Edwina Pilkington's Computer School of Magic by Elizabeth Barber Page B

wall alongside the bookshelf slowly slid open, revealing a hidden chamber.



E dwina, Gabriella and Thirty-four stepped into the hidden chamber and slowly the stone wall behind them began to close. Hand in hand, they hurried off down the secret passage that led up to the tower where Edwina kept all her secret potions.
    Once inside the tower, Edwina opened up an old, squeaky cupboard door where she found the musty old Witches Book of Spells and Potions . Edwina quickly turned the pages and found exactly what she was looking for: ‘How to make your very first Magic Vanishing Spell’.
    Gabriella was standing quietly by the stone table in the middle of the room, listening to Edwina read the Witches Book of Spells and Potions while Thirty-four was busy being nosy.
    Five minutes slowly passed by and Edwina was still reading all about the Magic Vanishing Spell. ‘Hurry up, Edwina. I want to help you make some magic,’ said Gabriella.
    Edwina raised an eyebrow and kept on reading then slowly started to walk back towards Gabriella without looking where she was going. ‘Whoops!’ Edwina said as she nearly tripped over a large, black pot.
    â€˜You should look where you’re going,’ Gabriella said.
    â€˜Oink, oink,’ went Thirty-four in between burying his nose in a blanket. It was as if to say he agreed with Gabriella.
    â€˜Let’s make some magic,’ Edwina said.
    Magic Vanishing Spell ingredients
    1 whisker (from a pussy cat)
    1 toenail (from a unicorn)
    1 eggshell (from a lizard)
    1 spider web (any kind)
    1 spoonful of fairy dust
    1 cup of dragon dust (sometimes hard to find)
    Stir all together, adding 2 drops of Magical Water
    (Say the word ‘dragon breath’)
    Your spell is now complete
    The old grandfather clock in the hallway chimed 5 o’clock. Edwina had just completed her first spell, a test for all students who wished to attend the famous Professor Frogsley’s Computer School of Magic. Head Professor Goodspell would take Edwina under her wing and teach her the secrets of her Magic Ring and make her part of the world of Computer Magic.
    Only one more spell to go. Thirty-four began to oink and as Edwina turned around to see what was wrong, she noticed Miss Cackles the black, one-eyed cat, crawling slowly along the stone window ledge.
    â€˜I need your help, Gabriella,’ said Edwina. ‘Alongside the old stone fireplace is a ladder. If you climb to the very top of the ladder, you will see a large, black jar with a special Magic Potion in it and behind that jar you will find an empty, green bottle. I need that green bottle to put my new potion in.’
    Gabriella agreed to climb up the ladder to bring the green bottle back down for Edwina even though she was really scared of falling. ‘It’s a long way to the top, Edwina, and it’s sooo … dark. I feel as though something creepy is watching me.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Gabriella, there is nothing up there except the odd cobweb and spider.’
    â€˜You mean BIG, BLACK, CREEPY SPIDERS live up here. I hate spiders.’
    â€˜Oh, for goodness sakes, Gabriella, stop being a baby.’
    â€˜I’m not being a baby; I’ve always been scared of spiders.’
    â€˜Just hurry up and find the bottle,’ said Edwina.
    â€˜Whoops.’
    â€˜What have you done now, Gabriella?’
    â€˜I have spilt one of your potions. I can hear it dripping. I have the empty bottle in my hand, so I’m coming down.’
    Gabriella reached the last step on the ladder and went to put her foot down onto the floor, but instead nearly stepped on Miss Cackles. ‘Get away, you silly pussy cat, and stop licking the floor.’
    â€˜Be careful, Gabriella. If Miss Cackles licks the potion, she’ll turn into a –’
    Croak, croak, croak.
    â€˜It’s too late, Edwina!’
    â€˜Quick, Gabriella, grab the butterfly net hanging on the wall! We have to catch Miss Cackles