Hello Everyone! So yes i have two abandoned stories but i couldn't stop myself. I watched The Worst Witch reboot on Netflix and i fell in love! When this happens i inevitably create an original character for the world. i feel like it allows people to connect better, lets them immerse into the world even more! So i proudly introduce Lena Winters! She's in her final year at Cackle's Academy, Last class to have experienced a run with both Cackle sisters has head mistresses. Like Mildred's class, Lena's familiar batch had an odd ball which she claimed gladly! A white Maine Coon cat she named Artemis. She's clumsy, quirky, laughs at her own jokes, and adores potion making. But I think she likes the Potions teacher more ;). She is on the older side, having failed her first entrance exam and having to try again at 12. Her birthday is in the spring so she turns at the end of term, she is 17 now and will turn 18 before the end of the year.
As i write this though i fully imagine Agatha Cackle being a Headmistress similar to the style of Agatha Trunchbull from Matilda, i'm talking chokey and everything. Unfortunately for little Lena she was the main one under Agatha's wrath, she just clung to the girl like no other. But we will delve deeper into that past once Agatha comes around again.
For the first chapter i just went along with the selection day episode to insert Lena and give you all an idea of where her and Hecate are in their relationship as student/teacher. Hecate loves her students but she's always had a soft spot for the girl, letting her pull at her very rigid heartstrings. So this chapter is super long lol so just bare with me as i set up the story!
Of course i own nothing except the character of Lena Winters. All these wonderful characters created by Jill Murphy and the show dialogue from the lovely writers!
Opinions and constructive criticism are welcomed! I haven't written anything in 3 years so i'm pretty rusty lol but please enjoy and let me know what you all think! Thank you!
...
She ran down the stone corridors, her boots hitting heavy against the ground as she rounds the corner to descend the staircase. The girl can hear heels clacking in the distance, at least I'm not that late!, she thinks to herself as short, chocolate brown hair flaps behind her. As she gets to the last few steps she misses one and starts to fall forward in front of the women walking the hall. As she takes a couple stumbling steps she picks up her fallen hat before placing it on her head with an accomplished look on her face. Didn't fall, she thinks with a smirk. Someone clears their throat, she looks over to see Miss Cackle staring at her both in shock and unsurprised at the same time. The other woman with Miss Cackle, Miss Hardbroom, is standing there with her lips pursed in a straight line as she fiddles with her ever-present pocket watch.
"Miss Winters!" she exclaims with a gasp as the girl almost crashes into her.
Observing the young witch in front of her Hecate confesses to herself how much the girl has grown. Her eyes rake over the body before her as she keeps a stern expression, she's not a little girl anymore, she thinks to herself as Lena pushes the short hair away from her face.
Lena smiles sheepishly as she stands up straighter and fixes her uniform, straightening her dress out.
"Morning!" the girl greets with a smile, her freckled nose wrinkling ever so slightly as the smile reaches her eyes, "It's selection day!"
"That it is Miss Winters," Ada says with a softening smile, "Two left feet as always I see …" she says with that eloquent look, "Well let us get on then, we need to go and greet the futures of the craft!"
Lena steps aside to allow the women to pass catching the gaze of Miss Harbroom while she passes. She links arms and walks with Esmerelda Hallow, the other student volunteer here to help with selection day. The two were friends, having hit it off right away when Esme started during Lena's third year. The two girls walk together, giggling lightly as Miss Hardbroom starts in her negative drawl.
"Face it Ada … the craft is in decline …" she says lowly, as they step onto a podium set on the grounds.
"I have a good feeling about this year," Miss Cackle says with a hopeful tone.
"You said that last year, and the year before." Hecate says with a sigh, clipboard in hand to start checking off the arriving girls.
"Whats up with you HB? Looks like you lost a cream cake and found a carrot!" Miss Drill exclaims as she walks by casually.
Hecate stiffens, her lips pursing and eyes narrowing at the jab. Lena audibly laughs at the statement, earning both an elbow in the side from Esme and a glare from Miss Hardbroom that silenced her laughing very quickly. A light blush covering her face as pale green eyes meet dark brown, the look lingering a little too long before Hecate rigidly turns forward once more.
