Chapter 4 – Settling In

It was the next day and many of the new staff did not approve of how Pippa ran Pentangles. They had made some of their concerns known. Pippa had called a staff meeting in the staff room and like she had many times before over the years she explained the Pentangles way.

"I have called you all in as you seem to be struggling with my school's ways. So, what did you expect when you were told you were coming here?" Pippa asked them it was clear by her facial expression that she was losing patience.

"Like every other school, I thought that maybe people exaggerated this so-called modern way of learning." A teacher from Amulets stated.

"I was under the impression that a school that wanted to be taken seriously wouldn't be teaching those from non-witching families?" Darkside stated with an air of importance.

All the new teachers watched with shock as Pippa picked up a copy of the witches' code and as soon as she had all the new staffs' eyes on her, she gracefully threw the witches code out of the window. They soon saw the code come back and Pippa looked at them all and spoke slowly whilst she explained her school.

"I threw this out the window for a reason. This very copy of the witches' code has been thrown out the window a total of fifteen times. Here at Pentangle's Academy, we have eliminated Racism, Prejudism and Sexism. Our students all learn the same things, there is no boy subjects and girl subjects its all the same. You will find that our staff come together every so often when something is brought up that the staff feel is a concern in the witching the community, and we will see if there is a way that shapes the students to work towards erasing the problem. The current main problem is the prejudism surrounding those from non-witching families. Other schools may like being Elitists, we however are not one of them. You may like turning potential students away because they don't pass an entry exam and aren't good enough for your school. Though I can assure you that more than likely we will happily accept them into ours". Pippa stopped for a few seconds breather. "I will never understand the hatred towards those from non-witching families, they are some of our best students. As you will have probably found out by now, my staff that are currently in your schools are livid with the school swop. If you cannot handle my school and, in our way, then you are free to head back to your schools and my staff will happily return". Pippa had stopped talking and not one teacher spoke and so she left the room.

All over the school there were many nervous first years and as promised by Martha there was a day of magical fun to help any new students settle in a little more. There were ten transfer students since the trials last year including Enid and Maud. There was also precisely one hundred and fifteen first years. Martha had decided the new staff were not her problem when it came to the settling in day activities. She had noticed one new member of staff had hung around the students. This confused Martha as she wasn't one of the normal students and she found the new staff irritated her, this one however she couldn't figure out, this was Luna Starling.

Martha had changed the entrance hall staircases into slides for mattress surfing. It was always a huge hit with all the students and some of the staff had been caught competing against each other before.

Miss Fountain had set up an introduction to Herbology and the Fleur-de Lotus's went down well. The flower was stunning to look at.

Mr Ridgeway had decided to take his subject a little too far in the Spell science department. He did a few demonstrations for the students some of which really did get the students laughing especially when he had turned himself into a clown and couldn't walk in the massive shoes. He loved his subject, and it was obvious, due to this it drew the attention of many first years. He had also managed to get Pippa to chase him round the vicinity, as he had changed her pink attire into a cargo colour. This had many of the older students joining in on turning her attire into many different colours as she stood there her hands on her hips, she stared at the students that dared make a mockery of her, though it was all in good fun.

Pippa had ensured that as always, she went round all the activities as she didn't want her presence to be seen as a punishment to the students. They soon found her to be pleasant to be around.

Pippa soon realised that there was no flying related activities, and this was a little bit of a let-down. She soon perked up when she noticed Melody and Worrick as they walked into the school. They headed straight towards her.

"Anything you need us to do?" Melody asked.

"Is it settling in day?" Worrick asked.

"Yes, Worrick it is, any chance you could possibly do something flying related?" she asked him as she smiled at the pair of them.

"I'm on it". He told her as he turned around and projected his voice across the green. "If anyone wants to do some flying stuff I'll be on the pitch later at three after tea". This had caused quite the stir as it usually did and the excitement at the thought of flying or at least a demonstration had their attention.

