Its Quarter Past 2 in the morning.. I'm Ill. I'm just hoping this is okay all things considered. (Also, Happy 40th Chapter in total!)
Verucabeyotch: I do feel like He's an idiot.. But I feel like he'd be a fun idiot to write. I also found his Crush On Miss Hardbroom intriguing XD. I don't ship them personally, But it was interesting to me. I somewhat worry with the founding stone, that I'll end up over complicating it. If so, I'll probably add in a 'Lore' Chapter about it. (Kinda like Mildreds reading about it) To better explain things.
Curlywitch14: What's everyone's problem with Mr Daisy? I thought he was funny!
I'm gonna come up with an OC instead for Spell Science.. Make sure to leave Suggestions for that! (Can be names you think are interesting, Style, Looks, Personality traits. Etc. Give me inspiration!)
And… Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Pupils, Potion, Punishment.
Mildred didn't know what was going to be said in the Assembly. Thankfully, they hadn't mentioned her Mother. At least, they did not state it was her mother. She had not fully understood the reaction to 'Rogue Witch' . Not Until Maud and Enid explained its rarity. Most Witches don't have the power to be rogue. While with Wizards, it's far more common. If she was raised by a witching family, She'd know this. But every year, Hell, Every month she was finding something out that she Should of known! Hopefully now with Hecate, Mildred would start to pick up on some of the other aspects of being a Witch. It's far more than -Just- Magic. There's a history, and culture behind it. Mildred had thought about that the entire way to her form.
No matter how early she was, it seemed Miss Hardbroom was always two steps ahead. She was Two Minutes early, Yet, Hecate was already there when they walked in! The Three Girls stood in the doorway. Maud checked the clock, confirmed they were not late this time. "Whenever you're done Gawking, You can take your seats" Miss Hardbroom Didn't even look up from the paper on her table. It was almost like she could smell them. It made Mildred Mildly self conscious. Without another word, but plenty of knowing looks, the three went over to there Stations and Perched on their stools. Miss Hardbroom placed her Pen down to look up at her students. "We Will be having Displaced Pentangle Students Join our form. I expect everyone.." She shot Maud, Mildred and Enid a Glare. "To Be on their best behaviour" Despite the changes, She knew she would never change from being one of the worst behaved witches in the school. It wasn't Intentional, it just.. Sort of happened.
A Nock came from the door. "Enter!" Hecate Barked at the door. Watching as a small woman with deep red hair walked in. She wore it up in a messy bun that Mildred could only say looked like a Birds Nest, Hair was sticking out from all over the place! "Ah.. Miss Gimlett." Hecate Greeted her with Mild disdain.
"Miss Hardbroom!" Miss Gimlett spoke, Her Voice Getting higher and Higher as she spoke. "Don't Mind Me! I just have Students to -drop- off!" She spoke with so much Excitement, Mildred was suddenly really looking forward to her Lessons!
Miss Gimlett moved over to the side to let a few Students Walk in. "Take a seat, girls" Miss Hardbroom spoke before Miss Gimlett left the room, closing the door behind her. There were a few she didn't know. But, There was a couple that really caught her attention. One being Drusilla, Guess Ethel Loved that. The Other one, was a shy looking Andrea. Mildred hadn't forgotten her friendliness, or Kindness at Pentangles.. But she had forgotten that she would be one of the students here. Without hesitation, she waved at her, prompting a smile From Andrea before she walked over to sit by Maud.
"Maud, Enid, This is Andrea Sledwick. A Friend from Pentangles" She spoke low to not Incur the wrath of Ethel, who was staring daggers at her as it is, and Miss Hardbroom who looked displeased as it is. Her Friends, Including Andrea, Exchanged Well Meets to one another before their attention was drawn to HB.
"Do Pay Attention to the article i am placing in front of you" Miss Hardbroom drawled out as she placed a piece of paper in front of everyone. Mildred Quickly looked it over to see a list of 'recommended' revision material. She smiled when she spotted under flying 'Broomstick Standing'. That's one thing she was quite confident in!
"You will be studying every thing on the list within your lessons in the next Two Months! Speaking of next month.." Halloween, Mildred could feel that was the next topic of conversion! Mildred had always loved Halloween, But celebrating as a witch was just something else! "We will be putting on a display for All Hallow's End! If you do not master the crafts asked of you, You will not be taking part" Mildred had almost forgotten how harsh Miss Hardbroom's voice could be, It had a bite that made you scared without any cause to be scared. It just had that tone. That.. Hiss. She could make a dragon back down! "You will also.." It was also scary how fast that Hiss can disappear, and back to calm and neutral. "Be given the chance to join the witching Hour" She didn't sound impressed with that. Mildred knew that any day you could have a witching hour.. But, None was as sacred as one appearing just after All Hallow's Eve.
Mildred Knew how much Tradition meant to Miss Hardbroom. She thrived off it. She also knew how much Pippa preferred Modern Witching. It came at an odd time for them to finally be taking the traditional route. Maybe it was to prove a point, Or to teach something. Or.. Something else. Mildred was still trying to work it out. "In The Library, You will find Books on All Hallow's End. I suggest you read up on it ahead of the event" It wasn't a Suggestion. If you didn't read at least one book on the matter, You were getting detention, end of. Mildred did not need a detention so early in the year. "With that out of the way. You have an Hour to make a Reanimation Potion!" Form could never -Just- Be form. Mildred Bet Miss Bats class didn't have to start Chanting. Or Mr Rowan-Webb's class to write an essay!
