Claire
Aliens and Realiasations
Wed May 28 03:58:53 2003
202.154.67.70

Sybil and Clarice sat at the dinner table, still talking about that day's events.
"I still can't believe it." announced Sybil, sitting at her chair in total shock.
"Believe it then." answered Clarice, shoving a mouthful of pasta into her mouth. She was soooo glad that the eating habits of Cackle's Academy had been finally changed.
" I heard that Miss Hardbroom adopted her when she found out that she needed to make a family to stay on this earth, because she is actually an alien." whispered their friend, Prudence Nightfly, another fourth year with curly brown hair.
"Yes, well I think that Prudence better keep her theories to herself, as Miss Hardbroom has just arrived, and she has brought her special guest." warned Clarice. It seemed she wasn't the only who had noticed the pairs entrance. Nearly everyone in the hall was standing on their chairs, trying to catch another glimpse at the girl, who was now dressed neatly in their school uniform. Miss Cackle noticed this and abrruptly stood up, which in turn made everyone sit down. Miss Cackle cleared her throat.
"Now as most of you will already have heard," began Miss Cackle, knowing full well that everyone had heard. "We had an unexpected guest arrive this morning." chatter began to break out.
"Quiet please." cried Miss Hardbroom, she was standing up with her hand on Penelope's shoulder. The chatter stopped immediantly.
"Thankyou Constance. Now, as you know we have a guest, well we did. But not anymore, because our guest is now a student here at the Academy." Miss Cackle informed them. There was silence all around. Miss Cackle continued uncertainly. "Please make her feel welcome, come here Penelope dear."
Motioning her towards the front the teachers dining table, Miss Cackle spoke again. "Now as I said before, I want you to all make her feel welcome, and please, no asking silly questions. That's all." Penelope turned as if to run back to her bedroom, but Miss Cackle got there first,as usual. "Come dear, you can sit at a table with....." Miss Cackle looked around and saw Clarice and Sybil, who looked up in return. "Over there dear." Miss Cackle pushed her forward. Clarice and Sybil stared. Miss Cackle however didn't see this.
"Girls, I am appointing you to take care of this girl. Show her around the school and such..." Miss Cackle gave Penny a quick pat on the shoulder, then returned to the teachers table.
"Um, hello." the young girl said meekly. But Clarice and Sybil still stared.
"Can I, um, sit here?" she asked. Clarice and Sybil still stared, that was, until Prudence lent over and gave them a flick in the arm.
"Ow! Oh, yeh....sure." replied Clarice slowly rubbing her arm. "Um, what's your name?" she asked trying to make up for lost time.
"Um, Penelope. But I guess you already know my last name!" she said giving a weak smile.
"Your related to HB?" blurted out Sybil. Both Prudence and Clarice gave her a funny look, but Penelope look relieved in a way.
"Yeh, pity me dont ya?" she said jokingly. "So what are your names?"
"Well, I'm Clarice, Clarice Crow, and these are my friends Prudence Nightfly and Sybil Hallow."
"Hello," Penny said smiling. "Sybil Hallow, eh? Are you Ethel's sister?"
"Yes." Sybil said quietly. "I bet you know her for all her great achievments."
"Achievements? From what I hear, she's horrible!"
Sybil looked ready to cry again, remembering the times she had hurt Mildred Hubble after following one of Ethel's dissasterous plans.
"Oh, and terribly maniplutive!" Penny said quickly, fearing she had said the wrong thing. It didn't seem to work though, Sybil's lip was starting to quiver.
"So," said Penny, quickly changing the subject. "I guess my mother and I are the gossip subject of the school."
"Aaaaah....I'm afraid so." Clarice said slowly. She didn't want to upset the girl. But Penny seemed to understand.
"Don't worry, I'm not feeling delicate!" she gave a small laugh. "I guess you were thinking of the way that I just blew up in the courtyard this morning." Clarice, Prudence and Sybil (sniffing slightly) nodded truthfully.
"It's just..." Prudence began. "Miss Hardbroom is the last person we ever expected to have a kid. I mean a kid like-us."
Penny smiled.
"Thanks." she said. "At my old school I was treated differently because I wasn't like everyone there. But my mother being the evil witch she is, wouldn't come take me home. So I came myself!" Everyone listening nodded. Prudence leant over the table slowly, and beckoned Penny to come close enough so she could just whisper.
"So is your mother really an alien?"
Penny , in return, grinned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 

