Chapter Text
Everything started when Mildred crash-landed into the pond facing Cackle’s gate with Maud. She was having the time of her life, while Hecate was clearly going through another day in what she would describe as hell: two idiotic students-to-be soaking in the muddy water all the while interfering with the peaceful process of selection day. Everything was usually as regular as clockwork – literally, as Hecate was constantly keeping an eye on the pocket watch that was hanging around her neck. But right now, these disturbances were getting her behind schedule. She looked at the two young girls with dismay and magicked them dry. One of them, the gangly one, clearly looked flabbergasted.
“I am Miss Hardbroom, deputy-headmistress. And you are?”
Maud, who could see her new friend clueless, took action.
“Maud Spellbody, miss Hardbroom. Well met.”
She put her hand on her forehead and bowed. Miss Hardbroom gave the student a stern look and then magically ticked Maud’s name on her list. She then turned her face to the other girl, who had finally found a way to stop her fit of laughter. Mildred looked at the deputy headmistress, wearing black from head to toe, and awkwardly put her hand to her forehead. She mumbled a shy “well met” which was met with a daunting face from the deputy headmistress, who was now raising her eyebrow.
“And who are you?”
“Mildred. Mildred Hubble.”
Mildred was now looking at Miss Hardbroom but could not decipher what was going on. The deputy Headmistress was once again making a new face. If her eyes could pop out of her skull, they definitely would. The truth was, Hecate had not heard that name for some years now and did not expect to hear it here at Cackle’s of all places.
“Hub-ble. Your name does not appear on my list. Quite an ordinary name for a witch.”
Mildred, who thought she had been exposed when she heard the word ordinary, could not say a word. The chubby girl was now talking instead of the gangly one, making up some sort of story about Miss Hubble being down for Pentangle’s, that wretched school, but then deciding on trying Cackle’s first. Miss Spellbody was making sure to avoid anything related to the ordinariness of the Hubble name. The deputy headmistress seemed doubtful but decided not to judge the girl upon her name. How could this young witch be somewhat related to the Hubble woman she used to know? No, that was clearly too far-fetched a possibility.
“Well, I suppose we should give you a chance to redeem yourself, Mildred Hub-ble. You should get on with the tour with Miss Cackle.”
Miss Hardbroom suddenly raised her hand above the two girls and made a delicate gesture which transported them to the castle. She inhaled deeply.
“Hubble, that is… uncanny”, she said to herself.
Hecate transferred to the staffroom, startling miss Drill in passing. She had just a couple of minutes to gather the entrance exam before joining the potentially newcomers. She clearly had no time to chitchat with Dimity, who still could not get over Hecate’s transferring through the castle. Hecate was meticulously arranging the papers in her hand, something she could have used magic for, obviously, but she needed to stay focused. And to keep her mind away from the name of Hubble. After displaying a wide range of faces to the Hubble girl, she decided she would try her best to keep her stony face while attending to the students. That’s what she did best.
From that moment, everything went from bad to worse. The written exam was a disaster for the Hubble girl. How one could come to an entrance exam so unprepared, Hecate couldn’t say. Scribbling little drawings when your future depended on it. Dawdling while all the other applicants were applying themselves on paper. Thankfully, a new Hallow girl was to enter Cackle’s. She definitely seemed bright and shiny although maybe a little too overly confident. But she was at least something to look forward to.
From there, the Hubble disaster carried on, causing mayhem and being disqualified for the entrance exam and then saving the day after Miss Cackle’s evil sister herself caused mayhem. Hecate had to admit, this Hubble was prone to catastrophes, but she was crafty as a fox and resourceful. But now that Mildred was sheepishly sitting in a chair in front of her, she couldn’t help thinking that things were actually only getting started.
“Mildred Hub-ble, it seems that Miss Cackle took a shine on you and decided to let you attend this academy, after all.”
Mildred couldn’t help the smile on her face. She was now fidgeting and couldn’t hold still. She needed to break the news to Maud. She had made it! She was squirming on the chair and Miss Hardbroom couldn’t hide her discontentment. She obviously had not taken this decision.
