Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter One - Detention

Hortensia glanced up at Agatha Trunchbull, taking a break from writing. Her day had NOT started off well at all. She was the unfortunate target of Trunchbull's wrath today, the woman had decided her existence was irritating and had dragged her there as punishment.

“At least it's just lines” she thought to herself as she knew she was lucky in that aspect. Trunchbull's punishments were normally awful and painful. Wanting to leave as soon as she could, and before her headmistress could turn into a worst mood, she scratched her pen on the paper, writing out 'I must obey my headmistress'.

Time went slowly and Hortensia moved her wrist, which was becoming painful from so much writing. Suddenly, Agatha made eye contact with her, seeing she was daydreaming. The girl quickly went back to writing, not wanting to be punished for daydreaming.

The blonde kept her head down, focused on her paper as she could hear, and sense, the woman was walking towards her, she knew showing fear would make it worst, after all, that was what the woman wanted.

“Let us see what you have done” the woman said, snatching the paper off the desk before the student could so much as open her mouth. The headmistress looked at the paper for less than a second before she muttered two simple words.

“Start again” she told her

“Why?” the blonde said annoyed

“You used a blue pen, I want them done in black” the woman told her

“But you never told me that before!” Hortensia said, as she had just wasted hours of her time.

“Yes, I decided just now, I don't like how it looks in blue” the woman said.

The student made no reply but folded her arms across her chest, not writing more.

“Why people choose to have disgusting little creatures like you, I will never understand,” Agatha replied, slamming a fresh sheet of paper on her student's desk. The girl didn't move.

“It was an order to start again, not a choice, remember I am in charge, and I am fed up with kids like you trying to bend the rules, like how you still refuse to take off that ridiculous looking hat” the woman said growing annoyed at the girl disobeying and not knowing how to deal with it.

“You never said it was ridiculous when you were getting a large payment because of it” Hortensia replied. Agatha looked at the girl, her eye twitching.

“I beg you pardon?” she replied

“We both know the reasons behind it, and if you weren't so money hungry…” Hortensia started to say but stopped speaking abruptly as Agatha slammed her fist on her desk.

“Quiet, you disgusting little worm!” the woman said. The woman wiped her brow before lowering her voice.

“You think you are clever, don't you? Well let me tell you, you are very, very stupid, I can make your life hell” Agatha told her, looking at her a bit too long, as if trying to figure out what she could do with her.

“Stand up, go stand next to the chalkboard” she told her. Hortensia got up without fuss, she was glad of the chance to stretch her legs after having being sat in the chair so long, though she did feel some fear about what was going to happen.

“You know, I know you think I don't notice anything, but I do, I know all kids are different, some tremble with a look, others cry when they are shouted at,” Agatha said, walking towards her. “Seems you are one of the silly girls who only listens to actions” the woman said.

Suddenly, before she could even think about the situation, the woman grabbed hold of the girl's left arm, pulling it hard.

“Oww get off” the blonde said, trying to pull out of her grasp. The Trunchbull laughed at her feeble attempts.

“I am a retired professional ball and chain thrower, you think you are stronger than me” she said, holding her in place.

“I am sorry, I will write the lines,” Hortensia quickly said, hoping that would get her to let go.

“Too late kid, you had your chance” Agatha said, now taking her arm and bending it the wrong way, causing the girl to yelp out in pain.

“You are a stupid and pathetic kid” she said, continuing her assault. Tears flowed into the students' eyes.

“Oh no, we can't have that can we, if you are going to cry, I need you to do it like you mean it” the woman said, as she moved her arm enough so it hurt but not enough it would break, knowing exactly what she was doing by drawing it out.

Hortensia cried harder. Agatha laughed at her pain.

“This is a warning to do what you are told and don't answer back” she told her before letting go of her grip slightly. Hortensia quietened down a bit as the pain lessened. Agatha waited to see her expression, then laughed crazily.

“I think you require a lesson you won't forget though” she told her, bending her arm again and pulling on it hard, but this time pulling harder than she had before, hearing the distress of her student increase as her arm throbbed with pain, the girl's face became blotchy as tears fell quickly down her face. Now she had started, it seemed Agatha was never going to stop, and she kept up her punishment until her arm finally snapped. 

At the breaking of her arm, the girl screamed and cried harder than ever. Agatha finally let go of her and the girl automatically clutched her now broken arm and fell to the floor crying.

“How pathetic” Agatha said as she watched the girl sobbing. Hortensia said nothing, the shock, and the pain causing her to go mute.

“There is more of where that came from if you say anything about what happened here, you can say any other story I don't care, but I swear down if you tell anyone about this, you will feel this pain again” she told her.

“I won't Miss” Hortensia said shakily through sobs, holding her left arm at the elbow with her right.

“Good, seems you finally have realised who is in charge, now get lost you worm!” the woman said. Hortensia stood up shakily and collected her things, leaving the classroom, trying not to think about the pain in her arm.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two - Miss Honey

Sitting in class, Hortensia could hear her friend talking none stop, but was too focused on the pain in her arm to hear what she was actually talking about. She rubbed her forehead, trying to do anything but think about her arm, but then she accidentally moved it and yelped out.

“The answer is oww?” her friend Amy asked, confused.

Embarrassed and not wanting anyone to know about her arm, because then they will ask questions, she touched her stomach, pretending that was where the pain was coming from.

“Stomach ache, I don't feel so good” she half lied. She DIDN't feel good, but her stomach was fine.

“SIR” Amy shouted before Hortensia could stop her, “Hortensia is sick” she said.

“Is everything okay, Hortensia?” her teacher asked

“Erm…no …stomach ache…can I go see the nurse?” she asked her. The man nodded, and she threw her bag over her good shoulder and rushed out.

She didn't know what to do now. Her plan was to deal with her arm at least until after school, then pretend to hurt it at home. If she came into school with a cast after hurting it at home, no-one would ask questions or suspect anything. She walked aimlessly, her arm throbbing.

“Be careful” she heard someone say, taking her out of her daydream. She looked up, seeing Miss Honey was standing there, carrying some books to her classroom. She had been so distracted, she had walked right into her.

'S…sorry Miss….my fault” the blonde replied, trying to keep her voice straight.

“It's okay, no harm done” Jennifer replied before looking confused. “Why are you not in class?” she asked her

“Oh, I was….just” she said, trying to think of a believable reason. She didn't have time to though as Jennifer kept talking.

“What have you done to your arm?” she asked her, noticing she was clutching it and not moving it.

“Oh nothing… I just…fell…erm, I was dancing…on the desk and fell… I think I just sprained it or something, it will be fine” the girl said, trying to stop the woman being suspicious.

“Are you sure? Can you move it?” the woman asked.

“Yes… I just…don't need to right now….” she replied. Miss Honey popped her head into her classroom and told the children to start on their short stories, she had to leave for a while.

“Right come on let's get you to the nurse” Jennifer said

“No Miss I am fine, it's just a sprain” Hortensia said even as she walked with the teacher.

“I would rather be safe than sorry, it isn't good to leave injuries untreated, it can make them worse” Jennifer said concerned. She had taught the girl a few years ago, she knew she wasn't the type to make a fuss about injuries.

“But Miss…” she started but stopped talking as Jennifer knocked on the nurse's door, and they were told to go in.

“Hello” Jenny said, leading her student inside, “Hortensia here hurt her arm, I thought it was best we checked it out” the woman explained. Hortensia groaned to herself, as now she was stuck in the situation.

“Oh no, that isn't good, let me have a look at it” she asked her

“No, don't touch it” the blonde replied, keeping her arm firmly to her chest. Jennifer and the nurse shared a look.

Before she knew it, she was sitting in the back of a taxi with Miss Honey on the way to the hospital. The nurse said she should check it wasn't broken and as Miss Honey didn't drive they had booked a taxi. She had tried to explain it wasn't needed, but it didn't work.

The wait was long and boring, so Hortensia was actually glad to be called in, she could get it over with.

“Hello!” the man said cheerily, too cheery to be dealing with people with broken limbs, Hortensia thought.

“This is my student Hortensia, she hurt her arm, we want to make sure it isn't broken” Jenny said.

“Oh we can sort that out, let's get it seen too” the man said.

Like in the nurse's room, though, the girl refused to let the doctor look at her arm.

“I know it hurts, but we can make it feel better, but you have to let me have a look at it in order to do that, I will be gentle, I promise” the man said, used to this reaction from children. 

Hortensia sighed and moved her arm out for the first time since it had been broken hours before. As she did so, the cheery doctor suddenly stopped smiling, Hortensia looked down to see why and saw her elbow and arm were bruised, which wasn't surprising considering Agatha Trunchbull had put her entire strength into breaking it.

“How did this happen?” the man asked, looking at the bruising unhappily.

“I was dancing and fell off the table…on top of it” the girl said, trying to make the story believable.

“I am sending you for an x-ray but can you wait outside a moment, I need to speak to your teacher alone” he said. Hortensia rushed out of the room, staring at the bruises, seeing some looked like grab marks, she hoped no-one had noticed that.

Hours later and x-rays revealed her arm was very much broken, the doctors couldn't do much for the bruising except ice it and bandage it before putting a cast on her arm. Warning her, even with her arm in a cast, it might hurt for a while as it heals but shouldn't be as bad as it was now. Her bruising wouldn't help the pain either.

Afterwards, she sat in the waiting room as they waited for her parents to arrive.

“Erm thanks Miss, guess you were right” Hortensia said. Jenny smiled, glad she was a little brighter.

“I am a teacher I know these things, though how Mr Smith didn't notice himself is beyond me” Jenny replied, wondering how the girl's own class teacher had not noticed her clutching her arm.

The door opened and Hortensia's parents rushed in. The girl stood up.

“I am fine, don't panic, it's just a broken arm” she said, seeing they were upset.

