'If I'm still here after the test' Mildred thought but said thank you anyway. That settled, Miss Drill shoo'd them into place; Mildred and Maud still fiddling with Mildred's broom, adding more tape just to be safe.
"Careful! You nearly taped your fingers to mine." Maud frowned. "What are you doing Mil?"
"Trying to get a good look at her." Mildred hissed back.
"Who?"
"Miss Drill. Do you remember I said Fenny and Gris were really funny around her? And not just in an older girl way?" Mildred said and explained her puzzle, even as she said it her gaze slid off her teacher. "And I know I've seen her about the school and at the feast. But it's like every time I see her, I can't quite place her afterwards. Even after she jumped the stairs."
"Oh. That's odd…Actually neither can I." Maud said slowly realisation dawning. She joined in with trying to look without looking without looking like they were looking at the Gym mistress.
"What are you two up too?" Ruby asked loudly. And was shushed, Mildred explained quickly to her. And then Jadu who'd overheard, as Maud and Ruby asked Bryony and Harriet; until all six of them having realised they were all experiencing the same thing, and now were trying to look at the PE teacher without looking like they were looking at her. Thankfully Gloria asking if she could just nip to the bathroom was keeping Miss Drill distracted.
"But I know she was in the yard when we came through the gate."
"Yeah, she was handing out drinks and snacks to the older girls!"
"And paired us up with them."
"I'm sure it was her who gave out the welcome packs too."
"Is it a shielding spell?"
"What, so we don't know what she really looks like?" Bryony the Invisible asked. "Don't look at me like that, you know what I Mean!"
"Well it could be a shield." Jadu shrugged. "But no, then we wouldn't notice her at all. And why use one here? There's no pressure to try and pass for human or human-ish."
Mildred shook her head still watching the PE teacher. There was no long or pointy ears like many of the students had. No horns either, unless they were under that short hair. Bar that impossible jump and this whatever it was that was causing this memory fog, Miss Drill was practically exceedingly ordinary. Or at least Passing for exceedingly ordinary.
But then why come to a magical monster school? Why was she so hard to place? It wasn't as if she was plain enough to forget in those bright but very modern and non magical clothes. All the other teachers (with exception to Miss Mould's paint splatted pinny) looked as though they'd got dressed in the Victorian era. Or earlier!
"She's not a witch but she's not norm- Miss Drill's not Common either." Mildred said. "She jumped over the bannister like it was just the one step, not nearly two floors."
Mildred also thought: "How could Fenny have a crush on someone if she couldn't remember what Drill looked like? Or does it not affect her and Gris?" but kept that one on the quiet.
"Did your mum ever say anything about her?" Ruby asked Maud. The werewolf shook her head.
"No. So either she started after my mum left or Mum's forgotten her too."
"Fenny did say she's the youngest. Or did she say one of the youngest." Mildred said.
Harriet laughed like broken dish washer and wheeled her chair over to the bags.
"She said that's not hard." Bryony translated following Harriet back across the yard, her empty boots plodding after the mermaid. "I think under eighty qualifies as young here."
"Take your places, make sure you're ready for a prompt start when Miss Hardbroom get here. That's right- What are you four doing?" Miss Drill called. Mildred Maud Ruby and Jadu obediently scattered but Miss Drill split them up so Jadu was at the back, and Maud and Ruby were in the front row with Ethel. Mildred was dead centre, right behind the fairy queen and next to Drusilla. Great.
"Spread out over there, give each other plenty of room." Miss Drill said and turned away to put up the umbrella.
And then Mildred forgot.
Not Miss Drill's face that is. Mildred forgot that. But she also forgot her fear, the anxiety, and even forgot Ethel. Because just then, Harriet gasped loudly pointing at the sky. Mildred and the other girls looked up following the fin-ger.
Above them, from behind the high tower a black shape had appeared, silhouetted against the sky and the sunlight. A most recognisable shadow of a witch on her broomstick. And not just any witch.
"This was witchcraft was all about." Mildred decided, watching in awe at the- to her- Incredible display. "That's how I want to fly!"
Mildred had not seen many real-life witches flying, but the others were just as impressed. There were plenty of ooh's and ahh's. And they were right to be.
Poised and serene, cloak billowing out around her, while she was a vampire HB was also defiantly a real witch. The broom zipped high over the castle backed then dived back toward the school, before slowing down in a drifting curve that ended sweeping low over the yard, rushing down to meet the ground, the rider unfazed. Miss Hardbroom made it look so easy too. She wasn't clinging on to her broom, not even in the dive, 'driving' it with just the one finger. There in front of the girls she brought it to a well-executed stop. Then equally elegantly dismounting into the shadow of the awaiting – and hovering- parasol.
"Thank you, Miss Drill." Miss Hardbroom said dismissing the PE teacher. She seemed even paler compared to Miss Drill's healthy looking tan. With a wink to the girls twirl of her badminton racket, Miss Drill headed back inside.
"Now girls. I'd Like to begin by reminding you that There is nothing soft about broomsticks." Miss Hardbroom started. She'd taken off her cloak and hung it on the handle of the umbrella steadily in place blocking out the poor excuse for a midday sun. It hung more steadily then Mr Blossom had held it for her yesterday.
"I do not wish to see any stickers or attachments dangling from your brooms. They are a tool of your craft, and to be treated with the respect as such no different to your cauldrons and spell books. Nor do I want to hear anyone giving their broom silly pet names, like some people do with machines and automobiles-."
"Like Bo-bo!" Maud hissed at Millie with teasingly grin. She then blanched and her ears blushed bright red at realizing she'd spoke aloud and now had the class looking at her. HB not used to interruptions whipped around too.
"I Beg your Pardon." Miss Hardbroom said Coldly. And with an icy glare at Maud who froze under such a look. And did almost beg.
Mildred gulped but took a metaphorical silver bullet for her friend.
"My mum calls her car Bo-bo Miss." She said, smiling awkwardly. Miss Hardbroom's glare had zipped from Maud to Mildred the moment Millie had spoken up. Rather than become sharper however, it dulled; as if Miss Hardbroom was already done with trying to understand or make sense of common little witch.
"Somehow Mildred, that is not surprising." HB said, no less coldly. And from the row in front, Ethel rolled her eyes so heavenward it was almost audible.
Which was about as good as the double lesson got for Mildred.
Thanks for reading! Monsters returns for definite on the 5th of August. but I might be able to squeeze in a mid week update some where if I can, see how we go. Hope you're have a grand summer!