Chapter 1 – Disagreements
'But Miss Cackle, surely the girls get plenty of fresh air already, without needing to disrupt their potion's classes!' Miss Hardbroom protested whilst pacing the short space free of furniture in the headmistress's office.
'Fresh air yes but not the physical challenges you get in the outdoors…' Miss Cackle explained before being quickly interrupted.
'…don't you mean 'the great outdoors'? I am sure that is how Miss Drill put it when she sold you on this ludicrous idea. An idea that you have clearly already given your full support. Did you call me in here to ask my opinion or inform me of a decision you had already made?' Miss Hardbroom snapped as she came to an abrupt stop in front of Miss Cackle and fixed an icy stare at her. Each word was spoken with an angry edge to it but to those who knew her there was a hint of something else there too, the potions teacher had felt hurt by a conversation she had been excluded from.
'Constance,' Miss Cackle began aware of her colleague's hurt feelings, 'your opinion is always considered. Miss Drill and Miss Bat were very enthusiastic and prepared to do all of the hard work. You could use the time to relax a little yourself, you have been working more and more hours lately. Perhaps with the third years out on a trip you would have the time to sit down occasionally'.
Miss Hardbroom had noted the tentative tone her headmistress's words were spoken with and was pleased the woman knew she was in the wrong. Still, it was not enough to appease her anger on this occasion: 'I work hard to ensure that the likes of Mildred Hubble have a chance of passing their 3rd year potions exams. I can rest, if you think it is necessary, during the holidays' she said calmly. Then she fixed her gaze on Miss Cackle once more and spoke with ominous precision, 'I warn you Miss Cackle, Miss Drill and Miss Bat may be 'enthusiastic'', she loaded this word with sarcasm, 'but they cannot discipline the girls when it is needed. Three days of camping and chanting in the wild not only sounds preposterous, mark my words, it will also inadvertently in catastrophe'.
With that Miss Hardbroom crossed her arms firmly and vanished from the office before Miss. Cackle could say anymore. It left the headmistress fearing the decision she now had to make without the support of her deputy, who as always, disliked the idea of the girls doing something a little creative outside of the thick stone walls of Cackle's Academy. She was not fond of her undeniably most gifted and loyal colleague being so rigid and dramatic whenever anyone dared to alter the timetable. But, on the other hand was Miss Drill and Miss Bat a safe combination to entrust the girl's education and wellbeing to? Alas, perhaps once again Constance had a point, even if she had provided a performance that would be more suited to Doomsday than a field trip.
Outside of the office door Miss Bat and Miss Drill looked at each other. They had overheard the entire conversation and had fear and annoyance etched on their faces.
'Well that could have gone better,' Miss Drill said bluntly.
'Oh she never likes anything that interrupts her precious potions classes,' Miss Bat stated.
'She would have the girls cooped up in that dingy classroom 24hrs a day if she could,' Miss Drill added.
'hmmmmm,' Miss Bat mumbled in agreement.
'AH!' Miss Bat exclaimed as she jumped up with Miss Drill, startled by the sudden appearance beside them of Miss Hardbroom.
'Spying like a couple of teenagers were we. I may put the girl's education before frivolity but I think 24hrs is an exaggeration Miss Drill, don't you? They are here to train to be witches, not hiking or camping experts,' Miss Hardbroom said sharply.
'I am not entirely sure that was an exaggeration. What about team spirit, healthy activity and a chance to explore…' Miss Drill said defensively but was cut off by Miss Hardbroom,
'At the expense of good marks and learning valuable potions and spells! Perhaps if you knew their importance you would not dismiss time dedicated to them so easily,' she said smugly, her tone even, she was clearly very sure of herself.
Miss Drill clenched her fists to prevent her anger getting the better of her. She always attacked the fact that she was a non-witch. She had lived with them all long enough to know exactly what it meant. When you do not have something, its importance is more apparent to you than for those who possess it in bucket loads and take it for granted.
Just as Miss Drill was about to speak, Miss Cackle stepped out of her office and seemed quite surprised to see them all there. It was clear from the way they were stood that another argument was going on, and she did not need to ask about what.