“A broken arm is a big deal, it's okay darling we will look after you” her dad said

“I know, thanks dad, erm, I will see you on Monday Miss” Hortensia said, slightly embarrassed as her parents fussed.

“Oh Miss Honey, thank you for looking after her, we always liked you” the blonde woman said as she noticed the teacher.

“Oh, thank you, but I am just doing my job, hope she feels better soon” Jenny said

“I am sure she will, thank you, Miss honey” the man said before leading his daughter away. Jenny watched them go, knowing this was not the end of the story, but not knowing what will happen from here, because after speaking to the doctor she knew Hortensia was lying about what had happened, she just didn't know why.

Chapter Text

Chapter Three - A Helping Hand

Two Weeks Later

Matilda made her way down the corridor. She was glad she was finally starting to figure out the layout of the school, true she at times still got lost, but not as much as she had when she started two weeks ago. She looked at the clock, seeing she had less than a minute to get to class, after an argument with her parents that morning, she had left the house late. The only good thing about this was the corridors were empty, so she could make her way to class easily. She was just about to turn the corridor to the right, when she heard the sound of an annoyed groan. Matilda turned instead to the left, heading in the direction of where the noise had come from.

She only got halfway down the corridor when she realised she was not the only one still in the corridor. Hortensia was standing in what Matilda could only assume was her year group's cloakroom. Matilda wondered what she was doing and what was bothering her. As she continued to watch, Matilda saw the older student pick up her coat with her unbroken arm, then she tried to hold her coat in her broken arm to find the hanging loop with her good arm, as she grabbed a hold of it she tried to move towards the hook quick enough to hang it up, but it slipped out the weak grip of her broken arm and fell in a heap at her feet.

As the girl kneeled down to retrieve it, Matilda stepped in. She would not say her and Hortensia were friends per se, but she couldn't just stand there and watch her struggle either.

“Let me help, these things are annoying at the best of times,” Matilda said, picking up the coat and finally hanging it on the hook. The blonde looked at the brunette confused.

“I like to help,” Matilda said as the girl looked at her as if she was confused as to her motives, as no-one else helped.

“Oh okay thanks” Hortensia said, now turning away and using her right arm to pick up some books, she picked them up, talking swiftly as she did so.

“What time is it?” the older girl asked Matilda. Matilda had completely forgotten about the time, but now turned to the clock.

“Well, let's just say five minutes ago we would have been marked absent,” Matilda said.

That did it. Her simple reply sent the older student into a panic.

“No, I can't be late again, Mr Smith said if I am late one more day this week he will report it to Miss Trunchbull, and you know what that means the chokey! I can't go back to that place, not again, it messes with my head” Hortensia replied, talking fast as she rushed faster down the corridor.

“Calm down, it will be okay” Matilda said, having never seen the girl so panicked. She really hated that chokey, obviously.

“Yes, it will be okay for you! She doesn't put your year in that thing, I can't stand in the dark in that thing again” she said, only getting more worked up. 

Matilda turned in order to try to calm her down again but jumped as the books Hortensia were holding suddenly slipped out of her arm and onto the floor. Matilda thought she had simply just lost her hold of them then realised she had dropped them on purpose, because as soon as they fell she grabbed her cast arm and grimaced in pain.

“Right come on breathe” she said, breathing slowly with her, trying to calm her down, when she saw she was now not panicking she told her to sit down and picked up the fallen books.

“I have seen Miss Honey do that with Nigel when he panics” Matilda told her smiling

“I wasn't panicking, my arm just hurt” Hortensia said, continuing to hold her cast arm as a surge of pain went through it.

“Yeah right, if I wasn't here that properly would have been a full on panic attack” Matilda replied

“I don't have panic attacks” the older student replied

“There is a first time for everything” Matilda replied before looking at her concerned.

“Are you okay? Should your arm still be hurting?” Matilda asked, not knowing if that was normal.

“Yes, the doctor said it might hurt now and then as it heals, he told me to try not to move it and to try to remain calm and not stress as that can make it worst” Hortensia replied

“And how is that going for you?” the younger brunette said. The blonde half glared at her.

“I am just saying,” Matilda replied before deciding to express her concerns, “Where is everyone anyway?” Matilda asked, “Like your friends from your own year group, shouldn't they be helping you?” Matilda asked.

“In class I suppose, no-one is going to help, the fear of Trunchbull and the chokey are too high for them to risk being late,” Hortensia said

“But that's not right” Matilda said. Hortensia shrugged.

The clock ticked on, Matilda knew they were both going to be super late by this point, but she let the older student calm down, once she was calmer and let go off her am, Matilda retrieved her books.

“Let me, you should be resting your arm,” Matilda said, carrying them. For most people her age, they were properly a little heavy, but Matilda was using to carry heavy books from the library.

“Okay, thanks… I think” Hortensia said, still seeming a little wary of Matilda's help. As they walked down the quiet corridor. Matilda spoke.

“How did you do it?” She asked the older student curiously.

“How did I do what?” Hortensia asked confused.

“Your arm, how did you break it, I wasn't here during that time yet” Matilda said.

Hortensia thought deeply. She hadn't replayed her story for anyone since the first couple of days when it happened. Once everyone knew how she had hurt herself, no-one commented on it again. She couldn't quite remember the story she had told, she remembered she said she had fallen, but she couldn't remember where she said she fell from.

“Oh erm…. I fell…properly wasn't a good idea to try that new spinning down move at the top of a flight of stairs” She replied, figuring that would be a good enough cover story.

“Yes, properly not the best idea you have ever had, I want to see you dance at some time though, people say you are good,” Matilda replied, realising at that moment that for all the times she had heard about the older girl's dancing skills and how she never seemed to stop dancing, she had never actually seen the girl dancing in the two weeks since she started.

“Oh well I don't really dance any more, it hurts my arm” the girl said, quickly changing the subject “Oh look my classroom” she said changing the subject.

Hortensia sneaked in quickly with Matilda behind her. Matilda nearly dropped the books herself when a loud noise reached her ears. She looked up and saw Mr Smith sitting in his chair on the desk, head back and snoring loudly.

“I don't think you will get reported, don't worry,” Matilda said, putting the books on the desk the blonde girl had walked too.

“Pssh” Matilda heard someone say, trying to get her attention, she looked up seeing another girl looking at her. She thought her name was Claire, but she wasn't entirely sure.

“Wrong classroom, this is the room for the big kids” the girl said in a patronising way.

“Lay off her Claire, she was helping me” Hortensia said

“Yes, you should try to do it yourself sometime” Matilda said. Suddenly, Mr Smith jumped awake. Matilda knew she had overstayed her welcome and turned to leave.

“Thanks” Matilda heard the blonde mutter as she rushed out before Mr Smith could notice her. Matilda smiled and hurried out, glad she had chosen to help and be late herself. She wasn't scared of Trunchbull.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four - Suspicions All Around

Matilda stood outside classroom W for a few moments before she remembered she was also late to class. She started running as fast as she could towards classroom Z, before making the entire class jump when she flew inside.

“Matilda, you are twenty minutes late, is everything okay?” Jenny asked, not angry, just concerned about her student's tardiness.

“Sorry Miss, Hortensia was struggling because of her broken arm, and I was helping her” Matilda told her honestly.

“Oh that was very thoughtful of you Matilda” Jenny said, “Why don't you come sit at my desk with me, I will go over what you missed” the woman said. Matilda nodded and went and sat next to her teacher's desk.

Jenny gave her a piece of paper that explained the basic outline of the lesson. Matilda picked it up to look at it, happy to see she got to do a writing piece.

“How is Hortensia, by the way? I haven't really had a chance to check, her year doesn't have lunch with us so it's hard to catch up with the older students at times” Jenny asked, concerned to hear the girl had needed help.

“She is struggling, and her arm still bothers her, pain wise, though she would never admit that, I just happened to catch her during a flare up” Matilda said “Has she always been so stubborn to admit she needs help?” Matilda asked, knowing her teacher had known her longer.

“Definitely, I practically had to drag her to the nurse and then the hospital as she insisted it was just a sprain” Jenny replied

“Wait, you were the one who went to the hospital, I thought it would have been Mr Smith…actually… I get why it wasn't now I have met him” Matilda said, figuring the man wouldn't notice if a student walked in with their arm torn off.

“It isn't fair no-one else helps though, I know they are scared, but shouldn't we be helping each other? I know dancing at the top of them stairs was a really stupid idea but…” Matilda started to say.

“What do you mean?” Jenny asked, wondering what she was talking about.

“Hortensia…breaking her arm after falling down the stairs because she was dancing in front of them” Matilda said, wondering why her teacher was confused. She was the one who helped her when it first happened, surely she should know what happened.

“But she told me she fell off the desk because she was dancing on top of it” Jenny replied, concerned the girl was still clearly lying. Matilda said nothing for a few seconds before she replied.

“That is what happens when you lie, you forget parts so have to change them” Matilda replied. Having grown up living with two liars, she knew how lying worked.

“I did suspect she was lying, the doctor thought she was, she had bruises, and he said they didn't match her story, she wouldn't of bruised herself so badly falling off a desk, even if she did land hard enough on her arm to break it” Jenny told Matilda.

“Strange” Matilda said, “Maybe someone in her class did it, and she doesn't want to get them in trouble for whatever reason” Matilda said, kind of able to see it. Two friends messing around, ending in one of them injured, but it still didn't make a lot of sense, especially as they haven't exactly helped her now she is struggling, so she owes them nothing.

“Matilda, even the kids in the very top year don't have the physical strength to break another student's arm, well not enough strength to leave them kind of injuries behind” Jenny said, knowing yes maybe it was an accident, maybe some game had gone wrong, it was possible, but it just wasn't possible for them to leave such bad bruising behind, they just didn't have the physical strength.

“So it was a teacher then” Matilda said, “Well THE teacher, who do we know who has thrown kids over fences and out the window?” Matilda replied.

