AN: Three chapters in a week so far, that has to be a new world record for me on this fandom. Thanks everyone who has read and reviewed so far and a special thanks to my friend NCD :) All errors are mine. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

Stranger At The Gate

Leaves crushed beneath the black heels of a cloaked figures boots as they trekked through the dark and desolate forest surrounding Cackle's Academy. They had sworn in the past to never set foot on this ground or to seek the assistance of others in their plight, but all of that needed to be put aside for one night. With a brisk pace they marched, one foot after another, as owls hooted overhead and the moonlight bathed the forest, illuminating its dark corners and creating others where creatures hid. The Academy's walls were far in the distance to their right and they eyed off its refined formation with envy.

Smoke filled the already hot and sticky air as they reached their destination and stood at the door to an old and decrepit looking hut. Its chimney smoking away into the night quietly as laughs and muffled conversations broke through the wooden door and into their ears. They raised their hand and knocked three times, hearing their approach acknowledged behind as chairs scratched against the wooden floors within and the conversations quietened.

Then the door opened with a creak to reveal the face of the woman standing at the entrance. "Mistress Broomhead."

"Agatha," she replied, sauntering past the frozen witch with no resistance before removing the cloak and placing it over the arm of a nearby chair. "What do you think you are doing?" Agatha demanded, as the stern witch took a seat and the other two joined in on her suspicions.

"Yeah what are you doing?" Bindweed barked.

"And how dare you barge in," Coldstone added. Hecketty remained firm, unflinching. She lifted her gaze to look into Agatha's eyes.

"I am here to offer you a proposition." Betty and Millicent looked to each other and then to their leader. Hecketty motioned for them to take a seat and the three did, across from her, making it look like Broomhead was sitting at a board interview, though she held all the power.

"What proposition?"

"I have some unfinished business with Constance that needs taking care of," she explained, selecting her words carefully. "And, my attempts in the past alone have been unsuccessful. As have yours with overruling your sister Amelia as Headmistress." The witch looked to the table in shame. "We both know what we want; it's just a matter of joining our resources to get it."

"You mean teaming up?" Agatha asked and Hecketty nodded.

"If you want to call it that," she dismissed. "I have heard through the grapevine that the academy will be holding a celebration for the Summer Solstice next week - a bonfire ceremony."

"How do you know your information is right?" Coldstone questioned and Hecketty gave a knowing look.

"Because I gathered it myself," she replied coolly. "The students and staff will be leaving the academy's walls, giving us an opportunity to take it under control." Agatha seemed puzzled by the idea, her rage and hatred against Amelia was strong but she was always resolved to take over the academy herself. Though, she had to admit that her previous two defeats had left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"What would we get out of it?" She asked and the other two rubbed their hands in anticipation, already smirking to show their discoloured teeth.

"The Academy, all I am interested in is Constance, you can do what you see fit with the rest of the students and your sister." A wry smile spread itself across the witches face as the flames from the fireplace flickered and danced in her thick, round glasses.

"I'll take that as a yes," Hecketty smirked, leaning forward and holding her hand before the twin who took it firmly in her own.

Mildred sat inside the Great Hall nervously looking to the floor. Maud was next to her, cleaning her glasses against her school shirt as they all waited patiently for their teachers to arrive. The morning assembly, Mildred knew, had been called to specifically reiterate the schools rules and probably to tell them that, just like last year, they needed to keep their noses clean and try to remain level headed until the term finished. It sounded easy in theory but it was difficult in practice.

Mildred couldn't wait to get home, to watch TV, to be with her mum and dad, have hot showers in their cosy home and show them all the neat tricks she had learnt while studying. She couldn't wait to get on her broom and fly just for the hell of doing so and to start attending the drawing lessons her parents had paid for. She couldn't wait to be away from the academy's dark corridors with dank dungeons and a gloomy forest and home where she belonged, where Miss Hardbroom's supreme reign held no power.

But the term was far from over and their final examinations would be fast approaching which made the thought of going home a distant dream, a dream of a life that she once had. And that dream stopped as the back doors opened and Ethel and Enid walked into the Hall, closely followed by the teachers. Mildred offered Enid a smile but she didn't return it and instead focused her eyes to the front where Miss Cackle led the procession.

"Good morning girls," she greeted seriously, without the smile that usually played at the corners of her lips.

"Good morning Miss Cackle."

"As you are all well aware, yesterday we had a very serious incident occur which saw the breaking of many of our Academy's school rules, not just by those involved." The girls silence spoke volumes and only a few didn't divert their gaze. "This is unacceptable girls, our school rules clearly state that bullying, victimisation, and any form of physical, magical or verbal abuse on another student is completely unacceptable. Those who have been involved in the act have been punished." Enid could feel the looks of those behind trying to penetrate her skull. "But the vast majority of you were irresponsible with your decision to spectate rather than to intervene." She looked particularly to Mildred for a moment before looking to the rest of the group. "I know that you are all excited about your half-term holidays and are eager for this term to end so you can return home but that is no reason to carry on like this. Is that clear?"

"Yes Miss Cackle," they chorused.

