Mildred Snaps
"I don't know" said Mildred Hubble after thinking hard about it.
"As much as it sounds strange, Millie, I have to agree with Enid" said one of her friends, Jadu Wali. "All we have to do is get you fitted with a camera and then have it record during the day. When Cackle sees what really happens, she'll rip HB a new one"
"But wouldn't they notice a camera?" asked Maud Moonshine – another of the close circle of friends.
"You can get cameras the size of small buttons" Ruby Cherrytree said. "I can easily order one because HB and the rest of the staff would never suspect because I am into all sorts of gadgets"
"Better get more then one" said Enid Nightshade. "That way one of us can give another point of view – Hardbroom would never be able to deny it was never Ethel or Drusilla"
"Since when did you come up with plans that actually seem plausible?" asked Jadu.
"I can come up with plans that work when I want" Enid grinned.
"Should I talk to the others in the class?" asked Maud.
"Maybe Gloria and Pansy" said Enid after thinking hard. "They've always been trustworthy... Can you get a third camera?"
"Why?"
"We could mount it in the ceiling and point it at Ethel and Drusilla. If HB finds out about the ones we are wearing, then at least we'll have some back up"
"You having thoughts like this scares me" said Mildred. "I am just fed up of all of this bullying – you'd think they would stop after four years"
"Its not Ethel and Drusilla that will get into trouble alone" Maud said. "After all, she's belittled you in front of the class, the school, the staff and visitors – she should also get punished for being just like them two"
"So when can you get them cameras?" asked Enid.
"I can get the order forms posted in the morning, and they should get here in two or three days" Ruby said.
"Good. Look, we better get into bed or else HB will find us all up and give us all detention" Mildred said. She felt oddly satisfied that people were going to get punished as the result of the actions of her and her friends. Although Mildred was a peaceful person at heart, she had finally had enough after four years of being bullied at Cackle's Academy of Witchcraft. Her friends, after being asked for their help, had come up with what seemed like the ultimate plan. The only problem Mildred had was how to do it all without their Form Mistress finding out
# # # # #
Due to an accident that was not her fault at all, Mildred wasn't able to attend Potions class the following day. The girl had been sat in the library looking up some old and important witches when a small earthquake had shook the castle. Mildred had jumped to her feet and was just in time to get hit on the back of the head by a falling set of shelves. After spending a week on bed rest, Mildred rose and quickly got showered and changed for lessons. Rushing to the dining hall, she quickly ate a breakfast of some sort before getting her bag and going to Potions class – making sure her camera was attached, hidden and turned on. Things seemed to be going well until Mildred and Maud went to get some extra supplies from the store cupboard. They had just got back to their seat when the cauldron exploded and the contents went all over.
"MILDRED HUBBLE HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO BE A WITCH WHEN YOU ACT LIKE THIS?" thundered Miss Hardbroom.
"But it wasn't me, Miss" Mildred said with worry. Although she knew for certain it was not her fault this time, she was in fear for her life with an angry Hardbroom.
"Mildred, if you ever expect to pass the exams to become a fully qualified witch, and I doubt you will ever get it into your thick skull so that you will, you have to learn to stop lying to people about your mistakes. You will serve detention with me this evening and for the next four weeks"
"I don't want to" Mildred said, taking a deep breath"
"You will do as you are told, girl" Hardbroom sneered.
"I will not, and I request that the Headmistress re-examine what happened" Mildred really wanted to crawl under a rock and hide as she faced down the most frightening person in her life.
"Lying to Miss Cackle will not help you at all, Mildred, but if you are set on this course then on your own head be it. As it would be unjust to punish you before the Headmistress has had a chance, you do not have to come to me this evening. I suggest that you clear away the mess and see what you can do to salvage the lesson" Hardbroom glared at Mildred for daring to defy her and, not just do that, but to use rules against her. She was sure her friends had put her up to it, but she knew it was unlikely to be proven. Mildred turned without speaking and flicked her fingers at the ruined potion – the miscoloured liquid vanishing in an instant.
"Done"
"Magic is not to be used for trivial purposes" Hardbroom said.
