Trinity

Chapter 10

Sarah

With Miriam and Taylor both in Sydney, it had fallen to me to orchestrate the prank that the two of them had been plotting for the past few weeks. It was now the fourth and final week of the tournament, which signalled the beginning of the school-versus-school free-for-all.

"Have you heard anything from Miriam?" Kali asked me at breakfast on the final Monday of the tournament.

"She owled me yesterday afternoon," I replied as I spread strawberry jam on an English muffin.

"And?"

"She doesn't know when she'll be back. Her cousin's still in hospital."

"Ah." I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I looked up to see Kali looking at me, concern evident in her dark eyes. "Sarah, there's something up - I can tell. And it's not just because school will be starting again next week. It's something else, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

"I promised Miriam I'd keep it to myself," I said quietly.

"Keep what to yourself?"

I took a bite of my muffin and thought for a little while. "I'll tell you if you swear to keep your mouth shut."

"I swear."

I nodded and got up from my seat. "We should go up to the dormitory - I don't want anyone overhearing."

We went up to Atitjere Tower, locking ourselves in our dormitory. I sat down in the middle of the rug and pulled my knees up to my chest, while Kali sat down across from me. "I promise not to interrupt or anything until you've spilled the whole story," she assured me. "Now start talking."

I sighed and nodded. "Do you remember when, at the beginning of first term, you asked Taylor and I if we were related, and we both denied it?" I asked, and Kali nodded. "Well...I sort of have a confession to make." I fiddled with the laces on my sneakers. "We are related. He's my brother. My triplet, to be precise. And Miriam is my sister. We were separated not long after we were born, and we only just met this year." When Kali didn't say anything, I continued talking. "I nearly lost him all over again last week. Someone from our House attacked him and left him to drown, and he's been in the hospital since. I'm worried as hell about him, because nobody knows if he's going to wake up. That's where Miriam's been since she left - visiting our brother."

Kali had opened her mouth to speak when Mrs. Heinemann's voice sounded from somewhere above our heads. "All Southern Cross Academy students, please report to the school auditorium for an all-school assembly. Attendance is compulsory. Twofold Bay students, your presence is requested at the Quidditch pitch. Thank you."

"We'd better go," Kali said as she got to her feet. "You can finish telling me after assembly."

As I passed through the auditorium doors, Mrs. Chatham was standing just inside, and she pulled me away from the crowd. "Miss Abernathy, this came for you just a few minutes ago," she told me, handing me a cream-coloured envelope. "Do not open it until after the assembly. When you have read the letter inside, please see me in my office."

"Yes, Mrs. Chatham," I replied as I tucked the envelope into a pocket.

When everyone in the school was seated, Mrs. Heinemann stepped up behind the lectern. "Your attention, please," she said - it was a command, not a request. When all talk had stopped, she continued. "Thank you. I have called this assembly to inform you all of an incident that took place last week.

"The Grade Eleven students, particularly those from Atitjere House, will have noted that there are three members of their class absent from school - those students are Taylor Chambers, Miriam Kennedy and Valerian Underwood. The incident primarily concerns Mr. Chambers and Mr. Underwood." Mrs. Heinemann placed her hands on either edge of the lectern, curling her fingers underneath. "Mr. Underwood has been expelled for attempting to murder Mr. Chambers, through the use of a garrotte and the Drowning Curse. Mr. Underwood has also been arrested and remanded in custody at Fort Denison, pending trial."

A wave of murmuring swept through the auditorium, before being silenced when Mrs. Heinemann raised a hand. "Let me assure you all that Mr. Chambers is alive, though I would not yet venture to say that he is alive and well. Only time will tell us if he has escaped any serious injury. Miss Kennedy is fulfilling one of her roles as the school vice-captain, and is staying with Mr. Chambers until such a time as he is well enough to return here." She lowered her hand. "Let me also remind you all to take heed of Mr. Underwood's current predicament. I will not hesitate to punish anyone who uses their magic to harm a fellow student - especially if that student is here at the school as a guest. Expulsion will be the least of your worries."

After the assembly, I headed to the library and sat down in my favourite chair, near one of the ceiling-to-floor windows. If I was lucky, everyone else was so preoccupied with pranking the Twofold Bay students that I wouldn't be disturbed anytime soon. As it turned out, the letter was from Miriam.

Sarah,

I thought you would appreciate hearing this from me rather than from any of the teachers. They'd probably announce it in front of the school given half a chance.

