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rozunderpressure · 6 years

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The Witches of Apartment 1307′s Epilogue is here!

Thank you to everybody that stood by me, all of my readers, those numerous poor fans of Ethred that had gone without a fic this long XD, to @wraith17 for being not only my beta but also the person I dragged to this obsessiona and @warmageragnar that I COULDN’T Do that to, unfortunately...

Here is too a possible sequel? I don’t know, maybe.

Read it on AO3, FF.Net or Here, under the cut;

An Abundance Of Epilogues

1 - Sisters

"Where is Ethel?" Sybil asked while looking at her watch.

The thing with quick international travel through magic is that it takes at least three witches, if one is very powerful and a lot of chanting. A LOT of chanting.

"I don't know." Enya said, the mirror in front of her showing nothing but the living room in her granddaughter's apartment, and for some reason, both Nightstar and Tabby, lazily draped over the sofa and each other, ignoring her pleas for them to go get her granddaughter. "It's so strange, usually the familiars don't ignore us like that."

Sybil sighed, stood up and stretched. "I'll go to her house, Grandma."

"Yes, that's for the best. She might be sick.' Enya said but considering of how Nightstar didn't listen to her, that was unlikely but still not impossible.

It was all very strange indeed.

Sybil made a gesture with her hand and transferred to her sister's apartment, the entrance more specifically, feeling the floor under her feet very... Soft? Confused she bounced on her heels slightly and looked down realizing she was standing on a dark faux fur cape.

She shook her head, snapping out of it and started looking around the apartment, noticing there were clothes thrown about the place and slowly made her way to the corridor leading to the bedrooms. Noticing Mildred's bedroom door was wide open, the bed looking unslept in and the room itself appeared empty, but she shrugged it off as she knocked softly on Ethel's door, slowly opening it and peeking inside.

And there was Mildred and Ethel, sleeping soundly and spooning under the covers.

"OH!" Sybil exclaimed, jumping back and letting go of the door handle like it was on fire. Sybil spun around and tried to run, go somewhere, anywhere else, so she could pretend she was never there, but Ethel's accursed bra made her trip and fall on the ground with a loud thud and an even louder scream of pain.

Ethel woke up with a jerk startled awake by the sound, when she saw Sybil on the floor, instinctually getting to her feet as she ran to help her. "Sybil? What are you doing here?"

"Oh god you're naked!" Sybil shrieked, clapping her hands over her whole face, because of the shame, and a profusely bleeding nose after hitting the floor, but mostly shame.

"Shit-" Ethel said and turned around to go get something to wear, but Mildred was already throwing her a long shirt and giving her the thumbs up, making Ethel smile; "Thanks, love!" She put on the shirt and helped Sybil up. "Come on, sit at the kitchen table, keep your head up."

"No, don't do that, put your head forwards and let it bleed on a piece of paper or something." Mildred said, picking up her costume pants and putting on her tank top as well.

"You're sure?" Sybil asked while breathing through her mouth.

"Her mum is a nurse, let's trust her." Ethel said as she put a bunch of paper towels in front of Sybil's nose.

Mildred smiled at Ethel for that remark and looked at Sybil "Yeah, like that." She said as she walked towards the table and pinched the base of Sybil's nose as she sat down to her left and looked at her watch.

"What are you doing?" Sybil asked as Ethel sat on the chair on the other side of her.

"Just putting a little pressure so it will stop bleeding soon, don't worry." Mildred said before an awkward silence descended.

"So…" Sybil said, looking from one witch to the other. "You're together now I assume."

"Yeah!" Millie said with a smile. "We confessed how we felt yesterday, during the ball."

"And then come home and- You two have already…" Sybil gestured with a pained expression trying to find the words.

Ethel rolled her eyes; "You see, Sybil, when a mummy and a daddy love each other very much they-"

"Oh, God no! Stop that! You're not even the least bit funny, Ethel!" The younger woman took a deep breath through her mouth and looked at the table.

Millie tried to think of something nice to say that would make Sybil feel better; "It's ok, Sybs, she doesn't actually call me daddy." She then smiled reassuringly.

Sybil looked her in the eyes, the bleeding from her nose coming to halt finally, as she managed to force out a; "Thanks, Mildred." Then she looked at Ethel. "Grandma is waiting for us… We should go."

Ethel nodded; "Sure, sure, I'll go put something more decent on." On her way she stopped by Mildred and whispered to her ear with a grin; "I could call you daddy if you wanted me to."

Sybil snapped; "PLEASE, GO GET DRESSED!"

~0~

Half an hour later Sybil, Ethel and Enya were finishing their chanting and being transported to Esme's apartment.

"There you are!" Said Esme walking towards their grandma and hugging her first. "I got what you asked me, it's in my office." she said quietly, Enya nodded and left to enter the office, and Esme turned to Ethel and Sybil, hugging the both of them at the same time. "I missed you two so much!" She snuggled them closer.

"We missed you too!" Sybil said putting her arms around them; "And Ethel has great news!" She smiled openly and looked at her sister expectantly.

Ethel rolled her eyes; "I am dating Millie now."

"Ethel, that's great!" Esme exclaimed and pulled her closer; "Finally! When did it happen?'

"At the ball last night… She traded clothes with my date and surprised me in the ballroom." She smiled. "Soon enough we were back in the apartment and- Lets just say you don't need to worry if I can't quite walk straight today." Ethel looked at Sybil to see her blush and make a disgusted expression.