'I appreciate that all of the girls should be in their beds fast asleep but perhaps we should go into the staff room just in case anyone is around to overhear us,' she said with a worried tone.
'I think I have made my point headmistress', Miss Hardbroom said frostily.
'Oh you have made more than that' Miss Drill spat, still clearly enraged. Miss Hardbroom did not react, keeping her face expressionless and unreadable.
'You never agree with anything we want, afraid the girls like us better than you', Miss Bat said defiantly, wanting to support Miss Drill.
'I am here to teach, not to make friends. Can't you make any of your own age Davinia?' Miss Hardbroom responded with ease, her tone calm and concise.
Miss Cackle shot Miss Hardbroom a glaring look which the potion's teacher ignored. Sure enough, Miss Bat muttered something intelligible before disappearing into the staff room to go and hide in the stationary cupboard.
'Was that really necessary?' Miss Cackle asked in a weary voice.
Before Miss. Hardbroom could answer Miss Drill interjected, 'I am here to teach too but I don't send my colleagues into cupboards and fail to see the benefits of any subject other than my own,' Miss Drill said with genuine conviction.
'Ladies please, the staff room', Miss Cackle pleaded. Miss Hardbroom immediately transported all three of them into the staff room in the blink of an eye.
'No you plan trips that exclude me and then try and get Miss Cackle's approval without my knowing. It's like working in a playground,' Miss Hardbroom all but shouted, clearly annoyed at Miss. Drill's prior comment.
'You would never come even if we asked you a year in advance and you do not exactly blend in when you're outside of the castle walls do you?' Miss Drill responded calmly sensing the anger in Miss Hardbroom's voice and not wanting to risk a magical retaliation that she could not escape.
'Oh and I suppose Miss Bat blends in wonderfully does she!' The potion's teacher retorted effortlessly with an expression of superiority as she fell into her stride, choosing the perfect retaliation for each criticism.
Miss Cackle pondered this statement thinking her deputy may have a point there. She watched on knowing that this argument would be over shortly. Most likely one would storm off and the other would do similar shortly after. The pattern was the same each time and it was always her job to repair the damage. Perhaps, she would make them restore order themselves this time. There was nothing she could do now; there was no stopping them when they were in full flow.
'Miss Bat is kind and bubbly…' Miss Drill began.
'And I am not!' Miss Hardbroom stated rather than asked as she squared up to Imogen and towered over the PE instructor.
'You said it!' Miss Drill said back fiercely, deciding not to back down one inch. She was physically strong and refused to let the potions teacher intimidate her.
'Miss Drill you are going too far now,' Miss Cackle said, deciding she had to interject, they were both fired up more than usual tonight, 'the pair of you need to calm down and remember that you are both professionals that have to work with each other '.
'In that case I have only this to say' Miss Hardbroom spoke calmly with an icy precision, her glare locked on Miss. Drill, 'I may be unkind but I am a powerful witch. I am not a non-witch teaching sports to girls who still cannot finish a simple cross-country route without distraction. If you need my time with the girls in order to rectify some short-comings on your part then by all means take it. I am sure I will manage to prepare them for the exams regardless. Feel free to make friends while I make them into witches'.
With these final cutting remarks Miss. Hardbroom disappeared. Miss. Cackle sighed loudly, watching Miss. Drill to see what reaction her deputy's words would cause. The PE teacher slumped a little as though she had been winded, she was clearly upset. As Miss. Cackle stepped towards her to offer some words of comfort Miss. Drill straightened herself and marched out of the staff room.
'Goodnight Miss Cackle', she said weakly as she walked away.
'Well that will take some sorting out,' Miss Cackle said aloud, partly to herself and partly to the stationary cupboard as she began the journey to her own room. She decided that Miss Bat would be content enough where she was until the morning. Miss Drill had clearly struck a nerve with Constance by calling her unkind but that was nothing compared to what the potion's teacher had said in response. Imogen had enough insecurities about being a non-witch without Constance making them even greater. No, her deputy had gone too far this time and would need to be taught a little respect for her colleagues. And this time Miss Cackle had the perfect plan of how to achieve that.