The girls slowly start arriving now and both Esme and Lena start to greet them and answer some of their questions as they walk around the main courtyard. After some time the two girls return to the platform just as Esmerelda's sister arrives. Lena had met her once before, annoying little thing, she thought. As the girl landed she could hear the teachers already fawning over her, a lump in her throat as she listened to Miss Hardbroom praise the perfect landing. After introductions Hecate smiles,
"Two Hallows in one school," she says with an impressed tone, "You have a lot to live up to."
Lena looks at the teacher when she speaks that way, her stomach turning in knots of jealousy whether she realizes it or not. She continues to watch the strict woman as Miss Cackle continues to speak but then suddenly Esme yells,
"Incoming!"
As she points to the sky, everyone looks up to see two girls atop a broomstick heading for a crash landing! Lena covers her mouth in shock as the girls come close to hitting the teachers before crash landing into the pond. After everyone collects themselves Lena watches Miss Hardbroom stalk off to the pond with a sharp scowl. A hand lightly grips her shoulder and pulls her attention away from the potions teacher.
"Why don't you go ahead and join Esme and get ready for the tour," Miss Cackle says with a soft smile, patting Lena's arm to send her on her way.
Lena made her way into the castle just in time to find Esme and the group, including the two young girls who made quite the memorable entrance.
"I thought all the girls were on holiday?" one girl calls from the back.
"They are, but we volunteered to help out Cackle and HB," Esmerelda says with a proud smile.
Lena rolls her eyes; the girl was an overachiever that's for sure. Lena only volunteered for the sole purpose of getting away from home for a while, it wasn't an ideal situation but that was her business.
"What's HB?" another girl asks.
"Miss Hardbroom, deputy head," Lena answers with a smile as she thinks about the potions mistress.
"Right … and you'll get to know all about her. Come on, this way!" Esmerelda announces as she starts to lead the tours.
Lena lets Esmerelda do all the talking, participation not really her strong stuit, her mind wandering as they walk about the castle. The new term starts in six weeks, not soon enough, maybe there is something else she can help with here in the castle. She's pulled from her thoughts when she hears murmured giggling, Lena clearly didn't realize that had stopped. She turns around to rejoin them,
"Oops! Kitten room!"
The girls giggle again before Esmerelda starts speaking again,
"Cats are assigned in year one. You work together with your cat all the way through school," she explains.
"We aren't allowed pets in our flat," Mildred, the girl from the broom, says with a longing tone.
Ethel Hallow spins around, quick to correct the poor girl.
"A cat is not a pet. It's a familiar," Lena and Esme share an annoyed glance, "An ancient tool of the craft."
As if on cue Lena's cat rounds the corner and sits down by her feet, its long white fur splayed about as piercing blue eyes stare at the young girls. She reaches down and picks up the cat as it lets out a light meow.
"I thought familiars were usually black cats?" one girl asks curiously.
"They are … but sometimes there's an odd one out, doesn't make them any less," Lena says with a smile as she cuddles the cat, "This is Artemis!"
The girls smile at the cat, the closer ones reaching out to pet him. Artemis purrs and accepts the affection before jumping down and heading on his way.
"Alright, well your exam starts in ten minutes in the Great Hall. This way!" Esmerelda says hurriedly as she starts to lead them away quickly.
Lena walks beside the girls and once they all reach the great hall they start taking the seats at the open desks. As she looks around she notices two empty seats,
"Uh Miss Cackle?" she asks lightly, motioning to the empty desks.
"I'll find them …" she says with a light sigh, nodding at the other teachers before exiting the hall.
Lena walks to the front of the hall and takes the empty seat beside Miss Hardbroom, who is currently pinching the bridge of her nose in agitation. The woman looks over when she senses movement beside her, watching the witch sit down beside her.
"Miss Winters," she greets as she peeks down at the time on her stopwatch before snapping it shut and looking back at her student, "Sleepy start this morning?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah," the girl answers sheepishly, tucking some hair behind her ear, "I got in late last night … had some issues …"
"Don't you have a sibling starting school this year?" Hecate asks as she checks her clipboard again, not remembering a Winters on her list.
"Yeah, my brother … He's at Pentangles. I had to make sure he was able to get there and that someone could watch my sister …" Lena says with a sigh as she sits back in her seat.
"Isn't that your parent's job?" Miss Harbroom asks.
Lena lets out a bitter laugh at the question, shaking her head at her Professor, "you'd think …" she mumbles. When she looks back up she says a slight look of concern on Miss Hardbroom's face, but before she can say anything else Miss Cackle returns with the two lost girls.
