A Cause for Concern
Disclaimer: I do not own the Worst Witch or Weirdsister College series or any characters associated with them. No money is being made from this story.
Chapter 11: Crime and Punishment
In was a rather overcast Monday afternoon when Mildred joined the other teachers in the courtyard as they awaited the start of the flying test for the First Years. She couldn't help being a bit dismayed when she saw how difficult Miss Hardbroom had made it. The test was identical to the one she had taken nine years ago, including the Tunnel of Doom, but with the addition of five poles the girls had to zigzag between.
Mildred edged towards the deputy Head. "You've made it very tough this time, Constance."
Miss Hardbroom smirked at her. "Just keeping up standards, Mildred!"
Mildred shook her head. "If I had faced a test like this in my first year I'd have failed for sure."
"Nonsense! No matter how hard I made that test you would have got through it somehow. You're too good a witch not to have done!"
Mildred stared at the older witch in disbelief. She searched for any hint of mockery or sarcasm in the woman's face but it was entirely absent. Constance Hardbroom really seemed to believe what she was saying.
"Well, I'm flattered you think so highly of me," Mildred said at last. "But I just blundered my way through that test. If it wasn't for a lucky throw, landing that garlic wreath on the flagpole, I would have failed."
The Potions teacher started chuckling. "Oh Mildred, you still don't think that was just luck, surely?"
Once again Mildred found herself totally nonplussed.
"What else could it have been but luck?" she asked finally.
"Magic, of course," Constance Hardbroom said. "Used subconsciously but still magic."
Mildred stared at her old form tutor, her mind racing. Could what she was suggesting actually be true? She remembered all the difficult situations she had faced in the past, when she had escaped disaster by what seemed at the time to be sheer good fortune. Was it possible it hadn't actually been luck at all?
Unfortunately Mildred was not given any time to consider this possibility further, as at that moment the First Years entered the courtyard. Most of them looked rather nervous, apart from Cynthia Hazelmere who seemed as calm and composed as ever. Mildred noticed Edith at the back of the crowd. She did look very nervous but Mildred hoped Saturday's training session would be enough to get the girl through this. After yesterday she really needed something to cheer her up.
Mildred's Sunday with her boyfriend had been a disaster from start to finish. Things had gone wrong even before she left for Cambridge with the sudden arrival of her period, which she had completely forgotten was due about now. Understandably, Ben had not been happy but Mildred was still inwardly fuming about how unreasonable he had been. She had been disappointed as well that they were unable to make love properly but some things just had to be accepted.
She had been almost certain that Ben was being sarcastic when he asked why she couldn't just magic the problem away, but she had carefully explained it was against the Witches Code to interfere with nature in that way. What really worried her though was when he responded that it was just as well, that the less he had to do with magic the better. It had been typical of the hostility he had shown towards her craft over the last couple of months, and Mildred found herself wondering yet again if their relationship could survive over the long term. Although she has hesitantly suggested that there were other things they could do without going all the way Ben had become surly and petulant, saying he hasn't in the mood any longer.
From that point on, things had just gone from bad to worse as her boyfriend started ranting about how impossible it was to have a proper relationship when they were so far apart and only saw each other once a week. In the end they had not gone out to a nightclub that evening as they originally planned, and when Mildred had finally returned to Cackle's they were barely speaking.
As she waited for the flying test to begin, Mildred couldn't help wondering if having a successful career and a satisfying love life were somehow incompatible.
Her attention was called back to more immediate concerns as Miss Hardbroom started to address the First Years.
"Now girls, the test is quite straightforward," the Potions teacher began. "On Miss Drill's whistle you will take off and zigzag through the five poles without touching them. Then collect a garlic wreath from the broom-shed roof, carry it through the Tunnel of Doom and hang it on the flagpole before finally landing. Any questions?" Several First Years, including Edith, raised their hands but Miss Hardbroom ignored them. "No? Excellent, let's get started then. Cynthia Hazelmere, you will be first."
Mildred noticed that the blackboard Miss Drill had charge of had the First Year's names with Cynthia first and Edith last. She assumed they were arranged in order of class performance.
"Easy peasy!" Cynthia exclaimed arrogantly. She had her broom hover then sat herself on it elegantly, awaiting the PE teacher's signal.
"Up and away!" Cynthia ordered as the whistle blew, and started weaving her way between the poles.
