While the others were all hard at work having a good time, Hobbes had been ordering Ethel around like a slave, and Ethel wasn't too happy about it.  They had been working on the machine for a long time - Hobbes just wouldn't stop.  Eventually the clock chimed midnight, and Nick stood back to admire his creation.  It had the same structure as a fruit machine - a slot for the money, a handle to pull and a window which displayed different numbers (instead of fruit).  However it was standing in front of a mirror, but the mirror was facing backwards, the reflective side away from you if you stood facing the machine.  And on the floor in front of the reflective side of the mirror there was a circle marked out with white chalk, with a five-pointed star in the middle (the two-pointed side facing the mirror). 
"Nick," Ethel said.
"Yes Ethel?"
"Nick, we've been working for hours, and if you don't mind, I'd like to go to bed."
"Well there's still a little more work to do, but that's only on the spell that summons the person forward in time.  I suppose you can go, if I do the last bit.  Just be here early tomorrow."  He gave that little flick of his hand, indicating that she could leave.  Ethel wasted no time about it.  Her arms folded and her head flicked to the side like Miss Hardbroom and she disappeared, leaving Hobbes still gazing at the machine.

"I think I might turn in too," Milly was saying.  Ethel appeared when Milly's back was to her.  Ethel waited a few minutes then crept silently into the bedroom she shared with Milly, got undressed and lay down in her bed.

"Ah, here you are - good morning Ethel," Hobbes said.  They were back in the Experimental Magic Laboratory at the crack of dawn - five-thirty a.m. to be precise. 
"Hobbes, why on earth did you have to make me get up this early?" she asked.
"The early bird catches the worm as they say," he gave a weak, half-laugh.  "I thought I had explained it to you when you left Ethel - if we can do this on our own now, we can introduce the person we bring forward to Starfinder when he arrives. 
"So will you explain the machine to me now?"
"I'll explain it as I go along."  Hobbes walked to the centre of the white chalk circle holding his staff.  He tapped it on the floor three times and a line of green light flew to each of the five corners of the pointed star also drawn out.  At each corner appeared a white candle.  He pulled up the hood of his cloak and tapped the floor once more, Ethel looking on helplessly.  He took a step back and in front of him appeared a table covered in potion ingredients.  A small cauldron was standing in the centre.  Hobbes lit a small lamp under the cauldron, and added a few of the herbs that were beside it. 
"Now Ethel," he said after five minutes of silence, "This bit needs to be done carefully - NOTHING must go wrong, do you hear me?"
"Yes Hobbes, but"
"No 'but's.'  I want you to go and stand over by the fruit machine."  Ethel did as she was told.  "Now I have to say a spell, and while I am saying the spell I want you to put that coin which is by the side of you into the slot.  Do you understand me so far?"
"I'm not a kid, Hobbes."
"Don't argue.  When you have put the coin in, place your hand on the lever, but don't pull.  When I say 'now', I will throw the Bogweed into the potion and you have to pull the lever at the same time.  Once you have pulled it back to its full leverage, let the lever guide your hand back up again."
"I do know how to use a fruit machine Hobbes."
"I'm sure you do but let's just get on with it, shall we?"
"Historica, Magica, Transferta, Lurata, Genealous, Transportus, Recognisus, Importus!"  Ethel had slotted in the coin and had her hand on the all-important lever.  Hobbes had his Bogweed ready.  "NOW!"  Hobbes threw in the plant at the same time as Ethel pulled the lever.  The coin sounded as if it was rattling around inside the machine, and the four cylinders in the little window were spinning around, each to rest on a number.  When Hobbes had put in the Bogweed the cauldron seemed to explode in a puff of purple smoke, and the steam settled on the ornate golden mirror.  Ethel was watching four numbers appear one by one in the window.  First a one, then a nine, and finally another one and a five.
"1915," Ethel just managed to breathe, as her attention was dragged elsewhere.  She knew that something was going on behind the mirror and she wanted to see.  Ethel walked round in front of it just in time.  An image was appearing faintly in the mirror - a woman in a white dress and hat.  The image got clearer, until you could see every feature on her face.   For a second Hobbes' face clouded, then it cleared again as the image appeared to become solid.  A young woman lifted up her skirt and stepped out of the mirror frame, and took down her white lace parasol.

"Did Ethel come in last night?" Cas asked.  It was about seven-thirty (they had an early lecture at half eight), and Cas had wandered into the kitchen in her floaty PJ bottoms and white V-neck top.  Milly was in her nightie, feeding Tabby and making toast.
"Well her bed was slept in but she wasn't there," Milly replied, "Want some toast?"
"Thanks," she said, taking a bite, "I would have thought she was still asleep - she must have got in really late last night."
"Mmmm, maybe she just didn't want to answer all our questions so she went to the library early."
"Well I certainly have a few questions to put to her," said Cas.