"In light of recent events," she continued. "The staff and I have decided that perhaps it is time you used all of that inner energy on something productive and traditional." Mildred looked to Maud for an answer, and usually she did, but this time she simply shrugged her shoulders.

"Miss Bat has aptly pointed out that the Summer Solstice is quickly approaching and that it has always been a tradition to celebrate the occasion with a Fire Festival." Smiles spread from one side of the room to the other, and Miss Cackle relinquished in their happiness, noticing that their attention was more captivated right now than they had been in any of her lessons. "Although the traditional part of the Festivals has died out in previous years we thought that, since the Academy has not celebrated this holiday before, it would be a good way to allow you a chance to relax before your final exams for the year." Mildred's mouth curved into a smile and Maud looked just as excited. Enid was the only one who didn't seem too happy about the arrangements. She sat with her arms crossed and was a pure mirror reflection of Miss Hardbroom who sat the same way, very unpleased.

"But it is not all fun and games," Miss Cackle beamed. "The staff and I will be selecting a Flame Bearer, a student who has the honour of lighting the official bonfire at the festival. So work hard and strive."

Miss Bat pranced through the corridors to her class as Mildred and the others followed with less enthusiasm. "The Flame Bearer," Maud noted, a little confused but also excited at the prospect. "Who do you think they'll pick?"

"I'd say miss clever clogs," Millie joked, Maud understanding that the highest honour usually went to Ethel Hallow. But considering her previous misdeeds it could have been open to anyone who behaved for a while. "But it might be you."

"Me?" Maud asked, surprised. "I don't think it will be me."

"Well it certainly won't be me," Mildred replied as Enid pushed past them both as if they were made of glass. "Enid!" She stopped and turned to face the two. "Please don't be mad with us. I know that things yesterday were a bit tense-"

"Every time that you need to be backed up haven't I been there for you?" She asked suddenly and it took a moment before it registered in her mind. She took the end of her plait and started twisting it between her fingers. "Yes."

"Then why is it when I need a little help neither of you decide to step up?"

"I tried," Mildred explained. "But you know that fighting is against the school rules and so is using magic."

"And when has that ever stopped you?" She asked with an inquisitive eyebrow. Millie didn't know how to reply so Maud decided to intervene.

"And how many times has your decision to use magic for selfish and trivial purposes gotten Millie into trouble?" This time Enid was speechless, she had to admit that her previous attempts to make things more interesting had put Mildred into the centre of strife. But she had told herself this was different.

"Girls!" Miss Bat called from the chanting classroom, waving them from the corridor and into the classroom. Enid turned to follow and Maud placed a hand on her best friends arm. "It will be okay, she'll get over it."

Miss Hardbroom was busy slicing through the second year exams with her red pen, circling wrong answers, underlining incorrect ingredients, adding comments where appropriate and a score in the top right hand corner, surrounded by a deep red circle. She was amazing to watch and Imogen had no idea how she was able to keep her thoughts in check as she worked from one test to the next seamlessly. She worked through all of it in ten minutes and still managed to find other work that needed grading.

Reading over the Witches Weekly that Davina had been memorising all morning she looked at the layout for the ceremony. It was quite spectacular, the flames rising to the sky as smoke bellowed to cover the stars. Dancing and singing, all the people in the photos looked so happy and carefree. She wondered whether the girls would react the same or if Miss Hardbroom would even droop her shoulders a little to dance. She doubted it would happen but there was always hope.

The door opened and saw the arrival of Davina, twirling around in circles with sparklers sizzling around her hair. One of the sparks flew onto the test Constance had been marking and she was quick to turn in her chair, point her spell fingers and make them disappear. Miss Bat stopped instantly and her arms dropped by her side before she walked to the supplies closet in silence and closed the door.

"Was that really necessary?" Imogen questioned and HB, looked over her shoulder.

"What do you think?"

Miss Cackle swept into the room with a beaming smile spread from ear to ear, her spells class had run smoothly for the first time since the girls had returned from their half-term break and they were more focused than ever before. The change was astounding and she couldn't believe how well the prospect of being ordained the ceremonies Flame Bearer had altered their behaviour for good.

"You seem pleased, Miss Cackle," Imogen noted, looking up from the magazine and noticing the spark of excitement in her eye.

"I am," she smiled. "Miss Bat's idea for the Fire Festival and the reward for the girls has been a roaring success."

"For now," Constance muttered quietly, though all of them hear the words loud and clear. Silence filled the room immediately before she turned in her chair and looked to her colleagues. "What? I am just stating a fact. We do not know what will happen after the ceremony is over or whether this Flame Bearer responsibility will be enough to get girls working hard for the week. What if we have this ceremony and nothing changes afterwards? We may have given the girls a chance to reenergise themselves for more havoc and misbehaviour."

"It will work!" Miss Bat resolved, stepping out of the cupboard with both doors wide open. "And you will be eating your words Constance Hardbroom!"

Constance closed her paper and placed the lid on her pen before standing to her feet, Amelia and Imogen watching with baited breath. To her credit Davina didn't budge; she looked up into the woman's dark brown eyes and kept herself strong.

"We will see."

AN: Thanks for reading :)