Harriet Roswell and the School of Witchcraft

Chapter 3

Harriet awoke in the greatest way possible, with cat paws on her face. For Harriet the days of waking up with aching bones were gone, for what a cat wanted, a cat got immediately. Today that was a smile and a chin scratch. Lukas was already gone this morning, and Harriet could hear Alex in the kitchen. She yawned brushing her long hair black over her head as her feet touched the ice cold kitchen tiles.

"Morning" Alex said turning on the kettle, as Harriet took a seat next to the small kitchen island, with the cat on her lap.

"Morning" she said groggily.

"Have you chose a name for her?"

"A name?" Harriet asked, and then gasped "is this my cat?"

"She sure is, and it looks like she already likes you."

"Thank you. Oh, I don't know." Harriet said, the cat was light grey with many patches of white.

"The animal shelter I got her from was calling her Zen, though she doesn't seem to respond to it much."

"Taylor? Penelope?" Harriet tried a few of her favourite names, as Alex handed a tea to her.

"I think she deserves a name fitting for her, something that is cat like and soft."

"Mrs Victory" Harriet suggested.

"Thats neither of them, and you'll end up shortening it to Victor."

"Viki?" Harriet asked the cat, and its sharp white whiskers quickly turned to face her "I think she likes that one."

"Viki?" Alex asked and the cat turned to him "she does seem to like it, and it seems to suit her. Although personally I'd go for something softer."

"Viki the Soft" Harriet said slowly. Alex smiled pulling a bowl of cereal out the cupboard and handing it to her.

"Well, if you like it try it out for the day. If you find a better name you can always change it." Alex said and handed her a bottle of milk. Harriet made herself some cornflakes as Alex leant on the counter near the hob, drinking his tea.

Harriet took one spoon of her cornflakes, trying carefully to hold the spoon without braking her nails before she had to move the cat, who seem insistent on putting her face in her food. She sat the cat on the seat beside her. The cat sat patiently staring.

"I didn't get the chance to talk to you much yesterday about the new school I found you."

"New school?"

"You wouldn't mind moving school would you?" Alex asked. Harriet frowned.

"But I have exams this year, I'm already struggling with it I don't think nows the time to move school."

"Okay..." Alex said "but you don't have many good friends there?"

"You know that. All I talk to is Beccy in math class, and usually only because she wants a pencil."

"Harriet, I've found a boarding school for you."

"You're not winning me over, I'm not joining a school for the last year, and certainly not a boarding one."

"It won't be. Everyone starting in your year will be completely new to the school, fifteen is youngest they let kids in" Alex said, and he pushed across the leaflet he had handed her yesterday. It was green and had a picture of a very long, wide and fancy house on the cover, and it was called the 'School of Witchcraft."

"Papa, are you making me join a cult?" Harriet asked flicking through the leaflet pages. Alex laughed.

"If it's a cult, you just phone me up and I'll pick you up right away. This is a really posh, and fun school. They do all the classes you do, science, maths, english, and food, although I think there cooking syllabus is a little different."