“We can't accuse Miss Trunchbull without physical proof,” Jenny said, knowing it was the only reason the girl would keep quiet, she was the only person she was scared enough off for her to try to cover for, but she also knew they couldn't just storm in there accusing her.

“So we get proof, I will try to speak to Hortensia” Matilda said

“I don't know if that's a good idea, pushing her to talk might make it worse” Jenny said, not wanting the girl to close off any more.

“But we can't let her get away with it, it's not right, I won't force it out of her, but I can try to find out the truth” Matilda said “But she will never talk here, do you think she will believe me if I say I need help with fractions?” Matilda asked, knowing she would never risk admitting it at school where Agatha could overhear. Jenny sighed, not sure if it was a good idea.

When the bell went, Matilda ran back to Hortensia's classroom, wanting to catch her before she lost sight of her. As she slid into the room from running so fast, Hortensia shook her head and laughed.

“Did Miss Honey give your class sugar or something?” she asked, convinced the girl must be on a sugar high. The blonde moved to retrieve her books, but Matilda grabbed them first.

“No, I didn't want to miss you, I know you need help,” Matilda said

“It is just a broken arm, I was just going through a bad phrase before, I am fine” the girl said, not even having a chance to thank her because she started walking away with her books.

“Yes, well, so we don't take the chance of you having another funny turn I will help,” Matilda said even though she had realised she had no idea where the other student was actually going.

“You are barking mad you know, the older kids are going to make your life a misery, most of them don't like the infants hanging around,” Hortensia said, knowing she was heading for trouble.

“I can handle them, don't worry” Matilda said…”Erm…so where are you going?” Matilda asked.

Matilda realised she was talking to herself. She turned around and saw Hortensia was standing a few paces behind her, not moving. She rushed back to her and saw she was staring at Agatha, who was patrolling the corridor.

“It's okay, as long as we don't do anything wrong she will leave us alone,” Matilda said, which seemed to break the blonde out of her trance, but Matilda could swear she looked about to burst into tears.

“No you're wrong, last time I got done for existing, you have no chance if she decides she doesn't like you at that moment” she said.

“Let's just go and…” Matilda said.

“You two halt!” Agatha shouted. Matilda turned around and saw the woman coming towards them, she could practically feel the other's girls' fear.

“Well isn't this just lovely” the woman said, “Aww the infants and juniors are being nice to one another” the woman said, mocking them. “What are you two up too?” she asked them, suspicious to see them together. Matilda was about to respond because Hortensia seemed to have lost her voice, but Agatha turned away from her towards the blonde.

“Hortensia, explain” she said, choosing the one who she knew was scared of her to speak.

The girl muttered and stuttered out a few letters. Agatha laughed.

“You are so stupid, I thought English was your first language” the woman bullied her. Matilda couldn't watch any longer and cut in.

“Miss, I am just helping her carry her books, she finds it hard with her bad arm” Matilda said. Agatha turned towards her, staring her down.

“Is that so?” Agatha said.

“Yes Miss” the girl bravely replied.

“Fine…but I am keeping an eye on you two… I don't trust you” she told them, walking away. Matilda was about to ask if the girl was okay, but she left, looking a little shaky.

“Trunchbull is all mouth and no bite, playing her at her own game is the best way to go” Matilda said, catching up to her.

“I don't want to talk about Trunchbull” the girl said, still seeming a bit shaken up. If Matilda and Jenny's theory was correct, and she caused Hortensia's broken arm, Matilda understood her reaction, so she changed the subject.

“Yes, okay …actually now we need to change the subject. I was going to ask you how you are at fractions?” Matilda said. Hortensia looked at her confused.

“Decent I guess, I am not a wiz at them or anything,” She replied.

“Good, well you see I need help, we have just started learning them, and I am so confused, Miss Honey told me I should try to get one of the older kids to help me, so what you say?” Matilda asked her, thinking it sounded like a normal question. Older students tutored the younger kids all the time.

“Okay?” Hortensia said, not knowing how to respond. She had never had another student ask her to tutor them in anything.

“Great, well after school will be best, there isn't any time in school” Matilda told her.

“Fine, I can come over to…” Hortensia started until Matilda practically yelled no at her.

“I mean…we are having building work done….it's a mess… I will come to yours, okay?” Matilda said, not ready for anyone in school to meet her hopeless parents.

“Okay, if you really need help…” Hortensia said, still seeming suspicious.

“I do, fractions hurt my brain, thanks you are the best older student ever” Matilda said

“You are the weirdest younger student ever…but you're alright” the girl said. Matilda took that as a compliment. She felt guilty and bad she was tricking her, so she could find out the truth, she honestly didn't dislike her, but she knew it was for her own good in the long run, she only hoped she would understand and not be too mad.

Chapter Text

Chapter Five - The Truth

After school, Matilda went home, changed, then went back out without her parents even noticing. She looked at the house when she arrived, seeing it looked like a standard house, but that didn't mean it was happy, after all hers wasn't. As she rang the bell, she mentally panicked a little. She hoped she wouldn't have to deal with Hortensia's parents for long, she was sure they were nice, but that was the problem, she had no idea how to deal with nice parents.

Luckily for her, when the door opened, the older student herself answered. Matilda felt relief wash over her at that, once her relief had gone, she commented on the first thing she noticed.

“You've changed your hat!” Matilda said seeing the normal red one she wore had been changed for blue. Matilda hadn't known until that point if she had multiple or always wore the same one. The blonde looked at her for a few moments.

“Really? That is REALLY the first thing you noticed” Hortensia replied, surprised.

“It is kind of the first thing people notice when they see you, I am not sure though, think I still prefer the red” Matilda said, not sure if she was just used to the red, but she couldn't get used to the change.

“Yes, well red goes with our uniform, but it doesn't go with what I am wearing now obviously,” Hortensia replied and Matilda realised most of her outfit was now blue, so it coordinated far better with the change in beret.

“True” Matilda said before stepping inside, realising she had been going on about her hat on the doorstep for the last five minutes. She was glad when the older girl's parents briefly said hello, then left them.

“Right algebra, right?” the girl said, showing Matilda her room.

“This is your room, I sleep in an attic, so this is so cool!” Matilda replied. Noticing the girl looked horrified by her comment, she went on. “My parents didn't know about me until my mum was giving birth” she said, as if that was a reason why all these years later she still slept in an attic.

“Right” Hortensia said, not knowing how to respond, “Anyway, let's start, or we will never get anything done” she said, taking Matilda's book and starting to look through the questions, as she did so, Matilda spoke, asking something she just could not help being curious about.

“How many hats…” she started to say

“153” Hortensia replied without looking up from the book. She obviously got the question about how many she had, a lot, as Matilda didn't even get to finish asking.

“Woah, and how many do you….” Matilda went on.

“153” the girl replied, knowing she was wondering how many she actually wore.

“But there aren't 153 colours in the world” Matilda replied

“Different colours, different styles, textures, shades” Hortensia said as she finally looked up.

“You have to show me sometime, I am curious” Matilda said now wanting to see them, she didn't even see how she had 153 hats stored in this bedroom.

“Really? The last person who asked that fell asleep on hat 4" Hortensia said.

“Well I am not them, in fact show me, let's leave the algebra, I am more interested in the hats…did I just really say I don't want to do work?” Matilda asked her.

“You really are strange,” Hortensia said

“Says the one who has 153 numbered hats” Matilda replied. The blonde rolled her eyes and stood up.

“You can touch, NO trying on” she said walking to her wardrobe.

Matilda had never seen so many hats in her life. The girl knew where she got it, who had got it and when she got it. She had never met anyone who liked berets so much, she found it bizarre, but fascinating.

“Hat 62, you will like this one, Christmas hat” she said, showing Matilda a red and green sparkly one.

Matilda laughed, but then put it on the bed. She felt guilty and bad. The girl was being friendly to her and she wasn't genuine.

“What's wrong with you?” Hortensia asked, seeing her expression change.

“I'm sorry” she said guiltily

“Sorry for what?” Hortensia asked confused.

“I didn't come here to study” Matilda said

“Yes I figured that out considering I just emptied half my wardrobe” the girl replied

“No… I didn't come here to hang out either… I came to talk to you…about your arm” Matilda said.

“And you couldn't talk about that in school because?” the blonde asked, confused.

“Because you wouldn't talk in school, Miss Honey and I know it was likely Trunchbull who caused your injuries, your story changed, you properly didn't even realise, and the doctor you saw thinks someone did it on purpose” Matilda said.

“I knew you were up to something!” the girl replied, starting to collect the hats and put them back, annoyed.

“Yes, but I am not lying, I want to be friends, you're cool! I just….can't stand the thought Agatha Trunchbull is getting away with something like this” Matilda said.

“She isn't, I told you I fell!” Hortensia lied.

“Then how did you get the bruises?” Logically, Trunchbull is the only person who makes any sense, and if she has blackmailed you or threatened you into keeping quiet then she wins” Matilda said. Hortensia sighed and sat down, stopping what she was doing.

“She wins anyway, telling people about Trunchbull's crimes will only make her make your life harder” the blonde replied.

“That's why we have to be clever, we strike when she doesn't expect it, please just tell me the truth” Matilda said.

“It was my fault, I made her mad, I answered back, I knew I was alone in a room with her and…” Hortensia said, holding her bad arm tightly, as if talking about what had happened bought all the pain back.

“The way she chooses to respond isn't your fault” Matilda said. Was that some of the reason she kept quiet too? She felt to blame for not just sitting down and doing nothing, but Matilda knew when something wasn't right you had to stick up for yourself.

“It doesn't feel like that” Hortensia replied

“How did it happen?” Matilda asked.

“She grabbed my arm and twisted it” the girl said. Matilda realised as she told her the story, she was automatically grabbing her arm harder, as if she was subconsciously acting out what had happened. Worried she was going to hurt her healing arm more, Matilda grabbed her hand and pulled it away.