"Good day to you Sir," said the woman who stepped out of the mirror - she was only just a woman though, for she looked about 17.  She took her hat off and held it in her hands.  "And good day to you, 'lady.'"  She wasn't quite sure what to call Ethel, for on that particular day she was wearing a trouser suit.  It was quite a funny sight to her really.
"Good morning," said Hobbes, in a sickly polite voice, "Could you tell me what day it is please?"
"It is the fifth of May in the year nineteen hundred and fifteen, Sir.  If you will pardon me Sir, but where am I, and how did I get here?"
"Madam, you are in Weirdsister College, Cambridge, England and the date is the fifth of May in 2002.  I and my assistant in magical research here, Ethel Hallow, have brought you forward in time by means of magic."
"'Assistant?'" Ethel said quietly to herself.
"And what is your name, good Sir?" the woman enquired.
"Gentle lady," replied Hobbes, slightly mocking her, "I am Nicholas Hobbes.  I am pleased to make your acquaintance.  What is your name?"
"I am Mary-Ann Hobbes," she replied.  "How funny, we appear to have the same name!  Would you like a cup of tea?" she asked.
"Tea?" Hobbes was puzzled.
"Yes, tea.  Do you not have it in this strange time?"
"Yes we do, but there is none here at present.  Ethel, fetch us some tea."  Ethel sulkily began to move off.
"Do not trouble yourself," said the woman, and flicked her hand.  There appeared a table covered with a white tablecloth, set with a pretty afternoon tea set.  Ethel saw an opportunity to make an impression.
"Would you like a little something to eat perhaps?" she said.
"That would be lovely," the woman replied, "But please, do not go to any trouble."
"It's no trouble at all," she smiled and with a flick of the hand produced some scones and jam.
"Oh, that is nice," said the woman, "Shall we?"  They all sat down and began to eat.
"So," said Hobbes, "Aren't you going to ask why you are here?"
"I already know that," she said, "I went to the fair yesterday with my sister and two brothers and a gypsy told my fortune," she looked thrilled at the memory of it. "She said that I had a special gift for something and that special gift would link me in to one of my family.  I suppose she meant you.  Are you family too?"  She asked Ethel.
"No," said Ethel, "Just a friend.  I'm Ethel Hallow; pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Hobbes."  She held out her hand, and they embarked on a gentle handshake. 
"Of course!" Mary-Ann exclaimed, "Are you one of the Hallows?"
"Yes, I am," Ethel stated proudly, "Have you heard of us?"
"I know one Flora Hallow - she is my greatest chum!" she smiled, "Are you a relative?"
"Flora was my great-grandmother!" Ethel was surprised.  Hobbes gave an inward groan - now he would have to sit here listening to Ethel and Mary-Ann Hobbes talking about the Hallows for goodness knows how long.  He would have to put a stop to it quickly.
"Miss Hobbes," he interrupted, "Does that then mean that you are my great-grandmother?"
"If we are of the same family Hobbes."
"Well there is one way to find out," Hobbes said, and stood up.  "Great-grandma, I take it you are a witch?"  It was a rhetorical question.  "I know a little spell that can prove that we are of the same blood.  Please stand up."  She did as she was told.  "Now when I come to the end of my chant, send a magical energy beam to me.  I will counter it with one of my own energy beams and the colour of the energy beams will tell us if we are related."
"As you wish, great-grandson," she mocked.
"Identicappus, ancestratus, relicappus, positavus."  Two beams of light emitted from their hands and joined.  As they hit, the whole thing glowed red.  Hobbes smiled and put his hand down.  The beams broke and dispersed.
"Hello Granny," said Hobbes and walked across the room, bowed in front of her and kissed her on either cheek.  Ethel looked a little surprised, but Great-Granny Hobbes didn't seem to mind. 
"How do you do dear?" she said as if talking to a young child.  Hobbes smiled and turned round to Ethel again, but before he could say anything, Mary-Ann Hobbes spoke:
"I should very much like to see this place - may I?" She looked expectant, peering around the lab in wonder and delight.  Hobbes didn't answer her immediately but turned to Ethel.
"Ah yes, Ethel, I meant to ask you about that just now." He clapped his hands together and looked awkward.  "You see Ethel, I have rather a lot of clearing up to do and of course we have to find a way to send her back."
"What do you want me to do for you now?" she asked grumbling.
"Well, seeing as she wants to have a look around the college, I was wondering if you could perhaps take herYou could talk about your family - I'm sure she would love to hear all about you and she could pass on a message to Flora when she gets home about how great your family is going to be."  Ethel's face brightened and she walked past Hobbes and took up Mary-Ann's arm.
"Come on Mary-Ann, I'll show you around the college if you like" She led her out of the lab door, nattering about everything from Hallows to school dinners - but mainly Hallows.

