It's strange to think we're on Chapter 40.. This is my longest fanfic. I do sometimes worry about it getting too long, some people really struggle with long fics. I like Long Fics.. I mean, in totel, this would make it 75 chapters to read.. Thats a lot! Either way, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

I take some insperation from the 98 series, but its mostly my own making. Enjoy!

Chapter 40: The Inspection Commences

It took some pleading, but Hecate managed to convince Ada to get the girls up a good half an hour early.. If it was up to Hecate, she'd of gotten them up at least an hour early.. If not two! They had no idea who they were sending, but knowing the council, it wouldn't be anyone too pleasant.

All students were to be in the Dining hall at the same time, no staggering. Every Child would be getting a hot meal at the same time for once.. The Inspector was supposed to be getting there for Seven, the same time the Breakfast would start serving. It was done very specifically so all students would be out of the halls, rather than hanging about all willy nilly.

Hecate had been hard at work the night prior too.. Making sure every classroom was clean, tidy, organised. They should be like that normally, but some teachers don't like keeping up… Various teachers had been sent up to wake the girls at exactly Half Six, telling them all to get ready and get downstairs for breakfast.

Hecate decided to take a moment to go back to the apartment, The last thing she wanted was for Mildred to be the late one. That'd look good on none of them. She transported herself right outside Mildreds door, giving it a small knock, after a moment, she walked in.

Mildred was still passed out on her bed, covers half hanging off and Hair spread across the pillow as if trying to swallow it up. There was something very endearing about being able to see such a pure and innocent sight.

Quietly, she walked over to Mildred, Generally shaking her shoulder, "Mildred." She spoke almost in a hushed tone, as to not startle her. She briefly wondered if she was going soft.. Previously, she'd burst in, and told her to get up now or face the consequences.

Mildred hummed as she began to wake up, looking up to Hecate through tired eyes. She looked confused for a moment before speaking. "Hecate..?"

Hecate sighed. "Yes, Mildred. Get. Up." Her voice held a small amount of harshness, she hardly had the time for this. Kindness and softness would just have to wait.

Mildred slowly sat up, very slowly, far too slowly. "Right.. Inspection.." Mildred let out a long yawn.

"Yes, and as Applicant.." She pointed to the sash on the end of Mildred's bed, pronouncing Applicant with precision. "You can not afford to be late, nor make any stupid mistakes."

Mildred looked at the shash, then back at Hecate. "I.. I can do it right..? I-if I try hard, and do my best.. I could do it…" She sounded so unsure of herself.

"You very well could.." Hecate took a step back, standing up straight. "Get dressed, and get to breakfast." She waved her hand, appearing in the main hall. There was only half an hour to spare.. So she wandered the halls, ushering students from place to place, making sure everyone was indeed in their full uniform.

Soon, the door knocked, loud, persistent.. And Almost ten minutes early.. Hecate appeared by the door, swinging it open.. Her Confidence and commanding figure faltered as she saw the woman standing before her..

"Miss.. Broomhead.." She spoke, her voice wavering ever so slightly. This was no good, in all her thoughts of this day, she'd never imagined seeing the old potions teacher standing before her.. If these children thought Joy Hecate Hardbroom to be hard, heartless and difficult? Then they had another thing coming. Miss Broomhead was worse than Hecate ever could be.. Worse than Hecate ever dreamt to be.. Seeing this woman standing before her, she couldn't help the panic build up. Those poor children were not prepared!

Miss Broomhead stood in full back, a bonnet on her head, and a vale trailing down one side, looping round to go over her shoulder. She looked ready for a funeral..

She looked Hecate up and down, judging every aspect of the witch. Hecate thought she looked quite alright, In her black skirt and turtleneck. High heeled and High Haired, she looked as propper as ever.

The only thing missing was her watch.. She felt rather lost without it some days.. However, in its place, on her neck, was a lovely brooch given to her by Mildred..

"Hecate." The woman spoke with nothing but detest.. "I'd heard you'd ended up working for Miss Cackle.." She knew she was here, and yet still came! The nerve..

