Miss Hardbroom was right on time-not a second off, as was to be expected. She stood somewhat awkwardly on the Hubbles' porch, feeling entirely out of place and unnerved by Tabby staring at her pointedly through the window. Miss Hardbroom raised her eyebrows threateningly, and Tabby hissed, but she realized quickly that his ire was not directed at her but at the black cat winding around her feet.
"Morgana" she murmured. "We're in for all manner of Hubble-ness prepare yourself and rise above" she reminded. Morgana meowed in agreement, and snootily ignored Tabby's hisses.
Meanwhile, Mildred was hiding out in her room.
"One minute!" came her mother's harried yell, and Mildred heard the door swing open.
"Ah yes, Miss Hardbroom, do come in" Ms. Hubble said warmly, with a hint of suspicion. Millie dove under the covers, wishing she could mirror Enid or Maud quickly. She was so filled with nervous energy she felt she might burst. Hesitantly, she crept to the doorway of her room and peeked around the corner. Seeing Miss Hardbroom, MISS HARDBROOM, standing like a statue in the middle of her foyer made her want to burst out laughing. Her eyes bugged out when she spotted Tabby sniffing curiously at the edges of her cloak.
"Tabby, no!" she whispered, struggling not laugh and give herself away. "Tabby get in here" Tabby looked at her as if to say, "she's not so bad, what's the big deal?" And sat at her feet and meowed unafraid.
"Well, uh" her mum was struggling to come up with something to say. "Thank you for agreeing to come on such short notice, Mildred is looking forward to getting some help with er um brewing"
"Potions" Miss Hardbroom corrected acidly. "And yes, I normally don't make….house calls…but since she is such a desperate case I saw fit to make an exception" her mum bit back a retort, and opted cooly for "I see"
"Won't you come in? Can I get you some tea?" Her mum said politely, ushering her into the kitchen.
"Yes, thank you, Ms. Hubble" Miss Hardbroom stated, softening her tone slightly. "I do appreciate your willingness to open your home to me" she remarked. "It is few parents indeed who would tolerate the…imposition" At this, her mum brightened, recognizing a sort-of apology. Millie held her breath, watching them anxiously.
"Well, it's not an imposition…it's just the two of us here so.. actually it might be nice having someone else around. Bit like the old days, where teachers were like traveling minstrels, you know popping around for dinner and a place to sleep for the night" she murmured, back to Miss Hardbroom as she prepared the tea.
"I am grateful that is no longer the case. I can think of quite a few households where I would not be welcome" Miss Hardbroom smiled slightly. "May I ask where my pupil is? I'll want to go over the schedule I've drawn up with you both"
"Schedule?" her mum said amused. "Hmm well that makes sense but we've rather got to coordinate. You see we have our own timetable"
"You've drawn up a revising time table?" Miss Hardbroom drawled, surprised.
"No, in fact, a fun timetable. A schedule of all of our holiday traditions and activities we have to fit in" her mum said proudly. Miss Hardbroom stiffened.
"Miss Hubble if you want your daughter to succeed….." Miss Hardbroom started, but this was when Millie finally got up the courage to jump into the fray.
"Hello Miss Hardbroom" Millie said shyly, coming out of the shadows. "Happy Christmas!" Miss Hardbroom stiffened slightly, but managed a slight smile.
"And to you, Mildred Hubble" she said gently. "Your mother and I were just discussing your revising timetable"
"That will of course be coordinated with your fun timetable" her mum interrupted, winking. Miss Hardbroom glared at her mum, and Mildred giggled at the pair of them.
"If Mildred wants to succeed in her studies she must devote herself entirely" Miss Hardbroom said firmly
"Well, I'm her mum, and this is my house, and I say that she must have some break time. And that's non-negotiable I'm afraid" her mum said just as firmly. They stared each other down for a few minutes, before Miss Hardbroom inclined her head ever so slightly, being at a bit of a disadvantage, as she did quite want to help Mildred, but was acknowledging that she could not overrule her pupil's parent in her own home while she was hosting her.
"Well hang on, it's my break, let's see this schedules then" Mildred said playfully. "Balance is best I think" she said diplomatically, settling herself next to Miss Hardbroom at the table. Her mum laughed, and Miss Hardbroom looked impressed.
"Well said, Mildred" Miss Hardbroom murmured, and Mildred glowed. She carefully spread her teacher's plans out on the table.
"We just need to block in some free time for mum's fun stuff" Mildred said, concentrating hard.
"My best studying time is in the morning when I'm most awake" she murmured. "That way everything stays fresh- so let's try to do fun stuff in the evenings then" she said taking a red pen and slicing at her teachers schedule. Miss Hardbroom stiffened, and her mum laughed.
"Is this okay Miss Hardbroom?" Mildred said softly, pushing it across the table to her. Her mum smiled as her teacher daintily picked up the schedule and reviewed it silently and with a glance at her mother, murmured "I suppose it is…not entirely inadequate" Mildred rolled her eyes.
"Mum?" her mother took the paper from Miss Hardbroom.
"Oh well done Millie this looks very balanced" her mum said proudly.
"Thanks mum" Mildred replied.
"Well now that that's all settled, Mildred why don't you show Miss Hardbroom to her room…I'm sure she's tired from her- er….flight" Mildred jumped up excitedly.
"Oh yes, this way Miss Hardbroom" Mildred said, leading her up the stairs. The guest bedroom of the hubble household was quaint, and rather untouched, with a distinct scent of lavender hovering over the content. This was likely because the only person who ever stayed there was her grandmother hubble, whose perfume had rather permanently stained the place. The quilt was worn and handmade, likely by one of mildred's ancestors, in flowers of blue, green, and red. Ceramic cat figurines adorned the dresser.
Embroidered at the bottom- with love, granny hubble. Miss Hardbroom stood uncomfortably in the doorway.
"here we are Miss Hardbroom….the hubble guest suite" Mildred announced. "You've got your own bathroom…and I mean, if you need anything just ask me or my mum." Mildred said awkwardly. "Miss Hardbroom gave a curt nod and didn't move, inspecting the room with distain as Mildred scurried away.
Miss Hardbroom was not normally the kind of person to snoop in other people's possessions- but she had, she admitted, a curiosity about Mildred.
There was something about Mildred that caught her attention- and not just in the ordinary, disaster filled way. Mildred stood out, because she had an irritating way being so innocent and kind, and without meaning to, nuzzling deep down underneath her walls she'd built and down, down, underneath to that warmth and tenderness in her that she often forgotten was there. Hecate could still not believe that Mildred had asked her to stay at her home, over her holiday break! Though outwardly she remained composed, inwardly she was all out of sorts. There were no rules for this kind of situation.
No guidelines she could look to for comfort.
No, this was uncharted territory.
She didn't move from the bed for a long time, processing. The dresser was covered in hubble memorabilia, a shrine to Mildred, or so it seemed. There were art projects, lovingly displayed, alongside photos of Mildred when she was young. Hecate smiled slightly when she saw the photos, brushing her fingertips lightly over Mildred's young face. She smirked to herself, looking at the picture. Paint covered braids, with eyes squeezed tightly shut and a grin so wide it threatened to break her face. It was labeled in messy writing, "Mildred's first art lesson" Hecate would never ever admit it to anyone, but she found it the most adorable picture she had ever seen. She wondered at herself, and resumed unpacking- wondering what other Hubble surprises awaited her.