Mildred did not even bother to watch. She knew the girl would probably do better than she could have done. Instead she made her way slowly around the edge of the courtyard to where Edith was waiting at the back of the crowd of First Years.
Just as she reached her goal Cynthia completed the test in record time, to prolonged applause from the teachers and other pupils.
"Gloria Beltane, please get ready," Miss Hardbroom instructed.
As Gloria started her test Mildred caught Edith's attention.
"How are you feeling, Edith?" She asked gently.
"Rather nervous, Miss!"
"Well try not to be," Mildred advised her. "You can do this, just have confidence." She reached out and held the girl's hands, giving them a comforting squeeze. "I believe in you, you just need to believe in yourself."
Edith gave her a tentative smile. "I'll try, Miss!"
Together they watched as one by one the other First Years completed their tests successfully, although some were faster than others. Finally Edith was the only one left.
"Good luck!" Mildred whispered as the young witch stepped forward with her broom.
Edith took off as the whistle sounded and Mildred winced at how unsteadily she was flying. The young girl was obviously extremely nervous and only just missed colliding with a couple of the poles as she zigzagged between them. Mildred crossed her fingers, scarcely daring to breathe for the next minute or so. But in the end she sighed with relief as Edith placed her garlic wreath on the flagpole and then managed a rather shaky but still acceptable landing. She had been the slowest of all the girls but at least she had passed.
"Well done girls, you all pass!" Miss Cackle exclaimed, beaming round at all the First Years.
The First Years put their brooms back in the broom sheds then headed inside the castle. Mildred noticed Cynthia and Annabel glaring balefully at Edith while whispering to each other and felt suddenly uneasy. She had the feeling the two girls were plotting something unpleasant. But before she could follow them Miss Hardbroom came up to her.
"You helped Edith, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did." Mildred admitted. "I gave her bit of coaching on Saturday. But I think Cynthia and Annabel saw us."
"That was rather unfortunate!"
"Yes, it was." Mildred agreed. "I'm rather concerned they may try something foolish. If you don't mind Constance I'm going to find the First Years and see what's happening."
Miss Hardbroom nodded and Mildred promptly vanished in a flicker of light. She reappeared in the corridor where the First Year lockers were, although she remained partially dematerialised, and the scene that greeted her was exactly what she had feared.
Cynthia and Annabel had Edith backed up against the lockers. The other First Years were watching nearby but although some looked uncomfortable, none appeared about to intervene.
"The only reason you passed was because Hubble helped you," Cynthia was snarling. "Without her you'd be useless!"
"Leave me alone!"
Edith tried to edge past Annabel who pushed her violently against the lockers.
"Shut up, creepy crawlie!"
Please, don't!" Her glasses askew, Edith looked desperately at the other First Years but none of them seemed prepared to help.
Now Cynthia slammed her against the lockers, even harder than Annabel.
"Creepy four eyes teacher's pet!"
Before the violence could escalate even further Mildred materialised, eliciting gasps from some of the First Year girls.
"Exactly what is going on here?" She demanded.
"Miss Hubble!" Cynthia looked at her in dismay. "We were just…"
"Don't even bother!" Mildred interrupted. "I saw exactly what you were doing, Cynthia Hazelmere, and you Annabel Toadflax, so don't even try to talk your way out of this one!" She paused for a moment, looking grimly at the two girls. "I warned you! I warned you both to leave Edith alone and now you'll have to suffer the consequences!"
There were gasps from several of the girls as Miss Hardbroom suddenly appeared.
"And what exactly is happening here?"
"A rather nasty case of bullying, Miss Hardbroom," Mildred explained. "Cynthia and Annabel were ganging up on Edith."
"That's not true, Miss Hardbroom!" Annabel protested. "We would never…"
Her voice trailed off at the sight of the Potion teacher's ferocious expression.
"So you are accusing Miss Hubble of lying, Annabel?" The girl remained silent. "No, I thought not. Do you have a punishment in mind for these two miscreants Miss Hubble or would you prefer me to deal with this?"
"Thank you, Miss Hardbroom but I believe I can manage the situation," Mildred said then turned back to the two girls.
"Cynthia Hazelmere and Annabel Toadflax, you will both return to your rooms immediately and remain there in complete isolation until tomorrow morning. Between now and lights out you will spend your time writing a four thousand word essay entitled 'why I should treat my classmates with respect and courtesy at all times.' To be on my desk first thing tomorrow. No excuses!"
