Miss Hardbroom rose early on Saturday morning. She had slept reasonably well but regretted not taking a sleeping potion herself. She woke with the uneasy feeling that the night before had been a dream.
It soon sank in, however, that her magic was indeed restored to its full potential. She dressed meticulously but with some pace, eager to test her magic by the lake that morning.
Once ready she apparated herself to the lake side. She warmed up with some basic spells. She lifted objects, moved branches, created small tornados and froze the lake. It was a strange sensation to feel her magic coursing through her veins without any friction. There was something so pure and revitalising about every piece of magic she did that morning. It was everything to her. She realised how much pain she had been in. It wasn't physical pain but constant mental torture, self doubt and resilient inconsistency that had eaten away at her core.
She was at one again with her magic and felt more powerful and more alive than she had ever felt. She took a casual glance around her before unleashing the full force of her magic on the lake. She focused her efforts on lifting all of the water out of the lake and suspending it in midair. As she channeled two powerful energy beams at her target she allowed the sensation to take her over. Her body lifted off the ground with her arms raised shoulder height. She leaned back slightly as the magic surged through her legs, into her torso and out through her arms.
She felt so free. So liberated.
She reigned in her control when it was time to lower the water down. There were no splashes, ripples or waves. The water was carefully returned with total control as Miss Hardbroom lowered herself down to the ground in unison with the water molecules. She could sense every single molecule of water and placed it precisely where it needed to be.
When it was done she wore a proud smile and felt completely satisfied that all was right with the world.
"That, Constance, was awe inspiring" the voice of Miss Drill said warmly behind her.
Constance was surprised but she didn't jump. She considered the fact that she had an audience a moment, reconciled herself to this eventuality, and then turned to face Imogen.
"I took a leaf out of Mildred's book and let my magic express itself. It was frowned on during my tuition but actually all it involves is extending full trust to the magic you have instructed and channeled to act in a certain way. And I trust my magic, as it trusts me...does that make sense?" Miss Hardbroom explained to Miss Drill, hoping that she captured how important that realisation was to her.
"It does make sense. You looked very free and very powerful" Miss Drill replied.
"I felt both" Miss Hardbroom said honestly, "I need to feel powerful, it is what keeps me from ever feeling like a victim...of course you know that" she said giving Imogen a knowing smile. "I have a certain arrogance and confidence about me, I know. It is partly a mask but it is also the witch I want to be. I want to be commanding" she said feeling the need to explain why her magical power was so key to her sanity.
"Look what makes you utterly brilliant also makes you a bit of a controlling, sarcastic...insert a word I would rather not say...let's say HB. But we know that and we are all still here" Imogen said as diplomatically as she could.
"So, you think I am utterly brilliant!" Constance replied simply.
Imogen laughed.
"I suppose I did say that, yes" Imogen relented as Miss Hardbroom's piercing gaze refused to move off her until she had.
"Good because I am about to be the latter of your description…" Constance said abruptly maintaining her steely gaze on a perplexed Imogen. "Mildred Hubble...what potion did you make with her?"
"Well I have made a lot with Mildred…"Imogen said stalling for time.
"The one you made when I wasn't myself and let you both use the lab unsupervised" Constance asked, cutting across Imogen.
"Oh, I don't know. She never said - some kind of tracker potion I think. She just wanted me there for moral support" Imogen said. She had rehearsed that sentence in case a moment like this should arise.
"That's interesting. The Imogen Drill I know is meticulous, thorough and conscientious. She does not create potions blindly and she certainly doesn't create them with a fifth year witch if she doesn't know what they do!" Constance said crisply.
"Well, Mildred was quite low and I just wanted to offer her some support" Imogen tried to deflect the interrogation but she felt quite certain that was going to be impossible.
"You have confirmed what I needed" Constance said with a smirk. "Of course you knew what the potion was. So, you have chosen to conceal that from me which must mean you deemed it both safe and also useful to Mildred in some way. If I add that to the sentence I overheard you say to Mildred, telling her to be careful as she was playing with titanium, then I have to deduce that you have been sympathetic to Mildred's plans of evading me. Perhaps you have even assisted her?" Constance said with great authority like a detective inspector that had caught their criminal.
Imogen shrunk under the potion teacher's glare and was at a loss for words. She vowed that she wouldn't lie to her but equally she didn't want to tell her the truth right now.
"I have walked a very delicate line" Imogen said with regret.
"I underestimate Mildred too often. So, she has made a potion, probably to mask her magic. And she allied herself with a non-witch, a non-witch that I cannot detect…" Constance said, thinking through this insight.
"Look Constance, I did warn her every chance I got...and...well...I" Imogen tried to explain.
"Oh Imogen you are becoming more like one of my pupils with every word you utter! Stop that! We will drink wine tonight and I will give you the hard time you deserve...and you will probably make some pretty nasty potions next week, because I can be petty! But I am not mad or upset. I have baited you enough over the years, of course you were going to back the underdog as you yourself put it! But have the decency to own your decisions!" Constance said with a smirk.
"You use your magic to make me look like an idiot sometimes, yes I wanted some payback" Imogen said honestly, refusing to dance around HB like one of her students would. She was right, she must stop that.
"Ah good you have found your voice again. Well I hope you made the most of it because it will be ending very shortly" HB said with a predatory glint in her eye.
"I think you are actually enjoying this!" Imogen said surprised.
"Perhaps a little. It's not often that I get challenged by a student...certainly not one that has already deceived me. Now that my clarity is back and my magic is...well...whole, I will be ruining Mildred's plans in no time" Constance said with a dark smile.
"Isn't that just a typical day for Mildred?" Imogen asked impatiently, annoyed at Constance's arrogance.