Anyway...he's awake. He woke up about half an hour ago. He's a bit disoriented and he's having a bit of trouble breathing, but the Healers reckon that's normal at first. They're aiming to have him back at the Academy before term starts. I think they're going to see about getting you over here as well. I know Taylor definitely wants to see you - that was one of the first things he said when he woke up.

I hope you can come to Sydney. We're both looking forward to seeing you.

Miriam

I rose from my seat, tucking the letter back into my pocket, and left the library, heading for Mrs. Chatham's office. Her office door was open, and she looked up as I knocked on the doorjamb. "Ah, hello Miss Abernathy," she said when she saw me. "Please come in and take a seat."

I nodded and entered the office, sitting down in the wooden chair in front of the desk. "You have read the letter, I assume?" Mrs. Chatham asked as I settled myself.

I nodded. "Is Miriam telling me the truth?" I asked.

"She is. Your brother is awake, and he does want to see you as soon as possible. Now, I understand that the three of you were planning to play a prank on the Twofold Bay Grade Eleven girls?"

I blinked. How did teachers always know when their students were planning something? "Yes ma'am," I replied.

"If you can play your prank tonight, and play it successfully, I'll see that there is a Portkey to St. Althea's ready for your use tomorrow afternoon."

I nodded my agreement and rose from my seat. "Would you like some pictures taken?" I asked before leaving her office.

"If you can manage it, please do."

I returned upstairs to Atitjere Tower, the agreement between myself and Mrs. Chatham still at the forefront of my mind. My first port of call was the Grade Eleven girls' dormitory, and Miriam's trunk.

"So what do you want us to do?" Kali asked after I'd gathered her, Artemis and Inanna together.

"Taylor, Miriam and I had this really elaborate prank all ready to go, but that was before the two of them had to go to Sydney. So I'd like the three of you to help me out."

"What kind of prank?" Inanna asked.

I grinned at Inanna and unrolled the scroll that I had taken from Miriam's desk, laying it flat on the largest of the common room tables. "This kind of prank."

The three of them got up on their knees and bent over the parchment, tracing the diagrams with their fingers and talking in low voices to one another. Finally, after a couple of minutes, Artemis looked up.

"When do we start?"

* * *

As I entered the St. Alexius Critical Care Ward at St. Althea's, I saw Miriam sitting beside a bed near the middle of the spacious room. She was watching the opposite wall intently, a beam of coloured light streaming out across the ward - but her hands were empty. I grinned, knowing exactly who would be controlling it, and picked up the pace.

I settled myself on an empty bed as I waited for the light show to dissipate, knowing that I couldn't disturb them. An Optisphere was essentially a virtual Pensieve, and Circe only knew what would happen if I tried to bring them out of the scene.

"Don't ask me to watch it again," Miriam said when they had finished watching. "The main thing is that we don't need to worry about him anymore."

"Speak for yourself," a second voice, roughened from sleep, said. "You're not the one who has to relive being strangled in their nightmares."

"It'll get better. Just give it time - it's the same deal with your powers. Almost dying screwed up your magical equilibrium."

"Did you eat the dictionary for breakfast this morning or something?"

"Oh be quiet. I just remember things like that." She took the Optisphere and turned to put it on the nightstand. And as she turned, I saw a flicker of recognition in her eye. "Sarah?" she asked, sounding somewhat incredulous.

I nodded. "Yeah. They let me out of the nuthouse for the afternoon."

A rough, hoarse chuckle sounded, and I slipped off of the bed and drew up a chair, moving to sit in it beside Miriam. From there, I had a better view of my brother.

He was propped up in bed by at least three pillows, his hair tied back in a ponytail and face paler than usual, dressed in a plain white hospital robe that had the embroidered-in-gold St. Althea's Hospital emblem of a serpent twined around a wand, above three six-pointed stars on the left sleeve; a white blanket covered his legs. He had dark shadows beneath his unusually dark blue eyes, which looked almost...haunted was probably the best word I could think of to describe them. Like he had been through Hell and back, and had lived to tell the tale. Which I supposed he had.

"That's a wonderful way of putting it," Taylor said dryly. "How did the prank go?"

"It was absolutely spectacular. You should have seen the looks on their faces."

"Did you get photos?" Miriam asked eagerly, and I nodded. "Come on then, hand 'em over."

"You assume I even brought them with me," I said, before digging around in my backpack. I pulled a paper envelope out and handed it to Miriam, who emptied the photographs out on the bed. She fanned them out on Taylor's lap, and the two of them bent down and pored over them eagerly, barely managing to keep their laughter to a respectable level.

