Chapter 8 – Pippa Pentangle
Arrow walked into the headmistress's office. Her meeting with her had been postponed until today, it was Monday. As she entered, she noticed her mother wasn't there.
"Good morning, Arrow, I am currently looking at your bedroom arrangements". Miss Cackle informed her.
"OK?"
"I would rather you shared a room with someone your own age". Miss Cackle told her kindly.
"Who did you have in mind?" Arrow asked suspiciously.
"Ethel Hallow has agreed to have you in her room".
"Absolutely not". Arrow stated with distain.
"I think it will be good for you both, help you sort your differences out". Miss Cackle stated with a slightly firm voice.
"Seriously? what is it with the staff and Ethel Hallow? Why does everything revolve around her? She's a nasty piece of work, not to mention what she did last year. And sort our differences out? She almost made me an orphan a few months ago". Arrows voice was starting to get dangerous, and Miss Cackle heard her tone.
"That tone will not help you here".
"Then throw me somewhere else". Arrow stated with narrowed eyes.
Someone's throat had cleared, and Arrow turned around. As she took in the woman that had politely coughed, she noticed she wore pink. This woman was blonde and petite with a magenta pink dress that went to her knees with a matching short witch's hat. She had pink high heels on. Her face was heart shaped with big doe eyes and she was rather freckly. There was a kindness to her eyes and a warmth to her auror. This woman was gorgeous yet sickly pink.
"I refuse to put my students in rooms they aren't comfortable in, nobody can rest when they don't trust those they are roomed with. I never force it". The woman stated softly.
"Arrow Hardbroom meet Miss Pentangle". Miss Cackle introduced them.
"Arrow here does have a point, Miss Hallow has been allowed to get away with far too much". Miss Pentangle stated.
"Miss Hallow offered her room". Miss Cackle told them.
"We aren't even friends. Why can't I just stay in my mum's room?"
"You two need a break from each other". Miss Cackle simply stated.
"She will only put me in hers". Arrow told them as she rolled her eyes.
Miss Pentangle acknowledged the rolled eyes, she had been informed of the Hardbroom's family issues and she understood the situation. She slightly smiled at Arrows comment as she could picture Hecate putting Arrow in her own bed to ensure she was safe.
"Is there no friend she can go with?". Miss Pentangle asked. She had a feeling that putting Arrow and Ethel together was going to be utter chaos.
Miss Cackle was deep in thought until she shook her head.
"Not one friend? Not one?" Miss Pentangle pressed.
"Hecate doesn't want Arrow bunking with her friends". Miss Cackle sighed.
"And where is Hecate?" Miss Pentangle asked.
"In the potions lab". Arrow told her.
Miss Cackle and Arrow watched as Miss Pentangle left the room for the potion's lab.
Miss Pentangle took a right, went up a set of staircases and took a left. She soon came across the potion's lab. She knocked and the door swung open, as she entered, she noticed there was a class in session. This made her slightly hesitate.
"I'll pop back later".
"No need Pippa", Miss Hardbroom stated with slight annoyance. "My class is just finishing".
The class rose with the sound of the bell and Pippa stepped to the side to give room for the students to leave. The students were rather excited at her arrival, Pippa was very well known. She was somewhat of a celebrity. She also owned her own witching school. Though she accepted both boys and girls. her school was modern unlike all the other traditional schools.
Once the students had left, Pippa, walked up to Hecate who had sat behind her desk and leafed through piles of homework.
"Talk to me". She spoke softly.
"About what?"
"Hecate, talk to me". Pippa pressed.
"There is nothing to discuss". Hecate told her as she stopped what she was doing to look at her.
"Then explain the bedroom situation for Arrow".
"Arrow would rather be bunked with other students that I don't deem suitable, so I chose for her".
"You chose the one student in the school she has issues with? Why? What are you punishing her for?"
"I'm not punishing her". Hecate sounded exasperated.
Pippa raised her right eyebrow and looked at Hecate in a way that made it clear that she didn't believe her.
"Answer me this, Hecate. Who will get the blame when your ludicrous idea of putting them together becomes a catastrophe? Who will get the blame when someone gets injured? When an argument keeps everyone awake? Arrow by the sounds of it, is the opposite to Mildred. I'm under the impression she isn't one to back down". Pippa hated being the voice of reason sometimes, though it was needed every so often.
Hecate sat there and contemplated what Pippa was saying. Sensing the silence Pippa put her right hand on Hecate's left shoulder.
"Things are rocky between you both, though you aren't listening to each other. You want control and this is causing Arrow to not be heard. Listen to her, she is struggling just as much as you are. You lost your partner; Arrow lost her dad". Pippa spoke softly.
Hecate sighed she had only thought of Arrows grief when it suited her, and she knew Pippa was right.
"Arrow is lashing out and seems unreasonable to the rest of you. She's not, lashing out yes, but she's not being unreasonable. She is constantly being told to do things that Arrow doesn't feel comfortable with. She is screaming out to be heard and you're turning a blind eye". Pippa explained. As she did so, Hecate broke composure and a few tears left her eyes. "All I see is the adults being the difficult ones. Partnering her with Ethel, knowing it will anger her. Putting her in Ethels room again knowing it will anger her as she isn't comfortable around her. To be honest not many of your students are comfortable around her, are they?"
Pippa transferred Arrow into the potion's lab. Arrow was about to kick off for she really hated being transferred, though Pippa spoke first. "I don't normally transfer anyone though you two need to communicate without shouting at each other and becoming stubborn". Pippa explained though she looked directly at Hecate when she said stubborn.