"I will see you this evening with wine. You still have plenty of explaining to do, don't think you will get off lightly. I am the deputy Headmistress of Cackle's Academy, so I am sure your reasons will be enlightening" Constance said with sarcasm before she disappeared.
"Oh for God's sake" Imogen cursed under her breath.
Constance materialised back in front of her.
"No Imogen, for my sake. The utterly brilliant one remember" she said with a chuckle before she vanished again.
Imogen couldn't help but laugh. That whole exchange had been dark and light at the same time. She was a complex character at the best of times and these were not those. HB wasn't taking herself too seriously and was enjoying this game with Mildred, unfortunately that included Imogen. A relaxed Constance Hardbroom was still a prickly opponent, Imogen wondered where wine and conversation would take them that evening, she was ever so slightly scared.
Mildred surfaced at 10.30am and having missed breakfast she was relieved that Ruby's parents had sent her cake for a weekend treat.
Mildred sat there munching on a large piece of chocolate cake in Ruby's room with Jadu, Enid and Maud.
"Mildred I think you might want to consider smaller mouthfuls" Enid suggested as Mildred filled her mouth with more cake than she could handle.
"I'm starving" Mildred mumbled as crumbs sprayed her top.
"Where did you get to last night? I came through to see you but you weren't in your room" Maud asked.
"Well I went for a wander" Mildred said awkwardly.
"By yourself!" Enid said shocked, "What for?"
"I was hungry...so I thought I might be able to sneak into the kitchens if I was quiet" Mildred said and felt stupid because this part truth made her look like an idiot.
"Oh god! You got caught didn't you?" Maud said immediately.
"No...actually I saw Miss Hardbroom before she saw me and she didn't look...well she looked upset" Mildred said carefully, deciding what she should say and what Miss Hardbroom would prefer to be private.
"And...what happened?" Enid asked impatiently.
"I went and talked to her" Mildred said simply.
"What? That's suicide...what did she say?" Enid asked.
"Well I fixed a problem with her magic...there was a hole left my the dark sphere. I kind of coloured it in and her magic did the rest. Then we talked about what had happened and what had happened last year. I think it was partly the soul magic in me that took me to her maybe. She said sorry. She hasn't been herself" Mildred said summarising what had taken place.
These moments were always tricky because her friends loved her and needed to know the truth but she could never tell them the whole truth because of her loyalty to HB. That felt like the whole story without the details though that would have given her and Miss Hardbroom's abilities away.
"O….my…..god!" Jadu said slowly. "HB said sorry!"
"I am speechless" Enid added.
"Well, I think that is good Millie. She has been way too hard on your recently" Maud said.
"And she didn't shout at you for being out of your room?" Enid asked still shell-shocked.
"No, she said she was sure that where I was going must be a professional secret, because once when I asked her how she knew where we were all of the time, that's what she said to me" Mildred explained.
"You are sure that was HB aren't you?" Ruby asked.
"Yes I think she is haunted by stuff too. But she has to pretend that she is strong and unbreakable all the time doesn't she. I think she just needed to talk" Mildred offered.
"Maybe you will have a shot at a week without detentions then Millie? Fingers crossed" Maud said with a smile.
"What are you going to do with all your spare time without HB...I think you'll miss her" Enid teased.
"Let's not tempt fate" Maud warned.
"No, I have a good feeling about this week" Mildred said with a slightly giddy smile.
"Well pardon us if we don't celebrate just yet" Enid said and typically they all laughed at Mildred's uncanny knack of getting into trouble.
"I am pleased to find you all in good spirits, girls. Mildred I will see you in the courtyard for your lesson at 12.30pm if you feel up to it" Miss Hardbroom said in a warm and friendly tone. That seriously freaked everyone in the room out.
"Yes, Miss" Mildred said brightly.
"Excellent. And how nice it is to arrive without you saying anything you might regret Enid, that is worthy of a celebration I think" Miss Hardbroom said before disappearing.
The girls looked at each other startled. She had clearly heard them.
"See!" Mildred said but daren't say anymore.
"Yeah..." Enid said looking baffled but also suspicious.
Once they thought the coast was clear again they resumed their conversations. Nothing discussed managed to dampen Mildred's spirits. She was in a safe place again and HB was back to being the HB she understood.
Mildred arrived in the courtyard at exactly 12.30pm.
"No smoke and mirrors today Mildred...you didn't want to mask your magic and creep up on me today...losing your confidence by any chance?" Miss Hardbroom quibbed as soon as she arrived with a sly smirk.
"I don't know what you mean" Mildred said instantly in response but her thoughts were troubled by the confidence HB was demonstrating in knowing how she had evaded her. Had she discovered everything already, and if she had...how?
"Of course not" HB replied with a smile. "Anyway, today we will be drawing the school and bringing it to life, then we will be testing just how much control over your drawings you truly have. It is an ambitious session but I think you will find it exhilarating and I owe you that" she said with what Mildred thought might be excitement.
"Do you want me to faint again?" Mildred asked with a distrusting expression.
"No Mildred. That was unfair. I am going to extend my magic to you as we have done before to see what a more powerful you could achieve. I thought it might give you something to aim towards...aspire to" Miss Hardbroom said.
"You are letting me use your magic...again. Is that safe Miss Hardbroom...I mean I have...well I" Mildred tried to explain.
"You have a track record for wrecking things...yes I know Mildred. But you also manage extremely well when the stakes are high. So, we are raising the stakes!" Miss Hardbroom said and she was absolutely sure of herself which meant she was confident Mildred could do it.
At that moment Miss Cackle strolled into the courtyard.
"Ah, good morning Miss Cackle, I am glad you have decided to join us" Miss Hardbroom said warmly.
"This is not something I want to miss, Miss Hardbroom, your invitation was a very nice touch" Miss Cackle said looking at Mildred with proud eyes.
