A/N: I'm tempted to brake out into virtual singing (yeah, that's right! I'm not crazy btw) "And now the end is here...and so I face the final curtain"
The last chapter *sob sob* BUT still have fic four of the quadrilogy to start work on!
Once again, a massive, HUGE thank you to everyone that have read and reviewed! I'm so happy *reaches for tissues* All your fabulous comments have meant so much. So I intend for this last chapter *crosses fingers, legs and everything else* to go out with a bang and dedicate this to all you guys! (I would like to note that I'm only on the third vodka & cola of the night. Hey it's still the holidays).
Have a great New Year!
Enjoy x
Chapter Six: Live and Let Die
Both Imogen and Lavina were in the staffroom. The physical education teacher sat at the aging table, busying herself with paperwork, not plagiarizing the interesting article form her monthly fitness magazine but made a few notes that could prove to be useful for the fourth years without looking from the magazine, she pawed the table feeling for her cup of tea. Imogen sipped from the cup only to make a disgusted expression, unamused to find the once boiling contents now stone cold.
Lavina had rushed into the staffroom leaving her class, praying that they would not cause a riot or face the consequences of Mistress Broomhead. Muttering to herself, she tried to retrace her whereabouts this morning having inadvertently misplacing the song sheet that was planned for the first years. Lavina had already documented the schedule which only just passed Mistress Broomhead's standards. If the vital song sheet did not appear in the next thirty seconds then she would have to improvise and this went against everything Mistress Broomhead stood for.
The staffroom door protested. The hinges in dire need of lubrication which would be added to the growing to-do list of Frank Blossom. Amelia pushed the door closed and took few moments to survey two members of her staff who failed to notice her return.
"Imogen...if I can't find this blasted song sheet then Mistress Broomhead will..." her voice cut off abruptly at the sight of Amelia, "Oh thank god!"
"Good afternoon ladies." smiled Amelia who was glad to be home
"Amelia," smiled Imogen throwing down her magazine; it slapped against the table, "I see you received our message."
Lavina nodded, "We do apologise...after all you were attending to family matters but we were desperate." she confessed, eyeing Imogen who simply nodded
"Surely the girls haven't caused much disruption...well anymore than usual." Amelia joked but sensed that there was something far worse almost sinister, judging by the faces of her colleagues
"Amelia...we missed out a tiny detail in our letter." said Lavina
"Mistress Broomhead has been appointed as your temporary replacement." finished Imogen, only knowing too well their previous experience with Hecketty
Amelia slowly made her way to the window. She shuddered to think what the fearful tyrant had gotten up to in her absence without someone in the position of respect, authority and power to police Hecketty, she could reign supreme. Now that Amelia had returned, she would rectify and hopefully erase anything that would indicate that Hecketty had ever been in the academy. Although, removing the physical evidence would be easy. The mental torment of Hecketty's ruling with an iron fist would be another daunting task.
Constance skittered into the staffroom, as her class finished for the day. She loathed to be discovered. If she busied, immersed herself in paperwork or anything perhaps her former tutor would leave her be. Her mind burdened with the amounting pressure and conjured scenarios, of Hecketty cornering her once more in the office. She had grown to detest that room, missing Amelia's friendly and warm aura when entering her office. Upon entering the staffroom, she staggered into the room, her back resting against the door, catching her breath and regaining her composure.
Imogen and Lavina were oblivious that Constance joined them in the staffroom. A place that was not frequently visited by Hecketty, who proclaimed tea breaks were for the weak. This area was designated as a save haven for the staff although still weary as Mistress Broomhead did have the tendency to appear when they least expected. Only Amelia noticed Constance' slightly dramatic entrance and raised an eyebrow.
"We're both terribly worried about Constance." Lavina's voice thick with concern
At the sound of her name, she immediately stood to attention. Shoulders tightened into a rigid position, hands clasped tightly in front of her, casting fingers always at the ready.
"Mistress Broomhead...well it's like...she's isolated Constance...We're barely seen her!" worried Imogen
"She relentless...what was it Constance said to me? 'She haunted me then and she's still haunting me now'...what does that mean?" asked Lavina after quoting Constance when first discovering Hecketty was to be acting headmistress
Constance cleared her throat to announce her presence "When you two have quite finished your physiological observations! Lavina, I passed your class...are you teaching the zoo? And Imogen...your class are having a very heated debate on who should be team captains."
