I was really happy to see Mrs Winkle – but I was also scared, because now she would see exactly how rubbish at witchcraft I was.

‘How did you know where to find us, Miss?’ I said.

Mrs Winkle tapped the side of her nose with her finger.

‘I have my methods,’ she said. She frowned as she gazed into the clearing. ‘I made some enquiries about your witch. When I realised it was Verbena Vile, I knew you’d need some help. She’s an extremely nasty piece of work!’

‘You don’t have to tell me,’ I said. ‘See that toad? That’s Mary Maxwell!’

‘Dear me,’ said Mrs Winkle, peering over her glasses at the sad little animal. ‘There was no need for that.’

She rummaged in her handbag and took out a polished navy-blue wand with a silver tip. I never use a wand because I keep losing them, but Mrs Winkle always does – and this one looked expensive.

‘Ooh,’ I breathed. ‘That’s beautiful.’

Mrs Winkle smiled.

‘I buy them to match my shoes,’ she said. ‘Now. To work!’

As the moon again slipped behind a cloud and the witches stopped howling, Mrs Winkle pointed her wand toward the clearing. Immediately, Verbena’s head shot up and she sniffed the air. She narrowed her eyes and licked her lips.

‘I smell magic, sisters!’ she whispered.

‘Hide!’ whispered Mrs Winkle out of the corner of her mouth. I didn’t need telling twice. I hopped behind a tree, dragging Charlie with me.

‘Come out, come out, wherever you are!’ sang Verbena.

‘Verbena Vile!’ said Mrs Winkle, stepping into the clearing. ‘It is I, Wanda Winkle of the Western Witch-hood – and you should be ashamed of yourself!’

‘A gate-crasher!’ said Verbena. ‘How did you get here, Winkle? A little bird told you, no doubt – a nasty little freckly bird, named Anna Kelly!’

I cuddled Charlie so tight he nipped me on the finger.

‘Verbena,’ said Mrs Winkle. ‘You were taught as a child to use your powers for good, not evil. But look!’ She pointed at the toad, crawling miserably around the circle. ‘You break the laws of nature for your own amusement!’

Verbena laughed, loud and long. I got goose bumps all over my arms.

‘What of it?’ she said. ‘My power grows stronger year by year! This is a special birthday – my hundredth! After we cast this night’s spells in the magic moonlight, I will be even more powerful – and you won’t be able to stop me doing anything I like!’

Verbena whipped out a black wand and pointed it at Mrs Winkle.

‘Witches of the Woods!’ she screamed. ‘Attack! Attack the outsider!’

The witches of the coven turned to Mrs Winkle. One by one, they drew out their wands. They started to march toward her, chanting:

‘Mrs Winkle!’ I hissed from behind my tree. ‘You’re outnumbered! Run!’

But Mrs Winkle wouldn’t budge. She planted her large feet firmly on the ground and lifted her wand.

‘Good over evil!’ she shouted. ‘Peace over war!’

Verbena’s witches raised their wands, which started to crackle and spit sparks of fire. Soon there was sheet after sheet of blue flame spurting out of them. They were going to set fire to Mrs Winkle!

Mrs Winkle whispered a quick spell under her breath and held her wand higher still. It spouted a pure, clean fountain of water, which quenched the flames into clouds of billowing steam.

When they realised their plan wasn’t working, all of the witches turned themselves, one by one, into wild animals. There were lions, tigers, huge lizards and hyenas.

They all rushed at Mrs Winkle, trying to wallop her with their claws and bite her with their massive teeth. But again, Mrs Winkle was too quick for them. She turned her wand into a whip and chair.

‘Back!’ she shouted, as she cracked and snapped her whip at them, and held them away with the chair. ‘I haven’t been a teacher for twenty years for nothing! Get back!’

The animals roared louder still.

While all this was going on, I could see Verbena edging toward the little green toad. It was time for me to do my bit.

I swallowed hard and stepped inside my magic star. I closed my eyes and concentrated on a rhyme with all my might. But before I could come up with anything, Verbena’s head shot up and she sniffed the air.

‘Come out, come out, wherever you are!’ she sang once again. ‘Anna Kelly, I know you’re there! I can smell you!’

I gulped.

‘Charlie!’ I whispered. ‘Make a run for it! Save yourself!’

But Charlie just cuddled closer to me.

Verbena whipped out her wand and waved it over herself. There was a flash of light and a puff of green smoke. When the smoke cleared, a large greenish-grey wolf stood in the clearing.

It dropped its nose to the ground and sniffed. Then it raised its head and growled. Drool dripped off its pointed teeth as it padded across the clearing – straight at Charlie and me.