A/N - Thank you everyone for the warm welcome back, I am so excited to move forwards with this story. I have split this chapter (the return to Cackle's) into two parts so there isn't such a long wait between updates.

Any reviews/favourites/follows are all read and appreciated :)

Following on from last night's conversation, Miss Hardbroom continued to be rather impatient with Mildred the next morning as the pair of them were finalising the gathering of their things for the return to school. Mildred was looking forward to a wholesome conversation today as she wanted to thank Miss Hardbroom for her care over the summer, but she found herself unable to get a word in as she spent all morning being lectured. In fact, the only time her tutor had engaged in conversation with her was through the use of incessant fussing, making sure that Mildred had clean uniform and her essential spell books, stressing about falling standards all while failing to understand that Mildred wanted to take about ten tonnes of personal belongings back with her as well.

'There is nothing in this world that you could say or do to convince me that you need all that rubbish! It's not like you'll never be returning here again - I am not banishing you forever' she reassured her starkly. 'When I was your age, everything I needed-'

'Would fit into a small suitcase - yes I know! I've heard that one before, in fact, I've heard it at the start of every single term since my first year here' Mildred grunted in response, rolling her eyes at a dumbfounded Constance who was irritated that one of her favourite lines no longer had its desired effect on the eldest students.

However, when Constance told Mildred that she would be travelling over four hundred miles from Cornwall to Inverness in Scotland, claiming 'that's equivalent to 700,000 broomsticks', Mildred soon dropped the notion that she needed five bags of 'sentimental items' for school as she did not fancy the disaster this would inevitably result in, having been forced to travel back by broomstick instead of through transference.

'Why can't you just magic us there!' She had complained to a short-tempered HB a while later, hot and bothered by the stress of last minute packing and dreading the treacherous journey ahead.

Spinning around to glare at the young girl and her incompetence, Constance explained that 'it's too far of a distance for me to manage in supporting myself, let alone trying to pull a sixteen year old through the vacuumed mix of time and space, completely unscathed'.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Mildred came up with another suggestion, determined to avoid such a long ride with her underlying fear of heights which still persisted. Even after all these years in the magical community that had passed her by, she still remembered what it felt like to come crashing off a broomstick at full speed, and it certainly was not pleasant.

'Well, what about the other fancy stuff you did last year with that weird magic box thing, to get us to the Witches Guild in London!?' Mildred whinged further, all while using childish descriptions. She was determined to get her own way, but this nowhere near did it justice for she was referencing to one of the most awe-inducing, powerful displays of magic that she had ever seen. Miss Hardbroom had somehow drawn upon the natural element of wind, combining it with magical force to transfer her entire body from one end of the country to the other on that fateful night where she had gone to fight Mistress Broomhead, resulting in her demise.

'Oh for goodness sakes!' Constance replied in agitation, as she had just dropped a variety of herbs at the same time as Mildred's never ending questioning. 'Because, Mildred, that sort of magic is one I shall only ever use in dire emergencies, such as saving your life, for it takes away from the health of earth as well as my own magical charge. It is too powerful and highly unnecessary for a journey back to school!' She lectured, before signifying that she had entered full back-to-school mode as she continued: 'And what should we not use magic for?'

'For trivial or selfish purposes...' Mildred responded on autopilot, having repeated this segment of the witches code so many times that it was engraved into the back of her skull. 'It would be saving my life though...' she trailed off cheekily, before conveniently running into the kitchen after saying she needed something, just in time to miss the magazine that HB had purposely launched at her head.

Several hours later, both Mildred Hubble and Constance Hardbroom had arrived safe and sound at the academy, surprisingly in one piece despite their earlier bickering. Constance was reluctant to admit it, but she was rather proud about how Mildred had handled the journey. Despite her gruelling complaining that morning, after a few calming tonics that Constance had brewed for her as she had planned ahead for tackling her anxiety, the child seemed to manage the distance effortlessly. Mildred only had to stop once when she complained that her hands were so cold that they were 'about to snap off', before Constance pulled out some fluffy gloves for her, much to Mildred's amusement that HB owned such a thing.

All in all though, Miss Hardbroom found herself touchy as ever as she had left Mildred to get reacquainted with some early-arriving pupils in the courtyard while she hurriedly made her way up to the staff room. Not many people knew about the pair's arrangement over the summer and for some reason, Constance wanted it to stay this way for she was looking forward to being harsher than ever this term, finally able to return to her usual mannerisms after what had been an usual year last time around. Being met with the obvious immaturity of Imogen Drill and Davina Bat though, was not what she had been looking forward to, despite how much she had tried to prepare herself.

