The first week back at school was always unusual, so Constance Hardbroom didn't know why she had expected any different this time around. She hadn't given the return to school the slightest thought over summer as she spent the entire time either worrying about her health or Mildred's wellbeing instead. It was only now, as she sat in her potions classroom observing the fifth form, that she realised she had underestimated the whole experience entirely.

Usually, the first week back lacked any sort of substantial routine and it drove the deputy headmistress insane. Matters were only worsened as this year was the most horrendous it had ever been, or at least the worst it had been in a significantly long time. The first years caused havoc by flying into walls and windows, all while distracting the older students from their baseline assessments as endless screaming and laughter could be heard echoing down the corridor, reaching even the furthest classrooms all throughout the day.

Futhermore, the fourth and fifth years were more boisterous than ever having reunited with their friends, giddy about being able to produce their most advanced magic yet as they tampered with various nonsensical artefacts which they had accumulated over the holidays. A particularly gruelling example was when Sybil Hallow had managed to turn Clarice Crow's fake tattoo into a real one, having earned the both of them ten thousand lines before the first day back had even finished. Additionally, the entire fifth year had merged into one friend group. With a third of them having left last year, many's girls felt unsettled and displaced, choosing to find safety in numbers as Miss Hardbroom couldn't get them to shut up and brew a simple healing potion at present.

However, despite the anarchy and unruly behaviour - a blatant disregard of the school rules - there was one thing that was bothering Miss Hardbroom more than anything else. For the first time in four years, she had come back to school and been placed with another year group that did not include Mildred, and she did not like it one bit. She hadn't even been made aware of it until Miss Cackle had publicly announced the change in the courtyard, and she was quick to voice her own opinion on the matter afterwards as she rudely shoved past Miss Ravenscroft and Miss Bat, almost flooring the latter as she did so, eager to make a stand for herself:

'Did you not see it fit to tell me absolutely anything over the summer holidays?' She began, trying yet failing to keep her heightened voice down as crowds of students began to disperse down different corridors to unpack their belongings.

'Constance! Please, don't be like this...I wanted to keep you away from everything this summer for the sake of your own mental health-'

'Oh, mental health this! Mental health that! It's all a load of nonsense Amelia, I am perfectly fine. What I am not fine with, however, is being shunted aside like an old broom.' Constance rambled, interrupting Amelia before she could lather her with excuses. 'First of all, you undermine my authority as deputy head by employing someone I haven't even met - how do we know that she's trustworthy for starters? Then, you take away my other sole responsibility - being head of the fifth year! Why? Why are you doing this to me? I thought you cared about me.'

'For goodness sake Constance - of course I care about you what a ridiculous comment - that is why I've taken you away from all this. And mental heath wasn't 'a load of nonsense' when it involved Mildred, was it? So why should it be any different for you?' Amelia pleaded, exaggerating her point with the use of air commas as she used Constance's weakness to make her see sense.

'Don't bring Mildred into this. This is about me, not her.'

'Are you sure? You don't care about the fifth years just because they're the fifth years, do you? You care about them because Mildred is included within that boisterous bunch and you can't bear to watch her gain some independence!' Amelia retorted, her tone full of annoyance by now as Constance was getting stroppier by the minute. She had been in a dreadful mood for the entire first day back and she didn't have time for her when she was being like this, despite the respect for her that she normally held.

'Well, you can hardly blame me for that! Did you seriously not think that after everything that happened last year, that I wouldn't want to be responsible for her at all times?'

'Exactly, I do think that and it's too much for you to cope with Constance. Now that you've been looking after Mildred all summer, it would hardly seem fair on the other girls for you to continue as their head of year. I am not accusing you of favouritism, but I do not think it would be professional at such a crucial point in their magical education to let personal feelings distract you from teaching them all neutrally. You're going to care for her more and you're going to be harsher on her, but the child needs some normality in her life too.'