"Have you guys seen Ethel this morning?" Cas asked Tim and Azmat at the end of the lecture. 
"No, why?" said Tim.
"Well her bed was slept in last night," said Milly, "But we didn't see her come in and we didn't see her go out this morning."
"She had been there though," said Cas, "The breakfast things were all out - unwashed but used.  She never washes up her breakfast stuff."
"Hobbes wasn't at the lecture either," pointed out Azmat, "Maybe they went to the library or something and forgot."
"Or they were working on Starfinder's latest project," suggested Milly.  They parted - the girls one way and the boys another - all wondering the same thing; where had Ethel and Hobbes got to?

Meanwhile, Ethel had been showing Mary-Ann all around the school.  The early lecture for the Magic Foundation students meant that the corridors were slightly emptier than usual, as the second and third years were either still in bed or watching TV (the lazy) or in the library (the hard-working).  The conversation had been kept up animatedly - even though it was Ethel doing most of the talking.  At one point though, Mary-Ann interrupted Ethel's stream of babble:
"Excuse me for interrupting you, Miss Hallow, but do you think that you could show me the ladies room please?"
"Of course," said Ethel, "You can go in the one in our rooms, it's not far from here."  They walked back to the girl's rooms and Ethel showed her the toilet.  She plonked herself on the sofa and picked up a sorceress's magazine - the one that her 'daddy' had given her a subscription to for her birthday.  She was so absorbed that she didn't know where the time went...

Inside the bathroom when Mary-Ann had locked the door, she pressed her ear against it to see where Ethel had gone.  She heard her footsteps go into the living room and she breathed a sigh of relief - thank goodness she had got away from her.  But now to truly escape for a while, until she could find Hobbes again and go back - she would have some fun.  She smiled to herself and clicked her fingers.  She disappeared and was no longer in the bathroom.  She reappeared in an empty classroom and looked down at herself.  She clicked her fingers again and was dressed in 21st Century fashion.  She shivered - trousers weren't to her liking, so she changed into a long dress instead and walked out of the door.  There was a stream of students coming out of the lecture, and Mary-Ann joined them.  Nobody noticed her presence as unusual - you could always see people you had never seen around before.  The crowd dispersed when they got to a crossroads of corridors.  One larger door obviously went into a library, one or two went into other lecture theatres, and a few into teacher's offices.  She headed towards the library door and entered with a group of girls, although they didn't seem to acknowledge her presence.  She walked in among the shelves, looking at the titles of books.  She ran her finger along the spines of some old volumes and with a look of disgust on her face, lifted up her hand.  There was dust all over it.  "Urgh," she proclaimed to herself.  She didn't really have much of an idea what she was looking for, but she knew that some modern and powerful magic might come in handy back home.  Mary-Ann passed more shelves, looking at the titles of them: "'Ancient Grimoires', 'Beginners Magic Philosophy,'" she read, "No use - too simple.  No fun."  She had come back to the centre circle of the library by then, with its white and black box-patterned tiles.  She saw the group of girls that she walked in with practising magic, levitating heavy objects, competing to see who could lift the heaviest book
"Here's a challenge for you!" shouted one of them, "Levitate me if you think you're so good at it!"
"Okay," said the one who had the heaviest book lifted high up to the ceiling - she gently brought it down, and got her fingers ready to lift up the other girl.  She put her books down on the floor, and as she bent back up again, Mary-Ann noticed the title of the top book.  Printed in gold letters, read 'Advanced Guide to Levitation Skills.'  "That's more like it," she thought, and watched a girl lift up her hands, straining.  The girl who had challenged her was being lifted up off the floor, an inch at a time, getting higher and higher.  She was only about 6 feet off the ground when a voice interrupted them:
"That's 10 shillings fine each for irresponsible behaviour, reckless use of magic and endangering witches' lives!"  The levitated girl dropped to the floor as her holder lowered her hands suddenly.  All of the girls put their hands in their pockets, trying to sort out 10 shillings each - they were having to borrow, so things were getting in quite a state.
"I can do better than that!" Mary-Ann thought, and while nobody was looking, she beckoned at the book entitled 'Advanced Guide to Levitation Skills.'  It quietly slid across the floor to her, carefully avoiding all the legs.  Nobody noticed as they were all too busy paying the Beetle.  She picked it up, clicked her fingers and disappeared.  She reappeared again in that empty classroom and set the book down upon the desk.  She opened its pages and began to read...