It was raining the day she arrived at Broomhead's private all girls academy. Her father had explained to her that it was a school that would teach her everything she needed to know about potions and would impart strict discipline. He really seemed to think it was a wonderful place. Judging by the cold stone walls and the dying trees that surrounded the place, Constance didn't think it was so wonderful. The headmistress came out to unlock the front gate and let them in. She was worse that the building. Her hair was pulled up so tight it looked painful and her dark black dress accentuated her sharp curves. She was wearing black glasses and a fake smile. "Well hello Mr. And Mrs. Hardbroom, welcome to Broomhead's Academy. I am head Mistress Heckity Broomhead", she said with a yellow smile. She proceed to unlock the gate and ushered the family into the dark grounds and the even darker house. She showed them around; the classrooms, the dining room, and the bedroom where Constance would sleep. Constance whispered to her father, "Dad, it's so bare and cold." "Well, Miss Hardbroom," Heckity interrupted, "here at Broomhead's we feel a little cold air is good for the body and knickknacks clutter up the place." Her father nodded eagerly, but Constance just stared back, too repulsed to speak. And then it was time for her father and stepmother to say goodbye. Persephone, of course, gave her a dramatic hug and even shed a tear. Her father said tenderly, "Goodbye pumpkin, we'll see you at Christmas." Pumpkin, he hadn't called her that, well since her mother had died. She felt comforted by this and hugged her father closer, realizing that he did really love her. Maybe he was doing this because he cared, maybe she would be okay after all.
But after they left she realized she wasn't going to be okay. As soon as the door was closed, Heckity barked, "Alright Hardbroom, it's time for first period, move it." Terrified, Constance followed Heckity to the first classroom. "Now class we have a new student today, her name is Constance Hardbroom." The class stared back, too terrified to say anything. "Well, of course you first years don't know anything. When a new student comes in it is polite to say hello," she shouted. The class said hello at the same time, like a mechanical robot. Heckity pointed to a seat in the middle for Constance to sit in and once she was seated began her lecture. Constance was amazed at how different this class was from her old one. Everyone sat as straight up as possible; no one talked, no one passed notes, all they did was take notes with rapt attention. Constance tried to pay as close attention to the lecture on famous witches of the Salem witch trials as she could.
After about an hour Heckity closed her notebook and all of the rest of the class closed theirs. "Now, if you will all line up in a straight line, it's time for assessments." Assessments? Constance wondered if they were tested like this everyday. She was just used to a midterm and a final. Each student had to approach Heckity's desk and answer a question from the lecture. Now Constance understood why everyone was paying such close attention; the questions were hard! Most students got them wrong and when that happened they were forced to hold out their hands while Heckity smacked them with a ruler. Then they had to get back in line and try again until they got a question wrong. Soon it was Constance's turn. "What was the exact date that Miriam Blackster turned into a cat to escape her burning." Constance ransacked her brain for an answer. She started thinking about Miriam Blackster. What had Heckity said about her? Immediately Constance remembered September 1692. But wait what day? Somehow the 19th seemed to come to her mind. "September 19th, 1692" Constance said shakily. "Why, that is right," Heckity seemed dismayed," but you forgot to say mam and at my academy it is important to respect your elders. Please hold out your hands and then you may go sit down. So Constance held out her hands and winced as both of them were beaten with a ruler 5 times. She sat down and rubbed her aching hands, she would never forget to say mam again. Although she did feel proud of herself for remembering that bit of information; Constance always took the best notes.
After history was over the class had broomstick lessons with another teacher called Miss Dismal. And Constance thought that her name did her perfect justice, she had grey hair and a faded loose fitting black dress. She spoke in a monotone voice and had a very dry cough. At least she didn't hit them, but she did belittle those who didn't sit up perfectly and have their feet pointed. To her, form was everything. Luckily, Constance had private lessons as a child and so was able to fly with only a few cruel remarks.
Next came lunch time. Lunch was nothing spectacular; it was a mucky stew with a piece of bread with butter. The lunch lady called the stew nutritious; Constance called it gross. There was little talking at the table; the students were all too afraid and if there was any talking at all it was about school. One girl next to her turned to her timidly and said, "It was amazing how you were able to answer Miss Broomhead's question seeing as it is your first day." "Pure luck I guess, and I still got hit for it anyways," Constance said with a slight smile) no one had started up a conversation with her at her old school. "Well, everyone gets punished at some time during the day. That's really the only object of studying here; to escape a beating." "Tell me," Constance sat forward, "I'm here because my stepmother wanted to get rid of me, why are you here?" "Well I wasn't doing very well in school and my father insisted it was because of the lax curriculum, so I was sent here." The girls stopped talking because one of the teachers was walking down the aisle staring at them meanly.
The rest of the day included a potions class, which was simple for Constance, and a spell chanting class. There would be a lot of memorizing involved in that class! Then there was a dinner that was strangely similar to the lunch they had. Constance sat next to the same girl she had talked to at lunch. "Hi there, I realized I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Constance." "And my name is Sydney, it's always nice to meet someone new." The girls continued their conversation on magic history all through dinner and even up to their rooms. "Well I'll see you tomorrow," said Sydney, "But it's only 6 o'clock?" "Yes, well bedtime is at 9 and so this time is coveted study time. If I were you I'd study your spells, Professor Spellcaster likes to give quizzes every Friday." So Constance made her way to her drafty small bedroom. It was nothing like the one she had at home but she didn't mind. She sat up in bed studying until it was time for lights out.
The next day was Saturday, but instead of being a relaxing weekend day it was almost worse than school. Saturday and Sunday were the days that each student had a private lesson with Heckity that related to their majors. Since Constance was majoring in potions, that was the nature of her lesson. She approached the office timidly, then with one bold move knocked on the door. The door swung open and Heckity was sitting at her desk. "You're one minute late," she spoke coldly, "that will be added to your time." Constance wondered what she meant. "Now, I understand here that potions will be your choosen field. I must say not many people pick potions because it takes a great knowledge of substances and so i will be expecting alot from you if you are to graduate with a degree from me. So I want you to recite the first table of the elemental ingrediants." Constance stood still for a moment and then began, " First row; roots. Starside root, bunting root..." She went through the whole table without one mistake. "Hmm not bad, Heckity said, "However, you should say it louder and with more confidence." "Now we will start going through the properties of different potions. First off what are the complete effects of an invisibility potion. "Well, the user will turn invisble?" "Wrong!!, " Heckity thundered, "They will turn invisible but what will they experience? A person will experience light headedness and won't be able to feel their arms. Honestly, do you know anything." Constance felt tears rise to her eyes, never before had she been reprimanded by a teacher. She fought back the tears, determined not to let Heckity win. At the end of the hour she said, "Well let's see, for all of your little mistakes today that will be about 350 lines of my motto, "Decorum and Deportment at all times." Constance nodded and walked out of the room shocked; she had never failed before and she would never fail again even if she had to devote her whole life to studying.
