A/N: Daily updates might happen as I get bored so write daily, if it is too much let me know and I can extend it.
Chapter Eight
Mildred and her friends hadn't thought they would be standing in Ethel's bedroom that afternoon, but that was where they found themselves. Mildred looked at Ethel and Drusilla, trying to think how to phrase what she wanted to say.
"We all know Softbrush is a disaster area, and we are learning nothing with her crying in the storeroom every lesson, as your dad is the chair of gover…" Mildred started.
"Let me guess, this is some crazy plan where you want me to talk to him and get him to send another supply?" Ethel cut in.
"Yes, Broomhead can't be the only other supply available, and he is only doing this as he hates Cackle and HB" Mildred went on.
"Yes and unless you want to have to redo our last year because we all failed our exams, you need to do something" Jadu said.
"I won't need too, I can pass my exams through self study" Ethel told them smugly.
"Good for you, but I won't pass if no-one helps me with exam preparation" Enid said knowing self study could only do so much.
"You can't force her too" Drusilla replied.
"Oh come on, Ethel is the first to shout when a teacher is bad, what makes this time different?" Ruby commented.
"It's alright Drusilla…..They are right...none of us want Softbrush...I will talk to him" Ethel replied.
"Really?" Maud said surprised it had been so easy.
"Of course" Ethel said smiling.
"Alright...thanks Ethel" Mildred said as her and her friends left. Drusilla looked at her.
"Are you really going to talk to him?" Drusilla asked leaning against her desk.
"Yes Drusilla" Ethel said beaming "Daddy will agree to get rid of Softbrush" Ethel explained.
"How can you be so sure?" Drusilla asked.
"Because this was all part of my plan, I wanted the others to lose their patience with Softbrush and beg me to get rid of her" Ethel admitted.
"Why?" Drusilla asked confused.
"Let's just say...I know daddy will get rid of her...for a price" Ethel smirked evilly, her plan in motion.
Amelia made her way in the room and smiled as she saw Constance was awake and sitting up in bed.
"Hello sweetheart, how are you feeling today?" Amelia asked patting her arm.
"Not to bad thank you, though that might be as my painkillers are working" Constance responded as she looked closer at the woman. "Are you alright headmistress? You look quite stressed" Constance responded concerned.
"Yes well, hard day at school" Amelia admitted the problem.
"Oh no what happened?" Constance asked worried.
"The supply teacher knocked over a bunch of cauldrons and send the potion spreading throughout the lab, she evacuated the entire school" Amelia admitted.
"I thought you said she was nice?" Constance commented, narrowing her eyebrows.
"I wasn't lying...she is nice...she is just...she spends her time crying or doing something clumsy, I have never in my life met someone who is as paranoid and anxious as her, I didn't tell you as I didn't want you to worry" Amelia told Constance. Constance only looked at her for a few moments, as she listened intensely before she finally spoke.
"I am sorry" Constance told her simply.
"What for Connie?" Amelia asked her.
"Leaving you in the lurch, me taking sick leave has caused you problems" Constance replied with a sigh.
"Honey, your health is much more important to me than work, plus you have the right to take sick leave, it's not up to you to find a decent replacement" Amelia told her, not wanting her to feel like any of it was her fault.
"But Mila...it's my fault...me been sick is my fault" Constance responded. It was Amelia's turn to look confused.
"How so?" Amelia commented, failing to understand how.
"I thought it was a good idea to fight the uninvited alone" Constance responded at what had been bothering her.
"Yes you did, and that is something I love about you, you will always jump in and try to save the school and the people in it, without thinking about yourself, that is how I knew the moment we met you would be a good fit at Cackle's and the girls would be safe, after all we met because you saved my life" Amelia responded, taking her hand and rubbing it gently with her thumb.
Constance blushed slightly, hating the compliments, before she responded "I didn't really save your life" Constance replied, thinking Amelia always exaggerated the story.
"But you did, or at least saved me from serious injury, if you hadn't been there I would have gotten crushed by that bookcase" Amelia told her.
"I just did what anyone else would have done" Constance replied modestly.
"Really? I didn't see anyone else attempt to step in" Amelia responded. "If you did that for a stranger, I knew you would always try protect our girls and staff" Amelia said with a smile. "Thank you for stepping in" Amelia said. Constance smiled gently.
"You're welcome….I can't help it, it's an instinct...but what if I can't be cured?" HB asked looking at Amelia worried.
"With the amount of experts in dark magic there are, I believe someone out there can help, it's just finding them, but no matter how long it takes, we will" Amelia told her. Seeing she still looked a little upset, Amelia spoke.
"I am always proud of you honey, don't forget that" Amelia said looking to see who was around before she carried on speaking.
"I could not have asked for a better daughter" Amelia stated as she stroked her cheek.