Prologue

At this point in time, people chose to believe that strange
events never occurred, bad things never happened, or will never happen again.
It’s not surprising how wrong they are really. People effected by each of these
disasters walk around everywhere, and there are some people that turned out
peculiar after their parents or grandparents nearly died at one particular
event. It was an explosion, a bombing of some sort in the south of England. People
that survived were changed forever, and I know quite a few of these descendants
myself. I know one extremely well, better than anyone. I am that person, and I
am one of the most extraordinary people of this generation. My name is Georgina
Howlett, and it’s not surprising everyone knows my name. I find that if I
ignore people about it, they ignore me back. I like it like that. Until
somebody breaks the system of course… that just makes me mad.

Georgina Howlett

Chapter One – George
and Family

Diary Entry 308 (04/11/09)

I wake up to the same
dream every morning, it’s getting tiring. The green flash, then the giant
explosion that killed as many as it could will come shortly after. The people
that I see in my dreams are horrible, splattered in blood and moaning about
people they know who died. I would personally celebrate that I’m alive first,
then see to the mourning of others. I see my distant relatives, people who I
descended from alive and well. They got altered more than some people can
believe though, and that’s why everyone will know me. Mt family was the only
ones to show powers that were out of this world, until others found out that
they possessed them too. They were pretty simple powers to be fair, but they
grew gradually until they were really, really powerful. They could control the
elements, like fire, ice and water. Nobody else had these particular powers, so
it made sense that my family is proud of our history. They’re also proudest of
me, the first descendant ever to possess the exact same powers as the first
members of my family did. I’m proud of myself. Other kids envy me, when they
see what I can do. I call everyone with powers Supernaturals, as it explains
the strange and unearthly occurrences that we can do. So, here I go again, into
that dream…

George shut her diary as hard as she could. True, it made
her feel better to write it all down but she felt that it wasn’t so private
when she did. Anyone can read a diary, so she was a little scared at times of
her older brothers seeing what she had written. Once or twice she thought about
setting the little book alight to keep her secrets safe, but eventually decided
against this as her whole life was in there. So, she had kept it safe under her
pillow, in a small flat box with a padlock. She had considered storing it in
her cupboard where it would be harder to find; but decided not to as it was
frequently visited by her parents and family to put clothes in, take clothes
out or just to take something from the storage space at the bottom. So she had
kept it under her pillow, safely bound and away from prying eyes. So there
would be a huge event to write in, but at this point she had forgotten all
about it.

After getting dressed and safely hiding her diary, George
made her way downstairs where the rest of the family were currently eating breakfast.
Chris and Will, her elder brothers, exchanged glances before looking up at
their sister.
“Good morning.” They
said together. They then grinned again broadly. George shook her head.
“What’s up with you? Why are you smiling?”
Her Mum interrupted just as Stephen opened his mouth to
speak. Stephen was another one of George’s brothers, the eldest child of the
family. “It’s shopping day today, remember? For the Academy supplies?”
Her dad walked in abruptly, with a look of interest upon his
face.
“Don’t tell me you forgot you start at the Academy in three
weeks?” Her parents looked at their daughter with trepidation. George gasped,
and slapped her forehead. “No way! I totally forgot…” With that she grabbed a
slice of toast, and dashed back to her room to change into her best clothes.
Her family looked at each other, then began laughing.

Half an hour later, George returned from downstairs. Her
hair was brushed, her face was washed and she had put on her favourite clothes,
a red suit with red pumps. She thought she looked pretty good in this outfit,
as she always wore it for special occasions. As she entered the kitchen, she
noticed a pair of old brooms leaning against the far wall.
“What are they for?” She asked, while pointing towards them.
“To get to all the shops.” Her Dad replied.
George laughed. “Nice joke. So how are we really getting
there?”
Her dad shook his head. “I wasn’t lying, I’m serious.”
George gulped; then slowly turned to look at the brooms
again. “How does it work?”
Her dad chuckled. “It doesn’t work. That’s why I chose them.
We are going to make ourselves fly. These are just something to sit on.”
George shook her head, he had to be bluffing, she just knew
it. “What do you mean?”
“You’re an Elemental, figure it out.” Stephen had spoken this
time, instead of her father.
“Wait… So you mean I have to propel this thing along all by myself? No way.”
“You don’t have a choice.” With that her brother thrust a
broom into her hands, winked, then walked out of the room. George let out and
exasperated sigh, then walked through the back door and began to practise on
the broomstick.

It took George nearly ten minutes just to be able to hover
in the air. She had never had to exert her powers this much before, and it was
proving difficult to master. After about an hour, she could finally keep aloft
long enough to fly through the air. She was glad to have the broom, but wished
it was something a bit more comfy. It hurt to sit on it for too long. She
groaned as her brothers came out of the house. Will and Chris were identical
twins, and were just as annoying as each other. When she was five, they had
taken her favourite toy and broken it. She had cried for weeks until they gave
the money to get her a new one. It hadn’t lasted long though, as she herself
had broken it after throwing it across the room. Her brother walked up to her,
then laughed a little bit.
“It’s not that bad at Eastern.” Will said quietly. “It’s
just a bit hectic when it comes to homework and classes. Also, the kids can be
pretty annoying and stuff. It’s best to keep clear of people who aren’t your
friends. God knows what powers they have.”
Chris looked like he was about to burst. Eventually he
couldn’t hold it in and his loud laughter filled the air. His twin began to
laugh too, shortly followed by George. Laughter in her family was highly
infectious, so if one member started laughing there was no end to the chaos
that followed. If did eventually stop of course, but only when they had all
been scolded. That spoiled their fun, but they enjoyed the laughs.
“What’s so funny?” George asked, as her mother’s angry tones
stopped the outburst of giggles.
“Nothing, it’s just that we thought you had ‘Supernatural’
powers.” Will chuckled silently, clutching his sides. Chris grinned, then
continued.
“You might want to know that your padlock doesn’t work.”
George reached out to grab her brother, to hit him, but he
had already turned and vanished.
“I hate them two…” She muttered under her breath. Now she
had to find a new hiding place for her diary, somewhere where they wouldn’t be
able to find it. Before she had chance to think of one, her father came
striding up the lawn towards her, the other broom resting on his shoulder.
“Ready to go yet?” He asked, while he swung his leg over the
wooden handle.
“All ready.” George replied, and copied her Dad.
“Good. Let’s go then!” He pushed off into the air, and
hovered there for a moment until George joined him. Together they sped upwards,
away from the house and into the sky.
“Why are we going this high?” George shouted as they entered
the clouds.
“So nobody sees us.”
“Obviously… But why?”
Her Dad looked stunned. “Why are you asking so many
questions?”
“Because I want to know the answers!
He sighed, then shrugged. “I just don’t want any… You know,
non-powered people seeing us. You know how they would react to seeing two
people flying on broomsticks. They would think Harry Potter’s come alive!”
George laughed at the thought. “Oh well, where’d the first
shop?”
“Just down a bit, come on, let’s go lower.”
George nodded slightly as she prepared to head down through
the sky.
"Let's go."
With that they both swooped down under the clouds, and dived
together towards the brightly lit city that stretched out below them.

Chapter Two –
Academy Shopping

George and her Dad arrived at the first shop within ten
minutes of diving down. It was a small place, with brightly lit windows and
tons of posters smothering the glass.
“This is Robinson’s Robes?” George couldn’t hide the faint
trace of disbelief in her voice.
“Yes. It’s disguised of course, it doesn’t really have all
those posters and such inside.”
George nodded slightly, then stepped up to the glass and
peered through. Inside was three people, currently having a conversation. The
people shook hands, then stepped away from each other.
“I wouldn’t stay too close if I were you.” Her Dad was
grinning at her back.
George didn’t understand, but soon did shortly after. A
bright flash made her pupils retract and a white spot appeared in her vision.
It cleared in time for her to see that it was happening all over again, like
time had been rewound.
“That’s what everyone sees if somebody looks. They won’t be
able to see for too long of course, as you found out.” Her dad smiled casually.
“A warning would have been nice.” George muttered.
Her father shrugged, then stepped up to the glass himself.
He began speaking, although it wasn’t directed at anyone.
“Arthur Howlett, Escorting Georgina Howlett to buy Robes for
Eastern Academy.”
George gaped at the shop as it transformed into a brightly
coloured building, with dummies displaying robes in the paper free windows.
“Won’t people see?” She asked, as the door materialised in
front of them.
“No, everyone but the stated guests sees the normal shop.
Come on, let’s go in.”
Her Dad pushed open the door and stepped inside. George
followed a minute later, after she had watched several pedestrians staring at
her. She thought about what they would be seeing, then chuckled. It must be weird for them to see us passing
through glass…She smiled at them, then turned and stepped into the shop
herself.

The first thing George thought was WOW. The shop was brightly decorated with different emblems and
paints. There were shelves stacked high against the walls, each containing
different articles of clothing. Shoes, Robes (of all colours), Shirts,
Trousers, Jumpers, Jackets, Coats, and many more things all ordered by size. At
the back of the room there were several doors, and each had a plaque attached.
The far right was toilets, and the far left was changing rooms: Men. In the
middle was changing rooms: Women. George stared at the walls and spotted some
blood-red robes to the right of her. Her Dad thrust his arm out to stop her,
just as her left foot had left the floor to go see.
“What?” George asked, dearly wishing to go find her size in
that colour.
“Wait here.” Her dad replied.
“Why?”
“Because I said so!”
“OK, OK…. Sorry.”
Her Dad looked her up and down before smiling. He kept his
eyes fixed on a door in the corner, which read ‘Carla Robinson’. Just as George
looked at it, the door swung open and a young looking lady stepped through it.
She was muttering to herself, and clearly wasn’t aware of George and her Dad’s
presence yet.
“Darn suppliers… Can’t give me enough stock…” She looked up,
straight into George’s eyes.
“Hello dear, are you new? You need everything?”
George merely nodded, while her Dad spoke. “Good morning
Carla.”
The woman glanced sideways, just as her face split into a
grin. “Arthur! Hi!”
George groaned. Conversations between adults were so boring. “Hello? Can we get on with
it?”
Her Dad looked down at her, and frowned. Carla nodded
towards George. “Planning on having any more kids? She’s your 5^th,
correct?”
George shook her head. “4^th actually.”
“Don’t be rude George.” Her Dad said, loud enough for Carla
to hear.
“No, she’s right. I forgot. Chris, Will and Stephen… I
remember when they first came in here. They were so small. So, what colour do you want?” Carla smiled.
George grinned, as she began to piece together her new
Academy uniform.

Half an hour later, George and her Dad were back outside.
They each had a large bag, which contained all of the necessary clothing for
her time at Eastern Academy. There was only one thing missing, and George frowned when she didn’t get it. Her father had explained briefly about it, but hadn’t gone into much detail. Apparently, when
she reached the school, she was be placed in one of four houses. There was
Sirius, which her whole family had been in; Capella, the other good house which
her friends were mostly in; Vega, the house of semi-smart people; and Rigel,
considered the worst house as all of the unlikable people (which included the
stupid) were in it. Also, there were quite a few bullies in there. Will had
told her about some of the worst people a few days ago, and how to avoid them
if they came for her. She had felt slightly frightened at the prospect, but had
been thrilled to hear she would probably be in Sirius. It was considered the
best house of the four. George shook her head, and focused again. I won’t be in Rigel, I shouldn’t worry.
She relaxed a little. Just as she settled to go into another daydream, a sharp click! sounded near her face.
“Hey, we’ve got to go to the other shops now!” Her Dad’s
voice broke through her thoughts like ice.
“Right, Right…” Her voice sounded sleep-like as her leg was
forced over the broom that had appeared in her hand. With one swift push they
were off, into the air and heading for the Animal Emporium.

George stared at the shop. It was defaced in every way you
could think of, as well as broken in places. She couldn’t help but show a look
of disgust as her Dad moved towards the cracked glass window.
“I know it’s disguised, but why didn’t they improve the
outer look?”
Her Dad chuckled.
“It’s supposed to
look un-inviting, so that people who don’t know won’t know. Nobody wants anyone
to stumble across these shops, it would cause chaos. And also a dispute about
the entire situation. Nobody believed our ancestors when they said they had
gained supernatural powers, so they formed a separate-”
“Civilisation, I know.” George rolled her eyes at him. “How
do we get in this time?”
Her Dad raised an eyebrow, the answered her question slowly.
“Well, pretty much the same. I’ll let you do the
introductions this time, shall I?”
George nodded slowly. “George Howlett, Accompanied by Arthur
Howlett, to enter the Animal Emporium.”
George stared at the defaced window carefully. Nothing
happened. Her Dad began laughing behind her.
“I think you’ll find you just were talking to a wall.”
Sure enough, when George turned back to face the window, it
had been replaced by a high brick wall.
“So how do we get in?” George said, just as her eyebrow
began to twitch.
“Follow me.” Her Dad walked straight towards the wall, where
a hole appeared high enough to walk through. George muttered under her breath
as she followed him, into a shop of wonder and excitement.