'Afternoon-'

'CONSTANCEEE!!' Davina had yelled before she'd even had the chance to finish her greeting, bursting from the stationary cupboard and leaping over to the younger woman as she engulfed her in a tight hug, her arms clinging onto her neck as she had to stand on her tip-toes to reach her. The tiny, eccentric chanting teacher was so unpredictable, as Constance had half expected her to be hiding from her in the stationary cupboard all year, rather than squeeze her so tightly that she struggled to breathe. Naturally through, Miss Bat had been overly anxious about Miss Hardbroom over the last year or so as she had been terrified when the younger teacher almost lost her life to Mistress Broomhead.

Despite what people may say, they all cared a lot about the formidable creature that was Constance Hardbroom as a small smile crossed her lips.

Eventually pulling away, with strands of flyaway hair strewn across her face, Davina continued.

'How are you dear Constance, I have been thinking of you! You never replied to my letter' she scolded, a heavy frown crossing her face. Constance was almost like a niece to her and although Miss Bat wasn't of much use in protecting her, she still wanted to do everything she could to look after the youngest member of staff.

'Perhaps she was simply too busy. Being cooped up with Mildred Hubble would have sent any normal person insane during the process, let alone someone with such a temper as HB' Imogen interjected, trying to get some gossip out of the nonchalant potions mistress surrounding her eventful summer holiday as she nudged her playfully. Unexpectedly though, this caused both Miss Bat and Miss Drill to break out into petty squabbling as Davina claimed that Mildred was 'a changed young woman now' whereas Miss Drill was not convinced that her effort in P.E would reflect any change.

'I was not too busy, nor did I go insane! I was merely recovering from an exhausting year and having spent enough time with the lot of you already, I was relishing in protecting my own peace' Constance had muttered in response, joking sarcastically but secretly understanding that this was her exact truth for going uncontactable to everyone asides from Amelia. She had been through a lot last year, as she simply found herself too tired to do anything over the last two months, and now felt severely overwhelmed about the return to school as she felt her hands begin to shake.

Unable to focus on the pointless conversation much longer, she slumped into the nearest chair as she felt her head start to throb.

'Are you quite all right my dear?' Davina mothered, coming over the Constance cautiously as if she was going to bite, before handing her a pot of steaming hot tea, overflowing with leaves which Constance had to sift her way through reluctantly. 'You look awfully tired chicken, it's not like you to slump so dramatically into a chair like that before you've had the chance to boss us all about...'

'Fine. I'm fine' she responded glumly, trying to ignore how unwell she felt right now as she fought the urge to crawl into bed, putting it down to her long flight as it had come on rather suddenly. Despite this though, she found her mind wandering back to Mildred's cause for concern last night as she felt a wave of dread fill her body.

However, before the other two members of staff could wind her up anymore or voice their concern for her unconvincing statement, the bubbly, warm and well anticipated face of Amelia Cackle burst in through the door, presenting the other teachers with a sight that Constance had certainly not expected to see - a new, unknown woman.

As a matter of fact, the sight in front of her completely distracted Miss Hardbroom from her newfound dread, as the 'new woman' was so ethereal that Constance soon realised she was staring, as well as every other staff member was. She found herself unable to stop her mouth from falling agape ever so slightly as a feeling she was unable to describe washed over her. The nature of the person in front of her was unlike anything she'd ever seen before as she found herself unable to figure out her aura or intentions, further increasing her nervousness.

'Ladies - I'd like to introduce our newest member of staff - Elena Ravenscroft' Amelia began, snapping Constance from her teenage-like daze as she gave her a sorrowful look, almost as if to say she was sorry as she regretted not informing her deputy of change that would be occurring in the school, having not wanted to add any further stress to her already difficult life. After last year, Constance was highly distrusting of new people and would never have improved of a new addition to the faculty. This was evident in her face as hostile anger could be seen creeping into her eyes as she cleared at this new, 'Ravenscroft'.

Despite her surname, Elena embodied the opposite of 'raven-like' features, for she had bright ginger hair which fell in thick, curly ringlets, framing her face. She had long, dark brown eyelashes and eyebrows which were further enhanced by the mass of freckles that were decorating her nose and cheeks, evidently having flourished on her tanned skin over the summer holidays. Elena was also shorter than Miss Hardbroom, averaging somewhere between Miss Drill and Miss Cackle's height, but she made up for it with her delicate curves and thin frame, all together creating someone of ideal attractiveness for a thirty-something year old woman. She also wore a set of emerald green robes that shimmered in the dim light, a stark contrast to the somber black attire of the other teachers. Elena's eyes sparkled with warmth as she turned to greet the others with a bright smile, waiting for Miss Cackle to continue.

'Elena, like all of us, has a long-standing, internationally recognised qualification from the Witches Guild, and has decided to grace us with her talents here at Cackle's after spending a few years in Australia' Amelia continued, looking around the room to gage any sort of positive or negative response.

