Candles and Broomsticks

Double bubble, toil, and trouble

The initiation ceremony didn't have much to it. You waited in line for an hour to sign your name in a large, weathered book that felt more like moth eaten cloth and leather rather than paper. Gravescroft was centuries old. The book probably started in England and was brought over by witches searching out the New World. Little did they know it would be new for Puritans and Quakers and quintessentially the same for our people.

Then there was the Salem Witch Trials. People throwing around the term in order to fulfill their revenge fantasies or gain more land. On my mother's side I had relations directly from the trials, on my father's side they were a coven down in Mexico. We still had family there and we visited there every once in a while. But my cousins were all younger than me, so it wasn't very entertaining to be given the prestigious title of "family babysitter". So, I tended to get sick those weeks.

Wen and I had potions first. The potions class had once been several fireplaces that went up through the many chimneys through the ceiling, but now they had remodeled it to have oven hobs and kitchen counters. Each little counter had a mini fridge and a few cupboards. Wen and I sat at a counter in the middle of the far left row.

"Do you know anyone here?" I asked. Wen looked around. She reached her hand up like she was going to play with hair that wasn't there. She had cut it short to an A-line cut, but seemed to miss the comfort long hair gave her. The cut suited her well though.

"Valentina from camp." She nodded over at a girl who had white, long hair. "Ferguson."

Ferguson has glasses on with uncombed brown hair. Bard, he was my Wen's camp boyfriend. He was pretty good looking, sandy blond hair, dark smooth skin, a charming smile. Glenn, they were short, perky and had pixie-ish features. Their high energy made them fun to hang out with during a dance. Our conversation was interrupted by the teacher coming in.

He had a pile of books in his hand. He started handing them out. Behind him was... he must have been a teacher trainee. Someone in his optional three years. He was gorgeous. Dark hair. Smooth skin. Dark eyes. I knew every girl would have their eyes on him. He was also handing out books and seemed disinterested in the task. He didn't look at me as he placed a book in front of me.

"Wow." Wen raised an eyebrow and devoured him with her eyes. "Potions just became my new favourite class."

"I'm pretty sure that's completely illegal." I smiled and shook my head. "You can't date a teacher."

"We're eighteen." She smirked. "And he's not a teacher. He's a student trainee."

"You know what, Wen. Good luck." I laughed. The lights in the classroom went out and one girl screamed. I rolled my eyes at her. Drama queen. 

"First day of school and someone's already hexed the lighting." Wen laughed. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Why didn't I think of it first?" I laughed. I rested my arm down on the counter at the same moment that every hob exploded with flame. I yanked my arm away but could feel the burning flesh. A yelp escaped from me. The lights turned back on. The hobs were all burning green and the teacher's eyes scanned the crowd and rested on me.

"Everyone calm down!" He yelled. "Can I get silence?! Someone has gotten injured!"

Everyone lowered their voices to whispers and turned their gazes to me after searching around the room. He came over to me and took my arm in his hands. 

"No worries. The infirmary will get this fixed up right away." He winked and waved his assistant over. "Taehyung. Will you please take Miss...?"

"Raven." I answered in a bored tone.

"Raven to the infirmary." The professor smiled widely like this was supposed to be some fun trip.

"I could come with her." Wen volunteered. I bit back a laugh at that.