The prank had basically entailed suspending a packet of cornflakes in the middle of the dormitory that the Twofold Bay Grade Eleven girls were staying in, with a wire-wrapped firecracker buried amidst the cereal. The wire that hadn't been wrapped around the firecracker had lead out of the cereal box, and had been attached to twelve camera flashbulbs that had been wired six in a row to a twelve-volt battery. The flashbulbs had been set up near the dormitory door, with a key rigged so that opening the door would close the circuit. The prank had worked exactly as Miriam said it would - a loud bang, a flash of blinding light, and a blast of singed cornflakes had given the Twofold Bay girls the impression that their dormitory had just exploded. And all they had done was open the door.

The soft sound of someone clearing their throat sounded, and Miriam and I turned around to see one of the Healers standing behind us. The badge on her pale blue robe gave her name and position as Valentina Corriss, Healer-In-Charge - Rehabilitation.

"Good afternoon," Healer Corriss said. "Taylor, how are you feeling?"

Taylor shrugged. "Can't complain."

Healer Corriss nodded. "I'm here to discuss your rehabilitation - we need to get your magic back in shape. The longer we leave it, the less chance you will have of retaining any of your previous skill or power." She pulled a clipboard out of nowhere and began flipping through the papers bound there. "Now, as I understand it, in addition to your elemental water power, you are able to breathe underwater?" she asked, and Taylor nodded. "I see. I'd like to work on that at first - I have worked with patients with your particular ability before, and I have found that the longer we wait to restore their level of 'performance', as it were, it becomes more difficult for that patient to regain their abilities. Therefore, I would like to begin work this evening." She glanced at Miriam and I. "And these are your sisters, correct?" Taylor nodded in confirmation, and Healer Corriss continued, "I would like the two of them to assist in your rehabilitation. That is, if they are happy to help."

"Of course we are!" Miriam said, and I nodded. "What do you need us to do?"

"First, are either of you averse to being underwater for any prolonged length of time?"

"I am," I said. "Water scares me a little, actually. Ironic for a water elemental, I know."

"I'm not," Miriam said. She fixed a searching gaze on me. "And yet you allowed Taylor here to teach you how to surf?"

"He used a Sticking Charm on the surfboard so that I wouldn't fall off."

"Ah."

Healer Corriss chuckled softly. "Miss...Kennedy, was it?" she asked, and Miriam nodded. "Research conducted over the years has indicated that all water elementals are physically able to handle breathing underwater, but the amount of water that each elemental is able to breathe and the length of time spent fully submerged varies greatly from person to person. It may take some getting used to, but there is no reason why you should have any difficulties."

"So I'm not as unique as I thought I was," Taylor said quietly.

"On the contrary," Healer Corriss said. "Your case is one of the rarest I have ever seen. The mere fact that you have been able to train yourself to increase your endurance is remarkable, especially considering that in the past six months alone, your range has increased from thirty minutes to ninety minutes. That alone leads me to believe that you will be able to regain your previous level of endurance faster than usual."

"When do we start?" I asked.

"Right now." She drew her wand from her robes and aimed it at Taylor, who immediately cowered against the head of his bed. "Taylor, all I am going to do is cast a Strengthening Charm on you - it will let you move around more easily. I promise I will not harm you."

After eyeing Healer Corriss for a short while, Taylor finally nodded and allowed the charm to be cast. Healer Corriss then directed Miriam to help Taylor out of bed, and to hold him steady while his hospital robe was Transfigured into something more comfortable - khaki cargo pants and a black T-shirt. His feet were left bare.

Telling the three of us to hold hands, Healer Corriss rotated the dial of her wristwatch three times clockwise and twice anti-clockwise, before pressing a button on the side of the casing. The air around us shimmered, and the scene warped, until we were standing in a spacious, high-ceilinged, sunlit room. Shimmering patterns, caused by sunlight reflecting off the water in the pool in the room's centre, painted the walls. I figured that it was artificial sunlight rather than the real thing.

"Miriam, I want you to try it on your own at first," Healer Corriss instructed, and Miriam nodded. "Don't hold your breath; just breathe normally. You are physically capable of it; it's only a matter of training your brain to accept it as fact."

Miriam grinned and took a running leap into the pool, disappearing with a splash. She did not surface for almost five minutes. "That was amazing," she said after she had emerged, before shaking her hair out of her face. "Sarah, honestly, you gotta try it. There's nothing else like it in the world."