The Animal Emporium was a mad place. Animals were in cages
along the walls, Animal food was in containers around the room; several large
stools were dotted about. Her Dad walked up to a desk at the far side of the
room, and rang the bell that had been drilled into the wood. Almost immediately
somebody dashed through a door and appeared behind the desk with a smile fixed
upon their face. After a close observation George saw it was a young man,
dressed in a brown pinstriped suit and a small nametag attached near his
collar.
“Good morning Arthur, Are you well?” He addressed George’s
Dad like an old friend, who was just passing by like they did.
“Yes, thank you James. I’m here to hopefully get a good
animal for my daughter today.”
James turned abruptly towards George. She felt like she was
being x-rayed as his gaze travelled from her head to her feet.
“Your youngest child I believe?” He asked, while walking
across the room towards the cages. “I suppose she’ll want one of these?” He
opened four cages in turn, releasing each animal it contained. George gasped as
a snowy white rabbit, a brown cat, a German shepherd dog and a black and white
owl emerged from the cages.
“Wow…” She walked slowly towards the dog, which reared up
immediately in an attempt to lick her face.
“Hahaha!” She laughed, as he jumped up with his tongue
lolling out.
“Remus! Control yourself!” James ran to grab the dog’s
collar as it got ever nearer to licking George clean.
“It’s fine, really…” She laughed again.
Remus was led back into his cage, where he snuggled up into
his blankets and prepared to apparently have a snooze.
“I don’t think a dog would suit you…” James said, while the
brown cat meandered over to George.
“Hello kitty.” George said softly, while stroking the
delicate ears of the cat.
It purred loudly, clearly enjoying the attention. It
strolled around George’s legs, all the while staring up at her with its green
eyes.
George sighed as it turned around, retreating into it’s cage
with a swish of it’s tail.
“I guess a cat doesn’t work either.”
James nodded. The rabbit had no intention of moving, so
George moved closer instead. At the sight of her, it shuffled away. George went
nearer again. The rabbit moved away once more. This continued until the rabbit
had shuffled through the cage door and into a little hutch built into the back.
“Still no luck?” George’s Dad asked suddenly. “I think an
Owl would be best for you. Chris has a Cat, Will has a Dog and if I remember
rightly Stephen got a rabbit. I could never understand why… They’re so lazy…”
George shrugged, then faced the last member of the group
which had appeared from the cages. Almost entirely white, the owl had black
wings which gleamed in the light.
“Well if the owl doesn’t like me, I’ll be stuffed.” George
sighed, then held out her arm. Enclosed within her grip was an Owl treat, which
she held openly for the Owl to take if it wanted. Surprisingly, it didn’t go
for the treat. Instead it flew onto George’s arm, where it hooted loudly.
George smiled as it sat there, still and thankfully not hurting. James grinned.
“I think you’ve found yourself an Owl, miss.”
George grinned, and stroked the Owl’s back. “I think I
have…”

A short while later Jetwing, George’s newly named owl, was
perched inside a silver cage. It was quite light and had a big handle which was
ideal for the circumstances.
“How are we going to get all of this home?” George shouted
as the wind howled loudly.
“Easily, I hope.” Her Dad shouted back. “It might take a
while, considering the weight. We might have to do some more shopping
tomorrow!”
George nodded, unsure whether her Dad could see her or not.
“Should we go home now? We can’t keep going much longer, my power will run
out!”
She squinted through the fog and saw her Dad slightly dip
his head.
“OK, let’s go!”
With that they headed downwards, towards the town. George
grumbled as another disfigured shop came into view.
“You just said-”
“One more that’s all, I promise.” Her Dad shot a grin
sideways as they touched down on the ground. George rolled her eyes, and then
stepped forward to announce their business with the shop.

Inside, it was totally different to the other shops. Tables
were evenly spaced within the large room, piled with books and pads and all
manners of resources. Nearer the back on shelves were instruments that George’s
didn’t especially like the look of. A boy around her age was staring up at a
small one on the third shelf up. He reached up to grab it, but failed.
“Liam, No.”
A woman appeared from nowhere, apparently addressing the boy
near the shelves.
“But Mum-“
“I said no.”
The woman narrowed her eyes as the boy kept arguing with
her. Eventually he gave in, and looked sulky afterwards. He cast his eyes
around the shop, and settled his eyes when they found George. He bounded over
with such enthusiasm that the tables shook slightly as he bounced along.
“Hi, I’m Liam!”
Liam said when he had reached George.
“What’s your name?”
George looked quizzical as she answered.
“I’m George, Hi…”
“Hey. Are you starting the Academy this year too?”
George nodded, and then looked around for her Dad. She found
him in deep conversation with a old man who was stood behind the pay desk. When
he saw George looking, he beckoned her over with one hand.
“Got to go, sorry.”
She spoke to Liam quickly then stepped over to join her Dad.

“So… How much more is there?”
George was staggering under the weight of all the things
being handed to her. One of everything was slowly being piled into her arms,
which ached under the strain.
“Not much, just another wall to go.”
“Thanks, I feel so much better.”
George rolled her eyes. Her Dad made bad jokes that were
anything but funny. She had always wondered how her Mum had managed to stand
him for over twenty years. Suddenly a gap appeared in all her merchandise, just
as half of it seemed to vanish. She looked around, and saw that Liam had taken
some of it off her and was holding it.
“We have way too much stuff…” He pointed at his Mum, who was
standing by the Pay desk looking flushed. All of the equipment had been piled
on the space in front of her, and was slowly being scanned by the accountant.
“You’re telling me! George mumbled, as yet another book
appeared in her arms.
“How are we supposed to get it all to school?”
“Beats me.”
Liam sounded as uncertain as George felt.
“Maybe in a suitcase?” George suggested.
“Nah, It’d be huge to be able to carry all this.”
George nodded in agreement. “But there’s not much choice, is
there?”
Liam shook his head.
“There!”
George nearly jumped as her Dad spoke.
“Is that all of it?” She asked, not daring to breathe.
“Yep. Oh hello, who are you?”
George rolled her eyes as her Dad finally caught sight of
Liam. While they introduced each other, George took what Liam was holding and
went to wait in the queue. It looked as if Liam’s Mother had nearly done
paying. As George waited, she suddenly spun around.
“I see Liam’s made a friend already. Have fun, won’t you?”
George nodded. “We will, thank you Mrs…”
“Mclean.”
George nearly laughed.
“Mrs Mclean, what powers does he have? I don’t want to hurt
him by accident or something.”
She laughed. “That’s ok, it might do him some good. Oh look,
here he comes. You can ask him to tell you.”
Sure enough, Liam was with them in an instant; grasping a
broom in his hand.
“Mum, can I have-”
“No dear, I can’t afford it. All this shopping was more than
I expected.”
Liam groaned. He looked crestfallen, seemingly on the verge
of tears.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get one eventually!”
George tried to sound reassuring as she said it. Liam
nodded, but shook his head a second later.
“I doubt it. Thanks anyway…”
George nodded, and then sighed loudly.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asked quietly.
“Nothing.” George replied hastily. “What powers do you
have?”
Liam’s eyes lit up immediately, bright and happy looking.
“Well, My mum has invisibility powers, My Dad had something
to do with elements, and I can do this.”
Liam stepped back from George, then stood quite still. He
began to disappear, fading into the air. George gasped, then stood on guard.
She could feel his presence, somewhere close… SMACK. She clutched at her head
as the air hit her in small volleys. George spun around and sent an ice jet
through the air. It must have hit something as a shape solidified in the space
in front of her. She rushed over, grasped the shape. Even though she couldn’t
see him, she could feel his shoulders at the same height as hers.
“Gotcha.”
A groan sounded through the air as Liam began to materialise
again in the ice trap.
“Can y-y-you get t-t-this off m-me p-please? I-It’s
c-cold….”
George obeyed and fire flared in her hands, Making sure it
was as small as possible, she threw the flame onto the ice where it evaporated
instantly. Liam shook his foot thoroughly as the remaining ice melted.
“I thought you said your Dad had element powers?”
Liam shrugged. “That’s my Dad though, isn’t it?”
“You should have got something
of each element from him though…”
Liam shook his head. “My Dad only had the basics, Fire;
Water; Air and Ground.”
George nodded distractedly. “Yeah…”
George jumped as a bag was swung in her face.
“Time to go, Come on.”
Her Dad was halfway to the door when George said her hurried
goodbyes and shot across the room after him.

It took them half an hour to travel home with all the extra
weight. George could have sworn her broom had creaked as a gust of wind struck
her. It had been cold on the way, but her Dad hadn’t paid any attention to her
moaning. He was too used to hearing her protest about things to be bothered
anymore. George didn’t complain about this of course, but she did complain
about lots of things. As they had reached their home village, her broom had
given a nasty lurch which had nearly thrown her off. She had swore many times
before getting told off by her Dad about it. They had managed to land alright,
but had to sort out all of her new things. Jetwing hadn’t been too pleased
about being jiggled about in his cage, But George had theorised that it was
much better than being smacked against the metal bars while she flew. The Owl
had seemed to understand as she told him this, and had been silent from then
on. But when they stepped through the door, the most peculiar things had
happened…

Chapter Three – The
Week Before The Mayhem

George stared at her kitchen table. There were many boxes on
the top, stacked tall in columns that towered over the people surrounding it.
There was a particularly large one at the very bottom, which was labelled;
Trunk.
“What’s all this?”
George’s Dad pushed through the doorway and stared at the
table.
“Don’t know Dad, It just appeared…”
George squinted through the sunlight to see Stephen with his
back to the wall.
“It just appeared?”
George repeated this and gasped.
“Dad, It’s my school stuff! The big one is my trunk, and the
rest is…. Is…."
“Exactly, we don’t know.”
Will had appeared in the kitchen, carrying another package.
“Another one just came in.”
“What is going on…”
George stared up at her Dad as he began pacing up and down.
Such an action from him was usually a bad sign. Finally he stopped, drew out a
chair and sat down on it. He looked strangely happy for a troubled person.
“It’s ok, I know what it they are. The letters-“ (Steven
held them up) “-contain your school lists. Now, we know from experience
everything you all need, so I suppose there won’t be anything there that
surprises me. However, I will check, just to be sure.”
George just watched as her father opened all the letters one
by one. He had left George’s for last, which was odd considering she was the
new student. She tried to look over at the twin’s lists, but her dad was too
quick. Quick thinking and Reading
seemed to be a family heirloom, passed around all over the place. It took
George a day to read most books, if she focused properly. She wasn’t always
attentive however, so occasionally it took 2-4 days. When her Dad reached her
letter, his groan was just loud enough for her to hear.
“What have we missed?” George asked immediately.
“You need…. A broom. Like that young friend of yours wanted.
I think there might be one in this pile somewhere.”
“But he couldn’t get one! But if he needs one, how come his
mum-”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll just have to go and get one for
him tomorrow.
George gasped.
“Are you serious?”
Will sniggered. “Wow Dad, I never knew you were so kind.”
George frowned. “I guess…”
Her Dad nodded slowly. “I know it’s unusual, but it would be
seriously unfortunate if he couldn’t have one…”
George looked ecstatic, while Will looked crestfallen.
“I’ll remember when someone I know needs something, to ask
you if you’ll go get it for them.”
Will muttered under his breath until he had all three pairs
of eyes staring at him.
“Joking, joking….” He mumbled, before disappearing to his
bedroom upstairs.


George sighed as she thought of the following day. More
shopping, more fun. At home, she never had much to do. Her everyday choice of
pastime was to read, but ever books got a little boring after reading too many.
So she was glad to have heard she was going to boarding school, where she would
be able to have fun and be active all the time. At least, her hope was that she
would be enjoying herself thoroughly during her time there. And if not…. Well,
she would just have to make it fun. Whether the kids agreed it was fun or not,
she knew how to really get a party going. A party of sorts, anyway….


George stared as she opened each box. She had worked through
three quarters of the pile, most of which had contained useful items that would
be handy for the different lessons that were taken at Eastern Academy.
She had found her broom, which looked really good and was shiny with polish.
She had waved it around in Will's face for a while, until he had threatened to
snap it. She had hurriedly put it away after that. George had spent a few
minutes staring at her letter, wondering what each lesson which was written
down would be like. She had decided that Displaration would be a good one.
Showing off was her kind of thing, so that was decidedly her favourite class,
even without the experience. She had hoped that her tutors would be good, so
that she could get along well with them. Many people knew her Dad, Arthur, as
he worked for the council. A great deal of strangers too seemed to recognise
George wherever she went, as they honed in on her and asked her if she was well
or how her family was. It had grown a customary experience over the years, but
gradually she had received less attention each year. Now she received nods and
waves, not anything like her old greetings. She missed it slightly, the
attention had made her feel important. She was important anyway, as the only
Full on Elementalist in the area. George was quite proud of that.


The last box stood empty on the table, having held a
revealer three minutes before. After much tugging, pushing and ripping George
had managed to open all of the mysterious boxes that had appeared in the
hallway over half an hour. She had found many interesting things, but her trunk
was probably the most interesting item of all. Emblazoned with the Eastern Academy logo, it was very spacious. She had spent many minutes looking at it, opening all the different pockets and
compartments that would soon be filled to the brim with school supplies.
Jetwing was to remain in his cage over the journey, as he of course wasn’t
allowed in an enclosed space. George had wondered again how they were going to
get to the School, which was located far south of Leeds where she lived. She was quite happy with her house. It was quite spacious, with 3 bedrooms, a large loft and a really good historical look. The bricks had worn down a bit over time, but they were as strong as ever. After thinking
about the different environment she would be living in from next week, she had
gone straight to her Dad and asked how you got there and what it was like.
After a minute of laughing, they had managed to strike up a conversation on the
matter. George pressed on a bit harder after she felt his answers weren’t
satisfactory.

So she tried again.

“Dad, tell me, how exactly
do we get there?”

Her Dad shrugged.

“I only just told you, did you already forget?”

George shook her head.

“No, but I want more detail.”

George looked hopeful as her Dad’s head tipped a fraction.

“Well… alright. Should we go sit down?”

George nodded slowly as they passed through the kitchen and
through into the living room, where they both sat on the comfy chairs which
were against the far wall near the stairs.
“So, where to begin…”


George nodded a fraction.
“So we board a train in Crossgates, then it takes us south
to the school? And from there we just walk?”
George frowned as her Dad chuckled.
“I’m sure Will and Chris will show you the way. Or Stephen,
for that matter.”
George groaned, just as her stomach rumbled.
“But I would much prefer-“
“I know you would. But you’ll have to be taught before you
learn.”
George nodded, annoyed.
“Right, I’ll remember that. I think I’ll go read.”
With that she zoomed upstairs, and into her room where she
began reading her favourite book.


Three hours had passed before George had set foot downstairs
again. She had managed to read 300 pages or so from the point she had started
from. It had been quite interesting, because although she was reading a book,
it almost seemed in her head she was writing one too. The last sentence she
could remember had gone something like this;

While I slept, My
friends came to haunt me. My dreams, My nightmares, all were crushed and
infiltrated by comrades. Whether a battle was due to take place I do not know,
as I awoke within minutes of this intrusion.

It had been strange for her to hear those words echoing
inside her own mind. George had considered telling her Mum but had decided
against it. So she had to endure half an hour of the sentence resounding
through her head, making no more sense whatsoever. No matter how many teams she
heard the phrase; it didn’t change anything as far as she was concerned. She
sighed, then carefully stepped down the stairs and into the kitchen. As she
entered she could see that her Mum was already trying to fit all of her
equipment into the trunk.

“Mum! You don’t have to worry about anything like that yet!
I start next week!”

George’s mum straightened up and looked her daughter in the
eye.

