Emerald eyed witch

Chapter 7: Shocks and Scares

AN: I apologise I haven't updated in a while I'm in the middle of my exams. 3 down 3 more to go and technically should be revising but…this is a whole lot more interesting than surds or the quadratic bloody equation. Anyway we are going to have some time jumps in this chapter. I'll try and make it clear but if it isn't let me know. I am running out of ideas (Studying is slowly relieving me of all creativeness).Let's get on with the show…story.

That-geek-in-a-hat©

P.S: I don't on the worst witch or characters but Emeralds generation I do

PPS: Can anyone spot my somewhat nerdy reference. Tell me in the review section.

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Constance and Imogen reappeared in front of Ivy cottage. Constance had never seen it and was taken aback the quaintness. The pale yellow front hidden behind the vibrantly coloured Ivy. The door was a dark oak and just screamed country cottage at you.

"If anyone asks, you were walking and I was running a hangover off we met and decided to talk about things. Agreed" Imogen informed Constance before unlocking the door with keys that were conveniently in her pocket.

"Honey I'm home." Imogen shouted through the house, nothing except full laughs from the living room. Slowly she pushed the door Constance not far behind her.

"Mum." Emerald paused the movie and turned slowly "How nice of you to come home. Miss Hardbroom find you in a drunken stooper, did she?" Emerald raised her brow with a concerned look.

"No, I was home ages ago. You wouldn't have heard me come in, it was better than expected. I had to run the hangover off. Come in I'll get you a cuppa." And as if it was the most natural thing ever Constance walked behind Imogen to the kitchen. Emerald smiled while Bonnie stared her teacher who was in her best friend's house and well looked no different except the bruise on her neck. 'Wait, bruises on necks aren't common it's usually…OMG a hickey' Bonnie's eyes grew at her brainwave, she grabbed Emerald by the elbow dragging her out the room.

"Yer mam slept with HB" it was blunt but Bonnie couldn't believe what she was saying.

"And you know that how?" Bonnie explained the hickey and the girls squirmed at the thought of HB (and Emerald's mum) having sex. "Well I'm happy for them, they were arguing before Christmas. Maybe this will be good."

"But…HB is a bitch" Bonnie whispered

"I'm going to tell you something, a secret, don't tell anyone. Promise." Bonnie nodded and they shook on it (with a secret handshake) "Miss Hardbroom is my other mother. It's not a suspicion but a confirmed fact."

Bonnie nodded taking the fact in and went on to say it did explain a lot finally she hugged Emerald knowing her friend had been quite desperate to find her other mother in the past year. The two got dressed and went down stairs.

"Well that wasn't hard. Listen I am sorry about last night I haven't had a night out in a while. Guess I can't hold my liquor." Imogen apologised as she set a black mug of coffee on the counter in front of Constance.

"Its fine Imogen, I wasn't in the clearest of head spaces. I'm sorry too for everything that has happened to us over the years. As much as I hate to be wrong" Imogen giggled at Constance's comment "I was and I hate having to fight with you. I want to be part of her life…is that okay?"

"Yes it is. If I wasn't so proud this could have been sorted sooner. I've loads of stuff to show you." Constance held her hand up sensing Imogen was going to explode from the excitement of reminiscing

"Can you give her this?" Imogen shook her head and pushed the neatly wrapped present towards Constance

"Give it to her yourself." Emerald stood at the door with Bonnie close by which shocked the older witch slightly. She walked over and wished her daughter a 'belated Christmas', carefully Emerald unwrapped the gift. 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' was printed in beautiful golden calligraphy, the younger witch hugged her mama in thanks. Constance was shocked for a moment but slowly lowered her arms around the young girl, her daughter.

As it goes when Bonnie's mum came by she had informed her daughter they were going back to her grandmothers as her father needed some time to 'clear his heed' cautiously Bonnie left after hugging Emerald tightly and thanking her.

2 weeks later

The term had restarted and although all the girls were hyper from the Christmas and New Year buzz none of them had expected to hear that Miss Hawkins had had a broomstick accident and fallen to her death. This was a terrible loss but a few people (Constance and Emerald) knew of the perfect replacement.

Emerald's gang who had happily found the dangerous old book society thanks to Miss Hubble, who was getting ready for her wedding that weekend, had invited them and shown them all the amazing things they could do there and talked about her wedding, a lot. It was to be a mix of magical traditions and non-magical traditions, although Charlie had trained as a wizard and Mildred a witch neither of their families were magic it was only fair to let them understand what was going on. Since she was a little girl Mildred had dreamt of a white dress and she had gotten it she had wanted it to have magical features but had been reminded of the Fosters effect so had settled on 1950's style dress.