Claire
Chapter 4: Plans are made
Wed May 28 03:59:43 2003
202.154.67.70

Miss Hardbroom poked at her pasta. The hall had long ago emptied of it's students. Now, only the teachers remained, Miss Bat and Miss Drill included. However, unlike usual nights, nobody spoke. They all just sat there, prodding their pasta. Well, they did so until Miss Tapioca came along.
"Tutututut," she said tutting her tongue. "Usually, my pasta is gone when I come to collect the dishes. Why all these long faces?" But maybe, Miss Tapioca shouldn't have used that expression.
Miss Hardbroom certainly had a long face, it was gaunt and seemed paler then usual. Miss Cackle's face, however, was full of anxiety. She had never seen Constance act so, how could she describe it-depressed. Miss Drill didn't look sad or axious. However, she did look quite tired. She had spent all day pouncing on people because they were spreading rumors. It had taken nearly the whole lesson to tell her class to be quiet. Ordinarily, it was quite the contrary. The girls were usually so dismal. But today had been different. Miss Bat was the only one, sitting at the table, that didn't join in with her colleagues glum
antics. In fact, she was bouncing around in her chair. It was so exciting! A new member for the choir! Miss Bat had to stop bouncing for a while though, just so she could lick the remnants of pasta that were stuck to the end of her baton. Miss Tapioca cleared the plates and walked off again, tutting her tongue as she did so. Miss Drill had really had enough.
'' Well," she announced as she stood up. "I am going to bed. Goodnight everyone!" With that, she quickly departed, not wanting to be around such glum chums. Miss Bat quickly repeated Miss Drill's actions, though this time the excuse was.
"Must go prepare for my next class. This is so exciting!" and with a squeak Miss Bat had scuttled away.
Miss Cackle turned towards Miss Hardbroom.
"Well Constance, looks like it's just you and me."
HB nodded slowly then turned to face Miss Cackle.
"Amelia, do you think I've been a bad mother?"
Miss Cackle was quite in shock. Constance rarely adressed her by her first name, not that Miss Cackle minded of course.
"Constance, I can't really judge you right now." said Miss Cackle slowly. "Emotions are running too high at the moment. Also, I don't have any children myself, so I don't know what it is like. Really, Constance, I'm not the one for you to ask that." Rubbing and her eyes and giving a yawn, Miss Cackle turned to face her colleague on last time before departing for bed. "Goodnight Constance, I hope you sleep well." She slowly got up from her place at the table. She looked briefly at Miss Hardbroom, but with that she left, leaving Miss Hardbroom to ponder in her thoughts.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, Prudence, Penelope,Clarice and Sybil were all sitting in Penelope's room doing......nothing. Having unpacked all her things, Penny had sent out pleas to the other girls to come help her decorate her room. On arrival, the girls had to give her the very sad news.
"We can't decorate your room, it's not allowed."
"What!"
"Even if you did decorate it, HB has a night patrol. If she came into your room, you'd get a floundering."
So now they all sat together,wondering what to do next. It was an hour until lights out, and the girls had nothing to do.
"I'm bored." said Clarice.
"Join the club." replied Sybil.
"Yeh, we can all join together, become goths and wreak havoc on the school." muttered Penny glumly.
The other three girls stared.
"Hey, it was only an idea!" Penny said smiling mischievously. Still the four girls remained sitting on the bed, bored.
"Hey, Penny, can I ask you something?" asked Prudence suddenly. Penny nodded as the three girls listened intently.
"Who's your father?" she asked quietly. Penny smiled, she was glad that someone had the courage to ask.
"Robert James." she replied.
"Never heard of him." said Sybil.
"I don't think you would, he's just a normal human being, no magic whatsoever!" The three girls, that had been so bored just a few seconds ago, now sat there with their jaws wide open.
"Non-magic?"
Penny looked suprised in a way.
"Yeh, what's wrong with that?" she asked.
The girls didn't answer.
"WHAT!" she asked intently.
"Well-it's-it's just-just that..." Sybil began to stutter.
"Your mother hates the male race, !" Prudence burst out. But Penny gave a grin.
"I know!" she said laughing.
"Then how.....?" asked Clarence.
"Well you know Clarence, we will start at the beginning." Penny said mischievously. "There is a thing called the brids and the bees....."
"NO!" Clarence cried, laughing. "I meant....."
"Yeh, yeh. I get what you mean!" she replied, laughing herself. "Well, apparently, my mum and dad met before mum had finished her "magical education". He didn't know she was a witch, I don't think she ever told him! They fell "in love" then out of it, then in, then out, over and over again. Finally, it was the end of the relationship. But mum didn't know she was....you know. Good thing was she had finished her education before they split up. By the time she had me, she also had a secure job here. So that's that really."
Clarice, Sybil and Prudence all nodded. In the end, it was just another split up family. Penny noticed their solemn faces.
"She propably put an illusionary spell on him or something!" she said jokingly. There was a half-hearted laugh in reply, but Penny didn't realise. A wide smile had just errupted on her face.
"What's up?" asked Clarice curiously.
"I have just had a great idea!" Penny answered smiling slyly. "Where's the library?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


 

Claire
Chapter 5: Cold Feet (Kind of)
Wed May 28 04:00:55 2003
202.154.67.70

Amelia Cackle sat on her bed, in her nightie, but did nothing. She just sat, pondering her thoughts. She munched, though on nothing, though she didn't realise. She just sat there, munching . As she did so, she made little noises. She made a "hmmmmm" then a "mmmmmm" and it went like this for a matter of minutes until she realised that it was far past her bedtime.
"Oh dear! 11'O clock, time certainly flies!" she said to herself, and in a way not realising there was no class in front of her. However, she lifted the sheets off her bed and snuggled inside. But unlike what she wanted to do, which was fall asleep, she remained awake, still pondering her thoughts. Soon her tummy began to rumble, and she wondered how long it had been since her meeting with Constance. She hadn't eaten since that peculiar time, and she quite felt that she needed something to nibble on.
"Mmmmm," she thought to herself. "Cheese."

It was at the exact moment, at which Miss Cackle said "Cheese." that Constance Hardbroom let out a long sigh. Her feet were feeling very cold, and her toes were feeling very knobbly. Unlike her usual, strictly organized self, she had managed to mislay her slippers. Her long, brown hair hung loosely down her back. It was so long it almost seemed to reach her thighs, and it would have, if she didn't cut off the split ends every month. Miss Hardbroom quickly flung her hair to the side of her face and sat down on her bed. As she did so, the springs let out anonymous squeaks and groans, but it went unoticed.
There sat the teacher, stiff as a brick. Quite a few minutes passed, until she was snapped out of her little world. There had been a noise, just outside her room, the noise of scuttling feet and creaking doors.
"Students out of bed, no doubt!" she thought severely. Quickly she stood up and was about to open her door, when she thought against it.
"Propably Amelia getting something to eat." she thought to herself. She knew quite well that Miss Cackle's fetish for cheese didn't stop simply when she was full! Suddenly, Miss Hardbroom snapped up her head. There were more noises, more scuttling. What if it wasn't Miss Cackle? What if it was students?
"I better check just in case....." she thought to herself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Clarice jostled around her bedroom. She couldn't find her other sock, quite to her annoyance.
"Drat!" she cried, but in her head of course. She was trying to make as least noise as possible. If HB caught them.....Clarice's ran over their plan in her head.