I looked hesitantly at Taylor, who nodded and gave me an encouraging smile. Then I grinned wickedly. "Bombs away!" I yelled as I pelted across the slate floor and leaped into the air, tucking my knees up against my chest right before I crashed into the water. I uncurled myself and allowed myself to sink to the bottom of the pool, watching wide-eyed as the surface spiralled away above me.

Lying there on the tiled bottom of the pool, unconsciously holding my breath, what Healer Corriss had just said came to the forefront of my mind - just breathe normally.

Oh, fuck it, my mind's voice swore, and I allowed myself to take a tentative breath. It wasn't long before I realised that it was just as natural as breathing on the surface.

Miriam was right about one thing. It truly was one of the most amazing things I had ever experienced.

* * *

Taylor

By the time I was released from St. Althea's, I had a severe case of what Muggles called 'cabin fever' - I couldn't wait to get back to school, back to classes, back to my own bed.

But classes and my bed would have to wait. As soon as I had Portkeyed back to the Academy, under the close supervision of Mrs. Chatham, I was immediately 'incarcerated' in the school Sick Bay. I was well on my way to recovery, true, but I still wasn't one hundred percent. And I needed to be at my absolute best for the final term, for once the year ended I would be returning to the United States - and to Amargosa Valley College.

Home.

I had almost forgotten how good that word sounded. For some reason while at school I had taken my relative proximity to San Diego for granted, knowing that if I wanted to go home for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, I could. But here, the fact that I was tens of thousands of miles from home was even more pronounced.

"Earth to Taylor Chambers..."

I blinked and looked over at Miriam. She stood at the end of the bed I occupied, clad in school robes and holding a stack of books to her chest. "I got your homework," she informed me as she walked up beside my bed and held the books out to me. "And Dom wants to know when you'll be out of here."

"No idea," I said truthfully as I took the books from Miriam and set them on my lap. A sheet of parchment on the top of the stack detailed what my teachers expected of me.

History of Magic: read chapters 8-10 of Australasian Magical History, and answer the 16 focus questions at the end of each chapter; prepare a report on the progress of your major project.

Charms: read chapter 7 of Advanced Spellcasting, and practice the three charms described therein.

Transfiguration: review chapters 1-7 of Advanced Transfiguration.

Arithmancy: complete weekly assignment.

Ancient Runes: read chapter 11 of A Runic Syllabary; translate passages at the end of the chapter and answer questions 1-13.

"They're asking a fair bit," I commented as I set the books on my night table.

"Yeah, well..." Miriam shrugged and hopped up on the end of my bed. "They're going to start cracking down now that Term Four's started. And come January..." She sighed. "I'm going to be flat out - Grade Twelve, being school captain, Powerball, getting ready for my CAME exams...Merlin, I'm in for one hell of a year."

"When do you become school captain?" I asked.

"On the last day of the school year - December fifteenth. That's when the Grade Twelves graduate, and all the rights and responsibilities of being school captain are transferred to me. Dhara will pass the wand to me, so to speak." She cocked her head to the side. "So how are you feeling?"

I shrugged. "I have a headache, my ears hurt, and I'm having trouble concentrating for long, but otherwise I'm fine." I tugged hard on my rat-tail, my vision blurring as my eyes slid out of focus.

"Maybe you just need to sleep," Miriam said uncertainly. "You know, have a nap or something." She raised one slender blonde eyebrow at me. "Have you even been sleeping?" she asked.

"I keep having nightmares," I admitted. "I haven't had more than three hours sleep in the past week."

"You'd better ask Mrs. Hallett for something to help you sleep," Miriam told me, sounding very much like the older sister she was. "Otherwise you're going to be a zombie for the rest of the year."

"I'll take that into account," I said dryly.

"I mean it, Fletch," she said, using the short form of my middle name - it was my preferred nickname. "Have a nap, and when you see Mrs. Hallett next ask her if she has something that will let you get some sleep. Pardon me for being blunt, but you look like shit."

I sighed and nodded. "All right, I'll have a nap. If nothing else, it'll clear my head enough so I can start my homework."

"That's the spirit." She gave me a grin and leaned forward, placing her right hand over my left. "It won't be like this forever," she said quietly. "And Valerian can't hurt you anymore."

"I know that. Doesn't mean it makes it any easier, though."

I slid down in bed until I was on my back, rolled over onto my left side and curled up, pulling the covers up to my chin. It wasn't until I closed my eyes that I realised how tired I truly was...

