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 frame who for a first year was rather tall with her two long brunette plaits. Mildred was a thin girl and yet very clumsy and constantly struggled with her witching magic. 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 who had heard Miss Hardbroom 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 which was between Cackle's Academy and Pentangle's Academy. Thanks to Miss Pentangle she had brewed the final potion perfectly which had ensured a win for Cackle's Academy. Miss Pentangle had taken a shine to Mildred even though the girl wasn't in tune with her magic which meant that most things that Mildred attempted either went wrong or nothing happened at all. Pippa Pentangle had noticed that the girl had untapped magic in her and that the school she was at would ensure she would continue to struggle as being from a non-witching family like Mildred was, was frowned upon. There was a break before the penultimate round which was when she had offered Mildred the scholarship, she was sure she could help Mildred with her magic for her school was much more encouraging. She had a huge soft spot for students from non-witching families. Pippa didn't mind that her school didn't win. She was however thrilled that the words of encouragement and reassurance had helped her confidence slightly in order to brew her potion correctly, brewing the potion correctly was all Pippa wanted of her and she had succeeded, it was at that moment she knew she had made the right decision.
"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 knew 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 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 Miss Pentangle 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.
"Some of the students call her barbie as she is blonde and always in pink, it's a light-hearted joke. She hasn't told anyone of for it yet" Zack stated with a glint in his eye. It was clear that the students were very comfortable around Miss Pentangle.
"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 and her friends.
"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 were situated to the left of it with a fireplace. The upper floor had a open staircase leading to it and 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 and verbally ripped her to shreds, 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 shyly backed out of the room and went to go pack her belongings ready for her transfer.