"We can all meet at 11 O'clock sharp, then sneak into the library." Penny had said.
"But why do we have to do it in the middle of the night?" asked Sybil. Penny replied in an exasperated voice.
"Because the book I'm planning to use isn't in the public section."

Clarice looked at the old clock on her wall. It was nearly 11 O'clock.
"Ooooh, I hope they haven't forgotten!" she muttered silently. A loud creak made her jump. She whizzed around.
"Sybil!" she hissed. "Don't make so much noise! You'll wake everyone up!"
"Sorry." Sybil replied, and it was as if she was about to moan, but then she thought the better of it.
Suddenly, another face appeared at the door.
"Alright Clarice?" it whispered.
"Yeh, fine. Is Prudence with you?" Clarice asked, still whispering.
"Yep."
"Good."
"Are we going yet?" asked Sybil impatiently, but unlike the others, she didn't bother to keep her voice down.
"Sybil!" they all hushed.
"Sorry." she replied mournfully.
"So are we all set?" Penny stepped into Clarice's view.
"Yep!" Everyone else chorused.
"Great!" Penny whispered with a smile. But it moments later it vanished. Penny quickly whipped a finger to her lips.
"Ssssh, I think I hear someone coming!" she hissed. With that everyone tried to clamber through the doorway.
"Get a move on Sybil!"
"I'm not Sybil! She is!"
"Just hurry up and get out of sight!"
The footsteps grew louder as the girls tried to cover themselves with diguises. Clarice jumped back into bed and pulled the covers right over her head. Sybil dived behind the door, Prudence squeezed in the cupboard and Penny quickly clambered onto the window ledge and hid behind the curtains. Then all of them held their breaths as they heard the footsteps grew louder, and louder, and louder.
"Oh god, it's HB on her night patrol!" moaned Sybil.
"Sybil!"
"Sorry."
But to their relief, it wasn't their dreaded teacher (and mother). Of course, it was Miss Cackle, but they didn't know that.
"Can't be HB." whipered Prudence from inside the cupboard. "She'd be as quiet as a mouse, so she could spring in on us!"
"I think your right Pru!" answered Clarice from under her covers.
"I think it's allright to come out now." said Penny.
"Ohhhhh...."Sybil moaned.
"What is it Sybil?" asked Clarice, a bit annoyed.
"What if HB had caught us! What if-?"
"It wasn't HB, then we have nothing to worry about." answered Prudence quickly. Everyone (except Sybil) nodded in agreement.
"Well then, are we going?" asked Penny. Another nodd, and with that, the four girls set out.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 

Claire
Chapter 6: A longer Chapter *cough*
Wed May 28 04:02:40 2003
202.154.67.70