"Jesus, Ethel!" The youngest Hallow cried while Esme and Ethel laughed.

"I know the feeling." Esme said absentmindedly and once again Sybil made a face.

"Where is Erik by the way?" Ethel asked as her sisters took her to sit on the sofa in the corner. Esme's apartment was the biggest and better decorated they had, but mostly because she was actually starting to make good money by herself.

"He knows this is family thing so he'll come back tonight. How is Mildred?"

"Going to watch one of her father's shows, he is a singer of some kind Millie said it involves costumes, it sounds interesting, anyway, she is going with her mum, he invited them both."

"Oh, I see…" Esmeralda said while rubbing her arm up and down and looked her in the eye. "Are you happy?"

"Happier than I have been in a long time." Ethel admitted.

"Who declared themselves first?" Esmie asked, exchange a look with Sybil.

"Her." Ethel admitted not noticing the look her sister's exchanged. "If she hadn't, I would have done it myself as soon as I was back in the apartment." Once more she didn't see the look her sisters exchanged and even if she had she wouldn't have had much time to think about it.

"And I am happy for you, love." Enya said walking back into the room, her expression a little more grave. "Still, there is some other business you have to attend to."

"Me?" Ethel asked.

Enya nodded. "Your mother is in the other room." Said and saw her granddaughter frown, raising a hand before Ethel could say anything; "She didn't know we would do this either, but she does wish to see you, I asked her and she confirmed it. If you do not wish to see her, you don't have to, but it would mean a lot to her. There's no pressure it's completely up to you."

2 - Mothers and Daughters

Mildred looked outside the window of the car wistfully as her mother drove them to Bath to see her dad's drag show together. "What did Ursula Hallow and you talk about the other day?"

"Do you really want to know?" Julie asked, side eying her daughter as much as she could without taking her eyes from the road. "It was mostly personal things, neither of us could lie at the moment, so agreeing that it just wouldn't leave the room was part of it, and I promise; I don't see why you would have an interest in them."

Millie sighed; "I don't know… I know Ethel is still pretty shaken from that fight she had with her mum, maybe knowing what you talked about would help."

"That's between her mother and her. I know you love her, but it's all up to them to take the first step and to start talking openly." Julie looked at her as they stopped at the light. "That you can't do for her, it's up to them. All you can do is be there for her when she needs you."

~0~

Ethel stood in front of the door to Esme's office, her brain recalling a memory from when she was eight years old. Esme was getting private lessons on broomstick flying and while the broom was standing in the living room, Ethel took it and went for a joyride around the house.

It went mostly well, Ethel soon found out how naturally flying a broomstick came to her, but eventually an especially tight corner made her overshoot and sent her careening into the wall, knocking over a priceless painting of her great, great, great grandmother, putting a hole in the canvas that cost her parents thousands to restore.

Feeling neglected by her mother was something that Ethel could remember feeling even earlier than that in her life, but that was the first time she saw her mother both furious and disappointed in her. Her disapproval had pierced like a knife then, but now… Now she had no idea of the effect it would have. Time had numbed those feelings.

She opened the door and stepped inside.

Ursula stood up from her chair and didn't know quite what to do with herself, aside from wordlessly offering the salute to her daughter who replied in kind before they just stared at each other wordlessly for a few moments.

"Ethel, how are you?" Ursula started awkwardly.

"I am fine. You? Dad? Is he taking his hearing potions?"

"I am fine and your father has been taking his potions as he should, everything is fine." Ursula said and gestured at the table. "There is some tea…" She looked at it and frown suspiciously; "Your grandmother made it for us so I don't recommend you touching it for all the obvious reasons." She said with annoyance.

"I hope we won't need it," Ethel said and looked at her "but we might and you know it."

"We've never been good at dealing with our feelings…" Ursula admitted. "But I've been thinking a lot about all the things you told me and how I have failed you." Her back tensed a little. "I- Growing up I-" She sighed deeply, frowning. "I don't know what to say!" She admitted. "When you were small, very small, Esmie was jealous of you, so she would just, pick you up and hide you around the house; Flower pots, chests, anywhere she could stuff you… We caught her a few times, made her tell us where she hid you, but soon enough, you were just… Finding your way back alone! You were just a baby and you would crawl right back to the place you should be all by yourself."

Ethel looked at her mother and said nothing, expression unreadable, but at least looked like she was willing to listen.

"I thought you would be alright, your father was right you are like me and your grandmother would always push me aside when I was growing up because she said Epona was the younger sister and she would need more support since, well, according to tradition she wouldn't get much, but I hated it. I always felt abandoned and unloved." She breathed out and added sarcastically. "All I had to do was keep this centuries long name going,keep the Hallow traditions and never let anyone subjugate or undermine us and I had to do it alone because your grandmother was never there since-"

"She thought you were strong enough to do it alone." Ethel surmised.

Ursula nodded sadly "I didn't notice I was doing the same to you… I just wanted to make sure Esme would be ready when her time came." She looked up at her then. "Building a legacy is hard, but shouldering one is harder."

Ethel thought of Mildred and how she and Gerry had spent quite some time trying to discover more about the Hubbles that came before her, her legacy was almost a lost one; "Our legacy… You know, I made a family tree in the second year and so did Millie. She said mine looked like a 'Family Argument' after I insulted hers in less witty way. Later that same year, when the founding stone lost its power and made magic go crazy enough that I got to meet them, my ancestors, the ones I admired, the roots of our name and they were… Despicable, to one another even… Is that what we do?"

