Avis Blackthorn and the Magical Multicolour Jumper (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 2) (20 page)

After the restart the Happerbats had regrouped, and managed to spell Dawn, Ellen and even Joanna off the pitch. They remained resolute for the remaining seven minutes (perhaps the dressing down they received from Yelworca helped), they defended well, not letting us near the flounders. But they didn't get close to scoring either. We were on for a 2-0 win for the first game.

That is, until Robin shouted “
AHA
!” A loud eruption rumbled through the ground. Giant human hands made of grass and mud burst up out of the pitch underneath each Happerbat and took them out of the game.

“LIBERO-MANUS!” called Underwood as a tidal wave of applause threatened to deafen us. Followed by a standing ovation from the Lily. Partington looked overwhelmed and stood clapping mightily. Robin grinned at me, pointing at the spectacles — a broken Ornament in his hands. I grinned back. We were winning and doing well. Confidence coursed through us. We were organised and determined. Jake and Joanna gathered us into a tight circle as we prepared for the Habitat to change for the second match.

It was in the fifth and last match that I heard something glorious ring true around the entire stadium
:
“
AVIS, AVIS, AVIS
!” — It was undeniable, they were chanting
my
name.

A minute before one tall Happerbat holding the red flounder hadn't noticed me hiding behind a tall brick wall. I tapped the shoes, stepped out and dodged the spell he threw at me, before snatching the ball and spelling him into the air. Now I charged forwards.

Five Happerbats were now soaring through the air towards me, completely blocking my path to the bolt-hole. But, Jake was making a lone run the other side of the pitch.

“
Nouchous
!” I called, causing a blaze of fire to erupt between me and the oncoming Happerbats. A perfect distraction. I pulled my arm back and launched the flounder into the air to Jake as I fell into the fiery grip of five Happerbats, I watched happily as Jake slammed the flounder past the guard. In a flash I zapped back the bench and out of the game. But it didn't matter, we had just won 3-2. That last act of unselfishness hadn't gone unnoticed. Jake grinned across the pitch at me, raising his hands in a high salute as Underwood called time on the match. The crowd suddenly roared. “AVIS! AVIS! AVIS! WE LOVE YOU AVIS!” It was the most wonderful feeling in the world — I was good at something. People loved me.

“AND THE WINNERS OF TODAYS RIPTIDE MATCH BY FOUR GAMES… ARE THE CONDORS!” Underwoods voice called true across the stadium to a colossal roar of applause. The purple and green scarves were now non-existent, replaced by a sea of yellow and black. I smiled at Robin, who had his eye on an adoring group of girls screaming his name, one of them including Felicity Merrilyn. Tina and Zara were now both applauding loudly while Jasper sank back into the crowd until he was almost invisible. We left the pitch, bowing proudly to a standing ovation, followed by “AVIS, AVIS, AVIS,
AVIS
!”

It was the best feeling I’ve ever had. Ok, it wouldn't have been possible without the shoes, Robin’s specs and maybe the jumper played a
small
part. But was it worth it? You bet.

CHAPTER TEN

‘Accidents’

The
Condor changing room was charged with an electric atmosphere. We jumped around dancing and chanting as if we had just won the
Riptide World Championships
!

“Avis, I can’t believe it, you were incredible out there!” said Jake, beaming wide.

“Cheers!” I called. Robin caught my eye and winked across the changing room. It was a humungous room with a high pitched roof and massive animal statues that hung perilously above, strutting out from the walls. A tiger, a hubris, a flutteryout and a dragon — everything else about the room was the same as other bathrooms: cubicles, showers, baths and a lines of sinks. Except these Riptide changing rooms had two doors at the end leading to the girls changing area and the boys. Graham had proceeded to push on all the taps and began spraying everyone with freezing cold water, as if he were shaking a bottle of champagne.

“Well, well, well!” said Partington, appearing in the doorway and beaming wide. “I don't think I’ve ever had a team play
that
well before,” he said arms folded, talking as if half in dream. “You gave me quite the surprise.”

“Thanks Sir,” said Simon as everyone stopped shouting and whooping for a minute.

“Congratulations to all of you, I am so proud of you,” with that, he turned and left. After a detailed breakdown of the match and lots of celebrating — which mostly involved Hunter dancing round the room with his trousers on his head — we calmed down a little.