"Ah Mildred...I thought it was time Miss Cackle saw how your abilities have been progressing. I also wanted her to see you replicate the school as it is not something anyone I know would be capable of doing. Do you mind company this morning?" She asked softly, giving Mildred the chance to opt out.
"No, Miss" Mildred said quite bashfully and anxiously. She really didn't want to screw this up now.
"Just pretend I am not here Mildred, I will be as quiet as a mouse" Miss Cackle said and went to stand behind them out of the way.
"Okay, now do you need to draw the school fresh or do you have your drawing from last time?" Miss Hardbroom asked.
"I have the first one, it is in my bag" Mildred said. Mildred's bag then appeared before her. Miss Hardbroom had magically collected it from her room and transported it to the floor in front of her feet.
Mildred rummaged around in her bag until she found her notebook which was stuffed full of sheets of paper containing drawings. She looked through those and finally found the detailed sketch she did of the school. She laid it out on the floor in front of her - adding a paperweight to make sure it didn't fly off.
"Okay Mildred. You will do exactly as you did before only this time I want you to work from left to right, carefully peeling off one brick at a time so it feels like a series of mini drawings instead of one whole one. You will hold my right hand and draw as much magic as you need to support it. I do not want you to let go when it is entirely off the page because you will likely need great magical stores just to hold it there. Do you understand?" Miss Hardbroom asked.
"Yes, Miss" Mildred said but she felt incredibly trepidatious after what happened last time.
"Mildred I never want you to be scared of testing your magic in a controlled setting. Do not let what happened last time put you off. I am here and I will be supporting you throughout. In the very unlikely event that the magic needed is greater than us both and we both pass out, Miss Cackle is on hand to revive us. Nothing ventured nothing gained Mildred" Miss Hardbroom said carefully. "Are you ready?"
"I think so Miss" Mildred said.
"You must know so. Look at your drawing, look at where you will replicate a smaller version of it in the courtyard and know that you are capable" Miss Hardbroom said strongly but supportively.
"I am ready" Mildred said far more decisively.
Miss Hardbroom reached out with her right hand which Mildred took. She looked at her form tutor who looked back at Mildred and nodded firmly.
Mildred focused on the drawing and brought the first few bricks off the page and into the courtyard. Her focus was intense as was Miss Hardbroom's who was staring right at Mildred.
The castle began to take shape and Mildred smiled at the magic soaring through her as she lifted each line and detail from the pages. The courtyard began to fill and Mildred showed the first signs of tiring with a small step to her left to widen her stance, making her more stable.
"Can you handle this, Mildred?" Miss Hardbroom asked directly.
"Yes, Miss, can you?" Mildred asked back, she was conscious of how much magic she was using and subsequently drawing from Miss Hardbroom.
"Yes, Mildred, we are nearly there, stay focused" her form tutor instructed.
Miss Cackle moved forward to get a better view of Mildred's handywork, she was clearly brimming with praise and wonder at what was happening before her.
"Just the last few…" Mildred said as she pulled off the final section of parapet on the West tower, "I'm done," she said and instantly buckled over with exhaustion.
Miss Hardbroom gripped her arm more firmly to make sure she didn't drop it.
"Focus on the energy between us Mildred and draw what you need to support yourself and your creation," Miss Hardbroom insisted.
Mildred focused her attention again, realising the task was not complete. There was a spark of magical energy that danced on Mildred's and her potion teacher's clenched hands. Mildred stood upright, her shoulders back and looked at the castle she had just pulled from the page.
"It is outstanding" Miss Cackle said.
"I would like you to see if you can go inside please Miss Cackle" Miss Hardbroom requested, "we only have a little time left."
"She cant" Mildred said simply, "it is solid...well not solid but close enough. There isn't an inside."
"Okay good, I am glad you know that Mildred. Did you make a conscious decision not to draw that part, do you think one day you could add it?" Miss Hardbroom asked but there was a little tension creeping into her facial expression as her magic started to dwindle.
"I chose not to, I think...yes I did, I chose to focus on the outside" Mildred explained.
"Right I think you had best return it to the paper now Mildred" Miss Cackle said, still staring at the structure.
"Slow and controlled, Mildred" Miss Hardbroom warned as Mildred prepared to return the drawing to the paper.
The drawing returned much quicker than it came off the paper but Mildred still controlled the pace carefully. The castle went back without any issues which Miss Cackle was also impressed by.
Mildred picked up the drawing to see it settle on the page, small ripples of movement demonstrated the magic still working its way through it.
Mildred looked at Miss Hardbroom who had been uncharacteristically quiet and realised her form tutor looked pale and glassy in the eyes.
Mildred hurriedly drew a rectangle on the page next to the castle. She imagined it as a large mattress on the floor in front of Miss Hardbroom just as her tutor lost the battle with unconsciousness that had been enveloping her and collapsed forward onto it.
"Oh goodness, Mildred fetch me the potion's bag over there" Miss Cackle requested.
"Here you go, Miss" Mildred said handing Miss Cackle the wide awake spray and a restorative potion.
"Thank you Mildred, I see you are quite familiar with your potions these days...ah good she is coming round" Miss Cackle said gently. "Constance you are alright, you just fainted from the exertion" she reassured a confused HB.
Miss Hardbroom instinctively felt her face and then looked around her and felt the mattress.
"Why is there a mattress in the courtyard, Miss Cackle?" she asked rather more sternly than she intended but passing out was not her favourite past time.
"Mildred drew it in time to catch your fall" Miss Cackle said with a smile.
"She did, did she. Well Mildred, that must have been the fastest you have ever acted in your entire life" she said with a smile and a hint of derision.
"I have fainted a lot myself lately...my magic is a lot to handle" Mildred said with a grin and looked at Miss Cackle so she didn't see the piercing glare of HB.