"We don't always agree." Ursula tried to make it sound less bad then it was but Ethel went on.

"We fight and argue with one another until we are barely speaking anymore? I wonder how many of those had their backs turned to each other in disgust because they weren't the favorite child? When Millie and I found the dragon heart, it turned out it was Evelyn Hallow, leader of the Wicked Five, possessing Fern so she could come back from beyond the Veil. Her reasoning for why she did all the horrible things she did? She was the underated middle child, she felt unloved and I understood her!" She swallowed dry; "I hated that I understood her, and I wondered why I would be if-" looked down to her arms; "So many times I wondered if you really loved me..."

That made her mother look up at her, offended and shocked, her voice sounding heavy. "Of course I do! Did you really feel like-"

"I did. A few times."

Ursula leaned back on the chair, her hand covering her face, silence falling upon the room until she finally spoke up; "I just thought… I was so wrong." She went back into silence until it was broken by a sob that made Ethel look at her mother, surprised; "I assumed you would be fine, I was wrong." Her voice was weak.

"I was in the end," Ethel said, "Strong and independent after all, but getting there was-"

"Harder than it should have been." Ursula finished, remembering her own youth, looking away and forcing out the words that, despite her wanting to say them, more than anything, still came with some difficulty for her. "I am sorry." There was a long silence between the two women broken only by another quiet sob, another trying to break free which her mother choked back, before asking; "Could you ever forgive me?"

"I don't know… I have always found forgiveness hard."

A small, bitter smile crossed Ursula's face; "You really did take after me."

Ethel looked away, the same smile on her face. "Neither of us can run from that. Still… You apologised, you regret it and I never expected either, so I guess, that's a beginning, maybe I'll be able to forgive you next."

That was when mother hugged her, whispering quietly:

"I do love you… Never doubt that."

~0~

"Sybil, will you get away from there?" Esme whispered as her younger sister put her finger to her lips in a silencing gesture while slowly placing a cup's opening against the door and her ear on the other end, making Esme frown, college had given Sybil heaps of confidence, it seemed, for better or worse.

"They are actually talking!" Sybil whispered quietly but excited, then her excitement turned to sadness; "I think Ethel is sobbing…" She said and took the cup from the door and walked to the sofa to sit next to her grandmother and sister.

"That's not Ethel." Enya said from her chair, getting dubious looks from both her granddaughters. "Trust me, I know my daughter, nowadays more than ever." She took a breath, "Speaking of knowing my daughter and, by extension, granddaughters did you ask who declared themselves first?"

"Mildred." Sybil responded and both her and Esme pulled out their wallets, getting out 50 pounds each.

"Aha, what did I say?" Enya exclaimed and took the money from both blondes.

"We should have never bet against you." Sybil said. "I was really hoping they would do it at the same time."

"I actually thought Ethel would do it first. She seemed to be heading that way." Esmeralda crossed her arms and leaned against the sofa, but didn't look cross so much as slightly disappointed.

"You know, Ethel's change is going to be slower than you hope for, Esmie."

"Hallows don't change easily, I suppose." Esme conceded with a shrug.

"We are a stubborn bunch, but slowly, with time, we might… Sometimes, with the little help from a miracle, change for the better." Enya smiled.

The door to the office opened then, making all the three women in the living room stand up, as Ethel walked out, a little red around the eyes, but with a perfectly calm expression. "Alright, we are done..." The shoulders of all the other women sagged and Ethel rolled her eyes; "No no! We're fine, we talked! We are talking again now." She swallowed. "It's personal and we would keep it between us, if you wouldn't mind."

The other Hallow women sighed with relief and both Sybil and Esme went to her for a hug as Enya stayed behind, thanking her stars that her daughter finally recognised her mistakes and was trying to set them right while she could.

"Oh, Nan…" Ethel said; "Mother wants to talk to you now."

"Me?" Enya asked, surprised.

Ethel nodded and went back to hugging her sisters, as her grandma passed by them and went into the office.

Sybil looked at her. "You told her about Mildred didn't you?"

Esme lifted her head with the same question in mind and Ethel looked aside, making both of her sisters frown at her; "It didn't come up!" She justified herself at the censoring looks. "Look, I promise I will as soon as grandma and mother are done!"

"You'd better," Esme warned and rubbed her shoulder. "Don't you dare be ashamed of her!"

"I could never be…" She replied and laid her head on her big sister's shoulder and closed her eyes, finally relaxing.

3 - A Brief Interlude On The Speed In Which News Is Spread

"And you didn't tell us until now?" Maud screamed at the mirror.

"Were you waiting for Sybil to be the one to tell us or something?" Enid continued.

"Oh come on! If she did it would only have been because she did caught us in bed together this morning." Mildred tried to explain herself to her very cross friends, but as soon as she realised what she said she blushed deeply, covering her face with both hands.

"WAIT! You slept with her already?" Enid said shocked. "You were with Gerry for over a month and you didn't sleep with her, but Ethel kisses you a few times and you just fall onto her bed?" She exchanged looks with Maud.

"I am impressed…" Maud admitted.

"Same, daum!" Enid praised and crossed her arms. "I didn't know Hallow had it in her."

"It was-" Millie blushed deeply remembering some of the things they did that night; "Pretty intense, I guess we both had a lot of bottled up feelings. ANYWAY! I didn't call you two earlier because, well, we got woken up by Sybil, then Ethel went to do her family thing, I came to see my dad's drag show with mum and- Look can't you guys come over next weekend?"

