Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE Isla and Buttercup had arranged to meet Diamond dorm in the barn next to the stables before breakfast to try Buttercup's finding magic again. When Isla woke, Molly and Anna were still sleeping but Valentina's bed was empty. Where was she? As Isla left the dorm, she spotted a white envelope on the floor that had been pushed under their door. It had Valentina's name on it, in exactly the same handwriting as the one from the day before. Isla's eyes widened. Did Valentina have a boyfriend? Was that who the letters were from? Biting back a giggle, she put the envelope on Valentina's bedside table.

As Isla headed for the Ruby dorm stables, Valentina poked her head out of Golden Briar's stall. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Oh… I'm just doing something with Diamond dorm," Isla said vaguely. "Is it time already?" Buttercup asked, looking over her stall door. "Is it time for what?" said Valentina. "Nothing," said Isla firmly. "Nothing at all." "Ready when you are, Isla!" called Rosa. Isla got Buttercup out of her stable. Valentina followed them up the aisle. "What are you all doing? Can I come too?" she asked. "No," Rosa spoke bluntly. "You don't like us and we don't much like you either." Isla wished Rosa hadn't been quite so harsh, but Valentina had been unkind to Matilda in the past and Rosa was a loyal friend.

"Fine!" Valentina barked. "I bet you're all doing something stupid anyway!" She stomped back into Golden Briar's stall. Isla joined the others as they cantered to the barn. "Are you ready to do your magic, Buttercup?" Matilda said. "Definitely!" said Buttercup. "It's going to work this time, I just know it is!" "Go, Buttercup!" said Ariana. "Stand back, everyone," said Buttercup, clearly loving being the centre of attention. "Here

goes!" She struck the ground dramatically. "Find Ms Willow!" Sparks engulfed her hoof, twirling up in the air to form a quivering, coloured arrow. Matilda squealed in excitement. Buttercup shot Isla a smug look as the arrow floated towards the barn door. "Go!" cried Isla, leaping on Buttercup's back, as the arrow began to gather speed. She heard the whoops and cries of the others as they thundered behind her. Isla leaned forward, enjoying the wind on her face as they galloped. "Where's it going?" she cried to Buttercup as the arrow headed out towards the vegetable gardens. "I don't know!" said Buttercup. The arrow reached a large compost heap that stood beside a dilapidated brick outbuilding at the bottom of the garden. It had a tree beside it, with branches that drooped down gracefully to the ground. The door was slightly ajar. The arrow hovered above the shed, pointing at it. Buttercup skidded to a halt. "Why's the arrow pointing at the shed?" said Rosa.

Freya caught her breath. "Maybe Ms Willow is inside!" They all looked at each other in alarm. "What should we do?" whispered Matilda. Just then, the door moved. They all froze. Something the size of an apple with eight legs and googly eyes came scuttling out. Ariana shrieked but the rest of them sighed with relief. "It's just a cave spider!" exclaimed Violet as the spider ran past them and up the tree trunk. "The tree!" Freya pointed. "It's a weeping willow. That must be why the arrow brought us here. Buttercup, you found a willow tree, not Ms Willow!" They all burst out laughing. "Whoops!" said Buttercup. "What's going on here, girls?" Ms Nettles emerged from the shed, her glasses rattling on the end of her bony nose. The arrow exploded in a shower of sparkles that faded like a spent firework. The girls stopped laughing instantly as the head teacher looked at them sternly, one hand on her hip. "Ms Nettles!" Rosa gasped in shock.

"Why are you all up so early?" Ms Nettles asked. "Erm… We were… out looking for sparkle moss," Matilda invented. Violet nodded furiously. "To decorate the ballroom for graduation day." Ms Nettles frowned. "Sparkle moss grows near water. I would try by the lake and stay away from here. This building isn't safe." "We'll go to the lake right away," said Freya. Isla remembered something. "Ms Nettles, Buttercup's got finding magic!" she said excitedly.