Miss Hardbroom could do nothing more as she stared at Amelia in silent rage. She hadn't felt this frustrated in a long time as she fought the urge to shout at her or flee from the scene using transference. After everything that she had confided in Amelia last year, she had grown to see her as a motherly figure, and the fact that she was giving her tough love at current was hurting her more than she'd like to admit.

'Please don't look at me like that, I'm not trying to be unkind and I still trust you. Despite what you believe, I do genuinely care about you and I don't want you to get yourself so stressed or worked up again this year. You went through a lot and you need to focus on getting better, properly this time, because it almost killed you last year, Con. If that means putting your extra duties on hold, then it is a sacrifice I'm willing to make.' Amelia continued, moving closer to her younger friend as she did so. 'You'll still be able to look after Mildred, but this way the pressure of the WHC won't fall directly onto you, so you can do so in your own way, at your own time. You'll be responsible for the fourth years instead and that's the last I'll be hearing on the matter.'

'Yes, Miss Cackle' Constance agreed glumly, unable to meet her eyes as she stormed from the spot next to her and down the corridor, fighting back angry tears which threatened to betray her stoic resolve.

However, despite Amelia demanding that the matter would be put to rest, she still found herself thinking about it over a week later. She wondered if Amelia would ever learn her lesson, for her own questionable methods last year ultimately resulted in some very serious issues. Constance reflected on all the times that she had been prevented from doing something on Amelia's instructions and how Mildred had suffered tremendously in the process as a result before she had yelled at the headteacher and eventually got her own way. On the other hand though, Constance knew that things were very different now, and she was also struggling with her work load a lot, which was why she now found herself questioning her abilities, wondering if Amelia had a point about taking things slower.

Jumping suddenly at the sound of the school bell which snapped her back into the present moment, for Constance had been staring, eyes unfocused at the floor in front of her rather than observing her class, she dismissed all the students as she remained at her desk. What she didn't expect though, was for the following to happen:

'Miss Hardbroom?' Came the shy, timid voice of the only student who dared to approach her when she was in such a rancid mood - Mildred Hubble.

'What is it, Mildred?' She responded half-heartedly, sitting behind her desk with a stack of papers in front of her. She barely glanced up as Mildred approached, her quill scratching furiously on the parchment. This had been the last lesson of the day and it was 4pm on a Friday, so naturally, the emotionally exhausted potions teacher wanted nothing more than to retire to the safety of her own bedroom.

'Why have you been avoiding me?' Mildred questioned without warning, her tone stern yet filled with an emotion that Constance couldn't quite understand. She didn't know if it was hurt, frustration or boredom, but she didn't think much of it at all as she bit back a hostile remark, shocked about where this had suddenly come from.

She hadn't seen Mildred much this week, mostly because of how mad it had been, but when she did see her she tried to act normal.

'Don't talk rubbish to me, Mildred.'

Looking fiercely up at the woman sat down in front of her, Mildred did not let her resolve get her down as she pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, forcing the older woman to look up at her properly. She swallowed hard, her fingers twisting nervously in front of her, before she continued.

'It's not rubbish Miss Hardbroom, and you know it. You're pushing me away because something is going on. You're tired, you're looking unwell, and quite frankly, the stress is radiating from you because you've been taking it out on all of us.'

"Stress?" Miss Hardbroom interrupted, her voice icy. 'You cannot lecture me about stress given your past record with it, Mildred'.

Mildred flinched but didn't back down. "I'm not trying to lecture you, Miss Hardbroom. I'm worried about you. I tried to say this the other week back at home and you told me that you were worried about coming back to school, but we've been back for a whole week now so I don't believe that was the real reason anymore.'

Miss Hardbroom stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as she felt herself start to panic. She had felt awful all week and she was worried that it would result in Amelia taking even more away from her than she already had as she tried desperately to get Mildred off her back.

"Enough" she whispered uncharacteristically. 'I do not need you interfering, Mildred. I am fine, run along now.'