"Why don't YOU come over next weekend?" Said Enid while crossing her arms. "We are always going to you! Come over and bring Ethel!" She suddenly stopped. "Did I actually just say that?"

"These are strange times we are living in, my friend." Maud said and tapped her on the back.

"Alright, I'll go to you! I'll invite Ethel to come too… I mean, Sybil's apartment is not that far from your's, so maybe something comfortable can be arranged."

~0~

Mildred and Ethel crossed the campus talking to each other, while the other students observed and talked amongst themselves;

"When did it start?"

"The masquerade, I think, I saw them making out furiously in the middle of the ballroom."

"I thought that was Hawthorne…"

"Oh no, he just gave her his costume, so she could surprise Hallow."

"Wow, that's so romantic!"

Charlie let out an amused huff; "The news spread pretty fast around here." He told Gerry. "Seems like everybody already knows about our friends."

"Oh, those are just the nice things people are saying." Nick said, on the other side of Gerry. "The whole thing happened pretty fast and a lot of people are assuming Ethel was cheating on Zac or Millie was cheating on you."

"Millie and I were broken up for a week and that news spread like wildfire as well!"

"Not enough people heard about it, I suppose." Charlie said.

"Or, there are a whole lot of pricks that just want to talk shit." Nick suggested.

"Just as likely."

~0~

Miss Hardbroom looked over Mona Hallow and Henrietta Hubble's shoulders to their potion.

"Adequate." She judged before moving along to the other students, still paying attention to Mona and Henrietta. While Mildred and Ethel's rivalry was bad, it at least kept them from getting into the kind of trouble their younger cousins managed to get into together. In the end it seemed like the union of the two families was far more problematic than a rivalry between them.

"So, did your cousin tell you?" Mona Hallow asked while carefully weighing the ingredients of her potion in a quiet tone to Hettie, trying to keep HB from hearing.

"Tell me what?" The black haired girl asked as she looked up from her book.

"That she is dating my cousin Ethel now." The redhead said and looked at her friend over her glasses.

"Is she? Oh damn it, Millie, you never tell me anything!" Hettie said crossly and a little louder than she wanted to and made her look at up at Miss Hardbroom who was looking at her.

"Lower your voices." Was all she said, before transferring to her desk and picking up her maglet.

"Yes Miss Hardbroom..." Both girls said together before turning to their work again.

"How do you know that?" Hettie asked.

"Grandma was there… Apparently she won 100 pounds, 50 each, from my cousins. She was the one to bet that Mildred would confess first."

"Pff, of course Millie would fess up first!" Mona said with an expression conveying that expecting anything different would had been madness.

~0~

Ada was quietly petting her familiar and drinking tea while reading the newspaper when a message came to her maglet, absentmindedly she reached for it and read the note Hecate had sent her. Her jaw dropped open with joy, immediately jumping to the personal chat between the staff and writing down happily;

Ada: Wonderful news, everyone! Mildred and Ethel are finally dating!

Miss Bat: I KNEW IT!

Mr Rowan-Webb: No offence, but Mildred is too good for her…

Miss Drill: Oh, the girl has grown up, Argenor. I am happy for them both!

HB: I would say exactly the contrary!

Ada: No you wouldn't, Hecate, we all know that.

Miss Bat: You all will have to stop changing the subject and just pay me! Ten pounds a piece! Don't think I forgot!

Ada: Yes, that was the other thing. I believe Gwen and I will share the pot. o/

Miss Bat: \o

HB: Will you two stop with those silly symbols?

Miss Drill: It's a High Five, HB…

HB: A what?

Mr Rowan-Webb: I believe you'll know it better as a "High Pent", Hecate.

HB: Oh. Now that makes sense.

4 - Friends, Family and Faculty

Ethel didn't actually want to go, but here they were in Maud and Enid's apartment for the night, waiting for Sybil to show up for the girls night out or whatever it was. No, she would much rather stay in the apartment, possibly with Mildred. Hell, she wouldn't mind going to Sybil's apartment since that one was, technically anyway, also Ethel's.

She huffed for the seventh time that night, flipping her wrist to look at her watch. "How much longer will they take to get here?"

"I don't know Ethel! Usually Sybil is pretty punctual and it's still fifteen minutes until it's time for them to come, so I would guess she will be here in fifteen minutes." Maud responded while rolling her eyes.

"Mildred and I could go there to see-"

"Oh no, we won't!" Millie said and crossed her arms. "I know what you're trying to do there, Hallow, and I am not buying it! You're just trying to find an excuse for us to be alone, but I won't let you! Stop being so grumpy and enjoy the night!" Millie said and then smiled, kissing her cheek just as Enid came in.

"WOOHOO! You go Millie! Show her who wears the enchanted strap-on in this relationship!" She said, raising her bottle in a toast, making Mildred and Maud laugh, but not Ethel, oh no…

Ethel turned completely red and looked at Mildred with fury in her eyes before saying tersely ; "I would appreciate if you didn't share our intimacy with your friends!"

That made Mildred and Maud blush and Enid splutter.

"Love, I didn't tell them anything…" Mildred whispered.

Enid laughed loudly. "I WAS JOKING! OH MY GOD, I WAS RIGHT?! MY GOD, HALLOW!... You're a bottom!" There was a transference into the apartment; "Ethel Hallow is a bottom! I can't believe this!"