“I won't tell anyone, but don't worry, I am figuring a way to get rid of her for good,” Matilda said. She knew she couldn't go to Miss Honey with this, not yet, it wasn't safe to confront Agatha right now.

“She is always a step ahead” Hortensia replied

“Yes, but there are more of us” Matilda said. Matilda noticed the girl was crying, she turned away, pretending not to notice as she knew this would be embarrassing.

“So come on hat 62, we still have so many to get through” Matilda said, glad she knew the truth but not wanting to focus on that now.

“63, 62 is Christmas” Hortensia replied holding her arm again but gently this time.

“Right well whatever, what colour is next” Matilda said excited. The girl perked up at the question.

They got to 75 before Hortensia's parents said it was getting late. With a promise to finish showing her collection another time, Matilda left, declining the offer of a lift.

“Don't worry about Trunchbull, I will figure out a way to pay her back” Matilda said, hurrying out of the house, trying to think of a plan to get revenge on the woman for hurting her friend without her friend getting a harder time for spilling the beans.

Chapter Text

Chapter Six - Punishment

Matilda entered the school the next day. Lavender walked up to her, offering her half her sandwich.

“No, thanks” she muttered out before she and the other students were almost deafened as The Trunchbull yelled into the speaker.

“IMMEDIATE ASSEMBLY FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL NOW, ANY SLACKERS WILL GO TO THE CHOKEY” the woman yelled. The students started to walk, muttering under their breath.

“This has never happened” “For the whole school” “Someone is for it” Matilda heard as she quickly pushed through the crowd. She needed to make sure Hortensia was going to the assembly, she didn't want her in trouble. She looked around and spotted the red beret in the crowd. Relieved, she wiped her brow and headed inside.

Everyone sat down, talking quietly, until they fell silent when Agatha appeared, she paced the stage a few times before she started to speak.

“I suppose you are all wondering why you are here” she said as she paced slowly, “I called this assembly today as we have a liar and a traitor amongst us” the woman said. She stepped down from the stage and started walking the aisles, pausing behind a brunette girl a year older than Matilda.

“Maybe it was Eve” she said. The little girl turned around and immediately burst into tears.

“Miss… I didn't…” she cried. Agatha watched her a few seconds before she laughed.

“Correct answer” she said, walking away from the young student and going to stand behind one of the prefect boys, Shane.

“Or maybe it was one of my prefects, like Shane,” she said. The boy turned around.

“I have not done anything I am aware of, ma'am” the boy said bravely.

“Because you aren't guilty” she said, walking more.

Matilda could feel her presence behind her before she spoke.

“Or maybe it was Matilda” she said. The brunette looked at her, knowing she had done nothing.

“I have not done anything” Matilda replied, refusing to remove her gaze from her.

“I hate to say it…but you are correct,” she said, walking off. She headed towards the older students again.

“Who you reckon is in trouble? She looks angrier than ever” Bruce said. Matilda shrugged, she had no idea who it could be.

Trunchbull walked until she stood behind the beret wearing girl.

“Or maybe it was Hortensia” the woman said. Hortensia turned around, telling herself to be brave.

“I haven't done anything, Miss” the girl replied.

“I am sorry” Agatha said, “This time it is the wrong answer” Agatha said.

“But I haven't!” Hortensia said, wondering what she could possibly have done this time.

“False, negative, you know Hortensia, there is one thing I really hate and that's liars and traitors, and you are both” Agatha sneered at her. Hortensia just kept looking at her, looking lost.

“Get to the front now” the woman shouted. She didn't move.

“It wasn't an option, GO NOW” she yelled. Hortensia jumped up and walked to the front of the stage. Agatha followed behind her, putting a chair on the stage.

“Sit” she told her. Hortensia sat, but was scared.

“You have never been the smartest student you know, you really think you could get one over on me?” she asked her

“I don't know what you mean, Miss” Hortensia replied honestly.

“I thought we had an agreement Tensia, you keep your mouth shut and nothing bad happens” the woman said, using her nickname to spite her.

“An agreement on what miss?” the girl asked

“On you keeping what happened to your arm a secret, and you don't get hurt” she said.

Matilda gasped. She knew? How on earth did she know. Hortensia made eye contact with her, and Matilda shrugged and shook her head. She didn't want her to think she told, she hadn't told a soul.

“You think as you are out of school you can tell them horrible lies, do you? You and your little buddy are planning to destroy me, are you?” she said before tutting. “What to do” she said. Hortensia said nothing.

Agatha stood behind her a few seconds before she tutted. “How many times do I have to tell you to take off that horrible hat, it isn't part of uniform and last time I checked you weren't French,” the woman said, rolling her r's for the last word. “Take it off now!” Agatha demanded.

“No way, I never go out anywhere without one,” Hortensia said. Her grandma had given her first one when she was four, days before she died. She never actually wore that one any more as she didn't want it damaged, so her parents had bought her others. The one she was wearing was one of her very first ones though, her parents had bought it purposely for her to wear to school.

“I fail to see where I was giving you the option” Agatha said, “Take that thing off your head” Agatha said. Hortensia stood up, backing away from her.

“No!” she said

“Now child, I swear down” the woman said

“You never minded when my parents paid you to make an exception” Hortensia shouted out before covering her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that. 

When she first started school it was just a month after her grandma died, she had been in a bad place mentally. Her parents had gone so far as to pay the Trunch off just for the exception, this had ended a few years ago, but by this point the Trunch just accepted it, it was red so matched the uniform and her making a fuss about it got nowhere, the girl simply would replace it, and she had spent half her life with her in her office over her hat.

She had gone too far this time. Agatha rushed towards her, slapping her hard across the face, the girl was temporarily shocked, and it would appear the onlookers were too as they gasped, but then the teacher grabbed her by the throat. The girl lost all awareness as she was choked, she could hear shouting but not what was being said, she was hazy and unable to breathe, but moments later the vile woman let go. The student had no idea how long she had been choked for, but she gasped for breath and fell as she let her go, her mind a haze of nothing as she tried to focus enough to come back to reality.

“Maybe that will teach you,” Agatha said, using the girl's weakness to her advantage. As the student tried to regain her breathing, the woman pulled her beret right off her head. Everyone gasped. Doing that was like taking a fish out of water.

Agatha threw the beret on the floor at her feet, she spat on it and stamped on it hard, squashing it under her foot, all the time speaking.

“I hate this stupid thing, maybe this time you will follow my dress code” the woman said. Hortensia didn't respond, she held her chest, feeling her breath was coming back but still unable to breathe completely normally.

Agatha looked at the hall full of students and teachers before she spoke, “I thank you for all joining me in part one of this leech's punishment” the woman said. “Now as for part two, I think a couple of hours in the chokey” the woman smirked. This bought Hortensia back to reality.

“NO, NOT THE CHOKEY” she said, hating that place more than anything else

“I think so” Agatha said

“Leave her alone!” Matilda said, standing up, “You are nothing but a big bully,” the younger girl said.

“Just think Tesia, all alone in the dark for a few hours,” the woman said, mentally torturing her.

“Stop it, Agatha, she hasn't done anything wrong” Jenny said, rushing forward to try to help the girl.

It was no use, though. Like with Bruce and the cake, no-one could do anything. The poor students screams could be heard down the corridor as she was dragged away, until they got quieter than stopped. When they stopped, Jenny looked around sadly before speaking.

“Right, everyone off to class” she said, knowing there was nothing else she could do.

Matilda wasn't listening. She rushed forward to the stage, retrieving the beret that Agatha had destroyed. As she picked it up, she felt her anger build and knew her special magical ability was about to explode. She was losing all control of her emotions. Pushing past the other students, she went outside the school, ignoring shouts to return. There was no-way Hortensia was staying in the chokey for hours. Not this time.

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven - Bad Way

The problem Matilda had was she was not entirely sure of the Chokey's whereabouts, somehow, considering she had been in trouble since her first day, she had managed to stay out of the chokey. She tried to remember the song that the other kids sang her first day to try to think where it could be, she remembered they said a spot in the woods, so that is where she headed.

After 10 minutes, she caught sight of the horrible shack. It looked barely big enough to hold a young child, let along an older one. Matilda squinted her eyes, feeling her anger in her veins, until her anger exploded, and the old iron lock broke completely away.

She smiled, running towards the torture chamber and throwing the door open. She saw Hortensia slumped against the back of the hut. Thinking she was asleep, she sneaked in, knowing she had to get her out of here before Trunchbull could appear.

Matilda literally jumped out the skin when she put her hand out to touch her shoulder and the girl looked at her out of nowhere.

“I don't like the dark, where is the light” the older student said as if she didn't even realise the door was now open.

“It's okay, look we can leave, it's light outside” Matilda said, even if she was already worried, the girl's tone was slow and her voice was quiet. She seemed pretty out of it.

“Turn dark off” the girl replied, not making a lot of sense. Matilda was worried she was having some sort of after effects from being strangled or something, or she had just gone a bit mad from being in the chokey.

“Yes I will, come on we best get out of here before Trunchbull realises I am here” Matilda said, trying to pull her away from the wall.

“No.. I can't” the girl said, half closing her eyes. 

Matilda was starting to think the Trunch had drugged her or something, but then she heard her crying gently and making a low groaning pained noise, the brunette looked her up and down trying to see where the problem was, it was then she noticed just upon her left ankle something seemed to be protruding out. The girl kneeled down for a better look and saw spikes and nails had impaled themselves in the girl's skin.

Matilda gulped but stood back up, putting her arm around her shoulders and moving her slowly out the chokey. She had to get her out of the wooden shack before anything else could hurt her. It was slow as the older girl was refusing to move her body, Matilda wasn't sure if she was weak from pain or the rusty nails or spikes had left her with an infection. Either way, she had to help her.

