Thank you for the support I have received so far :) It really makes my day reading such fabulous reviews. Despite loving teaching dearly, I have always had an ambition to write a children's book of my own. Fanfiction allows me the opportunity to develop my writing skills and I love the interaction that you gain with your audience. :)

Chapter Six

The Dilemma

In order to fully understand a person, it becomes necessary to learn about their past. William Shakespeare once declared – 'What's past is prologue', meaning that a person's history feeds into who they become in the present.

Constance Hardbroom was a prime example of this. A strict upbringing at boarding school, devoid of all unnecessary affection, created an uncompromising, powerful witch- whose icy stares could stop even the most wayward fifth year's trouble-making schemes in their tracks. Her mother's death at a young age meant that a young Constance learnt to live without being reliant on others. This is a trait which on the surface, Constance still seemed to possess. She didn't seem to have any friends, a love life or even a family to upload her troubles onto.

Yet some say it is unnatural for people to live this way; that the very essence of being human causes people to seek out others to form bonds and relationships.

In the past, Constance had tried to discourage Amelia Cackles' attempts to get to know her. Preferring to remain an enigma, she had always confused independence with power. Yet she had miscalculated Amelia's stubbornness and without really meaning to, had allowed a relationship to blossom. This relationship had been ruthlessly been destroyed by fate, the night of Amelia's heart attack, but the damage had already been done – Constance Hardbroom had discovered that she was only human after all.

xx

Imogen Drill was jogging her usual morning route, she enjoyed the feeling of clear morning air filling her lungs, and clearing her head. This morning was particularly lovely, as she could feel the warm sun beating down on her.

As she passed the large frog pond, a brown-haired figure caught her eye, slowing her down to a halt.

"Mildred?" she questioned. The young woman seemed to be thinking intently, sat on the grass with her arms holding her hunched up legs. "Are you Ok?" she panted, trying to gain back her breath and went to sit next to her.

"I just needed a place to think." Mildred replied slowly. "I used to come out here, when I was a pupil. When everything became too much and I needed some time to just escape for a while." Mildred explained, the choice which she now had to make had invaded her mind like a tempest.

"You have something on your mind?" Imogen questioned caringly.

Mildred faced her old teacher. "Miss Hardbroom has asked me to apply for the teaching position here."

Imogen was truly and completely gobsmacked. "What? - Really? - Oh Mildred that's fantastic! I must say I'm quite surprised, she seemed so set against it last night." Imogen confided. She couldn't understand Constance's sudden change of heart.

"She did?" Mildred replied questioningly, "That's exactly what I'm worried about."
"What?" Imogen prompted delicately.

"I just don't understand why she would want me. I'm not exactly her idea of what a teacher should be! I could never meet her standards as a pupil and I definitely couldn't as a teacher. I'm happy at Mandrakes… I know it's such a good opportunity, and returning back here would be amazing, but I don't think I could do it." Mildred bit her lip worriedly.

Imogen placed her arm round the girl, giving her a gentle squeeze. "Mildred, I would love you to work here and I think you're perfect for the job, but that's just me being selfish. You need to do what you think is right."

"She never believed in me at school, I don't know why she has started to now." Mildred murmured.

"Constance Hardbroom doesn't make decisions lightly Millie, just look at what you've become, you're far from being the worst witch now. She obviously sees what you can offer the girls, " Imogen put in.

"Which is what exactly?" Mildred raised an eyebrow, she might have honed her abilities over the years but Miss Hardbroom would always be a much more powerful witch. "There's nothing I could teach the girls here that Miss Hardbroom couldn't teach them better."

Imogen smiled at her old pupil, whilst Mildred's lack of confidence had often been a source of annoyance to Miss Hardbroom, Imogen had always found her humbleness an endearing virtue. "Imagine your time at school with just Miss Hardbroom in charge. Miss Cackle offered a shoulder to cry on. She was gentle and caring; these are characteristics that you share Mildred." Imogen explained sadly. "Teenage girls need to know that there is someone there for them when they feel upset or alone, who has their best interests at heart. Someone to fight for the Mildred Hubbles to come."

Mildred sat in silence for a moment, pondering Imogen's heartfelt words. She knew that she would have never had lasted at Cackles if Miss Hardbroom had had her way. Yet she had become a successful witch by all measures. Perhaps she should attend the interview after all? Who would fight for the girls if not her?

"She mentioned something about another candidate?" Mildred inquired.

"I haven't met her, Lavinia knows her from some convention she once attended. Apparently she's a Constance Hardbroom double."
"Poor girls," Mildred sighed. One HB had been scary enough during her own schooldays.

"Which is why we need you Millie." Imogen declared heartily. "I'll leave you be. You need some time to consider." With that Imogen dragged herself onto her feet and began to jog back towards the castle.

xx