I don't own The Worst Witch

Hugo was standing near the battlements scanning the view when Hecate appeared next to him and made him jump.

"gods, Hecate" you scared me.

"You asked me to meet you here"

"Yes. Hecate, It's been a long time", he said avoiding her intense gaze. I think it's time I said I'm sorry, truly sorry for everything".

The truth was that Hecate had forgiven her brother long ago. Yes, he'd stolen her girlfriend, but he'd had no more control over what had happened to Mildred than she'd had. Furthermore, she knew he'd never had a problem with her being his non-magical child's guardian. In fact, when she'd announced all those years ago that she intended to adopt the little girl, everyone else, especially her mother, had told her she couldn't do it because she wasn't up to the task, she didn't have the patience, that she lacked empathy, she was too selfish, and a thousand other put downs to make her feel she was simply incapable of being a parent, Hugo's had been the only voice who had said she could do it and that he had faith in her. Hecate had never forgotten that.

"I know you are Hugo. You don't mind me asking Mildred if she wanted me as her witching guardian, do you?"

"Of course not, I'm hardly ever in the country. But...you were going to adopt her when she was a baby. Don't you want that now?"

"It's nothing to do with what I want. She needs to know if she will inherit the Allard title. I didn't realise all those years ago, but I if I had adopted her she would no longer have been an Allard, which means she would not have been entitled to anything. Even if Mildred wanted me to adopt her now, which I doubt, she would have to relinquish her birthright". Hecate paused for a moment. "I have promised Mildred that no one will take her away from me again. If she cannot pass the test in France, and they take her magic...then I will adopt her. I'll live in the non-magical world with her. If she'll have me".

"It won't come to that"

They stood for a few moments in silence and watched some girls whizzing past on their brooms.

"I watched her over the years"

"Pardon"

"Mildred. Every so often, I checked on her in the non-magical world".

"You knew where she was?" Hecate breathed in disbelief.

"I couldn't tell you, Hecate," he began firmly, "It would have been too much for you. You'd have begged me to tell you where to find her and it would have ended in more pain for you".

Hecate swallowed a lump in her throat. She couldn't argue because she knew he was right.

"She had a few foster homes. On occasions, I chatted to her foster mothers at bus-stops or in queues at shops. I may have used some magic to reveal their true characters. They were all good people. I'd see Mildred with them, I'm sure she felt lonely at times but she never seemed unhappy. She was very cute and...I always thought she looked like you as a kid".

Hecate was surprised by her brother. He had never seemed to take anything particularly seriously. The thought of him waiting at bus stops hoping to bump into his daughter and her foster mother made her feel sad and proud all at once. He had his faults, but there was so much more to him than anyone gave him credit for.

"How did you find her?"

"That night…..I accompanied the Great Wizard to the police station. At the last moment I placed a note inside her blanket with a name. I just hoped they would keep it, and they did".

"Why Mildred Hubble?"

"Just popped into my head really"

Hecate narrowed her eyes.

"Oh if you really must know it was inspired by the names of the two ladies I was romantically involved with at the time. Mildred Periwinkle and Wilma Bubblecharm".

Hecate screwed up her face as if the answer had caused her actual pain. "I truly despair of you, Hugo Hardbroom".

"Would you have preferred Wilma Bubblewinkle? He said with a mischievous grin. Hecate looked at her fool of her brother with an expressionless face.

"Winnie Winklecharm?" he tried.

Hecate's face was unchanged, but with her brother's daft expression, she realised how much she'd missed him. She found herself trying to bite her lip to hide a smile.

"So. You and Pipps, then."

"Me and Pipps, yes", she smiled.

"All makes sense now. She was always following you about like a lost puppy. And she never seemed particularly interested in me, so I should have realised".

"Wow. You really are a cockwomble."

Excuse me, Hecate Hardbroom, surely that should be Lord Cockwomble".

She couldn't stop herself breaking into a little giggle. She gave him a playful slap on his arm and for a moment it was like they were kids again and neither of them had ever heard of Audrey Allard.

…

Lights out now, you three. "Yes Miss Hardbroom", Maud and Enid chorused as they left Mildred's room. Hecate walked over to Mildred and helped her unplait her hair, taking hold of the brush and she began unknotting sections a little too vigorously. Mildred tried not to yelp as the brush scraped her scalp. Miss Hardbroom was trying so hard with her and she knew her teacher still felt guilty for how she'd treated her prior to knowing who she was. She just didn't have the heart to tell her she was in agony and would really rather brush her own hair.

"So, it was a big day for you today, Mildred. What did you think of your father?"

"He seems nice. He made me laugh. He told me I have a half-brother, Hadrian and said I'd meet him in the summer holidays, I'd love that, I've always wanted a brother or a sister". Hecate smiled at the happiness in her eyes.

"Miss Hardbroom, why do so many people in Magical families have first names that begin with the same letter? Like you and Hugo and Hadrian, or Ethel and Esmerelda and Maud's mum is called Mavis. But it doesn't always happen because Ethel said her little sister is Sybil".

"Like so many things with us, it is tradition and a little complicated. It usually happens when a mother is Head Witch of the family or is next in line. For example, your grandmother was Head of the Allard witches and named Augustine, so she named her daughter Audrey. And Audrey named you Aurora. I don't know for sure, but Maud's mother is probably the Head Witch of the Spellbodys. That is also likely to be the reason Maud has her mother's surname and not her father's.

"You have the same surname as Hugo, so is that your Dad's name or your Mum's?

"My father was Lord Hardbroom. He was Head Wizard of our family and when he died, the title and fortune passed to Hugo".

"Okay, but why don't you have your mum's surname like Maud?

My mother was Regina Howard. But she was not Head Witch because her mother had been a second daughter. I believe the title is now held by a cousin of mine, Estella. As my mother wouldn't inherit and my Father was a Lord, she took his name at their wedding and became Lady Hardbroom. I was given my father's surname because I was so far down the Howard line of succession.

"Oh I get it. I supposed it's like Sybil Hallow. She's the third Hallow sister so she won't ever be Head Witch."

"Exactly, Mildred".

"But I'm not Mildred am I. I am Aurora". She tried sounding it out. She liked the name a lot, it was lovely, but being from the non-magical world, Aurora to her was a blonde Disney Princess. "It just doesn't suit me."

Hecate studied Mildred in the mirror where she could see her next to her own reflection. Hugo was right, she did have a look of her, "You are whoever you say you are. If you want to change your name back to Aurora or something completely different it is up to you. Witches believe names are powerful. You will become your name".

She put the brush down and the girl gave a sigh of relief.

"Why am I Mildred Hubble?"

Hecate did not think Mildred needed to know that she was named after the witches her father had been two-timing when she was a toddler, but she felt she had to fill the silence with something.

"Would you have rather been Winnie Winklecharm?" She giggled.

"Pardon?"

"Winnie Winklecharm", she wheezed.

Mildred turned around to find Hecate was now on the floor and seemingly unable to breathe.

"Are you alright?" She panicked, "are you under a spell or something? Are you laughing or crying? I can't tell!"

Hecate tried to regain her composure and looked up at the girl's serious face with a beautiful, beaming smile, "I'm happy, Mildred, for the first time in a very long time". She kissed the girl on her forehead. "Now bed. I will see you at breakfast". As she moved her hand in front of her and as she began to vanish, she said, "As it happens, I believe Mildred suits you very well".