3 A new friend, Emma Watson

'Do you want to listen to a story?'

'About whom?'

'The name is Tomevolio.'

'Ok, but who is he?'

'He is a ghost'

'A real ghost?'

'Yes'

I grabbed a long cloth in a jiffy and covered myself in it.

'What are you doing?' asked confused Bill

'Actually, I am scared of real ghosts.'

'Huh?

'Sorry, actually, it is cold outside. That's why I covered myself with this cloth'

'Oh!'

Then he sat down near the fire to get some warmth and, after a while, he spoke.

'He is a ghost whose name is popular around the globe. No one likes to call his name. He is really terrifying and scary '

'Um, is he more horrifying than you?'

He chuckled.

'Sorry, if you felt bad, I was just kidding'

'I know, I know'

When we were ready to go to the world of bewitchery. He took out a stick and spoke something from which we were directly transported into that world.

'Our school is nearby here'

'Oh OK'

Then an owl came and threw a magazine on the face of Bill.

'A magazine?'

'Yes, it is Owls school's daily magazine.'

Bill then took out around fifty coins which were of copper and gave them to the owl.

'Why are you giving these coins to the owl?'

'It is the cost of the daily magazine'

'But what will the owl do with those coins? I queried

'That owl will give those coins to our headmaster, Abraham Sir.'

'Now, I understand'

'Did you know there is a department of bewitchery, too?

'No, I haven't heard of it ever.'

'Let me explain, Abraham Sir, the best bewitch was invited to lead the department first, but Abraham Sir never leaves us.'

'So, who is the head of the department of bewitchery?'

'It is William Horatio Coleridge Marcellus'

'Long name, no?'

'Sure, it's a good but long name.'

'What is the main function of the Department of bewitchery?'

'Your questions are endless'

He continued,

'Their function is to seize the powers of the wrong people, ensure that everything is in order, and to punish and decide if someone uses their magical power unnecessarily or outside the world of bewitchery.

'It is difficult yet interesting work'

'That's true, Alex'

Then at that point of time, we sat on an empty bus. I pondered why that bus was empty when Bill opened the magazine, The Pomplet. Finally, after a while, I gained courage, but I was still afraid that Bill would ignore me and abandon me in this world where I don't even know a single person!!!!!!!

'Uh-h-h-h-h, Bill why is this bus empty?' I interrogated, pausing occasionally.

'Well, you see, this is not a well-known vehicle in the world of bewitchery. If you look, people are flying using their big sticks, here known as Halsticks.'

'Why can't we fly?

'Because we can not use magic outside the school'

'I see'

'How many schools are present in this world?'

I asked the questions one by one as a lot, a lot, a lot were popping into my mind.

'How many schools are there in the world of witchcraft?'

'There are one-hundred-twenty-eight schools in this world.'

'How do you know there are only so many schools?'

'Because we have a Li Wiz every four years'

'What is Li Wiz and when will it happen?'

'It is a competition where all the schools compete in various competitions like the Halsticks competition and it is going to take place next year'

'How many players are there in each team?

'A team consists of eight players without any substitutes'

'Do our school also play Li Wiz?'

'I told you that each and every school plays this tournament'

'Do we have to learn halsticks, too? Can we also be selected for the school team? '

'Yes, you will learn halsticks in school and you can be selected for the school team as well.'

'Yay!!!'

'Are you excited?'

'Very much'

When I was about to ask a question, he started before me,

'I'm sure you're going to ask any teacher to teach us and make us learn the Halsticks rules now, right?'

'How did you know I was going to ask that?'

'Just imagine it was magic.'

'Will we also learn the magic to read others' minds?'

'Yes, sure you will learn.'

'Owls school is really interesting'

'You find it interesting when you are listening to it, you will find it more interesting when you go there'

'I know'

We were dropped one kilometer away from the station. We had to run fast so we wouldn't miss the train!!!

While running, I asked Bill,

'Are there dragons in this world?