"Taylor, mail for you!" I heard my mother yell from downstairs, and my eyes popped open. It was the morning after Thanksgiving, and I was taking advantage of the short break from school to catch up on some desperately needed sleep. Junior year was turning out to be a lot more overwhelming than I originally thought it would be. "Hurry up and get down here, and I'll make you some breakfast while you're reading it!"

"Coming, Mom!" I yelled. I kicked my covers off and pelted from my room, downstairs to the kitchen. My mother stood at the kitchen bench, slicing apples into thick wedges with a black-handled serrated knife; she used the knife to point at a thick parchment envelope that sat propped up against the toaster. It had my name and address quilled on it in bright blue ink. The return address denoted the sender as being the 'Department of Magical Education - Student Exchanges Division' of the United States Magical Congress.

My hands shaking ever so slightly, I slit the envelope open and drew out the sheets of parchment contained within. "I'm not so sure I want to hear what they have to say," I said quietly.

Mom put the knife down on the chopping board and took the envelope and parchment from my hands. She unfolded what I assumed to be a letter and quickly scanned it. "I think you do want to find out," she said simply, handing it back to me. "Go on, read it."

I nodded, swallowed hard, and began to read.

* * *

Dear Mr. Chambers,

We at the Student Exchanges Division of the Department of Magical Education are pleased to inform you that your application for the 2000 student exchange program to Australia has been successful.

Due to your status as an elemental, you have been enrolled in the Southern Cross Academy of Elemental Magic. Please find enclosed information about the school, and further information about the program. You are advised to notify your home school as soon as possible about your impending absence from classes.

Thank you for your application, and we wish you every success in your academic efforts over the next year.

Yours faithfully,

Stephanie McNamara

Department of Magical Education - Student Exchanges Division

United States Magical Congress

* * *

"I don't believe it," I whispered. I lowered my hands to the countertop and stared at my mother. "I don't fucking believe it..."

"Taylor, language," she scolded. Then she gave me a wide smile. "I am so proud of you. And when your father hears about it, I know he'll be just as proud."

I gave her a smile of my own. "Thanks Mom." I reached for a piece of apple and bit it in half with a snap, before turning to the second piece of parchment and beginning to read.

Someone shaking me by the shoulder woke me from my nap, and I opened my eyes to see Sarah crouched beside my bed, smiling apologetically. "Sorry," she said. "But I thought I'd check in on you before dinner."

"I'm fine, Sarah."

Sarah cocked her head to the right. "Uh huh. Funny then that I think you're bullshitting, isn't it?"

"Oh great, what did Miriam say now?"

"Nothing. But I can see just by looking at you that you are anything but fine. You look absolutely exhausted."

I scowled at her. "I'd like to see you getting any sleep when you keep having the same nightmare every night."

She seemed to study me for a little while, before digging around in her robes. When she drew her hand out into the open, she was holding a tightly-corked, blue-tinted crystal bottle that was filled with a clear liquid. "Here, take this," she said. "You need it a lot more than I do right now."

"What is it?" I asked as I took the bottle and turned it over in my hands. It was unlabelled.

"Lavender essential oil," she replied. "It'll help you sleep. And unlike most sleeping potions, it's not addictive." She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I do Potions, don't I? And anyway, I wouldn't have been carrying it around with me all year if it was addictive. I have a policy of not allowing myself to become addicted to anything." She made a somewhat dismissive gesture. "Except for chocolate, but that's beside the point entirely."

"I'm not so sure about this..."

"You're not going to get well if you're not getting enough sleep. Aside from the fact that your magic is still rough around the edges, if you keep running on so little sleep it's going to come back and bite you on the arse when you least expect it. Trust me on that."

"And I should trust you because..."

"My practical Potions O.W.L. exam. I had been up all night studying, and I was so tired that I couldn't concentrate. I put in too little of one ingredient and too much of another, and it blew up in my face. Took a little while for my eyebrows to grow back."

I hid a smile and set the bottle on my night table. "Thanks, Sarah. Let's hope I'm not allergic to it."

"You're welcome." Sarah gave me a smile, before turning on her heel and heading out into the corridor. I watched her go, before shifting onto my back and staring up at the ceiling in silence.