Both teachers looked at Amelia, wondering how much of the conversation had their colleague overheard before sharing the same worried glance at each other, unsure what to do but a simple look from Constance. The same look that was reserved for students, having the uncanny ability to force them to own up to troublesome deeds without the use for punishments in the form of writing lines until their wrists felt like they would snap. This saw both grown, mature adults scurry out of the staffroom.
Amelia offered a warm smile at Constance, relieved to be back at her academy, a place that she deemed her home, to return back to teach and pass on her knowledge onto a newer, younger generation of witches. To return back to her colleagues to whom she deeply respected and considered them her friends. And then there was Constance! Not only a colleague that she respected and in awe of just how powerful the younger witch was but also, she had come to think of her as the daughter she never had. Her mother instincts to protect and nurture the troubled witch were overwhelming, part of her calling.
She was happy to have returned, knowing that her aunt's health was not as serious as first suspected and now Amelia could now concentrate on the slow decline of the deputy headmistress' well-being. She knew that time was not on their side and thankful she had arrived back home. Although the surprise news that Mistress Hecketty Broomhead was the temporary replacement of her academy enforced by Mr Hallow was another hurdle that needed to be cleared before focusing on more pressing issues
Amelia silently took a visual inspection and clearly saw that Constance was not a well woman. It could not have been at a worse time for Mistress Broomhead to appear and with Amelia gone, there was no-one to act as a shield, to protect the hidden fear or offer soft, warm words that only a mother-like figure to do to sooth and counteract the aggressive tone and hurtful words that began to strip Constance, layer by layer.
She could see that her face looked paler than normal and almost gaunt looking. Normally, her brown eyes dazzled with the secret excitement she got while teaching, passing on her fountain of knowledge, molding the girls and preparing them of the world outside of the protection and comfort of the academy. Now, her eyes looked painfully exhausted and always watching, as if ready to anticipate the sudden arrival of her former tutor. Imogen and Lavina were right to raise their concerns for their colleague.
"You're returned." stated Constance
Amelia nodded, "Yes, none too soon it would appear."
"Is it really you?" murmuring under her breath, it was suppose to have been a thought but somehow it escaped
Amelia cocked a questionable eyebrow, "Pardon?"
Constance shook her head. The time had passed, "I assume that your aunt is feeling better?" secretly pleased that Amelia had arrived, to save her and Mildred
"Yes, she is...and how are you fairing Constance...I know that you and Hecketty...well?" her voice trailing off
Since the arrival of Mistress Broomhead, no-one had even approached Constance about the subject. There had been a very brief conversation amongst her self, Imogen and Lavina in regards as to what to do with their current predicament. In typical Constance Hardbroom fashion, she clutched and held tightly the reigns of control. But, she was faltering! The well positioned mask and barrier had began to crumble and decay around her. Maintaining the false facade was all too consuming of her energy and strength to keep constant surveillance of her emotions and image. Everything had to be perfect, if not then her colleagues, her students would notice and worst of all Mistress Broomhead. She could sense weakness like a shark senses blood and hunts down their weakened and dying prey.
Amelia showing true concern almost broke the remains of the mask, fighting the overwhelming urge to actually hug her. To thank her for noticing, for so long she pretended to be everything that she was not. Constance yearned for comfort, warm comfort that only a mother could provide. To give her hope, fight and slay the evil forces and reassure her that everything would be okay. Simple things but her life had been far from simple and Constance did not make things simple for herself, always choosing the hardest route possible.
"I am...glad that you have returned," pausing, "May we turn our attention to Mistress Broomhead? After all her services are no longer required here" adding a small grin
"With great pleasure, Constance."
Just like in the fairytale stories, the happy ending was beginning to take shape for everyone and slowly a sense of normality began to flow throughout the academy. Hecketty Broomhead had left with Mr Hallow closely following on her marching heels. The heartbeat of the academy that was the clocks had all been removed and now like a proper place of education, the building's heartbeat returned to that of laughter and joy with the occasional shouting from an anonymous teacher. Just as promised, Mildred had her newly acquired piece of jewellery removed. Her smile and glow returned and she raced to be reunited with her friends. Imogen and Lavina could only be compared to the students. Everyone was relieved about the departure of Mistress Broomhead and reunited with the rightful headmistress of the academy.
Constance entered her bedroom, thinking the day would ever come to an end. After being cornered in the office again, she had gone to extreme lengths to stay out of Mistress Broomhead's way which surprisingly worked but Constance was always weary and on guard. Now, she knew what her student felt like whenever she, her self would appear out from nowhere and catch them up to no good. She could relax now, Amelia had returned like the angel, the answer to her silent prayers and now Mistress Hecketty Broomhead was gone.
