I had planned for this to be a 10 chapter story - but somehow writing this I just kept adding in words and making it longer so this shall be the penultimate chapter. Thank you to all of those who reviewed the last chapter! It amazes me how much support I have received for my writings during my time on fanfiction. I have been inspired by so many beautiful stories, which have in turn increased my own confidence (which is definitely needed as a Primary Teacher!)

It's rare that I read a story without reviewing, I believe that connection with your audience is what fanfiction is all about. Please return me the favour :)

xx

Chapter 10

Four years later

The older you get, the faster the holidays seem to come. The holiday season seemed to have arrived faster than ever that particular year in Mildred's opinion, along with some rather beautiful paper-white snow which lingered prettily the hilltops surrounding her university halls. She was in her final year at WeirdsisterUniversity, on track to achieve full first class honours in her degree.

Packing her bags ready for home she smiled at the thought of seeing her parents, who she hadn't seen since the start of term. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, lectures had finished over a week ago but her and few other of the more serious students had remained behind to get a start on assignments due after the holiday. If someone had told her a few years ago that she had become one of the 'more serious students' she would have scoffed, but somehow she had become just that.

After discovering who Miss Hardbroom truly was, Mildred had built up a great relationship with her previously despised teacher for her remaining time at Cackles. Miss Hardbroom was always as stern with her, but her attitude to Mildred had noticeably changed for the better and as such Mildred's abilities thrived. She had pur 100% into her studies and tried to remain out of trouble (of course Enid had always managed to get her into some messes). Mildred hadn't seen her form mistress since she had left Cackles and part of her missed her a great deal, not that she ever told anyone that obviously.

She had just been cursing her lack of packing skills as she tried to close her suitcase when her old-nemesis-turned-friend Ethel Hallow had almost ran into her room. Mildred could tell Ethel had some gossip of some sort. She was always the first to know everything.

"Millie, you'll never guess what! - " she spoke excitedly, continuing without a breath, "- I've just gotten off the phone with Daddy. Mistress Broomhead - you remember her? - well she's been arrested by the Witches' Guild. Something about an embezzlement charge from one of the public sectors! Anyway it's not just that, she was arrested last week and it turns there's a whole history of complaints regarding mistreatment of pupils at her old school. Mistreatment!"

"Are you serious?" Mildred asked, barely daring to believe.

"Yes! She managed to cover them up all this time. But now she's in jail, people are actually speaking out about her! Thank goodness she didn't stay at Cackles long! Can you actually imagine?"

"Oh Ethel! That's the best news ever!" Mildred sat on the edge of her bed, dazed with shock at the amazing turn of events. Ethel looked confused for a moment at Mildred's strange reply.

"Whatever, I'm gonna call Dru," Ethel called as she left the room. "Merry Christmas Millie!"

"Merry Christmas Ethel", Mildred called back, a grin from ear to ear. Mildred could not be any happier, justice had finally been served. Evil had been beaten. She hoped they would throw away to key to that evil woman's cell. Miss Hardbroom was finally getting her true fairytale ending and a chance to put her memories behind her, to live without fear for the first time in years. She hoped Miss Hardbroom would be celebrating somewhere, but then realised that she wouldn't - for no one else knew what lay beneath her tartan-clad diary cover.

xxx

She was freezing despite her long, woolly coat and bobble hat. She had clasped her ice cold gloved hands to her broom and tried to ignore the sounds of her teeth chattering. The icy conditions made her think back to the dreaded flying lessons they had taken each year with HB which would continue rain or shine.

She felt foolish for doing what she was about to do, but she made herself keep flying. Smiling softly with nostalgia when she finally saw an old castle perched on a hill below.

She landed rather smoothly for once in the courtyard, stashed her broom in the broom-shed and made her way towards the big oak door. Everything looked exactly as she had left it three years before.

