A/N: I'm baaaaack! Has it really been so long since I last updated this thing?! Thank Gd life's been moving along… had another kid between then and now! ;) But definitely haven't forgotten about this story, and I really do appreciate the follows, favorites, and the comments that are (still!) coming in. Please keep them coming! I apologize for the divider lines... some aren't showing up on my side of the screen.. hope it's clear where there's a break in the story. I will try to wrap this up in the near future so as not to keep you all waiting too long. Let me know what you think! Detailed reviews are gold!
Enjoy!
"Ethel's what?" Drusilla demanded, jumping out of bed.
"In with Miss Hardbroom. In really, really big trouble." Mildred repeated, breathless.
Drusilla stood still, unsure if she should believe what she'd heard. Ethel? In big trouble with Miss Hardbroom? "What's she done?" She asked Mildred.
"Long story… but HB's really angry. We've got to help her, come on!" Mildred said frantically, turning to leave.
Drusilla studied her for a moment. "This is a trick, isn't it?" She asked.
Mildred stopped in her tracks and turned back to face Drusilla. "What?"
"You just want me to come with you so you can get me into some sort of Hubble Bubble Trouble don't you? Well, it won't work. I'm not coming." She said, folding her arms.
Mildred shook her head. "No, no, no… you don't understand. Last night after lights out, Ethel came to help me with the research and—"
"Help you? Somehow this story is getting less believable by the minute." Drusilla said, raising an eyebrow.
"No! It's true! Honest! She cast some really big spell and turned the library into a wreck and HB is steaming mad!" Mildred insisted.
"And you were there and you aren't in any trouble?" Drusilla asked.
"I've got to write an essay. But Ethel… oh, Ethel. I can safely swear that I have never seen Miss Hardbroom so furious about anything, She looks like she might do something awful to her…"
"And why do you care? This is bound to be the best day of your life."
"Ethel may not like me, but she's still a person. And she's made a mistake. She didn't mean for things to get so out of hand…"
Drusilla sighed. "You are an enigma, Mildred Hubble." She searched Mildred's face – creased with worry – and took a deep breath. "I don't know why I believe you, but somehow I think I do." She bit her lip. "Okay, I'm in. Let's go."
Constance was miffed.
Furious fire roared within her heart. How could the girl have gone and done something so stupid? She'd always thought Ethel was one of the clever ones. And now, the girl she'd so admired had stolen something of hers and abused the power within it. The brutal sting of betrayal toyed with her emotions until Constance couldn't think clearly. She was overwhelmed by an intense desire to hand over a sentence so brutal, the girl would never be seen in the halls again. Yet, her thoughts argued within her. Emotions versus logic. A very new battle to Constance Hardbroom, as the two were usually one and the same.
Though it was hard, she fought through her feelings to reach the evasive logic. And then it occurred to her: she'd have to teach Ethel to be able to do the same.
Ethel Hallow would have to learn to separate her emotions from her magic. But was teaching her this lesson Constance's job? Or was it the role of Ethel's parents? Why did she suddenly feel responsible for something that was not her responsibility? Unless…
Was being a mother beginning to make her soft?
Constance narrowed her eyes. Could it be that her little charge was causing her to… care more? To notice the little nuances that needed her attention? To have an even stronger, almost motherly, desire to protect and refine these young witches?
Constance shook her head. She couldn't expel the girl. How would she ever learn to correct her ways? But to allow a witch in her school to allow her emotions to tell her what to do… perhaps….
Ethel watched as Miss Hardbroom's stony cold glare softened slightly, and her mouth parted in awe. Could it be that she'd had a change of heart?
Constance fought through her frustrations and arrived at an idea. "I am going to place a spell on you, Ethel," Miss Hardbroom began, raising her spell casting fingers as she spoke. Ethel's heart began to thud.
"A... a spell?" She squeaked.
"Yes. A spell," Constance repeated, "But not just any spell. This spell is one that I have fabricated on my own, just for you, on this very occasion." She said, smiling inwardly. Ethel's lip quivered and her eyes began to tear. What tyrannies would Miss Hardbroom unleash on her? "Come now, Ethel. Would I hurt you?" She responded to the girl's unvoiced thoughts of concern.
Ethel didn't answer.
Constance sighed, lowering her hand. When would the girls ever learn that her strict and scolding manner was only to teach them to be more? To be better? "It is my duty as your deputy headmistress and as your form tutor to protect you with my life. Any punishment I dole out is solely for the purpose of refining you, do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Hardbroom." Ethel answered softly.
