Disclaimer: Err sort of connects to the HB life story I wrote earlier. It's always fun to write a story about Miss Hardbroom to see how she would act in different situations.

The class was on another one of Miss Drill's endurance hikes when they saw two people fly over the woods towards Cackle's academy. "I wonder who could be visiting us," questioned Mildred. "Maybe its Grand Wizard Helibore or something," Maud said, "Maybe we will be under inspection again." "Oh great, another reason for Miss Hardbroom to give me detention!" The girls finished their hike and by the time they reached the school, they were so exhausted they completely forgot about the unknown visitor.

Later that day, they were reminded. "Girls, I would like to introduce a new student; Hope Vanishing," cried Miss Bat, "Now she will only be with us for this year, but let's try and make her feel welcome." The class murmured a hello and Miss Bat gestured to a seat next to Mildred. Miss Bat began to drone on about Tibet or Siberia or, well, something that had nothing to do with the chant they were learning and Mildred introduced herself to the new girl. "It's not often that we get someone new here. But, why are you only here for a year?"

"Well, my parents are both traveling to Africa at the moment to research the famous bewitched tombs. My mother is an artist and my father is an archeologist, so when my father got a grant to study in Africa they knew they couldn't pass up the opportunity. I've been home schooled so my parents decided to send me away to school for the year."

"Oh." Mildred sat in amazement; she had never met anyone that had been home schooled or whose parents went to Africa. She began to ask her all about her parents' travels and before she knew it, the bell had rung.

Hope was an interesting girl. Perhaps it was the home schooling, but she was different from everyone else. She was spunky and energetic. She wasted no time in getting to know everyone, even Ethel who normally didn't like to "get to know" anyone new. However, despite hershoulder length tangledbrowncurls and her torn stockings, she sat perfectly straight and knew all of the answers; she raised her hand more than Ethel (which of course made Ethel dislike her straight away). At dinner she made the whole table laugh with her jokes. Mildred and Maud were immediately drawn to her and the three became fast friends.

"Psst, Mildred," Hope whispered through Mildred's door at night, "Are you asleep?"

"Hope go back to your room, we aren't supposed to be up this late." Hope opened the door and jump onto Mildred's bed. "Good, you're awake. Wanna play cards or something?" Mildred looked at her, was she nuts? "No, we aren't allowed to do that stuff here, in fact you better get out right now before…"

"Before what Mildred Hubble?" boomed an all to familiar voice. "Before I catch you up after lights out."

"Aunt Constance," Hope exclaimed, "I only wanted to ask Mildred some things about Cackle's academy, that's all. We weren't doing anything wrong." Mildred stared at HB in amazement. She had never thought her teachers had a life or a family outside of school. She watched her wince as the young girl called her "aunt."

"Look, Mildred, back to bed and lights out immediately; don't let me catch you again. Hope, follow me." Miss Hardbroom led Hope back to her room and closed the door. "The only reason you are here is because your mother needed a place to put you for the year. I didn't volunteer for this and it should be made clear that you are my student, nothing more. I suggest you start behaving like one." "But you're my aunt to," Hope said. "Yes, that is unfortunately true, but we are at one of the finest academies in the world and if you are to stay here you must follow the rules. I will give you no special treatment." "Okay I understand, but Aunt Constance?" "And that's another thing, please address me as Miss Hardbroom." "Miss Hardbroom then. Will you sing me a bedtime song, mother always does."

Hb looked positively sick. "No, this is a boarding school, not a nursery. Please just go to sleep and shut out the lights." She turned and began to leave the room. "Goodnight Aunt Constance." She sighed and finally said goodnight.

"Get this Maud, Hb is her Aunt!" "No way," gasped Maud, "Wow I guess she sort of looks like Hb but I wouldn't have guessed they were related. I mean Hope is so, nice." "Hey, we can't tell anybody. Ethel would have a field day with this news. Plus Hb didn't look to thrilled that I knew." "Good idea." "What's a good idea?" said Hope coming up behind them. "Well," Mildred paused, "Reminding you to stay away from Ethel is a good idea. Believe us, she isn't a very nice person." "Yeah I sort of gathered that from the mean glances she kept sending my way." The girls made their way into the great hall for breakfast. "Yuck," Hope said, "this is definitely what I would have expected of boarding school breakfasts!" As the girls talked they saw Miss Hardbroom walk right on by as if she didn't see them. Mildred realized she was going to great lengths to make sure no one knew about her relation to the student. She watched Hope stare after her with a confused look on her face. "Hey," said Mildred trying to distract her new friend, "We should get going, we don't want to be late for class."

Mildred couldn't help noticing that Miss Hardbroom treated Hope exactly like, well exactly like Mildred. No special treatment whatsoever. Since the whole class had been evenly partnered off, Hope got to pick her partners. Of course she picked Maud and Mildred. Today they had to make a calming potion. Miss Hardbroom was going through the different properties of the calming potion before she let them at the cauldrons. "Excuse me Miss Hardbroom," said Hope, "I , I have a question." Miss Hardbroom looked shocked at being addressed. "Yes Miss Vanishing." "Well I was wondering if, used in this setting, the snake skin would have the negative effects it does in other potions such as a yellowing in skin tone?" Miss Hardbroom paused for a minute, taking this in, and said, "Normally that would be the case but it has been found that the fish scales will compensate for these effects while still allowing the snake skin to have its calming effect." Miss Hardbroom raised her eyebrows at the class, prompting them to write that tidbit of information down and then continued to explain the ingredients of the potion.

When it came time to actually make the potion Mildred was in a panic. "What was she saying about the frog water." "No Mildred," Hope explained, "that was bog water. Turn on the Bunsen burner and I'll get us what we need." Mildred and Maud worked on the flame while Hope went to the back of the classroom to gather the ingredients. "Well," said Ethel, "It seems that you are quite the know it all. I bet you were the top student at your other school. Oh wait you were, because you were the only student." "Is that supposed to hurt Ethel?" "No, I just wanted to remind you that you are in a bigger pond now. You may know some basic properties but that doesn't give you the right to show off in class." "I wasn't showing off," Hope raised her voice, "I just wanted to ask a question. That's what students do when they don't know something; ask a question." She grabbed several bottles and started to walk away. She heard Ethel muttering something under her breath and turned her head to say something and tripped on a chair leg, spilling the contents of the bottles to the floor.

"Miss Vanishing! Perhaps you aren't aware of this, but the potion ingredients go in the cauldron, not on the floor. Class, continue your work, Hope you will clean up this mess immediately." "But Miss Hardbroom, Ethel tripped me!" Miss Hardbroom's eyebrows rose at least an inch and she sputtered, "Ethel is in the back of the room gathering her ingredients carefully. You tripped here in the middle of the room, several feet away from Ethel's leg. For that bit of cheekiness I suggest you finish cleaning this up and go straight to Miss Cackle's office." "But…" "Miss Vanishing don't force me to add to your punishment." Hope stared at her aunt, a look of anger in her eyes, and went about cleaning up the spilled power. Mildred went to the back of the room to get new supplies and gave her friend a reassuring smile as she passed.

Author's Note: yeah this begginning chapter is a little dull and cliche(accent over the e, sorry) but here's the deal this story has alot of parts to it and so iended updoing this as an intro. Never fear, in a few chapters it will pick up i promise and it won't be the same old cackles academy schtuff either. I'll write when i can but i have a feeling i will be updating soon because i know exactly how i want it to end; i just have to make it there.