Hello, everyone! This story begins on the same day as the finale, and will continue into the summer holidays and then Mildred & Co.'s second year at Cackle's Academy. I will focus on several characters and their backstories (only as they are pertinent to the plot, of course), so fear not if your favourite does not appear right away. Also, HB will feature in this story MUCH more after I've set the foundations. I appreciate that she's the most popular character, and trust me, Hardbroom will be one of the central characters. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy it. :)

Rated T for now, but may become M-rated later. I shall inform you, and also change the rating on the main page if this is so.

Disclaimer: The setting, concept, and primary characters of The Worst Witch do not belong to me, but to Jill Murphy, with additional characters and concepts belonging to the CBBC, Netflix and ZDF producers. The plot and any AU characters are mine. I am writing this for fun, and do not profit financially from any of this work.

Chapter 1

It didn't take long for things to return to normal between Ethel and Esme. After she thought she might lose her forever, Ethel was infused with a love for her sister which, until then, had been eclipsed by jealousy. The beginning was when Miss Gullet turned Esme into a trophy. Knowing her magic would never be powerful enough to change her back, she realised that, unless help arrived, which was unlikely, she would have no way of getting her sister back. Of course, she knew that she would ask her parents to undo the spell, but telling them how Esme came to be a trophy, and how Agatha Cackle and Miss Gullet took over the Academy wasn't on her list of things to do.

When she returned to her room to keep Esme safe (she realised that the new head teachers were unlikely to allow her simply go home and tell her parents what happened), she began to realise that she had done something really bad. Her motives were simply driven by jealousy – with Esme no longer a witch, she would be the eldest, and not only inherit Granny Hallow's broomstick, but her mother's attention. Agatha promised to make her Head Girl if she agreed to help her take the Academy, and Ethel thought it was a win-win plan. She would get what she wanted, while the rightful headmistress would get her Academy.

She felt so stupid when she argued that Agatha had a right to the Academy based on her age – hadn't she been arguing against Esme's inheritable rights since she was old enough to clasp a broomstick? It was only then that the gravity of the situation occurred to her. Her stoicism had resulted in her losing her sister, and she realised that, for once, she would have to fix the mess she created by herself. Esmeralda was no longer able to fix it for her.

Oh, but that feeling of satisfaction once her powers were gone… no more competition… she would have to be the best… in the heat of the moment, she couldn't care less for Esmeralda's anger. After Agatha had… dealt with… (she could only ever think of it with a preparatory mental gulp) Ada, she sent the girls to their rooms. She didn't like what she had seen, but she pushed that aside… it's your life, Esmeralda had told her. So she did what she had to do. That was what a good witch would do, after all. Whatever flack she had to take, she would take. She was going to be Head Girl. Head Daughter. What was a little anger compared to all that?

But Esmeralda had not been angry. Not after that moment of enlightenment, that is. That's what changed her exclamation mark on that night into a question mark. Esme stood at Ethel's door, resting one hand on the doorframe, the other hanging listlessly by her side, on the verge of tears. Ethel was waiting for the lecture. Bad daughter. Bad sister. We always knew you would pull something like this. Second-rate witch. Runt of the litter. But no. Esme said something which Ethel couldn't fight. All she could do was flick her fingers and shut the door.

'Ethy, why?'

That was Esmeralda all over… wouldn't even give her the chance to argue. She would have slept a lot sooner if she had.

Once the calamity had subsided, and the Academy returned to something resembling normality, Esme found Ethel sitting on the lawn, her back against a tree, with her head hanging. Aside from her left leg folding towards her body, her knee in the air with an arm draped over it, her limbs were listless. She knew something was wrong when she found Nightstar yowling outside Ethel's room. Esme always joked that the only living thing Ethel liked was her cat. After scratching her behind the ear a few times, she let Nightstar into the room and shut the door after her, knowing that cat's penchant for wandering where she shouldn't. Even when Ethel went for a fly, she always ensured Nightstar wasn't locked out. She tried the broomshed first, and once she found her broom there, she started walking the grounds. It was then she found Ethel. She felt like her heart was punched; she'd never seen Ethel look so miserable.

Concern for her fellow human always came naturally to her. She never realised that she was a 'type' until Miss Gullet said so.

'Ethy.'

Ethel pressed her chin against her chest, her eyes locked on the ground. When she got no answer, Esmeralda sighed, sitting next to Ethel with crossed legs, and leaned forward so she didn't loom over her so much. She shook her by the knee.

'I'm not here to have a go at you; I just want to talk.'

A few moments of deliberation passed, and Ethel raised her head. She was terrible at apologies, and this was worse. This time she truly believed she was wrong, and she was unfamiliar with the sensation. She didn't like it one bit.

'I'm a terrible sister and a terrible daughter. I get it, okay?'