There was dead silence until a small voice spoke;

"And I immediately regret coming in early…" Said Sybil standing in the living room, with a slightly green colored complexion.

"Oh…" Enid said in earnest. "Sorry about that?"

"That's ok." Sybil nodded, and nodded less as slowly her nod became her clearly shaking her head.

"Well" Maud said as she stood up, looking at Enid; "I am going to get the forgetfulness powder."

~0~

Mildred held her breath, looking upon the imposing light purple colored manor, surrounded by well manicured gardens and a few swans strolling about calmly, while she was just clinging to Ethel's broom for dear life, not from fear of flying, her mouth dry and throat lumped as they landed on the front lawn.

"Lets go." Ethel said serenely hopping off the broom, taking a hold of Mildred's hand, suddenly being held back when the other woman didn't move. "Mil?"

"Just, uh… Give me a minute." Mildred said, clutching onto her hand and taking deep, steadying breaths.

"My parents won't bite you!" Ethel tried to reassure her when the front door suddenly opened and a dog, much to Mildred's absolute shock, bolted out of the house towards Ethel, making her add "He might though… Hello, Sirius." She said as she addressed the dog, a long haired German Shepherd, that ran around her as he sniffed her all over, tail wagging and jumping in the air joyfully, but never touching Ethel.

"Ethel, you never told me that your family have a puppy!" Mildred exclaimed and immediately jumped down from the broom while offering her hand for the dog to sniff curiously and give his approval. "Hello Sirius, you good boy! Nice to meet you!" As soon as Sirius allowed it Mildred started petting the dog all over. "Look at you! So big and handsome!"

"He is not a puppy, Mildred, he is an adult to begin with and my dad's familiar."

Mildred giggled as the dog licked her face, totally ignoring Ethel. "AHAHA! Good puppy!"

"Ugh, Sirius…" Ethel said under her breath and patted his head perfunctorily. Familiars had an important place in the magical community, but they were still animals and knew what they liked. "Mildred, lets go. Sirius, back inside now!" She ordered and the dog looked at her before obeying, Mildred soon following, mostly attracted by having a dog lead her in.

At the door, waiting for them, stood the fluffiest, most regal black cat Mildred had ever seen, staring at her with judgmental grey eyes.

"Hello, Morningstar." Ethel said and walked by the cat inside the manor while holding Mildred's hand. The cat soon following behind them.

"I… I am still not sure about this." Millie whispered to her girlfriend, looking around the Hallow manor; the halls were well lit and the decor a mix of classical and modernity, with several generations of Hallow portraits hanging on the walls, the haughty looks from their occupants only making her more nervous and the rooms were also enormous, the overall smell made her think of her mother's workplace.

"Mum invited you herself and dad is making a roast, so you better calm down." Ethel said confidently; "And be sure to compliment my father's cooking, he is very sensitive about it."

"Should we have gone in without them?"

"It is my house and the familiars came to receive us," she pointed at the dog and cat behind and in front of them; "Trust me, Mother and Father know we are here and are probably waiting for us in the sitting room."

As Ethel led her to the sitting room Mildred held her breath when, upon entering, Ethel's parents stood up, seemingly towering over her, despite the fact that Ulisses was as tall as her and Ursula was easily the shortest person in the room.

"Miss Hubble, Ethel." Said Ulisses slowly, walking towards Millie and making the usual salute, which was reciprocated, rather awkwardly on Mildred's part. "I believe you know my wife already, Miss Hubble."

"Well, never formally, but of course." Millie said, super nervously, trying to force a smile and calming only when she felt Ethel's hand on her's. "Well met, Mrs. Hallow." She greeted and made the salute again to her.

"Well met, Miss Hubble. Dinner is ready, if you would follow me to the dining room."

"Of course ma'am." Mildred said, sounding oddly entusiastic and silently slapped her own forehead as soon as Ulisses and Ursula turned their backs.

"Smooth…" Ethel mouthed at her.

"Oh shut up!" Mildred mouthed back.

"Be a good girl, and I'll show you my room later." Ethel whispered with a grin and winked.

Mildred decided Ethel was not really helping.

Dinner, however, went rather well, despite the fact that part of the menu was frog legs and a whole pig, which Ursula had said herself were things she felt were a nice way to remind Mildred and Ethel of the way their relationship used to be when they were younger and used to turn each other into animals 'all the time'... Ethel wasn't happy about it, but they managed to survive the night, Ursula being on her best behaviour despite obviously still not liking Mildred, which was generally conveyed by my small snide comments and barbs over the course of the night.

Baby steps she supposed.

Plus, the whole meeting gave both couples a lot to talk about that night.

~0~

It was The Witchball Cup and Pentangles was kicking Cackles ass.

"Was this really worth making the trip all the way to Cackles on a weekend?" Ethel asked grumply. "These kids are nothing like us when we won the cup."

"They are doing their best, Ethel." Mildred reminded her. "It's not like it's a big problem anyway, we'll just spend the night at my mother's. Plus, most of the team this year are second and third years."

"So is the Pentangle team and they are doing well." Ethel shot back. "The only good player is your cousin, the poor girl is almost carrying the entire team."

"Give them a few years and they will be winning and jumping on top of each other and smacking their teammates in the face with their breasts." Mildred grinned.

"Will you stop mentioning that?" Ethel said and rolled her eyes.

