A/N - Hellooo and welcome back everyone old and new!!

For those of you who don't know me, this story is the sequel to my first one, 'I Have Failed You'. It can be found on my profile and I'd recommend reading it first otherwise some of this will not make sense.

This story follows Mildred and Miss Hardbroom during her fifth and final year at school before the transition to college and is based largely on the 1998 version but any can be slotted in.

I hope you enjoy, keep the comments/reviews coming! (Warnings for abuse and mental health issues will be given before each necessary chapter).

Somewhere in England, far down south from Miss Cackle's Academy For Witches, a small white cottage with a thatched roof was stood amongst woodland near the Cornish coastline. Within this solitary atmosphere, Mildred Hubble could be found sitting wistfully as she perched on the familiar reading ledge which overlooked the picturesque sea-line, stroking both Tabby and Miss Hardbroom's cat, Morgana. She watched intently as water droplets raced down the window while gentle rain saturated the scene before her, signaling that summer was coming to an end on this bleak September evening.

A lot of Mildred's summer holiday had been occupied this way, as she found herself trying to adapt to a new routine, unable to accept that this was her life now for it simply did not feel real. This time last year, life for Mildred had been very different as she had endured hell and back at the hands of someone truly evil. She had spent the entire eight weeks imprisoned within her own home, suffering endless counts of terror from a certain woman who had tortured her in order to haunt Miss Hardbroom, ultimately leaving the pair of them bound together by the shackles of the same abuse. This time last year, Mildred was not sure she would live to see another school year as she had lost everyone around her and almost died trying to piece it back together, but today, things were very different, all because Miss Hardbroom had made a promise to herself - she was going to fix Mildred Hubble. The two of them were living in a new world, and things were entirely changed now.

For the most part, her tutor had stuck to her word. With Miss Cackle's approval, Mildred had spent her summer holidays cooped up with Constance within this little cottage, as she found herself placed with a temporary guardian until she was old enough to care for herself. As a girl of only sixteen, she had been in shock on the first day of the holidays where she had been brought to this quiet little corner of the world, still unable to believe that Miss Hardbroom had offered to look after her. The pair had grown close after relying on each other last year, and on the whole, their bond seemed to be rather indestructible now compared to what it had been a year previously.

Aside from its occupants, the cottage itself was located just outside of a small tourist village named Polperro, known for its tightly packed fisherman's cottages and winding cobblestone streets. It was shrouded in gardens of herbs which Constance had planted herself. Untamed ivy and vibrant wildflowers also decorated every inch of the property. The long, winding path further shielded the pair of them from view of the outside world, which was rather different to Mildred's Welsh hometown where everyone knew each other's business, all stacked on top of each other.

Although it was different, it was a rather pretty place, Mildred thought. Parts of it still reminded her a little of her own childhood home before it was destroyed at the hands of Mistress Broomhead. It was tiny but homely, covered with soft, decorative cushions, posters about plants, potions and wildlife, as well as a variety of furnaces, incense and other witchcraft material. It also consisted of two bedrooms, a small combined kitchen and dining area, as well as a living room which had been converted into a library. The latter was the place that Mildred could always be found. When she wasn't outside exploring the turquoise coast or the village by herself, she was perched on the cushioned window seat which was surrounded by shelves of books, fairy lights and lanterns. It was not the sort of place that one would have expected Constance Hardbroom to own, but it was perfect all the same.

Aside from the close-knit nature of the cottage, Mildred had actually spent most of her summer doing as she pleased, surprised by the freedom that Miss Hardbroom had given her. To her initial horror, she was often dragged out of bed and sent to pick herbs for her tutor, early in the morning just like she had done when at school. In return though, Miss Hardbroom would always cook for her while doing the usual household chores which resulted in a rather respectable agreement. The two of them lived together but all the same, sort of lived apart, each relishing in their own lives as Mildred spent her days wandering about by herself or writing to her friends while Miss Hardbroom went on conference trips or shut herself away in the potions lab, experimenting on her own works which Mildred was strictly banned from interfering with due to her tendency for catastrophe.

