Chapter Text
Constance was marking in the staffroom at lunch time, pondering whether Imogen would make remarks or change her behaviour due to…whatever it was that was happening between them. She hadn’t been afraid of them being ‘discovered’ but she was determined to remain professional, and she wasn’t convinced Imogen would be as committed to such a desire, with her ‘exuberance’. Constance gave a small smile at the last word of her thoughts.
“Well, I must say it’s nice to see a smile on your face,” Miss Bat said, interrupting Constance’s reverie.
“Yes, I have to agree, Miss Bat. Particularly good piece of homework, is it?” Miss Cackle asked.
Constance rolled her eyes, feeling her headmistress was teasing her and made no answer. Fortunately Miss Drill came in at that moment.
“Ah! Miss Drill! Good to finally see you. We missed you this morning.”
“I am very sorry, Miss Cackle,” Imogen immediately apologised. “I must’ve been feeling rather exuberant this morning. I went further than I usually do. I was still in time for lessons, don’t worry!”
Constance let out a snort. She’d noticed the small pause before ‘exuberant’ and felt the pointedness of the use of the word but was also amused by Imogen’s deft phrasing to avoid lying. The spot between her shoulder blades still felt tingly from Imogen’s kiss. Truly, she’d gone further.
“Now, now Constance!” Miss Bat trilled. “We must flow with our energies, let them lead us where they will!” She danced across the staffroom as she did so.
“Well, as long as the girls didn’t miss out. Not that they’d mind I’m sure,” Miss Cackle said. “I did overhear complaints from the girls yesterday that their P.E lesson was more exhausting than usual. I recommended they ask for extra at dinner to restore them. I told them, it’s good to be energetic. Don’t you agree, Miss Hardbroom?”
Constance looked up. She’d made no comment so far, musing on Miss Bat’s proclamation, wondering where the energy between her and Imogen would lead them, and Miss Cackle’s question startled her. “Yers,” she said.
It didn’t seem to quite cover the moment, for Miss Cackle looked at her a little oddly.
“Quite. Well. I suppose we’d better eat our lunch, otherwise we’ll be lacking in energy,” she said.
“Oh crumbs! I’m on dinner duty!” Miss Bat scurried off in a panic.
Constance sighed in mild relief. Lunch might be peaceful today. She finished off her marking with a flourish and set the books aside, clearing the table.
Miss Cackle sat down at the head of the table, Constance at her right. Usually Miss Bat was at the left. Constance frowned, realising that Imogen was usually doing some sort of exercise or else curled up in the armchair, eating a piece of fruit or pasta from a Tupperware box, as she was now. She looked up and caught Constance looking at her. The smile she gave was small, but it seemed to hold a challenge.
Miss Cackle was busy tucking into her own lunch and barely noticed when Imogen slid into the chair next to Constance, placing her pasta down on the table. The chair had moved closer as Imogen had sat down, almost close enough for Imogen’s arm to brush against Constance’s. So that was the challenge then. She primly swallowed a spoonful of her soup.
“I suppose, Miss Drill, that such healthy eating is what gives you all your energy,” she said, nodding towards the Tupperware box.
“I like to think so,” Imogen said. “Better for it than drinking Wide Awake Potion all the time.”
Miss Cackle looked up and Constance saw her glance nervously between the two of them, clearly expecting another row to break out. And previously, perhaps, one would have erupted. But previously Imogen would never have sat so casually next to her. And Constance certainly wouldn’t have begun a conversation.
“I designed Wide Awake Potion to have no side effects, you know,” Constance said mildly. “It not only sharpens the mind but also negates all the effects of a sleepless night.”
Imogen seemed surprised. “You came up with it yourself?”
“Of course she did,” Miss Cackle interrupted, clearly hoping to head off an argument. “Very talented potions witch. Head of the Cauldron Club. Constantly being asked to give lectures at the council.”
“Hm! Perhaps she can come up with something to help me exercise,” Imogen said, gazing intently at Constance.
Constance nearly choked on her soup, and she wanted to kick Imogen under the table for making such a suggestive remark in front of Miss Cackle.
“I don’t really hold with all these protein shakes and isotonic drinks,” Imogen continued, speaking more to Miss Cackle. “Too much protein doesn’t help, and the isotonic ones are usually just sugar water. But I could do with something to give me a small burst of energy, whenever I’m doing a particularly long run or a heavy workout.”
Constance frowned at her soup-laden spoon as she gave herself a rather stern internal lecture on not overthinking everything Imogen said.
“Well, that does sound like a challenge for the most accomplished Potion brewer,” Miss Cackle said, still looking hopeful that there wasn’t going to be a shouting match during her lunch. “Perhaps you two could work on it together, over the weekend?” She sounded a little less hopeful that Constance would take her up on it.
“If Miss Drill doesn’t mind mixing workouts and witchcraft,” Constance said, side-eying the women sat next to her.
“Well, it’s not exactly casting a spell to send myself flying through the air on a vaulting pole,” Imogen shrugged, recalling one of Mildred’s many mishaps. “Just enough for an edge. And if you say you can make something with no side-effects, well, where’s the harm in trying?” She smiled warmly at Constance.
“I shall see you Saturday morning in the potions lab then.” Constance gave a satisfied smile in return.
“Bright and early!” Imogen grinned.
“Good. Good!” Miss Cackle nodded, her own smile completely bemused, but benevolently happy by the peaceful interaction between witch and non-witch that meant she didn’t have to rescue her cheesecake from being cast onto the floor by an overturned table.