'I can say without a doubt that there are dragons in this world because I, too, had one.'

'Woah!!!'

I asked Bill,

'Was the dragon cute or not and brave or scared and fat or thin?'

'He was cute, brave and fat'

'I want to ask one question, no two questions, no three questions actually, many questions are blowing up in my mind'

'Fine, you can ask me three more questions, but not more than three questions'

'Right. The first question is was he small or big? '

'He was not that small but also not that big'

'The second question is whether he was obedient and friendly.'

'Yup he was obedient and friendly as well'

'Has he died?'

'Yes. He died saving me from the bad people of the bad ghost, Tomevolio. I cried a lot when he died '

'I think you both loved each other a lot'

'A very much'

'Do you have anything in the absence of him?'

'I do have this ball'

'A ball?'

'We used to play with it a lot'

He then started weeping.

'Bill don't act like a stubborn'

'Sorry'

'Now, wipe your tears'

'Yebo'

People watching us were laughing loudly and talking,

'See that boy is acting like a mother of the giant'

I began to blush. Then someone came to me asking for an autograph. I wondered why someone wanted my autograph. Then I saw Bill saying 'give it' in a low voice. There was silence all around. I signed the autograph. His name was' Mapy'. Then he went to the crowd shouting that this boy's name was Alex Jonas. Everyone rushed to me for an autograph. This time, Bill nodded his head and said, 'Run Alex, run'. We reached the station as fast as we could. Bill gave me ten copper coins and said to get two tickets. It took me time to get the tickets. At that point, Bill yelled,

'Do it fast Alex, only fifteen seconds left for the metro to leave'

I took the tickets as fast as I could and ran but I fell. Fortunately, just two seconds were left before we entered the metro. I was injured badly. The area where I was injured was excruciatingly painful.

Bill took two seats and did some magic so my leg could be fine. When he did that magic, my leg started hurting a lot. After a while, my leg was absolutely fine. I was able to run, walk, and crawl at the same time.I was delighted.

'Bill, why were people wanting my autograph?'

'I told you are famous'

'That's why people want my autograph?'

'Yes, Alex'

He then asked me,

'Alex, you have the books list, right?'

'Absolutely, yes'

'Open it'

Post I opened and read it out.

Owls School of Bewitchery

Head Master: Albert Abraham

Dear Mr. Jonas,

You should have- for the first year.

1. Uniform

2. One pair of black protective gloves

3. A winter black cloak

Book set-

Magic Dictionary

Getting to know about wizards

Bewitch-sports

Self-Defense

How to control Animals (Grade-1)

One thousand Wizard Stories (Grade-1)

Where to find beasts

In the first two years, no Halsticks would be recommended.

Students should carry one telescope, one binocular and one magnifying glass with them.

Students can bring either of the following-

Owl

Cat

Tortoise

Mouse

Dog

Desdemona Mago

Headmistress of Owls

'Are these items available here?'

'Why not'

'Do you know from where we will buy this stuff?'

'No'

'What?'

'I said I don't know where to buy all this stuff from?'

'So, are we lost?'

'No, I know that all these items are available where we are going'

'Huff-f'

When we reached the next station, It was a valley. At that point of time, my owl came back with a letter in its beak and sat on my shoulder. I opened the letter. In that letter were the destinations from where we could get the stuff mentioned below. First, Bill gave me the cage so I could keep my owl there.

I thought in my mind 'What should I keep the name of my owl?'

'Alex, Alex'

'Huh, yes'

'What are you thinking?'

'I am thinking of a name for my owl'

'I see. What have you decided to keep his name? '

'I think he should be named Cill'

'Good name'

'Thanks to you'

'Why me?'

'As if you weren't, I wouldn't have got this owl'

'Oh. I see '

'One second, you are giant, your face is clearly not visible'

'Yes, but what happened?'

'Are you the one who built the house in which I live and named it in my name?'

