A/N: I decided for the memory portions, to put those in italics, since they're fragments anyway I figure it will make it stand out better than from when the story takes a detour into the past. I hope everyone reading is enjoying it.
Chapter 3: those memories and that life
Miss Cackle decided she'd left Constance and her new P.E teacher alone long enough, she was really just too curious as to what Imogen had meant by 'My Constance Hardbroom'. Somewhere in the back of her mind she reasoned that Constance was (however much she liked to disagree) capable of emotional attachment and likely had been involved at least on some level with women in the past. It was very clear to her that if Constance were to ever be romantically involved with anyone it would be with a woman, she knew she thought very little of men and was much more comfortable in the company of women. 'Perhaps Imogen is and old flame?' she thought as she walked up to the staff-room door. She knocked and slowly opened the door, not wanting to outright barge in and interrupt, "May I join you ladies?"
"Of course Miss Cackle," Constance replied, "I was just getting Imogen up to speed with the workings of the school."
She didn't believe it for a second, but she wasn't about to challenge her, "I see," she said, turning her attention to the P.E teacher, "Imogen, I hope Constance has made you feel welcome here."
"Very much Miss Cackle," Imogen replied.
"Good to hear," Miss Cackle said, looking over at Constance, hoping to glean some truth out of her.
"Miss Cackle, I would like to show Imogen some of the classrooms, and will need to utilise the Potion Lab briefly this afternoon, we will also require no interruptions, is that all right?"
"There are no planned classes in there for this afternoon, so I don't suppose there would be a problem with that, but I can't guarantee you'll be safe from the prying eyes of the girls," Miss Cackle explained.
"I will see to it that there are no opportunities for interruptions from anyone Miss Cackle," Constance replied bluntly.
"As you wish, Constance," while she trusted her deputy and knew she had her reasons, that didn't mean she felt completely at ease with Constance's proposition.
Constance did indeed follow through on her proposition of showing Imogen around the school, she figured it would be the most sensible way to not raise suspicion. They finished up the tour at the Potion Lab. Once they were inside, Constance cast both a silence spell around the room and a round-a-bout spell so that anyone thinking of walking over to the windows or the door would be instantly deterred and turn around.
"That should do it," she said, "now, I will prepare the necessary ingredients."
Imogen was impressed, and a little taken aback by Constance's command over her magic, "Was I always this in awe of you and your magic?"
"No need to gawk Imogen, you were once able to do all of this too," Constance replied, feeling pleased with herself, she still managed to be able to impress her.
Imogen smiled, she still couldn't quite imagine herself as a witch, let alone one as skilled as Constance, "Can I do anything to help with the potion?" She asked.
"Of course, if you look in that cupboard you will find these ingredients," Constance handed Imogen a piece of paper, on which she had written the names of several herbs and other ingredients they would need.
Imogen took the paper from Constance's hand and read through the list, she smiled looking at Constance's elegant handwriting, the elongated letters made it all the more striking and memorable.
"What is it Imogen?" Constance noticed Imogen's smile.
"Oh, nothing, just your handwriting, I forgot how much I liked it," she replied.
Constance had never thought very much of it, though she did place high value on good penmanship, and felt it was an important practice.
Imogen returned with the ingredients on Constance's list and placed them on the desk in front of her. Constance had begun to grind some herbs down in mortar and pestle and sprinkled a little into the cauldron. It didn't take a great deal of time for her to finish the potion, she was skilled in her craft and took pride in being able to complete tasks efficiently and successfully.
"Is that it?" Imogen asked, looking into the silver liquid in the cauldron, "Are we done?"
"I believe so," Constance replied, stirring the liquid once before scooping some up into a glass jar. She then handed Imogen the jar, "Take a sip of this, just a sip, we don't need to go too far into your past, just the time when we were at Witch Training College," she instructed, "also remember, you must concentrate. When you start seeing memories, focus, and you will be able to hold onto them. Then tell me what you've seen," she explained.
Imogen nodded and took a sip.