"I think that was quick thinking indeed Mildred and our deputy owes you a great deal of thanks" Miss Cackle said with a short frown at Constance.
Miss Hardbroom got to her feet slowly.
"Yes...thank you Mildred" she said with an annoyed tone. She was embarrassed about fainting and not handling her emotional response very well.
"Are you alright Constance, you look a little pale" Miss Cackle said kindly, sensing her deputies embarrassment.
"I'm fine Amelia, stop fussing. I am always pale! I think we shall resume the rest of Mildred's lesson in the potion's lab, you are welcome to join us" Miss Hardbroom said with authority.
"I will leave you to it, but I think you ought to do something a little lighter to finish off today" Miss Cackle advised.
"Of course, Miss Cackle, that is the plan" Miss Hardbroom said and hid her irritation well. "Right Mildred, let's resume our experiments in the lab," she said and waved her hand, but they didn't go anywhere. "Ah it appears I am running a little low on magic...no matter, we will walk" she said and marched towards the castle entrance.
"Probably best you get rid of the mattress, Mildred, and I wouldn't discuss what just happened. I think Miss Hardbroom would sooner it was forgotten" Miss Cackle said very softly to Mildred.
Mildred returned the mattress to the paper and said "Yes, Miss Cackle."
"Excellent work, Mildred. You really are quite a talent" Miss Cackle said and patted Mildred on the shoulder before walking into the castle.
"Come along, Mildred" the familiar and snappy voice of Miss Hadbroom called.
"Yes, Miss" Mildred said and hurried after her.
When Mildred entered the potion's lab she found Miss Hardbroom taking a second restorative potion.
"Are you alright, Miss?" Mildred asked concerned.
"I do not like passing out, Mildred. And my magic is running very low at the moment but I want to try something while I am less able. So no I am not alright, but it has a purpose. And thank you Mildred for catching my fall" Miss Hardbroom said in a hurried and irritated tone but Mildred could tell she was trying very hard to be nice.
"What do you want to try?" Mildred asked, deciding that moving the conversation on was the best response.
"Something that is neither light or the kind of thing I would usually condone. But, as I say, I am sacrificing a certain level of comfort, so I am taking a leaf out of your book, and jumping in with both feet. We are going to make a clone of me and see if you can get her to act against me" Miss Hardbroom said and then looked at Mildred to gauge her response.
"What? Act against you? What do you mean?" Mildred asked entirely startled.
"Oh nothing ridiculous Mildred. I would just like to see if you can control your drawings, even those that would resist you in principle, to do things out of character. All you need to do is ask my clone to apparate me outside, or...perhaps lift me off the ground" Miss Hardbroom explained and stunned Mildred further.
"Why? Why would I do that?" Mildred asked, outraged by the idea.
"Because Mildred we need to know how much control you have over your creations. If you have complete control then technically you are capable of amassing an army as your magic develops. It also means that when a clone went dark you might have been able to assert control over them too. It is not something we have tested. I am also intrigued to know if they are connected to your thoughts as I believe they are. If they are they will know I am weak and more likely to comply" Miss Hardbroom explained and gave her student time to think it through.
"I...does it have to be today?" Mildred asked.
"Yes Mildred. I want to know and you have been impulsive so frequently that I would be quite affronted if you didn't go along with my moment of reckless intrigue. Besides that the Council will ask me these type of questions inevitably," Miss Hardbroom said with a frown and more than a little impatience now.
"Okay, I mean it would have been easier last week but I think I can manage" Mildred said with more cheek than she intended.
"Oh I am sure you will" Miss Hardbroom said darkly. "Hurry up then girl! I would rather this was over!"
It was clear that Miss Hardbroom was an equal mix of annoyance and weakness while inviting this test upon herself, but also curious enough for knowledge of Mildred's powers to enable it.
"Well I have a drawing of you from inside my book that I did the other day, so I am ready" Mildred said easily.
"What kind of drawing? When was it done?" Miss Hardbroom asked.
"Erm...I did it...well...when I was in the kitchens at lunch...I was just...sketching" Mildred said suddenly really self-conscious.
"Were you now. I wonder what you thought you needed an image of me for? Let's see if she differs from the others you have drawn of me given my mood of late. Did you draw my aura as well?" Miss Hardbroom asked.
"Yes" Mildred said. She deliberately kept her reply short as she had planned to distract HB with her own aura so she could sneak out and see her friends, before she realised that was a suicide mission.
"Let's not dwell on what ridiculous notion filled your brain on that occasion, Mildred. I want you to bring the clone to life and then instruct her to act against me in a manor I have described" Miss Hardbroom said plainly.
"Yes, Miss...here we go" Mildred said apprehensively and then brought the HB clone to life.
Mildred looked at the clone who looked back at her with an expression of disdain. She wished her drawings didn't have to be so lifelike.
"I want you to apparate Miss Hardbroom into the courtyard" Mildred said to the clone.
"Are you sure that is wise?" the clone asked.
"Yes" Mildred said firmly.
"You do not seem convincing" the clone said exactly as Miss Hardbroom might when Mildred was lacking assertion.
Mildred looked at Miss Hardbroom for help but she just rolled her eyes.
"I don't know what you are rolling your eyes at, that's not very helpful is it?" the clone said which shocked Mildred and Miss Hardboom. "I expect this was your idea, was it?"
Miss Hardbroom stared back at herself with uncertainty. "Yes, as a matter of fact it was" she said indignantly.
"It was ill conceived" the clone stated and then looked at Mildred for direction.
Mildred had a lightbulb moment. A very risky but compelling plan popped into her brain. So, naturally, she ran with it.
"This feels like an abuse of magic for frivolous means," Mildred said using Miss Hardbrooms words to her right back against her. "I would like you to set Miss Hardbroom lines for breaking school rules...and supervise her writing them for me" Mildred requested with the slightest glint of mischief and enjoyment in her eyes.