'I guess so'

'Huh, why didn't you tell me?'

'Sorry, but there is a long story behind it'

'Ok. We should leave it aside '

Bill knew where to go, he was obviously not getting there in an ordinary way. We passed candy stores, bars, movie theaters, and Halsticks stores. This was an ordinary street full of unordinary people.

'This is it. This is the bar. '

For me, it looked like a shabby place rather than a famous place. Bill spoke with a few people there, and we were finally able to leave the bar.

'We should go, Alex, we need to buy a lot of things'

We finally reached the book shop after three-four hours. In between, some people grabbed me to give them an autograph. Bill spoke up just as I was about to sign an autograph.

'Told you that you are famous'

'Ya'

At the shop, there was a crowd of people.

'Hi Emma' said Bill to a girl

'Hey, Bill'

'How are you?'

'Fine, just come here to buy the school stuff?'

'Alone?'

'Yes'

'You have courage my girl'

'That I know'

'Who is that girl?' I asked Bill

'She is an orphan like you. Your parents and her parents were known to each other and died together when they were returning from their holiday '

'What is her name?'

'Emma'

'Emma Watson' she interrupted

'Glad to meet you' I said

'Same here. H-h-hey are you, Alex? '

'Yes'

'Can I get an autograph of yours, please?'

'Are you also coming to Owls' I asked before giving her my autograph.

'Yup', Emma replied

She was a pretty young girl of my age, twelve years old. Her name was Emma Watson.

'So, why do you want my autograph? We can just be friends, if that's what you prefer.'

'That's fine. But will this be your first year? '

'Yes'

'Where do you live?' Emma asked

'I have my own house, and you?'

'I worked as a servant in my aunt's house'

'Bad for you'

'But now I ran away'

'Good for you. But, if you do want to live in my house, you can, Emma '

'It's so sweet of you to ask me that'

I started blushing.

'Think about it and tell me'

'Okez'

'Till you think I am going to buy my books, so bye'

'Wait!! Can I help you with it? '

'Um, as you wish!!!'

I went to Bill who was sitting on a chair. Hey, but when did he disappear!!!!!!!!!

'Hey, Bill. I am going with Emma to buy the books. You stay here and when we come you can pay '

'Great idea', Bill replied lazily

Then we left off.

It took us just five minutes to buy the school stuff.

'Thanks a lot, Emma'

'No need for that. In friendship no sorry, no thank you '

'Great dialogue'

'Thanks, Alex'

'In friendship no sorry, no thank you'

We both kept on laughing until we reached Bill.

'Bill, we got my school stuff'

'Now go and get it billed' Emma continued

'Yes, sure', Bill spoke sleepily

He might have slept all this while.

When he left us. I asked Emma,

'So, what do you think'

'About?'

'The question I asked you first'

'So, my answer is I can stay at your house. But you should not have any trouble '

'I won't have any, don't worry'

'You are the best'

'Thanks'

'No sorry, no thank you for friendship, Alex'

'I completely forgot it'

Bill told us that he had got the stuff billed and suddenly, he fell on the floor snoring. We both laughed hard at him.

'Emma, do you know you are my first friend?'

'And do you know that you are my first friend?'

'Seriously, I am your first friend?' I asked

'Yes'

'I can not believe my eyes'

'Me too'

'Alex, what should we do to make Bill wake up'

'Do you have an animal which you are bringing to school'

'Yes, it's an owl'

I took out Cill from the cage and told him to attack Bill's coat with his beak.

'Emma, say your owl to do the same'

Emma told her owl to attack at the same point. In a second, Bill was awake and we called our owls saying,

'Good job, Cill'

'Good job, Owlet'

'Good name for your owl, Emma'

'Your owl name is good too'

'Hey, Bill, what would we do in these two months before school?' We both asked

'Study beforehand'

'That's a good idea,' I said.