Miss Gullet instructs them to sit down and then raises her hands and tells them to begin their exam. Lena didn't even notice Miss Cackle approach the table until she spoke, she was far to hypnotized watching Miss Hardbroom gently trace her fingertips agasint the top of her other hand.
"Take charge Hecate. I need to speak to my sister," the headmistress says in a low tone.
Both of them stare at Ada with wide, fearful eyes. But Hecate merely nods as she stops the soft ministrations of her fingers.
"Agatha is here?" Lena whispers softly as Miss Cackle walks away. Her tone distressed.
Hecate looks to her student, realization dawning on the forgotten fact that Miss Winters is in fact the last year of girls to have experienced Agatha as headmistress.
"Miss Cackle will handle her sister, don't worry …" she says softly as she reaches over and grabs Lena's hand in a reassuring gesture. And for the second time today their interaction lasting a little longer than normal.
With one final light squeeze she lets go of the girl's hand, not seeing the blush that covered that sweet freckled face. Hecate stands as she looks out at the girls taking their test, looking at her pocket watch to check the time, not even sensing the girl staring up at her. Lena couldn't look away if she tried, but she did once Miss Hardbroom announced time was up. The teachers began collecting the written tests and Hecate berates the Hubble girl for her test, Lena feels bad and starts to go after her when Mildred begins to run from the room but is stopped by a firm grip on her upper arm. She looks up to see Miss Hardbroom holding her arm and shaking her head to stop. The young girl sighs but feels better when she sees Miss Cackle has caught Mildred and is talking with her.
Esme and Lena grab the tests from the teachers as they over hear Miss Cackle tell Miss Hardbroom that Agatha is going to interview her for a website. The two give each other a worried look as they glance up at the teachers, all of whom look a bit worried too.
"Don't worry," Hecate whispers to Lena as she walks past her on the way out.
Lena clutches her stack of papers to her chest as she watches the woman leave, when she feels like she's being watched she looks over to find Ada staring at her with that knowing look and smiling softly at her.
"Let's go grade those papers then," the headmistress says softly, her arm going around the girl in a comforting way and leading her out.
Everyone is waiting in the potion lab for the practical to begin when finally Miss Hardbroom enters with Lena and Esmerelda in tow with the written results.
"Before we begin, Miss Hardbroom has the results of your written papers," Ada announces.
"Some of you papers were utterly abominable," she starts, waving her hands to magically distribute the papers, "and those were the better ones."
Lena watched as the girls began to lay eyes on their scores, faces frowning when they realize theirs were some of the worst ones.
"However there was on chink of light in the howling void. A perfect one hundred percent …" she started again, distracted as Mildred fumbled with her paper, "Ethel Hallow, you have equaled the school record," she says proudly.
Though Ethel's look of pride quickly fell at the word equaled, her sister shifting uncomfortably behind Miss Hardbroom.
"Never happy is she?" Lena whispers to Esme who stifles a chuckle in return.
Lena still has that lump in her throat, watching her favorite teacher praise the younger girl like that. She wasn't sure why she felt so jealous but she couldn't help it. Once the girls began their potions she went to stand by Miss Hardbroom again, leaning in to speak with her softly.
"A dragon transformation? You're going to allow it? It seems like a bad idea," Lena says softly as she crosses her arms over her chest.
"She's an ambitious girl," Miss Hardbroom says with a smirk as she still watches the girls.
"Ambitious or Haughty? " Lena scoffs as she shakes her head.
Miss Hardbroom finally looks at the girl, eying her up and down as she chuckles ever so lightly. The beautiful sound causing Lena to look over and meet her gaze.
"Do I sense some jealousy, Miss Winters? Over a child? I expected better from you Lena," Hecate says lowly, knowing she'll get a rise out of the girl, "You'd surely benefit from a bit of ambition, I hope to see you apply yourself more in class this year."
Lena was a smart girl, she would surely be head of her year if she actually participated. She preferred to do her work on her own, not answering questions in class or having cauldron partners. Hecate just wanted the girl to succeed, she'd never be caught admitting that she has a bit of a soft spot for the girl.