Hecate did her best to regain her composure.. "Miss Broomhead. Miss Cackle has requested I take you straight to her office." The Order was actually to take a walk past the Dining hall, then to Miss Cackles office, while giving information about Cackles.

But Miss Broomhead worked here, she hardly needed a tour or any interesting information. What needed to happen now, was Miss Hardbroom needed to take her to Miss Cackle. Then warn the other teachers and students..

"Very well." Miss Broomhead replied with sharpness, following on as Hecate quickly and timely led her through the halls. Should Hecate spot a student, she'd quietly wave her hand, transporting them straight to the Dining hall, before Broomhead could see them.

Hecate didn't even bother knocking on Miss Cackle's door, just walked straight in, holding the door open for miss Broom head.

"Ah, Hecate, The Insp-" Ada started, only to get cut off by Hecate.

"Is right here, I trust you, remember Miss Broomhead." She guested to the Inspector in question, watching the colour drain from Ada's face..

"Good day, Miss Cackle.." Miss Broomhead stepped into the centre of the room. "What a.. Bright cardigan.." She was referring to Miss Cackle's signature Pink Cardigan. "Hardly befitting of a witch of your standards, However."

On that note, Hecate slowly closed the door as she backed out, shooting Ada a very sorry glance.. Once outside that door, she transported herself straight to the dining hall.

"Hecate!" Pippa squealed, causing a couple of heads to turn, clearly she'd caught her off-guard. "Where's the inspector..?"

Hecate kept her voice low, dangerously so, as if threatening everything around her, just enough for the Staff to hear her. "Change of plans.. Turns out the inspector, Is Miss Broomhead."

Pippa and Miss Bats' faces paled.. She seemed to be having that effect on people.. Pippa looked down at herself. "I need to change.."

Hecate couldn't agree more, Although, she'd grown to like the pink, maybe even love the pink on Pippa, Now was hardly the time for it. "Yes, as should you.." She pointed to Miss Spellbinder. "Miss Broomhead will not tolerate this level of colour.. She's already took a bite at Miss Cackle for hers.."

Miss Spellbinder and Pippa stood up.. "I don't think I own any black.." Pippa complained as they walked away..

Hecate's attention now turned to Miss Drill, She only had Miss Broomhead for maybe two years.. She may not even remember her properly. "Dimity, Make sure every student is here, any who are not, find."

Miss Drill nodded. "On it, HB." She got up, moving to cheek on every table, counting and questioning the girls.

Hecate looked up at the big clock, thinking for a moment before grabbing one of the chairs, and standing upon it. "Attention, Ladies!" She yelled out, every student's head turned to look at her. She must have seemed slightly crazed to them..

"The Inspector has arrived, and is a former teacher of Cackles. I can not employ you enough to make sure that you are very well behaved.. Remember, Actions have Consequences.. It is up to you on if those are Negative, or Positive.." Was she both threatening and bribing them? Yes, yes she was. "Be Punctual, Get on with your work and keep yourself looking smart. I will not tolerate anything less.." With that, she stepped off the chair, pushing it back into place.

"Everyones here, HB-" Dimity started, upon seeing the look sent her way she rephrased. "Everyone is accounted for, Miss Hardbroom.."

And just in time for Miss Spellbinder and Pippa to return. Miss Spellbinder looked no different really, she just wore a very dark red, it may as well be black.. As for Pippa, Hecate noted that she must really not own anything Black.. Not if she had to borrow one of Hecates…

Pippa stood in the same dress Hecate wore to the party at Pentangles.. She'd magiced away the sparkles on the bottom of it, but there was no mistaking the dress. Hecate couldn't help but smirk.. At least no one was dressed in full out neon Pink…

Now they just had to get through the rest of the day..

I decided early on, that Miss Broomhead would be an old teacher. In the 98 Series, she was a teacher at witch training school, that HB went to. But, I changed it a little for this. We never see her in the 2017 series, But we do see a teacher in all black when we see Indigo's background. (Its inferred that the teacher had some say in what happend to Hecate.). So my headcannon is that its Miss Broomhead, so i based her current look on that look we see there.