“If I don’t do it now, you won’t ever do it. You’re too lazy
for you own good. This is going to be a hectic week, I’ll tell you now.”

She was right of course. After leaving the room George knew
that her Mum was right. It was going
to be a busy week next week.

And George found out only too soon.

Chapter Four – The
Journey South

The last minute rush had finally arrived. George was
grabbing anything useful that was in sight, perhaps a few things that weren’t
also. Her Mother and Father ran about complaining, cursing their children for
being untidy. George had tried to keep out of the way so they would be ready
faster, but her plan had not succeeded. It seemed she was dragged into
everything, which made her feel tired and stressed. Eventually they were ready,
all things packed and ready to go. George dashed out to the car, where she
heaved her heavy trunk into the boot. As she did so, her mind began to wander. How are all our trunks gonna fit in here?
She wondered. How are we going to look
with all these animals? Before she had enough time to think., her family
were bustling to get all the stuff into the car. George threw herself out of
the way as a trunk swung into the boot.
“Sorry sis”
Will muttered this to her quietly, then opened the back car
door and slipped in. George sighed, then walked to the front of the car. She
opened the front door and slid onto the passenger seat. Being careful not to
trap anything, She slammed the door shut as another one opened. Will, Chris and
Stephen were all squashed on the back seat holding their animals, looking
rather uncomfortable. When they saw George looking they grinned at her. She
smiled back, as she knew how uncomfortable it was herself. Jetwing was perched
on her knee in his cage. She poked an owl treat through the bars, just before
she was flung around as the car set of at a relatively high speed.

The journey took less than ten minutes to complete. By half
past 9 they were dragging the trunks along the path that led to the train
station entrance.
“Which car are we taking from here, Dad?”
Stephen had fallen
into step beside his father, talking quietly so no one could here. George
gasped and walked quicker. When she was close enough, she whispered into her
Dad’s ear.
“You said we went on a train!”
“Did I? Oh yes, last night?”
George nodded slowly, keeping her eyes on the people around
them.
“Well I lied. You do
get on something here, but it isn’t a train.”
George growled her displeasure.
“And why did you lie, may I ask?”
Her Dad turned his head slightly in her direction.
“Because I couldn’t help but notice you were reading Harry
potter again this week.”
Before George could say anything, he had turned the corner
and was striding towards the station entrance. Muttering quietly under her
breath, George and her brothers followed him in.

George stared around. There were people everywhere. Older
kids were accompanying men and women as they boarded the trains which were
available. George came to notice a small knot of people, standing quite still
and grasping baskets or cages. Beside them were- George couldn’t believe it-
Trunks, exactly like the one she was dragging along behind her. She stared
around for her brothers and saw they were heading right, towards track 15. George
glanced at the group again, each of which were staring intently at her.
“Um… Are you new to Eastern too?”
She asked this quite timidly, after remembering her Will’s
advice that he had given a week ago. George was relieved to see that they
nodded, and didn’t do anything else.
“Follow me and my family if you don’t know where to go.”
George stared hard at the far wall, and managed to catch a
glimpse of her brothers as they turned the corner.
“Come on!”
George shouted, as she ran across the room and after her
family. A great squabbling told her all the other kids were following, which
made her nervous again. She kept on going, right round the corner and sighed
with relief as her father came into view.
“There you are! Come on, or there won’t be room for you to
get in with the others…”
He paused slightly when the group appeared, looking
breathless and slightly worried.
“They didn’t know where to go, I told them to follow us.”
George looked relieved as her Dad smiled widely.
“Of course, right this way…” With that he strode off, with
the group and George trailing behind him.

“So…”
George looked around. They were in a small room, aged and
covered with dust.
“Excuse me, why are we here?”
A small boy from the group of people had spoken up. His
voice was deep and he looked confused, as did everyone else.
“This is where the entrance to the Parking area is.”
George raised an eyebrow as her Dad gestured towards the
blank wall in front of them.
“How is that an entrance? It’s a wall!”
Another boy had spoken, who had short brown hair and eyes
that shone.
“Don’t be rude, Timothy!”
A tall girl had spoken sternly to the boy called Timothy,
who now looked as if he was about to blow up.
“IT’S TIM, NOT TIMOTHY!”
George jumped as he bellowed into the silence. Apparently
she wasn’t the only one either, Everyone had been shocked in one way or another.
“Calm down, Tim.”
A surly boy had entered the room, carrying a box and pulling
his trunk. George stared at the box carefully. It was producing loud spitting
noises.
“Oh… sorry Max.”
Tim looked down at the floor, obviously embarrassed about
what he had just done.
“That’s OK.” Max said quietly. “Just don’t shout.”
Tim nodded, and then dragged his trunk towards the wall. He
reached out to touch the bricks, while everyone held their breath. Max just
snorted.
George sighed as Tim’s fingers touched the wall. He looked
crestfallen as he flattened his palm against the surface, as if to make sure it
was really there. Once again, the small boy repeated his question.
“How do we get to the Parking area?”
George looked at her Dad as he turned to face her.
“George, you remember how we got into the shops, don’t you?”
George nodded, then smiled as a look of realisation appeared
on her face.
“I get it now!”
She plonked Jetwing’s cage down, passed the handle of her
trunk to her and went to stand in front of the wall.
“George Howlett, along with other students, to gain access
to the Parking area. We wish to set off for Eastern Academy.”
The effect was almost instantaneous. The wall melted away
and a large door shaped hole appeared. George blushed furiously as one of the
boys from the group clapped.
“Very well done. I would’ve never been able to figure out
the right words.”
Her Dad smiled, then began speaking.
“Shall we go through?”
Everybody nodded. George took the cage and her trunk back, and
was allowed to be first to go through. She smiled at everyone, then stepped
through the hole. As she did so, her feet left the ground and her head began to
hurt. She felt herself moving, but where she wasn’t sure.
“So that’s how.”
She mumbled, as everything went black.

“I don’t think- Wait, her eyes are flickering!”
George groaned as voices mumbled over her. She felt bad,
hurting.
“What happened…?”
Her vision came into focus. Her Dad was knelt beside her,
with her brothers standing above her.
“You fainted I suppose, can’t think why.”
“Going through, I felt terrible…”
Her Dad nodded in an understanding way.
“It happens to everyone the first time, you’ll be fine. Come
on, they’re nearly all gone!”
George struggled to her feet, wondering what her Dad was
talking about. And there they were. Quite tall, but really roomy, around
fifteen cars were parked around the room. George gaped as the boot of the car
in front of them opened, to reveal a spacious boot.
“Great, they’ll all fit in nicely…”
George sighed and let her Father load her trunk in. Just as
she turned back around to get in, a loud shout made her whip around.
“George!!!”
Liam was running towards her, his arms flailing wildly.
“I thought I wouldn’t catch you! Is it ok if I come in this
car? I don’t have any family with me…”
George looked at her Dad who had poked his head from round
the other side of the car.
“There’s plenty of room, I’m sure you’ll fit.
George couldn’t help but smile as she slid in beside Will.
As Liam got in, Will leant in and whispered in George’s ear.
“He your new boyfriend?”
George gasped and punched her brother on the arm.
“Ouch! What in the world was that for?”
Despite being in pain, he couldn’t conceal the large grin
which had spread across his face.
“No, he’s not.” George snapped, before turning around to
face Liam. Soon they were in deep conversation about what it was going to be
like when they got there.
Will, Stephen and Chris, who already knew what it was like,
shrugged and began to talk about their powers. It was a common discussion,
which George had had quite enough of over the past six weeks. Suddenly the car
jolted, causing Jetwing to squawk in alarm.
“It’s okay…”
George said to the bird, in an attempt to calm him down.
“Everything’s fine.”
She looked at Liam again, who had busied himself with looking
out of the window.
“What’s up?”
George asked this quite quietly, so that Will and The others
wouldn’t hear. Liam turned so slowly he might have been a statue.
“We’ve left the ground… We’re off! We’re going!”

Chapter Five –
Upon Arrival

George looked at him with disbelief.
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not!”
“He’s not.”
George swung around to face Will again.
“Keep-out-of-this!”
She hissed, before turning to Liam. She spoke with her
normal British accented voice again.
“Let me see.”
Liam moved obediently and switched places with George. She
stared out of the window. Indeed, Liam was telling the truth. All around them
were clouds, fluffy looking and grey.
“I can tell it’s going to rain tonight.”
George looked across at Stephen, who was staring out of the
window. He turned to face George.
“So, who’s your boyfriend?”
He gestured towards Liam.
George blushed furiously while Liam stared at the ground.
“We’re just friends.”
He mumbled out those words quietly, before looking across at
George. She had turned bright red, appearing to represent a tomato.
“We don’t date.”
George got impressively redder, which soon turned out to be
purple after she had been fuming for a few more minutes.
“Leave it, it’s ok…”
Liam spoke slowly to her, afraid of the fact she might blow
up in his face.
The colour drained out of George’s face as quick as it had
appeared. She was back to her pale-skinned self. But still had that defiant
scowl fixed upon her face.
“We DO NOT-“
“OK, OK, we get it sis!”
Chris had spoken for the first time to her this morning. It
was his way to jump in at the last second.
George nodded, fuming, while Liam looked bewildered.
“Does she always do that?”
He whispered to Will, who stifled his laugh for a cough.
“Sometimes.”
He whispered back his answer as quietly as Liam had asked
the question.
“Once, she turned
bright green. It was funny…”
Liam nodded, not finding it funny at all.

George calmed down over the next half an hour. Will and
Chris had taken to playing chess, which George could never understand the point
of.
“I just don’t get why they are so fascinated by it… I mean,
it’s just moving little figures around on a board really.”
Unfortunately for George, her twin brothers had heard her
and were now engaged in the argument version of war. Liam tried not to hear,
but some things were just unavoidable.
“Well, chess is much better than stupid scrabble!”
Liam blinked. George’s favourite game is scrabble? He thought, wondering what on
earth she would say to retaliate.
“It’s much better than chess; at least your mind actually
works in scrabble!”
“So your mind isn’t working when you have to decide why
piece to move?”
George’s face flushed pink.
“Well, your brain works harder in scrabble because you’re
using letters to make words! It helps with your vocabulary and spelling!”
Liam rolled his eyes. She was going to turn red and moment,
he could just tell. And before that happens…
“Would you guys just give it a rest?”
George and the twins turned their heads slowly towards Liam.
He gulped. George had turned green like the twins had described. He vaguely
thought of someone who was about to be sick.
“Sure, I guess…”
George nearly gagged as Chris spoke, carefully and without
any hint of emotion.
“Come to your senses, have you?”
With that, George had set off a new argument. Liam sighed,
and decided to read one of the many reading books he had packed to bring with
him.

The argument had lasted for another hour, by which time they
were nearing their destination – Eastern
Academy. There was
actually two other Academies in the country, Western and Central. Nobody knew
why they had been named like that, as Eastern Academy
was in the south; Western in the north and Central in the- well, middle. Central Academy had been the first of the three
to open, over 200 years ago. It had been opened when George’s great ancestors
and other people’s had gained their powers, and needed an education on how to
control them properly. Of course, as it was so early not many people were good
to teach the children how to control their new abilities, but nonetheless they
had managed alright. The students (George’s Ancestors and other people’s
Ancestors) had become well enough educated to be able to use their powers
safely and controlled. George had gazed into space at the thought, but now she
had come to wonder whether her ancestors had really been educated that well. Or
had they just improvised? Nobody knew. And everyone was right not to know…
“George, look! There it is!”
George leapt from her seat (very hard to do, not a very high
ceiling) and moved closer to the window and stared down. There, stretching
along the horizon was Eastern
Academy, glistening with
light from the sun.
“Wow…”
“Oh please, it’s nothing really. Wait until you get inside.”
George frowned at Chris, not understanding what he meant.
“But it looks great now, so does it look even better
inside?”
“You’ll see.”
George hated it when he did that. Liam poked George in the
ribs.
“Are your brothers always this…. Well, annoying?”
“Totally.”
Liam nodded, and then stared out of the window. The Academy
was getting closer, and closer, and closer…

George stepped from the car onto the grass. It had landed
quite smoothly, which had surprised her. She had thought it would have been
bumpy, after heading at the ground on an angle. But she had been wrong
“Move!”
George jumped out of the way as Liam and the others
clambered out. While Chris, Will and Stephen got the luggage from the boot,
Liam and George took the time to stare up at their home for the next couple of
months.

“First Years, This way please.”
George jumped as an elderly woman shuffled towards them,
beckoning all of the youngest students towards her.
“Come on.”
Liam only followed as George dragged her trunk along,
Jetwing’s cage bashing against it. This resulted in loud hoots from the
agitated owl.
“Let him out, He’ll be fine.”
George jumped as the woman addressed her.
“Won’t he get lost or something?”
“Think about it, Owls are nocturnal. They see best in the dark, and sleep during the day.
He’ll come inside when it’s morning. Now, Right this way.”
George looked back over her shoulder and saw a mass of
people following the elderly woman. She tried to count, but her hand was always
knocked away when she had reached a high number. They kept walking until they
reached the school gates. They each had a miniature sculpture of the explosion
on them. George stared at them for a while, lost in thought over why these
would be significant to the school. But then she understood. The explosion had
been the start of the powers, it had been the beginning for the school. George
nodded enthusiastically when she had finally understood them now. She looked
around at the other students, to find they were all staring at her. She stopped
nodding abruptly.
“Now then, who wants to be sorted first?”
All of the students turned to face the woman again. Nobody
volunteered.
“Oh well, we’ll do it in register order then I think. I
suppose you’re wondering who I am?”
A few of the students nodded, still unable to speak.
“Now, my name is Mrs Shaw, and I’ll be your History teacher.
As this young girl noticed, the explosion which caused powers has been the
symbol of the school ever since it was made. Does anybody know when it was
built?”
George had gone a little red when Mrs Shaw had pointed to
her, but her hand shot up to answer the question as the fire left her cheeks.
“Yes, young lady?”
George grinned when she was chosen to answer.
“It was founded a month later, in January. The precise date
is the 30^th, which also happens to be my birthday.”
Mrs Shaw nodded vigorously, apparently impressed.
“Yes, well done. And your birthday as well? You’re not dear
Arthur’s daughter are you?”
George nodded.
“Ah yes. You were named after your great ancestor George
Howlett actually. She was one of the first to gain powers you see. She helped
to save Cinotime I think… Yes, She helped save Cinotime from danger. A very
noble woman indeed… We have a painting of her in school if you would like to
see it later. And of course, you’re the only Fullon supernatural in this
century, apart from the great ancestors of the other three?”
George blinked.
“There’s only four of us in this century, Miss?”
“For quite a few centuries I should think. Anyway, to the
sorting!”
George looked around, and wondered who the other three could
be. Before she could decide on someone, three boys parted from the group and
headed towards her.
“Wow, It must’ve been embarrassing in the spotlight…
George nodded slowly.
“I’m guessing you three are the other Fullons?”
They all nodded.
“All named after our ancestors like you, imagine that.”
George laughed.
“Come on, if we hurry we can sit next to each other.”
The three nodded, and followed George as she hurried up the
steps after the other students.