In fact, during the two months spent together in this ideal environment, the once tedious potions teacher and her worst student only fell out once, and Mildred found it rather amusing now despite it seeming ridiculous at the time. It had all started when she had ventured down into the village one day after receiving her usual lecture from HB about staying safe, for she was overly protective given the nature of last year, before settling down to draw in a packed coffee shop. She watched the world go by, admiring the parish choir and the local grocery stall, but just when she was starting to get bored out of her mind, a local boy from the farm on the other side of the village had approached her and made her acquaintance:

'Hello, you don't mind if I sit down do you? My father is trying to sort some stupid business deal with Mr Jenskill in the village hall so he sent me here to get away from it all, and well, you're the only person here who doesn't look like a pensioner.'

'Of course! He doesn't want you to mess it up then, does he?' Mildred replied, grinning as she knew all too well what that felt like. 'I am flattered you think I am young though - I'm eighty-three!' She joked further.

Rolling his eyes at the poor joke, the boy continued.

'Yes, how did you know? He's always doing stuff like that! I know I can be a nuisance but I'm almost an adult now so I wish he'd let me prove myself as the farm will be handed to me one day' the mysterious boy exclaimed, before slumping down in the chair opposite Mildred.

Looking at him questioningly, Mildred waited for him to introduce himself, slightly surprised by his directness and muddied state, having come straight from the nearby fields.

'Oh damn it! Sorry, this is why my dad always calls me rude, I'm always jumping straight in to things. My names Wolf - well, short for Wilfred Hemmingstone - but you're only allowed to call me Wolf' he smiled, slightly flushed and embarrassed by his rambunctious behaviour.

'Well, I'm Millie - shot for Mildred Hubble - but if I'm to call you 'Wolf' then you're only allowed to call me Millie' the girl replied, relishing in the opportunity to match his energy as the conversation flowed naturally between them.

'Well, nice to meet you Millie. How about we get out of this stuffy place and do something fun?' Was the last thing exchanged before the two of them fled the small shop and out into the sunny outdoors.

Soon after that, the two of them got on like a house on fire as Mildred thought that Wolf was like another version of her, just of the opposite sex. She had grown to know him quite well and it felt like talking to a long-lost friend as they spent their days jumping about on hay bales, running through the farm or playing by the sea. They talked about their interests and dislikes, and despite Mildred having to lie about everything from her magical school to the events of last year, the pair of them had become inseparable. They became better known as the local tyrants of the village, always knocking things over or causing childish chaos much to the local's distaste, but this didn't matter for Mildred had fun for the first time in months. She also reflected most nights about how ironic it was that she had grown to know everyone in the village and all their business, even more than Miss Hardbroom had herself, despite her only living here for a couple of months whereas this had been HB's home for nearly forty years. It was only something that she could have managed.

Much to her amusement though, Mildred knew it was too good to be true as Miss Hardbroom had grown suspicious of her having heard rumours of a disruptive dynamic dark-haired duo on the grapevine. Talk about 'a tall but pretty young girl with ridiculously long plaits' hanging around with a 'scruffy haired short boy from the farm' who both spent their days 'entertaining the village' soon got back to her, as she realised that this could only be fitting of one child - her child.

Catching the two of them in the act of a grass fight before they parted ways one evening, Miss Hardbroom had marched down the pathway of the cottage and shouted at the pair of them in her teacher-ish manner, grabbing Mildred by the arm and pulling her away before stating that if she ever saw that farmer's boy with her Mildred again, she would 'turn him into a toad for the next fifty years'.

Mortified and confused as he was not aware of Mildred's witching background or living situation, Wolf had scarpered before Mildred and Constance bickered all the way up the pathway, each stating that the other was being completely ridiculous while getting nowhere rational in the meantime. Eventually the shouting had got louder and louder until Mildred found herself marching up the stairs to her bedroom, desperate to get away from the other woman.

'WILL YOU LOOK AT ME WHEN I AM TRYING TO TALK TO YOU' Constance had yelled, stomping her foot childishly before delving into a passionate, far-fetched speech. 'You don't know what these village boys are like Mildred! First of all they'll be a joy to be around, making you laugh and dance about the village, but before you know it they'll break your heart and trick you into doing all sorts with them until its gone too far to put a stop to it!'

