Chapter Thirty-Eight
The half-term holiday had ended and everyone returned to school. Constance and Mildred were thrilled their first holiday alone had gone so well but were happy to be back at the school they love so much. The first morning back Constance entered the staff room for her morning coffee then went to sit in an cosy armchair by the fire. She placed her coffee on the table as she picked up the newspaper and gasped.
"What's wrong?" Davina asked who was sitting across from Constance.
"Broomhead has been charged with blackmail and spying" she said in shock.
"What really?" Imogen asked on the other side of Constance
"Yes Listen to this" she said as she began to read out the article on the front page.
HEAD OF THE WITCHES GUILD CHARGED WITH BLACKMAIL
Hecate Broomhead,69,head of the witches guild for over fifteen years has been charged with Blackmail, Bribery and Spying to get unfair information. The woman's actions came to light during an custody battle between an mother and her adopted child where it was revealed she had gotten information through spying. During the trial for this charge more criminal activities came to light such as blackmail. The woman has been removed of the guild and more investigations are under way for other cases she was involved in. She has not being held in custody however.
"She has been removed from the guild...that means no more inspections from her" Amelia said with an smile as after all it was no secret everyone in the school hated her.
"I can't believe she was actually charged I mean we all know her methods are illegal but no one was ever able to prove it" Imogen said.
"Well I think I will like this term, no more Broomhead for us to deal with" Constance said with an smile. She felt an rush of relief rush over her as she realised Broomhead was out of her life.
It was nearing the end of lunch and Constance was in her potions lab getting things set up for her fourth years. She was putting out ingredients with her back turned away from the door when she heard the door open. Sometimes students go to classes early to study especially older ones who always have exams so Constance carried on with her task speaking without looking up.
"Wait outside please I am not ready for you yet" she said as she placed an sheet of paper on one of the desks. But the person didn't leave she heard the door slam shut and she looked up to see who it was.
Mildred skipped happily down the corridor she had an free lesson next so she was waiting for her friends who were still eating. Fenella and Griselda saw her and smiled walking up to her.
"Hey Millie you alright?" Fenny asked
"I am good, how about you two?" she asked
"Oh well you know us we are always happy, oh by the way I hope your mum is alright" Grissy said
"Yeah she is why wouldn't she be?" Millie asked
"Well when we saw Broomhead this morning we worried an little we know she freaks HB out" Fenny said.
"Wait you saw Broomhead?" she asked
"Yes we saw her land about twenty minutes ago" Grissy replied.
Mildred was worried. Her mother had not told her there was going to be any inspections and Broomhead was mad at them since the trial. She had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. She started to run off.
"I have to go talk later" she said as she ran towards her mothers room. Her two older friends looked at each other and shrugged.
Constance stared at the woman stood before her with wide eyes. She could feel her body tense as she looked into the cold eyes of her former mentor. She breathed slowly trying to calm herself down.
"What do you want Broomhead?" she asked as calmly as she could trying to stop her voice shaking.
The evil woman walked up to the younger woman quickly and started to push her around.
"How dare you get me fired" she yelled into the woman's face as she pushed her into an desk.
"I didn't do anything it wasn't me who told the court" she said as she tried to refrain from running knowing Broomhead loved her weakness and knowing she could sense her fear.
"You spoke to Lighthead and then he was on edge for the rest of the trial you did something to make him show me up" she yelled
"No I didn't, we didn't even talk about you" Constance told her truthfully.
"Don't lie to me" she yelled as she grabbed the woman's wrist with an smirk as she squeezed tight and saw the younger woman flinch slightly.
"Oh how could I forget you slice yourself you should do it deeper and do everyone an favour" she said squeezing more. Constance forced herself not to make any sound by biting her lip.
"Get off her" someone said behind them. They turned and saw Mildred.
"Get lost child this is nothing to do with you" Broomhead said
"Well it is if you are after my mother" she told her.
"Mildred just go now!" Constance said not wanting her child court up in the woman's evil deeds. As she was distracted and looking at her child Broomhead took the opportunity to shoot a spell at the younger woman. The spell hit the woman in the centre of the chest. Constance suddenly screamed out as the spell hit her and fell to her knees clearly in pain.
"Mum!" Mildred shouted pushing past Broomhead and running over to kneel down next to her mother. Constance held her chest wincing.
"What have you done to her!?" the girl yelled at the other woman.
"Shut up child" she yelled as she shot another bunch of green sparks towards the other woman who screamed out again loudly as it hit her stomach. This was an piercing scream and this time she didn't stop she was clearly in an lot of pain although Mildred did not know why but she knew it must be something bad if it can make her mother react like that. She had no way of helping her with the situation they were in though so she stroked her mum's head quickly lying her down trying to make her more comfortable and then stood up.
"You are nothing but an evil bully" Mildred shouted glaring at the evil woman.
"No one speaks to me like that child, it seems you need to be punished too" she said as she raised her hand ready to strike the girl when all of an sudden the door burst open again.
"Get off her" someone said and Mildred saw it was an man. The man from the courtcase. Her father.
"Lighthead what are you doing here?" the woman yelled in her booming voice.
"To stop you, it wasn't there fault I was the one who told the court about the spying if you want to pick on someone pick on me" he told her.
She raised her hand to cast an spell but he was too quick for her with one swift movement of his hand he had the woman flying through the air and crashing into the opposite end of the room. The woman moaned groggy from her fall but was still conscious.
"Mildred...take your mother and go I can only hold her off so long" he said
"But why are you helping us?" she asked
"There is no time! Go!" Blaise said as he kept his hand outstretched in case Broomhead started again.
Mildred nodded and ran to her mother. Her mother was still moaning in pain and her eyes were half closed.
"Come on mum we have to go" she said trying to get her to stand up but she was too heavy for the young girl alone.
"MILDRED GO" Blaise said worried
"I can't lift her!" she shouted as she started to panic. She heard an noise behind her turning around she saw Broomhead was getting back up. They had to get out now.
She closed her eyes holding onto her mother's arm wishing she was out of the room wishing she could get her help. She wished as hard as she could not taking her mind of the destination she needs to get to. Suddenly the room disappeared.