Chapter Six: The Sorting

George kept near the front of the group as they were led
through many rooms and passages. From what they had seen George could already
tell this place was immense. And she could understand now what Chris had meant.
Every room in this place was brightly lit, clean and warm. It was like home,
open and welcoming when you want to relax and be free.
“Chris was right.”
George jumped slightly as Liam whispered in her ear.
“Don’t do that… You made me jump!”
“Sorry.”
They walked on without another word, too lost in their
surroundings. George looked back to see the three other Fullons following
behind the group, deep in conversation. When they noticed George was watching,
they beckoned her towards them. Liam looked back as well, but didn’t pay them
much attention. George shook her head, then beckoned them to come to her
instead. They refused, so none of them went anywhere. As they walked, George
looked at all the art which was covering every wall. There was portraits and
pictures, sculptures and drawings which had been put up throughout the years Eastern Academy had been open. George caught
sight of a couple she liked, but then was bustled away with the group.
Eventually they arrived in a large circular room, within which were four
massive Pictures, each containing a proud looking man. Except for one. George
gasped as she saw it, her ancestor. She rushed to the foot of it, where a
golden plaque read:

George Howlett
(Formerly known as Georgina)
Born 30^th
January 1997
One of the saviours of
Cinotime.
Family: Lots.

George stared at the plaque.
“Miss?”
Mrs Shaw came over, and smiled when she noticed what she was
looking at.
“Ah yes. Your ancestor. I think you’re surprised she was
born on the same date as yourself?”
George nodded, while staring up into George Howlett’s big,
grinning face.
“She was undoubtedly one of the best students there has ever
been. Naturally, her powers were something extraordinary… Gaining a new one
each year… It was mad.”
George looked at Mrs Shaw.
“She gained a new one
every year?!?!”
Mrs Shaw nodded.
“Yes. It was strange for the teachers of that time, but still…”
George sighed happily. Learning of her family’s history was
going to be fun.
“Also, why doesn’t it say the date when she died?”
The question had escaped George’s mouth before she had had
chance to stop it.
“She isn’t dead.”
George gaped widely. She couldn’t believe what she had just
heard.
“She isn’t…. Dead?”
“No. Eventually she gained the power to regenerate-”
(George frowned at the word)
“-Basically to be born again. She still remembers the day of
the explosion, she told me about it once. The green flash, then the giant
explosion that killed as many as it could will come shortly after…”
George gasped loudly. Those were the exact words she heard
in her head! In that dream! She didn’t dare say anything, but the old woman’s
smile said it for her.
“Realise who you are now?”
George nodded frantically.
“A very connected family member. I can hear her memories!”
Mrs Shaw blinked for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Well yes, I suppose you are dear. Ah, here’s the
headmistress now…”

George whirled around. The group was parting to allow a old
looking woman to pass. Her hair was tied in a bun, and she was striding towards
George with such speed she thought she might get ran over. Before she got too
close, George stepped out of the way and re-joined the group in the middle of
the room.
“That’s the headmistress, Mrs Prenglance. She’s quite
strict, some people say. Well, my brothers.”
George saw the boy Tim was speaking rather loudly to the
person standing next to him. George grinned at Liam when Mrs Prenglance began
speaking.
“Hello students, and welcome to your first year at Eastern Academy. My name is Mrs Prenglance, and
I am your headmistress. I am here as some of you will know, to sort you into
one of the four houses. Sirius, Capella, Vega and Rigel. You will placed by
what powers you possess. This does not mean you have great or bad powers, but
this is the tradition of the school. We are in the room of founders at this
very moment. The people displayed on the walls are the people who chose the
houses, chose the rules, and chose how to run the school because they were the
first four to decide to open the school. They of course attended themselves;
even though they were their own teachers. Now, Mrs Shaw, If you would…”
Mrs Shaw nodded respectfully at Mrs Prenglance, just before
speaking herself.
“I would like each of you in turn to some forward and
display your powers. Do not fear; There will be no accidents that cannot be
reversed. Now, in register order I will call your name. Please step forward and
show off however you please.”
George shuffled to the front of the group, into a position
where she could see quite well. Just before Mrs Shaw cleared her throat, the
three boys who were Fullons came up to George.
“Let’s go up there, we’ll be able to see best.”
George nodded, and they moved next to a pillar a few metres
away. And then the sorting began.

“John Austin!”
A tall boy from the back came forward. He held out his arms
and they disappeared. Eventually he totally vanished.
“Capella!”
Mrs Prenglance shouted. The group clapped a little until he
reappeared. A door opened in the wall in one corner.
“Go through there please.”
John Austin nodded, and stepped through. The door clanged
shut immediately behind him.
“Now, that is how the sorting shall work. Each corner has
one of the house colours painted on the door. Sirius, Silver; Capella, Yellow;
Vega, Red and Rigel, Purple. Please go through the door of that corner when you
are chosen. Now, the next person…”

George watched as all of the people got called out and read
out to go display. Apparently the three boys whom were Fullons were named Viro,
Zyle and Moz.
She had shook each of their hands solemnly after learning their names. Finally,
It was George’s turn.
“George Howlett!”
She walked in front of everyone slowly. She didn’t know what
to do. So she asked.
“Which one should I do?”
“Any you like. All of them, If you feel it necessary.”
George nodded after hearing the headmistress’s advice. So
she did all of them. First, Fire. A small ball appeared in her hand, which she
threw in a game of catch between her hands. After a few moments she held her
hands out wide, the fireball resting on her palm. After a moment, a small
raincloud appeared over her hands, which expelled water. It doused the flame,
but then the most strangest of things happened. A small flower bud seemingly
grew from her hand, opening eyes and ears all around the room. With a faint pop
the bud sprang open, having grown exceedingly fast. Eventually a rock was in
front of her, in her right palm while the plant had been transferred to her
left. She squished the plant with the rock hard. It caused her a little stab of
pain upon impact, but the real pain was all the gasps from the crowd. It was
slightly un-nerving, so she stopped for a moment.
“Are you finished Dear?”
George shook her head as the words drifted over in Mrs
Shaw’s subtle tones.
“No, not yet.”
George concentrated. It was hard, what she was about to do;
and it was costly if you got it wrong. And that’s when she vanished.

“Where is she?”
The whole of the crowd was in panic. All except the teachers
of course. They just smiled.
Suddenly, Liam shouted something.
“Look, there!”
Everyone turned around to face the way Liam was pointing.
The faint image of George was appearing, Smiling and Laughing with her arms folded.
And then she was solid, fully there and laughing her head off. The two teachers
decided to join in, and soon everybody was laughing. But it wasn’t over, George
hadn’t finished.
“One more to show, then it’s somebody else.”
She shouted this loudly over the laughing kids, who turned
to face her so rapidly several necks cracked horribly loud. All of them fixed
their eyes on George who just stood there staring right back. And then there
were two of her. And then three. The little crowd gasped as George appeared all
around them, all the same and staring right at them.
“Duplication!”
Somebody shouted it out excitedly. The teachers began
clapping just as George was one again.
“Excellent, really excellent… Now, next….Oh wait, your
house…”
George stayed to watch the whole group go. The other Fullons
each had their turn, which showed the other powers George had heard about over
the years. Viro Letourneau, the tallest of the boys; with shadow powers which
allowed him to enter the shadow dimension at will. Zyle Vartson, a smaller boy;
who has powers inherited from his Shinigami ancestor which included the ability
to control weaponry. And Moz Swallow, the smallest of them; who could run very
fast and could move time forwards or backwards in small bursts at will. George had
grinned at each of them as it had been their turn, and had clapped louder than
anyone when they had finished. All of them had been placed in Sirius, which
George had been extremely proud of.
“My family’s house! Excellent…”
They had all nodded. It was going to be fun, they could just
tell. And George knew it more than ever when they stepped through the Grey
Sirius door.

Chapter Seven –
The First Day





George had followed the guide for the girls up to her room.
Apparently Each girl got their own room, which George found extremely nice.


“The school is bigger on the inside, due to Mr Williams. He
is an expert with spatial dimensions.”


George nodded, knowing that Mr Williams would probably have
spatial powers. The girl lead her up a staircase, with corridors that lead off
at regular intervals. Finally, at the top of the tower (it had grown to be a
tower after a while) she stepped right and walked up to a small circular door.


“This will be your room. Feel privileged; only Fullons sleep
this high.”


George detected a tinge of envy in the girls voice, which
she spoke about priefly before she had managed to disappear down the stairs.


“So I’m up here alone?”


The girl nodded curtly.


“You may use any of these rooms, or even all of them if you
wish. But this is your default room, so you will have to enter here first.”


With that she disappeared from sight, descending down the
stairs and back to ground level. George tried to move the handle, but it
wouldn’t budge. Instead, a shrill voice echoed from the walls and floor around
her. The voice made George cringe, just as it began to speak.





Oh young student, how
you frown


You can’t get in, only
down


So state your name,
and intent


To go within, without
lament.





George rolled her eyes. Yet again, the
state-your-name-and-enter thing. So she did.


“George Howlett, rightful occupant of this floor of Eastern Academy. Elemental Fullon, partial
teleporter and Duplicator.”





Very well, the door
shall part


And you shall sleep
within it’s heart.





“Oh shut up.”


She moved through the door as it swung open, and smiled when
she saw her new room. It was painted blue, with a red carpet and a large
window. She dashed to her bed, which was adorned with her luggage. Jetwing’s
cage was next to the window, on top of a small table which gleamed in the
evening sun. A great view could be seen from the window, and George knew she
was going to feel at hom. She laid back on her bed, relaxed and watched as
birds and trees moved outside. Eventually she decided to read, so she withdrew
a book from her bulging suitcase. At random she had managed to pick out Invisible City; a rather good favourite of hers.
Silently, she opened it to the first page and began reading.





George awoke with a jolt; she had apparently fallen asleep
while reading. Her watch lay on her bedside table, which she snatched up to
stare at the time. 7:00am. She couldn’t
believe she had fallen asleep while reading, until the next day too! What time
did they eat at here? Breakfast would have been served at half seven at home. She
didn’t know what time they served their breakfast here. Did they get called by
a teacher when it was time? She jumped as the bell rang again, dispelling all
her thoughts of food. Then a loud, posh sounding voice spoke through the
speakers, which told George it was some sort of Announcement.





“Can all Fullons
please go to the Founders hall immediately. Further instructions will be given
when you arrive. Thank you.”





George groaned immediately, without thought or hesitation.
Yet another situation where she was separated from the other students. But at
least she wasn’t alone. Zyle, Moz and Viro would be there as well. So she might
as well get on with it.





Five minutes later, after getting changed into some clean
clothes, he headed down the spiral staircase that lead down into the main
school. As she passed, doors slammed around her after nervous eyes had been
looking out at her. I wonder what they
are afraid of… George thought. It
can’t be me, can it? She shook her head, answering her own question.


“No, I’m being silly…”


But her mind changed again when another door slam resounded
in her ears.





After three minutes of continuous descent, George arrived
down at the bottom of the staircase. She hadn’t realised how tall the tower
was.


‘The school is bigger
on the inside, due to Mr Williams. He is an expert with spatial dimensions.’


That’s what that girl had said. Now George could truly
comprehend the heights the school could reach. As she stared around the room at
te base of the tower, she saw it was some kind of living space. People were sat
in armchairs and on sofas which were placed around the room. Another picture of
George’s ancestor was hung above the marble fireplace, which was placed in the
far wall. George looked around for the door she had got through out of the room.
She went to the corner where it had been concealed, but there was nothing but
blank wall.


“Need help?”


George turned to find a tall, well-built lad staring at her
hard. He had brown eyes which sparkled. George struggled to remember his name;
she had attempted to memorise them all from the sorting.


“Sirius….Morpheus?”


George took a wild guess, which was all she could manage
with those eyes looking into her own.


“Wow, you did pay attention. Yes, hello. I suppose you need
help getting back to the hall of Founders?”


George nodded.


“I got in here through this door, but how do I get back
through?”


Sirius shook his head.


“You don’t get in there, but I’ll take you around to the
other door if you want.”


“Thanks that would be great.”


He nodded, then began walking towards the far corner. As
George approached, an old wooden door appeared. It bore the word ‘Sirius’ in
large letters, and a picture of a dog, surrounded by little stars.


“Sirius, the dog star. I like being able to turn into one.”


George looked sideways at him.


“You’re the animal shape shifter, right?”


He nodded. George nodded as well.


“So, are we going?”


“What? Oh, yeah.”


He pushed open the door, and then politely stood back to
allow George through.


“Come on.”


The door swung closed as they hurried down the corridor,
deep in conversation and occasionally laughing.





“Here you go, the hall of Founders.”


After several minutes of walking, they had arrived before
the familiar doors which they had both stepped through only yesterday.


“Thanks for bringing me. I’ll give you something later,
okay?”


Sirius shook his head.


“It was a pleasure; consider it the start of our
friendship.”


George grinned at him, before gripping the handle of the
door.


“See you for now I guess.”


Sirius nodded, before turning around and walking out of
sight. She looked at where he had disappeared for a minute, then looked back at
the door. She sighed deeply, then pushed the doors open and went to join the
other three Fullons in the room.





“Ah, Hello young miss.”


George nodded at the headmistress as she walked in. Viro and
Zyle were looking back at her, with grins spread wide on their faces. Moz
however was facing forward, staring up at the paintings.


“Now, we can get started. Does anybody want to hazard a
guess why you’re here before I tell you?”


George raised her hand. She didn’t know why, but a small
idea had popped into her head.


“Is it something to do with different lessons?”


