Chapter 2
The Interview
The bell rang to mark the end of the third lesson of the day and the start of lunch. While students revelled in their break, Hecate had been dreading the bells toll. Hecate chose to hide inside her potion laboratory rather than face the lunch-time meeting. She could predict what they all would say, that it was a good idea, why not just run with it? She knew that she could not vote yes. Ada was looking at things in a commendable and admirable way, trying to undo the evil that her sister caused, but statistically speaking, the chances of anything happening to a student on that scale again were minimal at best. She wasn't sure that the life of one student should shape those of everyone else in the school, the needs of the many always outweighed the needs of the few.
But for Ada, the needs of everyone were important, no matter how few in number or status or privilege. It was the very reason Mildred Hubble was still enrolled at the academy. Not because she was a model student but because Ada believed in second, third and even fourth changes to get things right. Hecate preferred they got it right the first time. Restocking and labelling her shelves in her potion lab was how she was going to spend her lunch hour and that was that!
"Thank you all for coming, I know that a few of you have playground duty so this discussion will be quick…you may have heard about a disagreement between Hecate and myself that occurred this morning after Esmerelda's visit." They all shook their heads except for Drill who obviously nodded with a sympathetic lip line that reflected a mixture of nervousness and confusion. Nervousness at whatever caused Hecate and Ada to bicker the way they had, confusion because she had told Miss Bat - who would have obviously told Algenon what she heard - yet neither of them were nodding in agreement – liars!
"In any case," Ada continued, "I believe that it is our schools duty to respond to situations as they arise and to be as proactive as possible at helping equip our students with the necessary knowledge they will need to survive." Nods from the staff acknowledged that she was pleading her case well so far. "The situation with Esmerelda Hallow has taught our school many lessons, and, I feel, that our girls need to learn about what it is like to live a life without the use of magic…to allow them the chance to understand why magic is such a privilege and why it should not be taken for granted. Because of this I wish for us to run a new subject for the girls."
"A non-witch subject?" Miss Bat questioned making Ada nod.
"A non-witch subject taught by a non-witch teacher."
The extra piece of information made the staff look at each other, hoping to gauge one another's level of support. It was not a bad idea, but the idea of having a non-witch on staff at a magic school, when non-witches were protected from knowing as much about magic as possible, seemed odd. Would the department really allow for such a thing to take place, for someone without magic to learn the secrets of their world?
"I for one think it's an excellent idea," Algenon acknowledged, making Ada smile. Of all the staff she knew he would be the most agreeable. "As someone who had to live without magic, as a frog no less, I think it is important for the girls to know what life without it is like. If anything to help them show compassion to others who do not have the same gifts as they…heck if Mildred hadn't come along and helped me I don't think I'd be here today with the woman I love." He looked at Miss Bat adoringly and she reflected the same look in her own eyes. Ada couldn't help but chuckle a little, the feud from the morning had abated for now.
"I agree too," Miss Bat replied, "but worry about who this new person will be, especially if they are not magical."
"I agree," Drill spoke, understanding why Hecate and Ada had been having words with one another before. "Inviting a complete stranger into the school is risky…It's not that I don't agree with the idea, Miss Cackle but I hope whoever is chosen is the right person for the position and will be an asset to the school and not a liability."
"I concur," the voice of Hecate Hardbroom echoed off the stone walls of the staffroom before she materialised. "Which is why I have decided that if there is to be a decision made I would like to assist the headmistress personally in the interview process." She looked to Ada, standing tall near the door, arms crossed. This was her olive branch, her peace treaty. If their school was to be inviting someone new into their midst, Hardbroom wanted to vet them herself. After all, after all the concerns about Miss Giblet and her association with Agatha, they couldn't make another mistake.
Ada nodded, standing to her feet. "It is agreed, the candidates will be arriving shortly and Miss Hardbroom and I will conduct the interviews. How exciting!"
"Exciting may have been a bit premature," Hecate spoke, her words soft and tone low. They had been waiting at the school gates for over an hour for their first applicant and had a no show, minute after minute passed before their second and third had also failed to arrive. After retiring back to the Headmistresses office, Ada sipped on her tea while Hecate marked papers at her desk in the corner of the room. "I don't understand it," Ada sighed, even the warmth of the cup in her hands was not enough to warm her heart. She had such enthusiasm for the idea, could see the way it worked and see the smiles on her student's faces as they learned new skills that were exclusively taught at Cackles Academy for Witches…but she'd lost sight of the details. Ada had always been a big picture leader, someone who could see the end of the road before even stepping forth on the asphalt, someone who understood where they were going while the rest of the ship and crew deemed themselves lost at sea. There were benefits and dangers to the leadership style but, she hoped, that at the end of the day things would always work out.
"Non-witches are not known for their punctuality," Hecate spoke harshly from her corner, her red pen never pausing. "Many are late for engagements, important meetings and even to see their friends. Not all of them are but most have the uncanny ability to waste other peoples time-"
"Hecate! That is not true of them all, how can you make a judgment against them so easily?"
"The same way they make judgments against us." The pen stopped moving and she lifted her head to look Ada in the eye. "Try asking a non-witch about magic, about what being a witch is about. They will all respond with 'evil' or that these things do not exist."
