After having known her form mistress for four years, Enid would have expected anything from shouting to hardly controlled anger and twitching eyelids, but never the calm, almost mask-like and emotionless expression Miss Hardbroom wore. Only her eyes were betraying her. The girl could see surprise and a slight hint of panic in them.
When Enid, after several minutes of staring, was just about to open her mouth in a desperate attempt to explain herself, the older woman suddenly spoke:" Well, Enid, I do not think that I will have to tell you that you are out of bounds here. But furthermore I do not think that this is the appropriate time to give students lines or detentions. Provided of course the fact that students keep certain things quiet." The night certainly was full of surprises. Who had ever heard of HB letting someone off the hook? This had to be really important to her.
"Miss, what I wanted to say is that … that … that I am terribly sorry. Of course I won't speak a word of it to anyone. And … and I'm so sorry for following you. I shouldn't have done that. But I just couldn't stop watching. I'm really sorry, and I deserve any punishment you might want to give me." Enid felt even more sorry than she had just said. Shame was burning inside her. She had had no right to watch her teacher, to disturb her during those private moments.
Slowly, almost anxiously, she gazed up to see that her teachers eyes were now just as calm as the rest of her face.
"Are you planning to stay out here all night, Enid? Because if that is the case, you will have to do so without me. Good night." And with these words, Miss Hardbromm continued to walk into the direction of the school.
Instinctually, Enid followed her, not wanting to be alone in the dark, and instinctually she stayed two steps behind, not daring to look at her teacher's face just now.
Thus, they marched back to the castle in silence. When they had reached the school gates, Miss Hardbroom stopped and turned around to face Enid. Her expression was now very serious. "Enid, did you understand what I was talking about out – out there?" - " I think you were that woman, that inspector, weren't you? You said something about protecting us from her. But why? She's not been here for ages!" The teachers face was now showing nothing but resignation. "That's it. She's coming back."
Disclaimer: Dont't own anything. Pity but true.
AN: The stiry didn't really turn out as I wanted it to, but some how I couldn't help it. Stupid characters never ask the writer how he or she wants the story. So it's all their fault if this chapter is stupid ...
Anyway, corrections concerning my grammar, spelling or choice of words are more than welcome!