THE WORST WITCH GOES TO PENTANGLE'S ACADEMY

Chapter 1 – The Scholarship

Miss Hardbroom had found Mildred Hubble in one of the schools' courtyards. Mildred was alone and tired. Miss Hardbroom took in the girl's tall frame for a first year and her two long brunette plaits. The Mildred was a thin girl and yet very clumsy and constantly struggled. Miss Hardbroom walked up to Mildred there was something she wanted to discuss.

"Miss Pentangle tells me, she has offered you a scholarship at Pentangle's Academy, have you made a decision yet?" Miss Hardbroom asked Mildred.

Miss Pentangle transferred herself to Miss Hardbroom and Mildred "Don't leave us in suspense" she stated with air of hope whilst practically bouncing of the floor.

Mildred had not long finished the spells competition and she had brewed the final potion which was the weather spell and she had been remarkably successful in brewing it. Both schools had been tied up until the penultimate round of which Mildred had won. Cackles had been declared the winners. Before she brewed her potion there was a break and Miss Pentangle had given her words of comfort and encouragement which had brought Mildred's confidence up slightly. It was in that break that Miss Pentangle had offered Mildred a scholarship at her school, knowing that Mildred was the odd one out at Cackle's as she was the only student from a non-witching family.

"Could I have a bit more time to think about it?" Mildred asked politely.

"Sure, shall we say a decision this time next week?" Miss Pentangle asked.

Mildred nodded "Thank you, I will have a decision by then". Mildred walked off to meet her friends and to tell them of the big decision she had to make.

"Seriously, you're stealing our students now?" Miss Hardbroom stated through gritted teeth, she was livid.

"Well, she's the odd one out here and everyone has made that clear to her. You for instance don't exactly want her here, do you?"

"I never said- "

"Didn't you? Haven't you been trying to get her expelled since she has been here because she isn't from a witching family. I swear I heard you say to her to not do anything at all in that competition and to leave it to Ethel to do all the potion brewing, and that this is what happens when students from non-witching families compete. You were brutal and harsh for no reason whatsoever" Pippa Pentangle looked at Hecate Hardbroom who was a tall thin woman who wore a long sleeved and floor length black and blue dress and her hair in a tight plaited bun at the back of her head. She noticed Miss Hardbroom stand taller she hated it when she was put in her place. "You clearly don't want her, oh a by the way Zack Hawthorne is from a non-witching family, I would never ever say he wasn't good enough. Confidence takes seconds to shatter and years to re-build. I would love to have Mildred in my school".

"Well, this is her decision, and her friends are here, I doubt she will transfer" Hecate stated haughtily.

"With those like you and Ethel Hallow I wouldn't bet that on that" Pippa simply stated.

Mildred found her friends by the school's field by the wall they were sat down discussing Mildred's success with the weather spell, Ethel was nearby eavesdropping as always.

"She was so good" Enid gushed.

"I wonder where the confidence boost came from?" Maud thought out loud.

Ethel being Ethel who never knew when to keep her mouth shut pipped up "I bet she cheated somehow".

"No-one asked for your opinion Ethel" Enid said through gritted teeth. "You weren't exactly perfect, were you? How many did you get wrong, what was it three? Not your best day, was it?"

Ethel stormed of just as Mildred got close to her friends.

"You'll never guess what" Mildred said.

"What?" Enid and Maud said at the same time.

"I have been offered a scholarship at Pentangles Academy".

"You're not considering it are you?" Maud asked.

"I am not sure; you know Zack from Pentangles?" Mildred asked both her friends.

"Hard not to when Ethel's been gushing over him" Enid laughed.

"Well, I doubt she will find him attractive now".

"Why?" Enid and Maud asked at the same time.

"He is from a non-witching family just like me".

"She is going to die of embarrassment when she finds out, especially after all that flirting" Enid laughed.

All three girls were stood laughing about Ethel liking someone from a non- witching family especially when she bullies Mildred for being from a non-witching family. The girls hadn't noticed two other students laughing with them.

"That's Hilarious, I don't like her" Zack stated and instantly the others stopped laughing. "I heard how she talks to you and treats you, she's rotten".

