Miss Drill bit her lip hard as she giddily told herself that she would have to tell Miss Tapioca herself that her pudding saved Cackle's academy.
She had waited to plant the potion when she knew it would be her night to do dinner duty. She knew she had 20 minutes until Agatha came back to order them all to bed. Imogen only hoped that the girls would be free before Aggie came back. All through dinner (a grey gruel that would have made even Mildred wish for fish eyeballs again) the girls acted as they had for the past week; blank eyed and quiet.
It was about halfway through the pudding that something happened; Griselda Blackwood began to twitch. She was followed by a general mass twitching. At first Miss Drill couldn't tell if they were conscious again but the confused stares and head turns told her it was time to act.
"But…the carnival….it was day time….mirrors," were heard.
"Girls Girls, listen up immediately!!!" Imogen whispered as loudly as she could. She then told them exactly what had happened.
"But, Miss Drill," squeaked Mildred, "Can't we all just march up to the office and turn them into snails or something."
"Yes Mildred, that is one possibilty, and we certainly out number them now, but we still need a plan; specifically one that allows us to turn Miss Hardbroom and Miss Cackle back."
"Miss Drill," said Ethel with her usual bossy tone, "Druscilla and I could sneak up to her room, find the box, turn back Miss Hardbroom and Miss Cackle, and bring them back down here."
"Yes, good idea but you better go now, we've got (Miss Drill checked her watch) about 2 minutes until she comes back here." Ethel and Druscilla left immediately and Miss Drill grouped the rest of the girls towards the back of the mess hall.
"Alright, Mildred, I'm going to have to ask you for some help."
"Help miss, what do you plan to do?"
"That's just it, I need you to think of something. Come on Mildred, you've somehow managed to save the school from danger numerous times." Mildred thought for a second and then began giving orders; although this time they were followed without the aid of a potion.
When Agatha Cackle entered the mess hall at promptly 6:30 on that Monday evening she was immediately ambushed from two large girls that were hiding behind the door.
"Let me go, I order you to!"
"Sorry, we don't accept your orders anymore," shouted Griselda.
Mildred stepped out from the group and started her transfiguration spell.
"No, no, this can't be happening. I planned everything." She screamed as she was once again turned into a snail.
At that instant the doors burst open for a second time that night; Constance and Amelia had just entered the scene. Both Constance and Amelia had straw all over their clothing and looked positively befuddled; an almost translucent Constance stood there with a gaping mouth and Amelia was rubbing her horn rimmed glasses on her sweater.
All in all, everything was back in order, thought a relieved Miss Drill. She had just let out a thankful sigh when a thud made her tense up again.
Constance Hardbroom had just collapsed to the floor.
Note: Oh snap!!! I warned you not to expect the expected. I couldn't live with myself if this story turned out predictable (I mean come on, after the set up at the beginning wouldn't you expect Miss Drill to pull through and prove herself). What's wrong with our favorite deputy…..muwahaha, wait and see.