Miss Cackle lifted tins and cans, saucepans and bowls, but alas, she could not find any cheese. At this point she was becoming fairly distressed. Her tummy had an awful pain, which usually came from not having enough to eat, or doing more excercise than usual, and indeed, she had done both.
"Blast!" she thought angrily. She only wanted a little bit of cheese. Well, maybe more than alot. Exhausted, Miss Cackle sat down on a chair. She "hummmphed" and "hummmmphed" but no cheese appeared in front of her. It was as she let out a long sigh that she realised she was not alone. As she peered into the darkness, she saw a figure moving around in the dark.
"Hmmmm." she muttered to herself. She got up out of her seat, and moved closer to it. She was about to tap it on the shoulder, when it suddenly turned.
"Constance!"
"Headmistress!"
There were a few seconds of confusion, before both women settled down.
"Constance dear! What ever, are you doing down here?" asked Miss Cackle.
"I was about to ask the same question!" replied Constance wide eyed.
But Miss Cackle smiled. Constance was back to calling her "headmistress", although, she had quite liked her calling her "Amelia". But it was not the topic to discuss right now.
"I heard shuffling and voices in the hallway earlier." Miss Hardbroom explained. "I thought it might be pupils out of bed, so I came ot investigate."
"Well, Constance dear, it was only me." replied Miss Cackle with a very warm smile. "Now, do you know anything aboutthese kitchens? I came down to look for some cheese....."
Miss Hardbroom pointed to a shelf where, sure as the hair on Miss Cackle's head, there was a tin labelled "CHEESE".
"Aaaah, thankyou Constance."
But it seemed as if she hadn't heard her. Miss Hardbroom sat down in Miss Cackles seat, and placed her head in her hands. Miss Cackle knew that her colleague was feeling glum, but she had no idea about what to say. But still......
"Constance, you shouldn't tear yourself up like this!" said Miss Cackle, patting her on the back as she sat down in the seat next to her. But Constance Hardbroom just stared into space. Realising that there was nothing she could do, Miss Cackle proceeded to open the tin of cheese. Much to her disappointment though, there was only a small lump right at the bottom, not even a mouthful. But sighing, the wise old witch reached into the tin and pulled it out.
"Anyway, something is better than nothing!" she thought miserably to herself. She had jsut begun to nibble when she realised that Constance was no longer sitting with her face in her hands. It was quite the opposite now. She sat up , stiff as a brick, with her eyes alert and flickering around the room.
"Whatever is the matter Constance?" asked Miss Cackle curiously.
"I swear I just heard voices." seh replied whispering. Miss Cackle nodded and was about to go back to her cheese, but Miss Hardbroom quickly got up and started to walk away.
"Aaaaah," said Miss Cackle to herself. She shoved the lid over the tin, quickly shoved in back onto the shelf and followed after her colleague, but still munching on that bit of cheese.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Where are we.....?"
"I don't know......"
"Are we lost?"
"Not sure."
"No one ever gets lost in Cackle's."
"Propably means we'll be the first...."
"Don't worry Sybil."
"But how can I not?"
"Well-"
"Ssssh!"
"What?"
"I think I heard something."
"What?"
"Don't worry, it was nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!"
"What if it was-"
"It wasn't Sybil....."
"Fine then."
"Ow, you just stepped on me!"
"That wasn't me!"
"Yes it was!"
"Hush!"
All the natter abruptly stopped. Soon afterwards, a small light appeared in the palm of someones hand.
"Oh, Penny....."
"What, if HB sees it?" queeried Sybil.
"Mother won't because she isn't around!" Penny said quite severely. This shut Sybil up, well kind od, she kept on sniffing afterwards.
"Now," continued Penny, not seeming to notice. "The book I want to use is called Bewitching the Eye. If this place has it.....which they surely will." Penny said quickly afetr seeing Sybil exasperated face. "It will be right at the back of the library. If there is one thing I know about Cackle's, it's that they don't like the students getting ideas into their heads. So it will be at the very back of the library."
There were nods all around, but no one uttered a sound. Penny went on.
"If anyone does find the book, check that it has the illusion spell I want. If we perform it on the teachers, we can decorate our rooms in whatever way we want, without them noticing."
Noda again, but this time the faces all looked a bit strained. When they had all been talking in Clarice's room, the plan had seemed all very well easy, but now.......
"You don't want to do this anymore, do you?" inquired Penny. She had seen the looks on their faces, and she couldn't help but feel a little like them. Slowly, heads egan to nod, and eventually Penny found she was with them.
"Godd, we'll just go back then." she said, with relief. "All we have to do now is-" but her voice stopped short. The rest of the girls looked puzzled.
"I think I just heard something-" but again, she stopped short. And this time, the rest of them heard it too. It was the distinct sound of footsteps, and voices.
"Quick, get out of sight!" hissed Penny, though she had no need to, as everyone had already sunk back into the darkest depth of shadow. The small group of girls listened, breathless, as they heard the footsteps get closer.
"I am quite sure I heard voices Miss Cackle!" siad the irritated voice of Miss Hardbroom.
"Really, Constance dear, I wouldn't worry. Propably just the wind, you know how it is!"
"No Headmistress, I know I heard voices!"
"Alright then Constance, if you insist."
Sybil felt a little sick, and weak at the knees. Clarice, Penny and Prudence had to push their weight against her to stop her from falling over. However, their attention on Sybil didn't stop them from seeing Miss Hardbroom sharply turn her head, only to look straight at them. Of course, the only thing that Miss Hardbroom could see was the dark, but the girls didn't no that. All they could do was panic. t
"Hocus pocus, habeas corpus, tempus tempore nunc transportus!"
With that and a large cracking sound, Miss Hardbroom and Miss Cackle both disappeared from sight!
"Oh my god! What have you done?" yelled Prudence.
"Um, never mind. But mother will be back soon, so you better hurry and get back to bed. " Penny said quickly, then she saw the looks on their faces, "Don't worry!" she said again, looking a bit exasperated. They didn't budge.
"My mother will be here any moment now!" she cried again. This was certainly enough for Sybil, who bolted for the stairs. Clarice shrugged and ran after her, and Prudence gave Penny an encouraging pat on the back saying.
"It was nice knowing you." Then she followed. But then, suddenly she stopped, "Aren't you coming?"
Penny shook her head. "Mother knows that someone was here, and she knows that I know that spell, so it's better if she catches me alone, then with you aswell. So I suggest you hurry up and leave."
Prudence gave a small nod and, much to Penny's suprise, a big hug. And then, she quickly scootered away. Penny let out a great big sigh, she only needed to count to three, and her mother would appear.
"1.....2..." she began to count.
"3!" Miss Hardbroom's voice thundered through the air. Penny jumped, though she knew she shouldn't have, she was used to it. Suddenly, out of thin air, right where she had disapeared, Miss Hardbroom re appeared.
"AND WHAT MAY I ASK, DO YOU THINK YOU WERE AND ARE DOING?" She yelled. Her voice was trembling, much like it had done earlier that day, but this time, the young girl wasn't fighting back. The thing about Penny is that if she is being yelled at and she knows (or thinks) she has done nothing wrong, she will most often fight back. But in this circumstance, Penny knew thay she had been a bit (or a lot) stupid.
"I'm sorry." she said quietly, and this seemed to suprise Miss Hardbroom. She had really expected her daughter to fight back, but obviously it wasn't the case.
"What are you doing out here, in the middle of the night?" said Miss Hardbroom quietly. Though her voice was soft, it was still full of anger, but also suprise.
"I was going to the library." replied Penny. Her voice was also soft, but unlike her mother, Penny kept her eyes to the ground. She hated lying, but she had to, she couldn't risk getting her friends into trouble.
"Why?"
"Because I couldn't get to sleep, so I got up and was going to the library, so I could do some reading."
"Then why on earth did you transport myself and Miss Cackle from the room?" Miss Hardbroom was getting a bit bothered, and it was showing.
"Because I panicked!" That's what Penny had begun to do. She didn't like it how her mother was questioning her like this.
"And why was that?"
"Because I thought....you might be monster or something!" She was really desperate now.
"Oh! Penelope, that is the worst excuse I have ever heard!" Miss Hardbrrom now knew full well that the little girl was lying.
"Why? There have been monsters before!"
"Yes, I know! But there are none now! "
"Oh-why do you always have to do this! You always question me like I'm a criminal!" Penny was getting annoyed. Why couldn't her mother just accept her excuse? She knew that she really shouldn't be arguing but she was tired.
"Maybe because when something's wrong you are usually the culprit!" Miss Hardbroom replied shrilly.
"You are very lucky what Miss Cackle has done for you! And you repay her by transporting her around the school!"
"I didn't know it was Miss Cackle and you!"
"You know you did!"
"I DIDN'T! IT'S NOT FAIR! EVERYTHING IS MY FAULT!"
"USUALLY EVERYTHING IS!"
But Penny wasn't listening. She had really had enough.
"I'M GOING TO BED!" she screamed. With that she ran to the stairs and began to stomp up them, but Miss Hardbroom was close behind.
"PENELOPE JANE HARDBROOM! GET BACK HERE AT ONCE!" Miss Hardbroom screamed back at her. Penelope quickly turned around just to scream.
"NO! AND DON'T CALL ME PENELOPE!"
With that she ran all the way to her bedroom, with Miss Hardbroom in hot pursuit. She reached, tears streaming down her face and promptly slammed the bedroom door shut. The sound echoed through the hallways, making quite a clatter. This was soon followed by small lights turning on.
"EVERYONE GO BACK TO SLEEP THIS INSTANT!" Miss Hardbroom yelled. This prompted all the lights to go out, just to leave Miss Hardbroom standing alone, in the dark, in her fury.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Claire
Chapter 7: Buzzing Around
Wed May 28 04:03:50 2003
202.154.67.70