"If she spoke like that at ours Spellman would have a fit so would Quickstep, that behaviour would be nipped in the bud" Sapphire Hailstone stated. "Oh, I heard you've been offered a scholarship at ours? Technically that scholarship doesn't exist but if the staff come across someone, they think has potential they will offer them a scholarship, it's a high honour, Zack is on one". Zack nodded.

"Your weather spell was so good, Congratulations on the win. We hope you will really consider the offer, you seem cool" Zack smiled at Mildred.

"Does she always wear pink?" Enid asked.

"Always, the staff are constantly changing the colour to random colours throughout the day, she gets annoyed with it, but she still wears pink, she never learns" Sapphire stated through laughter.

"Sapphire, Zack, time to go" Pippa called from a distance and then she realised who they were talking to and she transferred herself over there. "Are we ready you two?" she then looked at Mildred "We await your response" she smiled and transferred herself and her two students back to Pentangles Academy.

The next day Mildred attended potions and she had started brewing her potion correctly nothing seemed to be wrong with it until it exploded.

"Mildred Hubble, why do you consistently insist on blowing your potions up?" Miss Hardbroom stated with impatience.

"I did it right, I swear there was nothing wrong with it" Mildred tried to explain.

"Now you're lying to me".

"No I –".

"Detention tonight"

"What for?"

"Arguing with me and lying to me".

Mildred was livid. What they both hadn't seen was Ethel's smirk all over her face the girl had only gone and blown Mildred's cauldron up out of spite and just because she could. Getting Mildred into as much trouble as she could was her current hobby.

The rest of the week hadn't been much better poor Mildred had to listen to the constant criticism from both Miss Hardbroom and Ethel and she was getting to the end of her tether.

Mildred was deep in thought the day before her decision was to be made when she walked past Ethel.

"Ooh look at her, the worst witch. She's the worst at everything. That weather spell was a fluke she's hopeless. She might as well go back home. This school is for serious and real witches, not those playing dress up. I bet she gets expelled soon and then we won't have to see her ridiculous face anymore". Ethel stated for she really was a rotten girl, the thing was Mildred's placing and grades had no effect on Ethel's whatsoever, Ethel was insecure, and she needed to constantly put someone down to make her feel important. It was Ethel's greatest flaw.

Mildred walked straight to Miss Cackle's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in" a pleasant voice could be heard behind the door.

Mildred walked into the two-storey office which was rather cosy, the main part of the office had a large desk in the middle and a couple of armchairs where situated to the left of it with a fireplace. The upper floor took up a third of the ground floor which contained a large bookshelf filled with books another desk and a lamp.

Miss Cackle was sat behind the desk and Miss Hardbroom was stood in front of the desk, they had clearly been having a serious conversation.

"Ah Mildred is there something I can help you with?" Miss Cackle asked sweetly.

"Hi and yes there is actually" Mildred said for she had had enough of the constant criticism and she looked at Miss Hardbroom whose eyebrows had shot up as if to say get it over with "I have made my decision regarding whether or not to transfer".

"Oh good, and what have you decided to do sweetie" Miss Cackle asked.

Mildred looked at both teachers Miss Cackle looked rather calm, and Miss Hardbroom looked apprehensive. I bet she hopes I go; she's been wanting me gone the whole time I have been here.

"I appreciate the opportunity you have given me, and I don't want that to go unnoticed however given the problems I have been having I think it might be best I go, I would like to take the offer of the scholarship from Miss Pentangle".

"Are you sure, you don't have to take it?" Miss Cackle asked. I really didn't think she would take the scholarship with her friends being here.

"I am sure, as much as you are rivals, she helped build my confidence up slightly which is why I could do the weather spell, she was encouraging which isn't what I am used to here. Her school has many just like me that aren't from witching families just like Zack for instance. I don't belong here; I am reminded of that every day".

Hecate hadn't said a thing she was deep in thought. This was not what she wanted not that her actions had depicted it. I was hoping she would stay; I could have potentially or even eventually made a decent witch out of her and all I have done is pushed her away, I doubt Ethel has helped the situation.

Mildred turned to Miss Hardbroom "You got what you wanted, at least there will be less cauldrons blowing up right" Mildred smiled she knew she wasn't wrong; the smile was weak. "I will go pack my things" Mildred backed out of the room and went to go pack her belongings ready for her transfer.