Hello all! So finally reached the penultimate chapter.. Just going to have a epilogue after this one :) I really hope you've all enjoyed the story (so far) and I would like to say thank you for your continued support! If you have a spare moment - Please review - I always get motivated to update stories after reading reviews.

Much love (as always).

Chapter Ten

From Acceptance to Approval

Constance left the celebrations early, stating she had paperwork to fill in for the Witches' Guild regarding the fulfilment of the teaching post. Imogen rolled her eyes at Mildred but decided to not put up a fight. She didn't want to disturb the newly found peace.

Lavinia had once again fallen asleep, wine glass still poised in her wrinkly hand, leaving Imogen and Millie to discuss her triumph at the interview in greater detail. Millie also learnt that Imogen was in a long-term relationship with a Geography teacher from a nearby non-magical school. She was glad that Miss Drill had found somebody worth her while. She was such a lovely woman and Millie could see herself being great friends with her for a long time to come. As the night grew old, Mildred excused herself… she had something to do before she retired to bed.

She magically vanished and reappeared in the great hall, she had not been in the place since the memorial. She noticed that all the flowers had gone, and the chairs had been put away neatly. Probably Miss Hardbroom's doing - Millie thought that perhaps she found it easier to move on without too many lingering reminders. She walked towards the stage - the back of which displayed the beautiful portrait and a greying banner featuring the school's logo and motto - 'Strive'.

Gazing at the old Headmistress, Mildred felt tiny goosebumps appear on her skin. The portrait was so lifelike - it was like Miss Cackle could see right into her eyes and soul, analysing every nook and cranny of her existence.

"I don't know if you can hear me Miss Cackle, but it's me - Mildred," Mildred said softly. "I would just like to say thank you…. You always believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. I know that I will never remotely come close to filling your shoes, but I want to try. I want to help achieve, to inspire - like you inspired me and so many more. You were the best teacher I've ever had," she finished passionately.

"Mildred-?" A sharp voice startled her. Mildred turned round and saw Miss Hardbroom appear from the shadows.

"Have you been here the whole time?" Mildred asked, suddenly feeling rather foolish about speaking to a mere painting.

"No," Constance answered simply. Standing next to Mildred she too stared at the image. She placed a bony hand awkwardly on Mildred's shoulder, as if to comfort her.

"I feel like I have such a big position to fill," Mildred murmured.

"We both do Mildred," Constance answered assured her honestly.

"This hall holds so many of my memories," Mildred explained, circling the dimly lit room, taking in the cold stone walls, dusty wooden parquet floor and old-fashioned furnishings.

"Indeed.. I remember Miss Cackles Birthday Surprise," Constance said smiling through gritted teeth.

"That stage is where you got your first cat, was announced as Head Girl and graduated with a surprisingly good number of certificates. The next time you are upon it, you will be looking down on your first students at Cackles. I am almost certain that Miss Cackle wouldn't want anyone else up there more."

"She was an amazing lady," Mildred replied blushing at Miss Hardbroom's words.

"She was indeed," Constance agreed.

"You don't have to answer Miss Hardbroom, but I would like to ask anyway?" Mildred asked.

"Go on," Constance said encouragingly, "And you have permission to call me Constance now Mildred, apart from when the students get here of course."

Mildred smiled, thinking that that would take some getting used to. "I was just wondering.. why you chose me?"

Constance gave a wry smile. "You were right Mildred, about our differences making us a good team. I am aware that you are a very different type of teacher to me, but Miss Cackle was too. I will probably never agree with your teacher methods, which I will undoubtedly find soft -, " she said truthfully, "-but I will try to respect you Mildred, as both a professional and a person - I do respect you," she corrected.

"I have always respected you Miss, I think I've always known deep-down that you only pushed us because you care," Mildred replied heartily.

"Perhaps you have me figured out Mildred, " Constance replied truthfully, "Now Miss Hubble, you have a long day of flying tomorrow. Off to bed with you."

"Yes Miss Hardbroom," Mildred said monotonously with a slight cheeky grin, sounding exactly as she had as a pupil. "I'll say goodbye to everyone in the morning before I leave."

