A Claim to Magic

Corrie's New Home

    CHAPTER NINE

"Yes, Mrs. Cadelle?" This was Professor Colman, "is something wrong?" Corrie could not believe she was doing this,

"Um, do you think, I mean, if it's possible, and allowed, is it possible," she swallowed, "can I go into the friendship house?"

"Well, of course! Visitors are allowed any time!" Mrs. Elkton answered.

"No, I meant, I meant, like for good." She was looking at her shoes, she wouldn't dare look up, for fear of everyone seeing the expression on her face, one of desperateness and despair.

"Why, whatever for?" Professor Coleman asked.

"Betsy." Was all Corrie could say. All eyes turned towards Betsy, who was, like Corrie, examining her shoes.

Stoneleg spoke, "well, I suppose you can go into the friendship house, but your sister can not come into the house of success, Professor Colman does not-"

"She may come." Corrie's head shot up, Coleman had not just said what Corrie thought she had said.

"She may come, I do not want to lose such a bright student as Corrie to the friendship house, she may come as long as Mrs. Elkton approves." Corrie's mouth fell open, had Professor Colman just called her bright and said that she was unable to lose her? She had. Betsy was staring too, though at Corrie, and not Coleman.

When Betsy saw that Corrie was looking at her she glanced away, unwilling to meet Corrie's eyes.

"I approve." This was Mrs. Elkton, "She may go and become a member of the Frutiulo house." Corrie let out her breath, and looked at Betsy, who was still staring determinedly at her feet.

"Betsy Cadelle, please come and join the success house group. That is, of course, if you would like to." Betsy, at Professor Coleman's words, joined Corrie and Elizabeth where they were standing in the success group.

She leaned over and whispered her thanks into Corrie's ear, Corrie smiled. She didn't have to leave the success group.

"Corrie Cadelle, and Elizabeth Nevers, you will now share a dorm room with Betsy Cadelle." Mrs. Coleman announced, "You will be moved to dorm thirteen, one of the larger dorms. Any questions?"

"No, ma'am." Corrie replied. She was uncomfortable, everyone was staring at her, their mouths hanging open. Corrie knew that an amazing thing had just happened, Mrs. Coleman had made an exception for her, but she wished that everyone would stop staring.

Twenty minutes later, Corrie, Elizabeth, and Betsy reached dorm thirteen, which was in one of the smaller buildings, the smallest, actually. Corrie had learned that each of the buildings were dorms, one building a house.

"Thank you," Betsy said, breaking the silence that had stretched between them for the past fifteen minutes, "both of you," she turned towards them, "it means a lot." Corrie and Elizabeth both smiled, and Corrie was about to say, 'you're welcome' when a group of fifteen year olds burst through the door, talking in hushed voices, "yes really," one boy said, addressing a taller girl, "I heard one in friendship house talking about it, she made an exception!"

Corrie frowned, they were talking about her, about Betsy. She wished they would stop.

"It'll be old news in no time. Elizabeth stated encouragingly, for now, just keep your head low." She pulled one of the three keys out of her pocket, slipped it into the keyhole, and turned it, revealing to Corrie the home that would be hers for the next six years.