Molly looked around the old witch's room. There was a large four poster bed in one corner and a big old trunk on the floor under the window. The curtains were pulled together allowing just a tiny crack of sunlight into the room.
Granny Whitewand looked Molly up and down with a critical eye.
'So, this is your new uniform is it? Goodness me, don't you look a picture?' she said.
'I sat on my hat and Mrs McCraggity doesn't like my yellow tunic,' Molly complained.
'The flop-over tip on your hat gives you a very individual look,' said Granny Whitewand. 'As for the tunic, yellow is just fine, I wish I could have worn a bright colour when I was a young witch. In my day it was all black and grey.'
'It still is, Grandma, I was lucky to get this one. It's the latest fashion,’ said Molly proudly.
'It's lucky they had it in small sizes too eh, Millie?'
'Molly.'
'Yes, yes, Molly, Millie, it's all so confusing. Why didn't your mother call you Griselda, or something? Maybe you can change your name?'
Molly didn't like that idea one bit. 'I like my name, Grandma.'
'Suit yourself,' said Granny Whitewand. 'There was a very famous witch called Griselda.'
She was silent for a while; lost in some old memory, then she gave Molly a quizzical look. 'What do you want anyway?'
'You told me to come and see you.'
'When?'
'This morning. At breakfast?’
'Did I? hmm, are you sure? '
'Positive,' said Molly.
Granny Whitewand thought for a while. 'No, can't remember.'
'Was it something to do with a birthday?' Molly suggested.
'It isn't my birthday, my birthday is on Halloween.'
'No, my birthday,' said Molly patiently.
'When's that then?'
'Today,' said Molly, beginning to get confused herself.
'Is it? I suppose you want a present then?'
'Yes please,' said Molly glad they were getting somewhere at last.
Granny Whitewand hobbled across to her trunk. 'Help me with the lid, it's a bit heavy.'
Molly pulled on the strap handle of the old trunk. It opened with a long creak.
'Now then, what can I give you,' said Granny Whitewand as she rummaged about in the trunk.
Molly looked at the contents and shuddered. The trunk was full of Grandma's old clothes. There were drab old tunics, thick woolly socks and some very strange looking items of underwear. Molly couldn't see anything she wanted; the old bloomers were especially gross.
Granny Whitewand stopped rummaging and stood up as straight as her crooked back allowed.
'What was I looking for?' she asked.
'A birthday present for me, Grandma?'
'Oh yes, that's right. Well it isn't in there that's for sure.'
Molly breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the room, there didn't seem to be a present anywhere.
Granny Whitewand suddenly remembered. 'I know what it was. Come here, Millie.'
'Molly.'
'Molly,' agreed the old witch.
She hobbled across the room and picked up an ancient book from her bedside table. She held it upside down and gave it a shake. A piece of parchment floated onto the bed cover.
'Ah, here it is,' said Granny Whitewand.
She passed the faded old scrap of paper to Molly.
'Thank you Grandma,' said Molly, feeling more than a little disappointed. 'What is it?'
'That,' said Granny Whitewand in a whisper, 'is the oldest spell known to witch kind. It will do whatever you want it to do, so you must be very careful with it. A witch can only cast this spell three times in her life, so don't go wasting it. Save it for situations when nothing else works. Only a very powerful wand can cast it and you'll probably only get a learner wand to begin with, so the spell won't be of much use to you for now. But once you graduate to a more powerful wand you should be able to use it.'
Molly put the parchment in her secret pocket. 'Do you think the spell could bring Mum and Dad back, Grandma?'
'It depends on the circumstances, Millie, under certain conditions it might work, but you would have to be with them at the time the spell was cast.'
'When you use it, read the words backwards, from right to left,' Granny Whitewand continued. 'That spell is known to very few witches, so be very careful and use it wisely.'
‘I hope I’m up to this task, Grandma? 'said Molly, quietly.
'You'll have to be, Millie. No one else can take it on, it was assigned to you. I'd like to help you, but I'm afraid I can't. I am allowed to advise you on certain matters, but I cannot come with you into the void.'