"I'm sure Miss Drill will hunt you down if you don't, although you'll be back here soon enough."

"Yes, and then the hard work begins! Goodnight Miss- um… Constance," Mildred felt rather awkward using her first name.

"Goodnight Mildred," Constance smirked as Mildred vanished.

"Goodnight Amelia," Constance muttered before exiting the hall and extinguishing the lit candles into darkness.

Xxx

Mildred left early the next day, assuring Constance, Imogen and Lavinia that she would be back in plenty of time before the new term started.

She spent a few days packing her things together and arranging for them to be transported to Cackles. She herself set back off to the academy around a week later, she knew that there was a lot to arrange before the girls arrived and she wanted to be involved. She had been given the room she had previously stayed in, which looked rather homely once Mildred added her personal touches.

Constance was surprisingly eager for Mildred to have her say in things, even though it was inevitably the Headmistress that made the bulk of decisions. Mildred managed to get a certain amount of victories however, including the restoration of 'Pizza Saturdays (she managed to convince Constance that it was a tradition.) Constance still remained incredibly abrupt and stern, but it seemed as if she had mellowed slightly.

As the days drifted towards to start of term, Mildred felt much more at ease with her company and was beginning to feel a closeness that she never thought they'd ever have. The two would often work well into the evenings, sorting out class lists, room assignments, and arranging yearly and mid term plans for each subject. Imogen would roll her eyes and declare that Constance was turning Mildred into a workaholic, but Mildred actually enjoyed the time she spent one-on-one with her. If prompted with the right questions, Constance would speak about her experiences of using different spells and her experiments with different potions. Mildred listened avidly, with an interest that she never really had as a pupil. She had always known that HB was an incredibly powerful witch, but had never really appreciated the extent.

Constance was also enjoying the time she spent with Mildred. It was nice for her to see genuine interest in what she had to say and to impart some of her wisdom. She had taken heed to Amelia's warnings about letting people in and had started to trust in her colleagues opinions, even when she didn't share them. Millie was quickly becoming a kind of daughter figure to her, she was finally noticing her rather sweet disposition and after listening to her stories about some of the pranks Ethel had pulled at school- she felt she had perhaps misunderstood much of Mildred's intentions in the past.

xxx

As the hot sunny days turned slightly duller, the start of the new year at Cackles arrived. After landing in the courtyard, putting their brooms away and being assigned their rooms; the girls all filed into the hall for introductions and announcements. Mildred sat on the stage staring at the many watching eyes fixed upon her, with slight trepidation. Constance welcomed the girls with a typically stern lecture about keeping standards during times of change, but her voice softened considerably as she finished with speaking about Miss Cackle's legacy to the school.

"I know that you are all rather excited to meet your new teacher, who I am sure you will treat with great respect," Constance spoke threateningly, glaring at some of the older girls. "I would like to introduce Miss Hubble."

Constance turned her back to the girls as Mildred stood up. Constance gave her a sly wink as she took to the stage.

"Good morning girls!" Mildred greeted, hiding all evidence of her nerves.

"Good morning Miss Hubble," the girls chanted dutifully.

"I am very excited to meet you all and look forward to getting to know each of you individually over the coming year. I will be form-mistress to the first-years, who are of course new to the school…like me... I myself was a student here, so I remember the scary feeling of your first day – trust me, the homesickness will disappear with time" she gazed and smiled warmly at some of the anxious faces on the front row. "I have heard all about you older girls and I'm looking forward to putting faces to names. I am eager to see you all prosper from young girls into young witches…" Many of the pupils reciprocated Mildred's beaming smile at this. "Now I think Miss Crochet will lead with the school song…," Miss Crochet agreed, nodded enthusiastically, twirling her baton as she conducted the girls.

Onwards ever striving onwards.. proudly on our brooms we fly...

As Mildred sat back with the rest of the teachers Imogen muttered "See, told you they would love you."

Mildred stared at Constance waiting for her verdict; she merely rolled her eyes, silently suggesting that Mildred was too soft and smiley.. but there was a small flicker of a warm smile on her porcelain face.

"I think that's an approval," Mildred thought happily, she felt rather excited for what the next year would bring.

xxx

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