Mildred felt her eyes sting with unshed tears as she didn't know how to stop HB from pushing her away and she hated it, but still, she squared her shoulders. "It's not interference, it's care. You always tell us that we need to be strong and support each other, but you won't let anyone support you."

'But...but I-'

'But-but what?!' Mildred mocked frustratedly, her eyes widening as she did so. 'I don't know what's going on with you HB, but you can't just take me in as your own over the summer and then act as if I don't exist once we return to school - it isn't fair. I love you and I care about you, so if you keep pushing me away then I'll have no other choice but to go to Miss Cackle and force her to get it out of you instead'.

Miss Hardbroom's face turned an alarming shade of white as she took in these words, terrified that Miss Cackle would dismiss her or remove Mildred from her care if she found out about how poorly she was feeling.

'Get out, Mildred' was all she could choke out to stop her from spilling the truth. It was harsh and unkind, but she didn't shout at her nor did she say anything else, so she thought that Mildred would get over it.

Mildred opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. Glaring at the clearly struggling woman in front of her, she snatched her bag up in anger before she turned and fled the office, the door closing with a heavy thud behind her. As she rushed down the corridor, she couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and sadness as she wanted nothing else but to disappear for a while, sick and tired of Miss Hardbroom's confusing behaviour.

'What's got you so down in the dumps then, Hubble Bubble?' Came the well-spoken voice of Ethel Hallow, its pompous tone echoing throughout the small room that Mildred found herself locked in as she opened the door and sat opposite her. Despite her tone, Mildred found that Ethel didn't actually look smug or cunning. In fact, she showed no emotion at all and remained rather impassive, as if trying to let Mildred know she wasn't out to get her, but not knowing the best way to go about it.

'How did you even find me in here Ethel? I came here to be alone...of course you'd have to be the one to spot me' the taller child muttered miserably, sniffling softly as she felt the weight of her heavy heart poison her thoughts. She had retreated to the familiar, high-ceiling storage cupboard with the open hole at the top, backing onto the great hall. She believed no one would find her in here, but clearly she was mistaken.

'I locked you in here once during the first year, don't you remember? And somehow you still got away with it, like you always do. Besides, I heard crying so I thought I'd be nosy.'

A sharp laugh exited Mildred's throat then as she remembered the entire event clearly. She had been on probation at the time, and Ethel had locked her in the cupboard after Enid had convinced her to skive in there during Miss Cackle's birthday celebration. It was likely that Ethel wanted to find Miss Hardbroom who would then catch them in the act and expel Mildred, but her plan never worked out.

'Is this what life is going to be like from now on? We go about our business hating each other until one of us randomly has a meltdown every few weeks or so, so then we decide to be best friends for half an hour before going back at eachother's throats?' Mildred questioned, not understanding why Ethel was getting so involved in her personal life. They had been acting as if their previous conversation had never happened as Ethel tried to sabotage her potions as per usual before continuing to taunt her in the corridor, although not as harshly this time around. Mildred understood why the girl had come to her a few weeks ago at the start of term, but Ethel really didn't need to get involved in her personal business - she didn't mind the support going only one way.

'Well, if you tell me what's wrong then I guess so. It kind of works out, don't you think? We each get to share our thoughts but then forget it ever happened, almost like talking to a wall that talks back.'

'You mean like a confessional, you idiot' Mildred responded, amazed with how Ethel was choosing to deal with the scenario. The other girl was always so passionate, so fierce - someone who thought with her heart not her head, yet was also too cunning for her own good at the same time. Despite this, she was displaying such out of character behaviour right now, as Mildred wondered where on earth she had learnt to become so emotionally detached from her, pretending like the last five years had never happened.

'Just tell me Mildred...pleaseee' Ethel pleaded, nosy as always.

