Woodlington

Chapter 16 - Peddlers Hill

It was as though she'd entered another world.

Peddlers Hill was full of people, all traipsing slowly up it.

As Jessie steered them onto the cobbled street and pulled over, Alex's eyes grew larger and larger as she took in what she was seeing.

These weren't just people, these were witches - an endless flow of them, chatting and laughing as they walked.

Closest, were two old men wearing pointed hats and high-heeled boots. They had their noses in a book and seemed to be arguing, one striking the pages with a finger, the other shaking his head stubbornly. Alex caught a snippet of what they were saying.

"I'm telling you, there's no way you can use comfrey in a glamour potion."

"You're forgetting the rosehips! They'll neutralise the effects of..."

The rest of their words were lost in the sea of noise.

Behind them, a young girl was dancing like a ballerina, thousands of pink bubbles streaming from the tip of a glittering wand.

Alex's eyes fell on one bizarre sight after another: a bearded dwarf, who (with the help of two lit pipes) was blowing huge smoke birds into the air; a woman resembling a tree, vines climbing her leafy dress, roots trailing behind her; an old couple riding a flying log (Alex had to look twice at that one); a group of teenagers throwing what looked like a flaming tortoise to each other; a toddler drinking from the spout of a teapot.

It was endless.

It was crazy.

It was magic.

But it wasn't only what she could see that mesmerised Alex, it was everything. Sounds, smells, movement... there was just so much to take in.

She jumped as Jessie tapped her on the shoulder.

"Come on."

In a daze, she climbed from the cart.

"Och Alex," said Beth, turning to her. "I dinny half feel sorry for the Normals, having to dress so dull all the time."

She waved a hand over her hair, and the grey became a brilliant white.

"There, that's better."

She closed her eyes and gave a little shudder. As Alex watched, the skirt and cardigan she was wearing morphed into a furry black coat.

"I ken it's summer an all, but at my age ye like to keep warm."

Jessie grinned.

"You look like a giant penguin."

Beth gave her a clout.

"Haud yer wheesht, ye eejit."

But it was all good-natured.

Together, the three of them fell in with the crowd and began making their way uphill.

Now she was among them, Alex could hear what the witches were saying. Most of it was the usual - mothers telling off children, friends greeting friends, and idle gossip about 'so and so'. Sometimes however, the conversation turned to magic:

"Hey, have I showed you this spell?"

"When you going in for your flying test?"

"BridgetAlice, just have a look over this potion will you? See if you can spot where I've gone wrong."

Every so often, Alex caught worried mutterings about Harold, and what he'd do next. Even now, amidst all the wonder and excitement, she felt herself go cold at the mention of his name.