* * *

October shifted into November, bringing with it slightly warmer weather - and the beginning of the History of Magic presentations. My own project had been delivered to Mr. Miller's office minutes before it had been due, but not before I had made a duplicate of the whole thing for my personal reference during my presentation. I had contemplated making use of a reversed Memory Charm to make it easier on myself, but in the end I decided against it. Beside the fact that I didn't know if such a spell even existed in the first place, I didn't like the idea of casting spells on myself. Instead, I had rewritten the whole thing in Korean before transcribing the lot onto cue cards - for some reason, I was able to remember things far more easily if I wrote them down in a language that wasn't English and also didn't use the 'Roman' alphabet. This extended to my school work, which meant that my school notebooks were filled with jotted notes that, to the untrained eye, looked like utter gibberish - when in reality I had written in either Korean, Chinese, Hindu, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew or Greek. I had even been known to write in runes. Not only were my notes easier to remember, it prevented anyone from copying my work.

As Shawn Monaghan finished stuttering his way through his presentation, I flicked through my cue cards again. As I scanned each card, my brain immediately translated the text from Korean to English. Sitting on the desk before me was a scroll and a stack of pictures.

"And lastly we have..." Mr. Miller stuck his hand into a Muggle Akubra and pulled out a slip of parchment. "Taylor Chambers."

I resisted the impulse to run screaming from the classroom, and instead gathered up everything that sat on my desk, and walked up to the front of the room to the chalkboard. With my back to my classmates, I began using telekinesis to move each picture into position on the chalkboard, using a Sticking Charm on each picture to fix it in place; I did the same with the scroll, which was actually a map. When everything was in position, I used my wand to write the topic of my presentation on the board: Elemental History.

I can do this, I thought determinedly. I was at a disadvantage because of my topic, and because of the attack a month earlier, but experience had taught me that I worked best under pressure. I turned back toward my classmates, Transfigured my wand into a Muggle laser pointer behind my back, and eyed the rows of robed students.

"Elemental history is fragmented at best, with Paracelsus making the first references to elementals in the sixteenth century. It is thought that the first water elemental was created through a union with a human and an undine, which is a water spirit." I used my laser pointer to indicate the first picture. "Three other elementals were born of the same union, each of whom would eventually control the elements of fire, air and earth. The first verified record of an elemental was that of Catherine Woodcroft, a Hogwarts student who started her first year in 1765." I indicated the second picture, that of a young girl dressed in the customary black uniform robes of her school.

As I continued my presentation, I kept one eye on Miriam. The expression on her face was completely neutral - while she wasn't frowning, she wasn't smiling either. I had never been particularly good at reading facial expressions and body language, so I wasn't entirely sure what it meant.

At last, I reached the end of the whole ordeal. "Today, the three nations with the highest elemental population are Australia, China and India, though they can be found worldwide. In addition, Australia holds the distinction of having the only school dedicated solely to the training and education of elemental students - this is due to the need for a focus on training elementals in the safe use of their abilities, not just the use of their magic. However, other nations are in the process of recognising the unique needs of their elemental populations, and it may not be long before elementals worldwide can take advantage of the educational and training opportunities offered to Australian students. In addition, a school for recently-graduated elemental students is in the process of being instituted, with the first student intake scheduled for 2006. It is hoped that these developments will see widespread acceptance of the elemental members of the world magical community, after centuries of hostility and mistrust." I sketched a small bow, winked at Miriam, and grinned as the applause started.

After I had cleared the board off, I gathered all my papers up again and returned to my seat. Mr. Miller returned to the front of the room and faced us.

"Thank you, Mr.Chambers, for that enlightening presentation," he said, with a smile in my direction. "I will now begin marking each of your projects, and barring any sort of natural disaster, you should have your marks back by next Friday. Class dismissed."

* * *

Miriam

The last weeks of the school year passed by in a blur of classes, weekend trips into Alice Springs, exams, and pickup games of Quidditch and Powerball. Southern Cross Academy had won the tournament again, and Nyapari had won the Powerball competition. The Grade 10 and Grade 12 exams took place during the end of October, the whole of November, and the beginning of December, meaning that for six whole weeks, the school was essentially in what the Muggles called 'radio silence'. Severe punishments were handed down to anyone who so much as dared to disturb the peace during the exam period.

Taylor and I also received our marks for our History of Magic projects - I had scored 78%, while Taylor's mark was 89%; Taylor's project was also accompanied with a note that with a little tweaking and polishing, any magical publisher would be bound to accept it. This had pleased Taylor no end, and he had bolted upstairs to the Owlery to send an owl to his parents almost as soon as he had received his project back.