Miss Cackle suddenly made an appearance and took it from there. Miss Hardbroom was standing aside, arms crossed around her chest, lips pursed.
“Mildred, I cannot express how grateful I am. I think we should summon your parent or your guardian” declared the headmistress.
“Ada, are you sure it is the right thing to do?” implored Miss Hardbroom, who was terrified at the idea of Mildred Hubble potentially being somewhat related to the Hubble she once knew.
“Hecate, dear, you know well that some academies have been accepting students from the ordinary world for quite some time now. Maybe it’s time we followed Pentangle’s lead.”
Hecate rolled her eyes. She hated when Ada called her ‘dear’ in front of students and decided to refrain from arguing any further. Mildred was observing Miss Cackle carefully as she made a hand gesture which transferred her mother to a spot right next to her. A mass of unruly curly blond hair appeared, wearing plastic gloves and holding a toilet brush in one hand.
“Mum” Mildred interpelled her mother.
Miss Hubble looked utterly disoriented and when she finally met Hecate’s face, she was speechless and her eyes seemed distraught. Hecate tried to hide a gasp and then conjured her most unfazed face. That was within her reach. Of course, Hubble was a name that did not belong to any witching family. And of course, it had to be her. She tried to stay calm but she couldn’t help noticing how little Julie had changed. She felt ashamed for a couple of seconds because of how she had ended things. She was not good at goodbye, that was for sure.
~
Being in the non-magical world for the first time and all alone was not how Hecate had imagined her life. That, and the fact that her being pregnant had led her to this very position, in the middle of a rustling city she didn’t know anything about. She had heard tales of this world and she had read all about it – intellectual curiosity, she supposed. But still, she did not wish to be there. Her father had been clear: her magic would be weakened as long as she was pregnant. And that broke her heart into tiny pieces. That was clearly not what she had envisioned for herself. She had a tiny baby growing up in her tummy and she couldn’t help both loving and loathing this idea. But she was all alone, here and there, and that changed everything.
“You are a shame to this family, Hecate”
That was what her father had said before sending her into hiding so that no one would hear of this mysterious pregnancy. She thought she would have been sent to the Highlands, or the far seas. She didn’t think she would be acquainted with the ordinary world without her magic.
Hecate was standing in the middle of the street, taking in her surroundings. The cars honking, the people chatting. It was all too much and she couldn’t help frowning.
- Are you okay, love?
A young woman was standing in front of her. She looked quite friendly with her curly blond hair. And she had that sort of twinkle in her eyes which reminded Hecate of… No, she had to stop thinking about that person.
- I’m fine. I’m – I’m pregnant.
- Well, I’m Julie, nice to meet you!
This was the strangest encounter. But this Julie woman was adamant that Hecate should have “a cuppa” with her and so she did. This Julie was a completely non-judgmental human being, and that was a change. She did not ask any of the uneasy questions and she didn’t care about them. She never made fun of Hecate’s complete lack of knowledge when it came to household appliances. Hecate was pretty sure this woman had quickly guessed she had nowhere to go when she offered her to stay for the night. And so she stayed and Julie did not ask any question when one day turned into two and then into a week.
Julie was a nurse, so she knew a lot about hospitals, and even about pregnancies. So she drove Hecate to be checked up, and didn’t ask any question at all. And gradually, Julie saw that Hecate was perking up. Her apartment was always clean and tidy when she came back from work. She always had a lovely meal ready for her. And this almost lasted 9 months. 9 months during which the two women exchanged about everything and nothing, shared a flat, shared a life.
Until one day, everything became too much for Hecate. Her belly was getting too big, her thoughts were becoming heavier. And the unexpected letter she received telling her her mother had passed away was the final blow. She could feel her magic bubbling inside her and she started thinking about the life awaiting for her, and the baby which had no place in it. And that is how she ended up in the hospital were Julie Hubble worked as a nurse to give birth to a daughter she would leave to grow up in the non-magical world and never see again.