Arrow walked to the back of the classroom; she was far too angry to even look at her mother. It was a few minutes before Hecate spoke.
"I can't put you with Mildred". She began to explain. As Arrow spun round, she explained further. "She will think I am punishing her for putting you in her room, Mildred won't think I will have put you together because you get along".
"Who's faults that? As it isn't hers, is it?" Arrow stated through gritted teeth.
Hecate chose not to answer the questions for she knew the answers to both those questions. "I can't put you with Maud as she won't be able to concentrate with you in the same room. I definitely, will, not, be putting you with Enid". Arrow was about to argue that this was ridiculous, though Hecate carried on. "Enid would probably be thrilled to be in the same room as you, though I can only imagine the shenanigans the pair of you would get up to, so that is out of the question". Hecate stated in an apologetic voice.
"Mildred or Enid take your pick, or I'm putting a tent up outside". Arrow stated cooly as she stared at her mother.
Hecate pursed her lips and counted to ten in her head.
"Listen to her". Pippa whispered to her.
Hecate thought hard before speaking. "If you want to find someone to share a room with, without my input. Then you may do so without directly asking. Do you understand?" Hecate said patiently.
Arrow nodded, finally, she was being listened to and not forced into an impossible situation.
"Arrow, could I have a word with you please?" Pippa asked. She then led Arrow out of the lab and out into one of the courtyards. "How are you doing?" She watched as Arrow shrugged.
"Isn't it obvious?".
"Some things are, yes. Though not everything. It must be hard being in a school that your mum teaches in". Pippa gently pressed.
"You have no idea"
"Enlighten me"
"Mum's reputation makes it hard to fully make friends. I think Mildred, Enid and Maud are my friends, but they won't accept any help I offer for Mildred. I know mum grates on her a lot, and she thinks I'm going to do the same. Mildred is more than capable she just thinks she's going to get shouted at just for trying and it's hard watching it". Arrows voice was full of helplessness.
"Would it help if I spoke to Mildred at all?"
"No, she will think she's being pressured into it, she needs to do this on her own free will". Arrow sighed.
"Why do you want to help Mildred so much, what's the real reason?" Pippa asked.
"To prove a point to my mum. Just because she's from a non-magical background doesn't mean she should be cast aside. Not to mention I don't want her to fail the year just because no-one is giving her a chance".
Pippa was satisfied with this answer. "Should you feel the need to transfer schools, I will happily offer you a place at Pentangle's Academy. You might get away with being here for a year, though the school committee will soon put a stop to it. I have a feeling going back to Amethyst's is not an option due to your suspension?"
"They were looking at putting me as head girl next year even though I had made it clear I didn't want it, then they suspended me for their failure to see to the problem".
"You have quite the reputation". Pippa smiled at her.
"I do?"
Pippa nodded. "Definitely head girl standard".
Arrow rolled her eyes
"I'll speak to Mildred, though I won't tell her of our conversation". Pippa told her as she walked off towards an entrance into the school.
Pippa headed up the stairs and soon found the short spiral staircase that led to Mildred's room and knocked.
Mildred opened the door and let Pippa in.
"It has been a while since we last spoke, how have you been?" Pippa asked her whilst she was taking in Mildred's facial expressions. She knew Mildred had a way of pretending everything was OK when it wasn't.
"I've been fine". Mildred replied and for once Pippa couldn't read her face.
"Fine doesn't explain anything". Pippa told her with a knowing look.
Mildred sighed and Pippa watched as Mildred sat on her bed twiddling her thumbs and looking close to tears.
"I don't think I'm going to pass this year; I really am trying". Mildred confessed. I've been putting in more studying. It's just not sinking in. Enid and Maud are only just managing to keep their grades. Arrow seems nice but one Hardbroom is enough to deal with. She offered to tutor me, I know I need it, but I can't help feeling like she might be like her mum who hates me and always pulls me down". Mildred burst into tears. As she did so Pippa walked up to her bed and sat next to her, she put her right arm around her to comfort her.
"You know, Arrow has quite the reputation. She is on the study buddy list at Amethyst's. which is a list in the library that states the names of the students that are happy to tutor along with their majors and their current year. Arrow is top of all her subjects; I doubt her grades would slip whilst bringing you up to speed. Give her a chance, you never know you both might just prove Miss Hardbroom wrong". Miss pentangle softly told her.
"What would she gain from helping me?"
"Nothing, though Arrow likes to see others thrive. She likes to ensure that others have a fair shot. From what I've been told she is a really good tutor. I understand the hesitation and if I was in your position, I too would be hesitant though Arrow may look like her mother, though she has the personality of her dad".
Pippa then twirled her wrist in the air and a donut appeared on a napkin in Mildred's hand. This donut had sprinkles and marshmallow toppings. She then stood up and laid her right hand on Mildred's left shoulder before leaving the room. She hoped Mildred would give Arrow a chance. She was also very annoyed as she had offered Mildred a scholarship at her very own school, of which Mildred had declined. She knew Mildred wouldn't have any academic issues at her school as her staff were very quick to get the students up to speed with their coursework. If study buddies were needed, they would advise the students, or pull them aside for extra lessons. As well as finding out any reasons that might be causing the issues such as home life issues etc.
Mildred sat on her bed eating her luxury donut, she was surprised she was aloud to eat this one as Pippa ate the one in her first year. She giggled to herself at the thought of it. She also thought about the scholarship offer as well as the tutoring offer from Arrow. She went to sleep that night still unsure of what to do, she was panicking, and it had been showing the last few weeks.
