03x05 - The Owl and the Pussycat

[bunniefuu]

What's wrong with your arm?

! There is no such thing as a swamp troll.

But that creature was real.

Ethel?

Is Spellbound really that popular?

I mean, it's not Cackle's Enchanting Contest or anything.

It's only the biggest witching contest of the year.

My parents are the headline act.

And I'm finally old enough to perform on stage.

I think they're going to ask me to join the Nightshades! I've heard Spellbound's not what it used to be.

They let anyone in now.

Are you kidding?

Mirage will be there.

She's so cool she only has one name.

Maud! Maud, are you OK?

Midnight's lost his tail.

What?

Not only is your essay late, Beatrice Bunch, it is incomprehensible.

Your grades have been in decline for weeks, you've been spending far too much time helping Miss Tapioca.

I'm really sorry, Miss Hardbroom.

It's just that I enjoy cooking.

Enough! We teach witches to brew potions at this academy, not soups.

Pass tomorrow's potion safety assessment or I shall have to tutor you myself for the rest of the term.

Yeah, I can feel it.

We know what's happening
- Midnight's losing his magic.

My grandad used to tell me that when a familiar loses its magic, it begins to disappear.

So you'll have an invisible cat, that could be fun! Eventually, I'll lose him altogether.

Oh, there must be a cure.

We just have to ask the right person.

You lot better get to class.

I'll look after Midnight, I think I know a way we can keep him visible.

Trust me
- I might not be magic any more, but I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve.

Leave him with me.

Last chance to sign up for the chanting contest, you need to see Miss Bat in the Great Hall.

Mr Rowan Webb, do you know anything about familiars losing their magic?

And turning invisible?

We wanted to know if there was a cure.

Hmm.

Disappearing cats Yes.

There is a spell to make them visible again.

What causes it, though?

Why does the familiar lose all its magic?

Well, there is a theory that if a familiar loses its magic, it's a sign it's owner's powers are corrupted.

Every spell they cast will be doomed to fail.

Forever.

Is this magic or am I crazy?

I think I'd love to be able to chant like her.

You do realise you don't have enough time to sign up, right?

You're supposed to be revising.

Wrapping between us a friendship chain Feel it now, let it grow A bond between us that will never go Should you need me pull this thread And I will follow wherever you tread.

I hope you girls will be hungry tomorrow, I've got a full spread
- pumpkin rings, spam surprise, kidney pie.

I'll get back to revising this evening, don't worry.

Let's hope Mildred got the goose grass and bainberry, the rest we can get in the potions lab.

He's only disappearing because of my corrupted magic.

How do you know it's corrupted?

Mr Rowan Webb said it's only a theory.

One of my spells has been going wrong lately.

This was supposed to be for Star.

It came out with eight legs.

It was my dream to study at Cackle's.

Do you think they'll let me stay when everyone finds out?

Who's that?

It's my parents.

They've sent a parcel to my bedroom.

You go.

I'll meet you in potions.

I'm so sorry.

Thank you.

Oh, sorry.

Is Maud around?

I just wanted to show her something.

She's gone to meet Mildred in the potions lab.

Is everything all right?

Apology from Mum and Dad.

They said they were going to take me to Spellbound tomorrow.

But now they're too busy.

Aww, love, I'm sorry.

I thought they were going to invite me on stage to perform with them.

But now they're teaming up with Mirage.

Makes sense, I guess.

Why would they want to perform with their average daughter, when they could team up with someone special and talented like that.

?

Listen parents do get it wrong sometimes.

It doesn't mean we don't love our kids.

I bet you your mum and dad are really proud to have a daughter as kind and funny and courageous as you.

Please don't tell anyone that they cancelled.

I could never live it down.

Mum's the word.

Come on, let's go and find Maud.

And I thought he could wear this.

So you can really keep an eye on him.

I love it! But how did you knit everything so quickly?

Well, you don't have to be magic to be a wizard with some knitting needles.

Um, Maud?

Oh.

Maybe I should have made him some mittens as well.

Right, I better get to this staff spell seminar.

HB should be there for a while, but I'll give you a warning if she's heading your way.

Thanks, Mum.

How is the cure coming along?

