15 Blethingwood Hall - Original Story By Stephanie Poppins

It was now November and the vast network of Victorian radiators was working at full capacity to feed each dormitory,

Each classroom,

Each hallway and make life at Blethingwood that little bit more bearable.

Out in the grounds,

A thick icy mist encircled each doorway in pain as the wind smothered the view in its jellied breath.

But throughout it all,

The Ferridor remained as foreboding as ever.

William lay back in his bed,

Staring at the path to the new world he had fashioned in his mind from a crack in the ceiling's plaster.

He yanked his pillow out from under him and pressed his cheeks deep into the tenderised cotton,

Taking a long,

Satisfying breath.

Perfection.

He'd have to make the most of this,

Though.

Today was laundry day,

And tomorrow the process would start all over again.

Imperium ordo vertus.

The dragon's icy screech made him jump.

Today is the day we begin preparations for the winter solstice.

The what?

William rubbed the dark rings under his eyes.

It was no use,

He was still exhausted.

Staying up half the night to watch the Ferridor was tiring work.

But a lack of sleep was a worthy sacrifice for the sake of the new world,

So he would just have to get on with it.

It's in December,

Muttered Jason from the bed next door.

But what about Christmas?

Dunno.

Here at Blethingwood Hall,

The dragon continued,

We are committed to the celebration of our achievements and as such we wish to share our successes at our forthcoming celebration.

William walked over to the tannoy.

All he would have to do is disconnect one wire.

Just one.

The winter solstice is a time for reflection and celebration.

It is also a time to release things that no longer serve us.

Don't like the sound of that,

Moaned Jason.

This winter solstice marks nearly 25 years since Blethingwood Hall became free,

And in recognition of this we are honoured to welcome the return of our revered founder.

We shall do so by staging an event in the morning on the terrace to receive him appropriately.

A list of those we consider suitable to perform is now available at the entrance to the dining hall.

There will be no amendment to this.

These are the pupils we consider will find it easiest to conform to the high standards of Blethingwood Hall.

The easiest to control more like,

Said Jason.

And what's she going on about,

Became free?

William said nothing.

He knew she must be talking about the great battle.

That event Adam had told him all about when he met the Usama goose.

All those not selected to perform will be allocated tasks accordingly.

In addition,

You will be pleased to hear we are holding a solstice party for all pupils in the afternoon,

And an evening event by invitation only.

All West Wing pupils receiving invitation should come and see me today.

We will of course accept no resistance to our requests.

Imperium Ordo Virtus.

Jason rolled his eyes at the prejudice,

Then annoyed with himself for having expected anything else.

He huffed and he puffed,

Pulling his covers back over his head.

But William saw things a lot differently.

An evening event for the West Wing,

Eh?

That means the perfect opportunity to escape.

I must talk to Adam Penn about this.

Then the clock tower chimed and it was time to get up.

What do you think about what she said,

Jace?

Asked William.

But Jason didn't seem surprised at all.

Dr Ling warned me this was coming.

He said the only reason they do any of this solstice stuff is to please the parents.

The thing in the afternoon is just to make us peasants go along with it.

But Ling said I can help out in the laboratory anyway,

So that's where I'm going when it all kicks off.

And with that Jason jumped out of bed sending his blankets flying into the aisle.

Watch it,

Defect!

Yelled one of the prefects,

As his head poked round the door.

It's no fun now they're doing inspection,

Jason sighed.

I don't see why we have to have a West Wing prefect anyway.

We could just have someone in from the East.

They don't trust the likes of us to keep in line with their pathetic rules,

Hissed William.

He was sick of having his every move micromanaged and he was aware there was a lot more to it than just that.

You're alright though,

Jason added.

They like you,

Will,

Because you're good on the pitch.

Winning that golden boot in the way match the other day has got to count for something,

Hasn't it?

Yeah,

I'm not exactly sure what though,

Said William.

The Lower West are lazy gits.

They expect me to do all the hard work.

I was lucky it was a home game or we'd all have been slaughtered.

And it didn't help that coach made me captain while he went behind the changing rooms for a fag.

By the time they reached the Great Hall for breakfast,

The atmosphere was frenzied.

The West Wing were spilling over from the stage in their eagerness to ensure they were the first to sign up for any opportunity to show off at the party.

Whilst the East were left to negotiate their way round them to get to the breakfast queue.

Emily!

Emily!

Get Henrietta!

Tamarin Swift was now all but screaming as she grasped tightly to the one available pen.

Tell her she's singing with me!

Emily sighed.

They'd been down this road before.

Everyone knew Henrietta was tone deaf,

So this was obviously just another exercise in making Tamarind look good at someone else's expense.

That didn't benefit her in the slightest.

Meanwhile,

Over at the Upper East tables,

Adam was chatting to Thomas Fink.

Or Fink the Stink as everybody called him.

He'd been gifted this name because he'd left a very old,

Very smelly pair of trainers in the gym one day.

But in his defence,

Thomas came from a very poor family and he considered himself lucky to be at the hall at all,

New trainers or not.