Constance and the students could finally relax, no longer needing to tread on eggshells in fear of the tyrant that ran the academy more like a prison than a place for education. A sigh of relief was felt all around the academy, students and teachers alike.
Her mind slowly easing into calming thoughts now that her former tutor no longer haunted the place she regarded as home. Constance pushed herself from the door, briskly walking over to her dressing table but froze. The smile that had dared to grace her features faded quickly and her hand recoiled from the chair.
Something was different, something was wrong. Her eyes could not find anything remotely out of place and yet she could sense it. The familiar trademark scent of her stale, anonymous perfume instantly unnerved her right to the core. The privacy of her inner-sanctum had been invaded, tainted by the outside world and the thought of Hecketty having free reign within her room made her feel nauseated. Constance imagined her former tutor's reaction, no doubt inspecting her room for dust just like when she was in college. The mere thought that she could have been invading her personal belongings only added to her sickening feeling.
There was no chance that Constance would be able to sleep, not after the discovering her room and privacy had been breeched. She collected her diary and the last vile of wide awake potion, her lifeline which brought her the ability to function throughout the day and avoid the confrontations of nightmares before casting a locking spell on the door and headed towards the staffroom.
Constance sat alone in the dimly lit room. A candle in the corner was the silent companion, banishing the shadows of evils. Occasionally the flame danced wildly on the wick as the presence of the wind whistled through the loosened and almost ancient window pane. Her heavy, throbbing head sat in the palm of her near freezing hand. The other hand rested limply over the arm of the chair, in her fingers toying with the last vile of pre-made wide awake potion, contents of the vile swirled like the thoughts that whirled chaotically in her enclosed mind.
Everything had been put to right. Mistress Broomhead was gone but her poisoned words lingered within her ears, her poisoned talons continued her hold over Constance.
The only relief and saving grace that briefly warmed her troubled heart, the smile almost further cracked her mask was witnessing Amelia magically and permanently removing the bracelet from Mildred Hubble's wrist. The young witch was delighted and overly excited that she thanked the head and deputy headmistress with an over enthusiastic hug, her arms wrapping tightly around each of them. Words could not describe just how thankful she truly was. The act of the hug, itself that came so natural to Mildred, Amelia smiled and offered her own version back to the young witch. However, Constance froze at the foreign warmth contact and the intrusion of her personal space, still reeling from the physical contact at Hecketty's hands. When Mildred wrapped her arms tightly around her normally statue like teacher, she inadvertently trapped her painfully thin arms to her side, feeding the fear of claustrophobia.
In the darkness of the night, Amelia crept along the corridor of her academy carrying a candle. A hand tightened her dressing gown around her, keeping the fading warmth close to her as the cold night air surrounded her.
Amelia closed the door behind her with a gentle click and noticed that Constance had not acknowledged her presence. She watched the younger witch, lost in a world of her own thoughts and took that rare moment to watch her. As the candle flickered it created shadows which danced over her face but still she remained unfazed, lost in her own world. Amelia silently inspected her colleague but she was much more than the deputy headmistress of the academy. She held a special part of her heart for Constance, seeing her for more than the fearsome, confident and no nonsense potions teacher. Amelia knew that under her hard shell lay a complex and fragile young woman who still occasionally needed the guidance from a mother figure and positive reassurance.
Then, Amelia looked closer.
The howling of the wind broke the concentration of Constance. She spotted Amelia and her intense staring eyes. Feeling that she had been caught off guard, rarely happened
"Amelia...what are you doing up at this ungodly hour?" asked Constance
She attempted to usher the older woman back to bed as if she were a student. Amelia held her hand up and joined her. Sitting in a chair opposite, "I could ask the same of you..." she started only to glance at the vile of wide awake potion in her hand
Constance could not find the words to explain the overwhelming fear that festered in her soul after entering her own room to sense that her privacy and inner sanctum had been breached by evilness in the form of Hecketty Broomhead. Her stale, anonymous perfume lingered in the air, it served almost like her personal calling card.
"It would seem that sleep once again eludes me." She offered, it was not a lie but also not far from the truth
"Constance...did we not have a talk before I left regarding the personal use of wide awake potion?"
Her fingers massaged her temples in an attempt to ease the heavy pounding, "I remember but then you left and she returned," pausing she looked at Amelia, "I tried...you have no idea what she was...is and still capable of doing."