"Mildred, what do you think you are doing! This is in now way…" Miss Hardbroom protested loudly.
"You are in no position to argue. Mildred is right and we have drummed the school rules into her enough to know that. I would like 100 lines stating: 'I must not use magic for frivolous means and to indulge my curiosities without rigorous foresight for any consequences that could arise'" the clone demanded.
"I am not going to write lines" Miss Hardbroom stated icily and rose to her feet.
"Sit down, Miss Hardbroom" the clone asserted and used her magic instantly to place HB back on her bum in the chair.
"Mildred, recall the drawing this instance" Miss Hardbroom said with a low growl.
"I think we should let the test play out, Miss" Mildred said with a smile but equally quivered at HB's murderous glare.
The clone waved her arm and writing materials appeared on the desk in front of the potion's teacher.
Miss Hardbroom changed tact and tried to appeal to the clone.
"My position within Cackle's requires a level of authority that cannot be compromised. We are the same..." Miss Hardbroom said calmly to the clone.
"We are not the same. You said so yourself, I am a drawing" the clone replied. "Write the lines as instructed and stop wasting my time."
"Or what?" Miss Hardbroom said back menacingly.
"I will not harm you. That is a breach of the code and neither I...you, or Mildred is capable of harming anyone. But, I assure you HB, I can be as persuasive as you. I can visit anyone in this castle right now, as you, and tell them your darkest secrets...or your professional secrets?" the clone threatened.
"You wouldn't!" Miss Hardbroom spat back but she was clearly rattled.
"That is enough" Mildred said clearly.
The clone stood and bowed to Mildred, remaining silent.
"Why would you go to those lengths...is it because I asked you to?" Mildred asked.
"I follow orders, yes. But, you were also content to see your form tutor on the back foot" the clone said meticulously.
"And would you have shared my secrets?" Miss Hardbroom asked.
The clone remained silent.
"Would you have told people in the castle Miss Hardbroom's secrets?" Mildred asked.
"Would you? No, of course not. I was bluffing!" the clone said indignantly.
"Thank you," Mildred said and held up the sheet of paper for the drawing to return to.
"You are welcome" the clone said courteously as it returned to the paper.
Mildred looked at a ruffled Miss Hardbroom for a moment and tried to predict her mood.
"Well, that was both revealing and insufferable" Miss Hardbroom stated.
"At least you got to know what you wanted...I think" Mildred said cautiously.
"Oh yes Mildred. I got to know that you have complete control of your drawings but they also know your mind better than you do. She saw right through your instructions to what you were thinking and acted on that instead" Miss Hardbroom said coldly.
"Well I didn't want you to be apparated anywhere or controlled like that!" Mildred said annoyed.
"You didn't mind a clone of myself trying to force me to write lines though did you!" Miss Hardbroom shot back.
"No I didn't!" Mildred said sharply.
"Perhaps, a little too much honesty tonight Mildred!" Miss Hardbroom said with a more reasonable tone. "We did find out that your drawings would not harm anyone though, that one in particular was aware of the witch's code...though that might have been because she was me."
"If we do more of those tests can we not use a clone of you?" Mildred requested.
"Agreed Mildred. She was quite unreasonable" Miss Hardbroom said.
"She was you" Mildred corrected.
"Honesty, Mildred, is severely overrated this afternoon" Miss Hardbroom reiterated bluntly.
"I mean she mirrored your, erm...ruthless streak but acted on my orders. So depending on what is needed different clones could respond in different ways...that is interesting isn't it?" Mildred asked hesitantly.
"Yes I suppose it is" Miss Hardbroom admitted.
"Do you think if I wanted her to tell everyone your secret she might have?" Mildred asked as that part was bothering her.
"Yes, I think she might have. But, there is a lot more to investigate before we know your abilities in full. You may have a more complete image of myself because we have known each other for five years. Perhaps in our next session we can draw people you do not know closely and see what information they are willing to share. I suspect your bond with a person will factor into how comfortable they will be with imparting information about themselves" Miss Hardbroom explained.
"How can I know people's memories though? So, I could bring a clone of you off the page and just ask it everything I wanted to know?" Mildred wondered which led to a subtle wave of shock running through Miss Hardbroom's expression.
"The fosters effect would step in if you were using magic for trivial gain. But, we ought to test that more closely too. Magic usually sides with purpose so it has to have a reason, and certainly for invading another witch's privacy" Miss Hardbroom explained.
"I am not going to go after your secrets Miss, I think I already know them" Mildred said with a shrug.
"Yes well...I think that's enough talk for one day, Mildred. You may go" Miss Hardbroom said somewhat awkwardly.
"Miss, are you alright, because you look a little pale again" Mildred said tentatively.
"I am tired, Mildred. My magic is taking its time to replenish. The castle may have been a little too ambitious. I wanted to correct a wrong" Miss Hardbroom admitted.
"Why are you not using the walls to recharge?" Mildred asked, "the castle was epic...wasn't it?"
"Yes Mildred the castle was mesmerising. And, I can't go around draining magic from the castle walls everytime I deplete mine. This will just take a little longer than expected, " her form tutor replied as she pushed herself up to her feet.
"Thank you, Miss" Mildred said with a smile.
"Yes I think I sacrificed enough of my dignity to make amends today didn't I Mildred? A word about the clone or my fainting episode and I will most certainly drop you in the lake" Miss Hardbroom said evenly.
"I am not sure why you insist on threatening me when you know you can trust me! It is insulting," Mildred said with a frown as she turned to leave, "and I don't think you would ever drop me in the lake so you don't fool anyone" she added as she disappeared sharpish out of the door.
"Perhaps not, Mildred, that doesn't stop me liking the idea though" Miss Hardbroom said to herself with a sigh.