"Ah, Imogen, I was just thinking about you-," before she could finish, Imogen interrupted her and said with a smile, "Good things I hope?"
"Always my dear, now look; I learnt it this morning," Constance crossed her arms and within a second she was gone.
Imogen stood looking around wondering what she had just witnessed, as she turned back around to where Constance had been standing, her friend reappeared, "Wow Constance that's impressive! Did Broomhead teach you that in your lesson?"
"She did," she answered. Mention of her tutor's name soured the mood slightly, but Constance was too pleased with herself for being able to do such advanced magic that she didn't let it bother her.
"You know, as much as I don't envy you for having that old hag as your tutor, I wish I could learn advanced magic like that too," Imogen said.
"You will, Imogen, in time," Constance said, and crossed her arms again and disappeared, she was having too much fun with her new ability.
"So this is how it's going to be hey? I see, you get cool new magic and I'm left here alone?!" Imogen called out to Constance, hoping she was at least nearby to hear her complaining.
"Oh Imogen stop being such a wet blanket, here, look," Constance reappeared and took Imogen's hands in hers, and within seconds the two of them were transported outside the school and then back into the library where they had started.
"Wow Constance, that was amazing," Imogen said, beaming, "You definitely need to teach me how to do that!"
"Constance you have to tell me what she's been doing to you, we can't just let her keep treating you like this!" Imogen pleaded.
"Imogen, it's fine, I'm fine," Constance didn't want to make a bigger fuss out of this than need be.
"No, Constance, it's not. You're not fine," Imogen said, looking at the red patches on Constance's hands, she daren't image what other damage Broomhead had done to her.
Constance looked defeated, and exhausted but she wasn't going to let Broomhead win, she quietly said a spell and the evidence of Broomhead's displeasure was erased from her hands, physically anyway.
Imogen stood outside Mistress Broomhead's office, Constance was in there getting scolded again. She never did anything wrong, but Broomhead had such ridiculous standards which she expected Constance to reach. She knew it was not because she wished to see Constance do well, but because she didn't want to be seen as a failure for not being able to make Constance into her image, she had put 'considerable effort' and 'precious time' as she liked to say into making Constance her protégé.
"This is so unfair," Imogen muttered to herself.
Soon after, Constance was allowed to leave and it was Imogen's turn. Constance looked at her friend knowingly, wishing her luck for surviving Broomhead's onslaught.
"Miss Imogen Drill, I have been watching you, don't think I don't know about you and Constance. You are a distraction to her, nothing more. You are doing nothing for her schoolwork and her concentration is lacking because of you! She is a bright and talented witch, who does not need the distractions from the likes of you to pull her away from her path." Broomhead's voice was raised, and certainly she spoke sternly, but she wasn't outright yelling. Imogen wasn't sure if she should be more or less afraid.
"Yes Mistress Broomhead," Imogen couldn't say anything else.
"Now, listen girl, this is your final warning, if I catch you two again, it will be the end of you. Now go!"
"Constance? Did you just do what I think you did?" Imogen said, surprised at the sound she just heard escape her friend's mouth.
"Certainly not," she said, trying not to let it happen again.
"You did, you just giggled!"
"Don't be ridiculous Imogen, I would never do such a thing," Constance answered, failing to restrain her laughter.
"Well I think it suits you, you should do it more often," Imogen said.
"It's probably because I spend so much time around you anyway, you're a terrible influence on me Imogen Drill,"
"I think you mean that I am a great influence on you," Imogen said, brushing a loose hair from Constance's face.
The images began to fade from Imogen's mind.
"Well? What did you see?" Constance asked, impatiently.
"Constance, I think I'm beginning to understand what happened, but what I saw wasn't enough, I'll need to take some more of the potion to be sure," Imogen answered.
"I understand, but not today, you've put your mind through a lot. Take some time to process the memories you recovered and we can try again tomorrow," Constance told her, "I will bottle this potion so we have a good supply for future attempts."
Imogen nodded, she was tired after the experience and certainly needed some time to process what she'd seen.