Stopping dead in her tracks, Mildred spun around in anger and disbelief at this ridiculous notion as Constance continued.

'I have lived here my entire life, do you think I don't know their game? You're far too young to be smitten by teenage boys and you will get hurt! I don't think I can deal with a heartbroken, love sick teenager. For goodness sake, how on earth you were ever stupid enough to even think that-'

'HE'S LITERALLY GAY! For goodness sake, CHILL OUT!' Mildred had yelled, fighting the urge to slam her bedroom door on Constance's face for she knew nothing about Wolf and his feelings for another boy in the village which he had confided in her. Yet despite her anger, Mildred could only burst into laughter when she saw the look of shocked realisation cross HB's face as the two of them dissolved into hysterical excuses before muttering awkward apologies and turning in for the night.

However, a couple of hours later, Mildred received a paper aeroplane through her window, and in messy, boyish handwriting, the following was scrawled:

'Wouldn't like to cross your mother, what a scary woman.'

'Mother' Mildred had whispered to herself, smiling softly as she thought about how natural that felt before ushering Wolf away from her window. She was grateful for HB, understanding that she was just trying to look out for her despite her irrational hatred of men. It prompted her to broach Constance afterwards as they had a midnight conversation in the firelight about the importance of trust and letting her do her own thing for she was no longer a first year anymore. After that, the argument was soon forgotten about as the two of them carried on as normal, living their own lives while having many heart to hearts in the evenings.

All in all though, the two of them had lived harmoniously on the whole, much to Miss Cackle's approval as she had dropped around for afternoon tea a couple of times to check that the pair hadn't murdered each other. Everything had been satisfactory, which was why Mildred was so confused when she found herself desperate to leave the cottage by the end of the eight weeks, and it all led back to Constance's stubbornness.

'Mildred?' Came a stern voice as the door opened from behind her, bringing Mildred back to the present moment. It undeniably belonged to Constance Hardbroom as it lacked any real emotional depth. 'I trust that you are all packed and ready for your return to the academy tomorrow, or are you merely procrastinating such an essential act by moping around lazily in my library all day?'

Taking a deep sigh, Mildred continued to stare solemnly out of the window, remembering why she had come here to 'mope' in the first place. Despite spending all summer with Miss Hardbroom and despite everything they went through together last year, her teacher had been behaving oddly for the better half of a fortnight and she could not figure out why. She had become colder, more distanced and only seemed to initiate conversation with Mildred when she needed to boss her about or discuss something important such as homework or organisational skills for the Witches Higher Certificate that she would be sitting at the end of this year - her final year at school.

Although Mildred was entirely grateful that HB had taken her in the first place, she found that she had changed these past few weeks as she was no longer acting like the warm and approachable parental figure that Mildred so desperately needed. She did not like it one bit. At first she thought that by spending so much time together, Miss Hardbroom had simply got bored, yet she always seemed to act suspicious around Mildred as if she was trying to hide something. Mildred was not convinced that it was personal to her for she had done nothing to aggravate her tutor, but something was wrong as Mildred found herself now wishing she was back at school to escape all this frustration. She was eager for the new term to begin tomorrow and reunite with her friends, finally guarantying normality as Wolf hadn't bothered with her much anymore, having been put off by Constance.

'I have packed actually. And I'm not moping thank you very much' she replied, albeit sounding more cold than she had intended for it to.

Accepting that this was the case but sensing Mildred's hostility, Constance slumped down into a plush chair before Mildred with her forehead balanced on top of one hand before remaining silent.

'I don't mean to sound rude, but you look awful' Mildred stated nonchalantly, finally turning around, only to be met with a glare from the woman in front of her. Despite her resolve, it was true. Miss Hardbroom had black circles underneath her eyes having long given up on wearing makeup within her own home. She was also thinner in the face, her hair was looking duller and all the life that she had left in her at the start of the summer seemed to have fizzled out, rather than filter back in, glowing again which the sunshine so usually brought back.

Taking the silence as her cue to continue, Mildred carried on with her suggestive comment.

