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Curlywitch14: Thank you! I truly love their relationship. They have a lot in common, I think it's brilliant. (More so when i add in background to be a common ground)

Verucabeyotch: I'm glad! :D

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Chapter 10: What's a last name..

Hecate had avoided Mildred like the plague. It wasn't anything personal to Mildred, not really. She just worried that if she looked at Mildred too soon, she'd be reminded too much of the night before. Instead, she dedicated herself to her paperwork, marking work and trying to keep her mind on anything but. After breakfast had finished, and the students had gone to class, Hecate Transferred herself from her laboratory to Miss Cackles Office. Making the older witch jump and almost spill her tea. "Goodness, Hecate" She scolded. Hecate would never admit it, but it did bring her joy when she made people jump.

"My.. Apologies" She wasn't really sorry, But It was polite to say so nonetheless. "Will.. Miss Pentangle will be joining us this morning?" Every Tuesday morning without Fail, Hecate and Ada would come together for a brief meeting. It was the Head and Deputy meeting. Seeing as Hecate would be sharing her Duties with Pippa, it only made sense for her to join them.

"Actually, no, Not this week. I will be meeting with her this afternoon, after her class." Ada stood, moving to make Hecate her own cup of tea, as she usually did. "I thought, given it was the first day. I'd speak to you both separately. Touch base, as some might say".

Hecate Nodded, taking the tea off Ada and sitting herself down across from her. "Sounds Reasonable" It did sound rather Reasonable, and yet worrying at the same time. She dreaded to think what Pippa and her might actually talk about. She supposed it was Odd, being at a different school permanently. It cant be easy for the students either. Everyone was displaced.

"How's Mildred?" Ada asked, she'd never asked about her young ward. Not since she first got placed with her, and it was more like she was cheeking in to make sure Mildred wasnt doing anything stupid. This time, it was idle chatter.

"Shes doing well, I believe". It was only the second day, she hadn't seen her however, and she couldn't very well speak on her behalf. She did however have detention for the week, But Miss Cackle knew that. She wasn't asking how academically she was doing.

"I'm glad to hear it, I can't imagine this to be easy for her, but it's nice to see her cracking on." Hecate liked that her friend cared enough to ask, and cared enough to comment on her. Pippa cheeked, during their calls. She supposed that was a little different however. "Now.. Miss Drill has requested to continue Sports day this year, But I'm thinking we'll have it in spring, Around March time."

Miss Hardbroom Hated Sports day. It was a waste of the girls time, as far as she cared. But, Some of them seemed to enjoy it. "Very well" Hecate scraped out, taking a sip from her drink. She'd leave the planning to Dimity, Well, Most of it. She still had to make sure nothing was going to blow up or whatnot.

"Gwen and Algernon would like their wedding to be here for the Winter Solstice.. I'm going to leave most of the Planning to them, But it'll mean a day off school for all the students." Ada took a sip of her tea and looked down at her list. "Gwen would like a Choir.. And Algernon would like it to be in own clothing". She looked back up to Hecate.

"I'm sure we can arrange that." Hecate had known Gwen since she Was Eleven. That was a long time ago now, Gwen, as a teacher and as a colleague, was always a Grandmother figure. You could go to her with any problem, should you wish. She wasn't the strongest, but she was the Kindest. Hecate couldn't help but feel happy for her. It was an odd sensation, so little happened to the teachers to be generally happy for them.

"Now.. Lastly, Hallow's Eve" Miss Cackle started with a gleeful smile. "I understand how important Tradition is to you.." Hecate couldn't help but think that it should be important to all witches, Without tradition they were nothing after all. "But, I'd like to keep some more modern aspects." She pulled a small plan out from under her desk, clearly hiding it from hecate.

They had discussed this last year. Some things were already set, so there was a thing. As planned, there was the display, and the Midnight Witching hour. There would also be tricks without consequences and a party. So, Hecate supposed it really would be a mitch match day. "All forms should give a lesson on the Importance of this day, and what it means to be a witch on it" Hecate all but commanded.

"Oh, Of course. Especially for the Witching Hour!" Ada had reluctantly agreed to it. The teachers usually partook, but the students did not. They had agreed on third years and above being able to take part, should they wish. Hecate would swar till she was blue that it was because thirteen Plus was the best ages to start taking part.. Despite the small nagging voice at the back of her head that said 'Yes, But isn't that Mildreds age range?'. She refused to go soft.

Hecate's head turned to the window as she heard Miss Drill yelling something out, Out of curiosity she stood and walked over. Before her eyes, she saw Mildred quickly catch up to Ethel on her broom, and soon overtake her. Her mouth twitched as she fought the proud smile. Ada Noticed her watching, and came to stand beside her. Despite avoiding her, Hecate found her eyes fixated. Although the memories of the night before still haunted her, she was far less focused on such a thing now she was looking at her.

"For a clumsy witch, she is doing well" She Commented, taking a knowing sip from her tea. Hecate chose not to comment. Instead watching with eagle eyes. She couldn't help but sigh as Mildred went flying at the end, she was stuck in her head once again. A Problem she didn't seem able to overcome. "Oh dear, She needs to work on stopping.." Miss Cackle chuckled lightly, waving back down at Miss Drill.

