Chapter Two: Pregnancy

Not too long after, Constance was ridden with nausea and vomiting. She had thought she had a nasty flu. She was teaching in Potions class when she suddenly had to rush off to the lavatory. Mildred was the most concerned, of all the pupils. After all, Constance was her Aunt. She retrieved Amelia who immediately assumed a genuine expression of worry.

"Constance, are you all right? Would you like some tea, dear?" She asked her swooning colleague. "I'm going to fetch a doctor."She said. "I am concerned for your health, Constance. I hope this doesn't turn into some sort of epidemic. "

Constance knew better than to protest against the Headmistress. Amelia knew what she was talking about. Amelia sent for the doctor who came as soon as she was able. She was a General Practitioner. Constance didn't like male doctors. A full exam was performed. The doctor left the room and told Amelia who was flabbergasted. The doctor returned and informed Constance.

"Miss Hardbroom, you have nothing to worry about. You're not ill with anything contagious. You're pregnant." She said.

Constance was shell-shocked. "P-Pregnant? Are you quite sure?" She asked.

"Yes, you are six weeks along." The doctor told her.

"Six weeks?" Constance cried.

"Yes…Judging by your reaction, you are not happy with the news. If you like, we can discuss other options…" The doctor ventured.

"If you are suggesting abortion, I will do no such thing…It's not that I don't want this…you see, my niece just lost her parents. She is a pupil at this school. Her mother was my sister. This is just a little too much right now." Constance told her.

"Oh…I'm so sorry for your loss…" The doctor said sympathetically. "I will refer you to an Obstetrician, Dr. LeCoeur. She's a very good friend of mine. I need you to start taking prenatal vitamins so you can ensure the healthy development of your baby."

"Yes,yes…whatever needs to be done." Constance agreed.

After the doctor left, Constance sat in her room.

"Miss Hardbroom?" She heard the timid voice of her niece call. She couldn't blame Mildred for not calling her Aunt Constance. Perhaps it was too soon…

"Yes, Mildred?" Constance answered.

"Are you okay?" Mildred inquired, carefully.

"Yes…If you haven't heard already, I am…pregnant."

"Are you…happy about it?" asked Mildred.

"It is very new to me…I can't blame anything on an innocent infant." Constance admitted.

"I'll be here to help you…Aunt Constance." Mildred told her.

Constance's heart skipped a beat. She lifted her face to look at her niece.

"I'm glad to have you…Millie." She said tentatively. "Will you change your surname to Hardbroom-Hubble? Your mother's full name was and will always be Persephone Lynn Hardbroom-Hubble."

Mildred thought for a moment. "I couldn't think of any better way to honour her memory as well as Dad's. So, from this day on, I am and always will be Mildred Isolt Hardbroom-Hubble."

Constance's eyes were shining.

"We'll get Miss Cackle to get in touch with a judge to make it legal." Mildred said.

"Mildred… It has always been legal.. But, when you entered the Academy, your mother didn't want any special treatment because of your bloodline, so she put your name as Mildred Hubble." said Constance. "This is why I have always been hard on you. I want to see you succeed as the powerful witch I know you can be. When you showed that talent at the end of the previous school year, I knew of your true potential."

"We will have to think of names…" Mildred said thoughtfully. "Who is the father?"

"His name is Edward Malkavian, a wizard I had known since Weirdsister College." Constance told Mildred.

"You went to Weirdsister College?" Mildred was incredulous. "I thought you went straight to Witch Training College after Witch Academy?"

"No…I went to Weirdsister College before Witch Training College." Constance admitted. "That is how I know what a prestigious Magickal College it is."

Mildred smiled softly. Miss Hardbroom was opening up. She was becoming so special to Mildred. "What names would you like for a boy? And the same for a girl?"

"Well…I have no idea what I would even name a boy…probably something after the father…. As for a girl, it only seems fair to name her Constance Night star Lynn Hardbroom. Constance, after myself, because I have always wondered what it would be like to have a Constance Hardbroom Jr. Nightstar because I would like something reflective of the Magickal and Mystical besides my name, and Lynn is after your mother because it was her middle name. But the baby wouldn't be called Connie as that nickname I only let my parents and sister call me it. She would be called Star."

"Star…That's pretty, Aunt Constance." Mildred said.

"Thank you. It is also unique." Constance replied.

"It is." Mildred agreed. "Well, little one, whatever you may be, you have a mother and a cousin who can't wait to see you when you are ready to come." Said Mildred, leaning towards Constance's still-flat abdomen.

Constance softened." "Hello, little one…" She began . "I don't know when hearing begins to develop, but if you can hear me, this is your…Mummy's voice. I am not sure what sort of a mother I will be to you. My mother was always very loving, but my Grandmother was very hurtful and still is… She hurt me very badly, little one. And I don't want her to ever influence you in any way, hurt you, or even touch one hair on your head." She echoed the words which her sister had said in the letter to Mildred.

Mildred fetched Constance a glass of water when she began to get queasy again.

"Would you please pass me the prenatal vitamins? " Constance asked. "The doctor told me to start right away." Mildred did as told, passing her Aunt the small container. Constance dutifully took her vitamins.

An announcement was soon made to the school.

"HB pregnant?" The girls were stunned.

"I'm sure you all know that Mildred Hubble is Miss Hardbroom's niece. She has officially taken her birth name of Mildred Isolt Hardbroom-Hubble following the deaths of her parents, her mother having been Persephone Lynn Hardbroom-Hubble. Miss Hardbroom is also her legal guardian. Please do not treat Mildred any differently." Said Amelia. "Bullying is and will not be tolerated."

"Yes,Miss Cackle." Chorused the girls.