The next morning, the school buzzed with gossip. What was that slamming noise last night? But Clarice, Sybil and Prudence couldn't help but guess.

"Hardbroom caught her!" moaned Clarice.
"Serves her right!" Sybil replied, obviusly annoyed by the night's events.
"Oh, Sybil! You agreed to go along with it!" Prudence said, annoyed at Sybil for whining.
Sybil just "Hummphed" and that was really the end of the conversation, because at that moment Miss Cackle walked into the room. It became silent almost instantly and Miss Cackle took her seat. Miss Cackle realised this, soon after she had sat down.
"Are we all going to pray for our breakfast?" she asked. This quickly brought the chatter back.
Quite honestly, Miss Cackle was too tired to tell everyone to be quiet. She knew she had been worrying too much. When she had seen Miss Hardbroom this morning, she had been looking very weary. She hadn't seen Penny either. She didn't need to ask about the previous night. With Miss Hardbrooms weariness and Penny's absence, she didn't want to ask. She didn't expect Constance to turn up to breakfast, and had told her so when she had last seen her. Constance had just given her head a kind of sharp nod in reply. But Miss Cackle didn't want to think about that type of thing right then, so she began to listen to Miss Drill's droning about the lack of sporting equipment.....

Back upstairs, Penny was still in bed, even though she was wide awake. Her eyes were puffy and red. She had a headache and she felt sick. Couldn't have anything to do with crying all night......There was a knock on her door.
"Oh, please just go away." she said rolling over to face the window. It was a clear day, and birds floated across the morning sky. She heard the door open, but didn't turn over to see who it was.
"Are you alright?" It was the voice of her mother. Penny nodded, but she felt her face grow hot. Tears were welling in her eyes. Penny hated crying, it showed weakness, and made her realise that she had weaknesses.
"I brought you some breakfast."
Penny nodded again, tears now falling down her cheeks. Somehow, she couldn't face her mother. She knew she had done wrong, and she hated herself for it. She knew wasn't ever like that, well, not usually.
She knew that she had been desperate to make friends, maybe that's what led her to it. To be so..wild.
"I'm sorry." Penny croaked. She didn't hear her mother answer, but she felt her place a hand on her hair.
"It's alright." Constance replied. She really didn't know what to say
"Are you going to have any breakfast?" It was the only thing she could think of.
Penny shook her head. "I'm not hungry."
"Are you sure?" Her mother was trying to make conversation. Constance knew that Penny was upset, but she didn't really know what to say. She wasn't very good at comforting people. Sadly, it was just what Penny wanted from her mother.
"Well, alright then." Constance stroked her daughters hair. It was so much unlike her own wavy, brown locks. Penelope's was golden, like the sun-like her fathers. And her eyes, they were so blue. Constance had realised early on that her daughter was going to look nothing like herself. But she did share some of her personality. She remembered well the time she had told Penelope to pick up her toys, in which the stubborn two year old had shouted. "NO!" But that little two year old had begun to grow up. And it seemed that no matter how much Constance tried to stop it from happening, she still grew. The woman let out a sigh. It seemed only yesterday that she had been holding that tiny, screaming,little girl in her arms, trying to lull her to sleep.
"Mother."
The sound of Penelope's voice snapped her out of her world.
"Are you still angry at me?"
Constance looked at her daughter.
"No, of course not." she replied smiling a little. It wasn't often that she was called "mother", maybe she should relish it while it was still happening, until the girl grew into an adult and began to call her "Constance" or worse..... "Connie." Softly, in the background, Miss Hardbroom could hear the school bell ringing.
"Shouldn't you go? Havent you got a class to teach?"
Once again Penelope's voice drew her out of it. Miss Hardbroom quickly looked at her watch, hidden under her tight black dress.
"Yes, you're right, I have the second years first. Will you be attending classes today? I'm sure Miss Cackle wouldn't mind if you didn't just for today."
"No, I think I will." Penelope replied smiling. It would be good to see Prudence, Clarice and Sybil.
"Alright . I guess I will see you at lunchtime then." said Miss Hardbroom quietly. She lent over, kissed Penelope on the forehead then got up from her bed. Then after smiling one last time, she then turned on her heels and silently walked out of the room. After closing the door quietly, she then straightened up, brushed invisible specks of dust off her tight black dress, then proceeded, straight backed to the potions classroom.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Claire
Chapter 8: Insane Singing
Wed May 28 04:04:52 2003
202.154.67.70

