It's after midnight, that makes it the 31st! I'm currently writing chapter: 44... So, im a little ahead of myself..

But, Its A New year for the Witches of cackles! What are we hoping to see come around for them, and for the second half of this here Fanfic? I wanna hear what you're suggestions are, and anything you'd like to see! I may already have a plan for something similer, but it never hurts to have extra input!

ENJOY!

Chapter 35: A New Year

Come New years eve, Mildred was dreading the school year starting up. She was having fun at home.. Even when Hecate insisted on her studying, it was pleasant! On this particular night, she'd be mirroring with Muad and Enid before joining Hecate and Pippa. It was strange being allowed to wonder about the school when it was practically empty.

From her relocation, most of the teachers went home for the Holidays. Miss Bat and Mr Rowan-webb are on their honeymoon. Mr Crabgrass was still about, but he was spending some time with the Librarian. But, Mildred wasn't supposed to talk about it. What happens in the Staff Wing, stays in the staff wing.

Mildred sat in wait as the Mirror chimed in to Enid and Maud at their respective homes. "Well Meet, Enid, Maud." Mildred started.

"Well meet, Mildred. I take it you've had a good holiday?" Maud spoke.

"Well meet, Millie, what did you get?" Enid chimed in, overshadowing Maud's question with something far more important.

"You go First, Enid." As much as Mildred wanted to tell them, she knew her friends also wanted to boost.

"Well, I got a new broom, some new capes and dresses.. I got a jokers spell book, so I can really try and get expelled now!" Enid Joked. Mildred Hoped she joked. "And Maud?"

"I got some new clothing, mom baked me a cake too! I also got some jewellery too." She held up her arm, showing the bracelet clinging on. "And Mildred?"

"I got.. A Box of Sweets and stuff off Pippa. A Joint gift of a couple of books. Off Hecate i got some art supplies and.." Mildred took hold of the necklace tucked under hoodie, pulling it out to reveal the Watch. Hecate's Watch.

Her friend's jaws dropped. "No way!" They yelled in unison.

"She gave you it? Miss Hardbroom.. Gave you her prized watch? For like, more than one night?" Enid sounded very confused, bewildered and surprised.

"Yea.. It's mine.." Mildred said, still in awe of it. She'd only taken it off to sleep, otherwise it'd been around her neck no matter what.

"That's great, Mildred!" Maud always supported Mildred, well, ninety percent of the time. It's times like this that remind Mildred of why they connected so much in the first place.

"Can I.. Tell you guys a secret?" Mildred asked after a moment, another important announcement waying on her mind.

"Of Course you can, Millie." Enid and Maud smiled at her.

"Pippa and Hecate may.. Be engaged.." Her friend's jaws dropped once more. "I spotted the ring, and Pippa said they were keeping it on the down low.. So keep it to yourselves.." Mildred was still in awe over the whole thing.. On Boxing day she spotted the ring on Hecate's finger.. -The- Finger. She'd cornered Pippa to ask about it..

'Maybe.. But you know how Hecate is.. So we're keeping it on the low. It's not a secret, Mildred. But we're not about to shout it from the roof either..' Pippa had told her. She understood it, to some degree. Hecate was a private person.

"Will you be going to the wedding?" Maud asked, while Enid still looked shocked.

"Well.. I'm not sure. I think so.." Mildred answered in all honesty. She couldn't imagine them not inviting her, but at the same time, she could imagine them having a wedding with just them and the ordain.

"Of Course they'll invite her.." Enid chimed in, finally snapping out of it. "There practically her parents.. They wouldn't leave her out of it." The way Enid so easily referred to them as her parents got her, because at the end of the day, that's what they were. Her parents.. Mildred and her friends chatted for a bit longer before they departed for the evening.. They'd see each other again in a week anyway.

Mildred took the long way back, sinking into the last few hours of the year. Mildred reflected on her last years here.. This time last year, she was seeing the new year with her mom.. Gushing over her new job as a teacher.. Then Mildred went and stole the wishing star.. And things rapidly went downhill from there.

It's strange to think how her life had changed. Since that moment Julie got ceremoniously thrown through a wall, She'd been on an up and down roller coaster.

Her mind went back to that terrible day, and how Silent Hecate had been.. It was startling. Hecate was hardly the most talkative woman she'd ever met, but the full on silent treatment the woman gave her that day was scary.. What was even scarier, was her yelling at her in the woods.. Mildred had put herself in danger, and as such, put hecate in danger too.

'I don't care if you were meeting up with the Great Wizard! You Do not lie to me, you wretched girl!' Hecate had screamed at her, She felt positively wretched in that moment. Mildred thought about how different a mood that was compared to the more recent 'Mildred. As my.. Ward.. It is my duty and pleasure'. Mildred tried not to make Hecate mad, but Mildred was still trouble, even if she wasn't a Hubble so much anymore.

Soon Mildreds feet took her back to the Apartment, with only ten minutes to spare. She entered to find Hecate and Pippa sat on the couch, three small glasses of white wine on the table.

"How are your friends, Millie?" Pippa asked, tapping the spot between her and Hecate. Mildred smiled as she walked over to sit down besides the pair.

"There good, Enid got a new broom, and Maud got some new jewellery…" Mildred explained, it seemed all her friends had a good holiday.

"Oh I am glad!" Pippa spoke in full honesty. "They'll have to show us sometime."

Mildred nodded slightly, her head turning to now look at Hecate. She couldn't make out the expression on her face, it was a mixture of interest and love..

Hecate quickly looked up to the clock at being caught. "It's about to turn Twelve."

Pippa looked up to the clock too. "So it is." She leaned forward, picking up the glass and holding it out to mildred, while still taking hold of her own. Mildred noted that there was less in her glass than the others, but at least she was getting some. "Make a wish as the clock strikes twelve.."

Moments past, before the clock chimed. 'I wish.. For everything to be as it has been this holiday, perfect.' Mildred thought before raising her glass to clank with the others. A New year.. What could Possibly go wrong.

HAVE A LOVELY NEW YEARS EVE! TRY NOT TO DRINK TOO MUCH!