But all too soon, it was graduation day for the Grade Ten and Grade Twelve students - not to mention the last day of school, and the day that Dhara's rights and responsibilities as school captain would be transferred to me. In addition, Sarah and Taylor would also be graduating with the Grade Twelves - I had made the suggestion to Mrs. Chatham that the two of them be named 'honorary graduates', or something along those lines. My suggestion had been welcomed with open arms not only by Mrs. Chatham, but also by the entire teaching staff, and by Mrs. Heinemann and Mrs. Richards. It was meant as a surprise for the two of them, however, so I was keeping my mouth shut about the whole thing.

I watched Sarah as she got ready on the morning of graduation, and noted that she looked somewhat nervous - even more nervous than the Grade Twelve girls, for some reason. She kept fiddling with her hair, her uniform, even her glasses, until I started feeling nervous just watching her.

"Sarah, what in Hades is wrong with you?" I asked.

She looked over at me from where she stood before one of the bathroom mirrors, her hair in utter disarray. "Oh let me think," she said sarcastically. "This is my last day here ever. I'm never coming back here after tomorrow."

"Sarah..." I stepped forward and took her hands in mine. "If anyone should be nervous, it's the Grade Twelves. You should be enjoying today, not getting yourself worked up about it. Yeah, it's your last day here, but that doesn't mean you have to freak out. Just relax."

She nodded wordlessly and turned back to the mirror. "By Circe, I look a wreck..."

I chuckled. "Give me your brush," I commanded jokingly. She handed her hairbrush to me over her shoulder, and I set about fixing her hair up.

At around eleven o'clock, the whole school assembled in the auditorium. The Grade Ten students sat in the first two rows and the Grade Twelve students in the rows immediately behind them; I sat with the members of the Student Council, right behind the Grade Twelve students. Mrs. Heinemann, Mrs. Richards and the four Heads of House sat on the stage.

Somewhere in the school, a clock struck eleven, and Mrs. Heinemann rose from her seat. She stepped up behind the lectern and gazed out over the assembly.

"Another year has drawn to a close - and what an eventful year it has been. I would like to congratulate everyone, but particularly the Grade Seven students, for making it through this year relatively unscathed." A ripple of appreciative laughter swept through the auditorium. "To commence the proceedings, I would like to call the Grade Ten students up onstage. Everyone else, please stand as they make their way onstage."

We did as we were asked, soles of shoes squeaking and robes rustling as we stood up, and watched the soon-to-be-former Grade Ten students file onstage and assemble in four neat rows of ten students each. As we waited, music started playing from out of nowhere, and they began singing - it was a tradition that had been in existence since before I had even been thought of.

"I see your shadow on the street now...I hear you push through the rusty gate...click of your heels on the concrete...waiting for a knock coming way too late...it seems an age since I've seen you...countdown as the weeks trickle into days...

"So you come in and put your bags down...I know there's something in the air...how can I do this to you right now...if you're over there when I need you here

"My happiness is slowly creeping back...now you're at home...if it ever starts sinking in...it must be when you pack up and go...

"It seems an age since I've seen you...countdown as the weeks trickle into days...I hope that time hasn't changed you...all I really want is for you to stay...

"So you come in and put your bags down...I know there's something in the air...how can I do this to you right now...if you're over there when I need you here...

"My happiness is slowly creeping back...now you're at home...if it ever starts sinking in...it must be when you pack up and go...

"I know I know I know what is inside...I know I know I know what is inside...I know I know I know what is inside...I know I know I know what is inside...you're over there when I need you here...

"My happiness is slowly creeping back...now you're at home...if it ever starts sinking in...it must be when you pack up and go...my happiness is slowly creeping back...now you're at home...if it ever starts sinking in...it must be when you pack up and go..."

Applause swept the auditorium when the song ended, and after the rest of us were seated once more Mrs. Heinemann stepped behind her lectern. "Students, when I call your name, step forward." She took up a parchment scroll and unrolled the first few centimetres. "Rachael Ames."

With the Grade Ten part of the graduation complete - Josiah Worthington had been the last to graduate - Mrs. Heinemann addressed the whole school once more. "It is now time for the Passing of the Wand. Dhara Finch and Miriam Kennedy, please come forward."

I swallowed hard and got out of my seat, wiping the palms of my hands on my robes as I walked down the centre aisle and headed up onstage. I took my place at Mrs. Heinemann's left side, facing Dhara; she gave me a warm smile, before taking from Mrs. Heinemann a long parcel wrapped in forest-green silk. She carefully unwrapped it to reveal a wand. And not just any wand - I knew from all my time on the Student Council, having been witness to many a rehearsal of the Passing of the Wand, that this particular wand had belonged to Elizabeth Linsley, the founder of my own House.

