(A/N)- Apologies for the wait! Thank you so much, everyone who reviewed, it means a lot! This fic in general has been somewhat unintentionally inspired by Ellie Goulding's song "I Know You Care" if anyone is curious check it out ;p Anyways, enjoy! Next should be up sooner!

- Chapter 3 - Another Chance -

"Excellent serve, Ruby!" Imogen complimented from across the yard, "Great save, Drusilla!"

She walked the length of the courtyard, keeping an eye on the girls as they played volleyball, calling out encouragements here and there. She was feeling rather lazy today. Normally, she'd be at the sidelines coaching them but today she just couldn't be bothered. She supposed it was because she wanted them to play all on their own without her yelling instructions and tips here and there … but really it was because she couldn't get her mind off of a certain witch …

She swung her lanyard in circles as she walked, wind gently passing through the whistle at the end. She scuffed her sneakers in frustration on the cobblestone, and lifted her green eyes to look towards the staff room window.

And there she saw Constance, through the diamond-patterned window pane, looking back at her.

She dropped the whistle in surprise, and retrieved it immediately, but once she stood back up, the window was empty.

Perhaps she imagined it?

"Good afternoon, Miss Drill."

She jumped out of her skin and spun around to see Constance Hardbroom standing before her, arms folded across her middle.

"May I have a word with you?" she asked, as calmly and professionally as possible but Imogen could spot just a hint of reluctance and regret in her eyes.

Imogen stared back at her, trying not to glare at the witch as she recalled how she stood her up the night before.

She put her hands on her hips, "I'm in the middle of a class."

"Please?" Constance asked, a bit more gently, her eyes softer than usual.

Imogen watched her eyes for a moment and sighed, "Girls –" she called, but the witch cut her off.

"Class dismissed!"

The sports mistress looked to her in outrage, "Excuse you?"

"Miss Cackle's at Cosie's and Miss Bat's out picking daisies," she explained quickly, "I too have dismissed my class early. Miss Cackle decided it should be a half day, for whatever reason."

"Well you could've just told me," Imogen muttered.

"What? And risk not seeing that look on your face when I dismissed your class for you?" Constance asked, suppressing a grin.

"I really don't think you're in a position to make jokes at the moment, Miss Hardbroom," Imogen replied with an icy stare.

"Yes, well, that's precisely what I wanted to talk to you about …" she replied quietly, looking ashamed of herself. She nodded over her shoulder and the non-witch followed her to the potions lab.

Once she shut the door behind her, she explained herself.

"I've been on edge since that incident the other night. I didn't want to leave the girls too early, and I must've lost track of time."

"Of course," Imogen replied simply with a nod, refusing to meet her eyes.

Silence fell momentarily between them.

"You don't believe me," Constance realized.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time you didn't tell the whole truth, now would it?" Imogen retorted, looking up into her baleful eyes, "You came to me for help, Constance." She reminded pointedly.

"Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Constance replied in annoyance, scowling at her.

"Try me."

"I thought I heard something last night, that's all. I was determined to find the source of it, but I hadn't. I didn't want to tell you because there's no use terrifying anyone over some unknown entity-"

"A ghost?" Imogen asked skeptically.

Constance blushed, "No, I don't think it was, I mean …" she sighed, "It was voices. It could've been the girls but I'd checked in on every single one and they were all fast asleep."

"They could've been faking it, just trying to scare you …"

"I can tell when they're 'faking it', Miss Drill," she insisted, "It was something else. I don't know what it was, but I'm on duty tonight so –"

"No you're not – I'm on duty tonight." Imogen declared, crossing the room to enter the store room, "You are going to get some well-needed sleep tonight."

"Not tonight!" Constance snapped, following after her, "Are you suggesting I endanger the welfare of the girls yet again-"

"Hearing voices isn't a good thing; it's probably from your lack of sleep …"

"Trust me, Imogen, it's not from sleep deprivation, I distinctly heard voices and, sleep potion or not, I will not get any rest until I find the source."

The potions mistress stopped in her tracks, watching as the non-witch scanned through the many bottles in one of the cabinets that had been left ajar.

"What are you doing?" Constance asked in amusement.

"Trying to find something that sounds like it might induce sleep since I have a feeling you're going to fight against brewing a sleep aid – aha!" she pulled out a small vial with an accomplished grin, "Lavender!"

"That is one of the ingredients, yes … how did you know?"

"Lavender helps one relax. I'm not entirely daft when it comes to these things," she dangled the bottle in the air by its neck, and Constance retrieved it from her.

"Apparently not," The witch replied with a raised brow, fighting a smile, "But we're not making the potion."

"Why not? It's a half day, what else were you planning on doing?"

"I have papers to grade, books to reshelf, files that need reordering, supplies to replenish –"

The non-witch stopped her in mid-sentence by grasping hold of her hand.

"You weren't supposed to answer that," Imogen said with a half laugh, releasing her, "Come on, it can't take that long."

Constance sighed, "If we're caught …"

"I won't be brewing it, you will."

"That's not what I mean," Constance corrected, eyes narrowing at her before crossing the room to fetch a spell book from the shelf, "You and me, together, actually getting along …" she turned and placed the book down on the table in the center of the room more carefully than one ought to place any book.

"People will talk." She said finally, her brown eyes glancing up to meet hers.

Imogen just looked to her shoes, feeling ashamed but she wasn't sure exactly why …

"Why do you care, all of the sudden?" Constance asked suddenly, genuinely curious, "You never seemed to worry about me before …"

"I never saw a reason to worry," Imogen admitted, "You've always seemed well off … and I've always cared, you just … never seem to allow anyone to."

Constance felt exposed all of the sudden, and she opened her mouth to speak, but no words would form. So instead, she grabbed hold of the book and searched through its pages, "Shall we get started then?" she said finally after she'd found the directions and list of ingredients for a sleeping draught.

She pretended to be busy with the book, but she did not flinch or move away as Imogen neared to get a better look.

(A/N)- Reviews! :D