It took a few minutes, but Matilda pulled her outside before helping her sit leaning against a tree, as she tried to think what she could do. She didn't have time to go back to school, and she couldn't carry her by herself, it was then she remembered Mrs. Phelps was at the windmill today, which was only five minutes away.

“I will be right back” Matilda said, not wanting to leave her but knowing it will take longer to try to drag her there.

The girl ran as fast as she could towards the librarian's van. As she got close, she started shouting her name. The woman appeared from inside with a very confused looking older man who was holding a book.

“Matilda aren't you still meant to be…” she started

“It's my friend please she's in a bad way, you have to help” Matilda said. The woman, seeing the little girl looking panicked, apologised briefly to her customer and followed Matilda.

As they got near where the chokey was, Matilda realised the girl had moved, or more so, finally collapsed. She was lying in a heap under the tree. Mrs Phelps ran to her, shaking her gently but saw she was very much out cold.

“She's hurt, she got nails and spikes on her, I didn't know what to do, I didn't know if I should leave them or try to remove…” Matilda started.

“No don't!” Mrs Phelps said, “If you do that the wounds could start bleeding out, and then we will have a bigger problem” the woman said as she pulled out her mobile and immediately called an ambulance. As she hung up, she looked at Matilda.

“What on earth happened? How did she manage to get like this?” the woman asked. Matilda wiped her falling tears, hating Agatha at that moment more than ever.

“She was locked in there” Matilda said, pointing to the wooden shack a little in front of them.

“Don't tell me this is a stupid game you kids came up with because these kinds of games are not funny, they are dangerous” the woman said, knowing kids were stupid at the best of times.

“No! It's the school, our headmistress, she's evil, she locks kids in there when they misbehave” Matilda said through tears. Mrs Phelps had never realised the school was so bad, it wasn't something Matilda mentioned much. The woman rubbed her back as they waited for the ambulance.

Things became a blur and moved fast then. The ambulance came, Miss Honey appeared Mrs Phelps had rung her, as they rushed her into the hospital, Matilda heard loads of horrible words like 'Sepsis and Infection and Operate” she tried to block them out.

“This is all my fault” Matilda cried to Miss Honey

“How is it? You didn't tell Miss Trunchbull anything” Jenny said, comforting the girl. Matilda looked at her teacher.

“Is she going to be okay?” Matilda asked.

“I honestly don't know” Jenny said, “But she has professionals tending to her, so we have to trust she will be” Jenny said. Matilda nodded and jumped up.

“I have to go” she said

“Go? Where?” she asked confused and surprised

“I have some things to do before she comes round. They are important. Trust me, if there are any changes, get Mrs Phelps to come find me” Matilda said, worried but knowing she could do nothing but sit there and worry, she had to trust the doctors would help her and Hortensia would be okay. She was getting the medical attention she needed. Now Matilda had to put things right before she woke up in this mess.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eight - Hat 154

When Matilda finally returned to the hospital, the first thing she became aware of were people were shouting. She turned the corner, seeing Hortensia's dad was yelling, and her mum was trying to calm him down.

“What's going on?” Matilda said, hoping her friend was okay.

“I will tell you what is going on, that woman has been abusing my daughter for god knows how's long” the man said, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Herbert come down, you going after the woman right now isn't go to help, our daughter needs us” the woman said, finally leading him to sit down. Matilda looked at Jenny.

“Any news?” Matilda asked quietly, not wanting to stress out her friend's parents more.

“She is going to be okay, they managed to remove the spikes and nails and her sepsis tests were clear, and they gave her treatment to fight any infections she might have developed” Jenny said smiling. Matilda beamed relieved.

When she woke up, the girl's parents went in first. Jenny noticed Matilda had a plastic carrier bag with her.

“What's that?” the woman asked her

“A present for Hortensia, any guesses as to what it is?” Matilda asked. Jenny laughed and nodded.

When Hortensia's parents came out, her mum looked stressed

“Is she okay? Jenny asked.

“She is not too bad, but trust our daughter, she is lying in a hospital bed and all she is worried about is the fact she currently doesn't have a beret to wear, she wants us to go home and get her number 26, I think she is the only one who knows which is which” her mum replied. Matilda hid a smirk. It was so typical that now she was aware and able to moan about her lack of beret, she was doing it.

“Don't worry Mrs Buckets, I have it sorted” she said, referring to the bag. “Can I go see her?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you, Matilda” the woman said and Matilda entered, as she took sight of her friend, she had to squeeze her stomach in to refrain from laughing. The girl had taken the provided sick bowl and was wearing it as a make-shift hat. Matilda didn't know how she thought she looked less ridiculous with that on her head than with no hat but breathed deep so she didn't laugh.

“Listen, I know you properly hate me, but I never told Trunchbull or anyone for that matter” Matilda started, “The woman was spying on us” Matilda went on. Hortensia looked at her confused and Matilda went on.

“Oh my way to yours someone ran into me, I thought nothing of it at first, but I got suspicious after finding out she knew and found this” she said, pulling out a tiny black microphone “on the top I was wearing” she said. Hortensia looked at it amazed.

“I should have known she would listen to us no matter what, she was already suspicious about our friendship, and I am sorry” Matilda said

“I don't blame you, it was driving me insane keeping it a secret, plus you saved me, thanks” Hortensia said. Matilda was relieved she wasn't mad. She walked closer to her bed and handed her the bag in her hand.

“Thought you could use this” she said. Hortensia took it and opened the bag, pulling out a tissue wrapped bright yellow beret.

“I have a legitimate question” Matilda said as she revealed the contents of the bag “Could you not be obsessed with woolly hats, or caps, these things are impossible to find, I had to go to six different places before I finally found one in that little marketplace near Asda, the woman only sold everything yellow though” Matilda explained, having never realised how difficult it was to find a beret in England until she tried it.

Matilda nearly fell as suddenly the older girl was hugging her tightly. She did this for a few moments before pulling away, embarrassed.

“I erm…thanks…” she said, turning the colour her school hat normally was.

“I know you could have just got hat 26, but I wanted to get you a get well soon present” Matilda said, smiling as the girl took the ridiculous bowl off her head and replaced it with the beret, looking content straight away.

“That's better, you aren't quite our Hortensia without one of those” Matilda said before she looked concerned

“Are you okay now?” she asked her, seeing she was a lot brighter.

“Yes much thank you, my parents are fuming though, my dad said he is going to kill Trunchbull” the girl replied

“I know I heard him, you are lucky though, my dad would never react like that, my dad would never want to protect me so much” the girl replied, feeling a pang of jealously at how much the girl's parents cared, she had never had that.

“I know…” Hortensia said, but now looked worried, “But you know there is no-way they are ever going to let me go back to school with Trunchbull there” the blonde said. Matilda sighed but understood why.

“How long do you have to stay in?” Matilda asked her. Hortensia looked at her friend deeply before talking.

“You have to break me out of here” she asked.

“I can't, the chokey was different. You weren't safe in there” Matilda explained.

“You don't understand, I can't stay here” Hortensia said, looking slightly panicked

“The Trunch isn't stupid enough to come here” Matilda said. Hortensia shook her head.

“No, it's not that I….you will laugh. I can't tell you” the blonde said.

“I won't laugh I promise, I didn't laugh when you had a sick bowl on your head, I am not going to laugh at anything you have to tell me” Matilda replied. The blonde smiled slightly, but then went back to looking worried.

“I hate the dark…no it's more than that I am scared of the dark, I can't cope with darkness, I feel like I am in the chokey, I feel trapped and like I can't breathe, I still have to sleep with the light on, heck it's so bad I can't even watch the telly in the dark” the older girl said embarrassed.

Matilda knew she was properly over the age most people were afraid of the dark, which is why she was embarrassed, but Matilda didn't find it funny. The fact she was so terrified of the dark because of traumatic experiences in that horrible shack only made Matilda feel sad.

“Tensia, you being terrified of something after being abused to hate it isn't funny, I assume you never sleep over anywhere?” Matilda asked. Hortensia nodded.

“I always make an excuse, I can't sleep over at someone's house in the dark and risk freaking out” the girl said. Matilda rubbed her back but realised her problem. She couldn't control how much light there was going to be overnight in the hospital.

“It will be okay, I will tell your parents to talk to the nurses see if they can find a solution, try not to worry so much about it,” Matilda said. A nurse appeared at that moment.

“Sorry, Hortensia needs rest, can you come back tomorrow?” the woman asked. Matilda sighed but knew about visiting times. She was about to say bye when the woman looked at her friend.

“You should rest, why don't I put your hat somewhere…” she started

“NO” Hortensia said instantly, putting her hands on her head

“It will be safe, I promise” the woman said. Hortensia looked close to tears, holding onto the yellow beret for dear life, and Matilda spoke.

“Someone already forcibly removed it from her earlier, I don't think you want to be the second person to traumatise her by doing the same thing” the younger girl said. The woman sighed but nodded.

“Okay, you can keep it,” the woman said, walking away after collecting her file.

“Don't worry, no-one else will take it, you rest and try not to worry” Matilda said, walking to the nurse's desk. She asked if notes could be added to her friend's file. The woman said only parents could do that. Matilda was nervous about asking her friend's parents for help with this, but did it anyway. Sadly, the woman they had was grumpy and refused to listen.

“Listen, I know you don't get it, I don't really get it either, if I had to wear a hat 24/7 I would go insane as hats annoy me, but it's my friend's thing, and she loves that thing” Matilda said

“Yes and if you don't let us make this request my husband and I will stay in the room 24/7 to make sure no-one takes it, even if she is asleep” the woman said. The receptionist rolled her eyes and typed on her computer.

“Fine, it's done” the woman said, just wanting to get rid of them by this point.

As Matilda made to leave, she saw her friend was asleep, holding onto her head for dear life, her dad moved her arms away gently to make her more comfortable and with a promise she will return tomorrow, she left knowing she had to do something. Hortensia couldn't transfer schools, she had to figure out a way to get rid of Trunchbull all together, and this time she had limited time to do so.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine - Trusting Friends

Matilda rushed into class, once again late, she muttered an apology to Jenny then sat down, Lavender spoke as she sat next to her.