She really did feel drained and tired. She was meeting Miss Drill for wine and an interrogation in an hour. Mildred was right, she would have to draw energy from the walls. If Mildred wanted to draw anything of that size she would need some serious magic to sustain it, or a support network perhaps.
Miss Hardbroom placed her hand on the potion's lab wall and drew enough magic to make her feel herself again. She had plans for Miss Drill that she needed to be awake for! The encounter with Mildred had been less than satisfactory. She hadn't intended to faint or be bettered by a drawing of herself. Still she had wanted the young witch to feel empowered and supported so hopefully that had been accomplished.
Miss Hardbroom went up to her room on foot to allow her magic to settle fully and so she could stretch her legs. She pondered the mattress and how quickly Mildred was able to conjure it. She marvelled at the size the castle had been and how real and tangible the magic had made it. Mildred was so full of potential and she was such a good and pure witch. She had experiences beyond her years with the battles she had fought by the deputy headmistress's side. Miss Hardbroom would never admit it out loud but Mildred had earnt her right to challenge her and deep down she was proud of the tact and the skill she had deployed in doing so.
Those she had allied herself with, however, were in for a rough evening.
"Good evening Miss Drill" Miss Hardbroom said cheerily as her colleague walked into the kitchen. "I poured you a glass of wine."
"Thank you Miss Hardbroom" Miss Drill replied, eyeing the glass suspiciously.
"Oh don't worry I haven't drugged it! I brought that seperately" she said with ease.
"You, what?" Miss Drill asked looking a little like a rabbit caught in headlights.
"Let's drink and relax first shall we, I have had an exhausting day" Miss Hardbroom said lightly.
Miss Drill sat down and sighed, taking a big gulp of wine, "well I suppose I will need this judging by your creepily over the top good mood."
"I am happy! Well I am happy today is nearly over. Mildred was quite confrontational today" Miss Hardbroom said diplomatically.
"Really? What were you making her do?" Miss Drill asked suspiciously.
Miss Hardbroom told her about the castle and then the clone. She omitted the part where she passed out but allowed Miss Drill the details of the clone exchange.
"So, she forced you back into your seat? Wow, I bet that went down well" Miss Drill said with a smile.
Miss Hardbroom's eyes narrowed, "I could have responded but I wanted to see how it panned out" she said with her icy tone.
"And Mildred had complete control of the clone that was an exact replica of you. So she controlled you...kind of" Miss Drill asked, enjoying this a little too much.
"Maybe next time we will draw a clone of you, Imogen and see how your like it?" Constance said.
"Oh we are using first names now are we...have you loosened up a bit!" Imogen shot back.
"No I must have forgotten I was dealing with a traitor" Constance said affronted.
"Well come on then, shout at me! I told you it was difficult, I am still your friend and your colleague. I didn't know what to do and I am genuinely sorry, Constance...really!" Imogen said appealing to her friend and hoping to get any confrontation out of the way quickly.
Miss Hardbroom took out a vile from her pocket and placed it on the table. Imogen looked at it and instantly felt anxious and defensive.
"I would like to know exactly what Mildred has been working on. I think she has evaded me three times. There cannot be a fourth Imogen" Constance said firmly.
"I am not taking a truth potion, if that is what that is" Imogen said defensively.
"Do you think you broke the trust we have formed as friends?" Constance asked Imogen directly, looking her straight in the eyes.
"I...yes, yes I do. I would forgive you for what I have done but I knew you would not. You have a black and white view of trust so yes I knew you would feel this was a breach of it" Imogen said with sad eyes.
"And would you like to repair that trust?" Constance asked calmly.
Imogen sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.
"Of course," she said, feeling like there was no other response she could possibly give.
"Good. There are two ways you can do that. You can take the potion and answer my questions. Or, you can help me trap Mildred in the act of deceiving me" Constance said plainly.
Imogen looked at her with a pained expression. She cupped her face in her hands and gulped more wine.
"Really Constance! You want me to betray Mildred!" Imogen said in disbelief.
"You found it easy enough betraying me!" Constance fired back instantly.
"I didn't betray you. I...oh fine...yes I did, I betrayed you. But, Mildred and I, we have always been the underdogs and you have always…" Imogen didn't have the heart to tell Constance to her face that she had marginalised them, made them feel like outcasts to the witching world, so she tailed off.
"I might have made it difficult for you both at times. But you are my friend, Imogen, and you are the person I want to trust more than anyone else, the one I opened up to. I might bluster and be black and white with my principles but this hurt me. Sometimes people forget that I am a person too" Constance said quietly and deliberately.
Imogen looked at her and saw someone who was sad and who she had convinced to open up to her and made herself vulnerable in the process.
"Yes, you are right. I am so sorry. If I take the potion will you promise not to drag this on or use it to discipline Mildred. I don't want Mildred to think that she cannot come to me if she needs to" Imogen said.
"If you give me your word that you will not help her break any school rules again and you will agree with everything I say this week in the staff room" Constance said.
"What? Why would I do that?" Imogen asked.
"Because it will wind you up and I think you should pay for your crimes. Telling the truth is not payment for what you have done. That is just doing the decent thing!" Constance stated with narrowed eyes. "But if our friendship isn't worth it."
"Constance you really are impossible! Why would I agree to that!" Imogen said outraged now.
"Fine, then we are done here" Constance said, getting to her feet.
"Sit down, Constance...why is punishment always so damn important to you. Don't you think seeing you hurt is punishment enough? Not to mention whatever I say to embarrass myself when I take the potion" Imogen reasoned.
"I would never betray a colleague. So you can spend the week supporting me and repairing what you broke" Constance said defiantly. "You have to sacrifice something otherwise I don't know what this friendship is worth to you."