Despite this, Mildred went about with Enid collecting the Supplies needed. A Bit of Bee's Brain, Mustard Seeds, Silverweed leaves, Chokeberry, Darknut and some Henbane. They Placed it into their Pot, snapping their fingers to light the fire underneath. Potion making was an art! Or so they kept getting told. They Mixed the pot up, watching it turn from random ingredients, to mush and then to Dust.. Only problem is, The Dust was Blue, Not Pink. Mildred and Enid Exchanged a look. This wasn't meant to happen. Mildred had messed up the Potion once before, but that was because she was clumsy. Not because it was the wrong colour. "All of nothing?" Mildred asked.
"Would be a shame for all our hard work to go to waste," Enid Said with a lopsided smile. They took a pinch and sprinkled it over the Spoon. "To this Spoon, I give life, To cut the e-" Enid Didn't get to finish her spell, before the Spoon Flew Off, Narrowly missing a now annoyed HB, Smashing a few glass bottles around the room, before aiming like an arrow, right into Ethel's forehead, Making the young witch fall backwards in pain.
"Ow!" Ethel yelled out, hand rubbing her forehead. Her eyes went past Enid, To look directly at Mildred. "You'll Pay for this Mildred Hu-" Before she could finish, Miss Hardbroom cut in.
"Mildred and Enid!" She sounded more mad than she did at them starting a Forest fire.. Then again, Mildred was sure HB thought something would go wrong. Perhaps she had hopes that wouldn't mess up such a simple Potion.. Again. "I have never meet two more Incompetent witches!" As true as it was, It still Hurt. Hecate pointed to the door. "Miss Cackle's Office. Now."
Mildred and Enid looked at each other before starting to walk out. "I knew it shouldn't have been Blue.." Mildred Muttered. She had no idea why it turned that colour… But it had. In Hindsight, She should have told Miss Hardbroom before putting it on the Spoon. She hoped it would just be null, that nothing would happen. Not that they would both Make the spoon come alive, and have it be a speeder. Enid and Mildred came to a stop outside of Miss Cackles Office. Mildred had yet to be in here twice in one day. First for her mom, now for this..
"You can knock.." Enid Said, Standing back slightly. Mildred Sighed and shook her head. Knocking lightly at the door.
"Come in!" Miss Cackles Voice from the other side, She thankfully didn't have a Form. Mildred could just imagine HB sending them to a form, if she had one. Simply to embarrass them in front of more students.
Mildred Opened the door and said "He- Miss Hardbroom sent us.." She almost slipped up. Not that, Miss Cackle would mind much if she did. Mildred felt she understood to some extent.
Miss Cackle let out a long sigh. "On the first day, Mildred? Enid? Close the door and have a seat." Her Voice Sounded almost tired. Despite this, she still had a job to do, and that job included scolding misbehaving girls. Said girls did as asked, closing the door and walking over to take their seats. "What Happened."
"We were making a Reanimation Potion.. And the spoon went crazy" Mildred said very simply, eyes looking over to Enid, Who had her head downcast, looking moody and slumped.
"It hit Ethel in the head" Mildred hadn't missed the small smirk as Enid said that. It would have been rather funny, Had Mildred not been worrying about HBs reaction the whole time. Ethel did deserve it.
"I see." Miss Cackle said, As if she did actually see it happen. Mildred supposed it wasn't hard to imagine. "Do you know what-" As if on Cute, Miss Hardbroom Transferred to Miss Cackles Right Hand, Looking displeased at both the girls. "Ah, Miss Hardbroom." She Greeted. "As I was saying, Girls. Do you know what went wrong?"
Mildred and Enid Looked at each other before looking back at Miss Cackle. "It wasn't Pink" Enid Said, Before Mildred added in "It was Blue"
"That is because you added in Chokeberry instead of Bainberry." Miss Hardbroom's voice was level, controlled, and commanding. She spoke facts, and nothing else. "Instead of Bringing your Spoon to life, and controlling it. You Instead made it act as if it was a fast flying broomstick. An Out of control one at that"
"You're Third Year Students, Girls.. I'm Rather Disappointed" Mildred Knew that. She could see it in her eyes, in her voice, in the way her eyebrows came together. "Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"
"Sorry, Miss Cackle" They Spoke in unison, Miss Cackle gave them a pointed look, so they added in. "Sorry, Miss Hardbroom.." It was as if they had been practising it.
"What will be the punishment, Miss Hardbroom?" Miss Cackle Turned to look at Hecate, seemingly content with their 'sorrys'.
"A Weeks Detention for messing up a simple potion on the first day of school, while Simultaneously hurting a fellow Witch." If no one had gotten hurt, they would have only gotten a couple of days. Then Again, If they hadn't been sent to talk to Miss Cackle, they could have seen HB giving them two weeks. Perhaps even she understood the level of punishment Miss Cackle's disappointed was.
"There you go girls, You'll have a week Detention will Miss Hardbroom" She just had to clarify. "Now, if that'll be all. You're dismissed." Mildred and Enid didn't need telling again before promptly leaving the room. It was the study period, and then back into Potions for detention..
This year was meant to go smoothly.
Alright, Story Time with Hanna! I was on VC with a friend of mine from World of Warcraft the other week, And he mentioned that it was 3am, so it was the witching hour. And I was like "Em… That's The Hour after Midnight". We looked it up, and we were both right. Honestly love that for us. But, It turns out there are two witching hours depending on the folklore.
In this world, I'm going to say there are two witching hours, but it's up to the Covens' preference which one they use. (If they choose not to use both! Go big or go home, Wichs!)
Make sure to leave that Review!