Mildred had spent the remainder of her day lazing about in her bedroom. She had slept all morning and well into the afternoon, having been so exhausted from yesterday that she hadn't even noticed Miss Hardbroom as she popped her head around the door to drop off some lunch.

Later on, she awoke to the familiar feeling of her cat, Tabby, who had jumped onto her pillow and attempted to curl up beneath her chin. Even when the school bell went off, signalling the end of lessons, she still didn't move despite being wide awake. The familiar chatter of schoolgirls filled the stone corridors as she attempted to make out different voices and hear snippets of different conversations. It had only been a few days, but Mildred started to realise how much she missed her friends as a dull ache solidified in her chest. She was so angry with them at first, but being able to have simple conversations or whinge about HB and Drill was a normality she found herself missing so much. It all seemed so trivial right now after meeting her near-end yesterday.

Slowly, after taking a few bites of her lunch from earlier, Mildred's room had started to dim. Husky light created dark shadows around her as the October sun set and the nights were rapidly drawing in. She absolutely despised this time of year. Mildred had always found winter difficult for some reason. She never understood the intense happiness around Christmas, for she spent almost all the months before and afterwards feeling miserable and low on energy. She was dreading this Christmas especially, for everything she normally felt was going to feel a hundred times worse.

As Mildred found herself deep in anxious thought, a soft knock rapped on her door.

'Hi?' Mildred mumbled, a sleepy edge apparent in her voice.

'Hello' replied a rather dishevelled Constance Hardbroom as she waded her way into the little room. Mildred hadn't even realised the time as her form tutor was doing the usual rounds ensuring all the lights were out. Her teacher looked shattered, she was completely black under the eyes. It had probably been a very long day for her, having to be awake and teaching the entire time while Mildred slept soundly, despite them both experiencing the same 24 hours.

'Are you okay, miss?' Mildred questioned, concerned for her teacher and fighting the urge to engulf her in yet another hug.

'Are you?' She replied, looking down at the floor while avoiding the question.

Mildred remained silent and frowning as she thought about her response, before Constance answered for her.

'You are troubled because you have spent the whole day avoiding the conversation with your friends and you do not know how to start it?' Constance predicted, looking intently at Mildred, trying to figure out what was bothering her.

'Miss Hardbroom, how is it you know absolutely everything?' Mildred couldn't believe her form tutors eye for detail, before she remembered that she shouldn't be surprised by now. After all, she had experienced the wrath of this talent for the past four years.

'How about I knock on Maud Moonshine's door and tell her that you'd like to talk to her. Or I could escort you there myself so she cannot pull a face and say no?' Constance considered. 'Is that what is worrying you? The fact that you will try to be open and vulnerable and they will not want to hear it?'

'I think so. You see, I think the conversation itself would be fine having already had it with you and Miss Cackle, but I always knew you'd listen to me, so it's a bit different isn't it?' Mildred suggested, half talking to HB, half to herself.

'Mhm, indeed. Come, we can start that conversation together', Constance commanded, pulling the door wider as a signal for Mildred to come through. 'But don't think I haven't noticed that you have skipped almost all your meals again today, Mildred.' She scolded quietly, pointing towards the half-eaten plate she had kindly left earlier.

'Tomorrow, you and I are making a plan, and you are to come and see me first thing' she finished ominously. Constance knew that the last couple of days had been a whirlwind of emotion for Mildred. Despite being out of the eye of the storm, she understood that these things didn't just disappear. Sadly, she knew that she would have her work cut out for her this year. Therefore, she had to start stamping down on her behaviour now, for it was all in her student's best interest.

Mildred glared at Miss Hardbroom, seemingly unhappy with the suggestion, yet still to grateful for her presence right now that she couldn't bring herself to be truly frustrated. She did, however, start shaking as she left her bedroom and walked down the corridor towards Maud's room. She found herself trying to hide behind Miss Hardbroom's tall figure, in as much close proximity as she could. She found HB rather comforting at this present moment, almost like she'd be able to protect her from anything horrible her friends might come out with again.

'It's okay, I promise' HB interjected softly, noticing Mildred's sudden silence before she turned around to begin the conversation.

'Maud?' Constance boomed as she knocked sharply on the door. It was only then that Mildred realised how much softer-spoken she had been with her. HB really must be walking on egg-shells with her at the moment.

'Yes Miss?' Maud replied, but Constance had already swung the door open to reveal both her and a timid-looking Mildred.

Mildred's heart skipped a beat as she saw that Enid was also sat on Maud's bed. It was much more intimidating having to speak with the two of them, and Miss Hardbroom seemed to pick up on her apprehension.

'Enid, shouldn't you be in your own room by now?' their form tutor questioned sarcastically.

'Please, miss...', to Mildred's surprise, Enid actually looked rather quiet and reserved, almost as if she had been worrying about something previously, so she gently pushed past Constance to stand in front of her, signalling for her to continue.

'You may be wondering why I have Mildred here. From my own observations alone, I know that things aren't straightforward between you irksome girls right now, and to be honest, I am quite sick of it. I know you were all worrying yesterday, so, for all of our sakes, I'm ordering you to have a civilised conversation to sort this idiocy out!' Constance snapped.

'I will allow you to talk for a bit after lights out, in a desperate attempt to understand that I really mean it, but for goodness sake do not take the mick with it! The morning bell is at 7am girls, do with that information as you wish' she finished, steering Mildred further into the room by her shoulder before closing the door and leaving the three of them in an awkward silence.

'I-'

'We-'

Both parties spoke at the same time, creating a rather embarrassing fumble of apologies before Mildred remained silent again, allowing Maud and Enid to continue.