"There is a reason for that," Ada's teacup returned to its saucer, "the council agreed that witches and magic have to be kept secret, away from the non-witch realm for their own protection as much as ours."
"Especially for ours more like," Hecate interrupted. She stood to her feet and walked towards the Headmistresses desk. "I am not saying that I disagree with your idea or with the lesson you are trying to teach the girls…but I do question having people, who are non-witch in nature, being allowed to work at a magic school and not say a word to anyone about it? Can someone really keep that a secret?"
One of Ada's eyebrows raised, the witch who kept the most secrets was the one lecturing about the ability of others to do the same. "You know what I mean," Hecate continued, "besides, you know what they have done to our kind in the past, the witch hunts, the accusations, the witches burned alive at the stake! How can you invite someone who doesn't understand our world into it and expect there to not be any tension? any consequences?"
"I am sure that there will be," Ada replied, standing to her own feet in a show of strength and determination. She did her best to meet Hardbroom's gaze. "But, as someone who has fought to change the perception of our kind and who has been labeled as 'evil' due to the wrongdoings of her family and sister, I am sure that it is not the place for you or I to question the motives and character of someone else. Not all non-witches are murderers, executioners or believe that magic is something only seen in movies, some believe in it in different forms, some see its potential while others are blind to it. Regardless, it is not our job to criticise and especially not to stereotype." Hecate took in a long breath before breaking eye contact with Ada, admitting defeat.
She pursed her lips. "Then where are these… candidates of yours?"
The moment she asked the question there was a knock on the door, Drill poked her head inside. "There is someone to see you, Miss Cackle, she looked a little lost. Says she is here for the interview." Ada looked back to Hardbroom but she had already taken her rightful place at Ada's side, not making a sound.
"Send her in," Ada announced happily, one step closer to her dream. When the door opened a young woman stepped into the room, she wore formal attire, a black dress that ended above the knee, had no sleeves and a v neck opening. A blue crystal necklace hung from around her neck while her straight brown hair flowed down her shoulders and back. The sound of her flat heels made slight taps against the floor as she stepped into the room and towards the Headmistress, extending her hand and her documents.
"Miss Cackle, a pleasure to meet you, my name is Cassandra Collins." Ada shook her hand before she motioned for her to take a seat. Miss Cackle did the same with Hecate taking a seat to her right. Hecate looked the woman up and down, judging her on everything from the way she combed her hair to the way she sat in the chair. She did try to sit up straight, shoulders back, but there was distinct curve that prevented her from having appropriate posture.
"A pleasure Miss Collins, welcome to the Academy."
"It is beautiful," she gushed, looking around the cozy office with its spots of pink against the sandstone walls of the castle.
"This is my Deputy Headmistress, Miss Hecate Hardbroom." Cassandra extended her hand but Hardbroom refused to shake it, making Ada nervous and Cassandra feel strange. "Why don't we start by getting to know a little more about you and why you applied for the position-"
"And why you were late?" Hecate interrupted making Cassandra's eyes shift from Ada's to hers. She cleared her throat before choosing the best way to reply.
"Well, Miss Hardbroom, I am sure that it is not news for me to say that as a non-witch I do not have the luxury to appear or teleport myself from one place to another so it can be difficult to time your travel appropriately." Hecate did not like her tone, like the sound of a defiant student in the class whose purpose was to rebel. A raised eyebrow and she returned to her notes, using her pen to write down each response to ensure that Ada would not forget about all the details.
"It is also hard because there is no bus up the mountain so you have to get here on foot. I caught the train to the nearest stop, took the bus and then walked the four kilometers up the hill to reach here." Miss Collins began fishing something out of her documents before she found it and passed it Hecate's way. "The interview time I was given was 2:30pm, when I last checked the time now…" she checked her watch, making Hardbroom look to the large pink clock in Miss Cackles office, covered in cats of different shades and colours, "is 2:29pm so, technically, I am on time – early even."
Ada couldn't help but grin. This Miss Collins certainly was not a pushover and was likely to be able to stand on her own two feet. She would need that with Hecate hot on her heels.
"I am assuming that you have read the information we provided about our school?" Ada questioned making Cassandra nod.
"Yes I have, and I know that this is a magical school that is wishing to offer a non-magic subject. I also heard that this was the first subject of its kind in the country which is very exciting for me! I have a bachelor degree in education with a major in English literature and history and feel that I am the best person for this position. Other than being a non-witch I know that I am up for the task."
"You are aware that you will be required to live on the school campus?" Hecate questioned making Miss Collins nod. "And that you will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement that states that any information about our school is to be treated with privacy and that no one else, in your non-witch family or friendship circles, are to know about the true inner workings of the school?"
"Yes of course," Miss Collins agreed.
"I have just one more question for you." Ada interrupted, helping to calm the girl from Hecate's rapid-fire linguistics. "How soon can you start?"
Cassandra beamed a smile, she nearly jumped out of her chair with excitement. "As soon as you need me." Ada stood to her feet making Miss Collins follow. She extended her hand across the table and Cassandra took it firmly into her own.
"Welcome to Cackle's Academy."
A/N: Thanks for reading and please review :)