But Hecate got what she was looking for, a slight scowl that wrinkled up the girl's freckled nose ever so slightly. In truth Lena was too cute to ever be taken seriously when angry. Before looking back out at the sea of cauldrons the older woman gave the girl a quick wink, relishing in the blush spreading across Lena's cheeks. She turned stern again once facing the girls and she went rigid when she caught Ada looking at the both of them, her face unreadable at the moment. But both women were then brought to the attention of a very tall Maud Spellbody and floating Mildred Hubble.
"Not a bad … Effort," she admitted as she waved her hands and brought the girls back to themselves, rubbing her fingers against themselves to get off the spare magic residue.
Everyone looked now as Ethel started to make her way to the front of the room holding her stomach and letting out a roar before being encompassed by a puff of smoke. Hecate held her arm out to keep Lena back, a barrier of sorts if something were to go wrong. But … nothing was there when the smoke cleared. When they all looked down they found an earthworm in her place, Esme carefully picking her sister up in her hands.
"Miss Cackle? Is that her?" Esmerelda asked nervously.
"Oh Dear!" the head mistress exclaimed with a gasp, "I'm afraid it must be."
"What is it?" Miss Bat asks taken aback.
"Lumbrucis Terrestris …" Miss Hardbroom replies with a disappointed tone, "A distant and rather vulgar relation of the noble dragon. "
"Well it's a common beginner's error. Let's get you back on your feet, shall we?" Miss Cackle says with a sigh.
Esme carefully puts her sister back onto the floor, everyone watching anxiously as she is transformed back. Ethel immediately launching into an outburst that someone messed with her potion, but no one expected it when Mildred admitted to taking the pondweed.
Lena and Esme stood outside Miss Cackle's office, ears pressed against the door to try and hear what's going on. They hear Ethel say that Mildred isn't from a magical family,
"No wonder she seemed so out of place," Lena whispers as Esme nods.
They can't hear much, but finally the door swings open magically and the two girls quickly move out of the way so the Headmistress and Deputy head don't think they were spying. But they tried a little too hard to play it cool which earned them a knowing laugh from Miss Cackle as her and Miss Hardbroom exited the office, the younger girls following in tow. Lena's hart broke as she watched the tears fall silently down Mildred's face. Hecate sternly instructs her where to go to leave and that was the last time Lena thought she'd see the poor girl. She stayed back as Esme conversed with all the new first years, looking to Miss Hardbroom now.
"She violated the witches code …" Miss Hardbroom said with a sigh, knowing why Lena was staying quiet, "It won't be tolerated, you and I both know that."
The girl nodded her head, her arms crossed over her chest again; she didn't feel like talking with all the other girls. Miss Hardbroom watches her closely, her eyes scanning over the girl intently as their gazes meet suddenly. Hecate opens her mouth to say something but is cut off by Ada announcing to the girls that its time for the celebratory feast. Lena still looks up at the woman, waiting for her to speak but is met with a tight-lipped smile instead before turning around and exiting the room. The girl sighs, she would talk with her for eternity if permitted. She had so many questions, so many thoughts, and so many … feelings.
Once all the girls were seated back in the great hall at a long rectangular table Miss Hardbroom announces that no one can eat until Miss Cackle has been served, but then the Headmistress goes into a very lengthy speech. The teachers are seated at a similar table running perpendicular to the students and Lena sat herself at the seat right across from Miss Hardbroom where the tables meet. As Miss Cackle continued to go on and on about the history of the school Lena found her eyes getting heavier and heavier, that is until she feels a light tap on the side of her leg which jolts her awake with a start. She looks around quickly to find everyone still focused on Miss Cackle, except for one person … Miss Hardbroom. The woman staring right at her with a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her red painted lips as the girl realizes it was her who kicked her leg. Lena goes to smile back but both are caught off guard by a startled snore.
"Is it dinner time?" Miss Bat exclaims suddenly.
The girls giggle lightly as Miss Hardbroom rolls her eyes, then hushing the laughing girls. Ada finally ceasing in her speech and announcing that they eat as Miss Tapioca begins to serve the soup. Everyone watches anxiously for Miss Cackle to begin eating so they can too, sighing when she's distracted again by something else. Just as she goes to take a bite someone comes crashing into the castle and everyone tries to clear her path as she skids down the table yelling for Miss Cackle not to eat the soup. Everyone looks on with wide eyes at Mildred Hubble on the table taking the headmistress's soup out of the way.
"I had to warn you! She put a spell on the soup," Mildred explains frantically after she got off the table and cleaned up.