“I might have a bath…” I said looking down at my muddy wet clothes.

“I think I will too,” said Robin.

“And me!” said Graham.

We didn't much mind having baths together as the shower curtains around the baths were magical. Once you pulled them around, no one could pull them away except from you — so no one could see you in the nude, which was good, because I don’t think I’d have showered or bathed all year if I had to get naked in front of other people. Especially girls.

I turned on the bath before scouring the shelves for bubble bath. “Avis?” I turned to Jess and Florence, both looking a little bedraggled, with so much mud on them they looked like a swamp creature. “We just wanted to ask you if you thought we did a good job today?”

“What?” I said confused. “Well, yeah of course you did. A
brilliant
job.”

“We did it for you,” said Florence smiling radiantly.

“That’s…
nice
. Thank you.” I said as they giggled and ran off, this jumper really was powerful.

Now, all I had to do was work out how to get my clothes off without anyone seeing and getting in the bath — I turned off the hot tap and poured in some Chameleon Curd Bubble Bath, I tried not to notice the girls watching me as I dithered about with the water, trying to find the right moment to hide behind the curtains and change into a towel.

“Well, I reckon we ‘ave to change up our tactic’s slightly for ‘da next matches,” said Gret.

“I don’t!” said Hunter. “This worked so we should stick to it.”

Joanna sighed. “Well, you both have a point. But everyone in that stadium will have seen how we played, so Gret’s right we might have to mix it up a little bit.”

“Guys, guys…” said Dawn. “Let’s not worry about this now, let’s just enjoy our win!”

I wasn't looking but I heard them all murmur in agreement. “She’s right,” said Robin. “Let’s just enjoy the fact that we smashed the Happerbats and… AVIS WATCH OUT!” he suddenly screamed.

With half my head out of the wet yellow shirt I suddenly heard a cracking noise. Then a rumble. Without thinking, I jumped backwards into the sinks. An almighty, colossal, monumental
BAAAANNNGGG
rang around the bathroom. The giant horned hubris statue had cracked and fallen, smashing into three of the baths sending porcelain, water and stone flying off in all directions.

“
AVIS
!?” called Robin, through the choking dust. “AVIS! WHERE ARE YOU?”

“I’m here!” I called from under the sinks as thick stone dust clogged my throat. I moved towards Robin’s voice and out of the dust cloud that now engulfed the corner of the bathrooms — crawling through the debris to where everyone was cowering against the wall.

“You ok Avis?” they chorused — some of them, like Hunter and Jess began fussing over me, brushing the dust off.

“Really, I’m fine. Thanks Robin, you saved my life…” I was about to say
again
, but in present company decided not to.

Robin was frowning hard. “It just, I mean, it just cracked and fell?”

Hunter stepped forwards. “Right, perhaps we better get washed in another bathrooms, one which doesn't have falling statues. Everyone out!”

“I will be telling Partington and the Lily about this!” said Simon. “That could have killed me.”

***

A week later and we were in Yearlove’s lesson. He was teaching us how to charm plants. For they were the easiest things to charm — they can’t put up much resistance. We paired off around the massive room with our potted wildflower. Mine and Robin’s was a tall, stalky flower with a yellow bud.

“To charm the flower, place it on the table in front of you,” said Yearlove as a table appeared in front of us out of thin air, a book a top the table which turned to the correct page. “Then, read aloud the charm, changing the specifics to match your particular plant.”

The air filled with charms being read aloud. “We have to face the plant from the North mate,” said Robin moving around the table. “Otherwise it won’t work.”

Soon enough the air was filled with laughing. “Look, it’s dancing! Dancing!” cried Damien Duffield. It was too, his potted Dahlia was doing a very merry little jig to itself.

“I can’t believe Damien has managed to do it and we haven’t!” I whispered as Robin scanned the words in the book for the twentieth time.

He huffed. “It makes no sense…” said Robin. “We’ve read it aloud and look, nothing. It must be dead.”

“Who’s ready to show their plant charming skills to the rest of the class?” said Yearlove, it wasn’t a question. If it was, we would have chosen not to, on the account that we couldn't do this most simple of tasks. Jasper and Tina had, not only got their pink Rose to dance, but they had also taught it the moves to the
Cauldron Double Clap-Clap
(a very popular Wizard dance).

