A nagging feeling at the pit of her stomach catapults her from a deep sleep. Her senses revive, and in an instant the culprit of her disrupted sleep is apparent. In the blink of an eye she rises from her bed, and secures her robe. With the snap of a finger she is drawn across the academy to the quarters of a fifth hear pupil. She pauses momentarily outside Mildred's door. The blood curdling scream is enough to disrupt the most solid sleeper. Hecate materializes inside the room to find Mildred thrashing in bed whilst her lamp illuminates the room.

"Mildred, wake up," she says in an even, quiet tone.

Mildred's body begins to relax a hair. Hecate contemplates her next move, realizing the worst option is to touch the pupil to wake her.

"Mildred Hubble, you're late for potions, again," she insists in her typically stern tone.

Mildred's eyes open wide. The teen rubs her eyes as she attempts to acclimate to her surroundings. Her heart races as she shifts into a sitting position. She wipes beads of sweat from her forehead. Hecate takes a step closer to the bed, and decides to squat next to it. She gently squeezes Mildred's hand in reassurance.

"I feel deeply apologetic that I have disrupted your slumber once again. I…"

Hecate subtly shakes her head, "I will not hear of it. I assure you that you are safe, and I will continue to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that."

Mildred nods in understanding, "I appreciate your efforts."

Hecate's glance shifts to drawings lying on Mildred's desk. The charcoal sketches are darker in color, and theme than Hecate has ever seen from the pupil.

"I should get back to sleep. As I seem to recall we have an important exam in the morning."

Hecate silently collects the drawings from the desk. Her eyes linger on the pupil as she tucks the sketches underneath her arm.

"I hope you do not find it offensive that I take these."

"It's not as if I need them, Miss Hardbroom. Those images are burned into my brain."

"Mildred it occurs to me that it might be prudent for you to discuss this matter with your mother."

"I find the idea repugnant."

"You cannot continue at the rate you are going Miss Hubble. Exhaustion will catch up with you sooner or later. It is entirely possible that you may have to revisit completion of your academics at Cackles at a later date."

Mildred shakes her head, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Try to get some rest," she implores as she vanishes from the room.

In the safety of Ada's office she spreads the collection of sketches out across the surface of the desk. Hecate scrutinizes the details of each image memorizing each detail.

Ada enters the office as the sunrises to find her deputy headmistress asleep on the surface of her desk. Hecate's head rests on her arms, which obscures the images beneath. Ada clears her throat in hopes of subtly awakening her colleague.

"Hecate?"

Miss Hardbroom snaps into an erect seated position as efficiently as a robot. Her glance lands on her superior as she peels her arm from the surface beneath her.

"Can I ask what has you in such a state?"

"Does it require much explanation?"

"Mildred Hubble? Hecate I told you that I am not entirely certain that we have enough information to draw a firm conclusion."

"Alas, you are not the one with supernatural hearing that was awakened by the poor girl's screams in the wee hours of the morning."

"This is the third night in a row," Ada realizes.

Hecate motions to the sketches before them, "I stumbled across these last night on her desk."

"It seems remiss not to involve Julie Hubble in this matter."

As the sun sets Mildred finds herself beneath the stairs on a bench, dutifully focused on her studies. The sound of someone clearing their throat disrupts her train of thought. She looks up and finds Ethel standing next to her.

"What has gotten into you this term? You hardly seem to have time for anything other than your studies."

"Perhaps you could clothe yourself in maturity, and try it for a change."

Ethel rolls her eyes, and scoffs, "Where is your Hubble Bubble?"

"My primary existence at this academy is not to act as your foil. I've made it a point not to meddle in anyone's business this term. You should consider the same."

"How were your marks on HB's exam?"

"I don't see how it is of any concern of yours, Ethel."

"It's just that she said I only had the second highest marks in the class. What am I saying? It's not as if you could actually exceed my grade. I received a ninety-six percent."

Mildred furrows her brow, as she tucks her book under her arm. She vacates her seat, and brushes past Ethel. "Get a life," she suggests as she heads for the stairs.

"Mildred, wait!" Ethel follows after her.

Mildred stops on the second step, and spins in Ethel's direction. The fifth year folds her arms across her chest, and taps her foot as she waits for Ethel to continue her mission in badgering.

"There is going to be a small get together tonight, if you are interested," Ethel reveals.

"Ethel maybe I haven't made myself perfectly clear. I have no desire to be tangled in your web of drama. For the record I did obtain the highest mark on the potions exam. I received one hundred percent if you must know. Before you stomp off hot, and bothered I would suggest that you take a long look in the mirror. You've spent four years caught up in competing with me when you should have been competing with yourself, and perhaps we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"How did you get a perfect score? HB doesn't even believe in perfect scores."

"I have been putting in the work. Day, and night I am revising. When we leave the academy it isn't about tests, or assessments. It is about being the best witch you can be. If any of us are ill prepared for the task the only one to blame is the person staring back at us in the mirror."

"What's happened to you? When did you get so bold?"

"Please leave me alone," Mildred insists.

"It is really your loss. A little socialization, and fresh air might do you some good, Mildred Hubble."

Mildred pauses, and studies Ethel's micro-expressions. "Ethel don't go outside the academy after dark."

"I am not afraid of being expelled. I know how to talk my way out of things."

"You've learned nothing. It is not the threat of expulsion you should fret over. The restriction was put in place for our safety. I shouldn't waste my breath, it isn't as if you ever heed my warnings. Have fun at your party. I hope you don't meet any ghastly creatures in the woods," Mildred turns, and stomps off up the stairs with her books.