"You almost knocked me out, Ethel!" Mildred said, with a teasing grin.

"Like you would complain about getting a face full of my breasts-"

"Mildred Hubble," A deliberated voice spoke from behind them, making both girls turn around at attention at the same time. "Ethel Hallow..." Miss Hardbroom held both her hands behind her. "I wasn't expecting to see you here this weekend."

"Our cousins are playing, Miss Hardbroom." Mildred said, her body tense in that special way only HB could get her in.

"And we won the cup in our last year, we thought it would be fun to come." Ethel said, reverting to the same tone she used with HB when she was much younger.

"Indeed. Miss Hubble has quite the potential as a player." Miss Hardbroom admitted.

"However, she isn't much like you otherwise." Ada said walking up to the trio, looking at her two former pupils with a smile. "Very confident. She said you taught her a thing or two before she came here."

Millie blushed; "Well, it's how a witching family should be, you teach the younger generation the best you can before they go to school and get, well" her eyes went from HB to Ada for a second with a small smile, "better teachers."

Hardbroom cleared her throat from the small lump that formed from hearing those words; "You didn't do a bad job yourself within your capacity." She raised her chin; "Of course, that must also explain why she lacks some discipline."

Mildred and Ethel did their best not to laugh from the tone that was so well known to them.

"Hopefully, she will do as well as Mildred in the end, Hecate." Ada told her with a smile and then turned to them; "How are you, girls? How is college coming along?" She asked and both women started speaking in turn about it, their hands finding each other and fingers lacing together.

She listened with rapt attention, but in her mind's eye for a second, she could swear she saw the little girls dressed in yellow and purple who came for selection day, a flood of memories rushing forth; Millie losing her breakfast over the transference spell, Ethel's haughty demeanour she used to hide her insecurities. Several years; Ethel calling Mildred back in the end of the first year, their friendship trap, Ethel's slow change over the last few years at the school, that dragon attack, the Halloween curse, Agatha's return… How the two of them were so small, and how slowly they grew to tower over her.

"I am glad everything is going so well for you both." Hardbroom said "I am surprised you two haven't come across some trouble, like meeting an old spirit, ripping the Veil or finding a dragon's heart in some ridiculous location underneath your college." She said and could swear that the girls looked at her in a strange way once she was done.

"Nope, that didn't happen at all." Mildred smiled openly.

"Well, we'll let you enjoy the game, girls. I believe Miss Hallow is about to score again."

Just like that, Mona threw the ball right into the basket, making Cackle's situation look slightly less awful.

~0~

"Ah, there you are, tadpole!" Mr Rowan-Webb said, walking towards Millie with the help of his cane, age getting to him and Miss Bat. "And Miss Hallow, it's a pleasure to see you as well." He smiled at them, Miss Bat right by his side, as they leaned on each other.

Millie smiled at them; "It's great to see you both!"

"We are glad to see you finally found it." Miss Bat said and looked at Millie.

"The other heart, yes." Mildred smiled and Miss Bat smiled back at her, along with Mr. Rowan-Webb, leaving only Ethel without any understand of it.

"Oh yes, the reason I asked you to come." Mr Rowan-Webb and pulled a rolled up parchment from his desk. "Here, I found it for you. I know it isn't much, but it's a start."

"What is this?" Millie asked, starting to open it.

"A clue, we believe." Said Miss Bat.

"Of the whereabouts of the Hubble family Grimoire." Mr Rowan-Webb continued. "Unfortunately, we couldn't find the Grimoire itself, no spell could detect it, we expected that, since we are not members of the Hubble family, but you might… The parchment will help."

"And also, has a drawing of what your family Crest was." Miss Bat said excitedly and pointed at it.

The shield was divided into four parts; one with a witch's hat, one with a cauldron, one with a tabby cat and the final one with a hand casting a spell. Under it there were two crossed brooms, above a banner with 'Hubble' and below another one with the family motto 'Cauldron bubble, toil and trouble.'

Mildred's eyes were focused on the parchment, slowly filling with tears and she looked up, hugging both Miss Bat and Mr Rowan-Webb gratefully, while, behind her, Ethel promised herself she would find that Grimoire for her.

5 - Lovers

It was over the course of a few months that it all happened and sometimes Mildred found herself asking what if's; What if Ethel haven't gotten drunk? What if she hadn't brought her home? What if she didn't become Ethel's roommate or started dating Gerry? What if she didn't take the pond weed or didn't talk to or meet Maud, but this time there was a new question, one she verbalized to Ethel one night, as she was snuggled up against her chest;

"Ethie… What comes next?" She asked, quietly, her hand running up and down Ethel's back.

"Spring break is coming soon, I think." She responded sleepily with her arms around Mildred who giggled.

"Not in college, I mean…" Mildred gestured with her free hand "I mean in life."

"College is part of our lives right now." The blonde pointed out snuggling against her neck.

"I suppose…" Millie conceded deciding Ethel was maybe too sleepy to think about it now.

Realizing her silence wasn't good, however, made the blonde respond a little more coherently; "I guess I know what you mean." She admitted. "It was an unexpected turn of events to say the least… All around."

"If someone told me six months ago I would be happily sharing a bed with you, I wouldn't have believed them."

Ethel huffed with laughter. "If someone told me that two months ago I wouldn't have believe it either, and I was already in love with you, just in denial about it."