Miss Bat sighed. These fourth years were being very difficult. She did so wish that Clarice would sing just a bit louder! She had a lovely voice, she should use it! She was about to lift her baton for another round of "Eye of the Toad" when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in!" Miss Bat siad in a sing song voice. Slowly the door opened, to reveal Penny standing in the doorway. Prudence and Clarice sighed and Sybil looked a bit annoyed, but the overall reaction was excitement.
"There's that girl."
"Yeh I know!"
"She's still here!"
Chatter climbed increasingly, until it eventually resembled a dull roar. Penny moved quickly to stand next to Sybil at the end of the row. Miss Bat also looked excited, though she didn't join in on the chatter. Instead, she waved her baton in anticipation.
"Oh! This is good! A new member for our choir!" Though Penny did not hear this. She was trying to hear what Sybil was saying, though was finding it hard, because everyone else was talking aswell.Clarice tried to tell Prudence that it was no good trying to get Penny's attention, she couldn't hear her. But what Clarice couldn't hear was that Penny knew that Prudence was trying to get her attention. Sybil kind of just stood there trying to tell all of them that she had a headache. Finally, Miss Bat realised that she wasn't going to get anywhere with a bunch of babbling pupils. She banged her baton on the music stand, almost splitting it in half from the force. Eventually, the roar became dimmer, and dimmer and dimmer, until finally there were only a few anonymous whispers amongst the crowd and the constant tap,tap of Miss Bat's baton. Eventually, the energetic teacher spoke.
"Well now! Seeing as everyone has had their say...."
There were a few murmurs amongst them.
"We shall proceed! Please girls, another round of 'Eye of the Toad'!" Miss Bat said, waving that stick around her head. At first there were a few groands and sighs, but eventually, the song got going. However, as those around them sang, Clarice, Prudence and Penny had their own little conversation, much to Sybil's annoyance, who of course, did the right thing and kept on singing.
"What happened last night?" asked Prudence increduously.
"We heard a bang, was that you?" inquired Clarice.
"Yes it was me, and as for what happened, it was nothing." Penny answered quickly.
"What was that bang about then?" Sybil asked. She had stopped singing, feeling it was no good singing without your friends.
"It dosn't matter." replied Penny. "But mother is going to be keeping a very close eye on me from now on. I'm sorry I got you guys into it, if we had all been caught....."
"Girls, why are you not singing?" asked Miss Bat. She had stopped the choir.
"Because Clarice, Sybil and Prudence were just telling me the words Miss Bat!" piped up Penny.
It seemed to work because Miss Bat smiled.
"It's nice to see someone trying to enjoy the music for a change." she thought to herself. She then turned back to the choir and with a "One-two-three!" they were all off again.
We'll talk later okay? In my room after tea." hissed Penny, keeping a watchful eye on Miss Bat. But just out of the corner of her eye, she saw three heads nod.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


 

SumOneFromSumwhereInSomeWorld
My fanfic! Please Read! 3
Wed May 7 03:11:25 2003
202.154.67.4

Meanwhile, the people that were responsible for setting the school into a wild fire of gossip, sat in the thick wooden chairs of Miss Cackles office. The two occupants of the seats were both thoroughly distressed, especially the woman. She was sitting in her chair, with a back as straight as a ruler. Her brown hair was tied tightly back into a very tight bun, though a few loose hairs dared to poke out. She had brown eyes to match her hair. They flickered around the room, as if the woman, Miss Hardbroom was expecting someone to burst in at any moment. She was also breathing very heavily. Her nostrils flared everytime she took a breath, in went the air with a WHOOSH! And out it came with a WHOOSH! The girl next to her also shared the posture of a ruler, though she looked a lot more relaxed. Unlike Miss Hardbroom though, this girl had blonde hair and it certainly wasn't tied back neatly. Piled on top of her head, it looked as though she had done her hairstyle over and over again, but never combed it or used a brush. Half of it fell around her face, hiding it from view, but what you could see was a pair of deep blue eyes. Unlike the woman beside her, Penelope's eyes were calm. She didn't really care what happened to her now, it didn't really matter, nothing could be worse then going back.........
Amelia Cackle removed her face from her hands to look at the two people sitting in front of her. If asked on first glance, if they were mother and daughter, she would immediantly said no. But when she looked at the pair more closely, she could see certain simalarities. They both held themselves like swans, even if they were very stiff swans. Maybe she could relate them to stuffed swans......
"Headmistress, I..."
"Sssssh Constance, there is no need for you to start explaining what happened."
Slowly, the witch that had seen many a summer turned to the young girl who now had her head bowed down.
"I will leave that up to this young lady here. Now, Penelope dear, I wont ask you to explain what happened just then, but why you choses to come here, and how you came here. Would you be able to do that for me?" Asked Miss Cackle softly.
"Yes." she croaked in reply.
"That's a good girl. Will you start from the beginning?"
The young girl nodded. Taking a deep breath she began to explain.
"It started at Marion's. I never wanted to go there in the first place, but she made me."
Miss Hardbroom opened her mouth, as if to speak, but Miss Cackle got there first.
"Let's hear it to the end Constance. Go on dear." she said nodding towards Penelope.
"I sent countless letters to her, begging to take me home, I wanted to leave but she never came to take me away."
"Why did you want to leave?" asked Miss Cackle.
"Because everybody there was a stuck-up snob. All they ever did was talk to you about there achievements. If you didn't come from a well-off family, you were shunted aside. Eventually, I got sick of it all. I packed my things and came here."
Miss Cackle nodded, slowly sucking her teeth. She could easily see that the girl was missing out on parental guidance, but what was she to do with her? Constance was obviously thinking of sending her back to that-school, but she was unsure if that would work. The girl knew she could easily get away from the school, what was going to stop her from escaping everytime she was taken back. She would also be wasting a valuable education. Amelia knew the girl was extremely smart, and followed closely in the way of her mothers IQ. Maybe-no it wouldn't work......however.
"Constance, would it be proposable, to let your daughter stay here, at the academy and get her education here?" asked Miss Cackle.
"Well-I never....I don't-think....." Hiss Hardbroom stammered. Penelope however looked delighted.
"Oh would you Miss Cackle? Will you let me?"
"Well dear, I see no other solution. If we send you back, there is no stopping you from running away again. Then we would keep repeating the process, and you my dear would be losing out on a valuable education." Miss Cackle said smiling."But it really depends on your mother. Constance," she said turning her attention to the stuttering teacher, that was usually so composed. " Would it be alright to let her stay?" On recieving no answer, she continued. "It would be best." Then Miss Hardbroom, jerked her head up and down, nodding yes.
"Oooooh, yes! Yes!Yes!" Penelope jumped up and down."Thankyou! Thankyou!" She jumped over to Miss Cackle and gave her a great big hug, then jumped back again and kissed her mother on the cheek. At this Amelia was sure that she had seen a glimmer of a smile on Constance's face.
"However," Miss Hardbroom snapped, Penelope's smile faded a little. "You better study hard my girl!"
Penny's smile returned, and remarkably, so did Miss Hardbroom's-a little. Suddenly, as if regaining composure, Miss Constance Hardbroom straightened up. "I suggest we go get you things and take them to a room, we can organize your school papers later." With that she started to walk towards the door.
"Well! Are you coming!"
Pnenlope grinned. But just before leaving with her mother, she quickly turned around to face Miss Cackle. She clasped her hands together, as if about to pray, then mouthed the words. "Thankyou!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


