Lovesick Witches

Round Three

As I took my seat next to Mildred in the Great Hall, Miss Hardbroom stood up ready to commence the round. Round three was a debating competition. Beatrice sat on a chair opposite Fenella, also sitting on a chair, in what looked like a boxing ring in the centre of the hall. Me and the rest of the students and teachers sat around the boxing ring in a square shape to spectate the competition. The atmosphere in the Great Hall was full of excitement as the debating round was said to be everyone's favourite round of the head girl contest. 

"Here, is a ball made up of leftover potions from my laboratory," announced Miss Hardbroom as she stood just outside of the boxing ring. Her slow, sincere sound silenced the echoey room in an instant. Hecate flicked her wrist and a large ball of colourful, floating gloop appeared between the two competitors who wore white, hooded coats over their uniform for protection. Gasps rippled through the hall when this monstrous sphere materialised. 

"The statement you will be debating on is," said Miss Hardbroom before taking a long pause, supposably to build some tension in the air, "magical schooling has had a positive impact on the witching community. Fenella, you will be arguing for the statement, and Beatrice, you will be arguing against the statement." 

A small frown crossed my mouth when Hecate announced this. Surely arguing for that statement would be far easier than arguing against it. And I assumed Fenella agreed with my judgement as her eyebrows lifted and mouth upturned when she heard she was arguing for the statement. Beatrice's jaw clenched as she listened to Miss Hardbroom. Arguing against that would be really difficult, especially since no one, including Beatrice, was against the statement regarding our actual beliefs. 

My middle finger overlapped my index finger as we waited for the round to commence and I saw that Mildred, sitting on my left, did the same. 

"Fenella, you will start the debate. You will each say one point, and the ball will decide who wins. The looser will have gloop poured over their head and will therefore lose one of their lives. You each have three lives and so after you have been glooped three times, you are out and the other witch is the winner of the round. Understood?" 

The two witches nodded at Miss Hardbroom, Beatrice looking fairly nervous and Fenella looking smug as always. 

"Right," continued Miss Hardbroom, her eyes tensely narrowed. "Let the round commence." 

Hecate took her seat and Fenella made her first point, which was that magical schooling prevents ignorance as it brings acknowledgement and acceptance towards witches through giving them the chance to practice their magic in a formal environment. 

I thought Fenella's point was okay, but I did believe she tried to use some fancy wording to make her statement sound better than it actually was. 

Beatrice then followed this up with her point, but I became distracted as my stomach clenched. A sickening feeling sprouted in my gut and started to climb up my insides, towards my mouth. I quickly realised that I was about to throw up in front of everybody, so I ran out of the Great Hall and to the bathroom, just in time before I was sick down the toilet. 

After pressing the flush lever, my body weakened and a wave of exhaustion hit me. I washed my hands and rinsed my mouth before sitting on the floor of the open toilet cubicle, my back up against the wall. I stared at the sinks as I raised my hand to my head and let out a sigh. 

That was so embarrassing. The whole school watched me run out of the hall. And it would have seemed so rude to Beatrice who was about to make her point before I left. But I supposed it would have been more embarrassing if I had stayed and let everyone, including Hecate, watch as I threw up on the floor. 

As I continued to stare at the sinks, my body tired and weak, I jumped as a tall, dark figure appeared in front of me. I glanced up and saw Hecate's gorgeous face looking down on me, concern in her eyes. I smiled to myself as I embraced the presence of my lover, making me feel a little less ill. 

"Ana darling," said Hecate as she kneeled down next to me and placed her hand on my forehead. "You are ever so pale. Are you sick? Should I find you a healing potion?" 

"I'm fine Hecate," I said. "Really. It's probably just a stomach bug. Or maybe I ate something a bit off. But it's nothing serious, don't worry baby." 

A weak smile formed on Hecate's lips as her eyebrows relaxed, the outer corners dipping. She sat down on the floor next to me and took my hand, holding it gently. 

"Hecate, your dress," I said, warning her about the dirty bathroom floor we were now sitting on. 

"My dress will be fine," Hecate giggled. "Let me sit here with you." 

I smiled at her and let my head fall sideways onto her somewhat stiff shoulder. 

"How do you think the debate is going?" I asked after a few minutes of quietly enjoying each other's warmth and closeness. 

"I'm not sure," replied Hecate. "Beatrice has a harder job than Fenella. So I'll be very impressed if she manages to win this round." 

"Who do you want to win?" I asked. "Who do you want to be head girl?" 

"I am not supposed to have any bias," she said with a pause," but if you promise not to tell anyone?" 

"Of course not," I said. 

"I'm hoping Beatrice will win." 

"Me too," I agreed, smiling at the fact that Hecate agreed with me. 

"Why did you make Beatrice argue against the statement then? Surely that would give Fenella a better chance of winning." 

"I have high expectations for Beatrice. Fenella, I know she's a talented witch. Similar to Ethel Hallow. She is smart and I know she will do well. But Beatrice, she is more like Mildred Hubble. Has an inner confidence, but sometimes lacks belief in herself. If she really wants it, she will work hard to achieve it. But she needs to be pushed and challenged to do so. I think being harsh on Beatrice will be good for her." 

"I suppose," I said, understanding where Hecate was coming from. 

I turned to Hecate and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. 

"What was that for?" she asked, smiling. 

"You just make me so happy," I replied with a grin. 

"I'm glad my strange self appeals to you," she laughed. 

I took a minute to look at my girlfriend, observing her vibrantly dark hair which sat in its usual position on the top of her head. Her skin, pale, was clear and soft to the touch, contrasting hugely with my teenage acne I longed would disappear. Her black collar was high and very witch-like and the rest of her dress was just as dark and mysterious. Hecate's style was perfect and it brilliantly matched her personality. 

After taking in Hecate's precious looks, I leaned my head back onto her shoulder and let out another sigh. 

"I love you Hecate," I said, my lips upturning with gratitude and wholeness. 

"I love you too Ana," replied Hecate.