The next morning, Adelia takes Charlotte to the attic library to get her school supplies.

  The library is enormous, with shelves stretching to the ceiling and books of every size and color imaginable. In one corner, a neat stack of items waits: robes, shirts, leggings, and a pile of leather-bound books.

  "Try these on." Adelia hands Charlotte the clothes. "There's a curtained area in the corner."

  Charlotte changes quickly. The leggings fit perfectly, but the shirts and robes are too big. When she comes out, Adelia waits with pins.

  "Hold still." Adelia works quickly, pinning the fabric to fit Charlotte's small frame. "I'll have these altered by tomorrow."

  Charlotte looks down at herself in the mirror. The robes are deep purple, with silver trim. They look... official. Real. Like she's actually going to a magic school.

  Her stomach flips.

  "Now, I have something special for you."

  Adelia disappears behind a shelf and returns carrying a cloth-covered cage. When she pulls the cloth away, Charlotte gasps.

  Inside is a fairy.

  She's tiny—no bigger than Charlotte's hand—with delicate purple wings, pointed ears, and bright red hair. Her skin shimmers with silver light, and her eyes are the color of amethysts.

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  "She's yours. Every student at Aelwynne gets a companion creature. I thought you might like to meet yours early."

  The fairy presses against the bars of her cage, studying Charlotte with intelligent eyes. "Hello. You're Charlotte."

  Charlotte's breath catches. "You can talk."

  "Of course I can talk. I'm a fairy, not a butterfly." The fairy tilts her head. "Do I get a name? I'd very much like a name."

  Charlotte thinks for a moment, remembering a book she'd read years ago. "Vallea. Is that okay?"

  The fairy's face lights up. "Vallea. I love it. Yes, I shall be Vallea."

  "What do you... I mean, how do I take care of you?"

  "I take care of myself, mostly. I find my own food, and I only need the cage for sleeping. But I'll need you to talk to me, to tell me things. Fairies need companionship, or we fade."

  "I can do that." Charlotte pauses. "I'm not very good at talking to people."

  "That's all right. You can practice on me." Vallea presses her tiny hand against the bars. "I think we're going to be good friends, Charlotte."

  Charlotte feels tears prick her eyes. "I hope so. I could use a friend."

  "You have several now. You just have to let them in."

  That night, Charlotte lies in bed with Vallea's cage on the nightstand beside her. Through the bars, she can see the fairy's wings glowing softly in the darkness.

  "Vallea?"

  "Yes?"

  "I'm scared about school. What if I can't control my magic? What if I hurt someone?"

  Vallea is quiet for a moment. "Then you'll learn from it. That's what school is for—learning. Making mistakes and getting better."

  "But what if—"

  "Charlotte." Vallea's voice is gentle but firm. "You can't live your whole life afraid of what might happen. Sometimes you just have to try."

  Charlotte thinks about that. About Aki, who'd forgiven her. About the pool party, where nothing bad had happened. About all the people who believe she can do this.

  Maybe they're right.

  Maybe she can.

  "Goodnight, Vallea."

  "Goodnight, Charlotte. Tomorrow's a new day."

  Charlotte closes her eyes and, for the first time since arriving at Adelia's house, falls asleep without crying.