Chapter 4

Maud opened her eyes, a wave of panic came over her, until she remembered where she was. Glancing at her watch it was two in the morning. Apparently she couldn't wait until later, grabbing her pj's she hurried down the hall. Once she finished and dress into something more comfortable for bed, she headed back towards the room. I hope I don't stay up for the rest of the night now. She hated it when that happened to her at school, she would then have to go to Miss Hardbroom and ask her for a little help to get back to sleep. Glancing down at Mildred, Maud was happy her friend had gotten to sleep, or HB had her special potion with her. She smiled at the first time she was caught wandering the halls at Cackle's by the notorious Miss Hardbroom. HB didn't seem to be so scary at night when her hair was down and in her purple pj's she looked much less like a vulture. Tucking herself into bed Maud took her glasses off and placed them onto the night stand next to the bed and closed her eyes. Usually she would fall asleep to the sound of her cat purring by her head. But Miss Cackle said it wasn't necessary to bring their cat's with them she could manage them. Miss Hardbroom put up a fight to bring Morgana, somehow Maud sensed she loved that cat. It was hard to even bring those two words together, Miss Hardbroom and love, those words together just didn't fit well. She wasn't going to get to sleep if she kept her mind running. Maud took a deep breath held it and let it out and tried to still her mind, she wished her soft, warm, fuzzy purring companion was with her, she could almost hear the purring. Maud opened her eyes to the darkness of the room, no it wasn't purring she heard, she listened closer. Mildred's soft snoring, yes that was it, she closed her eyes. No that wasn't it, she sat up in bed and listened. It sounded like a humming nosie but in pitches. Brushing the covers to the side Maud grabbed her glasses and got out of bed, she quietly made her way to the door so not to wake Ethel and Drusilla. Poking her head outside the door the humming got louder, quickly she slipped out and headed in the direction the sound was coming from. She turned and headed towards the stairs, the sound was coming from downstairs, silently Maud made her way down. Was this place really haunted? Did Millie really see a ghost? She felt her arms prickle with fear. No of course not, there are no ghost's here, they don't exist. She reached a large door and just on the other side of it was the humming only now she was close enough to realize it was a piano playing. She turned the handle and peeked inside.

It was dark except for two candles lighting the sheet music, while someone played. She couldn't recognize the tune but it sounded classical, maybe Mozart or Beethoven. After a few minutes the song had ended the pianist turned and snuffed out one of the candles and picked up the other. Maud was startled at who she saw.

"What are you doing up so late?" Miss Hardbroom asked, startled that she was playing for anyone.

"Miss Hardbroom that was beautiful. I didn't know you could play." Miss Hardbroom got up from the bench and walked over to Maud, her hair was braided in two down either side of her face. Maud smiled she looked like she could be Mildred's older sister, and she giggled.

"Couldn't sleep again?" Miss Hardbroom asked as she opened the door wider for them both to leave together.

"I woke up and heard you, well someone playing down here." Maud confessed.

"I'll make a note of that."

"Oh but don't stop playing because of me hearing you, I'm really sorry. It sounded really beautiful. Honest." Maud stopped and faced her teacher.

"Let's just get you back into your peaceful slumber, before my playing disturbed you," she gestured for Maud to lead the way, "Did anyone else wake up as well?" Miss Hardbroom asked.

"No, Mildred is even sleeping soundly."

"She should be, I gave her a moderate sleeping potion to help with the ghost sighting."

"Do you believe in ghost's, Miss?" Maud asked slowing her steps to hear Miss Hardbroom's response.

"I do not, Maud."

"Then why did you go white when Millie said she saw one?" Maud asked.

"I believe I may have given the rest of the potion to Mildred, could you manage to go back to sleep by yourself?" Miss Hardbroom asked ignoring her question, a student shouldn't know to much about anything unless it's about their studies.

"I'm afraid not Miss, I'm wide awake now." Maud heard her teacher stop and change directions on the stairs.

"Come along then we must make some more for you."

"Where?"

"In the kitchen, unless you have a better suggestion."

"But you don't have any of your usual ingredients." Maud protested. She didn't want to be swallowing just any old thing HB found in the cupboards, she didn't want to be up for the rest of the night either, so as silently as she could she ran down the stairs to catch up with HB as she entered the kitchen.

Maud noticed something was wrong and stopped before she slammed into HB. They both looked in amazement at the chaos before them. Even in the faint candle light Maud could make out broken dishes and puddles of water on the floor. The leftover food was the target of this raid, it lay in dishes half eaten and some even floated in the puddles on the floor. The faucet was left running causing the waterfall and the eventual lake to seep it's way towards them. Thrusting the candle at Maud, Miss Hardbroom made her way through the debris and turned the water off. Maud felt the wall for the light switch but all she found was a hole where it should be, the wiring as well as the switch was exposed hanging half down the wall.

"Don't turn that on!" Miss Hardbroom yelled as she noticed Maud reaching for the dangling unit. As she took a step toward Maud her foot caught the sharp edge of a broken glass, the sudden pain sent her sprawling into the makeshift lake, her purple satin pajamas were instantly soaked.

"Are you alright Miss?" Maud rushed over to her teacher, and bent down beside her. Blood leaked out of HB's foot turning the water around her to pink.