Joseph Grebe,

Or Joe as everyone called him,

That West Wing bully,

Had made the most of it of course,

By tossing them high up into the horse chestnut tree.

But the fact Thomas Fink was such a sly character,

Who William felt couldn't be trusted as far as throne,

Meant the nickname made him laugh every time he thought about it.

I can't really blame Adam for hanging out with him.

We all need someone in our year to talk to,

He thought to himself.

Catching his eye,

Adam nodded back.

He was still smarting from the latest announcement.

A morning celebration.

He was sure he would be asked to perform.

If the pals that be found out he played the violin,

He was for it.

Penny was already playing the cello,

So he guessed it was only a matter of time.

But being one of Blethingwood Hall's performing monkeys was not something Adam was willing to do.

Penny,

On the other hand,

Was already in the music corridor.

A lack of breakfast,

She considered,

Was a very small price to pay in order to bag one of the music rooms first.

Being picked to perform also meant she could get away from Lisa and Jane,

Who wouldn't have the first clue about anything to do with music,

She mused.

Are you going to sing,

Jenny?

She asked,

As they stood together outside the music office.

But Jennifer Aves was far too busy readjusting her thick scarf and breathing heavily into her strong-smelling tissue to answer.

Penny wasn't quite sure why she found conversation so difficult,

But she knew better than to make herself look even more stupid.

Opening her music book,

She held on tight,

But unfortunately for her it took no more than a minute for the silence in the corridor to be shattered.

In came the ping-ping of London's most expensive tap shoes.

This was Tamarine Swift,

And following behind,

Emily Starling.

I might have known,

Said Penny to herself,

Praying this would all go away as quickly as possible.

Mr Dunlin,

Will you please help us with our performance?

We simply can't do it without you,

Gushed Tamarine,

Gushed Tamarine,

As she yanked open the door to the music office.

Penny felt sick to her stomach.

It was disgusting how easy it was for this West Wing girl to feign such respect to a teacher she clearly despised.

Hadn't she been mocking him only the day before,

And calling him the snowman because of his excessive dandruff?

Of course,

Girls,

In you come,

Said Mr Dunlin.

His thin voice made Penny want to vomit.

Then when he added,

East Wing,

You can wait,

She hated him even more.

Mr Dunlin had obviously landed the role of music teacher because no one else wanted to do it.

As far as Penelope could see,

Dunlin's only ability was in the telling of pupils what to do.

It most certainly wasn't in the doing of it himself.

She wasn't even sure he could play an instrument.

Leaning back against the wall,

She resigned herself to a long wait.

But soon she straightened up,

When no more than two minutes later,

Lisa and Jane burst through the double doors and raced down the corridor at top speed,

Eager to do Tamarine's bidding.

Get me herbal tea,

Tamarine ordered,

And only too happy to oblige,

They rushed back to the canteen,

Pushing past a disgruntled Jennifer in the process.

No more than five minutes later,

They returned with a large tray,

Upon which was balanced a perfect array of biscuits,

Cakes and two fine china cups.

At last,

It's about time I'm parched,

Complained Tamarine,

As Jane held the door open and Lisa presented the spoils.

Now maybe it was Lisa's smug look,

Or maybe it was the sickly sweet smile plastered all over Jane's face,

But at that moment,

A tidal wave of anger welled up inside Jennifer,

And she shoved Lisa and Jane in the back as hard as she could.

Penny watched in horror as two steaming cups of tea landed with pinpoint accuracy onto an unsuspecting Tamarine.

And then,

Before she had time to recover,

She was hit square in the eye with a custard cream.

Ah!

Tamarine screamed hysterically.

I'm on fire!

Somebody get me Matron now!

Lisa and Jane could do nothing but stare at Tamarine's long blonde hair,

Which was now drenched in a dirty,

Smelly brown liquid.

They were frozen to the spot.

What did I just say?

Do something,

You useless idiots!

Get Matron now!

Tamarine screeched again.

But there was,

Of course,

No Matron to go and get.

Why didn't you stop me,

Em?

She whined.

Putting my trust in defects,

They're nothing but a waste of space.

Everyone says so.

My poor silk dress.

Mother will kill me!

At this,

Lisa and Jane made a hasty retreat,

And as soon as the heavy door clicked shut behind them,

They squared up to Jennifer.

You stupid cow!

We'll get you for this,

They hissed.

But everything about Jennifer spoke couldn't care less.

Penny,

Meanwhile,

Willed the French parquet to swallow her up.

And you,

Spat Lisa,

Poking her with a tea-soaked finger,

Don't you think you're getting away with it either?

Then they dashed off to get help.

Meanwhile,

A head poked around the door,

From a room up at the end of the corridor.

You can use this room if you want to,

Jennifer,

It said.

It was Jacob Tatler-Hughes,

Eager to pour oil on the troubled waters.

He was grateful to have the opportunity to get on Jennifer's good side.

Jennifer,

However,

Was having none of it.

Covering her mouth to protect herself from yet another set of germs,

She walked straight past him.

Oblivious to his winning smile.