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"If I had not always demanded the best of you, would you really be going up on that stage today?" A slight smile crossed Hecate's face. "I came to say that I am.. proud.. of you." A small chuckle escaped the Deputy Head's lips; she never thought she would ever say that she was proud of someone. (Unless maybe it was Pippa.)
"Proud? Of me, Miss Hardbroom?"
"Yes, Mildred Hubble, proud."
Mildred beamed from ear to ear. "Proud.." She said quietly. "Well, thank you, Miss Hardbroom, that means a lot."
"Yes, I figured that it might." Hecate was still smiling gently. "Before you go out there is something that I.. I wish to speak to you about. Is Ms. Spellbody around?"
"Um I think she's still packing for the end of term. Since we were away."
"And that is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh?"
"Yes." They entered the Great Hall which was not yet filled. The ceremony didn't start for 2 hours so the only ones milling about were the dinner witches and a few girls setting up chairs. Hecate gestured to the curtain that led to backstage, giving them a little privacy.
"What's with all the secrecy, hiding away back here?"
"Because I am not used to.. talking to people.. one on one. And dealing with," she cringed, the smile finally finding its way off her face, "feelings."
"Feelings?"
"Yes. I may have admitted to Miss Cackle, well- Agatha, that I may have been acting with heart not head. I could only see that you had shattered our beloved headmistress into pieces and not all the other things that you had done. So, Mildred, I wanted to say that I am.. sorry. I am sorry for sending you.. and Maud, to Wormwood. As Ada will be announcing later, the school is going to be shut down and the girls returned to proper schools. Thanks to you." The smile returned to her face. "I am not very good with words, as you may know, but if there is anything else I can do to help you as Head Girl, I will do it. You are a good witch, Mildred Hubble, one of the best. I should never have sent you away, I know that now."
Mildred smiled again. "And you are a good teacher, Miss Hardbroom, one of the best. If you hadn't sent me to Wormwood I never would have been able to help those girls, they could still be stuck there in the room of unscratchable itches." Mildred shivered. "You've made me who I am today, I understand that now, even if I don't always admit it. I've always liked you Miss Hardbroom, because without you.. I would never have been allowed to stay here."
"Hmm, quite right," Hecate agreed. "I regret that decision at least once every day." As she said it there was a sparkle in her eyes.
"Miss Hardbroom.. did you just- make a joke?"
"You ought to start preparing for your speech."
"Oh!! Oh no! I totally forgot about the speech! Oh no I have to find Maud I have no idea what I'm going to say!!" Mildred sprinted out of the room.
Hecate was left standing thinking to herself, believing the girl to be gone. Suddenly a warm body slammed gently into her frontside, arms wrapping around her. "M-Mildred Hub-ble!!" Hecate exclaimed.
"Thank you for everything HB, I couldn't have done any of this without you, you're like a second mom to me." A mom. Something Hecate had only dreamed of being when she was a little girl. Having a perfect little daughter and a perfect spouse. Sitting in a cute cottage on the top of a hill. Her daughter would have gone to Cackle's and if she had had a son he wold have gone to Pentangle's. After the whole Indigo thing, she couldn't find anyone to love. No kids, no spouse, just a lonely old woman. "Miss Hardbroom?" Mildred pulled away but Hecate shook her head, embracing the young girl, wrapping her arms around her awkwardly, she patted Mildred's back, unsure exactly how to give a hug.
"And you are like the daughter that I never had." Hecate whispered. After a few seconds she pulled her arms away. "Now go, go get your speech ready."
Hecate watched as mildred bounded out of the room, tripping over herself at least three times. Hecate grinned. Some things would never change.