"Who did?" Ada asks softly.
"I did," Agatha answers lowly as she enters the room.
Everyone gasps as they watch her enter, Lena becoming tense as she watches her old Headmistress meander slowly to the end of the table.
"Why?" Ada asks disappointedly as she faces her sister.
"Because I should be Headmistress here …" Agatha says as she approaches everyone.
Lena stands now, taking a few steps back to put distance between her and that woman. Everyone looks at her oddly but they don't know she's experienced first hand this woman's idea of being a Headmistress. She rounds the table and stands closer to Miss Hardbroom, who actually grabs her arm and pulls her closer.
"Ah Miss Winters!" Agatha exclaims once she's recognized the girl, "My, my how you've grown … almost didn't recognize you" she says as she eyes the girl up and down, winking before turning her attention back to her sister.
Agatha had taken a liking to the girl in her first year, better yet a liking to punishing the girl. Finding any reason to call Lena to her office and penalize her in some way, the way she writhed now under her gaze was exhilarating.
"You know it makes sense Ada," she says before turning to address everyone, "If you want this school to be great again, stand up and follow me."
"Agatha is our leader!" Miss Drill exclaims as she stands clumsily.
"Miss Drill!" Hecate hisses at the woman as she continues to shield Lena.
"She's the greatest witch who ever lived!" Miss Drill continues to exclaim as Miss Gullet walks over to her.
"She is under the influence of a total-obedience spell," Miss Gullet explains with her nasally voice, "Oh, a very powerful one too," she adds lowly, clearly impressed by the witch.
"Which means she'll be loyal to the first person who gave her orders," Miss Hardbroom says softly as she looks back to Agatha, "Who did this? How did this happen!" she exclaims as she looks about the room.
"It's because she tried the soup!" Maud exclaims as she stands, "Just like Mildred said!"
"I invoke section seven of the Witches' Code," Agatha states suddenly.
Everyone looks around confused and nervous, some knowing exactly what that means while others did not.
"Yes, I thought you might," Ada says with a sigh.
"Girls," Miss Hardbroom says lowly as she instructs them to stand and magically clears the hall.
"To me, girls! I'll teach you a protective charm!" Miss Bat exclaims as she helps to usher them to the side of the room, Esme looking back at Lena as she grabs Ethel defensively.
"No time for that. Just look after them," Hecate instructs the older woman as she places her hand on the small of Lena's back and leads her over to the other students, sharing a worried glance with the girl.
Miss Bat goes back to grab Miss Drill as Esmerelda explains to one of the girls what a section seven is, its sole purpose. Lena watches nervously as the twins square off, but she's more worried for the woman standing between them to moderate. Miss Hardbroom looks over shoulder one last time to make sure Lena is behind the protective charm before raising the black cloth napkin and waving it to signal the start of the duel. And it begins with a bang! Agatha shooting off stunning spells like rapid fire, Ada doing her best to block them.
"I really don't want to hurt you Agatha," Ada says sternly.
"And you wont! Because you're my sister and you're weak." Agatha says lowly as she shoots off more spells.
"Don't confuse kindness with weakness," Ada says with a scowl as she blocks a spell and sends it off sideways, hitting a chair and making it disappear on the spot.
The chair reveals a cowering Mildred Hubble holding Ada's cat tightly in her thin arms. Miss Hardbroom then calls out to the dueling witches.
"Hold it!" she calls and then looks to the small girl, "Mildred Hubble! Come here, you wretched girl!" she scolds as Mildred hurries over timidly, "you're perfectly safe so long as you do as you're told," she warns as she pushes the girl behind the charm.
She watches as Lena grabs Mildred by the shoulders and pulls her in, keeping her back and holding her tightly. With a nod of approval she turns back and informs the witches to start again. Agatha shooting off spells even faster now, the girls worriedly watch as their Headmistress struggles to keep up.
"We can do this all day if you'd like, Agatha," Ada says breathless as she stands her ground from the oncoming spells.
Suddenly the school banner shoots from the wall and wraps itself around Ada, binding her tightly as Agatha smiles in the defeat of her sister.
"Had enough yet, sister?" Agatha asks tauntingly.
"Its over," Miss Drill says in a monotone, "Agatha wins. All hail Agatha!"
"Help her!" exclaims Mildred from Lena's grasp.
"The code forbids it," Miss Hardbroom answers as she stares at Ada.