"Were you at the hospital again?" she asked her

"Yes, I can't go after school, visiting times have ended by the time I get there" Matilda explained why she had been going before school.

"Matilda, I think it's nice you are visiting, but I would be careful" Lavender said

"Careful?" Why?" she asked

"She's older, the younger and older kids are never friends, the older kids can make our lives hard if we annoy them" Amanda said from the desk behind them.

"No you are wrong, Hortensia is one of the few older kids advocating for us, she wants things to change, probably more than anyone" Matilda explained to her friends.

"I thought advocating was a vegetable?" Nigel commented

"That is avocado" Matilda said, shaking her head. Bruce walked towards them to grab a glue stick, speaking as he did so.

"Hortensia is cool, trust me" Bruce said picking a glue stick

"Since when are you two friends? Eric asked confused

"Yeah, I thought you said she was terrifying?" Amanda added on

"Oh she is, she scares me to no end sometimes, but she can be nice, she gave me her bag of skittles after I came out of the chokey" the boy admitted

"So?" Nigel said confused

"So" Bruce went on, "She said they are her favourite sweets, but she knew how horrible the chokey was so she wanted to cheer me up" Bruce told his friends "And she obviously didn't do anything to them as that was weeks ago, and I am not dead yet" he said

"Exactly, see Bruce trusts her" Matilda said. Miss Honey told them to settle down and keep working, so the class fell quiet.

The next day, Matilda went to the girl's house, as she had just been discharged. She found her, sitting on the sofa, wearing a purple beret and eating a family bag of skittles.

"Leave some for later, your parents will take you back to the hospital if you are sick" Matilda said.

"I know, but they are my favourites" she said "Bruce came to see me, he bought them as a get well soon gift" she commented. Matilda smiled, she was glad she had another friend to visit, the girl was more depressed than she would vocalise at the fact she hadn't had many visitors, even now she was at home.

"Yes, Bruce is cool, he is on our side" Matilda said gratefully taking some of the offered skittles.

"He's alright, for a little kid" Hortensia said. Matilda knew, coming from her blonde friend, that was a compliment.

The rest of Matilda's day was awful. In PE, Agatha was extra harsh on her. She blamed Matilda for the fact she could be getting in legal trouble for what happened to Hortensia.

"You are the abuser, how is it my fault?" Matilda yelled back

"Because it wasn't worth saving that horrible leech" the woman yelled. 

Suddenly, the woman jumped as mud landed on the back of her head. Matilda looked over, seeing Bruce had his hands full of mud. Agatha noticed too.

"Sorry Miss, my aim isn't the best, your big head was just in the way" the boy said, knowing he was for it, but fed up with this thing where everyone was in it for themselves, he wanted to help his friends.

"Do you want to be put in the chokey for the rest of the term, you little…" the woman said, running up to him. Matilda used her power to get Lavender's newt to go down her top. The woman ran off, ending the lesson.

Matilda went to visit her friend again that night. Visiting had become a routine. She went to visit her that night, she was in a white beret this time.

"Hey Matilda, how are…" Hortensia said, before stopping, she had never seen the expression her friend was wearing before.

"What?" Hortensia said concerned

"I destroyed the chokey" Matilda said, still feeling her anger through her veins. Hortensia was about to ask what she meant when her powers went haywire and sent the girl's pillow floating. Hortensia looked at her floating pillow, thinking she was mad.

"Am I still a bit crazy from the chokey or did you just..." the girl said

"I have this weird power, when I get mad I can make things happen" Matilda said. Hortensia nodded, confused, and Matilda spoke.

"Am I mad?" Matilda said thinking her brain was messed up.

"Yes, but we all are in some way" Hortensia said. Matilda smiled slightly before looking at her more seriously than she ever had before.

"You have to come to school tomorrow" the girl told her. She knew she was strong enough to go to school now, her parents were just keeping her at home until they found a new school.

"I told you, my parents will never let me set foot in there again" Hortensia replied, wondering what was special about tomorrow.

"Tomorrow is the day, where I get rid of Agatha Trunchbull for good, I want you to be there, you have to convince your mum and dad" Matilda said. Hortensia still looked a little unsure.

"One day, if I don't get rid of her tomorrow then your parents can transfer you like they want to, just give me one day" Matilda said.

"I can try to convince them, but I don't know if they will let me" Hortensia said

"I know you can convince them" Matilda said before giving her something, "You will be needing this" she said, handing her the old red beret that Agatha had damaged. Matilda had done her best to fix it up, it wasn't perfect, but it could still be worn. She had been waiting for the right time to return it, but it never had been the right time. Until now. Matilda left, saying she hoped to see her tomorrow before the girl could respond.

Chapter Text

Chapter Ten - Freedom

Chapter Text

Chapter 11 - Luke Anderson

Hortensia sat on the sofa at Matilda and Jenny's new house, trying and failing at hiding the smirk on her face as she watched Matilda dance. It had been one week since they got rid of Agatha, and she had been trying to teach Matilda to dance. The brunette spun around, tripped over the air and fell. Hortensia stopped smiling, worried her friend was hurt, but Matilda instantly kneeled up and put her arms in the air.

"How did I do?" she asked her blonde friend, beaming

"Fine" Hortensia replied, still smirking

"Are you laughing at me?" Matilda said.

"I just don't understand how you are so bad" Hortensia replied.

"Hey! It's only been a week, maybe you need to teach me more" Matilda said, smiling as she did so.

"I can't teach someone who has two left feet to have talent" Hortensia replied. Matilda mocked to be insulted. Hortensia jumped up and started dancing herself as the doorbell rang.

"I'll go kids" Jenny called from the kitchen. Moments later, Bruce appeared in the doorway and watched his friend dancing for a few seconds.

"Tensia you aren't still trying to teach her to dance, are you? " Bruce said, taking a seat.

"Hey! What is this 'pick on Matilda day?" the girl laughed, glad her friends found her lack of dancing skills amusing.

"I am sorry Matilda, but you are hopeless at it" Bruce said as Hortensia sat down between them. Matilda looked at her briefly before turning back to Bruce.

"No offence Bruce but where is everyone, you are normally late, or the last one to arrive" Matilda said realising no-one else was here yet.

"Oh yeah" Bruce said, leaning forward to respond to Matilda, "I am meant to tell you Lavender is going to be late as she lost her newt again" Bruce replied.

"Why does that girl not keep it at home like everyone else on the planet" Hortensia said, wondering why the girl always took it out, she was constantly losing it and getting upset thinking she will never find it. The older didn't understand the logic.

"She thinks cages are cruel" Bruce replied

"She doesn't have to keep it in a cage, just keep it out in the house, least then she has less chance of losing it permanently" Hortensia replied.

"Logically to us not to her, oh and Nigel is going to be late as he can't find his white sock and is freaking out" Bruce went on

"He only has one pair of white socks?" Matilda questioned

"No, but he has a pair he likes best" Bruce told his friends "And Eric was practising telekinesis with his brother and ended up getting hit on the head with the tin" he said. Hortensia snorted but turned it into a cough.

"And Amanda?" Matilda questioned about their last friend

"An hair emergency, I don't know what that means exactly, but that's what she said" Bruce shrugged. Hortensia shook her head.

"Is anyone in your year group normal or..?" she questioned

"Says the girl who wears a beret around 24/7" Bruce responded

"Do you want a slap?" Hortensia replied

"Guys remember we are trying this thing called been nice to each other, that means no violence, or threats of Violence, Hortensia" Matilda told them

"But he insulted my beret!" Hortensia replied

"No, I was just pointing out you have a strange habit too" Bruce said, "I ain't stupid enough to insult your beret, not after what happened with Luke Anderson" the boy said.

"Who is Luke Anderson?" Matilda asked as Hortensia laughed

"He was a kid who was in our year, who holds the record for the shortest amount of time of one day, thanks to Hortensia" the boy explained

"Why what happened?" Matilda asked curious, even if she was a little afraid of the answer.

"It happened our first ever day at school, all was going well, well as it can with The Trunch, when we got to breaktime" Bruce said

"Why, what happened then?" Matilda asked

"Well we had all seen Hort's beret by this point, she sings the school song obviously, but most of us questioned it and stared a bit then moved on, but not Luke Anderson" the boy said "He decided he wanted to touch it, he had never seen a beret before and was curious" Bruce went on.

"Oh no" Matilda said, worried where this was going.

"Oh yes" Bruce said before carrying on the story "So Luke went and climbed on the climbing gym so he could reach her height and touched her beret, with one hand, once, for two seconds" Bruce told Matilda

"And?" Matilda said, gritting her teeth afraid

Bruce looked at his blonde friend, half laughing and shaking his head, before looking at Matilda.

"Hortensia looks up at him, pulls out a stun gun and tasers the poor kid with it" Bruce said

"No" Matilda said, not knowing how to react any other way

"He shouldn't be touching what doesn't belong to him" Hortensia replied

"Hort you tasered him!" Matilda said, unable to believe she had done that.

"It wasn't high voltage, it couldn't do lasting damage, he was fine" Hortensia replied

"Fine!? Bruce replied "The poor kid transferred schools he was so scared" Bruce replied

"Oh please his headmistress was Agatha Trunchbull, he wouldn't have lasted long anyway if he couldn't deal with me using a stun gun on him" Hortensia replied

"He was just a little kid, who had never seen a beret before and was curious" Bruce went on

"He still shouldn't touch things without permission" Hortensia replied

"You terrify me" Matilda stated. She couldn't believe her blonde friend had done that.

"At least we all learned NOT to touch her beret or insult it" Bruce replied

"Exactly, I carry it around, so kids don't touch with their grubby fingers, shame Agatha took me off guard, or I would have used it on her too" Hortensia replied

"I think we should be grateful for that, if you had done that to Agatha, we wouldn't be having this conversation, she would have killed you" Matilda replied. Hortensia only smirked and stood up, starting to dance again.

