Oliver stopped reading and blinked. “Me?” he asked. “Shortlisted for Young Wizard of the Year?” Wow! Oliver hadn’t felt so excited since the day he’d waved his first beginner’s wand.
Mrs MacLizard’s beam was so wide that Oliver could see all of her rotten black teeth. “Yes, you,” she said. “You and Merlin Spoonbender. It’s very exciting. He’s already gone into the potions lab to start practising.”
Oliver’s excitement faded a little. “Merlin Spoonbender?” he repeated. He was up against Merlin Spoonbender, head wizard at school and captain of the broomstick racing team? Merlin Spoonbender, who’d won the school prize year after year for his perfect potions?