'What is this void, Grandma? What's it for?'
The Void isn't for anything, Millie. A lot of it is just empty, full of nothing, while other parts of it are full of things. There are some strange places there and even stranger creatures, it depends which bit you go to. One part of the void is where all failed magic is sent, not bad magic, but failed magic, there is a difference. Bad magic can never work. Failed magic is the term used for the tricks and spells that have gone wrong. Successful tricks and spells have obviously served their purpose, so they can fade away. But failed magic hangs around trying to get it right over and over again, so it's sent into the void to get it out of the way.'
'So Dad's vanishing act failed,' said Molly, 'and because they were part of the spell the void took them as well.'
'That's about it,' said Granny Whitewand. 'Something went wrong, that's for sure.'
Molly nodded.
'Once you're in the void, that yellow tunic should help you. Bright colours stand out; there's a lot of shadow.'
'Have you been there, Grandma?' asked Molly.
'Once, many years ago. I had to find a lost spell. It got sent there by mistake.'
'Did you find it?'
'Yes I did, I've just given it to you.'
Molly patted her secret pocket.
'I'll look after it, Grandma.'
Molly walked to the door but then stopped and turned back.
'Mum said she'd be there when I took my Witch’s promise, but she can't be now. Will you come with me this afternoon?'
'I'll be proud to escort you to the ceremony, Millie. You'll be a credit to the academy.'
Molly smiled. 'I'll try to be, Grandma, are you coming for lunch?'
'What are we having? I could rustle something up; we'll just need a few bats claws, a toad or two...'
'We're having ham sandwiches, Grandma, ' said Molly quickly, glad that Mrs McCraggity was preparing lunch.
'In that case I'll have some,' said Granny Whitewand, 'those bats claws get under my teeth.'
Chapter Six
After lunch, Jenny came over to wish Molly a happy birthday. Molly thanked her for the present and told her about the promise ceremony she was about to attend.
'WOW! Molly, you are lucky. It's your birthday and you get to be a witch, all on the same day. I'd love to be a witch. What's this promise you have to take? Is it like the Brownie promise?'
'I don't know what the promise is yet,' said Molly thoughtfully. ‘We have to meet up with the High Witch, she oversees the ceremony. There are thirteen of us taking it today, that's good because thirteen is a lucky number.'
'Unlucky you mean,' said Jenny.
'Not for witches it isn't, it's the luckiest number there is.'
'Do you get to have a broom yet?' Jenny was intrigued.
'No. They won't let me have one of those until I'm twelve. I need to be grade three for flying lessons.'
Molly showed Jenny the green gunk and told her about the cheeky mirror. The two girls rolled over on the floor kicking their feet in the air in fits of hysterical laughter. It took them a good five minutes before they had recovered enough to sit up.
Jenny wiped her eyes and went back to the witch questions.
'When do you get your first wand?'
'That's going to be the best bit of the day,' said Moll
y. 'After the ceremony I have to select my wand and address it, whatever that means. Then it's mine forever and I can start learning magic and casting spells.'
'Maybe it means you have to put a label on it, with your name and address, in case you lose it,' said Jenny thoughtfully. 'Like the labels we have in our school coats.'
'That'll be it,' said Molly. 'I was wondering about that.'
'Have you got any clues about the task, yet?' asked Jenny. 'Last night you weren't sure what you were meant to do.'
'I've got a few hints,' said Molly reluctant to mention the sightings of her parents in case it was against the rules. 'But I still don't know how to find my way into the void.'
'I wish I could come with you, Molly,' said Jenny. 'I'd love to help.'
'This is something I have to do by myself, Jenny,' Molly replied. 'Even Granny Whitewand isn't allowed to help.'
'That's so unfair,' said Jenny. 'If you don't get any help how are you supposed to know what to do?'
'I might get another clue when I take my promise,' said Molly. 'I can't really start until I've done that.'
Jenny checked her watch. 'It's 1:30. I'd better get back.'
At the front door, Jenny gave Molly a big hug. 'Good luck, Molly. I've got my fingers crossed for you.'