"Prepare to be mollusked," Agatha announces proudly.
Unexpectedly Mildred breaks from Lena's grasp, breaking through the protective barrier and stepping between the twins as everyone calls out to her. Lena rushes after her, breaking through the barrier as well to stand with Mildred and try to bring her back but Agatha cements them to the spot.
"Lena!" Miss Hardbroom cries out in distress as she tries to reach for the girl.
"Please don't hurt her," Mildred pleads as Lena holds her close, "This is all my fault. I'm sorry I spoiled your plans," she says sadly.
Agatha looks at the girl surprised, but then a smirk grows on her face as she looks up at Lena. She then grabs the two girls, wrapping them in her arms as she turns them to face Ada. She leans in close to Lena's ear,
"You'll be mine now …" she whispers in a low tone, causing the hairs to stand on the back of Lena's neck.
Ada sighs as she watches the scene unfolding, Hecate watching Lena like a hawk for any chance to grab the girl back.
"It's you or these girls, Ada. Someone is leaving with a shell," Agatha announces then, "Don't make me choose all of you," she warns.
"Let them go," Ada says defeated.
"You know my price: the school," Agatha reminds with an arrogant tone.
"Yes. Free them and I will lower my protective spells."
Everyone looks shocked, Lena knew she would have them but she didn't want someone else suffering Agatha's wrath. She just wanted to protect Mildred.
"You have protective spells?" Mildred asks in disbelief.
"Of course she did, you foolish girl," Miss Hardbroom scolds, her eyes still on Lena.
Everyone watches as Ada removes not only the binding banner, but her protective spells as well. She takes a step towards her sister and the girls and Agatha pulls them in even tighter.
"Release them and you may do with me what you will," Ada reminds her, "I swear by the Witches' Code."
Agatha throws the girls to the side, Lena landing in Miss Hardbroom's waiting arms as Mildred falls back through the protective barrier and into Maud who steadies her. Hecate looks Lena over, making sure there isn't any remaining curse.
"Are you okay?" she whispers worriedly, holding the girl's face in her hands.
Lena nods, but her eyes threaten tears as Miss Hardbroom pulls her close. She gives her another once over before standing in front of her protectively. Agatha saunters forward with a smirk on her face as she lifts her hands, casting the spell and turning Ada into a snail. Everyone gasping once the puff of smoke clears and reveals their Headmistress. Hecate frowns as she looks at Ada, a shell of herself if you will. Agatha leans in now, speaking in a taunting tone to her sister.
"The school is mine!" she says with a smile, reveling in her success.
"May I be the first to offer my congratulations, Headmistress?" Hecate asks suddnely as she leaves Lena behind and approaches Agatha.
Lena tries to grab on to her, to her hold her back, to keep her from leaving her side. Hecate dares not look over her shoulder at the girl as she pushes the grasping hands away, knowing the heartbreak and betrayal that covers the freckled face. Miss Hardbroom was the only teacher who really tried to keep her from Agatha.
"Hecate Hardbroom!" Miss Bat exclaims, "After everything Ada did for you!"
"She was a satisfactory Headmistress, but you were right," she says turning back to Agatha, "We need a forceful leader, to promote higher standards."
Agatha smiles proudly at the deputy head, then turns to look at Lena. She stared at the girl, happy to have her back. She was fond of her … fonder of the way she responded to her discipline.
"Miss Cackle was strong!" Esme exclaims, drawing the attention of the woman to herself.
"Not strong enough it seems," Miss Hardbroom snaps at the girl, she still cant bring herself to look at Lena.
"She only lost because of me," Mildred adds, Lena pulling her back again as she tried to step forward.
"And Agatha's really evil," Maud adds as she scrunches up her face in disgust.
"That is not for us to judge," Miss hardbroom scolds with an angry tone as she approaches the girls, "No witch may interfere in a Section Seven duel. For once accepted to this school you are all bound by the Wtiches' Code," she explains, her eyes finally landing on Lena. She looks away quickly.
"Miss Hardbroom, I knew I could depend on you," says Agatha with a wicked smile.
"No member of staff or any pupil will raise their hand against you," Hecate explains to the girls, glancing at Lena before looking at Mildred, "We are all bound by the Witches' Code," she says staring at Mildred.
