Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (28 page)

Ross exploded. “SHUT
UP
!”

I swallowed, he was dangerous when he was
angry. “I said… don’t talk to
her
like that…”

“And what are you gonna do about it?” said
Ross, prodding me in the chest.

A voice behind Ross rang true. “Avis has
enough manners to never harm a brother. So I am thankful that you
and me, are not related.” Ernie, now standing, was inspecting
Ross.

“Oh look who it is,” said Ross. “And what are
you
gonna do
ghost boy
?”

All eyes in the Chamber were now on Ross and
Ernie. “Go on Ross, show him who’s boss!” said Hamish in his deep
nasal voice. Ross, gee’d on by his friends, raised his arms and
threw a Spell at Ernie. A whizzing green bolt of fire shot across
the Chamber.

Ernie didn’t even blink. With one nonchalant
click of his fingers, a black circle of water appeared before his
face. The spinning green fire Spell hit it and instantly dissipated
into smoke.

Ernie winced as if he was sorry for the lack
of challenge Ross showed him. Ernie clicked his fingers again. A
fizz and a crackle lit the air. Sticky brown tape flew out of
nowhere and bound Ross’s hands, feet and mouth.

Everyone in the Chamber launched into
applause. “Pick your fights,” said Ernie, leaving Ross writhing
around on the floor with Hamish and Gascoigne attempting
pathetically to Spell the tape from the writhing Ross.

“Brilliant…” I said high-fiving Ernie, then
watched as Ross’s friends carried him out of the Chamber like he
was an old carpet.

***

In no time at all, it was the last week of
school. You could sense the emotion in the air. The last years had
finished all their exams and proceeded to fly about the school,
sending Spells whizzing all over the place. They went crazy!
Hunter, Jake and Ellen were all picked up and thrown in the air
(playfully of course) as they ran through the Chamber and were told
off by Magisteer Dodaline.

With three days left I was sitting by the
fire in my dorm alone, finishing my last homework assignment and
wondering why I missed the clock tower so much. There was a knock
and Tina came in, sitting down on my bed.

“Comfy…” she said. “Listen Avis, what are you
doing for summer?”

I sighed. “I don’t know.” I put my pen down
and sat next to her. “Thought I’d just go home.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea what with,
everything that happened?” I knew she was worried about what Ross
had said.

“They don’t know it was me.”

“Yeah, but Avis, Ross knows you’ve been
hanging around with us… the
enemy
.”

“True…” I reasoned.

She bit her lip. “So come and stay at
mine.”

My heart gave a little flutter. “Wow, thank
you, I am sure I will, but…”

“But what?” She looked offended.

“But, I
need
to go home, I need to
face them… it’s hard to explain, but after this year and all that’s
happened. It wouldn’t feel right ignoring them. I need to… face
them.”

Tina nodded. “I get it. I do. But, just so
know you can come to mine whenever you want.”

“Thank you…”

Funnily enough Robin had said the same, in as
many words. “Come and stay at mine this summer, you’ll love it in
Yorkshire!” I politely declined, saying the same as I said to Tina,
but promised if things got tough, or I just wanted to come for a
week or so then I would. Obviously I didn’t invite them to mine, as
it might scar them for life. Literally.

On the very last day, emotions ran at fever
pitch. Hailing Hall was all of our homes now. We all piled into the
Chamber for the end of year assembly. I sat next to Robin and the
rest of the Condors at a table spilling over with food. Jess and
Florence sat opposite each other, staring in opposite directions
with Hunter further away from them still.

Ernie had joined a sixth year form, the
Phoenix’s, with their charismatic form tutor Magisteer Nottingham.
They were receiving jealous glances from the other sixth year
forms. Obviously they wanted the celebrity in their form.

The air was buzzing. We ate and drank for
what would be our last meal together for months. I had a bit of
everything because there was so much to choose from! I gorged
myself until I felt particularly fattened up, much to the delight
of Tina, who worried about how thin I was.

Soon enough the entertainment began. The
third years took to the stage to perform a play, as was customary
at the end of the year. I’m not sure if it was supposed to be a
comedy, but that’s what it turned out to be. The stage looked
incredible and was littered with Magical illusions: holographic
backgrounds like clouds, floating furniture and even a dragon.
Vivian Kirkwood, a small, uptight, serious boy and the narrator of
the play, walked out onto the middle of the stage. Just as he
opened his mouth he fell straight through the trap door, there was
a second of silence, then a thud. It was absolutely hilarious.