When we were going back. I wished I had six more eyes. So, I could watch it everywhere. I turned my head in each and every direction as we walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people, what people were shopping. A short-tempered woman was scolding her very badly. Some boys and girls my age were playing with their halsticks and boasting about how cool their halsticks were because they were the most recent.'This is the latest and coolest halstick because it is tritus five-thousand-seven,' one of them said.

We crossed a white building which was the largest building in that street.

'Emma, Alex. See, that's a goblin ', Bill said

'What are goblins?'

'It's a nefarious, ugly creature that resembles a dwarf,' Emma replied.

'Woah!!! You know everything '

'Nobody knows everything in this world. If you study a lot, that doesn't mean you know everything and everything. For learning something we need dedication ', Emma said

'What an informative speech' I said

When we were both talking, Bill had already had the goblin in his hand and was coming towards us. When he came to us, he told us to touch the goblin.

'How can anyone touch it, he is so ugly' I said

'Ewwwww' Emma yelled

Bill finally dropped it and let it go after taking some selfies.

Bill suddenly disappeared.

'Where can Bill go?' We both asked each other

We waited a long time at the same place until Bill was seen. Bill came from that building where we saw the goblin '

'Where were you?' we inquired.

'I was in the Goblin castle'

'Doing?' We stammered

'Uh-h, yes, playing with the goblins'

'What is the truth'

'Fine, I will tell you, I went to check something'

'What something?' Emma asked

'That I can't tell you'

'Relating to whom?' I asked

'Relating to Abraham Sir'

'What is inside the castle related to Abraham, sir?' I wondered.

'Let's move on' Bill yelled '

'Alex, let's go' Emma shouted from a far distance

I didn't hear her. She came running to me and said,

'Hey, hello? Alex? '

She got infuriated, grabbed my hand and started running towards Bill. I was flying in the air. Suddenly, I was awake and stopped thinking about the goblin castle.

'Emma, leave me'

She stopped in the street where Bill was standing. I fell on the road.

'Are you fine, Alex?'

'Think so, Emma. You ran so fast '

'Sorry, Alex'

'No sorry, No thank you for friendship'

After one hour, we reached my home and I asked Emma and Bill,

'What would you like to eat?'

'Are you going to make it, Alex?' asked Emma.

'O'course'

'No, Alex, sorry, you are not going to make it. After all, it is your birthday ', Bill said

He looked frightened

'Happy Birthday, Alex'

'Thank you, Emmy'

My tongue slipped and I said to her, Emmy. But still,

'It's a cute name'

'What? Cute name? Seriously? '

'Ya, I like that name'

'Ok, OK. Would anyone care to tell me what you guys want to eat for dinner? '

'I said to you, you are not going to make dinner'

'Then, who is going to make it, Bill?'

'How about I make dinner?' Emma uttered

'uh-h-h-h, you know how to make it?' Bill questioned

'Of course, at my aunt's house I only used to make whether it was breakfast, whether it was lunch or it was dinner'

'Excuse me, Bill?'

'Yeh'

'Can I he-e-e-l-l'

'Huff-f'

He composed himself and went on speaking,

'Ya, ya, you can help her'

'Yay-y'

'Bill, what are you going to do all this while?'

'I am, of course, going to take a nap, Emma'

He then yawned and went back to sleep, as he had done the night before.Emma started laughing and then I too joined her. After ten good minutes, we started cooking.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....

We could hear Bill's snores. They were really loud.

'The dinner is ready, Bill' I squeaked

'Fine, let me sleep for fifteen minutes'

'I said the food is ready' I shouted at Bill

'Ya, wait'

It took us around forty-five minutes to wake him until Emma pranked him,

'Abraham Sir is here to see you'

He woke up in just a second and asked 'Where is he?'

We first looked at each other and then busted out giggling.

'Did you both play a prank on me, huh?'

'Yes' Emma spoke up, who was still giggling.

'Now, you are awake, so shall we eat our dinner?'