She steeled her nerve and knocked loudly, a knock which echoed through the courtyard in the icy wind. She waited for a few minutes, each passing second made her want to turn back. She was just about to give up when…

"Mildred Hubble" a familiar voice from behind her made her jump. She turned round and grinned as she saw her old form teacher, looking like she hadn't aged a day, with a dark cloak concealing her usual black dress and her long dark hair tied in a high pony (it was the holidays after all).

"Miss Hardbroom!" Mildred gushed. "Oh it's so lovely to see you!"

Constance smiled at Mildred's enthusiasm towards her, but then frowned slightly as she realised the girl must have flown quite a distance on a cold December evening to be there. "You had better come in Mildred; you look frozen to the bone - A warm cup of tea perhaps?" Without waiting for the answer she conjured up a pot and two china cups on a tray and led Mildred towards to staffroom.

xxx

"Have you heard?" Mildred questioned five minutes later after observing her old teacher sipping her tea slowly and calmly. She was still unable to figure out the woman's guarded facial expressions.

"Yes," Constance replied softly, "quite some news."

"I'm so glad, justice has finally been served! I hope she rots in there!..."

"I share your sentiment Mildred, but I've gotten what I wished for. I'm glad she cannot inflict her ways on anyone else," Miss Hardbroom smiled gently.

"You can tell your story now, what she did to you Miss Hardbroom, there is nothing to be fearful of," Mildred stared at the woman, who continued sipping her tea. "You're not going to….are you?" she realised.

"No," Constance said simply, "some stories are not meant to be told."

"But-why? After all this time," Mildred raised her eyebrows.

Constance sighed, "Mildred, can you remember how much you despised me as your teacher?", she carried on ignoring Mildred's spluttering attempt to protest. "Before that night I mean…. Then afterwards you started turning up to class early, putting in extra effort in your homework. It wasn't just a natural change in your work ethic." She looked pointedly at the girl, daring her to disagree.

"I… I.. guess I just thought you could do without my hassle," Mildred looked slightly sheepishly.

"You pitied me Mildred. I could about bare it because you were the only one and it made you work hard. I couldn't handle everyone seeing me that way. My past is my past, I do not want to be defined by it."

Mildred thought she understood that, after all she herself didn't want to be defined as the Worst Witch forever.

"My tale is a tale of misery and woe," Miss Hardbroom acknowledged looking into the fire. "This is my happy ending, however simple it may seem to others. Some people are not made to be protagonists."

xxx

Mildred stayed at the castle until late, chatting to Miss Hardbroom about her life at Weirdsister and the new pupils at the academy.

"-none quite like you Mildred though of course. But they keep me on my toes."

"I bet you keep them on their toes too though Miss," Mildred smiled.

"Quite," Constance had replied.

Before she left, Miss Hardbroom had cast a powerful spell on Mildred so that she would remain warm until she reached her parents' house.

"Thank you Mildred, for visiting I mean. I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and a great final term at university. I'll be seeing you at your graduation I'm afraid; I usually get roped into handing out diplomas," Constance explained with a small smirk.

"I'll look forward to it Miss," Mildred reached into her inside coat pocket and retrieved a small messily wrapped brown package, which she handed over shyly. "Merry Christmas Miss," she smirked.

Constance rolled her eyes but accepted the parcel. "I hope you did not spend too much Mildred."

"I didn't, but I hope you like it anyway!" Mildred grinned. "Goodbye Miss!" she enveloped the tall bony woman in a hug, almost giggling at the way she tensed up.

"Stay in touch Mildred," Constance muttered into her ear. The girl did not reply but seemed to grasp the older woman tighter for a moment.

Constance smiled as she watched Mildred set off on her broomstick almost elegantly, it had been such a lovely surprise to see that particular pupil.

She wondered back into the staffroom with her present still clutched in her bony hands. It had been a long time since she had received a present from anyone other than the other teachers and it meant a lot to her. She put the parcel on the flagstone floor and flicked her wrist sending a mix of red and green colours into the air. A few seconds later a beautiful Christmas tree had shaded her present, adding a festive glow to the room.

xxx