As Molly was about to close the door she saw Granny Whitewand shuffling up the road with a large bundle of birch twigs. She ran down the path and took half the bundle from her grandmother.
'This'll sort my broom, Millie. I’ve got some for spares too.'
'Do you need any help with it, Grandma?' asked Molly.
'Don't think so,' said Granny Whitewand. It's not a big job, I just need to chop some of these twigs down to size, bind them to the hazel handle, zap it with a flight spell and that's it. I'll give it a test flight, then I'll get those nosey testers back.'
Granny Whitewand shuffled into the garage muttering to herself about officials and forms. 'Pesky testers, haven't they got anything better to do...'
Molly put the bundle of twigs down on the garage floor and walked to her father's study. On a wall at the end of the corridor was a sign which read, no admittance without authority, please see security parrot. Molly was confused as it hadn't been there when the fairground men brought the cabinets back.
Molly turned the corner and walked towards her father study. On the right hand side of the door she saw a colourful parrot standing on a perch. It eyed her menacingly.
Molly didn't like the look in the parrot’s eye. That beak looked like it could give a nasty nip. She tried to ignore its stare.
She waited a full minute before running out of patience. She stepped forward to open the door but was stopped by a warning screech from the parrot.
'Who are you and what do you want?' it squawked.
‘I’m Molly Miggins and 'I want to go into my father's study,’ said Molly.
'As The Great Rudolpho is not home at the moment, access cannot be granted,' the parrot croaked.
'I'm going in,' said Molly firmly.
'Are not,' replied the parrot with an evil chuckle.
'Will.'
'Won't.'
'Shall.'
'Shan't.'
Molly took another step forward, the parrot watched carefully. 'What's the password?' it asked.
Molly planted her feet and glared at the bird. She wasn't scared but she really didn’t want to find out how sharp that beak was.
'No passwords,’ she said.
The parrot whistled to itself and studied its foot intently.
'Listen here parrot,' Molly said firmly. 'Either I go into my father's study, or I go and get my pet cat, Mr Gladstone.'
The parrot thought for a moment and answered in a far friendlier manner.
'Err, let's not be too hasty. I'll give you a clue, shall I?'
'No passwords, no clues, and no more nonsense,' snapped Molly. 'Either I go through that door or the cat comes in here, it's your choice.'
The parrot knew when it was beaten.
'I'm only doing my job,' it moaned.
***
Molly closed the door quietly behind her and walked over to the vanishing cabinet. She stole a quick look over her shoulder as she pulled open the door. A second later she stepped inside.
The cabinet was made entirely of mirrors; the only handles were on the front door and the outside of the rear door. Molly had seen her father do the vanishing trick lots of times, there was always a coloured glow and blue mist inside the cabinet when the trick was in progress, but now the air was clear.
Molly clapped her hands and called the spell her father used on stage.
'VANISH!' she shouted.
Nothing happened.
'Bother,' she said.
Then she remembered her father's wand.
Molly knew that wands were very personal items and mostly only worked for their owner. She had heard dark tales, told on cold winter nights, of things that had gone wrong when a witch tried to use someone else's wand. It almost always ended in disaster.
Molly thought she'd try anyway. 'Just a little spell won't hurt,' she decided.
The wand was on the magicians table next to a big black top hat. Molly picked it up and stepped back into the cabinet. She held the wand above her head and pointed it to the back of the booth.
'VANISH!' she cried.
Molly gasped as the wand disappeared. 'Oh oh,' she whispered.
She searched the cabinet but there was no sign of it. 'What am I going to tell Dad,' she said to herself.
Molly stepped back into the magician's study with a heavy heart. How could she have been so silly? She closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them again she got the surprise of her life. The wand was lying on the table in the exact position it had been in when she first came into the room. Molly was delighted but keen to make sure it was the same wand. She picked it up and examined it closely.
'Looks like it,' she said.
Molly smiled to herself, relieved that it hadn't been lost or damaged. She decided to put it in the top hat so it couldn't roll off the table.
As she dropped it into the hat the tip of the wand caught the brim, a second later a rabbit's head popped up.