"This spell will have an interesting effect on you. If you cannot keep your emotions in check – that is, if they begin to intensify – then your magic will begin to be blocked. As long as your emotions control your actions, your magic will be inaccessible. It's a balance. Regulate your emotions, and your magical channels will remain open. Lose yourself and they will be barricaded." Constance was pleased with her brilliant plan, though Ethel still seemed confused. "Perhaps you'll find yourself getting upset with, oh let's say, Mildred Hubble. The angrier you get, the less of your magic will be accessible to you. At a certain point of emotional intensity, none will be available at all." With this explanation, Ethel finally understood, and was crestfallen. "This spell will not hurt you, Ethel," Constance said. "At least not physically."
Ethel nodded, looking down at the floor.
Miss Hardbroom pointed her spell casting fingers and began to intone the spell under her breath. She waved her hand and Ethel squeezed her eyes shut - she couldn't bear to watch Miss Hardbroom cast on her. The spell felt warm as it entered her body, encircling her reserves until it levelled out within her. Ethel opened her eyes in time to see Miss Hardbroom lowering her hand.
"The spell will remain in place for the rest of the week. No one will know about it, unless you attempt to cast a spell while your emotions are at peak." Ethel nodded. "Do you have any questions?"
Ethel did have a question, though she didn't dare voice it. "I am not going to expel you, Ethel." Miss Hardbroom answered, as though reading her thoughts. "You have far too much potential, and I can see that these occurrences come from a place of weakness rather than maliciousness."
Although it nauseated her, Ethel was beginning to accept weakness as a new reality. "Thank you, Miss." She managed.
"You may get to the library to continue you research. I trust this spell will be our secret, hmm?" Constance asked, narrowing her eyes.
Ethel dipped her head in agreement and trudged out of the staff room, eager to escape Miss Hardbroom's penetrating gaze.
Outside the staff room, Drusilla and Mildred had just rounded the corner in a frantic run.
"Ethel!" Drusilla gasped, dashing over to her. "What happened? What's she done to you?!"
Ethel stood silently, the sting of swallowed emotion burning her throat. She wanted nothing more than to disappear – to be able to vanish the way that she could. Ethel shook her head and said nothing. Then she turned on her heel and hurried off down the corridor toward the direction of the library.
Drusilla and Mildred looked at each other, eyes wide.
"What just happened?" Drusilla asked. Mildred gave a worried shrug and ran off to catch up with Ethel.
Morgana spread out her arms and flopped backwards onto the bed, landing with a little bounce. She looked up at the ceiling, her mind running through the events of the past day. It was nice to be human. Delicious tasting food, the ability to speak, opposable thumbs… and to have someone to care deeply about you and take care of you… somehow that felt even more delicious as a girl. She closed her eyes and smiled - what she would give to be able to train to be a witch like her mum. Though she did miss the way her cat food tasted… and running around at night while being able to see clearly… and—
A scratch at the door interrupted her thoughts. She bounded over and peered underneath.
"Tabby!" Morgana yelled cheerfully. Tabby pushed the door open and dashed into the room, nearly knocking Morgana over. Morgana giggled and stroked the kitten behind his ears. "Fancy seeing you in here! Mum would have your head if she knew!" She burst into a fit of giggles.
"Hi!" Tabby mewed. "You smell funny as a girl." He said, giving her a sniff.
"Mummy washed my hair with some smelly goo this morning," she said, sticking out her tongue. "Shampee was it?" She wondered, scratching her head.
"Shampee, eh?" Tabby thought aloud. "Could it be… shampoo, maybe?"
"Yes, yes, that's it. Shampoo." Morgana said. "Strange smell."
"Want to go bird hunting?" Tabby asked, leaping down from the girl's lap. "I… I mean, can you still hunt… in your… condition?" He whispered cautiously.
"Hmm… I suppose these legs aren't as fast, but they can probably give a good run." She said, standing and testing them out. "Why not? Let's give it a go."
"Yes!" Tabby cheered excitedly.
The two cats sprinted out of the room, eager to run around in the fresh spring air.
Constance took a deep breath and sat heavily in a chair. She'd felt so… conflicted casting her spell on Ethel. Had she gone too far? Was casting such a spell on a student even legal? She couldn't help but worry that perhaps her maternal side was interfering a bit too much lately. Blast this whole situation. Leave it to Mildred Hubble to cause the formidable Constance Hardbroom to become an emotional, self-doubting wreck.
Ethel and Mildred sat across from each other, each opening book after book, skimming, reading, researching. Not a word was uttered between them; the only sound in the library was the occasional turning of a page. Mildred stole an occasional glance at Ethel, whose face was creased with anxiety, a pained look in her eyes. She wondered what had happened in the staff room earlier that day.