Mrs Prenglance looked impressed.


“Yes, how did you know?”


George shook her head and shrugged.


“It was just a guess, a hunch if you like. I thought we
might get something different as we’re Fullons.”


Mrs Prenglance wasn’t the only one to look impressed now.
The three boys were looking at her too, a mixture of amusement and pride on
their faces. George strained to hold her laughter. Instead she smiled at them,
winked then looked back towards the headmistress.


“Now, as miss George said-” (the three boys grinned
casually) “-You will have slightly different timetables. You will be sharing
the same classes, but will have different activities as you might find the
ordinary tasks quite easy.”


George smiled widely. Finally, she had a chance to show off
her skills. The boys grinned too, which made Mrs Prenglance look at them a
little oddly.


“You four think you’ll do well, no doubt?”


“Yes miss.”


All four said this together, almost on the verge of
laughing.


“Very well. Now, your form tutor will introduce himself or
herself when you arrive after second period. Your timetables will be handed to
you in the dining hall, so I suggest you move there now. In fact, I’ll take
you; no doubt there will be somebody looking for me.”


So the little group left the room through the Sirius door,
and walked from the room on their way to breakfast.





George walked briskly behind the head teacher. Zyle and Viro
were deep in conversation, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. Moz was
staring impassively around at the walls, taking in everything while they moved.
George wasn’t doing much sight seeing, but was using the time to think. It was
a good place, this school; somewhere where she felt at home. What would be
happening at home right now? Maybe Mum was washing up, or drying out clothes.
Her Dad was probably at work; organising something for the council. George
smiled at the thought, it made her feel warm inside. She decided to think about
her form. In her primary school (a non-power normal school) there had been
years 1 through 6. Here at eastern, she supposed there would be years 7 through
13. Six years of definite schooling. Eight if she decided to stay on and be
part of the sixth form. She hadn’t decided whether she would yet, she had
thought of making up her mind when she had been at the school six years. So all
she had to do was wait.





The dining hall was huge. Little tables were placed around
the hall, with taller circular tables against the walls. At the far side of the
room, the dinner staff were serving the food from behind a counter. A small
door led back into the kitchens from behind the counter. George walked over and
joined the queue. Shortly she was joined by Liam, who had a face like thunder.


“Those stupid idiots!”


George looked at Liam as she moved along a bit in the queue.


“What’s wrong?”


Her voice hinted that she was concerned, but Liam didn’t
seem to notice.


“Just those other guys in our form… They’re already making
rude stuff up and me and….”


“What?”


“…and you.”


He sounded tired as he spoke, deliberately blocking out
anything George said.


“What? Like what Will said earlier?”


Liam nodded his head. George groaned. Not another set of
people who speculated over their friendship.


“Well, if they do it again, they might just find something
precious is on fire.”


Liam giggled as George whispered to him. He obviously
thought it was a good idea.


“Next!”


George turned to face the elderly lady who was serving the
students.


“May I have a baguette please?”


She pointed towards one of the delicious warm bread rolls in
the basin in front of her.


“Of course you may.”


The woman took a bread roll, wrapped it in a small thin
paper and then handed it to George. George said her thanks before moving to the
till so Liam could put in his order.


“35p please.”


As George handed over her change, a small boy trotted up to
Liam without him knowing and held up his hand behind Liam’s back. Instinctively
George thrust out her palm, sending volleys of air which knocked the boy’s hand
back down. Liam spun around as the air whistled behind his head, causing his
hair to stand up. He flattened it down before string coldly at the little boy
who was trying to force his arm up. He didn’t seem to have noticed Liam at all.
Eventually he gave an exasperated sigh and lifted his gaze a tiny bit with
desperation. At the sight of Liam’s grey eyes staring into his, a little shriek
erupted from the boy’s lips. He trotted away, still tugging on his arm.





George looked at Liam.


“Should I let his arm back up yet?”


“Wait until he gives a great tug, and then release him. With
hope it’ll whack hi in the face. Nice
job, by the way.”


George flushed red with pleasure and concentrated on
watching the kid who had approached Liam. Spotting her chance as he tugged extremely
hard, George lowered her arm and the kid’s arm shot up and whacked his face.
Liam’s loud laughter erupted into the air, causing many people to stare. George
laughed a little too, soon everyone was laughing. All except the little boy.
His face had a diagonal red slash where his arm had made contact, just seeing
it made George squirm uncomfortably. Despite his laughter, Liam noticed George
looked unhappy.


“What’s wrong?”


His voice has changed instantaneously from shrieks of joy to
a low concerned tone.


“I think we just bullied someone.”


Liam looked serious for a moment, and for the rest of
breakfast they ate their food in silence. Each thinking about what they had
just done.

Chapter Eight – First
Lesson





A short while after the incident, George had found the
little kid and had apologised. He had apologised too, for attempting to do
something. He was quite a nice boy, thoughtful and careful. George thought of
how rude she had been, and eventually had apologised no less that thirteen
times. Each time the boy had shook it off; he felt as he was about to do
something bad he was right to be stopped. George nodded away these words, and
stared into space.





Their timetables had been handed to them as Mrs Prenglance
had said, and George was surprised to see she had Displaration period one. It
was good, but also made her feel strange. She had seemed like a show off at the
sorting- What if she came across as one again? She didn’t ponder on it too
long, only the few minutes it took to get to lesson. For such a big place,
finding the classroom had been easy; it was nearby to the hall. George stood
outside of the door waiting, and wondering what the lesson would be like…





At last the teacher showed, a tall man with brown hair and
blue eyes. Glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose and he looked
remarkably professional. George had smiled as he had approached, which he
returned without hesitation. As he unlocked the door and allowed the students
in, he parted George and the other three Fullons from the group and told them
to wait outside. Shortly he was with them, after giving out the lesson
instructions.


“Right then you four, you’re going to be next door with Mrs
Patel today.”


George nodded slowly, but looked confused all the same.


“But I thought we just did something more advanced in your
class sir? That’s what Mrs Prengalnce told me.”


The teacher looked slightly unnerved.


“I’m sure she meant you would be doing more advanced things
in a class, not necessarily my class.”


Viro, Zyle and Moz looked confused.


“She did sir, we were all there this morning!”


The teacher nodded, and then looked down at the floor.


“Go to Mrs Prenglance’s office if you wish, and ask her
about the arrangements. Tell her Mr Ryde is unsure of what his instructions
were.”


The little group all nodded. They all seemed to be thinking
the same thing.


“Where is Mrs Prenglance’s office, Sir?”


“If you go to the hall of founders, it’s the opposite door.
It’s hard to see until you know where it is.”


George nodded. It must
be another cloaking shield… George thought this many times as they all
headed towards the head’s office. The amount of cloaking shields and charms
that were spread around were vast. She could understand the one about the
station and shops but in the school? Not really needed. As they rounded the
bend and headed down the stairs, a loud shout could be heard downstairs. The
little group rushed towards the noise, to discover what was going on. After
several minutes of pushing and shoving, they made their way to the front of the
crowd to find two older students fighting, possibly from year nine or ten. At
the sight of the newcomers, the fight ceased and the two boys stared up at the
four little kids in their midst.


“Come to watch have you? This idiot’s about to have his face
wiped.”


“The other kid in the middle retorted defiantly, loudly and
unafraid.


“Really? I bet you couldn’t even beat these little guys.”


George’s stomach lurched uncomfortably as the boy who had
spoken first turned slowly towards them, pivoting on his left heel.


“Oh yeah? Let’s find out.”


George shook her head.


“We’re not fighting either of you; you’re too weak, stupid
and arrogant for fighting in school. Pull yourself together.”


George strode from the circle at this point, followed by the
three boys. After a few minutes, the two boys from the middle began to follow.
They were going to take down those little kids.





George, Viro, Zyle and Moz moved quickly through the
corridors. The sound of heavy footsteps behind them made them go fast; always
alert and ready. What had Will said before she had even started?


Don’t go near people
who aren’t your friends. God knows what powers they have.


No doubt they were stronger than George and her three
accomplices, so why had she said anything? This spurred her on and soon they
were striding towards the door that led to the hall of Founders. And then the
two boys rounded the corner behind them, chuckling and cracking their knuckles.
George gulped and kept moving, towards the Hall and towards the headmistress’s
office door. It was agitating, moving so slowly when you want to run away as
fast as you can. The two older boys stopped approaching.


“So, here we are. Girlie, you’re first. If you can knock him
off his feet when I shout go, we’ll get lost and leave you and your pals alone.
Deal?”


George’s head thought for itself, where she wanted to shake
her head it dipped then straightened up again. The older boys nodded, then the
one on the right stepped forward. George’s legs mechanically moved until she
was facing the older kid. He was slim, didn’t look too heavy; a couple of
blasts of air should do.


“Three…”


The other boy was doing a countdown, and three signalled the
time for George to begin building up all her energy.


“Two…”


Frowning with concentration, the energy swept through her
like a tidal wave, crashing around until it is brought to a standstill.


“One…”


George tensed, she was ready.


“Begin!”


The boy darted left and ran up the wall. He could stand
perfectly, without falling off. George smiled; this was going to be way too
easy. She prepared her first blow. As he leapt from the wall after aiming a
kick at her head, the air whooshed from her and caught the boy off guard. The
air slammed into him and he landed awkwardly on his hands and knees. George
looked at him wearily. He was about to attack. And then it sprung on her.
Making sure it would be slack so he couldn’t feel it, she created a band of air
around his ankles. If he tried to move, he would topple over like a domino. It
worked like a charm. The minute he attempted to break the silence, the band
tightened and he landed flat on his face. The awful crunching of bones told
George he had either broken or fractured his nose.


“OUCH!!!!”


He screamed this very loudly. George panicked as she backed
away, towards the room where the headmistress would be. About two paces back,
she bumped into something. George turned to see what it was, but lo and behold
Mrs Prenglance herself was standing there, looking down at George.


“That scream was pretty loud…” George mumbled, as she was
ordered into Mrs Prenglance’s office with the other three boys.





“So… The boys were fighting, you interrupted, they stopped
fighting and then followed you here to my office?”


“That’s right, Mrs Prenglance.”


George had explained it all to Mrs Prenglance, after being
warded into her office. It was a very nice space; shelves lined with books,
comfy chairs with cushions; a oak desk with organised stationary and folders.
Overall, George thought she would like to have a room like this.


“Well, thank you for stopping the fight. No doubt he would
have had more damage than he does from you.”


George stared at the teacher. She could have sworn the
corners of her mouth had been stretched into a smile half a minute ago.


She must think I’m crazy,
taking on someone that big.


The thought swept over George, filling every nook and cranny
of her brain with something to worry about, or something to do. It was quite a
nice sensation.


“So. What takes you from your first lesson to outside my
office?”


“Mr Ryde didn’t know what to do with us Miss. We said we did
more complicated things whilst in his class, but he said we should go next
door…. So he asked us to come and check with you.”


The head teacher nodded.


“I see. Well, you were right. You should be doing more
complicated things in his classroom. Go tell him; and then go do whichever task
he may set you. Good day, Fullons.”


The last word was pronounced with such haste George was
surprised it was understandable at all. Before she left the room after Zyle,
Moz and Viro she turned to ask the teacher one last question.


“Miss, what do you prefer to call us?”


The teacher smiled sadly.


“I heard it was you who made this up, but I like
‘Supernaturals’ better.”


She flashed a toothy grin. George returned it, and then
stepped from the office.

Well done! Have you got something new?

Chapter Ten – Second Period



George had been happy after that outbreak. Everyone had got along, and Liam had been qualified to work with the Fullons on their harder tasks. He was really pleased about that. George was happy for him too, because it meant in lessons, she would be working with all of her new friends. Except Sirius. But maybe one day he’ll be like Liam; allowed to work on harder things with the Fullons instead of doing the boring easy tasks. George had decided that being a Fullon was an honour, something she would be proud of. Although what the boy had said had shook her, she wasn’t one to be affected by people that easily. Besides, she had spoke her mind, so if he was smart enough he would understand never to bother her again. But George doubted that. Nobody was perfect; everyone had enemies, someone who hated you. But, George had promised herself that she wouldn’t hate anyone unless she had a very good reason. If he bothered her again, it was decided that he would qualify as the first to be hated; the first person to find out why they should never have bothered George in the first place. And for some strange reason, that made George smile.



It took the little group of friends a few minutes to find their next classroom. It was considerably easier with the ring Viro had, but it would have been excellent if there was a little box somewhere which contained school maps. George had decided that that would have been logical. After all, how in the world are first year students supposed to navigate through the school without help? It was near enough impossible.



George sped along the corridor. Viro was just behind her; his trainers beating the ground in a steady rhythm.

“Two… More…. Corridors…”

He panted, his footsteps slowing a little.

“You can do it….”

George said this quite normally, although her voice jumped up and down with each step she took. But she could see Viro was slowing, out of breath. Liam was also a little way behind. George grabbed a hand of each and hauled them along after her. They held her down, but at least they kept up a bit better. Five minutes later, the group stood panting outside their classroom door.

“Come on.”

Zyle was the least out of breath; therefore he was the first to enter the classroom. After catching their breath, collecting their strength and slowing their heart rate, the rest of the group followed in silence.



“Ah welcome Fullons. I suppose you got lost?”

George stared into the eyes of her teacher. Viro and Liam stepped on either side of her. They looked slightly puzzled. George looked around and saw why. All of the other children were sat in their seats, staring straight at the corner where the little group and the teacher stood talking.

“The others managed to find their way quicker, but I suppose you thought you would make a grand entrance?”

George clenched her fists sub-consciously. Who is he to judge us? She thought. He has no right. He doesn’t even know us yet!

“Right, now we’re all here, I’ll continue with register. I’ll seat you five when-”

He glanced up at the group, which were still stood near the door. George looked at him.

“Is there a problem Sir?”

The teacher grinned. His smile revealed yellowing teeth, which made George feel slightly revolted.

“One of you isn’t a Fullon, am I right? There’s only four founders, so four Fullons. Where’s the little guy who thought he could be part of them without all the flashy powers?”

George only felt a rush of warm air as Liam darted past, fireballs in hands.

“I WAS NAMED ELIGIBLE TO BE A FULLON, SO DON’T YOU DARE-”

“Liam NO!”

George ran after him and grabbed one of his hands. The fireball burnt her hand but she focused on keeping Liam from assaulting the teacher.