'Bother,' said Molly.
The rabbit jumped out of the hat and hopped onto the table. As Molly leant over to catch it she heard a 'plop' sound as another rabbit came out of the hat. Molly made a grab for it but it hopped across the table out of reach.
'Bother,' Molly repeated.
Molly climbed onto a chair so she could reach the far side of the table but as soon as she picked up the rabbit, a third one popped out of the hat, quickly followed by a fourth and fifth. Molly panicked, and ran to get help. She threw open the study door and called for Granny Whitewand.
'HELP! THE RABBITS ARE ESCAPING!' she cried.
'HELP! HELP!' echoed the parrot. 'RAMPANT RABBIT ALERT!'
Mrs McCraggity ran down the corridor and burst into the room as Molly grabbed at the rabbits. 'What have you been up to, young lady?' she asked.
'It was an accident,' said Molly. 'They just came out of the hat.'
'Rabbits don't come out of hats of their own accord.' said the housekeeper.
A minute later Granny Whitewand came into the study. She shuffled over to the table and stopped the spell by hitting the top hat with her wand.
'Cease,’ she said.
Molly breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the cornered rabbit. Granny Whitewand took it from her and stuffed it into the hat.
'Right, let's get the rest of them,' she said.
Molly chased a black bunny under the table as Mrs McCraggity grabbed rabbits two at a time and dropped them into the hat. Molly found one hiding behind a trunk and passed it to Granny Whitewand. The old witch stuffed it into the hat with a flourish.
Molly had the final two in her hands when Mrs McCraggity tripped on the edge of the carpet and dropped an armful of captured rabbits. One of them hopped straight towards Molly. She moved towards it
but her hands were full. Then she had a brainwave and shoved one of the rabbits under her hat while she made a grab for the last escapee.
Granny Whitewand popped the last two rabbits in the hat and left the study on the arm of Mrs McCraggity. She turned to Molly as she reached the door.
'Wake the parrot up when you come out, will you, Millie? I put him under a sleep spell when he pestered me for a password.'
As Molly walked back to the door she noticed something leaning against the wall. It was covered by a large white cloth. Molly gently pulled the sheet back and discovered a shiny new bike with a tag on the handlebars that read, Happy Birthday Molly, love Mum and Dad.
Molly whooped. It wasn't any old bike. It was a Super Trickster, Mark Three, the best bike in the world. Molly had been nagging her parents about getting one for months. Best of all, it was bright yellow. No one she knew had a yellow one. She couldn't wait to show it to Henrietta Havelots; she only had a Mark Two, in pink.
Molly wheeled it round the study. She couldn't wait to ride it.
'I haven't officially been given it yet though,' she said to herself. 'I had better put it back for now.'
Molly reluctantly leaned the bike against the wall, covered it up with the sheet and left the room. The parrot was slumped on the perch, its head under its wing. Molly closed the door quietly behind her and crept across the floor. When she reached the perch she clapped her hands as hard as she could.
'Fire! Thief! Help!' screamed the startled parrot.
Molly grinned. 'Call yourself a security parrot?'
'I was just checking out my plumage.'
'You were asleep,' said Molly. 'On duty too.'
'You won't tell anyone, will you?' pleaded the parrot. 'I'll lose my job.'
'It could be our little secret, I suppose.' said Molly. 'It depends.'
'Depends on what?' asked the parrot.
'On whether you keep that nasty beak to yourself in future,' said Molly.
The parrot nodded in agreement, winked and motioned with his wing for Molly to come closer.
'Millet,' he whispered.
'You don't deserve any,' said Molly. 'You fell asleep.'
'That's the password,' said the parrot. 'But don't let on I told you.'
'The secret is safe with me,' said Molly.
'Good,' said the parrot. 'You can't be too careful in this business.'
Chapter Seven
Mrs McCraggity drove them to the Witches Lodge in the magician's van. It was a large black vehicle with magic signs painted all over it. Down both sides and across the back doors were the words 'The Great Rudolpho, Magician', and underneath in smaller writing, 'A Magical Experience.'