(A/N)- Hey everyone! I'm still working on Bruised Not Broken, but with Hurricane Sandy, two funerals (one unrelated to Sandy) and a shitton of coursework that needs to get done because of a week of classes lost, pretty much everything is on the back-burner. This here is an unrelated fic that I typed up real quick and I plan to upload a new chapter every day, the catch is the 'chapter' isn't very long ... I decided to be a tease. ;P Sue me. Enjoy?

- Chapter 1 -

Imogen Drill was completely on edge since the unexpected arrival of Mistress Hecketty Broomhead. Imogen had previously been sent away from the school for Hecketty's last visit, due to Miss Hardbroom's fears that the school would fail the inspection for employing a non-witch on the teaching staff. She had seen just how shook up her deputy headmistress appeared at the mere mention of her name. She dreaded the day she might eventually meet such a horrible woman, and now, standing before her, she wished that the floor would just swallow her up.

She shot a glance in Constance's direction, and the look went unreturned - her fearful eyes would not leave the former inspector.

"Who might you be?" she snapped as Mr. Hallow left, narrowing her eyes at Imogen and then to Lavinia Crochet, who tried her best to look friendly and inviting in a feeble attempt to keep on her good side, if there was one.

Constance found her voice, and moved to the gym mistress's side, "This is Imogen Drill-"

"She has a voice, hasn't she?" Hecketty barked, eyes wild as she stared down her former student, who backed off immediately, "Why don't you let her speak for herself?"

Imogen forced a smile best she could, extending a hand in greeting, "Imogen Drill, sports mistress."

Hecketty ignored her hand, "Sports mistress?" she asked in disbelief, "And what does that entail?"

"Uhm ..." she dropped her hand awkwardly to her side, forgetting herself for a second, "physical activity ... health and fitness ... sports?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?" she snapped in annoyance, "Do you teach magick as well?"

"No ... I teach sports."

The old witch looked to Constance, "Is this some kind of a joke?"

"OfWitch approved it," Constance explained, wringing her hands nervously, "She is a valued member of staff ..."

Imogen was momentarily touched by her words, but it was short lived.

"Valued or not, if she can't perform magick what use is she to a school for witches?" she gave one last nasty look in Imogen's direction before rounding on Lavinia.

Imogen never felt so insulted in her entire life, and she felt incredibly stupid for feeling this way for it wasn't the first time she was degraded for being who she was ... in fact she'd been reminded of her uselessness on occasion by the same woman who'd defended her just now ...

Fingertips lightly brushed the tiny hairs on her arm, and she looked over just in time to see Constance offer the slightest sympathetic smile before standing beside Lavinia. The look of determination on her face ... like a mother sticking proudly by her misfit children, Imogen mused.

They were safe. As long as Constance was around, everything would be fine.