Miss Hardbroom was laughing hysterically.
Miss Drill and Miss Cackle looked at each other with faces of shock and amusement.
Miss Bat was wildly chanting and beating on her collection of glass jars filled to varying heights with colored water. Miss Hardbroom was sitting in the staffroom armchair rocking back and forth, laughing, and applauding uproariously.
"Oh well done Davina, well done. That is simply astounding!" Miss Hardbroom chuckled.
Her voice was somehow lighter and almost musical; as if she had previously altered her voice to fit with her stern guise.
"Oh, hello," Constance said merrily, "and who might you two be?"
"I'm Amelia Cackle, spells teacher and headmistress of this school."
"Ah, yes, it's so nice to meet you. I…the doctor said that I should try to return to my normal activities so, I will trust in you Amelia to inform me of what I should do."
She then looked expectantly towards Imogen. "Oh, sorry, my name is Imogen Drill, and I am the P.E. teacher here at the academy."
Constance arose from the chair, in her familiar regal manner, adjusting the bandage on her head, and replied, "P.E.! How exciting that must be to teach. Pleasure to meet you. I imagine we must be great friends."
Imogen stepped back, astounded, "Uh, well, uh what makes you say that?" she said without thinking.
"Well, you seem so fun and kind; I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to be friends with you."
Imogen stood, flabbergasted. "Yes, yes of course," she managed to stammer.
"So we have a spells teacher, a music teacher, and a P.E. teacher; what did I teach then?"
A look of worry crossed Amelia's face, "Why, you taught potions. Constance, you were once one of the top potions scholars in this country."
Constance bit her lip and looked a bit forlorn. "I'm sorry, I wish I could remember. I'm not even sure how to go about making a potion, let alone teach one."
"It's alright Constance; you will remember one day and until that day you shouldn't worry about it. Imogen, Davina, and I are here to help you."
"Oh thank you all so much. I hope I told you frequently what great friends you were." Constance muttered.
"Of course," said Miss Cackle. "Now, why don't we all have some tea and biscuits and we can tell you more about your life Constance."
Constance nodded in agreement.
Imogen was partly bemused and partly concerned. She was interested to see how being Constance Hardbroom's friend turned out but she was also worried for Constance. What was Constance to do if she couldn't remember how to teach potions? It was easy enough for Cackle's Academy to hire a new potion's teacher but Imogen had a feeling that Miss Cackle would rather continue teaching potions and spells rather than casting Constance out in the cold. Would Constance have to leave the Academy?
