THE WORST WITCH AND THE POLTERGEIST AT CACKLE'S ACADEMY
Chapter 1 - Mildred's back at school
Mildred had just landed in one of the school's courtyards and she was back for her fifth year at Cackle's Academy.
"Millie" Enid's voice could be heard from behind her, she spun around and almost tripped on her undone shoelaces when Enid pulled her into a hug.
"Honestly, Enid let her breathe" Maud said as she reached her best friends. "I can't believe you asked Ethel to be your advisor".
"She should have been expelled, she almost got everyone killed" Enid quipped.
"I really think she learned her lesson; we spoke before I left for summer, she even apologised for being nasty the past four years and for getting me sent to wormwood academy for the criminal" Mildred stated with kindness to her voice. Ethel really had apologised with all the reasons behind why she was the way she was, Mildred had even felt sorry for her.
"Mildred Hubble"
All three girls knew that voice and heard Mildred's name before Miss Hardbroom had appeared.
"There are prefect duties to be done, you need to hand out the sashes and show the first years where their rooms are" Miss Hardbroom had stated silkily knowing the girl would be pleased to start her prefect duties. She looked all three girls up and down taking in Mildred's long ginger plaits and undone show laces, and then to Maud Spellbody who had her hair in a ponytail instead of her usual pigtails. She then looked at Enid who was as always tidy and well presented with a Cheeky personality. "Mildred your shoelaces are undone" She stated as she walked of with a slight smile.
"I have to go greet the first years, see you later" Mildred called to her friends as she walked of.
A blonde fifth year whose hair was up in a perfect high ponytail and her uniform was as always tidy and the bow that was usually in her hair had been removed, she was a very pretty girl. This was Ethel Hallow who was an enemy of Mildred though they had recently become friends but not close friends.
"Do you need a hand with your head girl duties" Ethel asked shyly, Ethel use to be the picture of confidence but last year had shredded it, she had been to focused on beating Mildred to becoming head girl that she had made the biggest mistake of her life. She wasn't head girl material and she had realised that just before everyone left for summer.
"That would be great, only if you don't mind" Mildred responded with a smile. Mildred always saw the good in others and never held their mistakes against them.
Both girls walked towards one of the wider corridors and saw the sashes and timetables laid out and they both sat behind the table and helped sort the first years out. Some of the students came from witching families and some much to Mildred's delight had come from non-witching families.
Some of the Students that come from non-witching families were talking between themselves.
"What am I going to do, I don't know witching stuff".
"How am I going to fly a broom, I've never done it?"
"Miss Hardbroom scares me".
Mildred was as reassuring as she could be and with a soft voice, she responded to the first years questions.
"When I first started here, I didn't know I had magic in me either" all the first years turned to listen to her in shock "I am not just saying it, I was the worst witch at Cackle's and now I'm head girl. I couldn't fly a broom; potions were a disaster and I felt like I didn't belong. I felt like just going home and going to regular school. But I stuck it out and now I can do things I never thought I could do, and you know what? it feels amazing to watch the magic come out of me that I never would have imagined, especially in first year. You will figure it, Miss drill who teaches flying is really nice and has started taking it from the beginning with first years, you will start of close to the ground and when your ready you will get to go higher. Miss Hardbroom is always strict, yet she just wants the best for her students and does push them hard, she expects perfection but sometimes she forgets not everyone is as good as her and just needs a little reassurance every now and then".
Miss Hardbroom had appeared out of nowhere when her name was mentioned by the first year. She as well as Ethel had known Mildred since her acceptance exam. Mildred's speech had warmed her heart slightly. She hadn't realised on numerous occasions that Mildred didn't think she was good enough to the point of leaving, nor had she ever heard a student speak about her in such a way.
"Well put, Mildred Hubble" she simply stated.
Ethel felt the need to explain herself after listening to Mildred which made her feel awful inside, she had never seen it from her point of view only her own.
"When I came here, I relied on my name, as a Hallow I was expected to be top of the class all the time and my parents were against me being in a school with non-witching family students. I watched Mildred get better each year and my prejudice that was instilled in me for years was there from my first year. I hated Mildred for no good reason, I wanted to prove I was the best and all I did was constantly put everyone in danger. It doesn't matter whether you come from a witching family or not, it's how you react, act, and treat each other that matters, I learned that the hard way". Ethels voice had gotten quieter at the end.
Mildred and Ethel's speeches had gotten through to the first years. They started to become more relaxed and rather excited.
Miss Hardbroom had never been so proud of more than one student at time hopefully they will get along from now on. Has Ethel really changed though. Will Ethel finally put that verbal sword down and show who she really is or will she end up causing more problems? She wasn't sure but hope was always a possibility.
Both fifth years showed the first years their rooms and then showed them to the dining hall for dinner.