Chapter Text
“Are you ready?”
Judy’s grip on her broom tightened until her knuckles were white. She nodded, avoiding her mother’s eyes. She was, in fact, anything but ready. Sybil stifled a laugh.
“You’ll be fine, darling,” she said, her voice warm as she pulled Judy into a quick, reassuring hug, squeezing her shoulders gently. “You’ve got everything you need. And remember, I’m just a magic mirror away if you need me.”
“I know…” Judy mumbled, her eyes darting over to her father.
Her husband, James, chuckled, giving Judy’s hair a playful ruffle. “Juju’s just upset she has to go with me instead of Mum,” he teased, earning an indignant squeal from her.
“Dad, that’s not true!” Judy retorted, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Sybil snorted quietly. Actually, it was completely true.
“Judy.” Sybil’s voice softened, drawing her daughter’s attention back to her.
Judy met her gaze reluctantly, her face a mix of longing and something else - uncertainty, maybe.
Sybil smiled as she reached up to smooth Judy’s hair. “You are my kind, smart, sweet, beautiful, talented daughter and you’re going to do amazing. Don’t forget that.”
Judy inhaled sharply, the look in her eyes a blend of awe and admiration. Without warning, she jumped up and threw her arms around Sybil, the force of her embrace causing Sybil to stumble back a few steps.
“Love you, Mum,” Judy whispered. Sybil’s heart swelled, and she laughed, pulling Judy closer to her.
“I love you too.” With one final squeeze, Sybil let her daughter go - well, she peeled her daughter off.
The sound of a whistle reverberated through the station, and Sybil nudged her daughter forward. “That’s you. Go.”
Judy gathered her things in her arms and started running for the train, as if it was going to leave right that second.
Right before she got on, Judy turned around and looked right at Sybil with an almost doleful mien.
“Will you be okay?” she shouted. Sybil grinned and shook her head at her daughter’s antics. Judy was constantly worrying about Sybil.
“I’ll be fine, love,” Sybil called back. “Now go!”
Once Judy was on the train and out of sight, Sybil let out the barrage of coughs she’d been holding in, doubling over in pain. James patted her back softly and frowned, his forehead creased with worry.
“You’re sure you’ll be okay getting home on your own?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
“Yes, don’t worry,” Sybil replied, straightening up. She reached into her black coat pocket and fished out a small, white circular device. It was a transference device prescribed to the magically ill and disabled.
James sighed, his frown deepening. “We need to renew your prescription soon, don’t we?”
“Stop fussing over me and focus on your daughter,” Sybil chided. “Don’t forget to tell Ms. Hardbroom about her iron supplements. You have the paperwork with you?”
“I put it in Juju’s bag.”
“Good. Off you go, then.” Sybil gestured towards the train with her free hand. Her husband leaned down to kiss her on the forehead before going to join Judy on the train.
After a few minutes, a whistle sounded again, and the train began slowly rolling out of the platform. Sybil could just make out the face of her daughter - she was sticking her head out the window and waving frantically. Judging by how she kept looking back into her compartment, James was obviously trying to restrain her.
Sybil chuckled softly, amused. She waved back, her hand lingering in the air until the train was completely out of sight.
For a while, she stood motionless on the platform, eyes fixed on where the train had just been, lost in thought.
She hadn’t originally wanted to send Judy to Cackle’s - the place stirred too many awful memories for her. But Beatrice and Clarice had talked her into it, Beatrice singing Cackle’s new safety regulations to the heavens, and Clarice telling her they were sending their daughter Maya there as well. So she’d conceded, and now her little girl was embarking on her journey to becoming a true witch.
Judy would be alright, Sybil knew that. Judy was confident, outgoing, and far too talkative for her own good. Nothing like Sybil had been during her first year. She would be adored by the teachers and popular amongst the students, and she would hopefully be one of the top students of her year.
Yet, for some reason, Sybil just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing… and not for the better.