Disclaimer - I don't own the Worst Witch, nor do I expect to make any kind of profit from writing this or any future story.
A Helping Hardbroom.
" Why do I have to stay here ?" Mildred asked, struggling against the steel grip Amelia Cackle had on her wrist as the former dragged her to her room. Never in all her time at Cackle's had the headmistress, someone Mildred had believed the last person to be violent, had become violent, her hand and her ear were testament to that.
How times changed.
Cackle opened the door to her room, and threw her inside on the bed like a sack of potatoes. Cackle glared at the girl on the bed, " Because you're such a terrible influence on the other girls. It's the end of year assembly tomorrow, we can't risk any chance of you spoiling that !" Cackle said, a hard line around her mouth as she spat out her response.
Cackle turned to face the tall bony form of Miss Hardbroom. The deputy headmistress had been silent all this time, but Mildred spotted the worry and concern on her face.
" Come along. Constance," Cackle addressed her potions teacher, getting impatient when she didn't receive a response.
Mildred Hubble had never been her number one favourite student. Indeed, with the exception of Ethel Hallow and Drusilla Paddock, it was claimed that Miss Hardbroom didn't have any favourites. That claim was wrong; Miss Hardbroom thought many of her students had some great abilities with potions. That also didn't mean that Miss Hardbroom didn't care an iota for the other girls, especially Mildred. Oh no, she cared about them. Mildred was definitely no exception. That was why, right now, she was incredibly worried about what was happening.
Miss Hardbroom, like Drill and Bat, had witnessed the Spells class where it had happened, they'd watched as Ethel had successfully puffed the apple away. Then Mildred's desk and chair had been puffed out as well. Since Ethel had done it successfully the first time, it had been logical to conclude that Ethel Hallow had gotten Mildred into trouble yet again. Oh, Miss Hardbroom, like the rest of the school, was aware of the grudge Ethel had on Mildred, the memory of the Halloween disaster sprang to mind. It had also made Miss Hardbroom aware of Ethel being turned into a pig by Mildred.
But, considering the embarrassment Ethel had brought on the school, and on Mildred, Miss Hardbroom had let that drop. She considered Ethel's punishment and humiliation to be bad enough, and considering Mildred had redeemed herself somewhat that following morning, she decided to make her watch as Mildred was honoured for saving the school from Agatha Cackle's attempted takeover.
But this….
Miss Hardbroom had known Amelia Cackle for many years, and even though they didn't often see eye to eye, she knew that Amelia held the power in the school, and would never dare try anything stupid. Amelia Cackle put on the appearance of an old grandmotherly and maternal woman, kind and gentle, compromising, but she wasn't afraid to show the school she was in charge, even to her deputy headmistress.
But Amelia wasn't someone Hardbroom would ever suspect to be the angry and potentially violent type. It was a pity that Miss Hardbroom had realised that to be wrong.
Like her fellow teachers, Miss Hardbroom had watched in horror as Amelia had dragged Mildred by her ear, ignoring her cries of pain, as she took the girl out of the classroom. Miss Hardbroom had tried to interject, but Amelia wouldn't listen. Instead she ranted about how Mildred was the worst witch, something Miss Hardbroom had been saying all year, how she would be expelled, and that in the future there would be firm leadership.
Constance watched as Mildred was thrown into her bedroom. The teacher had accompanied Mildred and Miss Cackle, hoping to get a word in, but unfortunately every time she tried Cackle would interject and say something abusive to Mildred. Miss Hardbroom was shocked and horrified at how Mildred was being treated, but she couldn't do anything. Even if it became a fight then she knew it would achieve nothing. Besides, there was Amelia's condition, the abusive way she was speaking to Mildred…
Prickly, as Miss Bat had described Miss Cackle.
" Come along. Constance." Cackle said, breaking through the potion mistress' thoughts of saying something, anything, to reassure Mildred. It was her potion after all that was responsible, and just looking at Mildred's face, looking so lost and small, made Miss Hardbroom forget why she disliked Mildred so much.
As Cackle's impatient demand got through her brain, the potion teacher left with the headmistress. Whilst outside both women heard sniffling sounds coming from the other side of the door. Mildred was crying. Mildred was crying, and the headmistress was mounting a notice on the door, saying that there was to be no admittance on the threat of losing their broomstick. Now even Miss Hardbroom, who believed wholeheartedly in the idea of maintaining discipline in a school, believed that was just going too far; Mildred was being expelled, surely she should still be allowed to speak to her friends ? Even Miss Hardbroom, who'd punished students on many occasions, wasn't that cruel. Well, not often. But this….this was going too far.
As Miss Hardbroom followed Miss Cackle away from Mildred's room, Constance could still hear the heartbreaking sounds of Mildred crying softly. It startled her, she'd always disliked Mildred's inability to do any work, but after this….seeing her face, so distraught, so innocent, it made her heart ache.
