Chapter Text
Chapter One
-Revenge in Its Cruelest Form-
"Has it worked?" Mildred asked as she ran into the potions lab with Maud following behind. She stopped next to Mr. Daisy, who was holding a potion bottle in his hands.
"Two minutes." Miss Hardbroom announced loudly, clenching her pocket watch in both hands out in front of her. The only times Mildred had ever seen her form teacher looking like she did now, with her posture slightly drawn in on herself and apparent worry in her voice, was the last time Agatha had tried to cause havoc in the school.
Mildred began to nervously pull at her plaits as Mr. Daisy held the potion bottle out in front of him reciting a spell:
"Thunder, lightning, or in the rain.
Make Miss. Cackle herself again."
Silence fell over the room. All eyes were on the bottle held in Mr. Daisy's outstretched hands.
"Oh, it's too weak!" Mr. Daisy moaned, "We need the glass! We need it right here!" He emphasized enthusiastically with his free hand.
"Mildred Hubble!" Turning her attention towards the door, she felt her heart racing as she gawked at Agatha, who stood at Miss. Hardbroom's desk. "You thought you could outwit me?" the evil woman hissed, "Think again!"
Mildred who's attention was solely on Agatha, looked away when Mable, Azura, and Izzy ran into the room.
"Is everyone safe?" Miss. Hardbroom asked as she met the girls halfway into the classroom.
Azura stopped to take a breath, her eyes were wide, and she was panting from running as well as the adrenaline running through the girl, "No Miss. Hardbroom, Mildred's mum is still in there!"
Hearing that her mum, her everything, was still stuck in Vanishment made Mildred ill. She grabbed onto Maud, to stabilize her trembling legs that felt like that had turned to Jell-O.
Agatha smirked at Mildred, "Oh, how unfortunate." Mildred dug her nails into the palm of her hand, trying to calm herself down from doing something rash.
Taking a deep breath, she confronted the evil woman who was still gapping with amusement, "The magic word. Say the magic word!" Mildred yelled at the evil woman. She would not allow Agatha to win, no, not when her mum's life was in question.
As Agatha requested for the Great Wizard to hand over the title, Ethel bought some time telling the wicked woman that he had already done so. But when Ethel handed her the scroll, she was furious upon finding the inside utterly void of any writing. Agatha raving with anger from being tricked by Ethel gave the blonde girl a chance to grab the necklace from around the women's neck and threw it at Mr. Daisy, who held the potion bottle out and saying the spell once more.
"Thunder, lightning, or in the rain.
Make Miss. Cackle herself again."
Thankfully, Ethel tossed the necklace. Which luckily flew through the streaming blue smoke rising out of the bottle, instantly transforming Miss. Cackle to her human form.
Miss. Cackle turned around, slowly facing the room full of people. Her mouth was wide open, and her brows furrowed, "Did I nod off for a while?"
"Miss. Cackle, Agatha's first familiar, what was it called?" Mildred shouted.
Before Miss. Cackle had the chance to speak Agatha strode up to Mildred, stopping to stand inches in front of her face. "Finally, Mildred Hubble," The women spat in a sinister tone, "you will finally get what's coming to you. You seriously didn't believe I would give you a loophole did you?"
With these threatening words Miss. Hardbroom took a step forward, raising her hands.
"Ah ah ah, I don't think you want to do that, dear Hecate, you see, if anyone tries to touch me, then I will happily take Mildred along with me, to be with her mother, indefinitely."
Miss. Hardbroom watched as Mildred had a look on her face as if she could kill. She quickly transferred behind the girl. Reaching out she held the girl in her arms trying to prevent her from attacking Agatha, which she could see in the girl's features she would have done.
Agatha walked theatrically to the center of the room and began to recite a spell:
"I swear to do my witching duty.
By Witches' Code, I shall abide…
and with these words I read, unthinking…
to Vanishment I go with pride!"
Just like that, Agatha was gone, and so was Julie Hubble.
Recycled in Vanishment for all eternity…
Hecate felt a sickness well up inside of her as she watched Agatha vanish from the room. Knowing the evil women had just committed suicide in front of a room full of people as well as her twin sister Ada, who was more to Hecate than a good friend or boss. Ada Cackle was like a mother to Hecate. She cared for her dearly. She knew the woman was evil. She had tried more times too many to take over the school. But no, that was not enough for Agatha. The wicked woman killed the mother of one Mildred Hubble, out of vengefulness for Mildred squandering Agatha's past evil attempts.
She held on to Mildred tightly as the girl thrashed and screamed in her arms. She was begging to be released to save her mother. So Hecate held tighter, trying to ignore the pain of Mildred thrashing widely in her arms, as she held onto the girl on the floor of the potion lab. She knew Mildred would hurt herself if she let go. And she could not blame her. The girl had just been taunted by her mother's death. Hecate looked up at Ada, who had her hand covering her mouth. She could see tears rolling down the older woman's face. Hecate felt her heartbreak, in just a matter of minutes, so many horrible things had transpired, and she could not do anything to change it.
Hecate motioned her head towards a particular shelf, "Ada, sleeping draught." She mouthed silently. She was thankful when she saw Ada nod her head in understanding, retreating to grab it.
Once grabbing the potion, Ada walked over to her friend. Hecate, who was still sat on the floor, cradled Mildred in her arms. The girl was now clinging to her as if her life depended on it. When the woman got close enough, Hecate reached her hand out, taking the now uncorked vial from Ada.
She held the vial close to the girl's head, "Mildred, please drink this; it's going to help you." Mildred reached out a shaking hand and drank the potion without complaint—instantly falling limp in the raven-haired women's arms.
Adjusting her pupil in her arms, Hecate transferred to Mildred's chambers, placing the sleeping girl gently in her bed. With a flick of her wrist, she instantly changed the girl into her pajamas before she pulled the covers up, tucking them under her chin.
Hecate was not one to show emotion, especially any form of tenderhearted acts. She was not one who liked physical affection in any form. And she purposefully never let down her authoritative, strict demeanor. If she did, she was sure the girls would not take her seriously. She had to remain the formidable potion teacher, to ensure order and respect would not be lost.
With the comfort of knowing the girl was under the influence of a sleeping draught, she felt more comfortable to let her façade slip. Leaning down, she placed a gentle kiss on the girl's forehead. When she stood back up, a bright golden glow swirled around the sleeping girl, dissipating after a few seconds. After glancing at the girl one last time, she transferred out of the room. She felt comfortable to leave the girl alone, and the kiss was a protection spell to alert her if the girl becomes distressed or wakes up. What Hecate tried not to think about was the spell was one usually performed by mothers to their children. She had learned it when she had once thought about becoming a mother when she was younger. Something that always remained heavy on her heart, for not having the chance to experience.