I got this idea as I started wondering if HB could have been more affected from the univited than shown. I wanted to write about Mildred's year as headgirl so put both ideas together. I will try update at least weekly but I can't promise anything.

The Worst Year

Chapter One

The worn out soles of the boots scraped across the tarmac as the wearer of them landed a bit more aggressively than she meant to. Mildred sighed in relief she had made it without much issue and looked around the familiar courtyard of the castle she loved. It made her feel strangely depressed this would be the last time she stood in this spot to start another school year.

"OI HEADGIRL" a familiar voice shouted. Turning in the direction of the shout, Mildred beamed as she caught sight of Maud and Enid rushing towards her. They pulled each other into a hug, and Mildred started speaking before they even pulled away.

"I don't think I will ever get used to being called that" Mildred stated, looking behind her friends for signs of the others. "Speaking of being headgirl, where is my deputy?" Mildred asked causally.

"I think you have spent too much time with Cackle, which isn't surprising how often you have been in trouble, that is something I have only ever heard her reefer to HB as" Maud replied laughing.

"Oh no...I think I am getting old" Mildred replied as she realised she was speaking like the adults.

"Hey guys!" Ruby and Jadu said as they appeared, which led to more hugs and greetings.

"This year feels strange without Fenny and Gris" Ruby commented, as their older friends were now at college.

"Yes, us guiding ourselves and the others is terrifying" Jadu replied.

Someone shouted that the first years were arriving. Mildred and her friends made their way over to greet them.

"We were NOT that small, some of these kids look barely old enough to be out alone" Enid commented as she took in the height of the kids after the usual chant was sang.

"They get smaller every year" Ruby said smiling at the first years in welcome.

After the first years arrived, Mildred and her friends started to move their luggage inside, as Mildred and Ruby started to pull Mildred's trunk upstairs, Mildred shouted to the girls above.

"Jadu we have to see Cackle and HB" Mildred remembered.

Jadu in her distraction pulled the trunk she was carrying with Maud into the wall, and the girls started to move the opposite way before she responded.

"Yes, I know, let's not be late and give HB a reason to regret helping us get the roles" Jadu shouted back as it was common knowledge HB had made it so Mildred and Jadu had got the positions...by tampering with the expulsion letters.

Nothing else was said as the girls focused on the task at hand. They were relieved when they finally had everyone's stuff in their bedrooms. Mildred panted, feeling a stitch in her side, before she looked at Jadu.

"We can unpack later, come on we are pushing it" Mildred told her friend. Jadu nodded and they waved goodbye to their other friends before making their way downstairs to the familiar office of their headmistress.

Mildred knocked firmly expecting to hear the familiar cheery voice of "Come in" in response, but after waiting a few seconds there was no response.

"That's odd" Jadu replied as it wasn't like the teachers not to be there.

"Maybe they have some problems with the first years or something" Mildred said knocking again in case they hadn't heard them. When there was still no response, the girls sat on the stairs by the office to wait.

Ten minutes later, they suddenly heard footsteps and Amelia Cackle appeared from the corridor. Mildred could not help but notice she looked slightly different, she appeared tired and frazzled, her hair seemed messier than normal and her glasses, which were on top of her head like always, were lopsided.

"Hello girls welcome back" Amelia panted as if she had just ran the length of the school "Sorry I had some things to do" Amelia said as she opened her office door and led the girls inside. Mildred expected to see HB waiting for them but she realised the office was empty.

"Right well congratulations again for making Headgirl and deputy" Amelia said as she sat down. "So just a couple of things to be aware of, you are to support the girls, especially the new ones and come and tell me with any concerns you have, you can also come and tell me about any changes you might think the school could benefit from, though I can't guarantee the changes will be made" Amelia told them.

Both girls nodded as they listened but Mildred was distracted. She couldn't figure out why HB was not at such an important meeting. That had never happened. She figured she might be busy elsewhere but then why not just wait until she was free? Mildred asked herself. It felt strange her not been there and Amelia kept referring to 'me' instead of 'us' like normal.

"Also you are mentors, but you aren't teachers, if you think something is too serious to handle yourselves then come and alert me" Amelia told them. Once she finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

"I think that is about it for now, any questions?" Amelia asked them.

"No Miss" Jadu replied. Mildred shook her head.

Amelia nodded and made to stand up, as there was not currently more to discuss.

Mildred stared at the left side of her headmistresses chair, the deputy's spot, then at the door. Seeing her headmistress move to leave, Mildred without meaning to voiced her thoughts out loud.

"Actually Miss Cackle..I do have a question" Mildred commented nervously.

Amelia nodded and sat back down and looked at Mildred expectantly with her hands together.

"I was just wondering...where's Miss Hardbroom?" Mildred blurted out the thing that had been bothering her the last few minutes. Jadu turned to look at her friend wide eyed for asking but Mildred didn't notice as she was looking at Miss Cackle for her answer.

Amelia fiddled with her hands and reached to adjust her glasses, before realising they weren't on her face, appearing nervous from the question.

"Ahh you noticed?" Amelia questioned.

"It's obvious she is absent from this meeting Miss" Jadu replied. She had been wondering the deputy's whereabouts too, she was just not as blunt as Mildred.

"I suppose in your fourth year yes it would be…" Amelia commented "In answer to your question Mildred, unfortunately, Miss Hardbroom is going to be on sick leave for a few weeks" Amelia said, revealing their last year was going to be very different from their others.