'Are you actually looking after yourself? Like, are you okay? Because honestly HB, you look an awful lot like I did during the winter term last year'.

'Don't say that' Constance snapped, causing Mildred to physically finch backwards before her student got up to leave the room, sensing that a conversation would not be productive given HB's current miserable mood. Miss Hardbroom didn't like to talk about that time in either of their lives, having been traumatised from the events of that term as she had saved Mildred's life twice before ultimately almost dying herself, but Mildred was sick of her short temper lately and sometimes these things needed to be revisited in order to heal from them.

'I was only trying to look out for you' Mildred defended herself, slightly hurt as she pushed past the chair that HB was occupying. 'Look, I don't know what's been going on recently but I know you're hiding something from me, and what did we agree to at the end of last year?'

'No more secrets' Constance replied sulkily while refusing to meet her eyes. She was long used to the role reversal with Mildred now, where she often felt like she was the one being put back into place when she needed it.

'Exactly. I know something's wrong and if you aren't going to tell me what it is then I can't wait to get back to school to be honest-'

'While you should have just left if you felt like that then' Constance replied sarcastically before she saw Mildred's face drop and realise that she shouldn't have said that. In all honesty, Constance couldn't understand how she was feeling at the moment and she didn't want to talk about it, but she also didn't want to argue with Mildred whom she had grown to care for so much. Her letter to Milded at the end of last year had expressed this, but it was apparent that it had been forgotten about now as things were largely different at present. The pair of them hadn't majorly fallen out since last September despite many sarky comments and pet peeves shared over the last year, so Constance did not want to see it happen now.

Finally standing up and pulling Mildred closer to her by the shoulder, she continued.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. Look, don't worry about me I've just been feeling under the weather and a little stressed about returning back to school after the time we had last year. In all honesty I'm worried about you and something happening again so I am reluctant for the summer to end. I feel safe here but I don't feel safe at Cackle's anymore and I'm surprised you do too'.

Smiling softly, Mildred accepted this before telling Miss Hardbroom not to worry because they'll 'deal with anything when and if it comes'. Understanding that she did not want to talk about it, Mildred retired to bedroom wanting to feel fresh and ready for the long winded journey back to school tomorrow as she bid Constance a goodnight.

However, once Mildred was on her way, Miss Hardbroom dropped back down into the chair again, almost choked with emotion as she used magic to spark a raging fire in the furnace to warm herself, unleashing her anger as she did so. She was holding a dark secret, for she had lied through her teeth to the child, and after everything that they had agreed to last year, she felt guilty for doing so. Although it was true that she was anxious about returning to school, she also knew that Mistress Broomhead was very, very dead, so this was not the entire reason why she had shut herself off from the world over the last few weeks.

The real reason was that Constance Hardbroom knew that something was wrong with her, but she didn't know what and henceforth, she didn't know how to fix it. What she did know though, was that it was causing her pain and weakening her magic, and she was scared that it was slowly destroying her. She was having nightmares, very little appetite and zaps in the body that were causing her to keel over and she did not understand where it had come from. Despite this, she didn't want to look weak in front of Mildred or anyone for that matter. She didn't want to be seen as unfit to hold responsibility over children, nor did she want to risk her professional reputation, so she had just tried to ignore it. In all honestly though, it was becoming increasingly hard to do so as it was apparently showing on her face and in her behaviour. Although the doctors had said there was nothing physically wrong with her, for that was where she had been going despite telling Mildred she was off to 'conferences', she knew that this was not the case as she dreaded the following term, wishing she could stay in this safe haven forever.

She found it ironic that this time last year, she was angry at Mildred for trying to conceal her troubles and injuries to her, yet now she was doing the exact same thing. The only thing though was that hiding the truth had almost killed Mildred, so now Constance found herself rather concerned that it was going to do the same to her as she braced herself for the chaos and calamity that was bound to make up Mildred's final year at school, before finally falling asleep, slumped over the plush armchair herself.

A/N - I'm hoping to update this as regularly as my last story but I have a very busy week next week so please bear with! Any favourites, follows, reviews or requests on what you'd like to see included are appreciated as always x