Chapter 7 – A Strange Day For Hecate

Hecate was the first to rise. She lay in bed for a further ten minutes looking at her daughter and as she did so she smiled. It was one of those smiles that reached the eyes, and she stroked her daughter's hair before transferring out of bed and turning off the alarm which would go off in a couple of hours. It was the weekend and she always allowed Arrow to sleep in on weekends.

She got changed into a black skirt and white blouse. As she did so she had the normal feeling of annoyance when her favourite clothes were in the wash. She headed outside and strangely enough Dimity was waiting for her.

"Good morning". Hecate told her which had a hint of confusion in her voice.

"Good morning, thought I would see if you wanted a walk through the woods?" Dimity smiled at her.

Though hesitant Hecate allowed Dimity to steer her towards the woods.

"Arrow seems to have made some good friends and isn't Pippa coming this afternoon?" Dimity asked her.

Hecate nodded though she wasn't sure where this conversation was heading. As she looked at Dimity, she saw a look that she hadn't seen from her. Dimity was half smiling, and her eyes had lit up. Hecate had never seen Dimity look this adorable before, though she hadn't looked at her for more than a second, she didn't want to make Dimity uncomfortable.

Dimity had noticed the slight hesitation and the very quick quizzical look on Hecate's face. Dimity was on cloud nine and she didn't know why. Every time she was around Hecate her heart skipped a beat and she became rather nervous. Right now, she wasn't nervous. As she is a green witch the woods felt like home. She could breathe and relax in there.

They walked for a good half hour before they sat down near the lake.

"Hecate, how are things with Arrow?"

"Up and down, one minute we are fine the next were fighting". Hecate sighed.

Dimity put her hand on one of Hecate's to try and comfort her, she knew Hecate hated being touched. Arrow was different though, as she was her daughter it was fine for her to hug her mum or grab her hand. Hecate pulled away, though Dimity took her hand again. Hecate looked up and she noticed the look in Dimity's eyes again. If Hecate wasn't mistaken it was a look of longing and lust. She transferred herself into her classroom without even thinking. Leaving Dimity in the woods.

Arrow had woken up and headed to the library to get some studying done. As she did so she noticed Ethel walking into the library. Arrow entered and headed to a bookshelf which had potions books on. She was looking for a spell that would prevent her stuff being damaged by others. She found what she was looking for.

"It's no use, I am never going to pass this year". Mildred told Maud and Enid.

"You just need to get in some extra revision and practise". Maud told her.

Mildred's head fell into her folded arms at the table she was sat at.

Arrow walked up to her friends.

"May I be of assistance?"

"How so". Enid asked.

"I can help with tutoring if you feel you need it".

"Thanks, but I don't think your mum would approve". Mildred sighed.

"I have been trained by my mother in all subjects". Arrow informed her with raised eyebrows.

"She doesn't want you to Arrow". Enid told her.

Arrow took the hint and left the library with the book she came in for.

Mildred had started to give up again and it was concerning her friends, Enid had watched Arrow leave the room. She had taken Mildred's rejection rather well and Enid knew that when the time was right, Arrow would be there for Mildred.

"Millie why didn't you take Arrow's offer?". Maud asked her.

"One Hardbroom is bad enough, she might be nice as a friend but as a tutor I bet she would be just like her mum. I bet deep down she hates me too". Mildred replied as she looked at her friends.

"Millie, Arrow doesn't strike me as anything like her mum". Enid reasoned.

"You two just don't get it".

"We do Millie, but you said yourself you don't think your going to pass this year". Maud pointed out.

"Not to mention, she stuck up for you. I have a few friends at Amethyst's. They told me that Arrow had stuck up for a student from a non-witching family on multiple occasions and the reason she got suspended was for punching the bully in the face. Arrow was due to be picked for head girl next year". Enid informed them both.

"Seriously?". Mildred asked with her eyebrows raised.

Enid nodded. "She's one of the nicest people I have met if you take away the violence. Her grades make her top of every class she is in. she is humble most of the time, she is helpful. I mean how many classes has she helped you in so far? How many times had she ripped you to pieces and what has she to gain from helping you?".

"Most of the classes ye, only as I have been partnered with her multiple times. She hasn't torn me down at all though, yet". Mildred answered.

"You might want to give it a really good think, she might be able to help you Millie" Enid stated whilst Maud nodded.

Mildred stood up and told her friends she was heading to the woods to clear her mind. As she headed there, she passed Miss Drill who seemed to be scolding herself in a whisper.