 

SumOneFromSumwhereInSomeWorld
My fanfic! Please Read! 4
Thu May 8 02:49:58 2003
202.154.67.4

((Well I tried to make the girl seem really different from HB, but still in a way, the same. Coz I thought that it would be quite boring to have a daughter that was exactly like HB, that would be like making Ethel Hallow in a way. So I made someone completely different))

Sybil and Clarice sat at the dinner table, still talking about that day's events.
"I still can't believe it." announced Sybil, sitting at her chair in total shock.
"Believe it then." answered Clarice, shoving a mouthful of pasta into her mouth. She was soooo glad that the eating habits of Cackle's Academy had been finally changed.
" I heard that Miss Hardbroom adopted her when she found out that she needed to make a family to stay on this earth, because she is actually an alien." whispered their friend, Prudence Gibblett, another fourth year.
"Yes, well I think that Prudence better keep her theories to herself, as Miss Hardbroom has just arrived, and she has brought her special guest." warned Clarice. It seemed she wasn't the only who had noticed the pairs entrance. Nearly everyone in the hall was standing on their chairs, trying to catch another glimpse at the girl, who was now dressed neatly in their school uniform. Miss Cackle noticed this and abrruptly stood up, which in turn made everyone sit down. Miss Cackle cleared her throat.
"Now as most of you will already have heard," began Miss Cackle, knowing full well that everyone had heard. "We had an unexpected guest arrive this morning." chatter began to break out.
"Quiet please." cried Miss Hardbroom, she was standing up with her hand on Penelope's shoulder. The chatter stopped immediantly.
"Thankyou Constance. Now, as you know we have a guest, well we did. But not anymore, because our guest is now a student here at the Academy." Miss Cackle informed them. There was silence all around. Miss Cackle continued uncertainly. "Please make her feel welcome, come here Penelope dear."
Motioning her towards the front the teachers dining table, Miss Cackle spoke again. "Now as I said before, I want you to all make her feel welcome, and please, no asking silly questions. That's all." Penelope turned as if to run back to her bedroom, but Miss Cackle got there first, "Come dear, you can sit at a table with....." Miss Cackle looked around and saw Clarice and Sybil, who looked up in return. "Over there dear." Miss Cackle pushed her forward. Clarice and Sybil stared. Miss Cackle however didn't see this.
"Girls, I am appointing you to take care of this girl. Show her around the school and such..." Miss Cackle gave Penny a quick pat on the shoulder, then returned to the teachers table.
"Um, hello." the young girl said meekly. But Clarice and Sybil still stared.
"Can I, um, sit here?" she asked. Clarice and Sybil still stared, that was, until Prudence lent over and gave them a flick in the arm.
"Ow! Oh, yeh....sure." replied Clarice slowly rubbing her arm. "Um, what's your name?" she asked trying to make up for lost time.
"Um, Penelope. But I guess you already know my last name!" she said giving a weak smile.
"Your related to HB?" blurted out Sybil. Both Prudence and Clarice gave her a funny look, but Penelope look relieved in a way.
"Yeh, pity me dont ya?" she said jokingly. "So what are your names?"
"Well, I'm Clarice, Clarice Crow, and these are my friends Prudence Nightfly and Sybil Hallow."
"Hello," Penny said smiling. "Sybil Hallow, eh? Are you Ethel's sister?"
"Yes." Sybil said quietly. "I bet you know her for all her great achievments."
"Achievements? From what I hear, she's horrible!" Sybil looked ready to cry again, remembering the times she had hurt Mildred Hubble after following one of Ethel's dissasterous plans.
"Oh, and terribly maniplutive!" Penny said quickly, fearing she had said the wrong thing. It didn't seem to work though, Sybil's lip was starting to quiver.
"So," said Penny, quickly changing the subject. "I guess my mother and I are the gossip subject of the school."
"Aaaaah....I'm afraid so." Clarice said slowly. She didn't want to upset the girl. But Penny seemed to understand.
"Don't worry, I'm not feeling delicate!" she gave a small laugh. "I guess you were thinking of the way that I just blew up in the courtyard this morning." Clarice, Prudence and Sybil (sniffing slightly) nodded truthfully.
"It's just..." Prudence began. "Miss Hardbroom is the last person we ever expected to have a kid. I mean a kid like-us."
Penny smiled, and it was a smile that came from the depths of her heart.
"Thanks." she said. "At my old school I was treated differently because I wasn't like everyone there. But my mother being the evil witch she is, wouldn't come take me home. So I came myself!" Everyone listening nodded. Prudence leant over the table slowly, and beckoned Penny to come close enough so she could just whisper.
"So is your mother really an alien?"
Penny grinned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