~
“Mildred! I was just cleaning the toilet”
Julie’s face shifted from perturbed to embarrassed. If she had recognized Hecate, she had a pretty damn good poker face. Maybe it was the high bun and the black attire? Her style had drastically changed after she returned to the magic world – she didn’t think it would prove to be helpful to dissimulate her identity though. Julie now faced Miss Cackle and seemed to be averting Hecate’s stare as much as possible. Was she doing that on purpose? Hecate was bubbling inside. Miss Cackle was trying her best to accommodate Julie’s lack of knowledge concerning the witching world.
“Magic is real” Julie Hubble said, hesitantly.
“That is correct” replied Miss Cackle.
If you need more proof, I’ll happily turn you into a pumpkin, Hecate thought.
“So you’re magic and all the teachers are magic and the girls learn … magic” Julie Hubble tried to comprehend what she was being told.
“I see where Mildred get her quick wits, Mistress Hubble” commented Hecate who couldn’t help it.
Julie Hubble frowned. That’s when Hecate realized she should have stayed quiet.
“All right, Mrs I’m-so-Magical. If you’re so much better than me, how about conjuring up some manners.”
Julie now looked Hecate in the eyes and Hecate just knew. She knew that Julie had recognized her and was clearly still holding a grudge against her.
“And it’s Miss Hubble!” Old crow, she wanted to add.
“Did you know Mildred had applied here?” asked Miss Cackle.
Julie now seemed to forget all about Hecate Hardbroom and was looking at her daughter with a tender and loving face. Mildred looked abash and didn’t dare to look back.
“It’s okay Millie-love, I just wish we had talked about it before.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
“Of course not”. She held her daughter in her arms.
Hecate seemed to be disgusted by this display of affection. It’s true she had never been one to hug, Julie reminded herself. Even on the worst day of her pregnancy, she had always kept a distance. One day, Julie remembered, she had been able to put her hand on Hecate’s shoulder as she was sobbing. Hecate seemed to like her privacy at the time.
Julie now looked at Miss Cackle.
“Would it be possible to know a little bit more about the school? I would feel more comfortable if I knew were my Millie would spend her days if she were to attend.”
Miss Cackle smiled at that.
“Well, I am sure that my deputy-headmistress could give you a tour, if that could help you make your mind.”
Hecate froze. Of course, she could decline this offer and pretend she had other things to tend to. But Ada knew very well she didn’t. And Hecate didn’t want to raise any suspicion. So she nodded and said coldly “I you will follow me, please”, to which Julie raised while Mildred went on her way to join the other successful applicants.
Julie walked alongside Hecate through the winding corridors without uttering a single word. Maybe she hadn’t recognized her after all? For a couple of minutes, Hecate felt relieved to know her life would go back to normal. She would maybe have to see Julie once a year for a parent’s evening, but other than that, this ghost of her past wouldn’t make any recurrent apparition in her life. She was suddenly pushed into a room on her left.
“You’re a w- witch!” yelled Julie.
“You’re a mo-ther…” stated Hecate.
“That’s hardly comparable!”
“To a troublesome eleven-year-old who does not belong here” added the reproachful deputy-headmistress.
“Oh, don’t you dare! She is a bright and clever young lady, no-thanks to you!”
“What ‘no-thanks to me’?”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“Would you please enlighten me as to what nonsense you are talking about?” Hecate was clearly losing her patience.
“Gosh, Hecate! You’ve spent an entire morning with Mildred and you still don’t get it?”
“Please Hubble, stop the dramatics and get on with it” snapped Hecate.
“I’m being dramatic? Coming from the woman who abandoned her baby girl just a couple of hours after giving birth, that’s grand!”
“Is this some kind of blackmail? Are you here to destroy my reputation?”
Hecate did not seem to comprehend what the Hubble woman was telling her.
“Do you need me to spell it out? You said it yourself. Millie is eleven. And eleven years ago, that is exactly the year I met you and I was not the one who was pregnant at the time. I can fill in the blanks if you need me to, but I’m sure you’re smart enough. Anyway, I guess you would have figured it out at some point. She is your spitting image.”
Hecate’s jaw dropped. She thought about the clumsy dark-haired girl she had spent the morning scolding with aversion. She was doing the math and slowly coming to realization with what Julie Hubble was subtly telling her. She recoiled in horror and hid her face between her hands for a second before looking back to Julie, as if it had never happened.