'Yeah'

Then we started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After that, we went to bed saying 'good night' to each other.The next morning was a lazy one. We did not wake up before half-past eleven. Suddenly, at that point of time, Bill screamed,

'I am getting late for the trai-ii'

Before he could finish, Emma asked, yawing,

What is going on?

'I am getting late for my train'

'Which train?' I asked

'Didn't I tell you that I had to leave this morning?'

'You never told us that Bill' said frustrated, Emma

'Now, I told you. Now, don't get angry '

'HUH!!!!'

'Leave it. Got time for a bite of a hamburger before your train leaves? '

He looked at the watch and then he said, 'Sorry'

'But for what?' Emma asked

'Actually, I got plenty of time before the train leaves'

'Just that?'

'Yes'

'No problem'

'So, are you forgiving me'

'Do you think I will'

'Yes, Emma, you are going to, right?'

'My answer is no'

'But you said no problem'

'Yes, but now I said no'

Are you thinking about where it was? I was making a video of them. And now I am going to send it worldwide. It would be really fun.

'Um, Alex, what are you saying?' Emma interrogated

'Nothing'

'So, give me your phone so I can delete this video'

'Shit!!'

'By the way, Bill, are we allowed to bring our phones to school?' Emma asked after deleting that video.

'No, never'

'K-kkk'

'Now, you both leave this. I'm going to make hamburgers for us. So, meet me in the dining hall '

'Fine', Emma and Bill replied

After five-six minutes, the hamburgers were ready. I took them to Emma and Bill and offered them them. They began munching and talking. But I was quiet all this while.

'Hey, Alex, how are you?'Why aren't you speaking anything? ' Emma questioned

I chewed my hamburger, trying to think my words.

'Everyone thinks I'm the best,' I finally admitted.

'Mapy, all those people running after us wanting my autograph, the people in the bar and many more …. But I don't know magic at all. How the hell in this world expect me to do great things? I'm just a twelve-year-boy. I don't even know what I am famous for? Who were my parents? And how could my parents die in that accident? Why did only my parents and Emma's parents perish in that accident when there were so many people on that bus?I think someone is behind my parents' death. '

Before anyone of them could answer me. Someone rang the bell. I went to check who it was. There was no one else but my greatest rival, Richard Warner. We both stared for once and then I asked,

'What do you want?'

'Nothing, I was just wondering if you were going to Owl's.'

'Yes'

'Good'

'But wait, will you also be coming to Owl's?'

'Why not'

'Who's there, Alex?'

'No one, Emma'

'Someone in your house?' He was amazed

Emma showed up.

'Who is this boy?'

'He is my rival, Richard Warner'

'Hey, hi Richard'

He ignored Emma and said,

'A girlfriend, huh?

'You just keep quiet and get lost from here'

'Fine. Fine. By the way, can you pick me up when we leave? '

'Sure' I said

'Bye. See ya, Jonas'

When he left off. Emma spoke,

'What an irritating boy'

'He sure is'

'Guys, what took you so long? Who was there at the door? '

'There was a boy named Richard,' Emma explained.

'Is his surname, Warner'

'Yeh'

'Bill, do you know him?' I asked

'Don't say his parents were known to our parents and they both also died on the same bus and in the same accident as our parents died, whereas other people on the bus did not even get a single-scratch'

'That's true, Emma'

'No way'

'This time, Bill, tell us the whole story.'

'Fine, Alex but is there a condition?'

'What condition, Bill?' Emma asked politely

'You both have to bring something, Richard as well.'

'No problem' I said, taking the duty

We went to Richard's house and asked him to come with us. First, he said he wouldn't come but we managed to bring him to my home!!!!!!!

When we reached Bill, he spoke,

'I first want you to listen to me carefully'

'We will' I spoke kindly

'Just begin fast, I don't have time you see' Richard spoke rudely

'I have one and a half hours before my train leaves. So, I will tell you the story for just the next forty-five minutes.

Then, he began before we could say anything.