'We've been worried about you. Is it true? Were you in trouble yesterday?' Maud asked sensitively. 'Drusilla said that you had ran away to do something stupid, and that Hardbroom had shoved half the school out the way to yell at you. But it came from Drusilla so we didn't know what to believe until we saw your empty room…'

'Well - I mean - you could put it like that I guess' Mildred replied sheepishly. She hadn't really processed what had happened last night, and she found herself feeling rather ashamed by it right now.

'Oh cut it out Mil. Look, I'm sorry I said all those things to you, I promise I will grovel properly after but only if you're honest with us. Use your damn words!' Enid stated boldly.

'Yeah, Enid is right. That's how we got into all this mess in the first place, so it makes sense to start over properly, doesn't it Mil?'

Maud questioned very sternly.

Mildred knew her friends were right. In fact, they didn't even have to say this to her, for she knew that she wanted to tell them the truth this time anyway. Now she had spoken to Miss Hardbroom, she had realised that sharing her problems really did halve them, and she felt much better for doing so.

'Of course I will, I didn't get dragged here by HB for no reason despite how mysterious she thought she was being! There is something I need to tell you all and it starts with the summer holidays...'

Mildred went on to recite her story, word for word, just as she had confided in her two teachers this morning. She didn't find it as upsetting this time, for she was used to her friend's emotions rather than Miss Hardbroom's. However, she did find that she never wanted to talk again after this - never had she been made to carefully construct so many words. It was exhausting!

She continued to tell Maud and Enid the whole story, starting with what had happened over the summer, before reciting what Miss Drill had said to her, after they'd asked for her help. Eventually, she got onto her argument with HB, making sure they knew why her ignorance after that had upset her so much. They seemed to understand her decline in behaviour a bit more after that. She then told them about the events of the night before after she had outed herself to Miss Hardbroom in their first meeting. However, Mildred was cautious to leave out the details of her self-harming problem. She didn't want her friends to blame themselves for it, as it had started after their fight in potions. However, she also found that she did not want to let go of this coping method. If she hid it from her friends, then they wouldn't be watching her like a hawk and maybe she could still get away with it...for it was the only thing that calmed her impulsive behaviour.

Mildred found herself trail off in thought by the end of her story, before she was snapped back into reality by Maud's hysterical sobbing. Enid, however, sat in silence.

She didn't know which reaction was more nerve-racking.

'I-I'm sorry, so sorry Millie. If I would have known, I would have never-' Maud choked out between sobs, unable to form a sentence.

'It's okay Maud, honestly. You couldn't have known. It was partly my fault too, for not telling you anything you know' Mildred reassured her, rubbing her hand down her friend's arm.

'Agreed, but I am terribly sorry too, Mildred. We knew something was wrong, I should have trusted my instinct - it was there for a reason' Enid thought as a sad expression crossed her face. 'On the other hand, having you snap at me all the time made me feel shitty about myself too! I guess I just started to struggle as a result of it as well and I reached my breaking point' Enid explained.

Mildred thought this was fair, for she had realised how rotten her behaviour had been towards those who cared about her. All she could do was nod in understanding, not wanting to reply in fear that she would be shut down.

'Even so, if something had happened to you last night Mil, I would never have forgiven myself.'

'Neither, please don't do anything that drastic again! Despite everything, we care about you so much and I'd be devastated if anything happened. You are such a bright person and you deserve to be here, and be here happy Millie'.

Mildred's eyes began to water as she found herself at a loss for words. Hearing things from Miss Hardbroom was comforting, but hearing them from her friends…well she was more convinced that they meant it, and it meant the world to her.

'Promise we tell each other everything from now on? No more secrets or judgment?' Maud interjected, eager to put an end to all this nonsense. They all loved each other and they all knew that nothing else needed to be said.

'Agreed'

'Agreed'

.

The three girls came together in a tight huddle as they relished in each other's company. Mildred was starting to feel whole again as she was accepted back into the friend group and Maud and Enid reassured her that they'd handle Ruby and Jadu.

'On the other hand though, what is going to happen, Mil? I can't really imagine HB running to the end of the earth to protect you! In fact, I can't even imagine her wanting to know all this at all. How on earth she saved your life and then you told her - out of all people, when she acted like she hated you so much! Well, I'll never know nor understand. How are they going to sort this Ezra bastard out?'

'I don't know, Enid. It scares me to think about, so I've tried to avoid thinking about it. Woah, HB though, I have to disagree there!'

Enid's jaw dropped as she considered the fact that Mildred was about to defend their strict, unwavering potions teacher who supposedly despised her so much.

'I know, I know! But HB has been really nice to me so far, and I seriously think she would want to help me out. I don't know how it's going to work though, Miss Cackle told me to go about my business while she sorts the rest, so I guess that's that really'.

Mildred was careful to keep everything that Miss Hardbroom had confided in her a deep personal secret. After all, it wasn't her secret to tell, so technically she wasn't breaking her newfound agreement with her friends. She also felt protective over their conversations, like it was sacred to her and no one else had to know about it.

'I still can't believe someone could do something so awful to you though. And for your mum to completely ignore it too! You've been living with absolute psychos Mil, come to mine over summer instead!' Maud suggested, desperate to help her friend now she knew the truth.

The three girls found themselves undertaking idle chatter as they talked about many things. Mildred would make some unhinged jokes to mock Ezra which got many laughs from the others, while they spent the better half of two hours reminiscing on various other events during their last few years at Cackle's and trying to invent spells to cause anyone who crossed them some serious damage. Normality had surfaced again.

For the first time in ages, Mildred found herself content as she looked forward to the year ahead, rather than dreading it. She fell asleep happier that night in Maud's room, despite dreading her early morning start where she'd have to traipse to the potions lab and have another awkward conversation with the bossy Constance Hardbroom, yet again…