Emily found that there was quite a lot of tidying up to do in the cupboard. Charlie had tipped his water bowl into a pair of shoes that Madame Longley kept on a shelf and then he had shredded up a duster and a rubber. It was almost like walking into a snow storm. Emily cleared it all away and then played with him, tickling his tummy until he chirruped with glee and making him paper tubes to blow puffs of ice down. ‘What are we going to do with you?’ she said, shaking her head.
Charlie hopped over to Emily, rubbing his head against her and looking up at her with eager dark eyes. He nudged her pocket with his nose. She smiled. ‘No, you’re not coming round in my pocket!’
She picked him up and put him back in his cardboard box, trying to ignore his squeaks of protest. Then she shut the lid as firmly as she could and headed back to Molly’s room.
All through lessons that afternoon, Emily found herself feeling distracted. She couldn’t stop thinking about how she hadn’t been a very good friend recently. It wasn’t just Molly, it was Hannah too. She had hardly said a word about her costume and Emily was sure Hannah was secretly upset about it.
I should have made her let me help, Emily thought. I could have thought up something so much better. And then there’s Alice. She wanted me to help her think up something to keep Charlie out of mischief and I didn’t, and he’s so bored and fed up…
She stopped. Molly was bored and fed up and Charlie was bored and fed up. Maybe they could both be helped… Emily caught her breath. Yes, of course! She’d just had a brilliant idea! There was just one person she had to convince…
‘Have an ice dragon here? In sick bay?’ Matron stared at Emily.
‘He’s only a baby and he’s all on his own. Molly could look after him,’ Emily said.
‘Oh, yes! Please, Matron,’ Molly begged. ‘I’d love it.’
‘Oh, please, Matron,’ added Hannah. Emily had told her about her plan straight after the lesson and they had both raced back to sick bay.
Matron looked at them all and her expression softened. ‘Oh, all right,’ she said. ‘But he’d better not get up to any mischief.’
‘He’s only naughty when he’s on his own,’ Emily assured her. Matron nodded and went out.
‘Thanks so much, Em!’ Molly exclaimed. ‘It’s a fantastic idea!’
Emily smiled. ‘I’ll go and tell Tilda and Alice.’
She hurried downstairs and checked in the common room. The frost fairies were in there fluttering around, tidying up. Tilda and Alice were there too. Emily quickly told them her idea.
‘That’s a great plan!’ said Alice, looking relieved. ‘It was going to be really difficult to give him enough attention for the next few days with the final practices before the competition and then the competition itself.’
Just then, the door swung open and Camilla marched in, carrying her costume. ‘Has anyone seen any of the frost fairies? Ah, there you are,’ she said, spotting them as they plumped up some cushions, twenty of them fluttering around one cushion and tossing it into the air before pulling it into place on the sofa.
They formed a cloud in the air, their faces enquiring and helpful. Camilla marched over to them.
‘I want this changed!’ She shoved her costume towards them. ‘It’s not right. It needs to be much tighter.’
The frost fairies spoke in their high-pitched voices. One of them pointed her wand at a pile of paper on the table and sparkly words appeared on it: We’ll alter it as soon as we can.
‘See that you do,’ Camilla said and she turned and marched out.
Emily saw the frost fairies exchange looks. From the way they rustled their wings and put their hands on their hips, she had a feeling they weren’t very impressed. But Camilla’s demand had given her an idea. She grabbed a piece of paper and began to draw a skating dress.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Tilda curiously.
‘I’ve had an idea,’ Emily said. ‘Hang on a minute.’ She coloured the dress sea green, but made it look as if it was a floaty fabric and added an underskirt of deep blue. She drew in silver sequins around the waist and neckline.
‘That looks like Hannah’s dress, but much nicer,’ said Tilda.
Emily nodded and labelled everything so that the drawing was clear. Then she approached the frost fairies, who had started tidying up the pens and pencils around the room.
‘Um, hi,’ Emily said politely. They stopped and flew up to look at her. Three of them perched on her shoulders. She smiled at them. ‘Look, you can say no if it’s too much work, but I was just wondering if you could possibly make another costume. I know it’s short notice,’ she said hurriedly. ‘But it’s not for me – it’s for Hannah. She’s a bit upset about the costume she has at the moment. But if you can’t, that’s fine –’
The frost fairies interrupted her, speaking all at once. One took her drawing, another fluttered up and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then they all nodded. The one who had taken the drawing pointed her wand at the paper on the table and a message appeared: It’ll be ready on the day of the competition. We’d be delighted to help!
Emily smiled at them. ‘Thanks!’
Alice squeezed her arm. ‘That was a really nice idea, Em.’
‘I hope Hannah thinks so,’ said Emily, suddenly wondering if Hannah might be offended.
‘Well, she’s always got the other dress if she doesn’t want to wear the new one,’ Tilda pointed out. ‘And I’m sure she’ll think it’s a lovely thought.’
Emily really hoped so!