"Dhara, please repeat after me: I, Dhara Ileana Finch..."

"I, Dhara Ileana Finch..."

"On this, my graduation day..."

"On this, my graduation day..."

"Hereby transfer all rights and responsibilities to my successor, Miriam Kennedy."

"Hereby transfer all rights and responsibilities to my successor, Miriam Kennedy."

Mrs. Heinemann then turned to me. "Miriam, please repeat after me: I, Miriam Marie Kennedy..."

I drew a deep breath. "I, Miriam Marie Kennedy..."

"On this day..."

"On this day..."

"Accept all rights and responsibilities that come with this position."

"Accept all rights and responsibilities that come with this position."

Mrs. Heinemann then directed Dhara and I to both take hold of the wand. "Miriam, please recite the School Captain's Oath," she instructed me.

I nodded, hoping that all my hours of memorisation and practice wasn't for nothing. "I, Miriam Marie Kennedy, swear that as school captain I will respect and uphold the traditions of Southern Cross Academy, abiding by the rules that govern my position."

Mrs. Heinemann then took from her robes a small gold bar pin that had 'Captain' engraved on it in blue. She pinned it to my robes beneath my House emblem. Dhara and I then saluted one another, before she took her hand off the wand; Mrs. Heinemann took hold of the wand in Dhara's place, and I saluted, before letting go of the wand.

I did it, I thought in sheer wonder. I'm school captain.

Dhara hugged me right before we left the stage. "You're going to do great, Miriam," she whispered. "I couldn't think of a better person to be captain."

"Thanks," I said, and the two of us returned to our seats. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I joined my fellow Council members.

Mrs. Heinemann waited for Dhara and I to settle ourselves once again. "We now come to the part of our ceremony that our oldest students have been waiting six years for," she said. "Grade Twelves, please rise and make your way onstage."

They all did so, assembling themselves onstage much like the Grade Ten students had. Another song started in the background, and they began singing.

"So denied, so I lied...are you the now or never kind...in a day and a day love...I'm gonna be gone for good again...are you willing to be had...are you cool with just tonight...here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well...

"Here's to the night we felt alive...here's to the tears you knew you'd cry...here's to goodbye...tomorrow's gonna come too soon...

"Put your name on the line...along with place and time...want to stay, not to go...I want to ditch the logical...here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well...

"Here's to the night we felt alive...here's to the tears you knew you'd cry...here's to goodbye...tomorrow's gonna come too soon

"All my time is froze in motion...can't I stay an hour or two or more...don't let me let you go...don't let me let you go...here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well...

"Here's to the night we felt alive...here's to the tears you knew you'd cry...here's to goodbye...tomorrow's gonna come too soon...too soon...here's to the night we felt alive...here's to the tears you knew you'd cry...here's to goodbye...tomorrow's gonna come too soon..."

More applause swept the auditorium as the Grade Twelves finished their song. Mrs. Heinemann nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you, everyone. As with the Grade Ten students, when I call your name please step forward. When you have collected your certificates, please step through the arch." She took up another scroll and unrolled it partway. "Xavier Ames."

As each of the Grade Twelve students passed through the arch that had been set up at the head of the stairs, the arch glowed gold; I watched carefully as each of them returned to their seats, and noted that the trimming on the cuffs and hem of the robes that each of them wore was no longer in their house colour - it was gold.

"We have just one last thing to take care of," Mrs. Heinemann said. "This year, our school has been host to two exchange students. It has been decided that Sarah Abernathy, of Hogwarts School, and Taylor Chambers, or Amargosa Valley College, will also be graduating today. I would now like the two of them, along with Miriam Kennedy, to come up onstage."

I watched in amusement as Sarah and Taylor rose from their seats and headed up onstage, confusion showing quite clearly on their faces, before getting up and following them. I stood at Mrs. Chatham's side as the two of them received a certificate each and saluted Mrs. Heinemann.

"We hope that the two of you will come back and visit us again someday," Mrs. Chatham said. "You are both more than welcome to - the Academy gates will always be open to you."

"Thank you," Sarah said softly. She delivered a sharp jab with her elbow to Taylor's side, earning her a wounded look. She glanced meaningfully at our Head of House, and he finally muttered his thanks.

"That concludes the morning's proceedings," Mrs. Heinemann said. "I would like all of our graduates, teachers, Heads of House and our new school captain to remain behind; everyone else, you are hereby dismissed."