It had taken Miss Hardbroom a while to get away. Miss Cackle's newly prying eyes made it impossible to actually get away. But luckily, she managed it. When she was convinced Amelia had gone to bed, Miss Hardbroom, once again finding her ability to move about at once, and invisibly, to be a godsend, went to check on Mildred. Mildred was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. In the moonlight, Constance could see the tear tracks on her face, just like she could hear Mildred's staggered breathing.
Mildred was holding Tabby, the messy cat seemed to share his mistress' mood. He seemed morose, but he was clearly trying his best to cheer Mildred up. Miss Hardbroom watched that critically, she'd regretted giving Mildred the little cat since she'd seen Mildred put him in her satchel because he was as afraid of heights as Mildred, but now, witnessing this…it made her realise that Tabby was, and would forever be, Mildred's familiar.
Miss Hardbroom stood in the corner, and watched Mildred as she got up and walked over to the window. Then she watched as Mildred saw something interesting. Constance, giving into her curiosity, followed her and watched over Mildred's shoulder. It was dark, but Miss Hardbroom watched the silhouette of a woman swinging a lantern of all things. Swinging a lantern on the East wing. Why ?
Miss Hardbroom could see Mildred's confusion and suspicion, just as there was a faint knock on the door.
" Mildred ?" It was Maud Moonshine, Mildred's best friend. The fact she was risking losing her broomstick just to see her friend made Miss Hardbroom realise just how much loyalty Maud had for Mildred.
Just like it made her realise that Miss Cackle had underestimated her student's nonchalance for the note on the door.
Mildred walked over the bed, the shortest route to the door, and whispered, " Who's that ?" Miss Hardbroom rolled her eyes, but she couldn't blame Mildred; Hardbroom had incredibly sensitive ears, honed by years of teaching, but it was hardly surprising that Mildred was also suspicious. After what she'd been through today, she had the right.
The muffled voice on the other side of the door came back, " It's me, Maud."
Maud's voice was followed by another instantly recognisable voice, " Enid, too."
The last thing Mildred clearly wanted was to get both of her friends in the same boat as her, showing the invisible Miss Hardbroom just how compassionate and caring the eleven year old girl truly was, " You're not supposed to be here."
" We can't leave you on your own," Maud said sadly.
Mildred still didn't want to risk it, " No, we'll be caught."
" Don't be daft." Maud insisted.
Enid's voice came through again, " It's alright. Jadu's keeping a lookout."
Ah, so all of Mildred's friends were in on this, Miss Hardbroom was secretly impressed.
Mildred opened the door, though Miss Hardbroom could tell from watching Mildred's body language she still didn't like this, but was happy that she could at least speak, albeit, temporarily to her friends.
Enid and Maud came in, candle holders in their hands. Both girls looked at Mildred, pity and compassion in their gazes. Enid closed the door.
" How are you ?" Maud asked.
Mildred gave her a " how stupid is that question " look, " How do you think ?" that reply broke the dam on the questions Mildred had been bottling up, " What's going on ? Why's Cackle turned so nasty ?"
Good questions, questions Miss Hardbroom wanted to ask for herself. Both girls seemed as baffled as their form tutor.
Maud was the one who replied, " Don't know, but she's gone really strange." That didn't bode well, Miss Hardbroom thought.
" I think it's the full moon. I've just seen her wondering about with a lantern."
Mildred's suspicions became evident on her face as she asked, " Where was she going ?"
Enid shrugged, " Over to the east wing"
Excitedly Mildred jumped over the bed, " I just saw someone up there a minute ago, waving a light over at the woods."
" Was there ?" Maud asked.
Enid added another clue to the puzzle, " Something else weird, she had these funny glasses on. Thick, round frames."
Miss Hardbroom gasped. Thick round frames ? Agatha Cackle was back. How could that be ? She'd been banned from the school for six months ! It went against the witches code !
Mildred had also reached that conclusion, snapping Hardbroom back to reality. " Agatha Cackle."
Enid, who hadn't been a student at Cackle's at the time, was confused, " Who ?"
It was Maud who supplied the answers, " Miss Cackle's twin sister. Just before you came here, she tried to take over the school with magic."
" That explains much girls, like why she'd want to deal with you, Mildred," Miss Hardbroom announced her presence and appeared directly in front of the three girls. She made sure to keep her face as soft as possible to let the girls know they weren't in any kind of trouble.
Maud was frightened but brave, " How long have you been there ?" she whispered, afraid that her innocent question would result in a harsh punishment. But it was clear that Maud was willing to accept anything for her friend. Miss Hardbroom held up her hands reassuringly. " Believe it or not, only an hour. Don't worry," she added seeing their anxious gazes, " You are not in trouble." she turned to face Mildred, " I too watched that figure on the east wing."
Mildred nodded, her eyes on her form tutor, " You think we're right don't you, about Agatha I mean ?"
Miss Hardbroom nodded wearily and sat down on Mildred's rumpled bed, " Yes, Mildred, I do. It's the only logical answer. I've known Amelia for a long time, and it's not a secret in the school that we have…disagreements about how she handles the running of the Academy. She's always too eager to talk, too eager to compromise. Today, that changed, not only did she abuse you Mildred, but she also ranted for hours about how Cackles would change. Me and the other teachers couldn't even interject, every time one of us did she would shout us down and carry on. I've been wondering why, why Amelia would change so drastically. At first I thought it was the potion she was given. But until a moment ago, I would never have been able to make the connection. It makes sense. You did foil her plans to take over the school, and yes, she wears that kind of glasses."