The play continued in this calamitous vein
for the entirety. They kept getting lost on the stage, due to an
overpowering cloud illusion Spell which also caused several
coughing fits. Vivian narrated the rest of the play in a neck
brace, one boy accidentally came on without any trousers on and
Curtis Blackwell managed to swing his sword so hard, it flew off,
hit a fire bracket and set the curtains on fire. Magisteer Mallard,
the director, stood by with his head in his hands.

Eventually, we gathered that the play was
about the famous Wizards Jermain and Shaun-John, who invented most
of the modern Spells we have today. But I don’t think I’ve ever
laughed so much in all my life. The great warrior Wizard Jermain
was played by Gerry Sanders, a boy smaller than me with the most
high pitched, squeakiest voice in the world! At the end, the
curtains fell over poor Colin Clapper before he could get off
stage, so he just stood awkwardly until he was forcefully escorted
off by Magisteer Mallard.

“And NOW!” bellowed the Lily taking to the
lectern. “We crown the champions of this years Riptide League!
Please put your hands together for…” everyone in the Chamber began
drumming on their tables. “…The CENTAURS!” The room erupted in
cheers as golden confetti exploded into the air above us and rained
down. The Centaurs stood proudly from their table and walked to the
front amid a standing ovation. Clasping each other in celebration
and beaming wide, the Lily put solid, dazzlingly golden medal
around each of their necks. Jenson Zhu, Gemma Icke and Marshall
Compton-Campbell received the biggest cheers. Then the huge golden
cup in the shape of an
R
was handed across to the big team
captain - Ingrid Bloater (I did find that quite amusing, and nearly
choked on my cake when that was announced.) She took the cup and
raised it high in the air as golden fireworks erupted from the
ground, nearly scared me half to death. Robin was annoyed because a
firework case went in his drink. Magisteer Straker was on his feet
applauding, he looked more animated than I’d ever seen him and even
wiped a small tear from his eye.

“That’s two years in a row!” announced the
Lily. “So lessons to be taken from the Centaurs, for all of
you.”

“Doesn’t matter how many lessons in Riptide
we have,” said Robin. “We’ll still never win!” Jake and Gret shot
Robin a fierce glance as Simon clapped Graham on the back.

“You owe me another ten gold pieces.” Graham
grimaced and reached for his gold bag.

After pudding, we moved on to the school
awards. The Lily took to the lectern again.

“And now for the Hailing Hall School Awards!
Given out to pupils who we, the Magisteers, think deserve it…
Firstly, the award for best kept dormitory. The winners are… the
Hesserbout form!” A girly scream shot into the air as the fourth
year Hesserbout form jumped up collecting their certificates and
Magical boxed prizes.

“What’s in them do you think?” I whispered to
Robin.

“Ernie said they usually give a pot of
Everlasting Ink, or something…”

“Really? Is that all? I’d be well annoyed if
thats all I got for keeping my room clean all year.”

The Hesserbouts retook their seats as the
Lily bellowed again. “And the award for the form who excelled in
their studies above all others this year are… Jaloofias!” A table
of snooty looking fifth years stood and gave bows and courtesies.
“Well done Jaloofias,” finished the Lily as they sat back down with
their small boxes.

“Now, we have a couple of special awards to
give out… It’s important in this school to be, not just
academically astute and clean, but to have something else.
Sometimes life requires you to be more than just clever, more than
just determined, more than just skilled. Sometimes it requires a
multitude of skills, skills that come from being a good person and
deciding what the right thing to do is, even if it means
sacrificing something that you hold dear.” The Lily’s eyes subtly
swayed towards our table and my heart began hammering. “The next
winner then…” he called. “Goes to some
body,
who under
extreme pressure, triumphed. This special award goes to…
Robin
Wilson!
”

Robin froze in his seat as the crowd erupted
all around us. He turned to look at me with absolute terror
plastered across his pale, be-speckled face.