Everyone was right, she had a habit of doing it randomly, now she had started dancing again, she never stopped. Matilda smiled watching her as it never got boring, then turned to Bruce to carry on talking when suddenly the three friends found themselves in complete darkness when the lights went off.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12- Aftermath of Agatha

For a few moments, the three friends made no reaction to the new-found darkness as they tried to take in what had happened, but when it hit Hortensia it was pitch black, she spoke, panic in her voice.

“Matilda. Bruce?” the girl said. Matilda remembered the girl's fear of the dark and quickly spoke to reassure her.

“It's okay we are here Hort” Matilda said

“Oww someone stood on my foot” Bruce complained

“I think that was me, sorry” Matilda apologised

“Why is it dark, I hate the dark!” the blonde said

“It's okay Tensia, just try to calm down” Bruce said, hearing she was panicking so assuming she had a fear of the dark.

“Calm down!? How can I when it's dark...” she stopped speaking for a few moments then started breathing heavier “Is this the new chokey...how long do I have to stay here!” the girl said.

“Of course it isn't, the chokey doesn't exist any more, just focus on breathing” Matilda told her, trying to feel her way towards her friend in the dark.

It felt like hours to Hortensia, but in reality it was less than a minute before the lights came back on. Matilda and Bruce blinked trying to readjust their eyes to the brightness before Matilda realised Hortensia wasn't where she was before, she looked around seeing her sitting leaning against the wall. She rushed over, her other friend behind her.

“Hortensia look the lights are on again, you're okay now” Matilda said, trying to reassure her. Hortensia held her chest, breathing rapidly and in a raspy way.

“Why is she breathing like that, what's wrong with her?” Bruce said looking worried.

“I think she's having a panic attack, I am getting my mum, stay with her for a moment, try to help her to breathe” Matilda said, jumping up. She knew she had calmed her down the last time she had panicked, but this was much worse, and she didn't know how to deal with a full on panic attack.

“Matilda, sorry the lights tripped for...” Jenny started to say

“I think Hortensia is having a panic attack or something, we need your help” Matilda told her. Jenny made no response but ran into the living room. Bruce was rubbing her arm, trying to calm her down, but it wasn't really working.

“Let me get in there, thank you, Bruce” Jenny said gently as the boy moved over to allow Jenny to kneel by the girl. The blonde looked panicked by this point as she realised she couldn't breathe.

“It's okay, I think you are having a panic attack, but you will be okay, we need to focus on staying calm and breathing, okay?” Jenny said “Breathe gently like this” she showed her before she rubbed her arm and kept speaking.

“I am going to count slowly, when you hear a number we breathe okay” Jenny said, starting to count slowly and encouraging the girl to exhale when she said a number. It took a few minutes, but the girl's breathing got less raspy.

“Matilda, can you get me a glass of water?” Jenny said as she helped the girl up. Matilda nodded and rushed to the kitchen.

When Matilda returned, she saw her mum and both kids now sitting on the sofa. Bruce rubbed his friend's back as Jenny spoke to her gently. Matilda handed her mum the water, who gave it to the girl.

“Drink this please” the water said. The girl started taking small sips before she eventually spoke.

“I am okay now, thanks Miss” Hortensia said

“Has this happened before?” Jenny asked, assuming it hadn't or Hortensia's parents would have warned her.

“No, the lights aren't normally off long enough for me to panic” Hortensia said, “Oh great, now two kids know I am afraid of the dark” Hortensia replied as she took note Bruce was still there and had seen the whole thing.

“Don't worry Hort, I am not surprised after being in that horrible chokey, plus we are all scared of something, I am still scared of putting my hand under my bed at night in case a monster grabs it” Bruce admitted. Hortensia laughed slightly.

“Yes, but you are what six? You are allowed to be afraid of that” Hortensia replied.

“I am NOT six, I am eight, I will have you know!” Bruce replied. Matilda chuckled, her friend was feeling better, obviously if she had the energy to annoy Bruce.

The friends sat with her a while longer until she was back to normal, the doorbell rang again and Amanda and Nigel walked in.

“Sorry, I lost my hairbrush” Amanda said before looking at the three friends, she opened her mouth to comment when Lavender and Eric arrived too.

“I found my newt!” Lavender said happily

“I am so happy for you” Hortensia replied a little sarcastically. Amanda butted in, saying what she hadn't had a chance to before.

“You are wearing a different baguette!” the younger blonde said.

“Did you just say I am wearing a baguette?” Hortensia replied. Bruce burst into fits of laughter.

“What's so funny?” Amanda asked

“It's a beret Amanda, a baguette is a breadstick” Matilda replied, laughing too

“Oh...well I was half right” Amanda replied

“Yes, one letter” Hortensia said, laughing with her friends.

The friends had a picnic outside, chatting and having fun. After they ate, Bruce and Hortensia performed the revolting children dance again, which was met by cheers and claps. Nigel put his hand in the air.

“Hortensia I have a question” the boy said

“Okay, but I am not your teacher, and we aren't in school...you don't need to put your hand up” Hortensia replied.

“Sorry habit” the boy said, lowering his arm, “Anyway, my question is, how do you dance like that without your barrette falling off?”" he asked, also mispronouncing the word.

“Beret, but good question Nigel, how do you do that Tensia, we all know you don't clip it as Trunchbull was able to pull it right off your head” Matilda said, which was met by a glare from the older girl. “Not helpful? Sorry” Matilda replied.

“The answer is...for me to know and for no-one to ever find out” Hortensia replied, smiling

“Oh come on, tell us” Matilda moaned

“Why do you want to know so much, were you planning on starting to wear them too?” Hortensia asked

Lavender laughed before responding, “Matilda wear a hat out of choice? This is the girl who arrives at school and throws her school hat across the room because the 10 minutes she had to wear it walking from home to school was too long” the darker haired girl laughed

“I don't throw it...I chuck it...” Matilda replied. Jenny came out at that moment, saying Bruce's mum had arrived to pick him up. The kids starting getting ready to leave as their parents arrived.

“She might be alright after all” Lavender said to Matilda before she left. Matilda beamed, glad all her friends, older and younger, were starting to get on.

Chapter Text

Chapter 13 - New School

Matilda made her way down the corridor, smiling as she looked around the new school her mum had made, she half jumped though when she heard a familiar voice shouting her name. She turned to see Hortensia running towards her.

“Woah, what's going on?” Matilda asked her as she turned around to face her.

“I have to show you something!” Hortensia said.

“You got a new beret?” Matilda commented seeing this wasn't the normal red one but was a bit darker of a shade with sparkly flowers.

“No, not that, I have had this for years” Hortensia replied “No, this is what I want to show you” she said, putting out her left arm.

Matilda looked from her friend to her arm confused before talking, “What are you trying to show me, your arm looks normal to me” Matilda said before her eyes widened as she clicked.

“Your arm looks normal…you have your cast off!” Matilda commented.

“Yes, I didn't want to say before in case I needed it longer, but I am healed!” Hortensia said. Matilda beamed and pulled her into a hug.

“I am so happy for you” she said before letting her go, “But please be careful, we don't need you breaking it again because you did something stupid” Matilda commented

“What you mean? I didn't break it through carelessness last time, I broke it as The Trunch went all KO on me” Hortensia replied.

“True, but you aren't exactly gentle with your body, when we were singing Revolting Children you jumped off your desk, over the stairs banister and off the top of a statue carelessly” the brunette replied

“But everyone was doing it” Hortensia replied defensively

“Oh, so if everyone else was jumping in a pit of fire, you would do that too?” Matilda replied.

Hortensia sighed but nodded slowly “I will be careful I promise” she told her friend

“Good, oh I have some news too” Matilda said “My mum and I were talking, and we are thinking of remodelling the school” Matilda told her

“Haven't we just spent the last few weeks doing exactly that?” Hortensia replied confused.

“No I don't mean that type of remodelling, I mean making another school, a high school” Matilda told her

“Wait, so your mum wants to deal with the snotty face crying kids she has been stuck with for seven years for five more years as moody teenagers?” Hortensia questioned.

“Basically yes, what do you think?” Matilda went on.

“I say she has lost the plot” Hortensia replied

“Okay, maybe she has, but you know what a high school means, right?” Matilda said. Hortensia shrugged. Matilda laughed and put her arm around her.

“You will be stuck with us lot another five years” Matilda told her. Hortensia smiled, but then quickly turned it into a scowl.

“No, thanks, I can't deal with you lot for another five years. You drive me nuts, I think I might go elsewhere” the girl joked. Matilda laughed.

“Oh come on, you love us” Matilda went on

“Love is a VERY strong word” Hortensia replied even as she smiled. She knew she didn't have to really worry yet, she still had another year to go, but she liked the thought she didn't have to leave her friends after that year.

The rest of the day was a lot of fun for all. Jenny had installed rides in the playground, so the kids never wanted breaktimes to end.

“See you won't get this in another school” Matilda told her friend, who rolled her eyes but smiled.

After breaktime that day, the kids separated to go to their classrooms. Classes were better now as Jenny had retrained the staff and PE was now taken by a new teacher, Mr Lewis, who was much nicer than Trunchbull.

As the bell for last break went, Matilda and co took turns on the slide. Matilda saw her beret wearing friend walk over, seeming a bit subdued, even if the slide was her favourite and earlier on no-one else got many goes as she hogged it.

“Hey Hort are you okay?” Matilda asked, slightly worried about her change in mood.

“Yes just…fractions they hurt my brain” the girl replied, smiling as it was her turn to go on the slide. Bruce walked up to Matilda at that moment.

“Does Hort seem a bit strange to you right now, I mean her mood” Bruce added. Matilda nodded.

