There were actually several cries of 'Mildred'. And a few 'Millie' for a bit of variety. The one from her mum was quite exasperated.

"I thought you said you had one ready?" Ruby frowned.

"I did but-?"

"Did?" Maud asked.

"But I don't now."

"But we've been talking about it for weeks!" Enid cut in.

"Mil have you been helping everyone with theirs but not done your own?" Fenny asked.

"Oh, I wish you'd said love. I could have got you one together." Mrs Hubble sighed. "Or nipped into town and got you one."

"Are there any more bandages?" Gris said. "You could be a mummy?"

"Or loo roll? Or a sheet with holes cut out like we were going to do?" Jadu tried.

Mildred shook her head. "We don't have any white sheets. We've towels-."

"You're not cutting up towels. Besides, there's none that big. You could wear that mask! The one HB told you off for wearing?" her dad suggested.

"she confiscated it." Mildred said sadly.

It started her friends on a plan B though.

"But it was a witch, right?"

"a bad witch?"

"Yeah, you're a witch!

"Go as a witch?"

"A witch!"

"A wicked witch!"

"Oh, what about just wearing your uniform?"

"you've got your banana broom and hat."

"NO!"

Mildred's yell shocked them. So did the wobbly lip.

"No. I don't want to go as a witch." Mildred said. "I was going to. but. I wore a witch costume last time."

"So?" Fenny frowned.

"We don't mind?" Gris agreed.

"I don't want to." Mildred said. "I can't."

"But… we're all going as ourselves!" Jadu frowned.

"Well, 'cept Enid." Ruby agreed.

"If I went as my actual self, people would wet themselves." Enid pointed out.

"What's wrong with the costume you wore last time?" Maud asked- then remembered. "oh. Right… yes."

The others looked from one to the other confused. Mildred had only told Maud.

"Last time, I went as a witch to the boogie bash..." Mildred started to explain but faltered. "It was two years ago. And it was before I'd started at Cackles? And I was in year seven. And I didn't know I was ACTUALLY a witch with real magic. And. Well..."

"And Mildred was in a home-made witches' costume. Rather than a shop bought one. Some of her classmates were there and thought that gave them the excuse to be very nasty." Mr Hubble said, finishing for her. He folded his arms and lent back in his chair. "Jokes on them when she accidently went magical on the little s-!"

"David!" Mrs Hubble scolded. Then turned back to the teens. "Mildred didn't want to go to last year's do. If you girl hadn't been coming too, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have come this year either. Sorry love, I didn't think of that."

"Mum!" Mildred said embarrassed. The hug her mum gave her was appreciated though.

"…she's right though. I wasn't going to go. And I wasn't going to go trick or treating. Not really. I don't want to be recognised if I can help it either. But then all of you were so excited, and the group costume was such a cool idea! And I thought it'd be okay but… I'm sorry."

"Don't be!" The third years chorused. The others nodded.

"Okay." Enid said "so not a witch then."

"not a witch. Not a pretend one." Mildred agreed.

Maud snuck a fuzzy hand into Mildred's and gave it a squeeze. The Worst Witch squeezed back glad she had good friends around her nowadays.

"Besides, I don't want to wear my uniform to a disco!" She added. "And I might get in trouble wearing it outside of school."

The other girls agreed.

"Okay. Well, we've twenty minutes, quarter of an hour ish before we have to get Bo-Bo on the road right? if you can make something in that time." Mrs Hubble said, checking her watch. "Why didn't you pick something out from my wardrobe? or is there anything in your old dressing up box that would still fit?"

"Can you girls magic something that'd last the night?" Mr Hubble asked. "Or is that the Gloucester effect?"

"Foster's effect, dad."

"We could whip up some Temporary illusions?" Enid said. "You would have to be very careful not to bump into any one though."

"Well, that's out then." Mildred sighed. "I'm always bumping into people. Even ghosts!"

"True. Or face paint?"

"You just need to pick something Mills."

"A mummy?"

"A spaceman?"

"A clown?" Fenny and Griss said in tandem. There was a POOF. and suddenly under their wigs, the gruesome twosome had such painted faces they could have got a job in Blackpool circus! "TADAH-!"

"Eek!"

"Er, Jadu?"

Jadu had ducked behind the sofa.

"I don't like clowns!" she squeaked, and would not come out. Not until the pair tore off the fake make up.

"Oops."

"Sorry."

"Okay, no clowns." Mildred said. "Too scary."

"I've a spare mask and plastic chainsaw? Then you'd only need a boiler suit?"

"Enid, no." Mrs Hubble said firmly. "You're too young to even know those films!"

"Are you sure?" Enid said, cheekily becoming a very old old punk fairy.

"Your mum told me you're not even fourteen yet, and you're to watch nothing over a twelve." Mrs Hubble said even more firmly.

"Aww!"

"We've green paint. we could do you up like a zombie-?"

"Maybe even some plastic flowers too like mister blossom?"

"Or We could just smack together a bunch of scary looking stuff?"

"Cover you in flour for a ghost?"

"Punk?"

"I've spare cat ears?"

"What about her?" came a quiet voice.

They all turned around. Maud had migrated over to the stack of videos from blockbuster by the telly. And was crouched down going through them for inspiration. In her paw Maud held tape up, pointing at the box. Or more pointing out the little girl with a headless dolly.

"Yes!"

"She seems scary enough. Good spot Maud!" Fenny praised.

Griz agreed. "And simple to do. Mildred Already has the pig tails!"

"I think we've a fake hand in the decorations for Thing?" Mrs Hubble asked her husband. "or there's some pink rubber gloves under the sink."

"aye. I'll nip next door and ask if they've any more toys their dogs have broken." He agreed, turning his chair. "Or dolls the toddlers have pulled their heads off."

"We'll make your face really pale too, same as Enid's." Ruby said.

"Can you keep a straight face that long!" Jadu teased.

"Perfect! Maud you're brilliant!" Mildred said. "Wait, I don't have a black dress?"

"Oh yes you will." Maud grinned. "Go get any dress on!"

"Oh, a colour changing spell!" Mildred realised.

"a colour changing spell." Enid agreed.

"By the power of seven rather than three." Fenny said.

"With a pinch each of ancient, Were- and fae magic in for good measure." Griz winked.

"That's not dangerous, is it?" Mildred's mum asked. But Mildred dashed to her room, plaits flying behind her. Then came back in her best Sunday dress and stood in the middle of a circle her friends made. Together the group Wiggled their fingers.

"Let's see what we have for you!"

"Now this is what I call Trick or Treat!"