Lena understands now, she looks down at Mildred who seems to understand as well. She nudges the younger girl and motions to the soup still on the cart, Ada's cat sitting close by. Lena can hear Miss Hardbroom speaking again as she watches Mildred sneak off to the cart, kneeling down by the cat. Once Agatha has turned around to face her sister again Lena nods at Mildred, Miss Hardbroom watching to make sure they aren't caught.
"Now!" Mildred yells and the cat jumps onto the cart and sends it flying towards the woman.
As the cart crashes into Agatha it sends the pot of soup flying and landing on her and in her mouth. The girls look relieved but nervous as Mildred hops up and runs over to the woman.
"Now get her! Come on!" she exclaims.
The girls shake their heads, watching helplessly as Mildred looks to them.
"We can't! It's against the code," Miss Gullet exclaims, reminding her.
"We have to stop her!" Mildred pleads, "Somebody help me, please!"
Agatha then rises, staring dead ahead and covered in soup. Lena steps back nervously, Miss Hardbroom looking to her wishing she could console the girl.
"I will help you, Mistress Hubble," Agatha says in the same distant tone as Miss Drill, "What should I do?"
"The total-obedience spell," Maud explains to a confused Mildred, "Quick! Give her orders!"
"I uh … I order you to lose the duel and turn that snail back into Miss Cackle!" Mildred orders in realization as she moves out of the way.
Agatha completely obeys, pointing her finger to her sister and restoring her to all she was before, the smoke clearing and revealing Ada. Hecate kneels down and helps the woman up, a look of relief on her face as she whispers the woman's name.
"It's alright Hecate, I'm fine," Ada reassures softly, everyone else looking relieved as well.
"Of course you are," Hecate says softly before turning to look over her shoulder at the girls, her eyes catching Lena's, hoping the girl can forgive her.
Ada turns to Mildred, thanking her for her cleverness against her sister. Mildred looks proud and surprised by the reaction from the woman, but at the mention of Agatha, Miss Drill starts on her campaign again. Miss Hardbroom rolls her eyes and snaps her magic at the other woman, breaking the spell on her. Miss Drill fixes her robes awkwardly as she apologies to everyone.
Lena has herself seated in one of the side stairwells, swirling stone stairs above her as she sits in the window opening. Agatha was finally gone, and she hoped she'd never have to see that awful woman again. The mere sight of her had brought up memories she had worked so hard to forget. Before Esme left she told her that Miss Cackle has given Mildred a trial run at the school since she saved them all. She felt happy for the girl, she was a precocious little thing but clumsy like herself. Lena could hear someone approaching, heels clattering against the stone of the castle, when she looked up she saw Miss Hardbroom sitting down on the step next to her.
"How are you?" the woman asks awkwardly as she straightens her dress after sitting.
"Fine," Lena says softly as she watches the witch.
Hecate plays with her pocket watch, she isn't quite sure what to say to the girl. The look of treachery on the girl's face forever burned into her memory.
"I know why you did it …" Lena blurts out, causing the woman to look over at her, "I didn't at first. I was so scared … of Agatha … but then I realized what you were doing."
Hecate sighs in relief; she didn't quite know how to explain herself for some reason so she was glad the girl understood. She nods curtly, fighting the smile that threatens to form as Lena starts to smile at her. The older woman reaches over and grabs the young witch's hand in her own, holding it tightly. She had a tender spot for Lena, something different than with all her other students. Hecate wanted the best for them all but she had lately been grasping that she wanted more for Lena, she wanted to give more to Lena. The admittance alarmed her; the girl was her student for Great Wizard's sake! She pats the slim hand before letting it go after holding it for far too long.
"Miss Hardbroom?" Lena asks as she clears her throat awkwardly, "Do you think there could be a way for me to stay in the castle until term?" she asks nervously.
Hecate's brow furrows at the question, why would the girl want to stay here? The teachers would be here getting their classrooms and final lesson plans ready, but students don't usually stay.
"I'm sure we could speak to Miss Cackle on the matter," Miss Hardbroom answers softly, "Let's go then," she says as she stands.
Lena fights the urge to giggle; the woman is all business as usual. She rubs her hand softly, the feeling still there of Miss Hardbroom holding it, she didn't want her to let it go. The young witch has always looked up to the deputy Headmistress, admired her, and respected her. As she got older she realized she might feel a bit more for her too, this woman occupied almost her every thought. These next six weeks were going to be interesting.