“Yes, she was alright before she went to class” Matilda said concerned

“You reckon something happened in class?” Bruce asked her.

“Mr Smith doesn't fall asleep any more, so I don't see how, but let's keep an eye on her, or I will tell my mum” Matilda said. Bruce nodded and left to take his turn on the ride as Matilda only looked at her friend concerned, she had been so happy that morning but now something, or someone, had dampened her mood and she was acting sad and withdrawn like she had when Matilda had first met her all those months before.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14 - Sleepovers and Bullies

Hortensia arrived on Saturday for the promised sleepover with Matilda, the brunette smiled and rushed to greet her.

“I have the day planned” the girl said excitedly. Hortensia nodded, not exactly sure what people did on sleepovers.

The girl's spoke to each other for a while, catching up on anything they might have missed. Her friend's mood seemed to have lifted again, so whatever was bothering her seemed to have been resolved, so Matilda didn't mention it.

At five that evening, Jenny told the girls they should properly start on dinner. Matilda had decided it would be fun if they made their own pizzas. Hortensia nodded and stood up.

“Okay but let me change first” she said. Jenny looked at her a little confused.

“I have aprons, love” she said, thinking she thought her current outfit would get dirty.

“I know, but I still need to change,” she said.

When the blonde emerged, mother and daughter realised she hadn't exactly changed at all, her outfit was the same, the only thing she had changed was her beret, which was now white and appeared the same texture as a standard chef's hat.

“What?” Hortensia questioned as to why they were staring at her.

“You had to change your beret to make pizza?” Matilda questioned, raising her eyebrows.

“Yes, this is my cooking hat, hat 54, I always wear this when cooking or baking” the blonde replied. As Matilda continued to stare at her friend like she had gone mental, Jenny cut in.

“Okay…why don't we start,” Jenny said. The girl's nodded and started making their pizza.

It got a bit messy with the dough and sauce and the variety of ingredients they had bought. As Matilda placed pineapple on her pizza, Hortensia spoke.

“Oh no, you are a pineapple pizza lover?” she asked her

“Oh no not you too, my mum always says it's disgusting” Matilda said

“It is, fruit on pizza is wrong, why don't we add apples or pears or grapes if we are doing that” Hortensia responded, placing pepperoni on her pizza, trying to spread it evenly.

“Because that is disgusting and doesn't work on pizza,” Matilda told her.

When the pizzas were cooked, the girls settled down with a film, Hortensia had talked Matilda into watching Les Choristes, she sat there listening to the actors speak away quickly in fast fluent French, trying to get used to the sound as she also read the subs.

“Do you actually understand this?” Matilda asked her, wondering if the girl knew any French.

“Bits but only as I have watched it so many times, I don't speak French” her friend said. Matilda wondered how she had even discovered this film if her French abilities were also lacking. Matilda shook her head, once again thinking her friend was crazy.

In the evening, the older girl said she would change into her pyjamas. Matilda read some of her book as she waited for her to come back. When she did, Matilda, for the third time that day, found herself staring at her strangeness.

“You are wearing a beret….it's almost time to sleep” Matilda commented

“I know, this is my sleeping beret, it's softer than the others so it's comfortable” Hortensia replied as she sat on the provided mattress.

“You know what else is comfortable?” Matilda commented “Sleeping without a hat on your head” Matilda replied surprised, she had been sure she would have removed it to sleep.

“I couldn't do that!” Hort replied, “The only time I take it off is in the shower” she admitted.

“And that is only because no-one has made a waterproof beret yet?” Matilda commented.

“Actually they have, but takes away the point of washing your hair if you are washing your hat” Hortensia replied. Matilda shook her head laughing.

“You are actually crazy” the girl said. Hortensia smirked.

“Good, I don't want to be normal, it's boring” she said.

Jenny came in half an hour later, telling the girls not to stay up all night talking. The girls said they wouldn't and after kissing Matilda's forehead she left.

“We can keep the light on, right?” Hortensia said, looking panicked.

“Yes, of course, that is why sleeping at mine is great, I am not fussed I can sleep through anything” Matilda said, wondering as she spoke if she could. The attic had been pretty dark even during the day, she wasn't used to the light.

“Thanks Matilda” the girl said

“Anytime” the girl said.

In the morning, the girls were eating breakfast when the doorbell rang. Jenny went to answer and came back saying Hortensia had a visitor.

“Me? Who is it?” the girl asked.

From behind Jenny appeared Natalie Michaels. A blonde girl with long wavy hair and a mean face that was in Hortensia's year.

“Natalie? Why are you here?” Hortensia asked. Matilda noticed instantly her friend's mood dampened.

“We need to talk” the other blonde said. Hortensia nodded and muttered an excuse me before leaving to speak to Natalie.

They spoke for a few minutes and Matilda and Jenny waited, until they suddenly heard loud shouting. Both the girl and her mum jumped up and rushed out of the sitting room, finding the two blonde girls yelling at each other.

“What is going on?” Jenny asked.

“Nothing Miss, we're just talking” Natalie said

“Yeah right, all you have been doing this last week is going on about my friendship with the others” Hortensia replied

“Because it's wrong! Why would you want to hang with little kids? Can you not get friends your own age?” Natalie asked.

“The friends I had my age let me down” Hortensia shouted back

“So you go to the infants, I bet you had to sleep with the light on, because Matilda is still scared of the dark!” Natalie laughed.

“That is enough Natalie, I want you to leave” Jenny said

“It's fine Miss, for your information, Matilda isn't scared of the dark, so shows how much you know” Hortensia replied

“But you aren't denying you slept with the light on? If Matilda isn't scared, why did you…. Oh my god, it's you, you are scared of the dark!” Natalie replied through laughter.

“Go away Natalie” Matilda replied

“My three-year-old cousin isn't even scared of the dark, you are pathetic Hortensia, and when everyone in our year finds out YOU are scared of the dark…” Natalie went on.

Hortensia's lip trembled, she looked about to either explode in anger or burst into tears. Jenny had had enough.

“Natalie, I said leave right now” the woman said, raising her voice and speaking in a harsh tone “If you don't leave right now I will call your parents to come and pick you up, I don't want you in my house if you are just going to cause trouble” Jenny said

The girl snorted and went to leave, Jenny spoke from the doorway. “And on Monday we will be having serious words about your behaviour” the woman said.

Matilda gently touched her friend's back as she saw tears were falling down her face. The girl pulled out of her grip and walked back into the living room, Matilda went to follow her.

“Give her a minute darling, she needs some time alone,” Jenny said, hugging her daughter. Matilda nodded but now things were making sense, her change in mood, her depressive state, must have been because Natalie had been bothering her all week.

Matilda couldn't get her to cheer up no matter what she said after that, so her parents went to collect her early. Matilda hated Natalie at that moment, she had just become free from Agatha Trunchbull's abuse, could she not have a break from people wanting to make her life harder?

Chapter Text

Chapter Fifteen - Winning

Hortensia ate at the ice cream cone she had brought from the fair outside and was walking down the corridor when she heard something.

"Hey Tessie!" Natalie shouted. Hortensia sighed. She hated that stupid nickname, she didn't mind Hort or Tensia, but that one got to her as it wasn't even a correct shortened version of her name.

"What do you want, Natalie?" Hortensia asked. The girl was still bothering her, Jenny was trying to get the board to have her removed from the school, but it was taking a while.

"I just wanted to let you know them French hats went out of style in....actually they were never in style at all" Natalie said laughing "It is such a geeky hat" the girl said, carrying on laughing. Hortensia said nothing.

"So where are your geeky friends?" the girl asked. Hortensia shrugged

"Oh geez look they aren't in my pocket, so I don't know" Hortensia replied sarcastically, at that moment both Matilda and Bruce appeared behind her.

"Are you alright, Hort?" Bruce said before noticing Natalie "Get lost and leave her alone" the boy said

"Aww how cute, he is sticking up for his little girlfriend" Natalie laughed

"Some of us are capable of being friends with the opposite gender without dating," Matilda replied. Natalie rolled her eyes before turning to the brunette girl.

"Your mum is trying to get me chucked out, oh wait she isn't your mum, she only adopted you as she felt sorry for you" Natalie said. Matilda went quiet, not knowing how to respond.

"Oh and Bruce" she said now turning to the boy, "You are a rubbish singer, and you are NOT a cool dude" she told him, she had heard Hortensia call him that before as a nickname, at Bruce's age being called cool was the ultimate compliment so he loved it. "In fact, you are probably the most pathetic dude" Natalie went on. Bruce's face fell. Natalie then spoke.

"And these uniforms are horrible, even Miss Honey has no taste" Natalie said before turning to walk away, knowing she had succeeded in making everyone feel horrible.

Anger built up in Hortensia. She had been picking on her all week, but now she was insulting her friends too, she didn't want to stand there and take it any more.

"Natalie" Hortensia called. Natalie turned around and Hort spoke.

"Do you really hate the uniforms because I was thinking maybe you should do what I used to do, customise it" Hortensia suggested

"For a freak, that isn't a bad idea" Natalie said

"And I know the perfect accessory to go with it" Hortensia replied.

"Oh...what?" Natalie asked

"This" Hortensia replied before smearing her ice cream on her chest. Natalie screamed, and Matilda and Bruce stood there with their mouths opened.

"Hortensia you freak!" Natalie said annoyed

"Yes I properly am a freak, but I can change, you, you always will be a bully and a pathetic lowlife" Hortensia replied. "Now leave me and my friends alone or next time you will be recovering from a stun gun" the girl said, walking away before stopping to turn around.

"Oh and it's called a beret, by the way," Hortensia said, leaving.

Matilda and Bruce were in hysterics, and when everyone found out what she had done, they were in hysterics too. Even Jenny didn't punish her, the woman hated bullies.

Things were looking up for Hortensia, she had friends and was finally happy, she was still scared of the dark, but she knew one day she could overcome that too.

Agatha Trunchbull would not win.