Rolling her eyes at the formality of this statement, for Constance did not care about this piece of information as she did not trust the guild anymore either way, she waited for the headmistress to actually introduce this mysterious woman rather than poorly attempt to reassure her of her intentions.

'Elena is from a traditional witching family, as I am sure Miss Hardbroom, our staunch traditionalist, would approve of, and will be teaching Art and English as we have sought to broaden our curriculum this year to suit the 'normal' world as well as the witching one' Amelia began, as she made eye contact with a beaming Imogen who was more than eager to see some of her own familiar normality introduced to the school.

'As instructed by the Witches Guild, she will also be undertaking the role of school counsellor and wellbeing lead - a new post which has been appointed to all GASS - Guild Approved Status Schools - in order to prevent anything like last year from ever happening to such an extreme extent again. Cackle's was put on the map for all the wrong reasons last term, so we want to be the first to change the system'.

Feeling as if her eyes were about the roll into the back of her skull and drop out, Miss Hardbroom bit back the urge to voice her opinion as she felt all eyes fall on her. Not only was this woman wasting valuable teaching time through introducing such a flimsy subject as Art, but she was also bringing in more useless, nitty-gritty emotional stuff which was bound to encourage turmoil amongst impressionable young girls.

Last year, Constance and Mildred's experience was widely publicised by the press in the witching world, for destroying the entire Witches Guild and their most senior member of staff, as well as exposing years of hidden corruption, elicited major public scandal and backlash. Despite this, no one out there knew everything apart from a few, very select people, and they had been left to fend for themselves. Naturally, Constance thought it was an outrage that the guild was trying to promote new 'welfare policies' now, when they had spent the last twenty years blatantly failing both teachers and pupils.

She wanted to shove all the emotional outpour from last year far away into the back of her mind and out of her students too, seeing it as an excuse for poor behaviour and tradition breaking which she was not comfortable with as she found herself pouting childishly.

"I'm looking forward to working with you all," Elena introduced herself politely once Miss Cackle had finished, her smile undiminished by Miss Hardbroom's chilly demeanor. "I'm so excited to be here. This place has such history, such magic."

"History and magic, yes," Miss Hardbroom echoed, her tone flat. "But also discipline and tradition. Qualities I trust you will come to appreciate despite your desire to eradicate them with 'normal subjects'."

Elena nodded, undeterred. "Absolutely, although eradication is a little extreme. I look forward to bringing some of my own experiences to the curriculum. Fresh perspectives can be so invigorating, don't you think?"

Miss Hardbroom's lips pressed into a thin line, displaying her frustration. "Indeed. However, it is crucial to maintain the standards that have been established over many centuries. Change for the sake of change can be... disruptive."

Miss Cackle, sensing the tension, stepped in. "Elena comes with glowing recommendations, Miss Hardbroom. I'm sure she will be a wonderful addition to our team.'

Trying to act unphased, Miss Hardbroom gave a curt nod, but her eyes remained fixed on Elena's features, assessing, weighing.

"We shall see," she said finally. "Time will tell if Miss Ravenscroft's methods align with the esteemed traditions of Cackle's Academy, but having been at the centre of everything that happened last year, I will make one thing clear - nothing will come between me protecting my girls, ever again. There is no one out there who understands the importance of vigilance and responsibility more than I do, and I will not have any random witch walk into here and take that role from me, just because she has a qualification'.

Elena's smile faltered slightly under Miss Hardbroom's scrutiny, but she quickly recovered, her eyes shining with determination. "Very well...I'm sure we'll make a great team," she said brightly. "I look forward to learning from you, Miss Hardbroom."

Without another word, Constance stood up suddenly, turned on her heel and stormed out of the staffroom, her robes swirling dramatically behind her. The door slammed shut, the sound reverberating in the suddenly silent room, no one really understanding if the deputy head was offended or if this was her normal way of carrying about with her day.

Consequently, the teachers exchanged uneasy glances and Miss Cackle sighed, her expression troubled, as she turned to face the newest member of staff.

'Elena, I apologize. Constance is very difficult. She is set in her ways and went through something horrendous last year which clearly hurt her, but she doesn't even talk to us about anymore so we cannot change her' she began sadly, worrying intensely about her friend. 'But I do believe your approach has value. We'll find a way to integrate it without causing too much disruption to benefit everyone here. Please, go make yourself at home before we convene in the courtyard for registration."

Miss Ravenscroft nodded, though a hint of worry crept into her eyes, unsettled by the entire conversation that had just occurred. "Thank you, Miss Cackle. I hope so. For the sake of the students."

Outside, Miss Hardbroom strode down the corridor, her mind a storm of swirling, anxious thoughts. She could not shake the feeling that change was coming to Cackle's Academy, and she wasn't sure if she could stop it—or if she even should, and she did not like it one bit.