“It’s fine, he can fight if he wants. He’ll get a detention; but I’ll let it depend on whether he wins or not.”

George gasped; the fire was beginning to burnt through her hand. She let go, and clutched at her hand. Using all her power, she made a case of ice erupt around her hand to keep the wound clean and cool. It felt instantly better; freezing instead of scorching. Liam whipped around and grabbed the ice-covered hand. He stared through the case at the hole. It made him cringe.

“I’m really sorry, it was my fault you had to stop me….”

George shook her head quickly.

“It’s fine; it’ll be healed in a few days I’m sure…. No really, I’m fine…”

Liam kept complaining for another five minutes. He never got to finish his final apology, as a loud voice came across their conversation.

“Are you quite finished? Shall we get on with this fight, or get on with the lesson?”

“Lesson.”

George spoke before Liam had the chance. He glanced up at her, but looked down when he saw the expression that clearly said don’t say anything or else.

“Right then. Register.”

The teacher examined George for a moment, then winked. George tilted her head slightly. What on earth… she thought. One minute he’s shouting his head off, now he’s winking? I wonder if he meant that… George kept thinking all these strange thoughts throughout the register. When her name was called, she sighed and answered.

“Here Sir.”

She looked at Liam. He was calm now, but was still shaking. It wasn’t until after the last name was called that she knew why.

“What’s wrong?”

His teeth chattered as he pointed at her. George looked at him puzzled, then held out both hands while she checked herself over. Liam nudged her lightly with one elbow and gestured towards her right hand. George looked up at it and realised what he was on about. The ice glove, which was covering the burn, had been melting onto Liam’s clothes.

“Whoa… sorry.”

She make the glove disappear. It had finished doing it’s job anyway. Liam looked grateful, but still shuddered. George took hold of his wet clothes, examined them, and then sent warm air into the fabric. It made her hand hurt a little, but not as much as when she had been gripping the fire. After a few minutes Liam stopped shaking and looked up at George. She looked straight back, into his eyes. She realised what a nice colour they were.

“Thanks.”

He whispered this hurriedly, as the teacher was approaching them.

“Now then, to place you in your seats. George, next to Sirius; Liam, next to Alice; Viro, next to Olivia; Zyle, next to Alisha, and Moz, you can go in front of my desk, next to Chloe.”

George looked across at Sirius. He grinned at her. She returned a small smile, which made him turn slightly red in the sunlight. She raised an eyebrow at him, which he shrugged at. She laughed quietly, and then went to go sit next to him. Even though this teacher wasn’t probably going to be the best, at least she was next to someone nice.

“Now then, my name is Mr Lawrence, and I’ll be your Methods teacher. I’m sure you all have wonderful powers-” (George made a face) “-So I’m sure you will all want to know how to use your powers for different purposes, am I correct?”

Most of the class nodded. George did a funny sort of flick with her head.

“So, today we will be learning how to make your powers hover. Is there anyone here who has made an object which can’t fly fly? Just by using your powers?”

George’s hand shot up. The rest of the class just stared. Apparently they hadn’t even tried before. But then Liam’s hand slowly crept up, along with Viro’s. Zyle’s hand was half up, half down; like he couldn’t make up his mind. Moz’s hand stayed resolutely down, and didn’t move at all.



“So, three Fullons and an Eligible are the only ones who have done it before? I expected a little better. I thought some of you would have been able to make something hover before coming here. Didn’t you even try, just for fun?”

The whole of the class shook their heads, except for the four whose hands had been raised; they nodded slightly and then focused again as Mr Lawrence began speaking.

“Hmm… Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Would any of you four be able to demonstrate?”

The four hands stayed up. George grinned around at Zyle, Liam and Viro. They grinned back after they had seen her looking.

“Right then. Liam, you first. Bring whatever you want to make hover.”

Liam picked something up off his desk, before walking to the front. He began to show what he had learnt over the six-week holiday.



“Hmm… Very interesting….”

The teacher looked at Liam carefully as he made a ruler float around in the air.

"Good, isn't it?"

Liam looked pleased with himself.

"Yes, really quite good. I suppose you can do shapes and patterns in the air?"

Liam nodded. George nearly laughed at his enthusiasm. She knew he wanted to a be a Fullon, so he was trying to become one by being all impressive.

Not going to work... George thought. And if it does it'll be some form of miracle...

Liam just laughed as he made the ruler do cartwheels through the air.

"Thanks sir!"

The teacher nodded.

"I did introduce myself, didn't I?"

George chuckled. She nodded.

"You're Mr Lawrence Sir."

"Yes. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Now then, Which of you wishes to go next?"

George looked around at Viro and Zyle. Zyle looked thoughtful, while Viro looked casual. Finally Zyle raised his hand, which showed he had clearly made the decision faster than Viro had.

“I’ll go sir.”

Zyle nearly shouted as he said this, due to having to be loud enough to be heard over all the noise.

“That’s right, OK Zyle. Liam, thank you for showing us your demonstration of power. Up you come then, young man.”

Zyle nodded and pushed back his chair. Liam looked over at Zyle for a moment, and then began walking back to his seat.



About halfway back, he stumbled and tripped, hitting his head on the desk. George leapt from her seat while everyone else laughed, and helped Liam up. A cut was across his forehead and he wasn’t able to stand up by himself.

“Are you OK?”

George asked this quietly, while Liam attempted to shake her off.

“Yes, I’m fine. Let go, will you? I need to sit down.”

George shook her head. Half of the class had stopped laughing now, and were focusing on either Zyle at the front of George and Liam near the back of the classroom.

“You need to see the nurse, you have a nasty cut and I don’t think you fainting in class would be such a good idea. Loss of blood will make you weak. We need to get you seen to right now.”

Liam shook his head, but didn’t protest any further. He just stood still, unmoving and refusing to go anywhere with George.

“Liam, I’m serious. Come on!”

Liam still refused. But the movement of his head proved a little too much, because he swayed left and right with each shake.

“Liam, please…”

He looked up at her. His lips moved, but no sound came out. George tried to make out what he had mouthed but a second later she knew. His fist collided with her face, and she fell to the floor, knowing he was about to strike again. She dodged out of the way as a foot lashed out, skimming her back as she rolled. People were focusing on them two now, and weren’t paying attention to Zyle or what their teacher was saying.

“Liam. Leave her alone.”

George gasped as feet appeared near her head, which had to mean one thing.

“Sirius, don’t.”

She scrambled to her feet, watching the two boys as they sized each other up. Liam was rather small, while Sirius was quite tall and thin. George groaned as Liam’s eyes narrowed.

“Liam, if you do this…”

“QUIET!!!!”

George jumped, as did the rest of the class as Liam exploded. He charged towards Sirius, which made George’s decision for her.

“Liam, you will NOT hurt him!”

George leapt in front of Sirius, shielding from Liam yet putting her in potential danger.

“George, move.”

George cringed as Liam’s voice hit her, harsh and cold with no hint of friendship.

“No. What’s wrong with you?”

Liam growled. He obviously hadn’t expected her to be so persistent.

“Nothing is wrong with me! Now if you don’t move, I’ll make you move!”

George shook her head. She had made up her mind.

“Liam, I’m not moving. If you want to hurt my friends then fine, go ahead and try and stop me protecting them. But I know you, and something inside will regret your decision.”

Liam grunted his approval.

“Fine, let’s do it. Outside, at break. You have ten minutes.”

George nodded. She didn’t want to hurt Liam, but if he persisted in trying to hurt all her friends well… She would have to do something. She couldn’t just let him do it, could she?

Chapter Eleven – Fight Between Friends



The minutes crawled painfully by. George had watched Zyle as he finished his demonstration, but didn’t pay much attention when Viro made his chair stay aloft upon a blanket of shadows. He had looked in her direction many times during his time at the front, and it had made George wonder if that’s why he was doing it in the first place. And then it struck her. It was all boys, her friends. They were all fighting over her. When Liam had been fighting earlier, they had been fighting over a girl.

Liam said he was going to ask her out. Ask me out. And he said Viro happened to fancy her too. He fancies me!

George shook her head. It was so unreal. At her boring old primary school, nobody had paid her the slightest bit of attention, except when she was doing something good, bad or plainly annoying. George had thought that was perfectly fine, she shouldn’t worry. But now she wondered if the reason why they never spoke to her was because they were scared or embarrassed. It was a strange thought. She smiled. She now knew why boys were so strange. And that was when the bell rang, trapping her thoughts and replacing them with ones that were quite worrying. Now she would have to fight Liam, to make him back off. But what if I don’t win? George shuddered at the thought. She didn’t want to know would happen if she lost. Would he stop and go away, or would he move on to Sirius and the rest? She didn’t know, but she was about to find out.



Outside, it was a pleasant day. The sun shone down on the little crowd which had gathered to watch the fight. Liam and George stood in the middle, surrounded by kids who had looks of eagerness on their faces.

“So, you going to back out now, or are we actually going to do this?”

George shrugged. She didn’t know.

“Well, if you’re going to keep pestering everyone and trying to hurt them, then yeah, we’re still doing this.”

Liam nodded. George could see he was thinking it through. At least he appeared to have made his decision, because he settled into a stance. George narrowed her eyes.

“Remember the last time we fought? Who ended up in the ice trap?”

Liam grunted. He didn’t seem to want to answer. So George decided to do it for him.

“He did. Now, if you remember my demonstration, who do you think is likely to win?”

A faint murmur passed around the circle of students which surrounded her and Liam. If faintly sounded like ‘You.’

Liam looked straight into George’s eyes. She tried to break eye contact, but something kept her there, looking into his eyes which were filled with sorrow, anger and regret at the same time.

“Then I’m sorry for this.”

George prepared herself, and waited patiently as he flew towards her. She kept her eyes on his face, which in this light looked more handsome than ever.



George spun out of the way just in time. Liam had aimed many kicks, punches and fireballs at her by now, and he was tiring himself. George had a deep cut on her left cheek, which was bleeding profusely without any indication of stopping or slowing down. Her blood was warm against her face, draping a quarter in a shining red colour. Liam had seemed to notice over the past few minutes, George could tell. He was moving much slower now, with his eyes darting from her injury to her pale blue eyes. He looked uncomfortable. This in turn made George uncomfortable, but she couldn’t explain why.

“What’s wrong?”

The words came out of George’s mouth before she could stop herself. Liam had paused; halting his attack to catch his breath.

“You’re… an amazing…. fighter…”

He looked up at her face. He grimaced at the sight. George frowned. Didn’t he think she was pretty? And then the familiar feeling of realisation swept over her. The ct on her cheek, it was still spouting amazing amounts of blood. She must be pretty pale now as she could feel all the colour had been drained from her face.

“Are you alright?”

Zyle was pushing his way through the crowd, and anxious look upon his face.

“I’m fine… You’d better get back, he might get angry…”

George looked around at Liam. He was standing quite still, his eyes narrowed in Zyle’s direction.

“Good idea.”

Zyle flew backwards into George without warning. In the time he had took to make his decision, Liam had raised his hand and had performed a bit of his air Elementalist powers- blowing Zyle right off his feet. George tried to move her head, but couldn’t. The weight of Zyle’s body was too much, she couldn’t move. It felt like her back was broken. What if my back is broken? George wondered. It certainly seemed that way. But then she remembered. If her spine had broken, she would be dead. The main nerve was attached to her spine, and if the spine broke… So did her nerves. Literally.

Suddenly George felt the pressure lifting. Either Zyle was getting up, or somebody was rolling him off.

“Um…”

George stared upwards. She couldn’t see clearly, everything was blurred. But she recognised that voice. Liam.

“What…”

George mumbled this word quietly. With the pressure gone, she couldn’t feel any part of her body. It felt like there was only her head there, flat on the concrete and aching without ever stopping.

“Oh George, I’m so sorry!”

George blinked. His voice had hanged abruptly from cold and selfish to concerned and worried. It was quite startling.

“Ugh…”

As she tried to adjust her head on the cold pavement, a sharp pain washed over her. Liam seemed to notice because he touched her head and moved it gently upwards. The pain was too much, she started whimpering. It made her eyes water. The pain was too much for her.

“Oh my…”

Liam raised her head onto his knees. Her eyes managed to focus as the water swept the dust off of them. She could see his face, pale and staring straight down. His eyes connected with hers. It was a tense moment, the two staring at each other, lost for words. And then George broke the silence. His eyes were wide. They were so depressing to look at.

“Liam…”

She said the name groggily, like she had been asleep. She felt like going to sleep. It seemed so welcoming, shutting her eyes and not interacting with the outside world…

Wait. George opened her eyes in horror. She had been concentrating too much on her comfort. She was slipping unconscious. And now she knew why she hadn’t been able to feel her body before- She had gone numb. Just like you would when you were about to die. This made George jolt, causing her head to slip off Liam’s knee. It hurt her head to have it smacked against the ground, but at least she knew what to do. Rolling onto her front, she pushed down with her hands and pushed herself up. The pain was nothing, it was her fear that was keeping her alive. One of the things to look for is if you can feel pain, you can feel your body and you can feel emotion towards something. And pain was a feeling. And it was good. She wasn’t going to die; she was alive- pushing herself away from the floor into a sitting position so that she could eventually stand up. Liam sat still without moving, watching her. She could tell he was ashamed of himself, and of what he had done. The pain from her back was excruciating, growing more painful with every tiny movement she made. But she didn’t allow the pain to overcome her. George battled against it until she was in a comfortable standing position. She took a baby step forward. She could just about walk, the pain was bearable. It wasn't comfortable admittedly, but at least she could move her legs.



George looked around at everyone. At the sight of her getting up off of the ground, they had shrunk backwards and were looking in all directions except straight at her.

"The show's over. Go on, leave. There's nothing to see here. Except a fool and an idiot."

Seemingly glad of a reason to leave, the crowd gradually dispersed. The three Fullons remained behind, but George waved them away. She wanted everyone to leave, no exceptions. Well, except one. Liam was crouched on the ground behind her, with no implication of moving. She turned around towards him. It was time for her to leave for next lesson.

"Liam, it's time for next lesson. Come on."

Liam shook his head. George knew what was wrong.

"No, go without me. I've done something terrible to you. I'll look stupid going in there. Besides, the teachers will know by now. I'll get killed for harming you. You should go, they'll be waiting to sort you out. Your face..."



