I hate writing a new story when I still have one on the go but I had this idea and felt the need to start it before it became 'just' an idea.
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The Diary
Checking she was alone Mildred flicked open the purple tartan notebook, gasping with realisation as she recognised the old-fashioned slanting handwriting. It was the same writing that sprawled criticism across her every potion's assignment; the writing of her strict form-tutor, Constance Hardbroom.
Chapter 1.
"I do not remember asking you to have a conversation." Miss Hardbroom spoke sternly at her class of fourth years, whose discussions of returning home were instantly silenced. "Now I know the Christmas holidays are soon to be upon us, but that is not an excuse for a slip in standards. We still have a week left, plenty of time to do some hard work."
"God, she's such a scrooge." Enid Nightshade muttered to her best friend Mildred Hubble, who smirked and nodded.
"Pray tell Mildred, what is so amusing?" Miss Hardbroom rounded on the girl, eyes glittering dangerously "WELL?"
"Nothing Miss Hardbroom," Mildred quickly replaced her face with what she hoped was a sensible one. Miss Hardbroom raised her eyebrows so that they were joined in one long severe line; her 'not impressed' look.
"Ethel please hand out yesterday's potion's tests." She flicked her finger at the pile of papers at the front of the class which vanished and instantly reappeared on the girl's desk, before turning to write instructions on the board.
"How'd you do Maud?" Enid inquired as Maud's test was placed in front of her.
"B" Maud replied nonchalantly, "It was a hard test...not that she ever makes them easy!" she smiled softly. "What about you?"
"C-" Enid replied brightly. "- and a very stern comment about the dangers of experimenting with ingredients- I only suggested that a little mint might make a laughing potion taste a little better!"
"Only you Enid!" Maud chuckled. "What about you Millie?"
Mildred passed her paper over to Maud who hastily read the 'D, See me." scribbled in blood red ink. "Bad luck Mils" Enid said, reading over Maud's shoulder.
"It was only a practise test anyway Millie." Maud smiled sympathetically.
"I'm hopeless." Mildred muttered, staring glumly at her grade.
"Page 231 girls, I want you to answer the questions about the uses of Dandelion root." Miss Hardbroom turned back to face the class. "In silence, Enid Nightshade!" Miss Hardbroom shot a glare at the girl who had opened her mouth to console her friend.
Xx
The girls made their way hastily out of the potion's lab, Maud and Enid shooting sympathetic glances at their friend who had remained seated.
Constance Hardbroom sat at her desk, deciding what exactly to say to Mildred. Her lectures never did the infuriating pupil any good but Constance refused to give up. She knew Mildred was intelligent; when she applied herself she could give Ethel a run for her money, but that was the problem; the girl didn't apply herself.
The door closed as the last remaining pupils Ethel and Drusilla left, shooting Mildred a satisfied smirk as they shut the door.
"Well Mildred once again you seem to have failed your potion's test. I'd like you to explain to me why." Miss Hardbroom had moved from her seat and was leaning on the front of her desk, dark eyes x-raying Mildred's own.
"I don't know Miss." Mildred mumbled.
"I'll tell you why Mildred." Miss Hardbroom's eyes flashed with fierce annoyance. "I watched yesterday as you spent most of the test daydreaming out the window, meaning that you only managed to answer about a third of the questions. Had you concentrated on the test, you might have done a lot better. Mightn't you?" Mildred recognised the rhetorical question and wisely kept quiet.
" I've told you time and time again, but nothing seems to get through to you girl. I expect two hundred lines by Friday entitled 'I must learn to stay alert and live in the real world.' Off you go."
Mildred chucked her satchel over her shoulder feeling very down. Miss Hardbroom had been very hard on her this year, even more so than before. She couldn't help her daydreaming. Cackles was always so cold and draughty in winter and she couldn't help thinking of the roaring, hot fire and the decorated Christmas tree at home. Her mind had been on precisely that during the potion's test and before she knew it time had been up.
Constance stared at her student walking out the room despondently. She knew that one way or another, Mildred Hubble would be the death of her.
"Oh stop feeling sorry for yourself Mildred." Constance spoke with icy precision "Things might seem bad right now but they can and will get worse if you continue to spend your time unwisely in my classes." Miss Hardbroom warned.
"Yes Miss Hardbroom." Mildred replied before exiting the classroom.
Constance watched the girl leave, angry at both herself and the girl for becoming so irate. Only Mildred Hubble seemed to have that effect on her. She hated to see such potential go to waste.
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"Usual lecture?" Enid smirked as her friend entered the hallway.
"You two didn't have to wait." She eyed her two friends. "Yes, usual lecture and two hundred lines." Mildred grimaced
"Bitch!" The girls all exclaimed in unison.
"I hope she can't hear through walls." Maud eyed the wall nervously.
"We better get to spells. Bet Miss Cackle lets us do something fun and Christmassy."
"She better, or else I'm gonna switch to a non-magic school. Apparently they watch Christmas films every day in the last week!"
"hahaa nonsense Enid!" Maud chuckled. Her friend had such imagination.
Xx
Miss Cackle had been true to the occasion and taught them the spells needed to turn an ordinary tree into a Christmas pine. Miss Bat had them singing 'The Holly and the Ivy' in a very high pitched key. By the end of the day Mildred was feeling much more festive and had cheered up considerably.
Mildred made her way through the corridor back to her bedroom, still humming Christmas carols. Maud had stayed behind for choir and Enid had rushed off to help in the kitchens (a punishment thought of and implemented by HB due to Enid complaining too loudly about the horridness of school dinners.) She barged her way through the double-doors that separated the hall from the stairs, realising too-late that someone was on the other side.
"Aghhh!" Came a screeching sound that made Mildred wince. Mildred had walked straight into Miss Hardbroom knocking her to the floor. Books and papers flying everywhere.
"Well don't just stand there you clumsy girl!" Miss Hardbroom snarled as Mildred stood there surveying the damage. Mildred didn't need to be asked twice, she scrambled to the floor gathering both hers and Miss Hardbroom's books into piles as Miss Hardbroom slowly got to her feet and wiped the invisible dust from her black dress.
Miss Hardbroom snatched the pile of books that the girl was offering her. "For the life of me Mildred, I cannot understand why you cannot simply look where you are going." She spoke in an exasperated tone.
"I'm sorry Miss." Mildred bit her lip.
"Yes well, you can add two hundred lines of 'I must look where I am going' to your collection." Miss Hardbroom spoke haughtily and with one final glare continued her way down the corridor.
"Yes Miss Hardbroom." Mildred mumbled feeling her festive mood disappearing quickly as she set up off the stairs to her room.
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