Chapter 8 – Half Term
It was half term and Sapphire was to stay at the school and her parents were joining her to be on the safe side. Miss Hardbroom and Miss Cackle was also staying at the school. Things had definitely been better between Sapphire and Hecate.
Sapphire, Hecate and Ada were currently sat on a table in the hall surrounded by food of which Hecate had prepared, which tasted much better than the normal school food. There was a chicken stir fry, extra veg in a bowl, pumpkin pies and a mix of fruits laid out, she had done a strawberry trifle for dessert which was currently in the fridge of the kitchen.
Ada had risen to greet Pippa and Aiden on the green which left the other two alone. There was an awkward pause before Sapphire spoke.
"I hope mums feeling better" she stated, and Hecate took a good look at the girl and noticed how much she had perked up with the announcement of her parents were joining.
"I have some ingredients that I need labelling as well as checking what I have and what I don't have, any chance you would like something to do tomorrow?" Hecate asked remembering what Aiden had said when he had helped her the last time.
"Would probably be quicker if dad helped as I would just slow you down" She responded.
"I doubt that, and the offer is there" Hecate didn't want to push it further. Ever since her scolding with Pippa she had seen the girl differently and had been much nicer with her, the students had even said the word favouritism a fair few times, which Hecate had just ignored. The girl was bright and instead of focusing on what she couldn't do she had presented her with potions she could do as well as a quiz every so often regarding potion ingredients and what potions they associated with. She knew that with Sapphires help the daunting task would not take as long.
The other three joined them a few moments later.
They said their usual "Well Met" to each other which Sapphire had always refused to do as it always looked like someone had a headache and then someone else would insinuate the same, Sapphire always smiled holding in a laugh at the ridiculousness of it.
Pippa and Aiden sat either side of Sapphire and Hecate and Ada on the other side.
Everyone except Sapphire helped themselves to the chicken stir-fry.
"I wouldn't poison good food, Sapphire" Hecate responded softly when she looked at the girl "There is plenty of the stir-fry so no need to take only a small amount" She didn't understand why the girl wouldn't eat. She doesn't eat, she must be starving, I hate to see students like this.
Sapphire only took a little, she's being nice, just try a little at least if I don't like it I haven't wasted any.
"Come on Saph tuck in, there's nothing wrong with it." Aiden looked at Hecate as if to apologise for his daughter's behaviour.
"I usually find not forcing it too much tends to do the trick, She has barely eaten since she's been here, her stomach will be much smaller" Hecate stated and then after looking forward to meet Sapphires eyes she asked "how's the chicken, did I slightly over cook it, not enough salt?". She knew she had cooked it perfectly with the right amount of salt.
"The chickens fine and thank you" Sapphire responded with her eyes down. She noticed a bony band pick up her plate and before she could protest Hecate had put a descent amount of the chicken stir-fry on her plate and added some extra vegetables to the serving.
"You don't need to eat it all but some would make you feel better" She reassuringly said knowing that the lack of food had caused her to loose energy and to have lost some weight.
"Ok, Thank you" Sapphire shyly said.
The others were enjoying the food that Hecate had prepared. Hecate had noticed that the girl had eaten her entire plate and had helped herself to some more.
"Just don't make yourself sick, too much will hurt your stomach and there is still trifle yet" she let her know.
Pippa was surprised to see Hecate being as nice as she was, she was expecting a slight change in tone, but this was almost a different Hecate. Not that she would complain, she seemed to know what Sapphire needed with the right words. But she was glad to see her daughter eating even if she was apprehensive at first. Hecate would have made a great mother, maybe telling her this wasn't the right profession for her wasn't the right choice of words.
The next week had flown by, and Sapphire had eaten everything that Hecate had made including the lasagne which she had wolfed down, Hecate had made a statement of it clearly being her favourite, which it was.
Sapphire had helped Hecate in the end with the mountain of ingredients which was a lot more than she had expected to see in the potions lab it had taken most of the day to sort out, but as always she was at home in a potions lab, she was very similar to Hecate she had realised after spending the week over half term as she wasn't in her teacher mode. Though quite stiff in stature she had a sense of humour, she also smiled more and was easier to talk to.
Pippa and Hecate had gotten along all week, there was no arguments and no issues. Aiden had been having far too much fun picking sapphire up at random times and throwing her in the air and walking of with her just to get the women laughing, whilst Sapphire would tell him to get of though she was a laughing at the same time.
Hecate had gone into the library on the Saturday and she had noticed Pippa in there reading a book and Hecate had thought this was the right time to ask her, though she knew the answer would most definitely be a no.
"I was wondering what the plans were over Yule for Sapphire" she asked as she sat down.
Pippa looked up from the book she was reading "I haven't thought that far ahead yet".
"No staff will be here over Yule, if you need me to, I can take her for a few weeks, I understand if its not an option" she stated as if to dismiss it at the same time.
Pippa knew her too well, the dismissive tone was never to dismiss something she was touched that she would open her doors to her daughter. "I will bare it in mind" she said dismissively. Both women looked at each other and laughed knowing they knew each other too well.
Hecate couldn't take it anymore it was too hard not having her best friend over the years, it wasn't Pippa's fault she deserved to know.
"Pippa, I need to explain why I cut everyone of especially you" Hecate looked crestfallen as she blurted in out.
Pippa looked up shocked to hear the words that she had been waiting for over the years.
"I did a erm, I knew this girl, something happened in fifth year" this was far too hard Hecate thought.
"Take your time" Pippa kindly responded seeing the struggle on Hecate's face.
"In fifth year, I met this girl, and we became friends and we met frequently and she believed in magic she wasn't one of us, she was kind and a bit of prankster, I only went and stole a wishing star from Ada's office and used it to stupidly give her magic of her own. It went well until a few days later when she turned to stone right in front of me near Hollow wood. I have punished myself since and stopped talking to everyone. I thought you would hate me and not want me around which is why I distanced myself from you" The confession took a great deal of weight of her shoulders.
"I would not have hated you for it, knowing you I doubt you have turned her back yet?" Pippa responded with wide eyes. I thought I'd done something wrong, thank the bats I hadn't, it's understandable.
"Is the girl still there" she asked, Hecate responded with a nod "take me to her".
Hecate transferred them both and they appeared in a clearing overlooking a pond it was a lovely view, she turned around and came across a stone statue of girl looking at her hands that she had held up in front of her, it reminded her of the weeping angels from Doctor Who.
"Poor girl, magic always comes with a price when given to a non-witch or wizard" she said softly.
A figure emerged from the trees of hollow wood, it looked male and made of branches and roughly Hecate's height.
"Earth has joined us" she explained to Hecate who had backed away in fear "He won't hurt you".
"Indigo Moon is not in any pain, nor does she feel or think of anything, she's not dead nor is she alive, the wishing star is still inside her" Earth simply put in a gruff distant type of voice and then went back into the woods.
The friendship between the two women had started to re kindle.