George reached up and touched her cheek. The blood had dried by now, but it was still led to her thinking disturbing thoughts. It was rough against her skin, and bits came off as she rubbed it.

"My face will be fine, I'll heal. Come on, with me now. I will explain everything, you won't get into any trouble."

She looked at Liam. He had raised his head to listen to her, but now it had drooped low again.

"I was so stupid.... I'm both the fool and idiot you mentioned. I attacked a friend, I nearly attacked a teacher... I'm terrible."

"And you're sorry for what you've done. That's enough for me."

George shuffled towards him. Her steps were small but that didn't matter. All that mattered was getting Liam to come to his senses.

"Come on, get up. It doesn't matter, alright?"

She held out her hand. He looked up at her and saw what she had done.

"George... I understand if you don't want me to be-"

"Oh just shut up."

She laughed and grabbed his arm. After a minute of tugging she managed to get him onto his feet. He smiled awkwardly up at her. His eyes looked watery.

"Listen..."

"Shhh."

George shook her head in protest. She didn't need any excuses. There was only one thing she needed to do.

"Liam, will you please come inside to go to class now?"

She held out her hand to him again. He looked at her for a few moments, and then slowly reached out to take her hand. They stood there for what seemed like hours, staring into each others eyes during an embarrassing silence.

"So... Liam Johnson..."

"Yeah... My name is ok I guess."

George grinned. Everything had gone back to normal now. They were friends again, which was important. But something was still on her mind, that made her think something was still wrong. And then she realised what was missing.

"Liam..."

"Yeah?"

George leant forwards and whispered something into his ear. Liam's eyes widened, and swivelled around to look into George's. One moment passed, and then he leant forward and kissed her.

Chapter Twelve – Normality with a Twist



The kiss lasted for a few moments, but it seemed to George like forever. It was strange, how they had been fighting mere minutes ago, and now were better than best friends. It just seemed weird inside her head. But she enjoyed it. It was her first proper kiss after all.



Liam broke away and looked her in the eye. He had wondered what to say, after what he had just started. But there was no complaint from George, so maybe it was a good thing.

“George…. We’re late for registration. Promise you won’t tell about what just happened between us.”

She looked at him carefully before nodding.

“I understand. Rumours spread fast. So does the truth.”

Liam nodded in agreement. George smiled at him.

“Come on then, let’s go in.”

George nodded, and followed Liam as he ran towards the door.



“Sir, they’re here!”

Viro leapt from his seat and rushed over to George. Zyle remained seated, although he looked alarmed to see her.

“Are you alright?”

Viro murmured. George glanced around before nodding. All the class were looking at her now, some with their mouths wide open; while others just stared at her and Liam. Viro was looking at every part of her body; legs, hands, hair, face… She had the distinct impression she was being x-rayed. Finally, he began to nod slowly.

“You should be fine, but your cuts will take longer to heal than they normally would.”

George frowned.

“Why would it be different?”

“Because the use of identical powers against each other leaves a deeper mark than when different ones are used against each other.”

George looked past Viro and spotted a man sat in a chair behind a desk. He was looking at the little group in the doorway with a kind expression on his face.

“Welcome to Eastern Academy. I’m your form tutor, Mr Ryde. Please take a seat; you can pick where you want to go. I’m not fussed.”

George smiled at the teacher. She could tell he was going to be fun.

“Thanks Sir!”

Mr Ryde nodded.

“No problem. At the end I’ll help you clean yourself up. You will need some ointment and cream on that cut so it heals properly.”

George smiled gratefully. Liam nodded his appreciation. Mr Ryde seemed to notice Liam was nodding quite vigorously.

“Liam, embarrassed about what you’ve just done? Or are you embarrassed about what happened when everybody left?”

Liam turned scarlet. George nearly laughed as he changed colour so rapidly. His face represented a tomato. George grinned at Mr Ryde behind Liam’s back, who was watching him with an amused expression on his face.

“I won’t speak about it. Now, would you kindly sit down? I need to take the register.”

Viro vanished from her side as he moved to sit down in his place again. George looked around, and spotted two empty seats next to Sirius. She gestured towards them, and Liam saw the hint and set off towards them. George glanced at the class once, before following Liam towards her new seat.



“Amy!”

“Here Sir!”

“Bradley!”

“Here Sir!”

“Josh!”

“Here Sir!”

George looked around at her new form. When they had been sorted two days ago, after the ceremony had finished; another teacher, Mr Coe, had appeared in the main room and had told each person which form they were going to be in. George, Liam, Viro, Zyle and Moz had been told they would be in 7R. George had been excited when she had learned they were all in the same group, and in most of the same classes. Because of the different ability levels each of them possessed, they were sometimes placed in different groups for different subjects. George had been placed in all of the top groups along with Liam, but Moz was in the third sets for some lessons and Viro and Zyle were in second set for a couple. It didn’t really matter, they were still friends; but it just meant they wouldn’t be able to see each other for a few hours sometimes. George didn’t mind though, she thought it was good that they were separated sometimes. She knew only too well if you were stuck with the same person for too long you got agitated and annoyed at them. She knew this from first-hand experience; she had been friends with a boy called Paul Swallow when she had been in primary school. He had been very annoying sometimes, and they had usually fought at least once a week. But now he was in her past and not anywhere near, and for this George was grateful.



When at last the register was done, everyone was instructed to read a book. You were always expected to carry one in your bag in case you were asked to read while the teacher was busy. George just carried around the book she was reading at the moment. But she hadn’t brought that many books with her, because it would have made her trunk too heavy and full to carry to the train station. Also it would have been too heavy to move. It had been hard to leave her books behind, but she had brought all of her favourites.

“Now then class, read for ten minutes. I'll be back soon. George, Liam; if you would follow me please.”

George looked up from her book. She looked at Mr Ryde for a moment, before nodding and slipping her book back inside her backpack.

“I'm coming Sir.”

Liam looked up at her. He was still sat down, with his book in his hands.

“Come on Liam.”

George watched as Liam shook his head. It made her feel confused, as well as annoyed.

“What's wrong?”

“This is the point where I get in trouble. No way am I going out there to be shouted at.”

George shook her head. Had he forgotten what she had told him earlier?

“Look, I have already told you that you are not going to get into any trouble while I'm there. Now come on, Mr Ryde's getting impatient.”

It seemed like hours before Liam began to nod.

“OK. I know you’re going to try and help me. But I want a punishment. But just not a serious one. Do you know what I mean?”

George nodded as she packed Liam’s stuff away back into his bag.

“Like, you want to be punished for what you have done, buy just not really badly punished?”

“Exactly.”

George shot a smile at him, before shoving his bag into his chest.

“Here. Come on!”

She nodded towards the door. Liam sighed and slung his bag on his back.

“I’m coming.”

George nodded, and walked around the desk towards the door. Liam followed her slowly, under the watchful eyes of the rest of the group.



“There you two are. You took your time to appear!”

George smiled at their form tutor. He was actually pretty good looking, if she was honest. His smile made her feel safe. But then again, what could possibly go wrong in this school? Seemingly nothing. However, nothing is perfect. So something was bound to happen in the end. This made George shiver. In one of her diary entries, she had spoke of ‘something that will keep me here’. It made her wonder if what she was writing would one day be the truth.

“Sorry Sir, I had doubts.”

Liam spoke to Mr Ryde while George cleared her head. It wasn’t important, just something that she had suspected would happen. Nothing at all to be worried about.

“I understand. Now then George, we’ll need to get you to the Medical wing. You look awful with all that dried blood on your face. You look much prettier without it.”

George felt herself going red. Hopefully he won’t notice through the blood. She thought. I hope Liam doesn’t notice either. But they apparently both noticed. Liam narrowed his eyes, while Mr Ryde looked mildly surprised. George merely shrugged, hoping to lose all the attention.

“Where is the Medical wing, Sir?”

Liam gave her one last long stare before looking away. He concentrated on Mr Ryde instead. George felt slightly hurt. He was scowling; she could tell from the way the side of his face which she could see was all stretched downwards.

“It doesn’t matter, I’m leading you there. Liam, you have to come too. No excuses.”

George looked around for Liam, but he had vanished. It took her a while to know what had happened.

“Liam, stop being invisible. I know you’re still here because you won’t leave me until you know I’m OK.”

A loud groan sounded about one metre away. It was near the door, on George’s left.

“How and why do you know me so well when we’ve only known each other for a week?”

Liam materialised next to George in a sitting position. He stood up hastily and looked George in the eye while she answered.

“I don’t know, but I know quite a lot of people well without knowing them for too long. Mr Ryde, Your full name is Andrew Ryde, you have a wife, and one little child. You worked at a primary school for five years until you realised teaching non-powered students was boring. And then you came here to be a Geography teacher, am I correct?”

Mr Ryde looked astounded. Liam just gaped at her.

“Well… I won’t deny that what you’ve just said is true, but how in the world did you know I found teaching at that place boring? Can you read minds?”

George shrugged. She knew what it probably was.

“My ancestor got a new power every month when she turned thirteen. I turn thirteen in five months. I suppose my future powers will be appearing in small quantities at this point.”

Liam looked at Mr Ryde for support. He didn’t believe George at all. A new power every month? That was just crazy.

“She’s lying, right? A new power EVERY month? That’s got to be a fake power. Sir?”

Mr Ryde was nodding slowly. George didn’t know what to say.

“Oh no, it’s all true.”

George smiled secretly when Liam’s mouth dropped open. She could tell he was disappointed and angry. But she could detect a slight hint of excitement in there too.

“That’s not fair! Nobody in the world should be able to do that!”

“Only because you want to have that power instead.”

George muttered this under her breath, so Liam wouldn’t hear. It was strange how he behaved sometimes; one minute he was all smiles, happy and cheerful; the next he was scowling, spiteful and moody. It was this which made George wonder; what can make his mood change so fast?



“Come on, this way now…”

Mr Ryde had led them through the school towards the Medical wing for around five minutes now. He hadn’t stopped once; he obviously knew where he was going. Liam and George however did not have a clue where they were. It wasn’t surprising really, as they had only been here three days. They hadn’t been able to venture through the whole school yet.

“So, how much further Sir? You told the class we would be ten minutes. We only have four left.”

George glanced at Liam. He was looking straight ahead, and showed no signs of turning his head in any direction.

“Not much further now, just a few more corridors. And I can assure you the class is fine; they’re sensible enough to know to behave.”

George shook her head. He was asking for a lot if he thought the class would just sit there quietly while their teacher was absent from the classroom.

“I know you don’t believe me about that George, but at least believe me enough to acknowledge what I’m hoping for.”

George laughed. He hadn’t been serious after all. He had just been wishing it would have been like that.

“I do Sir, I do…”

She looked around at Liam, expecting him to be smiling. But he was as impassive as ever, staring forwards without showing any emotion.

“Here we are.”

George looked away to see what Mr Ryde was on about. They had reached the end of the passage, and were now stood in front of a large wooden door. Engraved in the oak were the words ‘Medical Wing’. George nodded towards the door.

“I suppose we will have to introduce ourselves?”

“Naturally.”

George smiled at her teacher. He’s really nice. She thought. I bet I’ll have fun, seeing him every day.

“Georgina Howlett, Liam Mclean-”

She broke off.

“Do I say Mr Ryde, or do I have to say your full name Sir?”

“You have to say my full name. Don’t worry about my middle name. Even though, do you know it?”

George shook her head.

“Oh well, I’ll tell you later on.”

George smiled and nodded. She started the announcement again.

“Georgina Howlett, Liam Mclean, Andrew Ryde; here to clean up cuts and bandage up injuries.”

She spared a glance at Mr Ryde. He saw her looking and smiled. He gestured towards the door.

“It will open now; you can just open it like a normal door.”

George smiled back at him as she reached for the door’s handle. She grasped it in her right hand and pushed down on the metal. A slow noise sounded as the door opened, a faint creaking which made George’s ears hurt slightly.

“Hello Miss. I heard you had been in a fight. Might I ask you to come in?”

George nodded. A young boy had appeared at the door, one arm bandaged up in a sling.

“What happened to you, Andrew?”

The little boy looked past George at Mr Ryde, who was looking down at him with a worried expression on his face.

“I broke my arm when we were in Displaration, Sir. Emily Holgate thought it was funny to send a table into me.”

George glanced at the boy’s arm.

“And you threw up your arm to shield yourself?”

He nodded. George wondered what it was like to break a bone. She had never broken one before, and never hoped to.

“Well, I shall see to Emily for you when I am sure George is OK. Now then, where is Nurse Jones?”

Andrew shrugged. George raised an eyebrow as he hissed in pain.

“In her office I suppose Sir.”

Mr Ryde nodded, and walked away from the three towards a door on the far side of the room. While he was walking, Andrew turned to face George.



“You’ve got be careful this year, both of you. And the other Fullons. Something bad is going to happen, but I can’t determine what. But something surprising is about to happen, so you had better be ready.”

Liam looked at George. What is he on about? George saw him mouth the words, and she glanced at Andrew to see if he was looking. He had turned away to look at Mr Ryde, who was in a conversation with a young woman at the other side of the room. I don’t know. Liam looked at George with a puzzled expression on his face. George rolled her eyes at him. What had he expected? Had he thought she would have known what the young kid was on about? The woman and Mr Ryde hurried back over. George looked at Liam as he was checked over by the nurse, who was muttering things like ‘Bruised’ and ‘Cuts.’

He looked over at George with an amused expression. George giggled a little at the sight of his face. It was strange; they had been fighting jut under an hour ago. Now they were the best of friends, and were laughing with each other about things that normally no-one would find funny.

“Right then, It won’t take me too long to fix you both up. But that cut on your face will take two to three weeks to fully heal, so make sure you apply this cream to it every day. It will speed it up a bit, so it’s best if you rub quite a bit on. If you run out, Come back and I’ll give you another pot.”

George stared at the round container which had been pressed into her hands. It was grey and had a small label on the side, which was scratched away in parts. But it was legible enough for her to be able to make out the two words ‘Healing Cream’.

“Thanks for the advice, I’ll make sure I do that.”

George slipped the tub into her pocket. Liam looked at the nurse expectantly.

“Do I need anything?”

“No, you’re fine. I expect George wasn’t trying to commit murder when you were fighting.”

Liam looked sheepish as she said this. George smiled reassuringly at him as he glanced over. He smiled back, and then concentrated on talking to Mr Ryde.

“What do I need doing?”