"Potion's lab is open from twelve, let me tell you there is no eating in there only non-fizzy water is allowed". Melody told the students. All the staff and Martha had been told to let the students in their areas aware of the flying and potions activities, all of them had breathed a sigh of relief as those two subjects were very popular. It was currently eleven and Worrick headed towards the potions lab with Melody to help her set up some potion's activities.

The new staff had found that they hadn't given the school enough credit. The settling in day was a brilliant idea and it got the students excited and with a willingness to learn and an eagerness to please. The students were looking forward to their lessons. Many of these students were used to maths, English, science, history, geography and many other non-witching classes. This school was amazing to them they were actually going to be flying and making potions as well as spells.

Algernon had managed to join in with Logan with the Spell science demonstrations as well as getting some students to join in. Logan had stopped to watch Algernon, and he soon took a liking to him, he was kind, patient and never treated any students as less than, it was clear the students rather liked him. This one will fit in well.

A male member of staff had walked into the potions lab, and he embraced both of his former students, he had decided to help them out setting up the activities and he decided to stay and help Melody with the potion's activities. He was a rather short man, though he had a smile that could light the place up. He was well liked, and he taught potions. This was Mr Triston McGuiver. He wasn't too sure about doing a potions activities day, as he wasn't Aiden who always had tricks up his sleeves that would make potions fun and exciting for the students. Soon as he heard Melody was here, he couldn't not help her, and they soon came up with some things that they could do.

Triston and Melody had the students brewing some very short potions. they also made music with some potion vials. Melody had the students try some potions which would turn them a different colour, have them levitate or turn into something else entirely. This went down really well with the students.

Miss Starling decided she may as well help Worrick with the flying activities. She found him at one o'clock and they both headed towards the pitch. She had many questions for him. He was more than happy to answer them.

"I have never taught those from non-witching families before". She told him as she felt rather out of her depth.

Worrick stopped and looked at her. "Don't you normally teach flying?" he asked her as her statement made no sense to him. She nodded at him. Worrick couldn't be more confused if he tried. "Flying is one of the easiest subjects to teach and one off the easiest to cause fear. Start from their position and control. No higher than a meter of the ground. Get their confidence and control to standard before going higher. No cats are allowed on brooms until at least third year though you are expected to tell the students what could go wrong if they have their cats fly and let them make the decision to put their cats' lives at risk. The students get to pick between an owl or a cat. Pippa will be there when you have the cat talk. I will say this, knowing Miss Quickstep, if you cause fear, panic or lack of control by the time she comes back she will be livid".

Miss Starling and Worrick had decided on a few things that Miss Quickstep usually used. They had the students sit on brooms and get the feel of being in the air, this caused quite a lot of giggling and a few to grip the brooms hard. This would give Miss Quickstep an advantage before lessons started as it would highlight those with a fear of flying and those who would need a little reining in. Worrick wasn't sure it would have the same effect on Miss Starling. They also had the students have a go at cleaning a broom and they watched Worrick show off some broom stick skills including flying through some magical hoops.

All the students had enjoyed the settling in day, and some weren't feeling so homesick and found that the school wasn't as daunting as it looked yesterday. Maud and Enid were thrilled they got the chance to transfer. They had also learned some new things that day.

Every subject that participated in the settling in day activities was a huge success. All students received their timetables that evening. As Martha showed the first years to their designated lounge the older students headed to theirs.

The second years piled into their lounge and they noticed a third years in there.

"Ambros, I didn't know you had been held back?". Cossette asked sternly before smiling it off.

Ambros stood up and realised he had entered the second-year lounge and like many other students he walked out of this lounge and headed to the right one. This always made the students laugh at the beginning of every year. Even the staff that was head of the years walked into the wrong one every year. All the lounges has pictures and quotes from last years trials. The quotes were some of the words that the students used in the trials with the students name next to it. The pictures consisted of every trial in the competition all excluding the worst nightmare trial. It showcased the student's teamwork and unlikely friendships. There was a floating bubble which when touched would show the trials. They only had to press on which team and the trial numbers. All the competitors from last year were looking forward to watching them.