A/N: A new story in honour of my two year writing anniversary (which I've decided is a thing) The original idea was based on yet another Tumblr post that typicalRainbow and I were discussing recently, thanks for the idea!
Thanks everyone for reading over the last couple of years (or more recently) Hope you enjoy chapter one of what will be a five part story.
The thing was, when you were considered to be flighty and a bit silly, people tended to dismiss you. They forget that you're even there sometimes. And that, well, that's where they underestimate you.
In this case Constance Hardbroom and Imogen Drill had most certainly underestimated Davina Bat.
As she sipped her nettle tea Davina pondered what she had observed over the past few weeks. The secret looks, the quite frankly poor attempts at sneaking around and the permanent air of tension that seemed to be lingering in the air. Everything led to one possibility. Constance and Imogen were having some sort of sordid affair and Davina was shocked and if she was honest very disappointed in both of them.
Both had other partners for goodness sake, though to be fair they never spoke about them. She only knew about Imogen's boyfriend from what the now second years had told her. His name was Serge, he was Canadian and apparently besotted with their Miss Drill. Enid had even shown her a picture from their camping trip the previous school year. He was very good looking, a bit too clean cut for Davina's taste but she could see why someone as active and outdoorsy as Imogen would fall for him.
Of course it wouldn't do to say she had been listening to gossip from the students so Davina had been discreet for once in her life. She had started by casually asking Imogen before they broke up for the summer holidays if there was someone special in her life. The younger woman had smiled coyly before whispering, "Maybe." Then she had gathered herself and changed the subject to their holiday plans. The fact that Imogen was travelling to America was not lost on Davina. Canada was in America wasn't it? She always got that mixed up but she was pretty sure she was correct in that Imogen was going to spend the summer with a certain Canadian Mountain Ranger.
Then there was Constance. Never one to share much about her personal life, Davina had gleaned what little information she knew from Amelia. Apparently Constance was involved with a woman called Sophia who was also involved in the Cauldronite Club. Both Amelia and Davina considered the Cauldronites to be a massive waste of time and energy, unlike Constance who was a passionate member. However, duty had dictated that Amelia attend a meeting several months previously where she had met this Sophia woman, a former school friend of Constance's. In fact the only friend she had ever really heard her mention.
"And quite often", Amelia realised as she saw the two women interact with each other.
"Well,they say friend.", she had confided in Davina when she returned. "But they seemed much more than that to me. Also, they appear to be spending a lot of time together outside the club as well. It would explain why Constance is no longer hanging around the school so much during her time off wouldn't it? I think perhaps something has changed in regards to their relationship."
Davina had agreed, in fact she had been pleased, even Constance deserved someone special and she was happy for her. She did however know not to push too much so never asked Constance about Sophia. That wasn't to say she didn't notice the occasional smiles for no reason. Or the letter that the potions mistress used as a bookmark, the one she would open up and read when she thought nobody was watching. Well, Davina was watching and for the first time, probably ever, she noticed that Constance Hardbroom seemed truly content. All that she could ever make out from the letter was the signature at the end, a clearly written S which Davina assumed indicated it was from Sophia.
Which was why she couldn't understand why their were sabotaging their happiness, and with each other at that. It wasn't like they even had anything in common. Constance was a witch, Imogen wasn't. Imogen was an outgoing, athletic person, Constance was an introverted bookworm.
Though having said that, Davina knew that opposites could attract, particularly in one area, the bedroom. That would explain how she had seen Imogen sneaking down the stairs that led from Constance's bedroom early the previous week. Or how when she had gone for an early evening constitutional she had observed Miss Hardbroom hanging around near the P.E shed, a place she had absolutely no reason to be. Then of course there was the very intense conversation she had apparently interrupted that morning.
"We have to stop the sneaking around, I can't do it any more, especially not now." The words from Imogen had sounded muffled, as though she was whispering them into Constance's body.
"I know, I know, it's time to stop." Constance's reply was given in the softest voice Davina had ever heard her use.
Davina had only caught that part of the conversation, part of her hadn't wanted to hear any more so she entered the room noticing how both women quickly moved to opposite ends of the table. Still, she knew what she had heard and she also knew that it was time to tell Amelia of her suspicions.
"No time like the present.", Davina told herself as she put her cup down and made her way to the principal's office.
"Nonsense.", Amelia scoffed as she looked across the table. "Constance and Imogen? Davina, have you been adding certain ingredients to your yak's milk again?"
Davina squirmed in her seat. Who knew that powdered pond moss combined with yak's milk could cause a hallucinogenic effect? Certainly not her.
"No Amelia, I promise this is true. I've been watching them for ages. There's something going on."
Amelia sat back in her seat, cleaning her glasses as she considered what Davina had told her. She hoped against hope that this was a typical Miss Bat over exaggeration in play. Two of her staff, cheating on their partners, what kind of example was that to show their students?
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Davina. I think I'll be keeping a very close eye on Miss Hardbroom and Miss Drill myself from now on."
"They're not in any trouble are they?" Davina really just wanted to unburden herself of the secret, the last thing she wanted was for either of her colleagues to get reprimanded or even worse, fired.
"If what you're saying is correct then I will be talking to them both and I will listen to whatever they have to say. As for what happens after that, well that's up to them but I can't tolerate affairs and cheating, not with so many impressionable teenage girls around. You've done your part Davina, you can leave the rest to me."
Following that meeting Amelia became extra observant when it came to the actions of her Deputy Head and PE teacher. It didn't take too long for her to be sure that Davina was right.
It was just after lunch one Wednesday afternoon and Amelia, Davina and Imogen were sitting in the staffroom when there was a knock on the door. Imogen answered it and found Ruby Cherrytree waiting outside with a large bunch of red roses in her arms.
"These just came for you Miss Drill."
"Thank you Ruby." Imogen smiled at the student before closing the door and re-entering the room. Her cheeks were as red as the flowers and her eyes twinkled as she sniffed the bouquet she was holding.
"A gift from an admirer?", Amelia asked pointedly as she watched Imogen stroke her hand over the petals.
"A little more than an admirer."
Before Imogen could say anything else the door opened again. Seeing Constance's face as she entered the room told Amelia that Davina had been right. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the beautiful roses, her nostrils flared as they tended to do when she was angry. And in what Amelia could only imagine was a move born out of jealously, she turned on her heel and walked out of the staffroom immediately.
"Errr, excuse me. I need to, erm, inflate the basketballs.", Imogen muttered before setting the flowers down and quickly exiting the room.
"See? Do you see now what I meant?", Davina spluttered from her seat in the corner.
"Yes Davina, thank you. Now don't you have a class to teach?"
Once she was left alone Amelia stood up from the table and picked up the discarded flowers with the intention of putting them in water. They really were beautiful and it would have been a shame for them to wilt due to lack of attention. It was as she ran the tap that she saw the note tucked into the side of the bouquet.
Amelia knew it was wrong, that she shouldn't read something that was clearly addressed to Imogen but she couldn't help herself. She carefully opened the unsealed envelope and eased the card out, her heart sinking as she read the absolute proof that Davina had been correct in her assessment that Imogen was cheating on that Canadian man. Serge she seemed to remember Davina saying his name was.
"Love always, Your S. x"
Amelia sat down heavily on the armchair and tried to gather her thoughts. How on earth was she going to deal with this?
