Chapter 6
"But the other two have to go with Cassie," Miss Mould insisted.
"I will," Ethel said. "I'm NOT a wimp."
"I'll go. It's not even scary," Mildred said.
"Well, that's settled. I'm staying here," Felicity said.
"Me too," Maud agreed.
...
When we got back with the Grimly Grass, Raven Feathers and Mandrake Truffles (more than needed Raven Feathers and Grimly Grass and I picked up a bit of Yarrow) Miss Mould, Maud and Felicity were nowhere to be seen. "Look!" Mildred pointed at a trail of Miss Mould's things leading back into Hollow Wood. "Let's follow it."
...
"What happened to them?" Ethel asked when we found Miss Mould, Maud and Felicity in a trance. Miss Mould had drawn a picture of a Hypnapillion.
"Oh, no. A Hypnapillion."
"A what-nap-allion?" Mildred asked.
"It's supposed to be extinct but they used to be found in Hollow Wood often. That's why people believe Hollow Wood to be enchanted. It feeds off people's minds, fears, imagination. If you look at one, it sends you into a 'semi-conscious dreamlike state'. If the trance isn't broken within two hours, the dreamlike state becomes permanent. Nothing had happened in the last 100 years so HB probably thought it was safe. I thought it was possible since no one ever comes in here, one could live here without anyone knowing. Luckily, I picked up Yarrow, extra Raven Feathers and extra Grimly Grass. They're the three ingredients needed for the Potion to break the trance. I never go into Hollow Wood without the Potion already made but I didn't expect it this time. That's why I picked up those extra ingredients." The three of us made the Potion, connected Miss Mould, Felicity and Maud's hands and blew it over them. Ethel took Felicity's hand and Mildred took Maud's hand and I took their hands.
"From deepest wood and darkest glade, Do not flee or be afraid, Take this thing that feeds on fear, Make the Hypnapillion disappear," Ethel, Mildred and I said.
"Now, we need to look at the Hypnapillion to make it disappear. Stare at it and don't look away." The three of us stared at the Hypnapillion until it disappeared and Miss Mould, Felicity and Maud were freed from the trance. The six of us left Hollow Wood and went back to the castle.
...
"We did see one, Miss Cackle. It's why we took so long. Maud, Felicity and Miss Mould were affected by it," I said.
"But, Cassie got us out of it," Mildred said. "She knew exactly what to do. She said she's been in Hollow Wood before." I jabbed her in the stomach with my elbow.
"I don't think anyone should be allowed to go back in there, Miss Cackle," Ethel said. "It's not safe."
...
"Why can't you be responsible for once in your life?" Mildred asked Enid. "It's bad enough that I turned Maud into a baby. Now you've gone and lost her."
"Where are you going?"
"We need to split up and find her." They both ran off in different directions. I ran to the Potions Lab.
"Miss Hardbroom!"
"Why aren't you rehearsing your chant?"
"I was but I thought you should know Mildred turned Maud into a baby and that's why she's missing... And then Enid lost baby Maud!" HB looked pissed.
"This is not needed today of all days! Miss Cackle must not find out about this. You continue practicing and I will find Mildred and Enid and Maud before turning her back." Oh, those three are in trouble! I smirked as I left the room.
...
"And now, Cassiopeia Black's chant and video!" Miss Drill announced as I made my way onto the stage.
"She's a Witch we all adore, She is our school's core, No one else can compare, She looks after us with care." The place started filling with balloons, banners with 'Happy Birthday, Miss Cackle' on them and other decorations. "For this day we celebrate, Today is a special date, Miss Cackle is someone we admire, She's the Witch to whom we aspire." The decorations finished righting themselves, the lights in the room set themselves in a colour-changing pattern of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet with two seconds on each colour with a one-second fade into the next colour and my Maglet started projecting the beginning of the video I'd made. "Now to hear from everyone, There is nary one, Everyone will agree with me, There's no one else but she." The Magic dissipated into the air and everyone started clapping. "This is a video I made where I asked some current and past students what Miss Cackle meant to them."
...
Okay, I have to admit, Enid got Miss Drill, Maud got Miss Cackle and Mildred got HB perfect in their impersonations. That was the most I'd ever liked Mildred... I still don't like her for mocking HB like that, though.
...
"They're going to replace Miss Cackle, dad! It's Cackle's Academy!"
"Well, who did sign the petition? I didn't. Maybe try checking the names on the petition actually did sign? I know quite a few of the parents would've refused to sign like Mildred's mom, Maud's parents, the Nightshades and that Felicity girl's parents made it clear how much they loved Miss Cackle on parent's evening last year. Besides why would people keep sending their kids to a school where they don't like the Headmistress?" I nodded.
"Thanks, dad. I'm gonna go do that right now. Bye!"
"Bye!" Dad's image faded from the mirror. I ran to Miss Cackle's office and bumped into Miss Pentangle.
"Sorry! I really have to talk to Miss Cackle or Miss Hardbroom. Are they in there?"
"Miss Hardbroom is. You should watch where you're going."
"I will. Sorry." Miss Pentangle left and I knocked on the door.
"Enter." I went in and saw HB standing by Miss Cackle's desk.