The three girls waited for HB to give a bit more information. Hardbroom gave it too them, " You are not the only one to have a horrible day Mildred, the staff have as well. We've been inundated with promises of how this school will be run, how from now on leadership will become stronger. It makes sense, Agatha Cackle once told Amelia that she should resign now, handing over the school to a Cackle with " real leadership qualities,"
Hardbroom looked at her hands, " I once met her, long ago. Amelia had told me how different Agatha was, but I didn't believe her."
Enid couldn't help but break in at that point, " What's so different about her ?"
HB looked up, " Agatha Cackle is the polar opposite to her sister. She's cold, harsh, manipulative. She doesn't care about others, only herself."
Mildred looked down puzzled, " Miss Hardbroom, why does she want this school so much ? I remember, in the woods, when they were preparing their invisibility potion, that she called the girls brats. Why would she want a school if she doesn't like kids ?"
Hardbroom sighed, " To spite Amelia, Mildred, Amelia got this school from her grandmother. It seems that Granny Cackle, as both twins call her, saw through Agatha. Amelia has something that Agatha just cannot have as easily. Compassion, care."
Hardbroom got up and started pacing, " How did she get back in ? She admitted and accepted defeat, it goes against the witches' code !"
" I dunno, but I know someone who does," Mildred said spiritedly.
If you wanted to know something about the Witches' code, all of its loopholes, all you needed to do was speak to Ethel Hallow. Getting Ethel to help didn't take much time, especially since Ethel genuinely regretted getting Mildred expelled. Deep down Ethel Hallow looked on Mildred as a worthy nemesis, since they'd been going to school together Ethel had come to regard the feud they had as a sort of game. But Ethel had no intention of telling anyone, especially her dogsbody Drusilla that.
Miss Hardbroom's presence made Ethel more than glad to help, the potion teacher intimidated even her favourite student from time to time. All Hardbroom needed to do was simply tell Ethel what to do. Ethel found the book she was looking for in only a minute. As a Hallow, it paid to keep law books handy and in easy reach. All they needed to do was ask her the specific question, and Ethel found it very quickly.
" The statuette of limitation," Ethel read, " only applies to hill forts and castles. Its hardly ever been used."
" What does it say ?" Mildred asked.
Ethel, had by now, assimilated the information Mildred and Miss Hardbroom had given her, and read what was in the book.
" On the day after the full moon, in the month of July, the laws against retaliation do not apply."
Enid spoke up, " Tonight's a full moon in the month of July"
" That means if Agatha Cackle wanted to strike back then she could, legally." Maud said.
" But, what's happened to the real Miss Cackle ?" Enid asked. No one answered her, it was too late to look around tonight. Besides, there was always tomorrow in the early morning.
" It has to be her, it has to be." Mildred said excitedly.
Ethel regarded her best enemy, if she did leave then the school would be a dull place. Miss Hardbroom was about to say something when Jadu came in, her dark face flushed, " She's coming up the main stairs," she gasped.
Those words got them moving faster than athletes running a marathon, Mildred dragged Miss Hardbroom into her room.
" Stay here, she's bound to check up on me. Stay invisible and stay quiet," Mildred explained.
Miss Hardbroom nodded, and became invisible. Mildred was right. The door opened, revealing the familiar form of Miss Cackle. The only things that were different about her was the glasses, thick round frames, making the effect like that of fish eyes or magnifying glasses.
The other difference was her tone of voice as she whispered. " This time, you little bitch, I will succeed." with that she left and closed the door.
When it was certain she'd gone, Miss Hardbroom reappeared. That was proof enough for her. Mildred rolled over in her bed and her eyes met those of her feared teacher.
" Did you see the glasses ?" Mildred asked in a whisper.
Miss Hardbroom nodded, " I did. It's Agatha Cackle alright." she sighed, Enid's question about what had happened to Amelia came back to haunt her.
The same question was bothering Mildred, who asked, " Miss Hardbroom, where do you think Miss Cackle is ?"
Miss Hardbroom glared at Mildred, " If I knew that, Mildred Hubble, do you really imagine that I wouldn't be releasing her and fighting Agatha ?"
" I meant," Mildred said desperately, trying to keep Miss Hardbroom calm. The last thing that they needed was Agatha to come back and find them arguing, " is there any place in the castle Miss Cackle rarely, if never, goes too ?"
Miss Hardbroom sighed, " I apologise, Mildred, I've been trying to work that out myself."
Mildred nodded wearily, she was tired and running on adrenaline and wanted to go to bed. Fortunately, Miss Hardbroom saw the girls exhaustion.
" Get to sleep Mildred,"
" Yes, miss. Miss, I think you should tell Miss Drill and Miss Bat," Mildred said with a yawn. In seconds, Mildred had fallen asleep.