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cheats.’
    Elly nodded. She just hoped that humans didn’t cheat in the same way that fairies did.
    Fairies had a habit of turning their opponents into things — like hotdogs, or goldfish — when they thought they might lose. It was very unpleasant.
    Mrs Hayman blew her whistle and the game began. Someone threw the ball to Jess and Jess threw it to Elly. For a moment, Elly stood still, looking at the ball. She’d forgotten what to do.
    â€˜Run, Elly!’ yelled Jess.
    And so Elly ran, bouncing the ball the way Clarabelle had. She ran towards the goal hoop. She was almost there when she realised Clarabelle was fast approaching.

‘Just throw the ball to me, Weirdo,’ called Clarabelle. ‘It’ll save me the effort of taking it off you.’
    Elly looked around. There were no other blue team players close by, and the goal hoop suddenly looked very far away. What were the chances of her reaching it from here? She’d never shot a goal before and Clarabelle was right behind her. Maybe she should just let her have the ball. After all, she would probably just snatch it in a moment anyway.
    Elly made up her mind. ‘Hey Clarabelle,’ she said suddenly. ‘Catch!’
    But instead of throwing the ball to Clarabelle, Elly aimed for the hoop. She sprung up as high off the ground as she could and kept her arm steady as the ball left her hands. The ball started veering off to the left, well away from the goal.

    Clarabelle watched.
    â€˜There’s no way that one’s going in,’ she sniggered.
    But in midair the ball suddenly screeched to a stop. Instead of going to the left it began curving to the right. Then, while the whole class watched in astonishment, the basketball plopped down through the middle of the goal hoop.
    â€˜NO WAY!’ said Clarabelle, in disbelief.
    The blue team players jumped up and down in excitement. Everyone, that is, except Jess and Elly. They looked at each other.
    â€˜Are you using magic?’ Jess whispered to Elly, suspiciously.
    Elly shook her head. ‘I’m not, I swear,’ she said.
    â€˜Well, how can you explain what just happened?’ asked Jess.
    But Elly couldn’t explain it. Something strange was going on, but she wasn’t quite sure what.
    For the rest of the game Elly tried to avoid the ball. But somehow it always ended up in her hands. And when she tried to throw it to someone else — even someone on the other team — it always ended up going through the hoop. Finally she tried throwing the ball while facing the wrong way. Standing on one foot. With her eyes closed.
    She had a feeling she knew what was going on. If she got this goal she knew she would be right. There was a moment of silence and then the cheers of the blue team told her that she had got the ball through the hoop.
    Finally, Mrs Hayman blew her whistle. ‘Game over,’ she said. ‘Congratulations, blue team! Good work, Elly. You’ve definitely earned a place on the school basketball team. You are very talented.’
    â€˜Oh, not really,’ said Elly modestly. She could see that Clarabelle was looking at her suspiciously. ‘I was just lucky.’
    Jess looked at her friend admiringly as they headed towards the change rooms.
    â€˜You’re a natural at basketball,’ she said.
    Elly looked around. ‘I don’t think I am a natural,’ she said quietly, ‘but I do think that I’m not the only fairy at South Street School.’

Chapter Six

    A t lunchtime, Elly and Jess talked about what had happened. They had to talk softly because Caitlin, Clarabelle and the rest of the Fairy Club girls were sitting nearby.
    â€˜That wasn’t a normal ball,’ said Elly. ‘There was definitely a fairy gadget involved somehow.’
    Jess was wide-eyed. ‘So you think someone else in our class is an undercover fairy?’
    Elly nodded. ‘I’m sure of it,’ she said. ‘And