the darkest night | hicsqueak | the worst witch 2017

chapter twenty-four

 Miss Cackle had announced that art would now be included in the curriculum at the school. Hecate couldn't believe it. Art had never been part of the curriculum before but Ada believed that it would help the students to think more creatively when casting their spells. Hecate couldn't argue with that point. She could see the logic in it and how excited the girls were that they would now be having art lessons in addition to their regular ones. The schedule had to be changed so art could be accommodated into it. Instead of the girls having a double free period once a week, art was placed during the second half of the period and double chanting was changed to only occur once a week as well.

The girls were ecstatic even though their much longer free period was now shortened to have art in their schedule. It also meant that a new teacher was needed and Ada had hired one at the beginning of the school year with Hecate's help but the teacher hadn't been able to come until the second week of school for some reason.

It made Hecate suspicious that the teacher couldn't start until the second week of classes when the rest of the school had been ready to start on time. The art classroom had even been ready last week as well for the teacher. There was no sign of her as well, even though the second-year art class was due to be first in the schedule. Hecate wanted to place the teacher under probation due to her not being able to show up when classes had started the previous week but Ada had advised her not to.

Hecate was getting ready for her third-year potions class when she heard shrieks and screams come from the art room. She transferred in just after some clay had evidently exploded on all of the girls and the teacher. The teacher hastily tried to introduce herself but Hecate dismissed her class and went back to her preparations. The girls would need to get out of that class earlier to be able to clean themselves up before they had chanting.

Hecate was well aware that she had made the new teacher, Miss Mould, mad that she hadn't been able to introduce herself but she was frustrated with the control did not seem to possess in the classroom. Hecate decided that she would introduce herself properly to Miss Mould later in the staffroom, once the school day was over.

-

All too soon the school day was done and Hecate transferred with some of her gradings into the staffroom. Miss Mould was there, drawing something on a pad of paper. Hecate sat down in her normal chair by the fireplace and opened her grade book. Miss Mould noticed her and she got up, putting down her pencils.

"I don't think I got to properly introduce myself earlier today during the chaos of second-year art," Miss Mould said, standing in front of Hecate. "Well met. I'm Marigold Mould." She bowed.

Hecate set aside her grading. "Well met," she responded with a hand to her forehead. "I am Hecate Hardbroom, deputy head."

Miss Mould sat in front of Hecate in the chair across from her. She summoned her drawing pad and pencils as Hecate tried to go back to her grading that she needed to complete. "I heard about the announcement you made last week, Miss Hardbroom," Miss Mould said, trying to start a conversation with the black-haired witch. "Congratulations. I hope you're happy in your relationship. What's her name?"
"Pippa Pentangle," Hecate responded. "I am very happy with it. You will be able to meet her tomorrow when she comes for a visit."

"I can't wait to meet her. Pentangle? Does she also run Pentangle's?" Miss Mould was trying to grasp at any conversion that she could make with Hecate. Hecate nodded.

"She is headmistress of her own academy. Considering that you seem to be a more modern witch, Miss Mould, I am surprised you did not apply to work there," Hecate spoke. Their conversation was feeling a bit awkward to Hecate but she was still suspicious of Miss Mould. The woman had been hired with no references and Hecate was going to bring it up to Ada before their next faculty meeting.

"I believe that they have an art teacher. They don't really need two art teachers. Today was a bit rough for my first day but I'm hoping the students will enjoy art class," Miss Mould responded. The woman sounded hopeful.

"I hope they do not abandon their studies in other subjects for spending time in the art classroom," Hecate said.

"I'll make sure they won't," Miss Mould confirmed. Their conversation had just about come to a natural end. "Would it be alright if I draw you, Miss Hardbroom? I would like to make portraits for all of the teachers here."

"I suppose so," Hecate intoned. She began to work on her grading, the papers floating in front of her as her finger waved through the air in short, concise motions.

Miss Mould got the pencils that she needed and she turned to a fresh page in her sketchbook. She glanced up at Miss Hardbroom over the sketchbook. Hecate was working on grading, focusing intently on what she was doing. Miss Mould got her first pencil and she began to sketch Hecate's head shape, paying close attention to Hecate's sharp cheekbones. Hecate watched Miss Mould from the corner of her eyes. Hecate send the papers for the fifth year class back to her classroom to be handed out the next day and summoned the quizzes that the fourth years had done earlier in the afternoon. Hecate kept these papers a bit lower since Miss Mould was working on her drawing.

Hecate's head was beginning to hurt from her bun so she took down the pins magically, making Miss Mould look rather shocked at the amount of hair that Hecate possessed.

"I hope it doesn't ruin the progress you have made at drawing me," Hecate said. "My head was hurting and needed a break from its bun."

"It doesn't," Miss Mould confirmed, going back to her sketching.