"I'm here now Constance." she went to reach out but something prevented her. Both hands lay on her lap
She offered a small smile but her eyes remained the same, painted with deep sadness "I have a confession," she began slowly
Learning from past experiences, it was extremely rare for Constance to actually be willing enough to open up. Constance was similar to that of a deer, easy to frighten when it came to dealing or expressing emotions, to open up and be exposed to the unforgiving world around her. Amelia was patience and simply watched in silence, allowing Constance to remain in control although it pained her deeply when she saw how this was a struggle for the younger witch.
She swallowed the aching lump from her parched throat, "You know about the date."
"Yes...but don't worry. We still have time to prepare the necessary..." rushed Amelia
Constance gently shook her head as to not aggravate the continuous pondering, "Not that date Amelia!" she paused to lick her dry lips, "It was my birthday...she was here for my birthday...she knew and wanted to celebrate..."
Closing her eyes, she fought back the tormented memory of sitting in Amelia's office while Hecketty teased and taunted her. Trying to provoke the fragile demon that she thought she had put to rest. Her hand gripped the arm of the chair, knuckles turning white as her grip increased. Constance refused to cry.
"I can't imagine what she did..." whispered Amelia, she desperately wanted to offer some words of comfort but the words refused to leave her stalling mouth
Instead, she reached out for Constance and grasped her trembling hand, "I had no idea that she was my temporary replacement and had I known I would have...came back sooner."
Her neck snapped around, "Amelia...family comes first!" almost a shout, scolding her
"Constance, I consider you a part of my family...a daughter and had I known what was happening...even though I sensed something was not right...then I would have been here sooner," she paused, "But I'm here now...and I will not let any harm come to you."
Amelia's mothering nature and heartfelt speech warmed her heart. She was truly blessed to have someone like her in her life even if there were times when she did not show her appreciation.
"Amelia forgive me for saying this...but I honestly doubted you'd come back for me." She whispered shamefully. She had originally wanted to confess this rather than the unfortunate memories of her birthday surprise with Hecketty.
Amelia's grip tightened, trying to offer any form of comfort, "Whatever made you think that?"
Constance looked at her, not wanting to utter the name of the witch that had left and still recovering from, herself and the students, "It may have been a nightmare but she...she controlled it! I know she did...I know what she is capable off!"
"Amelia is gone...she's never coming back for her school, her students and especially you" her voice low and menacing
Constance nervously shook her head "No, she...she promised." teeth chattering
Hecketty leaned closer, "Empty words, my dear," the smile drained from her face when she witnessed tears, "You are pathetic."
Mistress Hecketty Broomhead returned home. She was alone in the small, cold house. The only sound that took the edge off the insane silence was the countless cloaks, all ticking together as one the heartbeat of her home.
To quench her thirst, she gulped at the cool refreshing water before violently coughing. She spluttered and gasped to regain her breath. Carelessly, thinking she had simply greedily gulped the liquid, she sighed and decided to end the feelings of loneliness by escaping to bed.
Unaware to Hecketty, herself, droplets of fresh blood splattered across the sink where she had coughed as well as the faint colour of red which dance harmoniously with the remains of water in the glass.
As Hecketty slowly shifted from reality and heading into the world of dreams, her mind conjured up an image of her favorite student. The student that had grown and matured into a well respected potions teacher, often credited with those top of her field. A part of Hecketty was proud to have taught the witch while at college and felt honored that her former student's skills that Hecketty had instilled in her had been recognised.
Then, there was a pang of guilt. The past began to filter into the waking consciousness. Sadly, Hecketty could not alter the events of the past but instead tried to ignore and suppress it daily. It was a constant battle. Many questions often haunted Hecketty and wondered why she did not choose another path other than the selfish path.
Constance, on her mind again. She admired the younger witch and would dream of what could or should have been. But, somewhere deep down in her frayed logical mind, she knew better and knew that Constance had never seen her tutor in the way.
Darkness continued to steal her away and in her thoughts between the waking world and the unconscious world. There was a whispered voice, 'I did not know...forgive me.'
A/N (part two) Bum bum bummmm!
Well what is the verdict? Good, bad or ugly?
Please, please, please remember that this is fic three out of four! All answer shall be rewarded to those who wait! LOL
Well, I hope you guys enjoyed that! The ending, totally unplanned so kinda happy with how it turned out...night night folks...
Remember happy new year and see ya in 2012
Thanks for reading