Dear Miss Skylark,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you that we can no longer proceed with your application for the deputy head position at Cackle's Academy for Witches. A more suitable candidate has been found.

If you wish to apply in the future for another role at our school, please feel free to contact me at the above address.

Wishing you all the best for the future,

Miss Amelia Cackle.

Headmistress.

Amelia sealed the envelope and placed it into the overflowing tray at the edge of her desk just as the office door swung open.

"What're ye doin'?"

With a little smile at the envelope she had just sealed, Amelia stated, "Just putting things in place for the new deputy head."

Patricia's eyes widened as she took a seat in front of Amelia's desk. She ran a hand through her spiked hair, "So ye've decided on someone then?" She picked the envelope out of the tray, "Skylark... Isn't that the lass who had the lipstick on her teeth?"

Amelia nodded meekly.

"So she's the new deputy?" Patricia asked, sounding slightly disappointed, "I know you and Constance had a fallin' out, and I know I had a right go at her but she deserves that job more than anybody else, definitely more than this lass. She's worked bloody hard for it and-"

"Constance and I have made up, Patricia, and as for Miss Skylark... Well you will have to wait and see in this morning's assembly won't you?" The headmistress gave a mischievous smirk, her blue eyes twinkling in the morning sunlight as she walked as quick as she could to the staff room.

To her surprise it was empty, apart from Davina who was busying herself tying onions to her feet to ward off a cold that had been going around the castle lately. Amelia's smile change into a look of indifference as she sat down and poured herself a cup of tea, her eyes stinging at the scent of the raw onions.

X

Constance was still in bed. Given the day she had had yesterday it was no surprise that she wanted a little lie in. Amelia had told her to get some rest and she was taking full advantage of it. It was not her nature to be lazy but she felt emotionally and physically drained following the day before.. Her body was so used to being stressed yet it couldn't handle it, not like it used to.

She rolled over with a sigh, putting a hand over Morgana's back as she slept, snoring loudly, beside her. Constance let out a soft chuckle at Morgana's snoring and one of her olive green eyes opened ever so slightly, shooting her a look that, had the black cat had the ability to speak, she would have said, "You can talk."

There was a soft tap at the bedroom door which creaked open slightly.

"Oh you're still in bed. How are you?"

It was Edith, looking a bit more formal today as she wore a black dress and a pair of black slingbacks. Her bump was more obvious in the tight fitting dress. Apparently her usually baggy attire disguised her now quite sizeable bump.

Constance sat up in bed, disturbing Morgana again who grumbled in her sleep. The soft patter of feet filled the air as Gaia, Edith's cat, miaowed around her mistress' ankles.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Amelia told me to take the morning off, or at least until assembly. How are you. How is...?" She gestured towards the bump.

"Oh. I'm fine, the baby is fine. It kept me up all night so I'm feeling weary. You know, bouncing on bladders and such like. You'd think it was a trampoline the way it was kicking it!"

The corners of Constance's lips twitched slightly into a smile as she climbed out of bed.

"Oh no! If you're having a lie in don't let me disturb you. You deserve it... Boss!" Edith laughed to herself, winking at Constance.

"I might as well get up. I'm awake now. There'll be plenty of work to do downstairs."

Honestly she was feeling a bit annoyed that she was fully awake now but when she was finally out of bed and making her way down to the great hall she began to feel energised. She was excited, excited that her future was finally in sight and that very soon she would be the new deputy headmistress. This school had gone too long without an official deputy and it was about time that there was a new second-in-command.

The sound of scraping plates and chatter stopped abruptly as she stepped into the great hall. Every eye seemed to look up at her, the bewildered students were watching her as she made her way to the dais at the front of the hall, waiting for the morning assembly to start.

The girls seemed to be unable to remove their eyes from her as they ate, watching her as she remained perfectly still. After what Amanda Honeydew had told them, they all now believed that she was their saviour. The harsh, domineering Miss Hardbroom saved them. The woman who seemed to hate them, who seemed to take any opportunity to make their lives a misery rescued them from the clutches of The Morrigan.

The bell rang. Most of the girls hadn't eaten their breakfasts. The girls excused themselves from their tables and when the bell rang again, the hall was returned to its usual appearance; benches placed in rows facing towards the podium where the teachers would soon be standing.

The other staff members arrived soon after the second bell. Patricia, who was wearing one of her favourite outfits (a bright blue off-the-shoulder top with a pair of dark grey jeans) sat next to Constance and tapped her hand. Her skin was cooler than usual.

"Listen," Patricia started, "I'm very sorry for the way I spoke to ye the other day. I was out of order and I never intended to upset ye if I did."

Constance nodded, "Thank you, Patricia. I do appreciate that."

The two gazed at each other for a moment, their lips curling at the corners ever so slightly. Constance looked into Patricia's bright blue eyes, decorated with thick black eyeliner once again, as Patricia looked into Constance deep brown eyes.

The moment was broken by Amelia who stood up, clearing her throat.

"As you are all aware of what happened yesterday, thank you Amanda Honeydew," there was a ringing of laughter among the girls as Amanda shrank in her seat, "I don't need to remind you of who saved the day. Miss Hardbroom risked her own safety to protect you girls and if it wasn't for her you would all still be sleeping in the library. Some of you probably don't see that as a bad thing but it's no good if you want to earn your Witches Higher Certificate.