"One step at a time, I suppose.." Hecate muttered out. It was true, Although Hecate could be harsh on such matters. When it came to Mildred, she needed to take this one step at a time. She Won. Next time, she will win and stop at the end. Hecate had never been one that needed to take it one step at a time, so having to slow everything done was.. Difficult for her. She coughed lightly and started moving. "If that'll be all, I need to prepare for my fifth years" Ada nodded and waved her goodbye with a quick reminder that next week, Pippa would be joining them.

The rest of Hecate's day had gone well, cornered by Miss Drill to ask what the appropriate gift would be for a winner of a race. She knew she was on about Mildred, given she had seen her win. She'd answered with Mildreds best interest at heart, while also trying to seem like she didn't care about such things. She still had a reputation to hold, something she had been reminding herself of all day long. Her Fifth years were easy to deal with, and her last class of the day was with her second years. Sybill had almost messaged up her potion, but managed to fix it in the last moments. She was nowhere near as brilliant as her sisters, but there was still hope for her yet.

Soon came detention, She'd Begrudgingly allowed Maud to help the other two out again. She had the feeling she'd end up in detention all week long at this rate. It was the first real time that day her and Mildred had truly come face to face. She'd seen her that morning, and had managed to miss her at lunch. But now they were stuck together for the next forty Minutes. Maud and Enid whispered to one another as they worked on organising all the ingredients to its rightful places. Mildred was surprisingly quiet during it all, her eyes flicking up to watch Hecate every now and then. When the girls had finished in only Thirty Minutes, Hecate had dismissed them. They'd finished faster than she thought they would as it is.

"I'll catch you up" Mildred said as her friends left the room, Maud closing the door behind her. That in itself was alarming to Hecate. Mildred clearly wanted to talk, and whatever it was about, it couldn't be anything good. "I'm sorry" Mildred whispered, her eyes now downcast to look at hecate's desk as she stood before it. Hecate tried to figure out what she might be sorry for. Maybe Detention? Maybe falling off her broom? Maybe she did something Hecate hadn't realised? When Hecate didn't speak, Mildred continued. "I didn't know he was your.." Mildred looked at her briefly then back down. "Brother".

Hecate had not intended to tell her, not yet. It'd been years, and yet she still felt pain over it. She knew Mildred had the right to be informed, but at the same time, she didn't want to tell her. Hecate wanted to change the conversation, but she didn't want it to seem like she was changing it. This topic would come up a lot in the next few months, she couldn't be seen avoiding it every time. "Is that what you were thinking of while flying?" She eventually settled on asking. If Mildred answered as she thought she would, she could steer it in the direction of congratulating her on her winning.

"I wish.." Mildred Muttered, now looking up to Hecate. That wasn't the answer she was expecting.

"Then what were you thinking of?" Hecate pushed. Whatever it was, it was bothering her. Or perhaps her brother really was bothering her, it just didn't at that moment. Teenage girls were complicated.

"I hate my name" Mildred blurted out, her eyes now locking with Hecates. She seemed almost scared, Timid. "Not Mildred but.. H-Hubble.." She eventually got it out. Now just looking sad. "I hear it and I just.. I just remember what I did to my mom.."Hecate knew she would. It's why none of the teachers had been using it, and why she cut ethel off every time she was about to say it. "Ethel said it earlier.." Naturally. "She said it the other day too, But.. It hit differently today." Mildred explained further. "And all I could think was how much failure that name brings.. I don't want to be that witch.. I don't want to be a Hubble.."

"Then, Who would you be?" Hecate asked. She had no idea where this conversation was going anymore, She didn't know what Mildred wanted from her. Or how best to ease the girl's concerns.

"I don't know.. Anything else would be nice" She looked at Hecate almost hopeful. It clicked then what she could do, and it scared her almost as much as it warmed her heart to offer it.

"Like.. A Hardbroom?" She asked, moving round to the other side of the Table. Mildred looked shocked but slowly nodded her head. Although teachers having children in the school wasn't completely uncommon, Miss Cackle was one of those children after all, This was far more delicate, as she wasn't joining the school as a Hardbroom. "You wouldn't be able to do it this year." Hecate said. "Maybe not even the next.." Mildred looked down. "At least not publicly. It would only add fuel to the likes of Ethel's fire, and may not entirely do you well in the short run" She explained.

Mildred nodded slowly looking back up to Hecate. "You said.. Publicly.. So.. I could be a Hardbroom now.. I just wouldn't be able to tell the whole school.." She was slowly putting that together. "I'm okay with that." She said, Finally gaining some of her confidence back.

"For a Minimum of this year, What you chose to do with your name in your fourth year, is up to you." She didn't want to tell the girl to be a Hardbroom. She never imagined there would be anymore Hardbrooms as it is.. But, Should she choose in a year's time to start going by Mildred Hardbroom, then Hecate wouldn't stop her, or complain.. It was a little scary that thought. It was almost cementing Mildreds Place in her life, as her ward and daughter figure. Hecate looked to the time, wanting nothing more than to escape. "You should head to dinner." She announced. Mildred nodded, and for a moment looked as if she might hug her again, To Hecates surprise, she almost wanted her to.

"Thank you." Mildred said, Already looking like a boulder had been lifted from her shoulders, her small cheeky smile coming back and a bounce returning to her step as she saw herself out.

Hecate had expected meny talks with Mildred, but that one wasn't one of them.. Times were changing in their lives.

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