After giving the strange situation a few more seconds of thought, Mildred decided she would let slip to Ethel some of what had happened. Although she knew it would stay between them for Mildred also had dirt on her now, she actually found herself wishing that the other girl would do something sly and spread it around the school, because at least then everyone would stop painting Mildred and Miss Hardbroom's relationship as picture perfect. Mildred knew that she was blinded by her own bitter upset in this present moment, but it was also so much pressure having everyone dictate her relationship with her teacher or guardian - whatever she was to her now. Mildred found the entire thing horribly confusing as she no longer knew where she stood with her, and it was exhausting having to pretend that the whole arrangement was normal, because it wasn't. Mildred wasn't normal, nor was Miss Hardbroom, and neither was their relationship, but by talking to Ethel, she could take matters back into her own hands.

'Miss Hardbroom and I, well, it's not as perfect as everyone thinks it is. I know you think she loves me, and don't get me wrong I am sure she does in her own unique way, but we haven't been getting along very well recently and it's hurt me because despite everything that happened last year and despite living with her over the summer, we never fell out once. Yet since returning to school, things have been so different. I think everyone expects me to be favourited, but I'm not. Like any relationship with a parent or a friend or even with just a teacher, there's always going to be disagreements. There's so much pressure on me though to make everything work and she's just being so difficult. It's not a normal situation so I don't know why I'm expected to act normal, especially when the whole school constantly gossips about it' Mildred began, feeling guilty for betraying HB like this but also struggling too much to cope with it alone.

'What do you mean, being difficult?' Ethel questioned, understanding that Miss Hardbroom was at the centre of Mildred's upset but still not understanding how this had happened for she only saw one side to Miss Hardbroom and she seemed as tedious as ever - nothing had changed in her eyes.

'Everything was fine over the summer, but it was still so different to what it had been like at the end of last term. She told me that I had become like the daughter she never had, and she wrote me this letter after she saved my life. I re-read it sometimes and I just cry because she never says the things she put in it anymore. She never tells me that she loves me or that she's grateful I lived. I know that she might be thinking it, but because she never reassures me, I can't help but feel like she's abandoning me - like she doesn't feel that way anymore. Like she wouldn't be the first one to save me anymore.'

'And you tried to tell her this earlier, but it didn't go to plan?' Ethel questioned, trying to gage Mildred's expression which was currently impossible to read.

'Not exactly, no...I haven't told her about how I feel because I'm scared it's just going to push her further away' she continued, eyebrows furrowed as she became lost in concentration.

'How come you've fallen out then?'

'Well, we haven't. I can't fall out with someone who's just continuing to ignore me. I confronted her, that's all. I told her that she needs to stop avoiding me because its not fair, and if she didn't tell me what was wrong, for I think she's struggling with something and that's the reason behind all this, then I'd go to Miss Cackle and get her to extract the truth from her instead.'

'Oh dear Mildred...well we all know how she would have taken that, no wonder you're moping here, feeling sorry for yourself' Ethel mocked in her sarcastic tone, slightly amused with how bold Mildred had been. She only wished she had been there to see it unfold herself.

'Exactly. I sort of wish she yelled at me, told me to mind my own business or something, but she didn't. She just stayed silent for the most part before telling me to leave and I couldn't even read her expression. She gave me the silent treatment when we fell out last year too, but we've not fallen out so I don't understand her reason for giving me it. Ugh, I just don't understand anything. It's just so damn difficult - Constance Hardbroom is just so damn difficult!'

'I can only imagine...' Ethel trailed off, generating an awkward silence in which Mildred seemed to understand as the end of the conversation before Ethel spat out something unexpected.

'So, do you want comfort or advice?'

'Huh?'

'Do you want me to tell you what to do next or make you feel better? If I tell you something you don't want to hear it'll just get heated, so you tell me.'

'Oh...well, both I guess?'

'Okay, so my advice is that you need to be more honest with her. She isn't going to understand how you're feeling because she's not a mind reader. Well, actually, I don't know that for sure but I am pretty sure she isn't. Don't just ask why she's avoiding you, make her feel guilty by explaining how much it's hurting you instead. She can easily ignore it if you make it about her, for she doesn't care about herself, but what she does care about is you, so show her you. She wont be able to ignore your feelings if she cares about you as much as I think she does. Now, for my comfort - you have to make sure to keep it on the down low.'

