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JJ and I exit the alchemy classroom as the last bell rings. I roll up the magical map and put it back in my wand pocket.
“So we traveled through time?” I whisper.
JJ keeps his hand in mine. “I know that you’re really asking why I didn’t want to be there.”
“I figured you wouldn’t answer.”
Even if he’d tell me, he doesn’t have the chance because just then Derrington glides around the corner.
“A little late-night rendezvous?” she snarls.
“With all due respect, Professor, it’s morning.”
“I wouldn’t expect this from you, Thorne. However, this isn’t the first time I’ve caught Maija sneaking around.”
“Detention this afternoon. Both of you.”
I guess sharing a near-death experience didn’t endear me to her.
Chancellor West strides toward us from the other end of the hall. “I’ll take care of this,” he says to Derrington.
“I’ve caught them out before hours.” The professor purses her lips.
“Yes, they have an assignment for seminal seminar that required them to study together.” West turns to me and his eyebrow lifts. “Maija, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
West politely dismisses Derrington and leads us into an empty classroom.
“Should I ask what you’re doing?” West’s brow lifts higher.
JJ inhales. “We found a portal in the alchemy classroom.”
“Ah, yes. The time continuum. I’ve encountered many of them, but not that one. Some years ago, a particularly advanced student thought it would be amusing to install portals to different time periods. Where’d you wind up?”
JJ holds up the newspaper that I didn’t realize he’d grabbed.
“Breaking more than one rule, I see.” He turns to me. “Maija, you look like you saw a ghost because, in that era, you weren’t, well, anything. A spirit perhaps, although little is known about what happens before we come into being. I suspect while there that version of here drained your energy. And JJ, were you brighter? Did you feel more robust? Fully alive, perhaps?”
We both nod.
“Well, good thing you came back. We’ve had enough disappearances this school year. Close shave with Derrington as well. I caution you against sneaking around, at least on the main campus.” I think he winks (or perhaps he has something in his eye) and then he vanishes. Poof.
I stand there for a solid minute before JJ walks me back to my dorm. He kisses me gently on the lips then I turn to go inside.
He grips my arm, halting me. “You’re brave, you know that, Maija?” His voice is as soft as the early morning light.
A grin teases my lips. “You’re better brighter, but I like you just the way you are, JJ Thorne.”
His lips quirk. I’m certain he’s fighting off a smile. I twine my fingers in his.
“We figured out what the blurry parts of the map are portals through time. But we’re no closer to figuring out what spot X marks.”
JJ’s eyes darken, and he lets go of my hand. “Yeah. That’s pirate business. Dirty, grim business.” He swallows hard and goes heavily down the steps in front of my dorm. I watch until he fades into the distance and can’t bear the idea of him actually fading away.
Later, exhausted, I practically sleepwalk through classes. The following days bring little improvement.
A light spring rain drizzles on and off all week as homework piles up and a question for JJ takes shape. I’m no closer to figuring out what the X in the cemetery means and no way am I going there at night (ghosts, for starters), but I think JJ knows. However, I don’t see him much for the next few days because coach Niffenniddler has the team practicing hard for the final game of the season.
According to Dewey and everyone else, it’s a really big deal. Even though there’s no definite release for any of us, if our team wins, each second-year player will qualify for the professional rumpus league’s version of the Riptivik black team. It’s a pool to train and draw the best players. Even if they’re stuck here forever, there’s the prestige of being selected that they’re all hoping for.
I do my best to avoid Derrington, but lately, she’s everywhere, including Gould, Hawthorne, Nightingale, I even spot her in my dorm. I’m early for class and take a detour when her severe silhouette materializes at the end of the hallway. I go back the way I came, cut a right turn, then a left, moving ever deeper into the building. I pass the alchemy classroom and peer inside. There’s no evidence of a shimmering door. It must only be visible at night.
I find myself in front of the Imogen Hawkes’ statue. Trehan was JJ’s father. A pirate. Before he disappeared, he very likely took her wand from her. Presumably, he’s dead now. Perhaps his descendants have it? Or maybe he hid it, and we have to follow clues to find it. Possibilities swirl in my mind.
I scan my memory for anything in my Ivanka Storminoff research pointing to the location of the wand but come up with nothing.
I’m deep in thought when I sit down at my usual desk in the creation classroom to find a note waiting for me.
If you let me, I’ll call your heart my home.
Same handwriting. Same signature. I practically swoon. This is the sweetest, most romantic love letter yet, but the truth is, my heart already belongs to someone. I tuck it in my pocket.
That evening, back at Penny House, Audra pops her head into my room and says, “Be down in the common room in five minutes.”
Before I can ask why, she’s already moved on.
When I get downstairs, the common room is dark. Little bumps creep across my arms until a warm hand grabs it and yanks me down behind a sofa.
“Just go with it,” a familiar voice says.
Footsteps patter down the hall.
Suddenly, the lights flick on and everyone yells, “Surprise!”
Yassi’s hands clap her cheeks and she really, truly, looks shocked, but in a good way. “No one wished me happy birthday all day, I thought you all forgot.” She beams.
Audra says, “Today is a special occasion. We’d never forget.”
There are hugs and laughter as everyone wishes Yassi a happy birthday.
Then Audra calls for our attention again. “I know pie is Yassi’s favorite dessert. Probably why she came to Riptivik instead of going to Tate, just saying. But I couldn’t decide on a birthday pie. There are so many delicious flavors. I consulted the kitchen witches and in the end, I made one of each—with a little help.” Audra smiles at Miss Mayweather as they present lemon chiffon, cherry, apple, peach, and a few others. No two are alike: some have woven crusts, others cutouts of flowers, leaves, braids, and butterflies. Another has a crumble. The only thing missing is my mom’s coconut cream pie, but otherwise, it’s all perfect and delicious. I make it through slivers of four flavors and then collapse on the couch.
Meanwhile, Yassi opens gifts and receives spellwork cards, in much the same fashion as the caricature artwork at the Jubilee. The birthday wishes appear in the air as if written with a sparkler before vanishing.
Later, most of the girls reluctantly disperse because of homework. Yassi sits down with me.
“I thought everyone forgot,” she repeats, nearly as surprised as before.
I sit up and swallow a little bit of guilt. “I’d let you read my mind, but I’ll just tell you the truth. I’ve been so wrapped up in trying to save the campus from the Marauders, and the known world from the Hive and demon snatchers, that I did forget. Also, JJ. I’ve been a bit wrapped up in him too.”
Her lips rumple into something like understanding and resignation. “Thanks for being honest about it.”
I shake my head. “I have no excuse. You’re my best friend and I haven’t been acting that way.”
“Don’t worry. I understand.”
“I’d like to make it up to you.”
She bounces on the chair, apology accepted. “Great, you’ll let me test my latest makeup and hairstyles on you. Oh, and I have an outfit you’d look great in. Just in time for the weekend.” She goes on to describe her very own version of playing dress-up.
We skip homework and have a girlie night, reminding me what I love so much about our friendship; it doesn’t take any magic at all. Then again the eyeshadow she applies doesn’t come from a store so a little bit of twinkle and sparkle doesn’t hurt either.
