Free Clearheart by Edrei Cullen Page A

and skateboard bag and made her way out into the grounds.
    Charlie was standing in the shadows of a mulberry bush talking to the Marshlin Flitterwig from his dorm. HumphreyScrumphries stood beside them both, rocking back and forth on his feet, his eyes closed under his long fringe, luxuriating in night-time.
    As Ella approached she heard Charlie speak. ‘Toby, you’re a Marshlin Flitterwig, for Magic’s sake. You’re a natural around water. Just show us where the most powerful Waterway is, and then go back to bed.’ Toby stared soggily back at him, half asleep. ‘I’ll do your Animumble homework for a week,’ Charlie added, by way of incentive.
    Toby’s eyes lit up. He shook his head awake and sniffed the air. ‘Two weeks and you’ve got a deal,’ the boy said. Charlie frowned at him and nodded reluctantly. The Marshlin Flitterwig was off across the field at once.
    â€˜But what if we get spotted, Charlie?’ said Ella. ‘Who knows who might be out and about at this time of night.’ She nodded at Humphrey by way of example.
    Harold winked at Charlie. Charlie winked at Humphrey. Humphrey just stared.
    â€˜What?’ he asked.
    â€˜Would you mind Bongling us, Humph?’ asked Charlie.
    Humphrey let his shoulders sag and his neck roll back as if this was the hardest thing he had ever been asked to do. ‘Rule number two, remember?’
    â€˜Well, actually,’ said Charlie, ‘I haven’t read the rules yet. But we really don’t have time to mess around now, so would you mind?’
    Humphrey looked sideways at Ella. ‘I would really appreciate it, Humph,’ she said, looking into his eyes and placing her hand on his hopefully.
    â€˜Oh, fine,’ he intoned. ‘But you do know it only lasts a little while. I haven’t got any better at it than that yet. I only get to practise Bongling during the holidays usually, with my parents. There aren’t any other Moglins at Hedgeberry, you see, so no-one else does it.’ The boy looked sad.
    Ella smiled at him. ‘Thanks so much,’ she said, squeezing his arm gratefully.
    Humphrey clasped his eyes shut, tweaked his ear, put his hands on the children and started to mutter. Ella and Charlie disappeared.
    They ran across the field in the direction Toby had set off in, bumping into each other as they went. Being invisible, neither had any idea where the other was. They heard something splashing about and Toby’s voice. They followed the sounds to a deep, deep spring on the borders of the vegetable gardens. Toby was flinging himself around in the sparkling waters with glorious abandon. Ella shuddered. It was freezing. It must bedouble freezing in there! How could he do such a thing? Charlie, reading her thoughts, tried to give her a knowing look. But he couldn’t see her.
    â€˜We’re going in after him, you know,’ he called out into the ether.
    â€˜But we don’t even know how to travel through water,’ said Ella, beginning to shiver with the very thought of how cold it was going to be. She tried to move closer to Charlie’s voice. ‘Can you even remember the spell?’
    â€˜Um, I think if you remember, you found yourself at Don Posiblemente’s that day without doing anything,’ said Charlie. He felt about himself for his Protectee. ‘So you’d best start getting in touch with whatever it is that makes you special, that thinking-clear-thoughts thing, quick,’ said Charlie, not particularly looking forward to plunging into the ice-cold spring himself. ‘Just think of Don Posiblemente, like you did last time.’
    â€˜Maybe
he
knows what to do,’ said Ella, pointing to Toby. Not that Charlie could see her pointing, of course. Harold piped up from Charlie’s shoulder. Not that anyone could see him, for in Bongling Charlie, Humphrey had Bongled Harold too.
    â€˜Ahem, I took the liberty of tucking your spell