Familiars in School: Why Magical Animals Are a Distraction in the Classroom

Snoozefest.

Conjured Candy Not a Healthy Lunch Choice

Most kids wouldn’t agree.

Is PE Really Necessary at a School for Magic Wielders?

Hm. How do I convince the other ninth graders to ditch sports in favor of an extra library period? Who wants to run around a field when you could be reading?

The late bell is ringing and I pause, wobbling between choices. It’s not like I want to be one of those kids who skip class, but I’m so tired of being the one who sucks at pretty much everything. This class is pointless for me anyway. It’s an argument I’ve had before, but when your mom’s school principal it means having to attend all your lessons even if you have “gross ineptitudes,” as my sixth-grade conjuring teacher put on my report card. He doesn’t work at the school anymore.

So, inept it is today, which is only questionably better than tardy. I skid-run up the path toward the entrance of Myrskyjärvi International School—for the Magically Gifted. I try to ignore the last part of the school’s name the same way most people ignore me.

I’m about to slip through the doors and instead end up body-slamming Emmi Lehtinen , who’s on her way out.

“Ah, there you are. We’re having class outside today,” Emmi says. Her robes, better suited to the thirteenth century, swirl as she turns. Other teachers wear jeans and sweaters beneath sensible jackets. Not Emmi.

Does Emmi Lehtinen LARP 24/7, or Is She the Victim of a Chronomancer’s Evil Prank?

Would the editor of the Myrsky Messenger let me write that? Probably not.

“Sorry I’m late.” I ignore the snickers from the rest of the class.

“You arrived precisely when you needed to. Here, you can help.” Emmi winks as she hands me a black velvet bag. No wonder they call me teacher’s pet but… I can’t really complain. Emmi is one of the few teachers who actually acknowledges my existence and lets me do stuff in her class. I take the bag and head out into the miserable drizzle of Finnish autumn.

While the others amble behind, most of them complaining about having class in the wet, I catch Natalie’s eye and give her a tiny wave.

“Hi.” She gives me a smile that dimples her left cheek. She seems about to say more when Sini, Aysha, and Ekaterina sweep past.

“Urgh, why are you even here?” Sini says. It’s the same question I ask myself pretty much every day. I glance at Natalie, hoping my once-BFF will stick up for me like she used to, but Aysha loops her arm through Natalie’s, giving me some serious stink eye.