SumOneFromSumwhereInSomeWorld
My fanfic! Please Read! 5
Sat May 10 06:51:32 2003
202.154.67.4

((I havent written all of the story yet though....and waht's an author's pseudonym? ))

Miss Hardbroom poked at her pasta. The hall had long ago emptied of it's students. Now, only the teachers remained, Miss Bat and Miss Drill included. However, unlike usual nights, nobody spoke. They all just sat there, prodding their pasta. Well, they did so until Miss Tapioca came along.
"Tutututut," she said tutting her tongue. "Usually, my pasta is gone when I come to collect the dishes. Why all these long faces?" But maybe, Miss Tapioca shouldn't have used that expression.
Miss Hardbroom certainly had a long face, it was gaunt and seemed paler then usual. Miss Cackle's face, however, was full of anxiety. She had never seen Constance act so, how could she describe it-depressed. Miss Drill didn't look sad or axious. However, she did look quite tired. She had spent all day pouncing on people because they were spreading rumors. It had taken nearly the whole lesson to tell her class to be quiet. Ordinarily, it was quite the contrary. The girls were usually so dismal. But today had been different. Miss Bat was the only one, sitting at the table, that didn't join in with her colleagues glum
antics. In fact, she was bouncing around in her chair. It was so exciting! A new member for the choir! Miss Bat had to stop bouncing for a while though, just so she could lick the remnants of pasta that were stuck to the end of her baton. Miss Tapioca cleared the plates and walked off again, tutting her tongue as she did so. Miss Drill had really had enough.
'' Well," she announced as she stood up. "I am going to bed. Goodnight everyone!" With that, she departed. Miss Bat quickly repeated Miss Drill's actions, though this time the excuse was.
"Must go prepare for my next class. This is so exciting!" and with a squeak Miss Bat had scuttled away.
Miss Cackle turned towards Miss Hardbroom.
"Well Constance, looks like it's just you and me."
HB nodded slowly then turned to face Miss Cackle.
"Amelia, do you think I've been a bad mother?"
Miss Cackle was quite in shock. Constance rarely adressed her by her first name, not that Miss Cackle minded of course.
"Constance, I can't really judge you right now." said Miss Cackle slowly. "Emotions are running too high at the moment. Also, I don't have any children myself, so I don't know what it is like, Really, Constance, I'm not the one for you to ask that." Rubbing and her eyes and giving a yawn, Miss Cackle turned to face her colleague on last time before departing for bed. "Goodnight Constance, I hope you sleep well. With that she left, leaving Miss Hardbroom to ponder in her thoughts.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, Prudence, Penelope,Clarice and Sybil were all sitting in Penelope's room doing......nothing. Having unpacked all her things, Penny had sent out pleas to the other girls to come help her decorate her room. On arrival, the girls had to give her the very sad news.
"We can't decorate your room, it's not allowed."
"What!"
"Even if you did decorate it, HB has a night patrol. If she came into your room, you'd get a floundering."
So now they all sat together,wondering what to do next. It was an hour until lights out, and the girls had nothing to do.
"I'm bored." said Clarice.
"Join the club." replied Sybil.
"Yeh, we can all join together, become goths and wreak havoc on the school." muttered Penny glumly.
The other three girls stared.
"Hey, it was only an idea!" Penny said smiling mischievously. Still the four girls remained sitting on the bed, bored.
"Hey, Penny, can I ask you something?" asked Prudence suddenly. Penny nodded as the three girls listened intently.
"Who's your father?" she asked quietly. Penny smiled, she was glad that someone had the courage to ask.
"Robert James." she replied.
"Never heard of him." said Sybil.
"I don't think you would, he's just a normal human being, no magic whatsoever!" The three girls, that had been so bored just a few seconds ago, now sat there with their jaws wide open.
"Non-magic?"
Penny looked suprised in a way.
"Yeh, what's wrong with that?" she asked.
The girls didn't answer.
"WHAT!" she asked intently.
"Well-it's-it's just-just that..." Sybil began to stutter.
"Your mother hates the male race!" Prudence burst out. But Penny gave a grin.
"I know!" she said laughing.
"Then how.....?" asked Clarence.
"Well you know Clarence, we will start at the beginning." Penny said mischievously. "There is a thing called the brids and the bees....."
"NO!" Clarence cried, laughing. "I meant....."
"Yeh, yeh. I get what you mean!" she replied, laughing herself. "Well, apparently, my mum and dad met before mum had finished her "magical education". He didn't know she was a witch, I don't think she ever told him! They fell "in love" then out of it, then in, then out, over and over again. Finally, it was the end of the relationship. But mum didn't know she was....you know. Good thing was she had finished her education before they split up. By the time she had me, she also had a secure job here. So that's that really."
Clarice, Sybil and Prudence all nodded. In the end, it was just another split up family. Penny noticed their solemn faces.
"She propably put an illusionary spell on him or something!" she said jokingly. There was a half-hearted laugh in reply, but Penny didn't realise. A wide smile had just errupted on her face.
"What's up?" asked Clarice curiously.
"I have just had a great idea!" Penny answered smiling slyly.
"Where's the library?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *