So I've been reading a lot of fan-fics over the last week and I got really inspired by a few of them. This story uses themes taken from other stories I've read and enjoyed but should be quite different.
I hope you enjoy it. Please review if you get chance :)
Chapter 1
The Witching Times is sad to report that Amelia Cackle - esteemed Headmistress and founder of Cackles' Academy has died aged 69. Amelia was described by her family as a 'Gentle, loving soul,' who will be 'sadly missed by everyone that knew her.' Her funeral was a quiet, family only affair, conducted last week but a memoriam is to be conducted at the school on Tuesday the 21st August at 1pm. Miss Constance Hardbroom, lifelong friend and colleague, has issued an open invitation to all past friends, acquaintances and past pupils of Amelia.
Mildred Hubble dropped the paper onto the table, feeling an intense pang of sadness. It had been nine years since she had left Cackles aged sixteen but in her heart she was still the young, clumsy teenager being jostled into Miss Cackles' office by her irate and formidable form-mistress. She smiled sadly at all the kindly lectures she had been subjected to her Headteacher, each one long and boring but full of belief and hope that the 'Worst Witch' would turn it around.
In the end she had been right, Mildred had improved her spell-casting dramatically and found her 'Special drawing talent,' the latter had even impressed HB! She had graduated with honours, as Head Girl and gone on to have a successful experience at Weirdsister College. She had dabbled with various jobs, but eventually headed for another year at University to train as a Spells teacher.
She had been surprised at just how stressful the profession was, and felt particularly guilty for not being the easiest student to teach herself, but she found teaching very rewarding. She had a reputation with her students of being gentle but firm, coercing each pupil to reach their full potential by inspiring them to reach for the stars. As such she had become the teacher that all young witches wished to have.
The 21st of August was in just three days time and the school was a day's broomstick ride away. Mildred would have to decide quickly whether or not to attend. She knew that Enid , Ruby and Maud had full-time jobs and so wouldn't be able to attend mid-week and Jadu was currently in India. If she decided to go it would have to be alone.
"It would mean socialising with Miss Hardbroom Tigger!" She shook her head at her chubby ginger cat, despite all she had achieved, the very idea of standing in the presence of HB still made her feel very nervous. She stared at the paper again, catching a glimpse of the kindly eyes from the picture that had accompanied the article. She knew what her decision was.
Xxx
"I'm worried about her Lavinia" Imogen Drill muttered to her colleague, casting her eyes nervously around the room, hoping that Constance wasn't currently eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Nonsense Imogen, Constance will be fine. Everybody deals with death differently." Lavinia reassured her.
"But that's just it, she isn't dealing with it. She's always been a closed book of sorts… but never has she been so cold. She's too calm, it's like nothing happened. She refuses to talk to me, to anyone!"
"It came as such a shock, Imogen. It's been very upsetting for us all but Constance… well I believe that Amelia was her one true friend – a soul mate of sorts. She was the mother Constance never had." Lavinia wiped the tear which had slowly made its way down her wrinkled face.
"I just don't see how Cackles can continue. Constance would need to obtain a new teacher quickly before the new term arrives." Imogen sighed wearily, "Poor Amelia, we all believed you had such life left in you."
"Do not pity the dead, Imogen, pity the living."
Xxx
Constance Hardbroom twisted her long wavy mane into its customary bun. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had lost their sparkle and she looked gaunter than ever. A thin wispy strand of hair had somehow freed itself from the rest and hung limply over her pale face. She cried in frustration and angrily yanked the rest of her hair loose.
She had become a mess, she acknowledged. Never before had she felt so uncertain, so lost. She had always been the strong one, the one with no feelings, the robot, the ice-queen. Those had been just a few of the nicer nicknames the girls had thought up for her in her time at Cackles. She wished the nicknames were true, then she wouldn't have to feel this pain.
"Oh Amelia, I need you. No one else ever saw me like you did."
She panted, calming herself before flexing her fingers causing her hair to tie itself in a much neater, tighter bun than before. No strand could be easily freed from its prison. She pushed her thoughts aside and put on a passive face; it was easier to be an ice queen than to feel.
Xxx
Mildred flew slowly on her broomstick, still looking just as clumsy as she always had. "As long as I don't crash into the dustbins again Tig," she smiled at her cat, stretched out lazily on the back of her broom, not a care in the world.
Xx
"I would like to call a staff meeting." Constance Hardbroom suddenly appeared in the staffroom, causing Imogen to spill her black coffee and Lavinia to shriek. Constance ignored the reaction she had caused and went to sit down at the head of the table.
Imogen observed her colleague. On the surface she looked remarkably well kept, with her neat bun and fresh lipstick but behind the mask Imogen could see the lost look in her eyes – like a child left to fend for herself.
"Now, I know you have both been wondering about my decision on the future of the academy. Amelia clearly stated in her will that she would like me to continue as headmistress, therefore it is in Miss Cackles honour that this academy will stay open." Constance spoke in a business-like tone, devoid of all the emotion she felt.
"Oh Constance, that's such good news!" Imogen cut in, but Constance ignore her and carried on.
"Of course, we must first find a suitable new teacher for the upcoming term. This leads me onto my second announcement. I have invited a teacher for an interview the day after tomorrow. Her name is Miss Blackcauldron and she comes with excellent references from Pentangles Academy."
"You don't mean Frances Blackcauldron?" Lavinia's eyes widened worriedly.
"Yes. Why?" Constance glared impatiently.
"I met her last year at a teaching convention! Shes terrifying! Cold, harsh and intimidating with hair squeezed into a bun so ti-." Lavinia stopped as her eyes rested on Constance's tight bun.
"Oh Constance! Can we not wait a while, find someone else?" Imogen broke the silence. She was imagining two Constance Hardbrooms running round the place. The poor girls!
"There is nobody else Miss Drill. Besides, she gains fantastic results and her behaviour management is said to be exemplary. The girls of this academy need to be kept in line or else they will run riot. Miss Blackcauldron seems like she could be up to the task of handling unruly young witches."
"But Amelia -…"
"Amelia is gone Imogen!" Constance cut her off in a cold, harsh tone. "and she left the academy to me, whilst I may ask for your opinion the decisions are ultimately mine to make. You and Lavinia would do well to remember that. Now I need to sort out the final preparations for the memorium tomorrow." With that she vanished, leaving a very hurt Imogen in her wake.
Xxx
Nobody saw Constance Hardbroom that day. At tea-time Lavinia knocked on her bedroom door, hoping to instil some peace between her and Imogen. After receiving no answer she peered into the room, only to find it empty.
She sped through the castle looking in all the usual places, but wherever the new Headmistress was, she didn't want to be found.
Xxx
:)