Esmeralda scoffed, shaking her head.

'Ethy,' she started, shutting her eyes and biting her bottom lip while she thought about how to approach this.

'Why have you this complex about everybody hating you? No one hates you, Ethel. But you just keep… antagonising people.'

'Of course it's my fault.'

'You messed up with Cackle. Right, I get it. But you fixed it, didn't you?'

'Mildred fixed it, you mean,' she snarled.

'She saved you from being eaten by your best friend, sure. And she got everyone together to cast a counter spell to save the school. But you're the one who brought her here. And you're the one who ran through a crumbling school to save me.'

For a moment, Ethel lost her mask, and released a smile. Then, almost as quickly, a shadow passed over her face.

'Yeah, but I had to do that, didn't I? Everyone will still say that I'm the one who put you there.'

'Who's they?'

'Mum and dad,' Ethel spat through her teeth. 'You know that.'

Esme raised her eyebrows.

'Last time I heard, they didn't know a thing. Of course, they'll want to know who saved their "trophy" daughter from being crushed by a building. Look, Ethy, the last time we spoke, we agreed to tell them as little as possible. That hasn't changed.'

Ethel narrowed her eyes, gazing at Esme searchingly. She was waiting for the trick – the punchline – the catch, but she was met with silence and a fond smile. The right corner of her mouth twitched upwards.

'I'm so sorry, Esme.'

'Everybody makes mistakes, Ethy. It's not never making a mistake that makes a person good. It's fixing your mistakes and being sorry for them. And that is exactly what you did. This'll blow over.'

'You really think Cackle's going to keep me on after this?'

'Maybe if you apologise.'

Ethel scoffed, but this was more of an instinctual reaction than scornful. Esme realised this.

'Your plan wasn't to make Agatha headmistress, was it? It was to strip me of my powers and become head girl?'

Ethel nodded, avoiding her eyes.

'You got an idea, and you didn't think about the consequences. You're very young, Ethel, she'll understand.'

'I just wanted mum to notice me for a change. I thought if- that people might finally-' Ethel's voice broke. 'I thought I'd lost you.'

Esme wrapped her arms around Ethel, the latter burying her head in her shoulder. After a little gentle coaxing, she persuaded Ethel to accompany her to Miss Cackle's office. Esme dreaded speaking to Miss Cackle just about as much as Ethel did. She nibbled on her bottom lip while they were waiting to be granted entry into her office. Everybody secretly joked that Miss Hardbroom ran the school, but Miss Cackle wasn't the pushover that she seemed.

When they entered, the first thing they saw was the unflattering portrait of Gullet and Cackle, screaming in the air as they were trapped in a binding spell. It made Esme shudder. It reminded her of just how close they had come to disaster. It made her wonder if Gullet was right. She was so willing to help and sacrifice herself to save her sister that she hadn't thought about how odd it was that Miss Gullet of all people would help Miss Cackle. Moreover, how odd it was that she turned up at her should-have-been empty office in the middle of the night rather than the front door or one of the teachers' bedroom windows.

'The Hallow sisters. We were just talking about you,' Hecetae said in her unique, scathing drawl.

Ethel looked up at Esme who squeezed her shoulder and nodded at her. She continued walking until she stood directly across from Ada, who was seated stiffly, her eyes watchful. When she didn't speak, Ethel decided to break the silence.

'I'm awfully sorry, Miss Cackle.'

Ada sighed, leaning forward and clasping her hands on her desk.

'I really thought we'd finally gotten through to you, Ethel. And you, Esme: you are the last pupil I thought would get caught up in this.'

'I know,' Esme semi-rolled her eyes. 'I was just trying to help, Miss Cackle.'

'That's just it, isn't it?' Hecetae replied, folding her arms. 'You're always just trying to help.'

'This wasn't her fault,' Ethel snapped. She had to build herself up before she could deliver the next sentence. 'I… tricked her.'

Hecetae scoffed; in her three-year tenure at Cackle's Academy, Esmeralda Hallow had never fallen for one of Hecate's infamous trick questions, and even when she kicked the difficulty up a few notches and tried to dismiss any of Esmerelda's answers in class, the eldest Hallow sister always had an answer for everything. She was unwilling to believe that a first year had succeeded where she had failed. Ada wasn't so easily blinded. She asked Ethel to explain further.

'My parents are obsessed with Esme and Sybil. And because Esme's the oldest, they give her everything. They hardly notice I'm there.'

Ada nodded, understanding and sympathising, but giving none of this away. She put up a hand to prevent Hecetae from interjecting and asked Ethel to continue.

'I thought when I first came here that if I could smash Esme's record, then my mother would have to be proud of me. But Mildred made sure that didn't happen, and you wouldn't give me a second chance to take the exam under fair circumstances. You wouldn't give me a chance to show you that I could actually do it. As far as mother is concerned, Esme entered with a result of ninety-nine percent while I barely scraped a pass.'