'Ethel I wont ruin your reputation if you give me some sweet advice' Mildred reassured her, rolling her eyes as she still couldn't believe Ethel's tendency for vanity, even after all these years spent together.

'It's not about my reputation you frog brain!' She raised her voice, before trying to go back to being clam, kind, 'confessional Ethel' again. 'Look, Clarice is organising a party tomorrow night. She's on work experience at Mrs Cosie's cafe - Miss Hardbroom sent her away from school this week so she could get her tattoo removed. Anyway, Cosie told her that she's away on business in France this weekend, something about pastries, so Clarice has the keys to the place. She's only supposed to lock it up because the cafe is closing all weekend without its owner, but Mrs Cosie doesn't have any way of knowing that.'

'She trusted her with that?! After HB banished her for entering school with a tattoo!?' Mildred interrupted, unable to prevent her surprise from infiltrating the conversation.

'Yes! Rather stupid of her, wasn't it? Anyway, Clarice is holding a party there at midnight on Saturday because it will be completely empty and she has total control over the place. Once HB has made sure we are all in bed, we can sneak out, one by one. It's easy enough - there's no proper security features here and you've done it before! Then, voila, a whole night of doing as we please with music as loud as we like as as many drinks as we want! It's in the middle of nowhere and far enough from the castle to avoid waking up the teachers. As long as we get in and out unnoticed, the plan's flawless.'

'What about Mrs Cosie though? That doesn't seem fair to trash her place just for the sakes of a student party!' Mildred reasoned, for she wasn't the type to disrespect hard working, innocent people.

'Don't you worry your little socks off Mildred - we'll use magic. I know loads cleaning spells, god even you probably know some of them by now. It'll be like we were never there.'

'Yes, unless the Fosters Effect burns the entire place to the ground you nitwit!'

'Then we'll just reverse the spell and clean it up by hand, simples' Ethel smirked, refusing to be talked out of this one. 'And if you're wondering why I am being rebellious for once, it's because I'm channeling my inner Mildred Hubble in order to get over that nasty crettin, Alexander'.

'That does sound fun to be fair and I guess that makes sense...I wanted to be the opposite to after my abuse...but what does any of this have to do with offering me comfort?'

'Because you need cheering up. Invite your friends, the whole fourth year is going to be there so just come along. If you really want to get back at HB, being a little rebellious is bound to do the trick. You'll feel better by getting your own back, even if she doesn't have to find out.' Ethel grinned uncharacteristically as she appeared to have become a changed personality for the weekend despite how normal she had been acting all week.

'Honestly, I'm not trying to get you into trouble, you can sneak out with me and Drusilla if you don't believe me. You helped me a lot last week so have a few drinks on me and forget about all your drama for one night. Sound good?'

'Sounds good.' Mildred replied, eager for something to look forward to now as she stood up, desperately trying to find the rest of her gang before they went down for their evening meal.

'Brilliant - I'll see you there. Remember though, this conversation never happened. I'm going back to hating you now, Mildred Hubble. Good luck with Hardbroom - you're going to need it you loser'.

With that final retort, Ethel leapt up and sped out the room as quickly as she'd entered it, something which had become a regular occurrence for the intelligent young witch as Mildred still couldn't understand her dramatic switch in character, but all the same chose to accept it as she followed swiftly behind her, finally ready to become a proper teenager again.

A/N - Okay, so some thoughts:

1) I think Miss Cackle has many good points as she clearly cares about HB, but she's also trying to tell Constance how to parent while keeping her in the dark which is a recipe for disaster…

2) Ethel is a genius - 'She can easily ignore it if you make it about her, for she doesn't care about herself, but what she does care about is you, so show her you' - hell yeah, hit her where it hurts Mildred, that'll sort her out!

3) HB is an idiot.

4) Mildred is also an idiot, as we learn to see in the next chapter.