There's one ingredient I couldn't find.

Tears of an Albion oracle, better known as "the wise owl.

" It's this all
-knowing bird that has the answers to everything.

Its tears have healing powers.

But nobody's seen any around in years.

It's thought to be extinct.

You could try summoning one?

Not with my corrupted magic.

You could try though.

Me?

Enid, please, I really need you right now.

I won't let Maud down.

If there's even one wise owl still out there, then I'm going to find it.

Well, I'll be lantern lighting if you need me.

Good luck.

Rise and fall, swoop and fly, soar across the moonlit sky.

Come to me, magic fowl, I summon you, great wise owl.

Owls aren't fowls.

OK.

Rise and fall, swoop and fly, soar across the moonlit sky.

Great wise owl, hear my plea, prove you're there and come to me! Yes! Hello.

Oh, you're beautiful! Bet you have flown long way to get here.

My name's Enid.

I called you here because my friend's cat is turning invisible.

And I need your tears to cure him.

Would you mind?

Maybe you need some inspiration.

This story's a bit of a weeper.

It's all about the star
-crossed sorcerers
- Roman and Julia.

"Once upon a time" "And that day, he met the family" "He fell, she wept with sorrow" "The end.

" Seriously?

Nothing?

I've left Midnight with your mum.

I can't take him to class and I don't want him to be on his own.

Maud! I've found a wise owl! What! The spell worked?

Took a few attempts, but, yeah! Enid, you're amazing, thank you! You don't believe her, do you?

Wise owls are all extinct! All but one.

It's in my room right now.

Who knows?

Maybe I'll get an award for finding it.

I'd love to see a wise owl.

But, sadly, they don't exist! Unless you can prove me wrong.

Let me guess
- it flew away! No! It It was right here.

I swear! I knew you were lying.

It's not enough that you're performing at Spellbound.

You want to take the credit for a wise owl as well! "I hope you don't mind missing the concert".

Hey
- that's private! So you're a liar on both counts?

I should have known.

Did you just say it for attention?

No! Maud! Maybe you dreamt it?

There it is again, the little pest! Go on, shoo! Never seen an owl like that before.

It's gorgeous.

How did it get in here?

Don't you two have exams to go to?

Go on! Go, both of you.

And good luck.

Thanks! Won't need it! I will.

You may now begin your examination.

Beatrice Bunch, a word.

I have just marked your assessment, would you like to know your score?

You passed with 100%.

Surprising, is it not?

Not for me, Miss Hardbroom.

I've never studied so hard in my life.

Well, I do hope your luck continues, Miss Bunch.

You must have really buckled down last night.

Yeah.

I mean, it was all a blur.

That's a weird thing to lie about, an owl.

Not really.

Wise owls are very powerful.

Just one of their golden feathers knows the answer to every question ever asked.

If she had found one, she'd be the most celebrated witch at Cackle's.

Maybe I should summon one.

I want to write an original chant, one which will make the wise owl appear on stage.

I think that will really impress the judges.

Rise and fall, swoop and fly, soar across the sunlit sky.

Great wise owl, hear my plea, prove you're there and come to me.

Gotcha! Within this school you shall remain, enchanted owl I now contain.

I'm sorry.

But I can't let you leave the Academy until I have your tears.

It's too important.

Close the door! No! Sorry.

Since when were you so interested in enchanting?

Since I was guaranteed to win.

Miss Bat, is it too late to enter?

We're due to start rehearsing! I'm sure we can make allowances, Miss Bat.

And since we're still waiting on a number of pupils Perhaps you would like to audition for us, Beatrice.

More than a bird, although it flies This great owl is incredibly wise Let it appear, let it draw near You and your friends have nothing to fear.

It was supposed to be a wise owl.

Oh, dear.

B, what have you done?

The owls won't stop multiplying! I don't know, I didn't think the chant could go wrong.

We'll have to use a very precise locating spell.

Otherwise, we could end up with the wrong owl.

Still pretending you summoned a wise owl, are you?

Sure it wasn't just one of these?

Beatrice, as much as I'm fond of bird spotting, I'd rather not do it inside the castle.

I think you should put this right now.

Don't you?

