Mildred Hubble waltzes into the potions lab and makes a beeline to her station. The door suddenly flies shut, and HB rises from her seat as detention begins.
"Freeze, Miss Hubble."
Millie stops on a dime, and turns towards HB. She offers a goofy grin.
"Yes, Miss Hardbroom?"
"Do you know why you have been relegated to detention?"
Mildred shakes her head, "I do not, but I am certain whatever reason you have is valid."
Hecate frowns. Mildred awaits a tongue lashing for whatever perceived wrong-doing she has committed. The truth is that Mildred has no fight left in her.
"Miss Hubble detention is merely a ruse. I called you here today because I am concerned about you."
"My grades are the best they have ever been," Mildred points out.
"Yes."
"And I've not gotten into any scrapes, or scuffs, or participated in any schemes this term."
"Correct."
"So it seems there is no reason for concern. I am exceeding everyone's expectations. Can I go now, please?"
"You may not," her tone is more gentle than usual.
Mildred nods, "Then I should get to work. What assignment do you have for me? You know what? I'll just try to use some initiative to find out what needs to be done."
"Mildred!" Hecate snaps.
"Yes?" She answers on the verge of tears as her inner defenses begin to crumble.
"You are the least engaged I have ever seen you. Please tell me what has happened to you."
"I revise thoroughly, and actively participate in class. I don't think your concern is warranted."
Hecate's expression softens, "Mildred you are not in trouble. I am deeply concerned by your out-of-character behavior."
"Isn't this what you believe me capable of all along?"
"I believe that this is a safe place for you to share what has been bothering you."
Mildred furrows her brow as her frustration grows, "Please put me to work, or let me go."
"Perhaps you have a head injury."
"What makes you suspect that?"
"The gnarly gash that you trudged around with on your head at the beginning of the term."
"I am well known for my maladroit posture."
"How did you receive that injury?"
"It isn't a subject I would like to discuss, Miss Hardbroom. Why does it even matter?"
"Yesterday in the hallway I witnessed you practically jump out of your skin when Maud walked up and touched your shoulder from behind. If there is a valuable lesson left for me to teach you Miss Hubble, it is this, secrets make you sick. They are soul-sucking, and most of them should not be kept."
"It happened when I was in the woods at the beginning of term. I was collecting ingredients for the extra credit assignment that you offered. For once I just wanted to start off on the right foot. When you so generously offered the opportunity I jumped at it."
"Your potion was superb as I recall. Mildred when did you have time to venture into the woods between me offering the assignment, and it being due the following day?"
"After dusk on the first eve of the term."
Hecate's glance does not relent. Mildred practically shrinks with each passing moment.
"Who accompanied you into the woods?"
Her lips grow taut as she considers the best way to answer the question. The furrows etched into the surface of her forehead deepen. She desperately wants to begin chewing on her hair, or her cuticle. An exhale brings her eyes upon HB's face. As the seconds tick by Mildred reaches the realization that HB's face offers only concern in her direction.
"No one accompanied me into the woods," Mildred responds just above a whisper, practically shrinking into herself.
"How deep into the woods did you venture, Miss Hubble?"
"What are the repercussions for my honesty?"
Hecate furrows her brow and offers a look of disapproval, "I am not seeking to punish you, Miss Hubble. It seems you have that subject fully covered. Perhaps you have forgotten that aside from being potions mistress, and deputy headmistress. I am an adult in your life who cares about you."
"I flew deeper into the woods than I intended. I am not entirely sure I could even pinpoint the location on a map. I quickly located what I was searching for, and I…" she trails off searching for strength as her glance casts itself to the stone floors beneath her boots.
The unsettling feeling that has loomed over Mildred Hubble for some time permeates HB's defenses. Her eyes do not shift from her favorite pupil. She cautiously takes a step closer to Millie. Her posture relaxes a hair as she gently touches Mildred's right hand. HB offers an uncharacteristically warm, and seemingly human gesture as she squeezes the fifth year's hand.
"I once entrusted you with a secret that I held very close. Perhaps the time has come for you to entrust me with one of yours."
"The ramifications of your trust ended in heartbreak on your end, didn't it?"
"Growth is always painful Miss Hubble."
"I didn't break any rules, or violate the code Miss Hardbroom. It is simple human err."
"Are you suggesting that in your haste to return to the academy you simply tripped, and hit your head?"
"I would sell you any story that I thought you might buy."
"Your veracity in difficult situations is one of the qualities I most admire about you."
A seat suddenly materializes next to Mildred. HB gesticulates in the direction of the wooden chair that is situated at the end of her desk.
"I implore you to have a seat," she insists as she scoots her own chair nearby. For the first time in the history of Mildred's time at Cackles HB takes a seat, and offers to meet Millie on the same level. Wrought with heavy emotion, and exhausted from endless bouts of insomnia Mildred relents. Hecate analyzes every non-verbal communication that is made as the pupil settles into the seat.
"I respect the level of maturity you demonstrate. You have a choice in every matter you face in life Mildred. Throughout your time here I've seen you demonstrate courage, and veracity when deception may have served you. I will leave the decision in your hands. The two of us can sit in silence for the remainder of detention, or you can choose to unburden yourself of the albatross you've been carrying."
Mildred presses her hands to her knees. Her pulse races as struggles to pump the brakes on her racing thoughts. She can't help but squirm in her seat.
"Little Red Riding Hood is a mere fairy tale that warns children not to venture too far from safety. The lesson is a valuable one, but the problem with fairy tales is that the fail to illustrate the monsters in all of them are nothing more than human. Vile humans that lack the depth of conscience. The reality is that by the time you realize you are in the crosshairs it is too late."
"You were not alone in the woods?" HB clarifies.
"I was not."
"I had sincerely hoped your injury could simply be attributed to maladroit posture."
"Anything but," Mildred responds just above a whisper.