"Well done, Dimity, that was a real smooth move. You know she doesn't like being touched and what did you do, touch her hand. Such a brilliant idea that was, you scared her off".

"Everything alright Miss Drill?"

Mildred's question made her jump as she turned around and noticed who was speaking to her.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine thank you. Just reminding myself of consequences to actions". Miss Drill stated as though she was still telling herself off.

Arrow as it turned out had gone to the exact same patch Mildred was heading to. As Mildred headed into the clearing, she noticed Arrow's long plait. She was clearly gathering some ingredients for something. Mildred was about to leave and pick another spot when Arrow noticed her.

"I won't bite I promise, I can't say the same for my mum though". Arrow winked.

"Did your mum give you something to do?". Mildred queried.

"No, I need some ingredients for a potion that will prevent Ethel from damaging my belongings". Arrow stated through gritted teeth. Arrow had a thought and her eyes widened slightly. "Any chance you could grab me some of that Almere from right behind you please?"

Mildred looked behind her and there were about eight different plants there, she looked lost.

"It's the bright yellow one, make sure to leave the roots in the ground so the flower can re-grow". Arrow told her kindly.

Mildred took some scissors from Arrow's basket and gathered a few, she had a feeling she had grabbed too many. She had a feeling they would get used during potions classes.

"Thank you". Arrow responded as Mildred handed the flowers to her.

The girls hadn't noticed Miss Hardbroom stood a while off, she had the perfect view of the girls whilst being slightly hidden from their view. She hadn't realised just how much they had gotten along. She left the girls to their own devices and headed for the staffroom. Unfortunately, Dimity was the only one in there.

"I am so sorry". Dimity blurted out.

"It's fine". Hecate told her though Dimity didn't believe her.

Hecate sat next to Dimity, and she noticed Dimity squirm in her seat.

"Why are soo nervous around me all of a sudden?"

"I am not nervous". Dimity stated though she knew she didn't sound convincing.

"Try again". Hecate told her.

Dimity took a deep breath which took a while for her to exhale and a few minutes later she spilled her heart out, whilst looking at her hands that she had placed in her lap.

"I didn't mean to startle you. I know you don't like being touched. I just don't like to see you struggling internally. I know you noticed the look I gave you and I just couldn't hide it, I tried to, I really did. I just couldn't. It's not the right time, you have enough to deal with right now."

"What are you saying Dimity". Hecate asked for she had a feeling but didn't want to say it encase she was wrong.

"I have worked with you for ten years and I was rather jealous of Desmond, though he was perfect for you, I kind of wished you hadn't met him?"

This wasn't where Hecate had seen this going. "You liked Desmond?"

"No Hecate, I liked you. I still do. I have done for the past eight years. You were happily settled down with him. I didn't want to say anything that would trigger you in any way".

"Are you calling me a ticking time bomb?"

"Everyone including yourself knows you are". Dimity whispered.

Surprisingly Hecate wasn't frustrated. She had had many members of staff in the past ask her out of both genders and she had been irritated with them all. Though Dimity was different they had been friends since the end of Dimity's first year teaching at the school. This had indeed gone the way Hecate thought it would, though Hecate had been hostile and toxic in the last few years. So, this coming from Dimity was a surprise as she no longer thought she was loveable yet here was Dimity telling her a completely different take on the matter.

"Well, Arrow did compare me to a cauldron about to blow up" Hecate reasoned.

Dimity finally looked at Hecate and burst out laughing for Arrow was not wrong, and even if there was no pun intended, it was hilarious as Hecate was the potions mistress of the school. It took Dimity a good few minutes to compose herself, though it did make her feel better.

Hecate hadn't seen Dimity as a love interest before though now come to think of it she had had Desmond, and she was happy. Now she was single, and she realised the thought just hadn't occurred to her. Then she remembered earlier in the woods at how she had thought Dimity looked adorable. She wasn't ready to ask herself to move on.

Dimity had noticed Hecate hesitate. "At least now you know". She said as she rose from her chair and headed for the door. She stopped as she opened the door and looked back and she noticed a strange look on her friends face before she left to go give herself another hard time.

Hecate was very confused. She had had no idea over the past eight years of Dimity's feelings, nor had she expected to find her adorable. She hadn't thought Arrow would have made friends with the trio. She also hadn't expected Arrow to go out of her way to hang around with Mildred on her own. Everything was changing and it was all out of her control. She wasn't sure what to do anymore. She was starting to think that Therapy might be needed. Ada had offered to get a therapist in to see her, should she feel she needed it. She soon shook this thought out of her head.