"According to Sybil, it's been longer than that…" Millie said with a grin and got a slap on her shoulder for her trouble, which only made her grin more. "Come on, just admit you had a crush on me since at least… Hmmm, third year?"

"Giving yourself too much credit, Hubble…"

"Fourth then?" She smirked and Ethel let out a frustrated groan, that made Millie chuckle and kiss her forehead. "I'll stop, but I am still interested in where we go from here."

"Well, apparently Esme and Erik have been talking about getting married so you can look forwards to the nightmare that will be my mother organizing a wedding." Ethel said and moved up to kiss her gently.

"Wouldn't Esme organize her own wedding?"

Ethel chuckled to herself; "With Mother around? Yeah, no, she isn't going to. Unless she keeps the whole thing a complete secret until the very last minute."

"I don't think that would be possible, no." Mildred chuckled.

Ethel moved to lay on top of her, hugging her close. "My family is very good at keeping an eye on people. Mother even knew you were living here before I told anyone not even Esme or Sybil knew at that point." She kissed her on the lips. "Why are you suddenly so worried about the future?"

Millie let out a small sigh, putting their foreheads together; "I've been thinking what I want to do after college." She admitted. "Alchemy pays very well, and most alchemists are more valued by who they apprentice under or by their own fame, but what I really want to do is be an artist. I'd be happy teaching art at a small magical school even."

"You'd be happy working at a non-magical animal shelter even." Ethel joked, raising an eyebrow and kissing her again, more deeply this time. "Don't worry about it, you still have a few more years of college to figure it out, so you can relax for now."

Millie smiled; "You're right." She said and relaxed, kissing her quickly; "Plus, if all else fails, I guess 'Trophy Wife of a Hallow' is an option."

Both chuckled tiredly and with a snap of her fingers, Ethel made the lights go off and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

(The End)

#The Worst Witch #Mildred Hubble #Ethel Hallow #Ethred #Fanfic #This is the end... for now... Wait for the unnecessary sequel!#Roz writes fanfics

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parlar-per-parlar · 6 years

Text

Primeres vegades

El mar Blai Bonet Epíleg de Xavier Pla Club Editor, 2011 (2ª edició: 2017)

Blai Bonet és un d’aquells puntals de la literatura catalana del XX que, sorprenentment, ningú em va fer llegir a la carrera. Això no el fa únic, ni té res d’especial: tampoc se’m va fer llegir Incerta glòria, ni Solitud, ni Verdaguer, ni cap títol català publicat entre 1500 i 1900, ara que hi penso. Amb prou feines sonà el nom de Blai Bonet aquí i allà, que almenys sabéssim que havia existit, però pel que fa a lectures no en tocàrem ni la poesia. Deu ser cosa del Bolonya. Sí que recordo trobar-me, farà set o vuit anys, un poema seu a les pàgines centrals d’El Periódico —a l’època que encara no s’havia convertit en un pamflet. El poema era “Gaspar Hauser nº2”, aquell d’«abans de dir home a un salvatge / i abans de dir salvatge a un salvatge» que és tan conegut. Que és tan conegut, ho sé ara: llavors no sabia ni qui era l’autor aquest, però el poema em va entrar tan bé i tan de sobte que vaig estripar la doble pàgina —El Periódico anava grapat; no sé si encara ara— i me la vaig enganxar amb cel·lo a l’habitació. I fins aquí el meu contacte amb Bonet.

Ben mirat, tampoc se’m pot culpar gaire d’haver pensat que el poeta de Santanyí —quants grans autors no haurà donat Mallorca?— era un autor obscur i estranyot, que és bàsicament el que vaig deduir. No fa gaire que els seus títols han tornat a treure el cap a llibreries: primer va ser El mar a Club Editor (2011), seguit dels dietaris publicats pel Gall Editor (2013) i de l’antològica Poesia Completa d’Edicions de 1984 (2014). Més tard Club Editor hi tornà amb la rehabilitació de Judes i la primavera (2016), i ara altre cop amb aquesta reimpressió d’El mar, que garanteix que Bonet segueixi al nostre abast. En general, les reimpressions solen ser fets del tot irrellevants, simples ajustos d’estoc, però aquesta a mi m’ha anat molt bé. No crec que hagués llegit la novel·la si no hagués sortit ara, com si d’una novetat es tractés. Imagino que és precisament això el que dóna sentit a reeditar clàssics.

En aquesta nova edició, el primer que llegim sobre El mar és que si Blai Bonet no fos català seria tan reconegut com William Faulkner. Això és el que afirma la cita del traductor Eduardo Jordá que han col·locat al text de contracoberta —«i no exagero», puntualitza. La reacció natural davant d’un elogi així és l’escepticisme, i més en una cultura com la catalana, en què aplaudim qualsevol mínima cosa perquè l’important és participar. Però, malgrat les nostres reserves, El mar de seguida absorbeix. D’entre l’elenc de personatges —que es reparteixen la narració, en primera persona— prenen paper protagonista Manuel Tur i Andreu Ramallo, dos joves maleïts que ofereixen la seva visió bèstia i irredimible de l’experiència adolescent en un sanatori antituberculós tot just acabada la Guerra Civil. Som en el temps de «la guerra que venia després de la pau, aquesta guerra que penetra en la terra, crea coves obscures i excita la luxúria. Com el mar».