"I see. Well I won't sacrifice my principles because Constance Hardbroom unchecked is a danger to us all" Imogen said with a smile, "but I will give up my running for one week to demonstrate what our friendship means to me. I will join you each morning picking herbs and getting the potion's lab ready if you like."
"Your running. You have never missed a run" Constance said taken aback.
"No I haven't and I am not sure how I will be emotionally. But you did say I needed to slow down so maybe this is the perfect moment to" Imogen said warmly.
"I couldn't…" Constance said.
"I am offering. I would like you to help me do this, that is if we are still friends?" Imogen asked softly.
"Of course we are...alright. I accept your terms" Constance said and smiled at the PE teacher.
"Okay let me have another glass of wine and then I will take your wretched potion" Imogen said, choosing alcoholic courage.
"It won't really matter whether you are intoxicated or not you know" Constance said with her characteristic smirk.
"I know, but it might dull the agony a little" Imogen said.
"Just exactly how incriminating is this going to be?" Constance asked with an air of incredulity.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe not at all. Just shout at me if you need to okay, don't bottle it up" Imogen urged.
Constance rolled her eyes and then pushed the vial of potion towards Imogen.
"Oh I don't need that. It's not like you can't tell every lie anyone ever tells. Ask your questions and I will tell you the truth" Imogen said.
Constance pushed the vial forwards again, "you will find this much easier," she said.
"Well I don't want it to be easy. I want you to trust me when I say I am telling you the truth" Imogen said passionately.
"Very well" Constance said with a somewhat predatory glare. It was likely just her expression that meant she was ready to get down to business, but it was intense. "How long have you been helping Mildred?"
Imogen took a final swig of her glass to drain it and then looked at the potion's teacher.
"I offered to help her last year after you told the Staff Room that I had fallen in the lake, when we had actually both been soaked through after a water fight in the lake. Your use of magic to make me look like an idiot infuriated me so it seemed like a good way to get you back. Mildred took me up on my offer at the beginning of term" Imogen said carefully, stating each word truthfully.
Constance raised her eyebrow as Imogen spoke but she refrained from commenting.
"What really happened in the courtyard when I thought I had sensed Mildred's aura which disappeared as I arrived?" Constance asked.
Imogen put her face in her hands and ran her fingers through her hair again as she took a deep breath.
"Mildred wanted to test something and I let her. She wanted me to leave class and go to the courtyard so she could see if she could link her magical aura to me and trick...trick you" Imogen said with regret.
"And the test was successful...you even feigned any knowledge of it to my face Imogen. You acted affronted to my visit" Constance said in an icy voice that chilled Imogen.
"It was after that when I told Mildred I didn't want to assist her with anything again because I didn't want to lie to you" Imogen said quietly.
"Oh how very noble of you," Constance said derisorily. "So what potion did you help her make after you had bowed out of her scheming?"
"Moods change. You were hard on her and I felt sorry for her. She wanted to make a masking potion so she could hide her own magic I think, but I was really just needed so she would be allowed unattended in the potion's lab" Imogen said and looked at the table to avoid Constance's glare.
"So you used my trust to give Mildred the access she required" Constance shot back.
"I did, but you were harsh and you said so yourself. It felt like something she needed, she was so isolated…" Imogen tried to explain but her words were pointless, she knew how Constance must be feeling behind the outraged exterior.
"And what else did you discuss when you finished with the sentence 'And be careful, Mildred, you are taking on pure titanium. Keep your wits about you'?" Constance asked.
"That was when I told Mildred that I felt very uncomfortable lying to you. I told her...I told her that you were black and white when it came to trust, loyalty and rules and that I didn't want to jeopardise anything. She said she didn't want to lie to you either" Imogen said clearly.
"Oh I am black and white am I? To expect truth over lies and honesty over deceit! I don't see the grey areas there Imogen!" Constance spat back.
"Your powers and your invincibility are very important to you but to everyone else it is a reminder of how insignificant we are. Mildred and I are no match for you which is why a few white lies are really not such a big deal...but to you we have fractured your trust and become enemy number one!" Imogen reasoned emotionally.
Constance chuckled and Imogen wasn't sure how to take it.
"Oh Imogen, you really do underestimate me sometimes! I just wanted the truth so that I know everything you know about Mildred's new found freedom. I am not in the slightest bit bothered by your treachery. I am flattered at the lengths you would go to in order to protect our friendship though" she said with a smirk.
"You are not bothered? Not at all?" Imogen said confused.
"Not really. I mean you can wash the cauldrons after your sessions all week and we will be testing a spectrum of rank, vile and embarrassing potions all week. When I said I was petty I was telling the truth! The rest...smoke and mirrors" Constance said enjoying Imogen's stony expression.
"I nearly drank truth potion for you!" Imogen said angrily.
"I know! That stuff is dangerous, god knows what you might have let slip out!" Constance said laughing.
"You are always so damn serious and rigid. I thought you would be pissed!" Imogen said, genuinely surprised by Constance's reaction to her confession.
"Now I know how Mildred is evading me, I will be able to catch her in the act. I am not pissed, I am about to win the war as it were" Constance said with a mischievous glint in her eye once more.
"Please don't tell her I said anything. Mildred's trust is…" Imogen began.
"Delicate and she needs allies when her form tutor goes ice queen on her...am I close?" Constance asked.
"Yes" Imogen said simply.
"Your secret is safe. I wouldn't feel too down about it though. Nobody would have expected you to survive HB's interrogation. My reputation precedes me!" Constance said with an air of smugness.
"So, remind me, Mildred has evaded you three times you think? When were they?" Imogen said to wind her colleague up.
"That's right gloat while you are able! I actually suspect it might be four but the last one she abandoned in order to help me" Constance said.
"She chose to help you and risk…" Imogen started saying.
