Amelia ran forwards to her pupil who was lying just below the platform. She gently turned her over and pulled her into her lap. "Mildred?! Mildred, come on now wake up!" No response. Imogen knelt before them and placed her hand to Mildred's neck and then slightly above her mouth.
"She has a strong pulse and is breathing Amelia," she whispered. Amelia looked at the blonde woman trying to will the words she had just heard set in. Her eye caught the heap of black material and porcelain skin to her right.
"Imogen! Constance!" Imogen moved over towards the potions teacher making a similar examination of her.
"She's alive Amelia, her pulse is a little weak but it's there, I don't know what hitting the wall has done to her though. I don't want to move her just incase." Amelia felt a wave of relief run through her, both of them were alive, the members of her Academy were safe.
"Davina?" Amelia called. Miss Bat who had remained beside the girls at the door keeping them outside came towards her headmistress. "Davina, I need you to go and contact the Guild, inform them what has just happened, and for them to come and collect Hecketty Broomhead and send medics for Miss Hardbroom and Mildred immediately." Miss Bat nodded and scurried away. Fenella and Griselda suddenly took charge of the rest of the school population moving everyone from the hall doors and away from the scene before returning with blankets for the two fallen witches. Maud had refused to leave and was now also beside Mildred, silently weeping at seeing her best friend and teacher in such a way.
The next few hours passed in a blur for Amelia, she stayed with Mildred and Constance until the Guild arrived and took over their care. Hecketty was taken into custody and numerous statements and explanations were required to create a picture of what had happened for the Guild to make a report.
She found herself sitting by Constance's bed that evening, trying to process everything that happened that day. She still didn't know the entirety of the events and how things had escalated so quickly and probably wouldn't until Constance or Mildred awoke.
Mildred had been diagnosed with exhaustion, which Amelia had already guessed, the sheer effort of the magic she had produced was beyond imagination, so much so the Guild took some persuasion to accept what she was telling them. It wasn't until the rest of the school was recounting the same story that they began to believe it. She would be alright, she just needed to be left to sleep for as long as she needed to let herself recover. Miss Bat was sitting with her along with Maud and Enid who were refusing to leave her side.
Constance had been hit with powerful stunning magic, the impact of her body slamming into the hall wall had not helped matters. The medics could see no sign of serious injury but suspected concussion and possible broken ribs. Amelia looked at the still unconscious woman, noting the peace on her face, she didn't think she had ever seen her look so calm and serene. It served to remind her that something must plague the younger woman during her waking hours, something she was determined to find out after the days events.
As dawn broke the next morning the sunlight warmed Constance's eyelids gently waking her. She slowly blinked letting them adjust to the brightness. Becoming aware of an odd noise, she looked to her right to find Amelia asleep in a chair, snoring lightly. She didn't understand why Amelia was in her bedroom, she didn't understand how she had gotten there herself. Beginning to panic slightly at the feeling of losing control, she breathed in deeply and winced as pain shot through her torso. The gasp that emitted from her caused Amelia to stir.
"Constance! You're awake! Finally. How do you feel?" Constance took a moment to let the pain subside, feeling a bit bemused, she couldn't remember what had happened.
"I…" Her throat was so dry she coughed from attempting to speak which made her cry out in pain from her middle.
"Easy Constance. Here have some water." She held out the glass of water helping her deputy take a sip. Constance then made an attempt to sit up slightly wincing with every movement. Suddenly, she stopped her efforts. She remembered.
"Hecketty!" she croaked in a panic suddenly remembering the situation in the Great Hall the day before. "Where is she? Where is Mildred?!"
"Shhhhh don't worry, everything is alright. Hecketty has been taken into custody by the Guild and Mildred is recovering in her room."
"Recovering? Recovering from what?" she questioned still panicked.
"She collapsed from exhaustion after dealing with Hecketty. She really was quite remarkable..." Constance didn't stay to find out more. "No Constance, wait!" However, the potions teacher had already folded her arms and vanished. Amelia sighed and left the room picking up the blanket from the bed as she went.
AN: Only one more chapter to go folks! A HB smile for anyone who reviews!