El panorama és desolador. Bonet col·loca els seus personatges com a agents primer passius, després actius d’escenes cruels, dures, tèrboles i irrespirables. El vermell anguniós de la sang és omnipresent; el sexe i la mort els obsessionen. D’entrada, Ramallo veu morir el company Justo Pastor: «Féu un crit i, de les orelles i dels ulls, li va sortir un broll de sang. Jo en vaig quedar amb la cara plena». Al quart capítol, Manuel Tur relata l’arribada de la guerra i de l’afusellament del pare de Pau Inglada i les seves conseqüències. Les imatges, inoblidables, són d’una vivesa aclaparadora. Aquests fets són per a ell una mena de pecat original: «Aquesta fou la primera terra, les primeres rels, la consciència primera. No recordeu, Senyor, el vostre judici encès. Recordeu que he estat un noi de la guerra». Similarment, Ramallo va rememorant les estelles que li deixaren a la consciència els seus primers encontres amb el sexe i amb la violència. El record de la mare alcohòlica —«com una euga seca amarada d’anís de la taverna de Julià Escóbar»— esdevé una sòrdida cantarella que sobrevola tot el text i no el deixa tranquil.

El gran motiu recurrent de l’obra és la culpa, un sentiment de culpa d’arrel catòlica que inunda el relat i obsessiona els protagonistes fins a dur-los al deliri. Les vivències de Tur i Ramallo no suposen pas un enlairament, una evolució: lluny de ser una novel·la iniciàtica, El mar és un relat marcadament existencialista, tancat sobre si mateix i d’un fatalisme que ofega. S’ha enmarcat sovint dins el corrent europeu de la novel·la catòlica de mitjans del segle XX, que tingué un impacte notable —en qualitat, més que en quantitat— a la Catalunya de la postguerra. I és que, en efecte, les disquisicions religioses són un dels pilars de la novel·la.

Aquests plantejaments podrien fer dubtar a més d’un lector contemporani, però seria injust. El mar és un llibre d’una vigència incontestable gràcies a dos factors: que la radicalitat de què fa gala és encara estranyíssima de trobar a la literatura catalana (i potser ho és més ara que a l’època de Bonet), i que la prosa del de Santanyí és d’una potència poètica que tira d’esquenes. Per una banda, aquesta potència és indispensable en la creació de l’atmosfera opressiva de la novel·la. Així és com comença el dia per a Manuel Tur:

La claror cau verticalment, com un ganivet, damunt les teulades del pavelló d’infermeres. La voravia de la barana, que tanca el recinte del sanatori, llu una claror àcida, calcinada. La voravia de pòrtland deu cremar com un ferro. Les roques entre l’herba seca són blanques com pedres de calç. […] Giro el cap a l’altra banda i tinc el coixí moll i la roba interior remulla, aferrada a la pell. Damunt la taula de nit, un plat de pedra, ple d’ampolles de Trombyl, buides, llu, com deu lluir, al migdia, el fil de pua d’un camp de concentració. (p. 128-9)

Per altra banda, però, la densitat lírica serveix també de vàlvula d’escapament d’aquesta atmosfera. És el que passa en una de les converses de Ramallo amb el seu pare. El patetisme nocturn de l’escena s’il·lumina de sobte gràcies a una imatge genial:

Jo estava assegut davant seu. Damunt un sac de blat de les Índies, omplert fins a la meitat. Vaig posar la mà esquerra damunt el genoll del vell. Sense mirar-lo. Com si em donàs vergonya que el vell pogués descobrir que jo l’estimava. Vaig dir: «Hauríem de vendre el cavall.» […] A cada paraula que jo deia, suau, el vell adreçava un poc el cap. Jo parlava. Ell adreçava el cap. I era com si regassin una planta. (p. 151-2)

D’exemples, en podríem trobar tants com pàgines té El mar; el devesall d’imatges i girs lingüístics que ens hi ofereix Blai Bonet és francament impactant. Més enllà del marc filosòfic que planteja, és aquest geni expressiu el que dona al text la volada, la bellesa i el lirisme que fan d’ell una lectura imprescindible i perdurable.

Que El mar és una novel·la que no ha caducat, que manté intacta tota la seva capacitat de sacsejar i enlluernar, també ho defensa —amb molt més coneixement de causa— Xavier Pla al seu epíleg, que és excel·lent com de costum. L’edició es clou amb la reproducció de nou capítols inèdits procedents del mecanoscrit de censura. Curiosament, es tracta de fragments que no foren eliminats de la novel·la pel censor («nada fundamental que objetar»), sinó que foren sacrificats durant el procés d’edició. Segons explica Pla, la retallada fou probablement cosa de Joan Sales, «veritable Midas de l’edició», que aplicà la tisora a una obra que en origen era notablement més llarga i enfarfegada per fixar-ne la versió definitiva. En aquest sentit, podem interpretar els textos que acompanyen la novel·la com una picada d’ullet al propi ofici, de la mà precisament de Club Editor, l’editorial que Sales fundà. L’autohomenatge és merescut: així com la tasca de Sales fou clau per a fer d’El mar el que és, la tasca de Club Editor ha estat clau per fer arribar llibres d’aquesta magnitud a generació rere generació de lectors. Ara que és el torn de la nostra, imagino que no serem pocs els que haurem aprofitat aquesta reimpressió per llegir per primera vegada El mar. Seixanta anys després de la seva publicació, haurem descobert una obra fonamental, de les que fan més digna i sòlida la nostra cultura —«i no exagero».

#el mar #blai bonet #club editor #novel·la #literatura #Eduard Sepúlveda

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