Ethel looked over her right shoulder at Esme.

'I just hated you…' she looked away, the despair on her face palpable. Her eyes gazed into the distance, in no particular direction. 'Or at least I thought I did… I just wanted to wipe that smile off your face. It's so easy to be good sister when you're given everything.'

Ada started, Agatha's similar words echoing in her mind. It's so easy to be the nice one when everything goes your way. Ethel didn't notice, but Esme certainly did. She narrowed her eyes, and Ada nodded slowly back, her gaze intense, screaming at her to leave it until they had a chance to speak in private.

'Miss Gullet came to me and promised that if I was able to get Agatha back her powers, she would make me head girl once she had the school. I thought that if Esme wasn't a witch anymore then mother would have to care about me… so I did it. I knew Esme would give away her powers if it meant saving me.'

Ada pinched the top of her nose with her thumb and index finger, shutting her eyes, hearing everything even though she was in a world of her own. From their very first day, she had seen her struggles with Agatha echoed in Ethel and Esme. All the signs were there. That was the thing about hindsight and nearly fifty years of experience; only as an adult could she identify the signs that something was terribly wrong. Time and time again she wondered if she had behaved differently, could she have saved Agatha. Hecetae argued that Agatha was a rotten apple no matter what happened, and looking at Ethel, she wondered if there was anything that could be done to save her. She didn't know. A part of her she tried to ignore didn't think so.

Ethel looked meekly up at Esme, not knowing what to make of Ada's behaviour. It seemed Esme was reading Ada's mind.

'Ethel understands what she did was wrong, Miss Cackle. She's apologised to me, and she meant it.'

'How many times have we been in this office saying the same thing?' Hecetae interjected. Ada by now had heaved a sigh, resting her head on her clasped hands.

'I know,' Esme's voice shook. She knew that Ethel was skating on thin ice, and that she was the only one who believed in her enough to give her a chance. 'But what I told Ethel before we came here was that she was too focused on me. After Miss Gullet turned me into a trophy…'

Ada's head snapped to attention at this comment. Esme tittered. 'I know. Ethel and I were trying to figure out what to do to fix the mess we caused, and Gullet didn't appreciate my suggestion that she get out of the Great Wizard's way. Ethel kept me in her room to keep me safe, and pretty much told me I should have stayed out of it, and when she said Agatha had a right to the Academy based on her age... well… she realised that her logic wasn't so sound after all. She was the one who wrote to Mildred with an invisibility potion. I know that she did something really bad,' she said, looking from Hecetae to Ada, 'but she has atoned for it. The school was collapsing and she risked her life to save me. I wouldn't have blamed Ethel had she run out of the school, but she didn't. She said she was sorry. She tried to undo what she'd done. Please don't expel her,' Esme finished, her voice losing much of its usual confidence.

'Are you sure Ethel knows what she's done is wrong? This isn't just you covering for her, is it, Esmeralda?'

Before Esme could respond with an offended exclamation in the negative, Ethel cut in.

'I let my jealousy get the better of me, and I didn't think about the consequences. I swear on the Code, Miss Cackle, Miss Hardbroom, that I will never do anything like that again.' She glanced up at Esme. 'I know that there's more to my actions than what I want… that it affects other people… I nearly lost a sister because of it.'

Ada stood, and slowly paced to the other side of the table as she spoke, her eyes on Ethel the entire time.

'You do understand that we can't just let this go. I'll expect to see changes in your behaviour, Ethel Hallow, starting with consideration for your fellow pupil. I'm not going to punish you; I can see thinking you'd lost your sister is punishment enough. But if anything like this happens again-'

'And that includes your ridiculous feud with Mildred Hubble,' Hecetae inserted.

'… you won't get a third chance.'

'Yes, Miss Cackle.'

She patted Ethel on the shoulder, searching the young witch for any traces of remorse, and was relieved to see it painted across her face, and so potent in her eyes that they were on the verge of bursting.

'Run along, then. Your exams won't write themselves. Esme, if you would wait a moment, I have something I wish to discuss privately.' She glanced at Hecetae when she said this. With a huffy breath, Hecetae clenched a fist and disappeared. Ethel made her way to the door more reluctantly, gazing at Esme with ill ease as she slowly shut it, peering into the room to the last moment.

When they were alone, Ada patted a vacant chair for Esme, with she occupying the one next to it. She leaned forward, peering over her round spectacles with her elbows digging into her thighs.

'I get the feeling that there's more you wish to say, Esmeralda.'

