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Everything was slowly coming back to normal at the castle, everyone slowly regaining their rooms to rest after such a tiring day. The school was finally safe from Agatha, and Mildred asked Maud and Enid to wait for her in her room, as she wanted to talk with their deputy headmistress. She watched her friends leave and she followed Miss Hardbroom as she entered the school again, a bit behind Miss Cackle. Certainly both of them were going in the headmistress’s office to debrief the events of the day, as they did everytime a new disaster happened at the school. She quickly trotted to catch up with her teacher, but waited until Miss Cackle was out of sight to finally talk.
« Why do you hate me so much ? » Mildred asked Miss Hardbroom once they were walking alone in the corridor. She was feeling quite distraught since she had been sent home. Though Agatha’s attack had been a distraction, now she couldn’t help thinking about the way Miss Hardbroom had expelled her.
« What ? » Her teacher replied, stopping in her tracks so suddenly that Mildred nearly stumbled on her. Her eyes widened as a surprised expression settled on her face. She turned to look at her student, perplexed.
« You hate me. You always want me to leave the school. I understand why you wanted to expel me in the beginning, I’m not from a witching family and it never happened before and I was getting into a lot of trouble and you were worried, I understand, but then it got better, and I thought you didn’t hate me as much, but now… I know I messed up, I shouldn’t have left the school, but I thought you would give me a lot of detentions, or a thousand lines, but you expelled me. You wanted me to leave again. » Mildred told her, a sad look on her face. She always knew she wasn’t her teacher’s favorite student, but she had thought their relationship was better now, and it was hurting her deeply to see it wasn’t the case.
« Mildred » Miss Hardbroom started, only to be interrupted by the girl.
« It’s okay, you don’t have to like me I guess, I just… it makes me sad and- »
« Mildred ! » Miss Hardbroom stopped her ranting, a bit harsher than she intended to. Mildred closed her mouth, staring at the floor. She bit on her bottom lip, trying hard not to cry. Asking was probably a bad idea, now her teacher would go on and on about how she was the worst student and that of course she hated her because how could she not, and Mildred really didn’t need to hear that right now. She was already extremely emotional from the recent events and she didn’t want to fall apart in front of her teacher.
« I don’t hate you, Mildred Hubble. I only expelled you to keep you safe. » Miss Hardbroom said softly, trying to meet her eyes.
« What ? » Mildred asked, not sure she heard correctly. That was really not what she expected. She raised her head to look at her teacher, searching on her face for any signs that she could be lying.
« Agatha was back, and she had taken the lead of the school. It was dangerous for everyone, but particularly for you, as you were the one who defeated her on her last attent to attack us. I was afraid she would want to take revenge. It was safer for you to be at home, far away from her. » Miss Hardbroom explained, looking firmly at her student.
« You wanted to protect me ? » Mildred gasped, amazed, her voice barely a whisper as if she couldn’t quite believe it.
« Don’t look so shocked. Of course I wanted to protect you, all of you. » Her teacher replied, pursing her lips.
« But I thought… » Mildred started, not finishing her sentence as she didn’t know what to say anymore.
« You thought wrong. » Her teacher told her sharply.
« Why didn’t you just tell me you were sending me away because of Agatha then ? » Mildred asked, confused. Her teacher seemed amused, raising an eyebrow at her.
« Because I know you, Mildred. You would have done exactly what you did once you learned Agatha was back, you would have come straight back to Cackle’s to try and save everyone. » She said, sighing.
« But I did save everyone ! » Mildred exclaimed, a proud smile forming on her lips.
« Do not let it go to your head. Coming back was dangerous and you might not always be so lucky. » Miss Hardbroom warned her, frowning slightly. It wouldn’t do for the girl to take the habit of putting herself in dangerous situations to try and save everyone.
« So you don’t… hate me ? For reals ? »Mildred murmured, not daring to voice her question too loud.
« You are a very frustrating girl. However, no, I do not hate you, you silly girl. » The older witch confirmed.
« You wanted me to be safe, so that means you care for me, right ? » Mildred said, feeling a bit bolder now. She was swaying on her feet, smiling sheepishly at her teacher.
« Draw whatever conclusions you want to draw, Mildred. Now if that will be all, I have other matters to attend to. » She raised her hand, ready to transfer herself away from their conversation, which was starting to be a little uncomfortable for her.
« Thank you Miss Hardbroom ! » Mildred exclaimed, her smile widening. She hesitated a second then surged on her teacher, holding her tightly in her arms.
Miss Hardbroom’s eyes widened and her eyebrows raised, she did not move an inch, one arm standing rigidly at her side, confined by Mildred’s own, the other still in the air.
The girl released her and smiled brightly at her one more time, before running away. Miss Hardbroom watched her leave, a fond smile settling on her face as she knew nobody could see her. She closed her eyes for a second and the corners of her mouth lifted even more, before she flicked her hand, finally disappearing from the corridor.