"Miss Hardbroom. I was hoping I could see the petition that was signed to get Miss Cackle fired. Or at least check to see if certain names are on there. I think Mrs Hallow faked the signatures to get Miss Cackle fired. Everyone's talking about it and so many people have said their parents didn't sign it and I figured since it came from Mrs Hallow and she's a member of the Magic Council, it wasn't checked with the parents that supposedly signed."
...
I can't believe Mrs Hallow would do all of that because of what happened to Esme. She got her powers back. She's fine.
...
I transferred in front of Mildred. "What have you done!? Why are HB and the other teachers suddenly obsessed with Mr Rowan-Webb?"
"I... May have accidentally spiked them with a Love Potion so they fall in love with the first Wizard they see. And Mr Rowan-Webb is also obsessed with his own reflection." I was furious at Mildred's behaviour and super jealous of Mr Rowan-Webb. HB is mine! ... Damn it! No, she's not... Not yet at least.
"There you are, Cassie!"
"Esme. I need your help."
"Anything for you, Cassie."
"Come with me." I transferred us both to the Potions Lab. "We need to create an antidote to Love Potion." We created the antidote and poured it into five cups of water. "You take one to Miss Cackle, one to Miss Bat and one to Miss Mould. I'll take one to HB and one to Mr Rowan-Webb."
"Got it." I grabbed two of the cups and transferred myself to Mr Rowan-Webb. "Sir? Do you want some water? You should be hydrated to ensure you can talk to your love for longer."
"Right, you are!" He drank the cup of water and glowed pink for a few seconds. "Oh, well... That was embarrassing." I transferred to HB.
"Miss Hardbroom, I have something for you from Mr Rowan-Webb."
"You do? What is it?" I handed her the glass.
"He wants you to drink all of it and then wait a few seconds before trying to find him again." She drank the whole thing and glowed pink. "Are you okay, Miss Hardbroom? Did the antidote to Mildred's Love Potion work?"
"Mildred Hubble!" Yeah, it did. My HB is back.
...
Why is my Magic going wrong this morning? Ugh! I need to restock all of the Potions I've run out of, especially my Magic Enhancement Potions. Luckily, the Potions ingredients I ordered last week arrived last night.
...
I followed Felicity into the Potions Lab and ignored the conversation as I ran over to the wall opposite before Maud followed. It's covered in ice. I heard someone try the door and continued to ignore the conversation. "What's happened to the Founding Stone?" I asked.
"It's... Gone out. Esme and Sybil saw Miss Mould take Magic from the Founding Stone," Miss Cackle said.
"I knew she couldn't be trusted," HB said.
"Okay, fuck this bullshit," I said.
"Miss Black!" Miss Cackle and HB said.
"No, I have an idea." I started moving things off of HB's desk and took my bag out. I started taking everything out of my bag.
"What?" Maud asked.
"How do you have so much stuff in there?" Enid asked as I took out my cauldron from my small bag. "That alone shouldn't've fit in there."
"A Spell I invented after watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One. Worst of all of the Harry Potter movies but Hermione's bag gave me the idea."
"What are all of these Potions?" HB asked.
"Ones I've invented over the years, once we've learned in class and ones I thought were interesting that we've yet to learn. Ah! Here one is!" I handed a see-through bottle with a green Potion in it with the label 'Teleport' on it to Felicity. "Drink that." I kept looking for some more. I know I have two more of these.
"What will it do?" Felicity asked.
"Read the label."
"Teleport. Where will it teleport me to?" I winced at that as I found another one and passed it to Enid.
"Just outside of Hollow Wood. It's how I've been getting there over the last two years. Very useful for avoiding the long walk." I found the last one and passed it to Maud. "It's outside Hollow Wood or stay here and lose your Magic. Take them." The three drank the Potions and I sat down.
"What are you doing?" HB asked.
"Thinking. I doubt we can make any more Potions right now and those three were the only Teleport Potions I had. Besides, they wouldn't help save the school. I'll think of something with all the Potions I have, especially after I perfected my secret project for this year just last- Night. That's it!" I ran over to my Potions and started searching for the right one. "Object colour change... Object change... Personality change... Outfit change... Fireproof... Fire creation... Wisdom Spell... Love Potion... Wisdom Spell Reversal... Energy creation... Sleepless... Lightning... Thunder... Rain... Sun... Light... Rainbow... Hair growth... Sporty... Bats... Ah! There it is!" I grabbed the see-through bottle with a blue Potion in it and the label 'Magical Ice Melting Potion'. "Not the one I was looking for but it'll help." I found the one I was looking for a couple of bottles later as well as the four Magic Enhancement Potions I'd made today and an Explosion Potion.
"What are those seven Potions?" HB asked as I put everything else away.
"Four are Magic Enhancement Potions, one is my secret project from this year, one is an Explosion Potion I thought we could use for the door and the other is a Magical Ice Melting Potion. Not sure if it'll work but it's worth a try." I threw the Explosion Potion on the door. "Stand back it has a fifteen-second delay." HB, Miss Cackle and I rushed away from the door. "It'll only explode the door but if you're too close--" I got cut off by the explosion, grabbed the other six Potions and we made our way to the front door.