I know I posted yesterday but was bored so decided to write. I am going to take a few days break so I don't get burned out. Enjoy.

Chapter Two

"Sick leave?" Mildred questioned thinking she must of misheard her headmistress or misunderstood. The idea HB would take sick leave was bizarre to her.

"Yes dear" Amelia said shortly in response to her student's confusion.

"But...she was fine last year...I don't understand" Mildred commented confused. She wasn't even aware her teacher knew sick leave existed as she had never used it in the past.

"She fell ill over the summer, her doctor ordered rest, I will be explaining the situation more in assembly tomorrow morning" Amelia told the girls now standing up and walking swiftly to the door. She opened it and monitored that the girls could leave.

"Sorry to cut this conversation so short but I need to speak to the other teachers and meet the supply potions teacher" Amelia told the girls, who nodded and left confused by the information they had been told, figuring it made no sense.

Amelia walked out behind them and headed to the staffroom. She knew her staff would soon be asking about her deputy's whereabouts as well. Opening the door she was relieved both Imogen and Lavinia were in there already.

"Good evening Miss Cackle" Imogen said warmly.

"Seems quite quiet this year...where's Constance?" Lavinia asked, realising it was so quiet as she hadn't heard HB yelling at anyone yet.

"I need to talk to you about that" Amelia said as she poured them all tea and joined the others as she sat down. "Constance is on sick leave, at least for a few weeks" Amelia stated simply, as if she was telling them Constance had smiled recently and not something that would shock them greatly. Imogen and Lavinia just looked at her complexed.

"She was struck down with a ….virus….yes that's right a virus over the summer, lucky she was staying with me that week, her doctor ordered her to rest so that's what she is doing" Amelia explained, mumbling, changing her tone and shifting her eyes as she did so.

"How bad is she?" Imogen asked feeling a worry form inside her, she didn't always get on with the headmistresses' beloved deputy, but she didn't want her sick either.

"She's not bad" Amelia said as she drank her tea so she could refrain from talking more.

"Not bad? You are telling me that the same woman who literally taught with a sickness bug where she was throwing up is doing well but is still on sick leave?" Imogen responded. She remembered that time. Constance was literally running off to throw up every ten minutes after catching one of them 24 hour sickness bugs, Amelia had told her she was insane and to rest but she refused. She somehow still managed to teach, even if she was running off to vomit regularly. Constance being on sick leave meant she must actually be really sick.

Amelia drank her tea longer than necessary, taking a long time to swallow and gulp it, before she started to talk, and changed the conversation they had been having.

"I also need to tell you that I will be absent in the evenings, I need to visit Constance" Amelia now said.

"Then who will be in charge?" Lavinia commented as she realised that left them without a deputy or a headmistress.

"You two have looked after the school before" Amelia told them.

"Only for a week, and not the whole school" Imogen responded suddenly feeling afraid. She knew neither of them were capable of running the school long term, especially with the rowdy fourth years.

"I will be here as much as I can, try not to worry" Amelia said with a smile, seeming none the worst the wear for the situation. She seemed to be coping a little too well.

"Well how about we take it in turns? You can visit one day, then the next day Imogen or I" Lavinia commented. Imogen nodded in agreement, thinking that way at least Amelia will be at the school more often.

"No" Amelia said more firmly than she meant too. At her unusual brusque tone, her staff stared at her again.

"I mean...you know how Constance is ..I think it would be best she doesn't have a lot of visitors right now" Amelia said.

"What exactly is wrong with her Amelia?" Lavinia asked unable to wrap her head around the situation and realising Amelia hadn't actually told them anything at all.

"A virus she needs to rest" Amelia said downing the last of her tea. "If you excuse me I need to greet the supply teacher who should be arriving any moment now" Amelia said putting her mug down in a hurry and clanging it against her saucer. She threw a last smile at the others then rushed out the door.

"What in the world is going on?" Imogen asked, unable to figure out why Amelia was being so shifty and vague.

"She is probably in shock, I am sure she will fill us in more soon" Lavinia replied, trying to see the positive side.

"Sick leave?" Maud commented "And you are sure she said HB?" Maud said in response to the news.

"Positive, I have never seen Cackle so on edge, she practically threw us out her office" Mildred replied.

"Must be pretty bad for HB to be off" Ruby replied.

"Maybe she isn't sick at all" Enid responded as her friends turned to look at her "I was watching this show over the summer and a woman took sick leave but she was hiding her secret baby as she finalised the adoption" Enid said as her friends just stared at her.

"What? It's possible" Enid replied.

"No it isn't...HB won't go within two feet of a man remember, and this is real life Enid not your drama shows" Jadu responded as she laughed.

"Plus isn't she too old anyway?" Maud commented.

"She's not that old, I mean she's old but not like Cackle old" Enid responded.

"Whatever has happened" Mildred interrumped, thinking the conversation was growing silly.

"...Except Enid's suggestion that is...is bad enough for HB to be off" Mildred responded as scenarios as to why entered her brain.

"Let's just hope the supply teacher is nice" Ruby commented, hoping it wasn't someone strict. The girls nodded in agreement, not realising their headmistress was just about to meet the supply for her deputy.