But now here we were reading aloud a useless charm to a (probably dead) yellow Chrysanthemum that did not want to dance. Robin was so embarrassed, he made me read out the entire charm. When I’d finished however, the plant did do something. It began to wiggle, and move. Robin and I exchanged a glance — had we done it? The rest of the class watched on as the plant stood, and began to dance. Wiggling it’s leaves to an imaginary beat.

“High five!” Robin called laughing and looking extremely relived.

“Brilliant work boys!” said Yearlove, and I was pleased to see Jasper looking genuinely annoyed. “Whose next? Jake and Hunter please…”

As we were watching Jake and Hunter nervously read aloud their charm, our flower which was dancing just within my vision began to do something
strange
. It started to grow. It was as if something else had taken over it. In one flash it had reached the ceiling.

“Sir! SIR!” we cried as the shadow loomed large overhead.

Yearlove turned frowning, before jumping backwards. “Goodness gracious me! What on earth could have done tha—” Yearlove stopped. We all stopped, open mouthed as the flower changed dramatically. The light inside the room vanished. The flower widened, stalk thickening. The pot burst as long snaking roots dived into the cracks of the floor. Then all at once, it dived.

“AHH!” Screamed the class falling back, apart from me… snaking up my body were long, green tentacled vines. Thick and waxy, encircling me from feet to chest, winding up towards my head. I didn't even have time to think, it was all happening so quickly.

Yearlove backed the class away and was gazing up at me, suspended in mid air. I was
so
high, my stomach twisted as I spun like a fly in a spiders web. I tried to double tap my feet, but they were bound so tightly I was all but paralysed, the breath slowly being squeezed out of me.

Raising both arms, Yearlove shouted: “
Relovotessellaregrassus
!” all in one go. There was a flash of brightest orange, as flames suddenly speared the thick snaking body of the flower. Leaves burned, as it let out a screeching cry, before releasing me and wilting away. Burning to ash as it fell to the floor in a clump of smouldering green debris. I hit the pile of green ash and lay panting, trying to catch my breath.

“Thank you,” I croaked at Yearlove.

“That’s quite ok my boy!” he said lifting me up to my feet. The colour returning in part to his pale face. He stood looking quizzically, stoking his black beard, glancing from me to the table, the book and the broken flower pot. “I don’t know how this could have happened.”

***

I couldn't eat. My mind was whirring. Fear had gripped me. like a vice. Wind had filled my stomach uncomfortably, like it always did when I was worried. I needed to let some out, but I couldn't in a Chamber full of people. Or could I? The growth of the flower earlier had scared me. The statue falling in the changing rooms
could
have been an accident. We heard caretaker Ingralo, who in charge of fixing it, talking to Simone about it on the way to a Physical Training Lesson. “Some people ‘fink it fell on purpose!” he cackled. “Don’ they know how old these ‘fings are?”

“Quite,” said Simone.

Disappointingly, Partington thought the same when we told him our concerns the next day in form. “Remember, those statues are very old… I don’t think it’s a
conspiracy
… the Lily has ruled out foul play and that’s good enough for me. But what I will be addressing with him is the safety aspect. Some safety spells need to be updated. You were very close to being squished… I mean, I can’t have one of our newest high scorers for the Riptide team suddenly dying on us!” he snorted.

I pushed away the pie that Hunter slid towards me. “Gotta’ eat!” he said, shaking his head at me before diving in himself. Robin was half-reading and half had his eye on a table ahead, with Felicity on it. She had been most interested in Robin ever since his Riptide heroics.

“Hey, you have to eat that jam tart, it was the last piece,” said Dawn tutting at me. I sighed absently and pushed the bowl towards her. “Oh look, you haven't even touched it. Such a waste!” she said, picking up another spoon and diving in.

But not a second later, did something terrible happen. As soon as the tart entered her mouth she promptly began choking. Softly at first, but after spitting out the tart, she continued to choke. Firstly, our table looked up, Ellen clapping her on the back. But then, she continued choking, eyes bulging, face growing redder and redder. Then purple. More and more tables began looking round now. Dawn was standing waving her arms wildly, unable to catch her breath. Joanna and Ellen stood sharply signalling to the Magisteers table. Straker and Mallard appeared next to Dawn in a flash. Laying her on the floor and waving hands over her mouth they became confused, then a little panicked. But then, Straker raised his hand over Dawn’s mouth and drew something else out of it. A handful of what looked like moving black fluff jumped out of Dawn’s mouth and into his hands. Straker cupped them tightly together. He nodded once to the Lily and mouthed: “
It’s a curse
.” Before running out of the Chamber with his hands cupped and outstretched.

