Chapter Eleven
By the time they get back to the academy, the news that Miss Hardbroom's parents were visiting had spread through the school.
The news that Miss Hardbroom's parents were visiting quickly spread through the Academy, and at dinner in the great hall, they received many interested looks and whispers, including from Mildred's friends.
"HB's mother looks so much like her," said Maud.
"They're not as scary as she is, are they?" Ruby asked.
"I bet they're even scarier," said Enid. "I bet her mother can appear from nowhere like HB does."
"I don't think they look that scary," said Jadu.
"Actually, Broomhead taught HB how appear like that," said Mildred. "Come on, I'll introduce you. They are my grandparents after all."
Anne and George were pleased to meet Mildred's friends (and Constance's pupils). Though Maud, Enid, Ruby, and Jadu were a bit nervous meeting Miss Hardbroom's parents, they found that Anne and George Hardbroom weren't scary after all. "I hope Constance is teaching you well," said Anne. "She always had a talent for potions, you know."
"She's a good teacher," said Maud, picking her words carefully. "She always pushes us to do our best, and even though she's strict, she is fair."
"Don't listen to them, they're always getting in trouble with Miss Hardbroom."
It was Ethel Hallow.
"You can talk," said Enid. "You're the one who causes most of the trouble."
"Don't listen to Ethel," said Mildred. "She's more trouble than she's worth."
It was then that Constance appeared. "I hope there's no problem here, girls?"
"It seems Mildred and her friends don't get along with Ethel here," said Anne.
Constance sighed. "That's an understatement."
That evening, Amelia insisted that Constance have an early night; in fact, they could be heard arguing about it in Constance's bedroom.
"Constance, I will do the bedtime duty, you get some sleep."
"But Amelia-"
"Please, stay in bed and get some rest."
Constance made a huffing noise and glared at Amelia, but didn't object.
Amelia left the room, and Morgana padded in, jumped on the bed and settled next to her Mistress.
"I'll be teaching on Monday, regardless of what she says," Constance smirked, rubbing Morgana behind the ears.
Constance's parents left the next afternoon, after spending the morning with Constance and Mildred. Constance spent more time up and about over the weekend, though Miss Cackle still insisted she go to bed early, and refused to let her do night duty.
Constance was well enough to return to teaching on Monday, and that week she started giving Mildred private tuition to learn to use and control her powers. There was something ironic, Constance thought, about a witch who clearly had considerable power, but was unable to focus or control that power enough to actually use it.
Mildred had her first private lesson with Constance on Tuesday afternoon, during the free time between the last period class and dinner. Once Miss Crotchet had let the class out of their chanting lesson, Mildred headed to the classroom where she had agreed to meet Constance, and let herself in. Constance was already waiting for her. "Ah, Mildred. Good to see you're on time."
"I came straight from chanting," Mildred said. "So what are you going to teach me?"
"I thought we should start by practising some simpler spells, as you need to be competent with the basics before attempting anything more advanced- that is why I have brought these potted plants-" Constance indicated a pair of pots containing scruffy looking plants- "So that we have something to practice on."
"They look like weeds," Mildred said, fingering the leaves of one of the plants.
"That's because they are weeds," said Constance. "Now, I'm going to demonstrate how to turn these weeds into flowers, and then I want you to try to do the same."
Constance showed Mildred the correct way to hold her fingers, then aimed at the one of the plants and recited the words to the spell. The plant looked as though it was starting to change, but then stopped.
"Why didn't it work?" Mildred asked.
"I don't know," said Constance. "I guess I'm still recovering from Broomhead's attack." She tried the spell again, and this time it worked; the scruffy weed changed shape, forming into a beautiful bunch of flowers.
"They're very pretty," said Mildred, admiring the flowers. "But you're not sure why the spell didn't work the first time, I can tell."
Constance sighed, and smiled slightly. "I can't get anything past you, can I? Mind you, my mother must have felt the same way about me. You're right, I'm not sure- but I have suspicions." Her smile disappeared. "Mildred, you and Amelia told me that Broomhead was trying to drain my power and energy-"
"But my shield stopped that!"
Constance shook her head. "Not completely. I haven't had my full magical ability since the attack, and it's taken me longer to recover than I thought it would... I suspect that Broomhead may have taken some of my magical power, though I'm not certain."
"So we need to go after her and get it back then!"
"No, Mildred. We mustn't do anything foolish. We need to take our tine and find out what Hecate is doing, and not just rush in without a plan."
"I guess you're right," said Mildred.
"Now, back to our lesson," Constance was immediately back to her role of teacher. "Do I need to demonstrate the spell again, or do you think you're ready to try it yourself?"
"I think I'm ready to try it myself," said Mildred. She aimed her casting fingers at the potted plant, and repeated the words Constance had used. At least, she thought she used the right words. But instead of turning into a bunch of flowers, the plant became a leafy fern.
Constance sighed again. "It's Floribundus, Mildred, not Foliatus."
"I'm hopeless," said Mildred. I can never get anything right."
"I've told you before, you're not hopeless," said Constance. "Try the spell again."
Mildred aimed her fingers and recited the spell again, making sure the words were right this time, and the fern turned into a bunch of flowers, although they weren't quite as beautiful as the ones Constance had produced.
Constance smiled. "You see, Mildred? All it takes is a bit of practice and persistence." Mildred smiled back, but her smile faded as she sensed Constance's feelings. "What are you feeling guilty about?" she asked.
"I should have helped you sooner, instead of complaining and criticising all the time." Constance explained. "I left you to struggle on your own for nearly two and a half years."
"You're helping me now," said Mildred. "It's better later than never, right?"
Constance smiled. "Perhaps we can make up for lost time, if we work hard enough."
After the lesson was over, Mildred went to her room to put her things away before dinner. As she approached her room, Maud appeared at the doorway of her own room. "The mail came while you were with HB," she said. "I got yours for you." Maud handed Mildred two envelopes.
"Thanks Maud- It looks like my parents have written back."
Mildred went into her room and sat on the bed to read her mail. The first letter was indeed from her adoptive parents, whom Constance had written to, letting them know that she was Mildred's birth mother, and to inform them about recent events, minus Hecate's attack. Mildred had also sent a letter along with Constance's, assuring her parents that she was handling the situation well, and that she was enjoying getting to know Constance as her mother, and not just her teacher.
Having finished reading her parents' letter, Mildred turned her attention to the second envelope. It had her name written on it in an unfamiliar handwriting, but was otherwise plain. Unsure who would be writing to her, she pulled out the letter and read:
Mildred Hubble –
When you protected Constance Hardbroom from me over a week ago, I realised that Constance is not the only witch with the kind of magical power I seek. You, Mildred, also have that power, and therefore I make you an offer:
Allow me to take the magical power that I need from you, and I will leave Constance Hardbroom alone. If you do not want Constance to be hurt any further, I will be waiting in the forest clearing where Cackle's Academy celebrates Halloween, on this coming Tuesday evening.
Hecate Broomhead