'Yes, Miss Cackle.' She glanced at the door, and Ada assured her that there were no prying ears. 'I'm worried about Ethel. I've heard bits and pieces about what's happened between you and Agatha, and it seems as if-'

'As if history is repeating itself,' Ada finished her sentence for her with a knowing smile. Esme nodded, clutching the ends of the arms of her seat, her nails digging into the fabric. 'I have seen elements of I and Agatha's relationship in you two, I'll admit. At first, I thought it was childishness on Ethel's part, and that she would grow out of it, but it seems she's prone to… wayward behaviour.'

'That's what worries me. I don't think Ethel is bad, Miss Cackle. At least…' she hesitated.

'Not like Agatha,' Ada anticipated.

'I'm sorry.'

'It's perfectly all right, my dear. I've spent many years wondering if I could have put Agatha on the right path, but now I'm not so sure. The fact that my mother concealed the truth of our birth makes me think that she sensed something in Agatha when she was young. Unfortunately, alienating her only made things worse.'

'And Ethel definitely feels alienated.'

'It's not easy being the younger sister.'

'I know,' Esme smiled glumly, her eyes downcast. 'When she talks about people alienating her here, I can't say it's their fault. She doesn't exactly make it easy for people to get on with her… but my parents…' she narrowed her eyes, squeezing the arms of the seat. 'I never really saw it until Ethel started here. I know mother doesn't mean to do it, but she does… she doesn't exactly divide her time between us fairly. And I'm afraid if I tell Ethel, she'll run with it. I thought trying to toughen her up was the way to go, but she almost fell off the wagon.'

Ada nodded.

'I need your advice, Miss Cackle. Please. A lot of people may not have faith in Ethel, but I know there's a force for good in there somewhere. I'm afraid that if things keep going the way they are, we'll end up losing her.'

Ada sighed, removing her spectacles and polishing them with her cardigan.

'I do see your point, Esmeralda. And a wayward Cackle has proved to be dangerous enough; I dread to think of the power Agatha could yield if she had been a Hallow. When Agatha tried to steal our mother's powers, she was sent to Wormwood's Academy.'

Esme started.

'Yes,' she grinned. 'We thought that would straighten her out, but if anything, it proved to make her even worse. I don't think punishment is the way to go with Ethel either.'

'Then what do I do? If I could give her all I have, I would, but I can't. The Code forbids it.'

'The Code,' Ada smiled bitterly, 'isn't always fair, I've found.'

Esme started in her seat, her face assuming the same look as Jessica Fletcher when all pieces of the puzzle suddenly slotted together and she figured out whodunit.

'Is everything all right, Esmeralda?'

'Erm… yes, Miss Cackle, sorry. I was just thinking that maybe…' she trailed off, pretty sure she shouldn't give voice to her thoughts just then, but scrambling to think of something before Ada caught onto her. 'I think I'll have a chat with mum when we get home.'

'All right, my dear.'

Esme started up.

'My office is always open. You know, making it clear to Ethel that you're on her side sounds like a good idea. Remind her that she has a friend.'

Esme nodded, although she didn't hear what was said. Her mind was already many miles away. There was something she had to do, and she was figuring out just how she would do it. She knew sneaking out of the Academy at night was grounds for expulsion, and given what she was planning, it was highly likely she would be discovered. It all depended on how the Great Wizard dealt with her when she confronted him in Camelot College. After all, invoking Section 5 of the Witch's Code wasn't something to be taken lightly.

She considered it over the next week; Esmeralda was all for the greater good, but family came first. If she could have avoided doing this, she would have (and later, she wished she had done) but seeing how Ethel fortified herself within an emotional garrison increasingly over the next few days, she thought she had no other choice. Besides, there seemed to be a new villain stereotype – the hard-done-by younger sister.

The Great Wizard listened to Esmeralda's request with a grave face, clutching the stray hairs at the end of his chin. Even though he didn't interrupt, he had already made up his mind to dismiss her. However, because he thought a lot of Esmeralda Hallow, he was going to be nice about it.

'I appreciate you trying to look after your sister, but you are asking a lot, Esmeralda.'

'The plan was to do it after Agatha had taken over anyway, so can't you just go ahead as planned?'

'It's not that simple, child, but don't frown like that. It's not your fault; you're very young. That was an emergency. I can't just-'

'I'm sorry, your Greatness… I'm going to have to invoke Section 5 of the Witch's Code.'

He shut his eyes tightly, the Adam's apple in his throat squirming.

'Again, child, you don't realise what you're doing. I'll give you one last chance before binding you to-'

'I'm sure,' Esmeralda replied, stiff-backed and confident. 'I know what I'm doing.'

Oh, you don't, the Great Wizard thought, you really don't.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. My aim is to post a new chapter at least every Wednesday (to keep our Worst Witch Wednesdays alive! If my job interview goes well, then it may have to be every second Wednesday, but I'll do my best). However, these early establishing chapters should only be a couple of days apart.