The Lily appeared next to Dawn in a blaze of white light. He looked down at her, before she coughed and spluttered back to life. Everyone gave a huge sigh of relief.

“You gave us quite a scare,” said the Lily. “Do you think your up to showing me the last thing you ate or drank?” Dawn sat back up at the table, cheeks pale, her eyes wide and wattery with shock and embarrassment.

“Of course Sir, it was this…” she pointed to the bowl of jam tart. “It
was
Avis’s…” faces turned towards me. The Lily raised a hand at the pudding and without a word, it burned in a blaze of white light.

***

I couldn't sleep. Snores rang around the room, a backdrop for the wailing winds and rain outside that were battering the window with almighty intent. As I lay, my thoughts slid to Tina — I missed her very much. A tight knot of regret tightened in my stomach. I turned over in bed, clearing my mind. The clock above the fireplace said it was almost three o’clock! I’d been lying here, trying for sleep for nearly five hours. I sighed and watched the fire embers burning, listening to the hammering rain against the glass.

I don't know what I was dreaming about, but at some point a white hot burning sensation began rising up my legs. Then a loud roaring sound, shouting and choking smoke.

“AVIS!
AVIS
!” — I woke and saw immediately why everyone was shouting at me.

My bed was on fire!

“AVIS, GET OUT OF BED!” they cried at me. For a moment I thought I was still dreaming. Orange flames plumed from every angle of my bed covers as smoke billowed into the air. Suddenly I felt the pain on my legs. Extreme heat burning them to cinders! Screaming with pain I jumped from the covers — or, I tried to — my legs were caught on something. I clawed at the carpet trying to pull myself free. But, what felt like… cold hands had hold of my ankles!

“AVIS! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!” Robin cried, jumping down from his bed and coming as close as he could.

“I CAN’T GET FREE!” I yelled waving my arms out at him. “PULL ME! SOMETHINGS GOT MY LEGS!” I couldn't get free of the impenetrable hold around my ankles. I kicked and writhed, but the hold was impossibly tight. Jake and Graham jumped up and began chanting something. Suddenly, freezing cold water came pouring all over me.

“
AHHHH
!” I cried. Followed by everyone else in the room. The fire was doused. Steam rose up from my bed as the sounds of the fire died. My legs now free, I pulled them out of the covers and stood soaking wet, with a bed that resembling a lump of charcoal. I stood shaking.

“You all right mate?” said Robin, passing me a towel. I didn't say anything, I couldn't.

“I’m soaking wet!” Simon complained, standing up out of his bed now too.

Jake turned on him. “Oh poor you! Sorry we panicked and got everyone in the room wet, but we
‘ad to save his life
!”

“Something is wrong,” said Hunter who stood shaking by the door. “Too many accidents… I think…. I think someone is trying to
kill you
Avis.”

They all looked round at me as if I were a condemned man. “Its kind of undeniable now,” said Dennis softly.

Footsteps appeared outside the door before Magisteers Partington and Yearlove appeared. “Impkus the ghost told us there was a situation in your room? Goodness me whatever has happened?” said Partington staring at my bed and coming further into the room. “Ga— I mean, Magisteer Yearlove I think you should come in.”

Yearlove did, holding a gas light aloft looking tired. “What happened here?” he said frowning around at the destruction.

“Avis’s bed caught fire Sir,” said Jake. “We did a water spell to put it out.”

“Good boys, well done,” said Partington who turned to look at the bed running his finger across the black charred sheets and sniffing. After a muted conversation with Yearlove, Partington turned back to us. “Well, you can’t sleep in here tonight, better get you all off to the Healer’s room. Looks like Avis could do with some ointment for his legs anyhow…” he said with a worried look at my red legs. They hurt.

Yearlove was staring at the fire with a fixed expression. “Must have been a stray ember,” he mused. “I will deal with the mess in here. By tomorrow, it should be back to normal.”