A/N: Welcome to my new story. This is one I have wanted to write for a while. I saw a drastic change in Ethel during series two and it was clear to me she was suffering without Esmerelda even if her not being there was partially her fault. I think Ethel has changed the most in character and during series two I think that showed the most so in this story Ethel will be struggling to cope without Esmerelda, the guilt of what she has done and finding it hard to move on. This first chapter is based on Series Two Episode One: Tortoise Trouble, at least some of it is. I hope you enjoy this first chapter.

Without Esmerelda

Chapter One

Arriving

Thousands of broomsticks hovered over the castle of Cackles Academy for witches, as young girls from every corner of the country made their way to their boarding school. Today was the first day of term after six weeks of summer, and the new school year was going to begin very soon.

Two of the pupils who were flying were very blonde. One of the students looked completely at ease as she flew towards the castle, obviously to any eye she was a good flier, the girl next to her was the opposite, she looked like she was terrified of being in the air and yelped as her broomstick lowered slightly.

"What is the matter?" the other girl said rolling her eyes, she had being enjoying her flight before Sybil had made a fuss.

"Sorry Ethel, I think I'm just a bit nervous" Sybil replied biting her lip worried.

"Of what?" the older sister Ethel asked her younger sister.

"Flying, falling off, losing my powers like poor Esmerelda" Sybil replied. Ethel felt a stab in that moment at the mention of their elder sisters name but she shook her head and turned to Sybil.

"Sybil, you're a Hallow aren't you?" Ethel asked. Sybil nodded, wearing an expression like she wasn't sure she wanted to be.

"Then you will be absolutely fine" Ethel replied just as a sheet of paper landed right on her face, knocking her clean of her broomstick. Sybil stared at her horrified.

Things just happened quickly after that. Ethel realised the paper was Mildred's and landed on the roof. Mildred joined them and went to take her assignment when she slipped and fell of the roof, she was left hanging by her robes, and in doing magic to escape destroyed half the school and this meant that half of the bedrooms were demolished.

Ethel was unable to believe that Mildred had done something so stupid so quickly, the girl already was not in a good mood as she was having to babysit, she loved her sisters, even if people think she didn't but Sybil at times irritated her because she was scared of everything and never wanted to be alone.

"Here is your assignment, if it is as good as your landing we will be in for a treat" Ethel said sarcastically as she handed it to Mildred. Mildred took it before thanking her for catching it.

"With your face" Enid replied. Ethel glared at the dark skinned girl, before walking away. Sybil walked over to her in that moment and Ethel sighed.

"Guess what I am in purple house too" Sybil said holding her brand new purple belt and uniform. Ethel smiled, at least Sybil was not a disgrace by ending up in Mildred Hubble's house.

"Great, as you should be" Ethel said not asking her if she was head of year. She could see by her plain belt she wasn't. Ethel actually felt relieved, anywise she would of being the only sister to fail at achieving that role.

"Will you help me find my room?" Sybil asked, scared to do it herself. Ethel turned to Felicity to talk.

"Catch up later Felicity" Ethel told her before leading Sybil to her room, knowing it was best just to help her because if Sybil got lost she would get upset and if she got upset on her first day because she was lost, everyone would blame her for leaving her.

"It is just down here" Ethel told her sister as she walked down the corridor. Sybil ran a little to keep up with her sister as she opened the door and walked into an empty bedroom with just a bed, window and bedside cabinet in it.

"Yes this is your room, of course being a Hallow they gave you a large one" Ethel replied knowing some rooms varied in size and her and her sisters normally had fairly large ones.

"Yes it's a nice room" Sybil said nervously. Ethel nodded and in the back of her mind she wondered who had Esmerelda's old room or if they were using it, she didn't like the thought of someone being there instead of her, but she could sense Sybil was looking at her so she turned to her, not letting on to what was going through her head.

"Right well I am not going to unpack for you, I need to unpack myself, I have HB first and I don't want detention on the first day for being late, see you later Sybil" Ethel said. Sybil squeaked but knew Ethel had to go at some point. Ethel turned and left the room, before Sybil could get upset and beg her not to.

Ethel left her sisters bedroom and wondered if she should take a detour, she wanted to see who was in Esmerelda's old bedroom, if anyone, it was just one more flight of stairs and she would be there, only Ethel knew if someone was there she would have a go at them, even though they hadn't chose to go there, that is why she turned and walked towards her bedroom, she didn't want to get in trouble on her first day.

Ethel dragged her trunk up the stairs and moaned to herself at to how heavy it was, she wished she knew the transfer spell so she didn't have to do this. She finally got it to the top of the stairs after a lot of heaving and Nightstar meowed at her angrily for putting her carrier down to harshly. She remembered last year when Esmerelda had helped her with her case, between the two of them it had gone much quicker. Then Esmerelda had led her to her bedroom and spent a great deal of time fussing over the room and her. At the time Ethel had snapped and told her to stop fussing as she was making her feel nervous, now Ethel wished she was here to do that.

Ethel dragged her trunk to her bedroom, walking down the corridors she had got familiar with the year previously. It felt strange to be back after six weeks away but she knew before long it would not feel strange, she was just about to drag her trunk and Nightstar's carrier inside when she heard someone call her name and stopped.

"Oh its you" Ethel said in a less than thrilled way as she saw Maud stood in front of her. Maud looked at Ethel as if she was not enjoying having to talk to her either.

"The feeling is mutual" Maud said looking at Ethel annoyed.

"Yes yes we aren't friends, what do you want Spellbody?" Ethel asked just wanting to go in her room and have a bit of time to herself.

"As head of year, it is my job to inform you that because the mirror room was….demolished, They have temporary moved the room to the old storeroom on the third floor" Maud said and Ethel glared at her, the way she had said she was head of year, she was just trying to rub it in.

"Well if Mildred hadn't of destroyed half the school we wouldn't need to of moved the room, as head of year isn't it your job to make sure the students behave? You aren't doing a very good job" Ethel replied bitterly towards the girl with bunches.

"Oh what's wrong Ethel?, are you still upset you aren't head of year, it's being a year Ethel get over it" Maud replied, shaking her head.

"I don't need to get over anything, I don't want to be a stupid head of year" Ethel replied angrily. She looked at Maud knowing she had to calm down but she couldn't help it, after everything last year she was much more edgy and much easier to make snap.

"Is that it Maudy or do you have something else to tell me?" Ethel replied. Maud rolled her eyes but shook her head.

"No, that is it" Maud replied. Ethel took two steps away from the girl.

"Then if you excuse me, some of us have to unpack" Ethel said dragging her trunk and Nightstar's carrier in her room and closing the door. She looked around the familiar bare room from last year and paused. It was quiet for once, she could no longer hear the sounds of students walking and chatting outside, no it was just her and no-one else. She sat on her bed and looked around sighing. She could feel this year was going to be a bad one for her, all she hoped was no-one dared to mention the name Esmerelda Hallow because right now Ethel was not sure she could take hearing that name, no she had to not think about her sister, because thinking about her only hurt.