"What is going on in here?" Maud jumped at the male's voice. The lights clicked on and standing in the door way was Algernon and slightly behind him stood Chief Wizard Helibore.

"Miss Hardbroom slipped and hurt her foot." Maud explained.

Chief Wizard Helibore's expression changed at the mention of her name and he thumped his staff on the floor causing the water to evaporate. Maud turned back to Miss Hardbroom, she was trying to doctor her blood soaked foot.

"Who was the imbecile that left the kitchen in such a mess!" Miss Hardbroom screamed.

Algernon stood beside HB looking green at the sight of blood, while the Chief Wizard bent down and gently took her foot, quickly she pulled it away from him.

"I'll go get something to clean." Algernon quickly excused himself and left.

"Let's have a look at that nasty cut." Helibore said as he reached for HB's foot once again. This time she let him take it.

A sharp piece of glass stuck out from the bottom of her foot he studied it for a second before reaching for it, Constance guessed what he was going to do and grabbed at Maud just as he pulled the glass out.

"We better get you bandaged up before infection sets in." Helibore smiled and before Constance could reject his help he had lifted her up into his arms. Instinctively she wrapped her arms around his neck, he shifted her weight in his arms and held her tighter.

"I can't have you slipping out of my arms." He looked down at her laying in his arms.

"Miss, your dripping." Maud said as she wrapped her teacher's foot, just as soon as she had finished the Chief Wizard turned and headed out of the kitchen. Blowing out the candle Maud set it down and glanced about the room. It was an absolute mess, who could have caused this? Maybe cleaning up a little would help tire her out again, at least the Chief Wizard cleaned the water mess up off the floor.

As he made his way up the stairs he felt her head rest against his shoulder. She was tired he could tell, she spent the night cleaning the kitchen. He had offered to help but she insisted she didn't need any of his help.

"I don't need you to carry me up to my room." Constance said.

"We are not going to your room, I'm taking you to mine."

"You will put me down this instant!" Constance struggled to free herself from his grasp.

"Nonsense, you need that glass taken out."

"You've already taken it out."

"As I pulled a small piece broke off, it must be taken out." He turned a corner and opened his bedroom door and placed Constance down onto his bed, "Now you wait right here while I go get something to pull that out." Egbert turned toward another door and opened it, rummaged through the space inside and returned victorious with a small grip and a lighter. Bending down he took her foot once again, but before he stuck the grip inside he handed her a pillow.

"What is this for?" Constance asked. Her question was answered has he plunged the grip inside her foot, she buried her face into the pillow in immense pain.

"There I have it now." He stood up still examining it.

"You could have warned me."

"I did, I gave you the pillow." Constance sighed as he prepared to wrap her foot up, "this may hurt a little." She winced as he dabbed some cream onto the wound, "your lucky it didn't go deeper otherwise you would have to get stitches."

"Why were you in the kitchen?" Constance asked.

"For that delicious pie, of course." he finished wrapping her up, and turned to put the first aid supplies back.

"I would think you would insist on one of the larger rooms instead." Constance said looking around.

"I'm not here to stay in my room." Egbert turned to face her, quickly he grabbed one of his robes and draped it over her shivering shoulders, "About before, Miss Hardbroom, I apologize. I didn't mean to insult you or your calling." Egbert said as he sat down next to her, "I meant that it must be exciting to be a witch, and having the ability to fly." Constance studied him he seemed sincere.

"Have you ever flown?" She asked.

"On a broom or a plane?" His eyes sparkled as her gaze met his. He was joking? This was a different side of him she didn't think existed. She smiled, "You know what I mean."

"I have not ever flown on a broomstick, my dear, but in a plane I have. Once, not really my cup of tea, I guess that's maybe why I'm a wizard and not a witch." He returned her smile.

"A plane is impersonal. Maybe one day I can show you what it's like to ride a broom." Constance had turned to face Egbert.

"I would like that." He shifted himself closer to her.

"I thought you didn't like witches."

"Most of them I have met have given the rest a bad name."

"And the few?" Constance asked lowering her voice.

Bringing his hand up to her cheek he brushed a few loose strands away from her face.

"Have bewitched me." Taking his hand in her's she pressed it against her cheek and closed her eyes. Feeling him move closer she leaned against him, and rested her head on his shoulder. She thought back to the Halloween when Mildred had landed in his lap, the look on his face was priceless, she knew then that she had a soft spot for him. She wouldn't dare ever admit that then. Embracing her in his arms she looked up at him, bringing her hand up to his face she lightly rubbed his cheek.

"I'm sorry that I slapped you." She whispered.

"I've already forgotten." He said as he kissed her fingers, he then leaned closer to her, so close his lips almost touching her's. Egbert slid his hand down the satin smoothness of her back, gently he lifted the bottom hem of her shirt and slid his hand up the contours of her back, he then leaned in and met her lips with his. Constance felt herself melt in his arms and she leaned back onto the bed, unable to hold herself up any longer. As he gently caressed her with kisses, his fingers moved swiftly over the buttons on the front of her shirt, he stopped before undoing the final one.

"Shall we finish what we started, Miss Hardbroom?" Egbert whispered into her ear.

Reaching to the front of her shirt, she undid the final button,

"It's Constance, Egbert."