George asked the Nurse quickly once she had broken off looking at Liam. He and Mr Ryde were discussing something, but she wasn’t sure of what. Mr Ryde looked across at George. He smiled and nodded towards the NURSE. George took the hint and turned back around to face Nurse Jones as she answered George’s question.

“Not much dear, just a clean of your face with antiseptic liquid, and then a bit of the cream and you should be fine. The cut is quite deep though, so I would be careful what you do with your face. Don’t smirk. Frowning too hard will really hurt. If you do a toothy grin, the cut might bleed so you probably shouldn’t do that.”

George nodded at each statement, and tried to remember what she had said a few times. It certainly sounded like this cut was going to be a pain.

“Are you alright George?”

She looked around at Mr Ryde, who was staring at her carefully. His green eyes were twinkling in the daylight which was shining through the glazed glass windows.

“I’m fine Sir, thank you for asking.”

He nodded slowly. Liam looked up at him as he appeared to impersonate a nodding dog.

“That’s good to know. It’s important that students feel fine here… Students must be happy in their education.”

George nodded. So did Liam. They both agreed that being happy was key if you were to learn things. If you were in a mood or unhappy, you tended to do things wrong and learn incorrectly. So it was important you were happy, so that you learnt things right.

“Sir, shouldn’t we be setting off back to form?”

Mr Ryde gasped. It was really quiet though, and you only heard it because there was no other noise.

“Of course, the room might be in chaos… Come on George, you’re ready aren’t you?”

George nodded silently and snatched up her bag. After saying a hurried thanks and goodbye to Nurse Jones, she hurried after Liam and Mr Ryde who had bolted from the room.

Chapter Thirteen - Healed But Wary



When George, Liam and Mr Ryde had returned to the classroom, they discovered that a teacher was in there with the students. Apparently one of the free staff had seen them leaving, and had decided to go watch the children until they had returned. The teacher had turned out to be Mrs Patel, the deputy Head of the school. It was to her whom Mr Bell had tried to send the Fullons earlier this morning. She was quite nice, with short brown hair and blue eyes. She had told Mr Ryde about how the kids had behaved, and then left the room to go see to her duties. The class had grown agitated by all of the silent reading, which had resulted in even more reading as a punishment. Several of the students had been disruptive and rude, and that was why the session continued. Twenty-five people groaned at the prospect, six laughed and got on with it. George didn't mind reading; she thought it was relaxing and fun. All the idiots that always messed about thought reading was tiring and irrelevant to school. But seven people in the room knew better.



George looked around the room at the class. Some were looking around bored, or staring at things for long periods of time. Only five people besides herself were reading a book. Even though they were in front of every person, they certainly weren't all in use. Liam leant towards her and whispered hurriedly.

"What should we do at next break?"

"I don't know, you pick."

"But I don't know, that's why I asked you!"

George rolled her eyes at him.

"Well, think!"

She looked down at her book and began reading again. Before she had even read ten words, Liam's voice hissed in her ear once more.

"How about we go to the library?"

George's eyes widened and she turned in her seat to stare at Liam.

"This school has a library?!?!"

"Of course it does, what schools do you know that don't?"

George looked at him half angrily, half amused.

“Well, I’m sorry I didn’t know. Where is it?”

Liam leant forwards in his chair and began talking normally again.

“It’s that big room near the upward staircase. Near the end of the Atrium?”

George racked her brains and tried to remember if she had seen what Liam was talking about. Finally she remembered; she had been wondering why so many people had been going in there.

“Yes, I know where you’re on about now. I was wondering why people went in and out of there so frequently!”

Liam nodded. It seemed so much clearer to George now. How could she have thought there wouldn’t be a library? People would have to read books and use computers sometimes, wouldn’t they?

“I can’t believe I thought there wasn’t a library…”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure quite a few people didn’t realise what that giant room was. Even though it has ‘Learning Resource Centre’ written on the plaque on the door.”

George hit Liam on his arm. She knew he was getting cocky by his tone of voice and choice of words. She waited until he had stopped moaning about the pain to continue speaking.

“So it’s decided, we’re going to library after registration?”

Liam nodded, and she turned back to face the front. Mr Ryde had just begun speaking.

“Now class, there is a few notices in the form tray which I’ve been asked to read out to you. Firstly, Air Zone will take place outside during your lessons, near the playing field. You will need your brooms if you are to take part. Is there anyone here who hasn’t got a broom?”

George’s eyes widened as she remembered that she hadn’t given Liam the broom that she and her Dad shad bought him yet. As he raised his hand, she pulled it back down and shook her head when he glared at her.

“Look, I’m not lying just to get out of trouble, even if there is any. Just let me own up to it.”

George shook her head. He attempted to yank his sleeve from her grasp.

“No, listen, you’ve got a broom!”

“No I haven’t! Remember, my Mum wouldn’t buy me one! You were there when she said it!”

George groaned and protested through his attempts to break her hold.

“Me and my Dad bought you one, keep your bloody hand down will you?”

The tugging ceased immediately. George let go of his sleeve as he stared at her with wide eyes.

“You’re having me on, aren’t you!”

“I’m not lying, if that’s what you mean. I got one free in my packages, so we went and got you one instead. My Dad wouldn’t let it rest so we went and got you the one intended for me before the parcel came. I just hope it’s easier than flying it yourself…”

She groaned as her experiences of flying on a broom rushed into her head. It hadn’t been pleasant soaring through the freezing cold air without anything to keep you safe. From what she had heard, at least the self propelling brooms had safety measures installed to keep you on.

“Wow…. I mean, really thanks… Could you send a message to your Dad for me saying a big thank you? Because I would really appreciate it… It must have cost him a fortune!”

George shrugged. She knew what her Dad would have said about that.

“My Dad would have just laughed at you there. He wouldn’t have cared how much it had cost, as long as were happy with it, looked after it, and needed it.”

Liam nodded and looked at George happily.

“Listen, before we go to the library at break, would it be possible that I could come and get it from your room? I would really like to see it. What model did your Dad get me?”

George shook her head and tried to remember what her Dad had got. I was hard, but she seemed to vaguely remember a shining glass case with an immaculate looking broom inside. George knew that she was definitely remembering what she saw, because nothing looked more realistic in her mind than that overly polished broom in the glass case.

“We got the model which was in that big glass case in the middle of the rows. It had these lights trained to it, and it looked really really nice…”

She looked at Liam again. He was smiling so widely that it looked as if his mouth reached ear to ear.

“You mean the newest model? Wow, your Dad went a long way just for me… Seriously, tell him thanks for me!”

He smiled at her warmly. George winked at him, and looked towards the front. Mr Ryde was still talking to the class, but it seemed like none of the form was listening. They were all edging closer to the window, which had been open a crack to allow air into the room. Lou shouting and screaming could be heard over Mr Ryde’s impatient voice, and it sounded like a teacher was bellowing over the noise for it to stop. What to stop though? George turned to face Liam, who was pushing himself gradually upwards so he could get a better view over the heads of other students. Finally Mr Ryde gave in and walked over to the window. Seeing this as their cue, the whole class rushed over to the window and peered out. George and Liam were quite close to the windows, so they managed to get to the front of the group. When George saw what was going in, it spurred a memory from an hour before.



Two kids, that couldn’t have been much older than George, were surrounded by a familiar looking circle. In the centre, two boys were circling around. They were obviously glaring at each other; for not once did one of their heads move from the position it was in.

“Sir, should I go alert the other staff?”

George turned around slowly to see the boy called Bradley talking quietly to Mr Ryde.

“No, I think Mrs Green has it handled. Besides, I think all the teachers will have heard her shouting by now.”

The boy nodded and hurried back to his space near the windows. George pushed the window she was at as far open as it would go.

“What are you doing?”

Liam hissed. George looked up at the window, and studied it for a moment.

“I’m going to help her out. They’re not going to stop just because she’s shouting at them.”

“You can’t do that! The teachers have their own powers, I’m sure they can handle a few misbehaving kids!”

George could clearly hear the urgency in Liam’s voice. It made her pause for a moment, but that was all.

“Listen, I’m staying in the air. I’m not going in there. But I am going to break that fight up.”

Liam shook his head and grabbed her arm. George glared at him until he released his hold.

“I’m not going to get hurt, so help me up onto the window sill. Or alternatively don’t, but I’ll still get up there. Climb onto the desk and check it’s as open as it can get.”

George gave her one last pleading look before he did as she had asked. The window had gone open even further, so now there was a giant hole which George could slip her body through. Liam gave her leg up onto the window sill, which everyone in the class noticed. They were all watching her as she swung her legs over the wood and outside. She sat on the ledge for a moment, before inhaling sharply and plunging out of sight.



George looked at the ground below. She was getting closer and closer to the concrete at an alarming rate. It was going to be hard to stop. She extended her arms and pushed at the air with all the force she could muster. Gradually she began to slow down, moving through the air at the speed of a tortoise. Finally she stopped altogether, suspended in the air by the element age had control over. Making sure that there was something to move forwards onto, George created air steps so she could get closer to the fight. From the height George was at, she could see the ring of students and the two people in the middle; yet she was surprised to discover that no teachers were present. The teacher which had been amongst the crowd before had gone, disappeared back into the school building. George wondered if she had hone for help; but after ten minutes she concluded that the woman had simply abandoned her attempts to stop the conflict. George sighed, as she realised it really was up to her to sort it out.



Liam looked around at the rest of the people in the room. The kids were chattering amongst themselves about what they thought George was doing, why she had jumped out and who was going to win the fight. He scanned the room for Mr Ryde, but he was nowhere to be seen. Liam squirmed a little uncomfortably as a gentle breeze made the hairs on the back of his neck move around. As he wondered where his form tutor had vanished off to, Tim, the boy from the train station; came up to Liam and started talking quietly to him.

"Why did she jump out of the window?

Has she gone to stop the fight?"

Liam merely nodded, he didn't feel well enough to do anything else.

"Oh good. I hate fighting, I hope she manages to separate those two boys. They must really hate each other to be taking part in such a big ordeal as this."

As Liam nodded for the second time, Mr Ryde entered through the open door.

"What's going on guys? Has miss managed to stop that fight yet?"

"No Sir, she abandoned her attempt about five minutes ago. George jumped out of the window to go try and sort it out."

"She did WHAT?!?"

Mr Ryde raced over to the open window and scanned the ground for signs of George. Nobody looked remotely like her. He withdrew his head and turned to Liam.

"Where is she? She's not on the ground!"

"She's in the air, Sir. Above the fight."

Mr Ryde looked out of the window again, this time at the sky near the congregation. She was quite well hidden against the background of older students but you could see her clearly, just above the group of onlookers.

“GEORGE!!!”

Liam jumped up high as the teacher bellowed George’s name loudly beside him. He turned to look at Mr Ryde, who had turned white in the face.

“Is something wrong Sir?”

Stephen, a tall boy who sat next to George, had come up to the teacher and was talking to him in a hushed voice.

“No, there’s nothing wrong…”

Even as he said it Liam knew he was lying. He was staring at George with wide eyes, and the emotion with which he was speaking gave it away.

“Yes there is Sir.”

Liam turned to face his teacher without fear. Mr Ryde stared at Liam for a moment, before nodding silently.

“Do you want to go help George? I can watch the kids. Me, and the other three Fullons can manage while you’re gone.”

“I’ll help too, gladly.”

Liam looked up at Stephen, who was speaking to him.

“Thank you, Stephen. So, what are you waiting for? Go and help her for crying out loud! You must really want to, you’re tensed. It’s like you’re ready to rush off somewhere. And I’ll bet I know where than somewhere is.”

There was a short pause, in which Liam and Stephen waited in trepidation. But eventually, their teacher rose from the desk, gradually scanning the room for any signs of trouble.

“Any trouble, you shout for me, OK?”

The two boys nodded. They were smiling widely, knowing exactly what was going on. Mr Ryde, who was oblivious of this fact, merely smiled back at them.

“Right, I’ll go help your girlfriend Liam. Wait here, and watch over the other kids.”

Liam glared at Mr Ryde as he crossed the room. All the children watched with interested looks on their faces. Liam watched as his teacher swung himself over the window sill and out of sight.



It had been a beautifully executed move; one hand flat on the desk as he used the momentum to propel himself out through the open window. Liam had to admire his courage for doing it. But as soon as his hair disappeared from sight, and excited babble broke out. Different conversations were taking place everywhere, making the noise level rise gradually.

“Mr Ryde fancies George!”

Liam whipped around to face who had just spoken. It was Jack, a tall, slightly round boy with piggy eyes and greasy hair.

“Shut your mouth, you idiot. Of course he doesn’t.”

Stephen moved in front of Liam, blocking the boys from making and physical contact with each other.

“Oh yeah, you do instead! Don’t you, Johnson?”

Liam darted under Stephen’s outstretched arm towards the boy. He wanted to hurt him, rip him, and tear him to shreds…

“Leave it Liam. You know George wouldn’t like to see you fighting someone as worthless as him.”

Liam heard the calm, quiet voice of Viro, but didn’t stop struggling until he realised what he was saying as true.

“You’re right. Scum like him shouldn’t even be looked at.”

Liam walked towards the windows again, so he could see what was happening down below. Before he had managed to reach the glass, a voice sounded over the noise from the outside.

“What did you just call me?”

Jack moved quickly towards Liam, a hand outstretched. Liam put up his own arms, and spun them around fast. The boy watched him carefully, his eyes staring straight into Liam’s.

“So, what trick are you going to attempt to pull? Something with your air elemental powers?”

“Not air, no. This is something I actually learnt from George.”

He broke one arm away to point at her lonely figure above the heads of the crowd of students outside, before spinning it in time with his other arm again.

“Bye for now, you loser…”

“You think you’re going somewhere?”

Liam nodded, but steadied himself. He had a hunch about what was going to happen next.

“No, you’re not. I think you’ll find that that was the answer you were looking for.”

Liam stopped twirling his arms and brought them before his face, quite still. He leant forward into a stance, readying himself when the time came for him to move.

“I’m going, right now.”

“No, you’re not.”

The boys glared daggers at each other for a moment, until at last one of them made their move. The boy called Jack lunged at Liam, who was standing perfectly still almost three metres away. Just before the boy was due to reach Liam, he stepped aside and Jack hurtled past. The momentum was too much for him to be able to stop and the collision with the wall sent him forward. Out of the window.