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Oh, this was bloody brilliant. Mildred was just living the dream. Who wouldn’t want to be turned into a slimy amphibian on a Wednesday morning?
It wasn’t even her fault, really. All she did was state facts: The Hallows were absolute trash (except for Sybil, when she wasn’t being too clingy, at least). Ethel shouldn’t have let it get to her. Just because someone insults your family doesn’t mean you have to stoop to their level.
It felt downright stupid, hopping down the halls and getting chased around by her peers, but there she was. As if that weren’t enough, Mildred happened to encounter Miss Hardbroom, singing quietly to herself while locking her office door behind her. From Mildred’s new perspective, the woman towered over her even more so than she usually did. Apparently, the universe loved to make things harder for her.
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Miss Hardbroom looked up from her keys just in time to catch a glimpse of a miniscule green blur disappearing behind a staircase step. Curious, she squatted down to get a better look at whatever it was.
…A frog, the color of green apples and freshly cut grass.
With a softness that surprised even herself, Miss Hardbroom scooped it up in her hand and subconsciously rubbed her finger across its back. The frog perched in her palm, its webbed hand gently pressing on her thumb and its throat pulsing with each breath. It blinked innocently at her.
Such an inquisitive little thing.
Miss Hardbroom narrowed her eyes and fought the urge to smile. “Well, well, well.” She spoke, rocking a little on her heels. “And how did you escape, aye?”
Struck with wonder, she hadn’t realized she’d been staring at this frog for a solid nine seconds which, to poor Mildred, was as terrifying as a predator eyeing its prey.
Yep, this is the end. She’s gonna chop me up into bits and use me for potion ingredients.
“Schools are not the place for frogs.” The potions mistress examined the frog closely and bit her tongue, hoping none of her adoration showed. The frog croaked softly, shuffled a bit in her grasp, and blinked its bleary little eyes. Frogs were one of her weaknesses; They were these tiny packages of cuteness that hopped around and croaked their hearts out.
I’m going to die, Mildred thought miserably.
“I think we’ll just put you in here.” She murmured, placing it in her tote bag. As she walked down the castle’s halls she couldn’t help but glance down at the little frog, satisfied with her new friend. She ended up carrying the creature all the way to her classroom and, unable to resist the frog’s charm, moved it to a glass jar resting atop a bookshelf. It was the first thing she did when she entered the classroom, much to the amusement of her students.
“You can stay in here, so we can keep an eye on you,” Miss Hardbroom spoke softly, ultimately failing to keep her fondness out of her voice. Jadu, leaning over the desk in an attempt to glimpse the frog, smiled and cooed at the sight.
Remembering herself, Miss Hardbroom sighed. “Alright, Jadu.” Her students giggled amongst themselves. It was almost contagious.
And after class, when she was fairly certain no one was looking, Miss Hardbroom removed the frog from its jar and set it into her bag again. Possessing a frog of her own gave her a strange feeling of childish giddiness that wasn't entirely unwelcome. She returned to her office as quickly as her legs could carry her and placed it into another little jar she retrieved from her cupboards.
For a moment, she just watched it again. She perched herself on the edge of her leather backed seat and rested her head on the surface of the desk, eyeing the little amphibian that desperately pawed its hands on the glass. It was as if it were begging her for something. A thought flashed through her mind: What if this frog was more intelligent than it seemed? What if it had the same mental capacity as a human bei-
No, she was being silly. She gave a huff of laughter at the thought. A frog with a human mind was just as likely as a scar the shape of a lightning bolt.
Against her better judgement, she found a cardboard box and furnished it with the extra herbs that she stored in her office. Miss Hardbroom also dug up a miniature sunhat from the deepest depths of her cabinet and amused herself by placing it on the frog’s head. “My, aren’t you fashionable.” She muttered, poking its permanent frown with the tip of her finger.
Mildred was puzzled. She felt the weight of the hat on her head, which somehow dampened her drive to flee from her imposing form mistress.
Does she just have this in her desk?
Miss Hardbroom rarely got attached to anything this quickly, but the frog’s constant pout made her heart melt. Perhaps she’d get a second pet. Morgana surely wouldn’t mind.
”Behave yourself while I’m gone,” she said, attempting to collect herself before she left the privacy of her office.
The frog croaked quietly, causing her stern facade to crumble all over again.
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Miss Hardbroom found herself in the dead of night, standing in the doorway to Ethel Hallow’s room with her lantern raised. She hadn’t the faintest idea what four girls would be doing at this late hour, but she assumed this was some sort of slumber party. That was until the girls started spewing some nonsense about intruders and amphibians.
”Having a little party are we, girls? Mildred, I see you’ve decided to join us at last. We hope you’ve had a pleasant time. Would it be too much perhaps to inquire where exactly you’ve been?”
“I was asleep, Miss Hardbroom, when these three just barged in,” Ethel batted her lashes innocently.
Maud gasped indignantly. “You rotten—!”
”That’s not true, Miss Hardbroom,” Mildred spoke up, conveniently cutting off Maud’s language. “Ethel turned me into that frog and that’s where I’ve been all today.”
”I did not! I wouldn’t do such a thing. Unlike some people.”
”When I went up to my room to do cat training, she must have sneaked up and cast a spell on me!”
Miss Hardbroom was not getting paid enough for this.
”Mildred, you will write out 500 times in perfect handwriting: ‘I must try to curb my imagination and tell the truth at all times,’” she declared, for she hadn’t even gotten into her nightclothes yet and was desperate to get her much-needed rest.
“But please, Miss Hardbroom, I was that frog.” Mildred lit up when an idea came to mind. “I can prove it!”
”How?” Miss Hardbroom asked dryly.
”You put me in your bag!”
”That doesn’t prove anything—“
”And then you brought me to your office and gave me a box, and a straw hat, and then you—“
Perhaps I should ask Miss Cackle for a raise…
“Alright, I’ve heard enough.” Miss Hardbroom said quickly, silencing her before Mildred could speak any further. She was aware of prying ears and prying eyes, and would rather eat Miss Tapioca’s cold, soggy porridge than have such a humiliating weakness exposed to the school. “Ethel, Mildred, you will both see me first thing tomorrow.” The woman briskly left the room and closed the door with a flick of her wrist.
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Dear Miss Hardbroom,
I'd like to apologize for invading your privacy yesterday. Just so you know, I like frogs too. Sorry you didn't get a second pet, but I still have that tiny hat you gave frog-me. I put it on my friend Algernon and took a picture. I know technology isn't allowed, but Miss Drill let me borrow her camera. No hard feelings??
Sincerely, Mildred Hubble
Mildred Hubble,
I will forgive, but I will not forget. If you, on the other hand, should forget everything you saw, it would be greatly appreciated. As for the photograph, I will not be keeping it. Thank you regardless.
Miss Hardbroom, Deputy Headmistress of Cackle's Academy
...Miss Hardbroom proceeded to frame the photograph in her quarters.