"Yes, yes, the gesture isn't altogether lost on me!" Constance cut across her waving her hand to dismiss the words.
"Still she has done what no other student has ever been capable of" Imogen stated letting the weight of the words settle.
"She has extraordinary abilities that no other student has ever had" Constance said, in a way that sounded defensive and agitated.
"You are still way more powerful" Imogen said. She actually thought her friend might need to hear that. "I don't mean to diminish what Mildred has managed to do. But, now you are focused, the odds are stacked against her. Nobody would bet against you!"
Constance looked up at Imogen and studied her face. It appeared that she had gone from goading and lighthearted to supportive and kind in a matter of moments.
"Do you even know who you would rather win?" Constance asked plainly.
"It means a lot to both of you. Mildred has a little freedom and to be fair you did treat her like the worst witch you had ever laid eyes on - she is entitled to feel a bit triumphant. And you like to be perfect and your clean record meant you were chief. Students get past me, Miss Bat and even Miss Cackle but they fail to get past the formidable HB. I don't want either of you hurt" Miss Drill said carefully, hoping Constance was still feeling relaxed enough to talk.
"It just feels odd to have Mildred of all people push me to this level of detection. I could put a spell over the whole school and track her every movement. I could put a potion in her food or drink that illuminated her aura to me. I could just randomly turn up to check on her whereabouts every half an hour until I caught her up to something. But, I haven't" Constance said with a weary smile.
"Why?" Imogen asked surprised now.
"Because that is not really how I ever catch them. I don't have to use my magic. That isn't my professional secret, not really" Constance said gently.
"Well you didn't think so when you blurted to the staff room that Mildred knew!" Imogen stated.
"That's smoke and mirrors. You know I like my secrets and I have a certain...dramatic flare" Constance said with a smirk.
Imogen looked at her and laughed, "Yes, I can't argue with that, but you were pretty livid."
"I was upset that she had found out but actually I only ever search for a students aura when I sense something is wrong" Constance said.
"So how do you sense that?" Imogen asked, wondering what Constance was concealing.
"Imogen, I just know. I turn up because I expect trouble or I see Mildred's glazed expression in class and know she is planning a midnight wander. I am just good at reading people. I am just as amazed as anyone else about the sentences I overhear when I seem to time my apparitions just right," Constance explained.
"So you will catch Mildred by reading her body language? Rather than cast a spell or create a potion?" Imogen said in disbelief.
"My magic is a little too much for a battle with a fifth year. Mildred may one day match my power but it isn't going to be soon. Besides, I already know what she is thinking. She doesn't want to push me especially since our relationship is in a better place now…" Constance began.
"Because you are not being a total...you know" Imogen interrupted and then finished with an awkward smile, she couldn't quite call HB a bitch to her face!
"I am not sure we have to keep going back to that" Constance said with a glare. "She will tell herself just one more will suffice to prove her ability without landing her in trouble or hurting me. So she will wait for something big...or knowing Mildred...she will do it on the spur of the moment because she thinks it feels right and can't stop herself. That is what I will see in her. She will either be extra diligent and cautious, or she will be excitable and animated. Because children haven't learnt how to lie convincingly yet. That Imogen is my real professional secret" Constance said with a thoughtful expression. "It is nothing special, I am just observant, and I know how to make an entrance" she said with a smirk.
"I don't think that is any less intimidating. In fact, knowing you have that insight just makes it even less likely for anyone to ever get the better of you" Imogen said thinking that revelation through.
"Yes it does, doesn't it" Constance said with a grin.
"Shall we open another bottle of wine?" Imogen asked, trying to ignore Constance's smugness.
"Yes I can drink another glass" Constance said happily and materialised a bottle from the pantry in front of them.
"To think you could just use a spell to locate Mildred, just like that and she has no idea" Imogen said shaking her head.
"Part of the reason I was so furious with their extracurricular activity when they were meant to be studying for their project is that there is a potion and numerous tricky spells that can be set on a witch's movement. Any witch who apparates can trigger an alarm with the right safety spells in place. I was not eager for them to pursue that theory" Constance said as she filled their glasses.
"I am the only person you can't jump out on aren't I. That must frustrate you" Imogen said suddenly.
"Yes it does at times" Constance said honestly.
"I think my favourite thing in the world is jogging past you and saying good morning just to see you jump a foot in the air because you are so unused to being surprised" Imogen said with a chuckle.
"Is that right?" Constance said half annoyed and half playful, "perhaps I should put a spell on you!"
"You can't, it is against the witches code" Imogen said with a defying smirk. "Besides, it is only karma for the amount of people you jump out on literally every day!"
Constance shrugged to accept the truth of Imogen's sentence. "I merely appear at the point I intended to appear at, if people cannot get used to that it's hardly my fault!"
"Oh you enjoy it!" Imogen said animatedly.
"Perhaps" Constance shrugged again.
"You don't fool me, I can see the glee in your eyes when someone jumps out of their skin" Imogen said smirking. The wine was bringing out her bolder side.
Constance rolled her eyes. She refrained from comment.
"I wont make you stop jogging next week you know, but if you want to try I could keep you occupied" Constance said, changing the subject.
It was Imogen's turn to be noncommittal.
"I can try" Imogen said softly.
"It is a big decision, but I think it might be the right one. You could always substitute it for something else on some days, keeping active" Constance suggested.
"I could" Imogen said with a shrug.
"Let me know what you think. I can meet you each morning and there are always more potions to teach" Constance said with a smile.
"Thank you" Imogen said simply.
Constance downed the rest of her wine and got to her feet.
"Well, that went well" she said happily.
"Don't be too hard on her...when the inevitable happens" Imogen pleaded as their evening came to an end.
"I know what to do," Constance said simply.
"I am sure you do" Imogen said as she drained her glass.