"Ethel?" Mildred croaked.
Ethel raised her gaze slowly to meet Mildred's.
"Are… are you alright?" Mildred asked.
Ethel nodded slowly.
"Did she… what… did she do to you?" She asked hesitantly.
Ethel just stared in response. "It doesn't matter," she finally spoke in an unsteady voice, "Let's just get this over with." And her nose went right back into her book.
Mildred couldn't help her curiosity – but she knew what curiosity could kill – and she didn't want any of that, thank you very much.
Ethel grimaced. She felt like a prisoner. Like a slave. It was unnerving – the fact that someone else was in control of something within her. But wasn't that the point? The spell was in place, Miss Hardbroom explained, so that Ethel could learn to control her magic on her own. To defeat her emotions that usually took the reins. Right. Ethel sighed and continued to read about ancient animal transformation spells. This was going to be a long day.
Potions class looked sorely lacking with Mildred and Ethel's chairs empty, Enid noticed. The braniac and the trouble-maker were both absent, and class today was, somehow, even more boring.
"Open your textbooks to page 32." Miss Hardbroom said. "Today we will be practising the art of the sleeping draught." Constance expected excited whispers, or at least a groan of protest, but the class was unusually quiet this morning. "Any questions?" She asked, hoping for some sort of interaction. "No? Then you may read the chapter quietly to yourselves. When everyone has finished we will begin."
"Almost got him!" Tabby cheered. "You can do it, Gana!"
Morgana laughed and broke into a run, leaping into the air, trying to scoop up a bird from the flock that was trying to escape. She landed on her side in the plush grass, and quickly rolled onto all fours. She searched her field of view for the runaway…
"There! On that window sill!" Tabby whispered excitedly. "You'll get him there for sure!"
Morgana crept over toward the window, her crouch deepening, ready to pounce. She licked her lips excitedly, and a sly smile crept up her face with each step she took.
The room was quiet, peaceful, and… well, Ethel-and-Mildred-free. Constance closed her eyes for a brief moment to enjoy the rarity of the situation.
But in Constance's potions class, even a brief moment was one moment too long.
CRASH! Came a horrifying cacophony of cauldrons being knocked to the floor. Constance's eyes flew open, ready to scold whichever young witch began her work ahead of time—but the perpetrator was not a witch at all.
A little girl sat crouched on the ground, a bird pinned under her cupped hands, wings flapping, desperate to escape. A smile crawled up her face as she licked her lips happily.
Morgana! Enid mouthed to Maud, who covered her gaping mouth with her hand.
"Morgana!" Constance scolded.
The girl looked up suddenly, turning her head to take in her surroundings. She hadn't realised that she'd landed in her mother's lab.
"Release it." Constance warned.
Morgana's face flushed and she quickly released the bird, who recovered a few moments later and flew out the window. The little girl stood up quickly, and put her hands behind her back innocently. The room filled with those whispers Constance found herself missing just a short time ago. "Quiet." She intoned. There. That was better.
She addressed Morgana again, "Please find a more productive way to spend your time."
"Yes, mummy, sorry, mummy." the little girl replied, and was greeted by a chorus of "aww!"s and hushed conversations.
"That's enough, girls." Constance repeated. She turned to face the board to continue her lesson, and Morgana slinked out of the room.
"What do you suppose Morgana's up to right now?" Mildred asked, pointing to the word she was up to in "Magical Maladies" to hold her place.
"Erm… I don't know." Ethel replied shortly. How could Mildred be so carefree right now to be carrying on a conversation? Ethel was missing classes! She was falling behind! Her last chance at maintaining any sense of self-respect was slowly disintegrating with every waking moment she spent holed up in this sorry excuse for a library!
"Do you think she's happy as a girl?" Mildred asked.
"Er… I suppose?" Ethel replied, annoyed. Where was she going with this?
"I found something interesting in this book…" Mildred said. Ethel perked up. "If the victim of a spell is content with the effects of the spell, it could be more difficult, if not impossible to remove." She read. "Magical energies within the victim's body must cooperate with the external, counteractive magic in order to be released."
"Interesting." Ethel said. "So it sounds like we've got to make sure Morgana isn't having too grand of a time, then."
"But how do we do that?" Mildred asked.
"How indeed?" Ethel pondered, the long-rusted gears in her head beginning to turn again. How indeed…
A/N: So? What did you think? Don't you love Tabby and "Gana"? Can't get over them! Reviews = updates :) Love you all!