"But Miss, what about supper?" Annabel asked, looking rather aghast at the severity of the punishment.
"I will arrange for supper to be sent to your rooms," Mildred told her, then turned to the other girl. "And Cynthia, do not dare to even think of producing that essay by magic. For one thing the Foster effect would just about guarantee it would rebound on you, and for another I can detect if you do that and the punishment I will give you then will be a hundred times worse! Do you understand me?"
Cynthia stared at the floor and said nothing.
"I asked you a question!" Mildred snapped.
"Yes, Miss Hubble, I understand!" Cynthia looked up at her as she spoke, her face impassive, but Mildred could see the hatred and defiance in her eyes.
It didn't bother her. Cynthia could hate her as much as she liked, but she wasn't going to allow such a blatant case of bullying to go unpunished.
"As the two of you seem a bit reluctant to follow the first part of my instructions I'll give you a little help!"
Mildred waved her hand and Cynthia and Annabel vanished in a flash of light.
"You've sent them to their rooms, I presume?" Miss Hardbroom asked.
Mildred nodded. She snapped her fingers, releasing a wave of magical energy that sparkled and shimmered in the air before dissipating.
"I've locked them in their rooms," Mildred explained, in response to an inquiring look from the Deputy Head. "As well as providing paper for the essay. Oh yes, and a chamber pot each!"
Constance Hardbroom smirked. "How very considerate of you, Miss Hubble!"
"Well I wouldn't want them to claim they were being neglected," Mildred said, grinning. Her smile faded as she turned to confront the rest of her form.
"And what do you lot have to say for yourselves?"
The First Year girls shuffled their feet and looked awkward.
"You know, at Cackle's we are trying to train you to be good witches in every sense of the word," Mildred told them. "And a good witch would always act to protect the innocent and prevent injustice, something you all failed to do this afternoon."
The young witches looked guiltily at each other.
"Are you going to punish us, Miss?" Donna Witherwight asked nervously.
"Not this time," Mildred replied. "Except to say I'm extremely disappointed in you all. Now get out of my sight, the whole lot of you, before I change my mind about punishing you!"
The First Years hastily departed, looking thoroughly miserable.
Mildred turned towards Edith. "Are you all right?"
Edith nodded, although she still looked a bit shaken. "Yes Miss Hubble. Thank you!"
"Edith, if those two ever bother you again, I want you to tell me at once." Mildred said, her tone serious. "Don't let any silly worries about being a snitch stop you. No one should have to put up with that sort of abuse!"
Edith nodded again.
"All right, you'd better get along now," Mildred told her.
She and Miss Hardbroom watched in silence as the young witch walked away from them down the corridor.
"A rather unconventional punishment, Mildred." The Potions teacher said at last.
"Yes, I suppose so," Mildred admitted. "But I'm not a great fan of detentions. Why should I or some other teacher have her evening ruined babysitting those two?"
"A rather severe punishment too," Constance Hardbroom said thoughtfully. "They will be hard pressed to complete that essay by lights out."
Mildred shrugged indifferently. "That's their problem!"
Miss Hardbroom looked at her in surprise.
"I would not have expected you to be so harsh, Mildred."
"I'm not that soft," Mildred said with a chuckle. "I know there's a lot of things I'll overlook that you wouldn't, but bullying is something different. I know only too well what it feels like to be bullied and victimised and it's something I just will not tolerate."
The older witch nodded thoughtfully. There was a glimmer of something unfamiliar in her eyes as she regarded her younger colleague, something Mildred had never seen there before. Something almost like respect. Then it was gone and Mildred told herself she must have imagined it.
"Well I had better inform Miss Cackle about all this," the Deputy Head sighed.
"And I'd better make arrangements for Cynthia and Annabel's supper," Mildred said. "Not that they deserve any, but I suppose we can't exactly starve them!"
Miss Hardbroom chuckled. "Then I will see you later, Mildred."
She vanished in a flash of light, leaving Mildred alone.
Mildred stood motionless as she considered what had just happened. The situation with Cynthia and Edith had come to a head much sooner that she expected, but perhaps that was just as well. Now that she had caught Cynthia red-handed and punished her, maybe she would back off and leave Edith alone.
Somehow though, she rather doubted it.