering Willows trial approached them. They were deep in conversation when the women looked livid. Miss Hardbroom walked off to find one of her students.
Miss Hardbroom walked into a Spell Science class after knocking on the door. Mr Riven who was currently teaching the first years raised his eyebrows as he watched her place both hands on the table in front of Ethel. Her voice was shaky yet composed as she looked Ethel in the eyes. "Who do you think you are? Stand up and come with me". Ethel stood up and followed Miss Hardbroom out who led her to Miss Pentangle's office.
As Ethel walked into the headmistress's office, she noticed her parents stood there as well as Maud's parents. She also noticed Miss Pentangle, The Weatherly's member of staff, Mr Spellman and Miss Cackle. The seriousness of what she had done to Maud in the trial was starting to sink in. Miss Pentangle waved her hand and showed the whole room the Wondering Willow trial of which most of the room hadn't seen.
They watched as the Willows surrounded the group and how Ethel looked at Maud with a strange smirk on her face and just when she thought no-one was looking, she pushed Maud towards a Willow which almost caused her to get impaled. Luckily a member of the group saw what was happening and grabbed Maud in time. The other member of the group shot a spell at Ethel to cause her to fall as they jumped out of the trial. This left Ethel on her own of which she had to be rescued and eliminated.
Miss Hardbroom and Miss Pentangle where both shocked though Miss Hardbroom was silent with anger. Ethel's Parents didn't know what to say, they were shocked. The Spellbody's however were the first to speak.
"Tell me She is heading to Wormwood". Mr Spellbody stated through gritted teeth.
"I can assure you that that is on the table". Miss Pentangle stated and as Ethel's dad was about to speak with rage in his voice at the thought of his daughter heading to Wormwood, she spoke again. "I did tell everyone that whilst they are in my school, they are treated as our students to ensure the safety of everyone this included the faculty of all schools. I can not ignore that if Ingrid hadn't caught Maud in time that we would be discussing a funeral, instead of contemplating Wormwood. I can't allow this to go unnoticed. My school has quite the record and reputation based on our values, and I can assure you I will not have my schools' reputation tarnished, due to your daughter's behaviour. I have a care of duty to every student on the school grounds, Maud's included".
Miss Cackle spoke with such a disappointed tone. "Miss Pentangle is right, you have proven yourself to be a danger to your classmates. Is being the best really worth taking someone's life?"
Ethel was desperate at this point, she did not under any circumstances want to go to Wormwood. "I am sorry, I truly am. I didn't mean for her to get injured or killed. I just wanted to scare her a little".
"That is a lie, that was pure malice. Those trials were there to test you all and I explicitly told you that teamwork was a necessity. I also told you to worry about your own team and that all of you coming back in one piece was a priority". Miss Hardbroom stated with thunder in her voice, she then turned to the Spellbody's. "They were expected to help each other just like Mildred's group did. I also think Wormwood is the best idea at this point".
Miss Pentangle turned to Mr Spellman who had sat on his desk in deep thought whilst listening to the rest of the room. "Mr Spellman, please could you take Miss Hallow to Wormwood?" He nodded and walked up to Ethel whose eyes were pleading with him not to take her there. Though his eyes showed no emotion as he gripped her arm and transferred them both to Wormwood where he left her and returned to Pentangle's.