“Go on!” I said pushing him up. Robin limped
to the front of the Chamber. The crowd clapping and cheering even
though they didn’t know what he’d done. Tina was standing on her
chair, clapping and whistling as loud as she could, until Magisteer
Dodaline pulled her down.

“What did he do?” said Hunter.

“Well done Robin,” said the Lily, clapping
him on the back and turning him to face the Chamber. He looked like
a frightened deer, being held up before a room of hungry wolves.
The Lily ordered silence again. “Robin Wilson, you have displayed
qualities which the average person should be severely jealous. Not
only did you come here an Outsider, oblivious to the knowledge of
our race, and adapted yourself quickly and knowledgeably, so much
so, that most of the Magisteers thought you were a born Wizard, but
also you forgave, at a time when all others didn’t and wouldn’t.
Not only that further, but you saved two lives, with little time,
no prior knowledge and performed what is one of the hardest Spells
known to Wizardkind. That deserves a special prize, and a special
round of applause.” The Lily threw his arms into the air and the
Chamber erupted.

Robin took his seat back next to me, a small
leather box under his arm. Eyes all around watching him curiously
as he sat down, wondering what on earth he did to deserve such a
special award.

“Next is a three way award. For three people
who, playing David, took on Goliath, with selfless determination.
These people have shown amazing attributes in morality, guts, and
perseverance at a time when all seemed lost…” the Lily smiled.
“Something that takes immense courage and belief. So, can we have
Ernie Partington, Tina Partington and Avis Blackthorn up here
please!” I swallowed hard and closed my eyes. Everyone on my table
began clapping me on the back.

Why was this happening? Had Partington told
the Lily?

“Your turn now mate…” said Robin pushing me
up. Tina looked shell shocked too and copied my jelly leg walk to
the front, joining Ernie.

The Lily was much taller when you stood next
to him and he smelt like lavender. He shook Tina’s hand, then mine.
Handing us both a small, black hexagonal leather box with our names
written in scrawling golden ink. Now he turned us to face the room.
A sea of eyes watched us, across a huge room that flickered orange
firelight and multi-coloured robes shimmering rainbows across the
walls. I locked my shaking legs into place and tried to muster some
saliva in my dry as a bone mouth.

“It takes tremendous courage to…”
Please
don’t say what we did,
I kept thinking
. “…
to stand up
and do the right thing even when others would tell you otherwise,”
nodded the Lily. “We know why Ernest is up here. For what he did,
we must be eternally grateful. And Tina, who single handedly took
over her brothers quest so amicably, helping to restore him to
mortality. Without you're helping hand, Malakai would still be at
large…” then, after a long applause, the Lily’s tone changed to a
crippling sincerity as his eyes rested on me.

“
But
… a
special
thank you must
be said for Avis Blackthorn. Someone with a name that we all
judged.” Many faces dipped apologetically as the Lily looked
around. “With some… bad luck, this year, Avis was wrongly accused
of the attack of his form mate, and friend, Hunter. What I was
saddened to see, was the quick judgement of those who know better.
As you are all well aware, Malakai paid several visits to our
School this year, which fortunately, was ended by Ernest. However,
in one of these visits he stumbled upon Hunter, Robin Wilson and
Avis. It was Malakai who attacked Hunter…” There was a huge, long
gasp, and then whispering. Hunter looked proud, for he had survived
a Malakai attack. Jess and Florence were looking adoringly at him.
As I stood there, legs shaking, I saw Partington grinning at us
like the cheshire cat. David Starlight didn’t know where to look
and Ross, livid, stared at the ground.

“Poor Avis received the blame, as was
Malakai’s intention. Yet he dealt with the painful accusation with
valour. He dealt with the months of solitude with staggering
spirit, and he dealt with his enemies with tremendous daring. I can
categorically state that Avis Blackthorn is a
good
Wizard
!”

There was utter silence for what seemed an
age. Head’s turned and whispered, blinked… then smiled. All of a
sudden a giant wave of cheering and applause exploded like a canon.
Surges of emotion ran through me to see the whole Chamber
applauding. The Lily had let on a lot, but I didn’t mind. And now,
the greatest gift he could give me — the treasure of being known as
a good Wizard was granted. I was a Blackthorn yes, but I was a good
Blackthorn and my family would have to deal with that.