Chapter 12 – Ethel's Big Mistake
The following day Miss Fountain had allowed Mildred, Sapphire, Enid and Maud to sleep in, so she didn't wake them up until around ten o'clock. Hecate and Pippa had also slept in, which was quite the accomplishment for Hecate as she never slept for longer than five hours.
Everyone was up by dinner time and the whole school tucked into a chicken dinner, there was a vegetarian option available. There was quite the spread.
"I am never leaving here". Maud stated.
"Now that's what I call food". Enid chimed.
"Don't get used to it" Miss Hardbroom responded with a smile, as she walked past Maud, who instead of sitting with her school, she had chosen to sit with the Pentangle's first years along with Enid. "Our first and fifth years will be attending potions today with Mr Spellman, I will be in there". She warned.
"She sounds more chilled out" Maud remarked as Miss Hardbroom sat next to Mr Spellman at the staff table.
"What exactly are the first and fifth years doing to day Aiden?" Hecate asked.
"Something I don't think many from other schools will have done. Both classes are two hours long, there will be a potion to brew in the last hour though, don't fret".
The two ended up discussing some potions related subjects. They found that they weren't that different from each other.
Pippa was thrilled to find that Hecate and Aiden were getting along well.
The first years headed to potions after dinner and the students from the other schools where shellshocked at the potion's laboratory, they hadn't seen anything like it.
"WOOOW". Enid responded.
"This is awesome" a student from Amethyst's Academy stated.
"I am going to take a wild guess and say my classroom is much different to what your used to. I find as a green Wizard that forests are rather soothing, though the room at night doesn't look to friendly". Spellman explained and then laughed at his own joke.
"Think our potion's lab needs updating". Enid whispered cheekily to Miss Hardbroom.
"It does not". Miss Hardbroom replied with narrowed eyes, though she did like last time adore the room, though her lack of confidence would never allow such a drastic change.
Spellman had decided to play a game, one he rather liked.
"Good afternoon, who would like to play a potions game?" He asked. Everyone looked quizzical especially Miss Hardbroom. "Aim of the game is this, I give you a first-year potion and you need to select all the ingredients for that potion and bring them to myself and Miss Hardbroom and those that manage it will get a lucky dip". He gestured to the box on his desk. Miss Hardbroom hadn't heard anything so ridiculous, though she was intrigued. "All ingredients for that potion are required and you can not use a potions book. This is all by memory. So, no cheating".
The Pentangles students loved the idea, Mr Spellman's wild ideas usually went down well and helped the students in many ways. Miss Hardbroom understood the assignment and was rather looking forward to seeing how this panned out. She watched as they were all put into groups and all of pentangles had managed theirs within ten minutes. Miss Hardbroom was deeply impressed as she watched Mildred, Zack and Sapphire, all pick up the ingredients for their potion and they trusted each other to pick up the right ingredients. Mildred volunteered to hand in the ingredients. Unfortunately, Mr Spellman was checking another groups and so she walked up to Miss Hardbroom who took the basket and very slowly as to try to make it look like she was going to find the wrong ingredient. Though she did not, she was shocked as she quizzed Mildred on what each one was, and Mildred explained each one including their properties and which order of the potion they went in as well as the amounts for each. Miss Hardbroom had a new sense of respect for Mr Spellman.
Cackle's academy who was grouped with Amulet's was struggling to say the least, they just couldn't come to an agreement. This frustrated Miss Hardbroom, in the end they picked the wrong ingredients and ended up being given the correct ingredients. They then had to brew the potion they had picked the ingredients out for. This started off well, until a pentangles potion exploded. It was Mildred's group and Mr Spellman hit the roof.
The potion exploded everywhere, luckily it wasn't acidic and was brewed correctly. Miss Hardbroom was very confused as she had quizzed Mildred on the potion and how to brew it and the girl had been very specific and almost as though she had read it out of a potions book.
"ETHEL HALLOW" Mr Spellman stormed up to her.
Ethel up until now had never been caught blowing up anyone's potions, however she had misjudged Mr Spellman. She looked terrified.
"Idiot, what did you do that for?". Zack rounded on her, for he too had been keeping an eye on Ethel for any antics.
"Your done for". Jasper whispered from behind her.
Spellman proceeded to lecture Ethel and gave her an essay to write on why you don't blow other peoples potion's up that was to be read out in front of the whole school.
"How do you know it was Ethel it could have been a mistake, blown up cauldrons happen" Miss Hardbroom asked him.
He did the same trick that Pippa had done except on himself to show the entire class and Hecate the memory and she was furious.
"I will not override his punishment" Miss Hardbroom clearly stated to Ethel. "I am very disappointed".
"Get out of my classroom". Mr Spellman spoke with a levelled tone and a face like thunder.
Ethel left the room and once the class had finished the teachers had a discussion.
"I had no idea". Hecate stated for she really didn't.
"After having Mildred for a few months, I realised that something had been going on as her potion's seldom blew up. I had a feeling someone was blowing them up and by the looks of it so did Zack. Mildred's group are all top of the class. Mildred is third to the top.
The other two schools arrived that day and Pippa was very busy in her office with paperwork and organising the last of the trial of the times obstacles. She had been told of the situation in the potions room by teatime and she wasn't happy, though this is what she had expected, and she knew that Spellman would have given the girl a slight scare.
Teatime came along and the hall was buzzing with news of the potion's fiasco. Ethel was very quiet, and she had her essay in her hand, Miss Hardbroom had ensured that the essay was good enough. Miss Hardbroom had never been so ashamed of a student. Miss Pentangle stood up and addressed the entire room.
"Good evening, due to a potion's mishap earlier that I am sure will have gone round the school by now, a student from another school has a punishment to fulfil. Ethel Hallow come to the front". Miss Pentangle had the biggest smile on her face, she was slightly enjoying the girl squirm.
Ethel stood up slightly shaking, this would be a lesson that she wouldn't forget and headed to the front of the hall and turned around.
"When you're ready". Mr Spellman told her with a smirk on his face.
Ethel cleared her throat and read out her essay. "A potion's laboratory is not a playground and should be treated with respect. Causing someone's potion to explode is reckless and dangerous for everyone in the room. The exploded potion could be brewed incorrectly with an incorrect ingredient or missing a vital ingredient. The potion could be toxic or acidic making the explosion very dangerous. Illnesses, injuries, and fatalities could be caused through this reckless and endangering behaviour. Jealousy, hate, and stupidity has no place in a potion's lab".
Ethel continued with her essay for a further fifteen minutes. She was very embarrassed and red faced by the time she had finished.
"Thank you, Ethel, we hope you have learnt your lesson. You may sit back down now". Mr Spellman told her.
Ethel felt like this was the walk of shame as headed back to her seat. The other students from Cackles were not happy.
"Way to make us look bad".
"You should be sent back, and we will have Enid compete instead".
"Seriously, what is wrong with you?"
Ethel couldn't do anything other than listen to it and Mildred was thrilled to see that Miss Hardbroom just looked angry and shook her head with disappointment, she also noticed that she didn't stop the other students from saying things to Ethel, for she allowed Ethel's cutting words the entire time she was at Cackle's Academy.