"As some of you girls may already know I have been looking for a suitable deputy headmistress. Until recently I had my heart set on one individual but to follow standard procedure I had to interview others. I didn't want to look like I was favouring someone I knew was perfect for the job. Circumstances seemed to change and I believed that the perfect individual was no longer suitable... Until yesterday afternoon that is." Amelia turned to look at Constance, "We have already agreed that you, Miss Hardbroom, will be the deputy headmistress starting immediately. Do you have anything to say to the students?"

Constance took a deep breath and stood up, her knees trembling slightly, "Perhaps I should start off my role as deputy headmistress by saying that I wasn't on my own down in the cellar when The Morrigan attacked the school. There were four others down there; three students and of course Miss Greene. Without her help we would all probably be under a sleeping curse, not just the girls who were sleeping in the library. So for that, thank you." She turned, giving Edith a little smile as she continued, "Now all of you girls, I want you all to be on your best behaviour from now until the end of term. No funny business and no summoning murderous beasts, Amanda Honeydew!" She glared at the blonde haired student who blushed so brightly her face was like a crimson beacon.

"Yes, Miss Hardbroom," Amanda whispered in a sing song voice.

X

Four Months Later

It was just before the beginning of the Winter Term at Cackle's Academy. The teachers had already arrived, awaiting the arrival of the students. The castle was tropically hot, the roasting sun beaming through the windows as the women in the staff room fanned themselves. They had stripped down to as little as they could get away with. Even Constance, who was known for dressing modestly, was wearing a short sleeved black dress and had removed her stockings.

"I thought I'd seen the end of these hot flashes after I went on that HRT," Patricia sighed, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead, "Is she gonna be any longer?"

Amelia, who was standing by the open door shook her head, "The door has just opened..." Amelia muttered, bobbing up and down, "It's her! She's coming now." She scrambled to her seat so as not to seem too keen, "Is it too hot in here?"

The other women around the table nodded just as there was a tap at the open staff room door.

"Edith!" Amelia cried, feigning surprise as she saw the youngest staff member standing in the doorway, a bundle of blankets grasped tightly in her arms.

"I thought I'd pop by and wish you all good luck. I'll be on maternity leave now so I won't see you all for a while. I'm staying with my Mum down in Devon, she's back from the Himalayas," she stepped into the staff room and sat down next to Constance, "But I'll pop back now and again with Alice. I imagine the students would love to see her."

Constance looked down into the bundle of blankets at the red haired baby whose eyes were firmly shut, her fingers twitching in her sleep. She had her mother's button nose.

"What a lovely name," Davina stated, "Alice. Welcome to the world, Alice Greene."

Edith passed Amelia the baby and the headmistress looked at her as her hazel eyes opened, blinking up at her. She gurgled, a spit bubble forming at the corner of her lips.

"What made you give Alice your own surname?" Amelia asked in a hushed voice, dabbing the saliva from the corner of Alice's mouth. She was thinking about her own daughter, the baby she had lost when she had been with her late husband. Her name had been Alice and as she peered into the pale face wrapped tightly in blankets, Amelia felt a tingle in her tummy, wondering if this is what her daughter would have been like.

Edith sighed, "Alice Mills doesn't sound right to either me or Jay so we went for Alice Greene instead. My mother would have loved her, so that's why I named her after her," Edith added, seeming almost wistful for a moment, remembering her beloved birth mother who had passed away when she had been only a child.

Alice blinked at Amelia, her arms raising up in tiny fists, trying to grab hold of her. Amelia laughed, tapping the tiny nose. Alice gurgled again, opening her mouth as Amelia cooed at her.

"Constance," Edith began, swivelling in her seat, "I was wondering if you would do me the honour of being Alice's Godmother."

Constance's eyes widened, "Me? Be Godmother?! Edith, I am flattered but I'm hardly capable of-"

"I can't think of anyone more capable of being a Godmother to my daughter than you. You risked your life to protect this school. You may be tough on the girls but I know that you're a strong, courageous lady. Should anything happen to me and Jay I want Alice to be looked after by somebody I trust and someone who is strong enough to protect her. That person is you."

Constance's face was impassive as she looked into Edith's eyes. She didn't know what to say. To be given the honour of being a Godmother to the child of one of her dearest friends... Of course she would say yes. She wanted to help in whatever way she could with Alice. If that meant being a Godmother then that meant being a Godmother.

She took Edith's hand in her own, "Of course I will be Godmother."

Edith gave Constance a teary smile, "I'm sorry," She whispered, dabbing her eyes with her fingertips, "Since I gave birth I've been crying so much. Apparently it's all of the hormones coming out of my system," she gave a shuddering breath and gave Constance a teary smile, "Thank you, Constance."

Amelia passed Constance her god-daughter and she looked into the hazel eyes that glowed green in the sunlight, just like her mother's. Alice stretched out a little hand towards Constance, grasping her little finger and holding it tightly in her plump fist. She seemed to smile up at Constance for a moment and then with a huge yawn, her eyes grew tired again. She gurgled, falling back to sleep as Constance gently rocked her.

"I think she likes you," Edith said softly.

Constance looked up as she cradled the baby in her arms that was still holding tightly onto her finger. Alice's eyelids twitched and she began to snore softly as she drifted off into a gentle slumber.

"I think so too."

A/N: So that's it! I hope you have enjoyed the A Time series so far. Will I return to it? Who knows! But I'm glad you have kept reading and left reviews. Thank you.