I'm sorry, Midnight.

You deserved a better owner than me.

Maud.

I promise I was telling the truth earlier
- there is a wise owl.

It's back, and it's in the castle somewhere.

I'm telling the truth! I cast a containment spell, so it can't get out.

It could be anywhere.

So we cast a locating spell.

I need your help.

Please?

You know I can't do any spells rightat the moment.

You have been a bit magic
-blocked, that's all.

If we can get the tears, we can save Midnight.

Thanks for the help.

No way! You're the wise owl?

Where are you, oh golden owl?

In the darkness, on the prowl.

Seek him out and find his lair, find him now and take us there! We did it! That really is a wise owl.

And it's mine.

Ethel! What are you doing?

I'm going to reveal it during my chant.

You're seriously going to take the credit for Enid's spell?

Ethel, you can't keep the wise owl caged up.

It's not right.

That's funny.

Who put that force field there then?

Even if I did set him free, he'd still be a prisoner.

And whose fault is that?

Midnight, now! You can keep him.

Any owl that takes your side can't be that wise! Are you OK?

I'm sorry I cast a containment spell.

Please don't think I'm anything like Ethel.

He is never going to give us his tears while we're keeping him prisoner.

But maybe if we let him go, he will return the kindness?

We might lose our only chance.

I know.

But I won't punish one animal to save another.

Let him go.

Let him go, set him free, this owl should fly, a joy to see! Please
- we need your tears.

No! I don't even know why these owls keep appearing.

My chant should have never gone wrong.

How do you mean?

I used this, it's from a wise owl.

It's how I passed the assessment.

So you cheated?

You never did any revision?

I thought something strange was going on! I'm sorry, OK?

I just got a bit carried away.

After I passed my assessment, I thought I could easily win the chanting contest.

The feather is supposed to know everything.

So how could it have gone wrong?

Look, it's losing its shine.

It's been away from the wise owl for too long.

You've used nearly all of its magic.

That's why it's been backfiring.

But I can't undo this without it.

Yes, you can.

You came down to the kitchens when you needed to think, because cooking comes naturally to you, right?

Well, potion making is no different to cooking.

Just imagine this bowl is a cauldron.

What would be the perfect owl
-vanishing recipe?

I'm so sorry, Maud.

You needed me and I let you down.

You didn't.

It means a lot that you tried to save Midnight.

I never should have doubted you.

Friends?

Course we're friends.

Look! Quick! We got the tears! Thank you! Thank you! In go the tears, and done! Now, all we need is Midnight.

Where is he?

We're not too late, are we?

I didn't even get to say goodbye.

Mildred's got a surprise for you down in the garden.

What is it?

Don't know.

But she said to tell you to hurry.

Come on.

So I couldn't find the wise owl, but I found Midnight.

But, he's A mother.

Midnight's a girl.

Sometimes, when mother cats have kittens they accidentally transfer their magic to their young.

Oh! So it's not because my magic's corrupted?

Of course not! Who on Earth told you that?

A word of advice, girls
- wizards don't usually have familiars, and they don't know anything about them.

Er Never listen to one when it comes to the subject of cats.

We found the wise owl.

And we've got the cure.

Now you need not disappear, I will always keep you near.

Magic tears means magic found, my potion keeps you safe and sound! Aw! You saved her.

And I will follow wherever you tread All right, let's settle down, everybody.

Please welcome to the stage
- Beatrice Bunch.

Owls are fine and owls are fair But only if you want them there Now then shall I boil or bake I can make a wondrous cake Stir it round with all my might Twice to the left and once to the right Heat the brew with ice and flame Back you go from whence you came.

Oh, very clever, Beatrice! Well done! It's a souvenir to say thank you.

Is that the Albion oracle?

Yes, Miss Hardbroom.

I summoned it.

Impossible.

The Oracle would not answer the call of so young a witch.

It would take a very special feat of witchery, far beyond your years, to summon such a creature.

Thank you, Miss Hardbroom.

I had no idea I was so special.

We did.

There.

Keep calm, Mil.

I am calm, Maud! The pupils cared about it more than their friends, and in the end, more than their school.

Is that is why whoever's behind all this brought it back?

To do that here?