Chapter 5

Chapter FIVE 'Oh no,' I whispered. Aunt Crystal picked up my little sister and put her on her hand. 'What on earth has happened to you?' she said, holding Honeyblossom up close to her face. 'You're tiny!'

Grandpa leaned over to peer at Aunt Crystal's hand. Then he turned and looked disapprovingly at Mirabelle and me. I felt like I was shrinking all over again. But Aunt Crystal didn't seem too upset. 'Let's not worry about it!' she said. 'This day is too happy to spoil.' She picked up her powerful snowflake wand from the table and waved it over Honeyblossom.

Icy glitter and snowy stars sparkled in the air for a moment and Honeyblossom appeared full size again, looking damp, sticky, and confused, on Aunt Crystal's lap. 'I'll take her!' I said, holding out my arms to Aunt Crystal. 'I think she needs a change!' But Aunt Crystal shook her head.

'I think Honeyblossom needs to go back to your mum and dad,' she said. 'Where are they? Cordelia! Bartholomew!' Mum and Dad came hurrying over. 'There you are!' said Dad when he saw Mirabelle and me. 'We were worried for a moment. You weren't in the entrance hall when we looked. It's pudding time!' Why is Honeyblossom all damp and sticky?' asked Mum as she took my sister from Aunt Crystal and gave her a hug. 'And why is Mirabelle covered in... icing?' 'Umm,' said Mirabelle as Mum and Dad ushered us away from the top table and back to our own table where Wilbur, Aunt Seraphina, and Uncle Alvin were sitting.

They all had bowls full of creamy trifle and fluffy meringue pie in front of them, and Mirabelle turned green when she saw them. 'What's happened to you?' asked Uncle Alvin when he saw Mirabelle's icing-covered dress and hair.

'You've been up to mischief again, haven't you!' said Aunt Seraphina. What have you done this time?' Mirabelle looked at me and I looked back at her. Neither of us dared to say anything. Aunt Seraphina is a witch and can be really scary when she's cross. But after a few moments of silence Mirabelle suddenly burst out, 'It's all my fault! I wanted to shrink so we could look around the cake and eat some of it but Honeyblossom and Isadora touched the potion by mistake too and we all shrank together! Then Honeyblossom got lost and we had to find her...' Her voice trailed off. Then she added, 'Isadora didn't