"If that is the case, how come you use it for things like opening doors, breaking locks, taking things that are not your or within the rights granted as Deputy Headmistress?" Maud asked. Hardbroom blinked as if realising the girl was stood behind her friend – she had a point. That was annoying to her...
"That is a discussion for another time. For now, try to make the potion again if you please. In the event that you do not complete the task before class is finished, I will hold off grading until you have chance to do so" and Mildred and Maud did not exchange words with anybody for the rest of the lessons.
#
"Did it work?" asked Jadu.
"I'm checking now" sighed Ruby. She rewound the cassette tape in the machine she had set up to record the video from the potion lab – the footage coming from the camera set up in the corner of the classroom. "Got it" she gave a cry of triumph.
"Well" said Enid impatiently, "Lets see it" and see it they did. It showed the class all filing in, sitting, getting their work started and the girls moving around the classroom getting supplies and things.
"Bingo" Jadu said. She pointed a finger at Ethel slipping something inside the brewing potion which caused it to bubble wildly, hiss loudly and then explode – shattering the iron container and sending shrapnel in all directions.
"Its lucky that nobody was hurt" said Maud.
"Did the microphones pick up the sound as well?"
"Yep... Picked up HB going ballistic and Mildred's scared but calm reply" Ruby said. "I'll see what I can do during playtime to get it a little clearer and work out what Ethel put in"
"No point asking her or Drusilla" said Mildred grumpily. "Those two are as thick as thieves"
"I don't think they have actually stolen anything" said Jadu.
"What about stealing the chances to be best student by sabotage of work?" replied Mildred. Her friends looked at each other with some bemusement as it was not often Mildred got this upset.
"Cackle will blow her nut the moment she sees and hears this. She'll expel Ethel for sure – maybe Drusilla as well!" said Enid.
"What about HB?" Mildred flounced onto her bed. "You think she will get expelled too?"
"At the very least she will be fined and suspended" Maud said. She would have said more but there was a knock on Mildred's door. Ruby opened it to reveal Miss Cackle standing there with a frown on her face.
"Ah, I didn't expect you all to be here" she sighed. "Mildred, Miss Hardbroom has already spoken to me about the incident. On reflection, she believes it to be a harmless prank by Ethel and has given her detention this evening"
"Detention?" Mildred stared at the older witch. "Detention? That cauldron could have killed me and Maud when it exploded – not to mention hurting everybody else" and Mildred's trademark pigtails started to bob up and down with excited magic. "I hate her, I hate Drusilla and I HATE Miss Hardbroom"
"Milly, calm down" most of the friends rushed to calm the girl down except for Enid. Although she had the reputation for being a prankster and a bit lazy in her work, she also knew a lot of the old rules still in place at the school.
"Miss Cackle?"
"Yes, Enid?" Cackle glanced at her as she watched Mildred talking angrily to herself.
"Miss Hardbroom has impeached Mildred's honour by lying to you, the Headmistress of this school, and by not giving her the chance to explain fully to herself or you her version of events about the potion lesson this morning. Miss Cackle, I would like to ask for an honour hearing to clear Mildred's name and reputation from this incident and others"
"I see" Cackle eyed the girl with new respect as her eyes shone with a brilliant fire. "What you ask has been done only once at this school since I took charge. I will have to consult the other members of staff and read the appropriate rules. Will one week be sufficient to get your evidence together?"
"Yes, Miss"
"Very well... Under the circumstances, I think it best that Mildred not attend Miss Hardbroom's lessons. Please tell her that she has my permission to go to the library and study there. She may do her potion work when the classroom is otherwise empty. I will tell Miss Hardbroom myself about both this and the hearing" and as she walked away, the elderly witch wondered how her deputy was going to take this of all things. If she remembered correctly, the three most senior members of the teaching staff had to sit in judgement. However, the problem Cackle faced was that one of the senior members of staff was the one to be called on for the hearing. That would mean having Miss Drill serve on the panel, and that, she was sure, would cause tempers to flare even more.
Of course, that was after the cheesecake...