The following days were hectic for James and Elizabeth. They both shared all the same classes now, and were given large amounts of extra and alternate work from their teachers. Missus Featherlox was no longer teaching them introductory magic, but advanced spell creation – work that was designed for people eight years ahead of them.

The days had gotten even cooler, and the Orphanage had been decorated in orange and black for Hallowe’en. Jack O’ Lanterns were suspended in the air around all doorways, and when someone walked past the Jack O’ Lanterns would bid them a happy Hallows Eve, or scream in disgust – one of the two.

James had found the need to use the secret study almost every day. He sat now at one of the two desks in the room, hunched over an oversized book entitled: Secrets of the Scottish Charms. The book was dedicated to teaching complicated charms that had been obtained over hundreds of years from the highland clans. James’ hand ached from the amount of notes he had already taken. He dropped his pen at the side of a stack of paper and laid his head down in the book.

‘I think I’m done,’ he said, mostly to the book.

‘You better be sure you’re done,’ Elizabeth responded sleepily from the desk across the room. ‘Missus Featherlox wants us to hand our notes in before our lesson.’ 

James looked up from his book with much effort. ‘What lesson?’ he wondered. 

Elizabeth gave a half-hearted laugh. ‘James it’s the 31st,’ she said as if reminding him of something he already knew.

James lifted his head – which had fallen back onto the book – and looked around with greater interest. ‘Really?’ he questioned. 

Elizabeth nodded, smiling weakly. James felt a flood of both excitement and anxiety rush over him. On the one hand, he was excited to be standing on the threshold of something new, something that they alone would be able to do. But at the same time, he felt nervous; scared even. Was Horace sane enough to teach them? Did he really want to teach them, or just lure them there so he could eat them?

James didn’t like to think about what Horace might do if he became unhinged. He looked down at the stack of note paper that had accumulated over the past hour and a half. Surely he had copied out all the notes that he needed. Just to be safe, he looked over the pages, making sure he hadn’t missed any of the key points. By the time he was satisfied he had gotten everything, he had two new pages of notes added to the pile. James packed up all his books – his bag had almost become unbearable to carry now due to the huge volumes they were required to study – and hefted it over his shoulder, making him lean to one side to remain balanced.

‘Do you think the lesson is going to happen right away?’ Elizabeth wondered from her desk as she shoved a copy of Advanced Magic Creation: Year Five into her bag and lifted the strap onto her shoulder. James shrugged in reply. He shifted uncomfortably and brought a hand to his side. An all too familiar pain shot through his body and he grimaced.

‘It’s still not healing is it?’ Elizabeth asked, concern in her voice.

James shook his head and tried to mask the pain with a smile. ‘It’s alright,’ he lied, and started towards the exit; but before he could reach it, the wall swept to one side and a large black and red Centaur walked into the room, smiling down at James as he stepped passed him to stand in the centre of the room.

‘Mister Allum!’ Elizabeth exclaimed, surprised by the Centaur’s sudden appearance.

Xavier Allum beamed at Elizabeth; then, clapping his hands together, ‘James, Elizabeth,’ he began, looking to each of them in turn, ‘I have been sent by your Headmaster to escort you to your first lesson with Horace Bleggard.’ He seemed to be trying to smile brightly as he mentioned the Gatekeeper’s name.

James glanced out of the window behind the desk to where the orange sun descended, painting the clouds on its journey. He silently wondered if they would be able to make it to the lesson and back before the night had a hold upon the landscape.

‘I must ask something of you as we embark on our trek to the mountain,’ Mister Xavier Allum said. ‘There are many dangerous animals in the land around Shadow Mountain; I would ask that you stick close by me. It is All Hallows Eve,’ he added, ‘and there will be much dark magic being performed tonight; the darkest night of the year.’

‘Then is it really safe for us to be walking around so close to nightfall?’ James wondered aloud.

Towering above the children, Mister Xavier Allum gave a fleeting smile before answering, ‘I would have preferred to hold your lesson in the bright hours of the afternoon, but, as it is, Horace would not let the lesson transpire any sooner.’ 

James saw Elizabeth shift uncomfortably and set her shoulder bag down. 

‘Mister Allum,’ she began uneasily, ‘is Horace as dangerous as he seems? Will these lessons be safe?’ she asked, voicing the silent concern that had been bubbling in James ever since they had decided to learn from the eccentric old Warlock. Images of Horace dancing over deathly still bodies had, on occasion, made their way through James’ mind, making him regret having a sense of adventure. 

The Centaur smiled warmly at Elizabeth and spoke in a kindly tone. ‘For starters, call me Xavier, please.’ He smiled again before continuing, ‘I do not trust Horace in the slightest. He is, however, accustomed to the rules set forth by the council of the Seven Kings, which state that a Gatekeeper cannot harm a pupil being taught in the ways of the Gatekeepers. And, to your second question, do I think these lessons will be safe? I think that you will be forced to the limit, beyond anything you can imagine. You will find yourselves learning the most dangerous magic imaginable. The lessons will not necessarily be safe,’ he said finally, ‘but they will be worth it. For you, and for everyone.’

James gave the Centaur a withering smile and motioned to the door. ‘We should probably get going.’ 

Xavier clasped his hands together and nodded. ‘Yes, let’s be off shall we?’

With that, the three headed out of the study, through the secret passages, and out into the dimly lit corridors of the Orphanage. Nearby Jack O’ Lanterns bobbed up and down in mid air, softly singing moody songs about brewing potions and wart-nosed Witches. The hallways were nearly silent, except for the soft songs and the tapping of feet and hooves. Xavier stopped by a small picture of a snoozing old man and tapped the wooden wall underneath it. A quick second later a small square of the wall evaporated into nothingness, revealing a hole filled with neatly folded cloth. Xavier pulled three pieces of thin black cloth out, and handed one to James, one to Elizabeth; keeping one for himself, as well.

Xavier flung the black cloth around himself, and as he did so, it transformed into a flowing robe that covered him from his neck to about his knees. The fabric was light, thin, and black, and as Xavier turned to look at James and Elizabeth it swayed and flowed almost unnaturally.

‘Well, go on,’ he encouraged, ‘drape it around your necks. It’s very simple.’ 

Elizabeth was the first to follow the advice, throwing it around her shoulders. It fell instantly into a light black robe, drawn neatly around her and the perfect length. James fumbled with his fabric, but managed to get it around his shoulders. He watched as it instantly lengthened and formed into a robe identical to Elizabeth's.

‘What are they?’ James asked in wonder.

‘Travelling cloaks,’ Xavier smiled. ‘Come on now, let’s be off. We don’t want to be out in the darkness if the Three Witches make an appearance,’ he said, pulling the hood of his robe up around his head and starting off again. 

As they finally passed the doors to the Main Hall, James could hear the voices of a large number of students and teachers. Lively music was being played; and as they passed the doors James looked inside to see the Hall lit with dim light. There were students dancing, eating, and generally carrying on a festive celebration.

‘Go on Sam, show us how it’s done!’ James heard someone shout at Sam Bartworth, who was doing a jig, surrounded by many students.

‘The Hallowe’en festival,’ Xavier explained glancing down at James and Elizabeth, ‘it’s a pity we can’t go,’ he added remorsefully as they reached the main doors. A barely noticeable flick of Xavier’s wand opened the grand entrance; then he and the children stepped out into the cool night air. A pronounced smell of cranberries carried across the courtyard on the slight wind. ‘Remember, stay close!’ Xavier insisted as they started across the property towards the looming darkness of the mountain. The distinct shape sat in silhouette, the sun dipping behind it.