Author's note: This was my first ever FanFiction and I've read it and noticed how short it is, so I've decided to rewrite it and add more. It is set just after Alarms and Diversions.
It was the 8th day of the school year, January 12th. Mildred stood looking out of her bedroom window, the winter sun blinding her vision. So far, everything was going right. Well, almost. She had had her designer earrings confiscated, dropped a bucket of ice-cold water on the head of HB and she had a first year now following her around like a lost kitten. And that first year was Ethel's sister, which made the whole situation a whole lot worse.
Ethel had been a lot worse this year, ever since Mildred had saved Sybil from the tornado. In fact, Ethel had become even meaner when Jadu had insulted her nose. Mildred couldn't help but giggle when she remembered that.
Looking at the clock carelessly abandoned on her bedside table, along with lots of half-finished drawings of Tabby, it occurred to Mildred that she'd missed dinner. "Oh well," Mildred thought, "I don't like the beef stew anyway. I can cope with an angrier than usual HB,"
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Constance Hardbroom was not in a good mood. Mrs Tapioca had already came running over to her as she had a spare portion of food, food that had not be collected. Constance was aware that school meals were inedible, and that even managing to swallow the food was a challenge that the best witch would struggle with. Scanning the room like a hawk, Constance had noticed a spare seat, an empty seat, a seat where a girl with messy hair and a scruffy tabby cat sat. She folded her arms and transferred to the staffroom, well aware that the girls would just simply believe she'd turned herself invisible.
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"Calm down," Amelia said to her deputy, who looked like she was about to breakdown over Mildred not eating her dinner. Constance sent Amelia a look of confusion, disgust and disapproval. No one had ever told her to calm down, and hearing the words together was like a foreign language.
"Miss Hardbroom, calm down? You must be joking!" Imogen chuckled, not aware that her thoughts had been said out loud. Before she could mutter a simple apology, a spell had hit her in the face, temporarily removing her voice. Davina sat on her chair chuckling at Imogen, who was unaware of the spell taking place.
A loud hubbub of noisy girls filled the staffroom. Constance looked through the open door, and saw Fenella and Griselda wonder past, clearly plotting chaos. Amelia's eyes followed Constance's, and she knew instantly what her deputy was thinking.
"Don't follow them Constance. If they want to cause chaos at Cackles, let them. It's their job of finding another school," Amelia said.
Imogen breathed in deeply, as the spell had worn off. Sending Constance a death stare, she exited the room, as it was her night on Dorm Duty.
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There was a cool breeze in the air. Everywhere was silent. Almost. A broomstick shaped like a banana came rushing through the window, throwing it's rider to the floor with an almighty thud. Mildred Hubble rubbed the back of her head, carefully taking in her surroundings. She gulped. Fears slowly crawled in as she realised her location. Miss Cackle's LOCKED office. She chewed the ends of her nails. No one had ever taught her an Unlocking Spell. It was just her luck to land in Miss Cackle's Office. Wondering what Miss Hardbroom would do to her, Mildred dragged herself to a lighter corner and lay down. She knew that night was going to be an extremely long night...
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Amelia couldn't sleep. She just couldn't. No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible. Agatha had asked to visit her. She'd offered to fly out to her, but she insisted as Amelia was the elder
sister not to put any more pressure on her. A small tear licked her cheek.
She'd desperately wanted to ask Constance for advice on the situation, as she feared it was a trick from Agatha , and that Agatha would try and take over again. She'd gotten so close to telling Constance the truth, when Constance had asked what was wrong. So very close. But then it occurred to her that that was selfish. She was well aware that Constance had her own things to worry about, and that Constance would insist on putting protective spells all over the castle, which meant more work for Constance and an excuse for her to use Wide Awake Potion. Constance didn't like people telling her that she was addicted to it, and when asked, she'd deny it, but Amelia knew that Constance was well aware of how she'd struggle to live without it.
Taking a educated guess, Amelia presumed that Constance already knew about Agatha's visit. Desperate to voice her concerns out loud, she called Constance in her mind, desperately hoping that Constance was stalking the dark corridors silently, looking for a brave, mischievous pupil to clean the Potions Lab. Constance didn't reply, nor did it feel like she was in Amelia's mind. Angry at herself for trying, Amelia walked out of the room, forgetting the key to her office. Maybe she could read the growing pile of letters on her desk.
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Constance had heard Amelia call her. She'd chosen to ignore her. She was outside Amelia's Office, listening to the dream coming from inside. It was about a small, scruffy tabby cat. His owner had messy plats and undone bootlaces and was over the moon because her cat had managed to not only sit on the broom, but fly comfortably without screeching. Constance fiddled with the button on her purple pajamas, desperate to get in. Her keys were in her room.
"You alright Constance?" asked a voice, clearly confused to why the younger woman was standing there. Constance jumped at the familar voice. She'd never been good with the dark, and if she hadn't recognised the voice she'd have been sending sparks everywhere, while becoming invisible.
"Yes Miss Cackle. I do not suppose that you know why Mildred Hubble is in your office fast asleep, do you?" inquired Constance, her pupils burning brightly with impatience.
"Mildred? How do you know?" Miss Cackle said, keeping her face straight, intrigued to why this was bothering her deputy.
"I can..." Constance said, but her concentration was knocked. Something far more important had caught her attention.
She quickly materlised in front of the window and pushed the shutters open. Red sparks flew out her fingers, as she quickly dematerlised. Deeply concerned, Amelia raced to the window and saw Constance in the courtyard. Curse after curse was being cast at some trees, but nothing was there, nor was anything casting back. Maybe they aren't visible from here, Amelia thought.
Amelia ran down a flight of stairs and pulled the doors to the courtyard open. She looked at the tree. Nothing was there. Knowing the danger envoled by approaching Constance when she was like this, she did the one thing she hated doing. Whispering a quick spell, she pointed directly at Constance. There was a quiet yelp and Constance stopped, her eyes glowing a brilliant blue, something which Amelia didn't notice. Suddenly Amelia's spell took place, and Constance fell to the floor, unconscious. Approaching with extreme caution, like one would approach a poisonous snake, Amelia looked at her deputy with empathy. She flicked her wrist, and Constance started to float. Amelia pulled the floating teacher to her room as quietly as possible. After a large push, the door opened and Amelia dragged Constance to her bed. Clicking her fingers, the unconscious boby descended onto the bed.
"Good night Constance," Amelia said sympathetically. Morgana hissed and leapt onto her Mistress's bed. Her olive eyes death stared Amelia, but some cat treats soon calmed Morgana down, and Amelia went to bed, knowing that Constance would be unaware of the events that night.