“Couldn’t you just make her leave and go back to an ordinary school?” suggested Hecate.
“And disappoint her? No, I don’t think so.” Julie answered sharply.
Then, I’ll make sure she hates me as much as you do, thought Hecate.
“What do you want from me?” asked Hecate.
“I’m just warning you: you’ve turned my life upside down once and I won’t let you do it again.”
“Relax Mama-Bear”, deadpanned the deputy-headmistress.
“As far as Mildred is aware, I am her mother and I’d rather things stayed this way. More precisely, I forbid you to interfere with her life.”
“At least something we will agree on today”, mumbled Hecate, not daring to look Julie in the eyes.
Julie Hubble had the most marvellous smile and her face radiated warmth and love. But when it came to Mildred’s well-being, she really was a pure mama bear. She had built a life with her daughter and nothing and no one would destroy what she had. Sure, the first weeks had been eventful, and her life had seen some changes. But the months and the years after that? Pure happiness, she would say.
“So, now that this is settled. This witchy side of yours, is that why you never came back? Do you know how much time I spent looking for you?”
“I didn’t ask you to look for me.”
“You lived 9 months with me and then disappeared without telling me, leaving a little girl behind in a hospital bedroom. What was I supposed to do?”
“Well, first of all, you were not supposed to adopt the baby I gave birth to. Secondly, she was not supposed to end-up here today. I have moved on, I have responsibilities and I do not have time to dwell upon the past.”
“So you just gave birth to her, and then magically poofed out of her existence?”
“That’s the gist of it”
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye? I thought we were friends.”
“I guess…”
Hecate had no words to express what was going on in her mind. Had they been friends? Probably, although she did not understand all the intricacies the word “friends” entailed in the ordinary world.
“I guess we were… But there are some things you didn’t know which were and still are none of your business. Now, if you please, we need to get back to Miss Cackle’s office.”
Hecate finally stepped out of the room and straightened her dress. She was now stiff as a broom as she walked back to Miss Cackle’s office. She put on her best poker face and pretended everything was perfectly normal.
“So, Miss Hubble, have you reached your final decision?” asked Miss Cackle.
Julie cast a shy glance towards Hecate. Could she trust her to keep Mildred’s life as normal as it could be? This was clearly a funny thing to say. How could attending a witching school be normal? Hecate didn’t want to have anything to do with Mildred, not that it surprised her, but at least, it meant that her daughter would remain hers. And that was all that mattered.
“Actually, I had a suggestion” interrupted Hecate in her most Miss Harbroom-like manner. “I would suggest for Mildred Hubble to be accepted on a trial basis, as a precaution”.
Julie glared at Hecate. How could she do that? Miss Cackle looked at here deputy-headmistress, puzzled.
“In case she might not accommodate to the witching world very well” Hecate added.
“That’s actually quite a wise idea”, replied Miss Cackle.
The headmistress was now in the far-end of her office, fetching some papers in different drawers while Hecate and Julie were making faces at each other.
“Why would you sat that?” whispered Julie angrily.
“It’s in her best interest and this way you won’t have to blame yourself when Mildred gets back to an ordinary school”, Hecate whispered back.
“‘When she gets back to an ordinary school’? Are you already planning to expel her?”
“Well, wouldn’t it make your life easier?”
“Yes it would. But do I want to live with my daughter being disappointed for not being enough for your oh-so-prestigious academy? No, I don’t!”
The headmistress turned back and the two other women straightened their posture. She offered a polite smile to Miss Hubble and then gave her a pile of documents.
“Miss Hubble, I was delighted to talk to you. Among these documents, you will find some documentation about the school. I also provided you with a copy of The Witches Code, which Mildred will need to be acquainted with as it rules our lives”.
Julie nodded.
“Then, I guess we will see Mildred when the school starts, won’t we Hecate?”
Hecate offered a clumsy fake half-smile to Ada as she transferred Julie and Mildred Hubble back to their apartment.
“Quite a lovely mother and daughter”, smiled Ada.
“Quite a pair, indeed”, commented Hecate.