Anyway enough about Mildred's wedding. Since joining Cackles Emerald and her friends had had a perfectly peaceful time no frenemies. However that was to change. Erin's cousin had moved from some English witch school and had unfortunately caused an eruption among the group over breakfast.

"Well I don't think it's terribly practical to have two mothers" Hannah snooted

"Well it's lucky I don't care about what you toad's think isn't it" Emerald smirked causing Erin to defend her cousin. To cut a story short Emerald and Hannah had ended up in detention for fighting and not just with magic.

That night Imogen came round to check up on her daughter who had punched a girl but it was a chance to see Connie, who she had established a relationship with again in secret. She walked into Miss Cackles office to a glum girl in a bandage.

"Emerald what have you been doing. I can't leave you for two weeks." She sat down smiling at Amelia.

"I'm sorry but I was sick of her comments about me having two mums I bet if she knew it was HB she'd shut up." Emerald tried to lighten the mood. Amelia sat up 'Have Constance and Imogen finally resolved things. Oh that would be good.'

"Your funny dear, but you can't punch people Marty didn't teach defensive moves to use trivially or in a non-defensive situation." Imogen released the bandage and checked it over. "Listen I'm sorry about this Ame…Miss Cackle she's usually good but I guess being a spell born is a touchy subject." She apologised while helping her daughter with her hand by getting her to do some simple exercises.

"Thanks mum it feels better now. I'm going to bed" she walked out the room continuing to pulse her hand into a fist.

After 10 minutes and a job offer. Constance saw Imogen leave the headmistresses office. Smiling at each other they walked to the potions room.

"Tell me about Emerald's childhood."

"Okay she was born 20th of May 2000 at the delightful time of 3am. My brother and his mother in law were there for the full 6 hours." Imogen smiled

"20th of May? My mother was born on that day too, the great witch Guinevere Mildew" they smiled again and Imogen proceeded to tell her about her first word being Fizzz after the much loved tweenies character. The two talked for an hour maybe two each time sitting closer and closer.

"Are sure you want to give this another go." Constance questioned her new lover. Imogen slid her tanned hands into the slender pale hands of the witch and nodded slowly.

"I am more than sure."

2 months later.

The teachers were swept off their feet. They were all glad to hear of the return of Mildred and Imogen who had jumped at the offer of teaching at Cackles again. If any student were to return they'd say 'Oh if only Miss Bat were here then we'd have a lovely staff room in the morning' which is funnily enough what Mildred had said in her last phone call.

The new D.O.B.S gang had settled in and were playing the week's top 40. The girls were great music fans and despite the brilliant witch stations nothing could beat Scott Mills on Radio 1. It was the 2nd song and it was between Pompeii and one way or another The girls cheered to hear Bastille had made it to No.1 but sang and danced as One Direction played through the magical gramophone.

Since the falling out between Erin, Hannah and Emerald the girls were quite quiet. Erin had decided to side with her cousin while all her other friends sided with Emerald. Erin was lonely she wasn't used to that she blamed Hannah more than Emerald. 'Why do I always end up with my stupid cousin. I wish I hadn't even sided with Hannah she always tells me what to do. Ugh! She is a Hallow what do you expect.'

Chapelwood School

It was the start of lunch and Imogen was clearing her desk quite happily. She had discussed it with Amelia and decided she wouldn't live in the school like she used to, to allow Emerald breathing space, it wasn't fair to expect her to be taught and have her living with her mum so Imogen had decided to teach but not live there.

As she took and placed the picture of her daughter on the top of the full box Mrs Fraser walked in, apple in hand and colleagues behind her.

"Afternoon Drill, We came to wish you luck with your new job. What is it again?"

"Oh it's a head of department job. I do like working here but this new job will allow me to be closer to Em" she smiled forcefully 'Imogen, just remember it is only a few hours until your out'

"Well we all clubbed together and got you a bottle of Achável Ferrer wine, I think it was what you drank on New Year's. We also got you this" Miss Axton smiled, Imogen had always liked her she was nice to her and didn't make comments about her private life, as she pulled out a teddy wearing the schools netball kit, which Imogen had been coaching, with signatures.

"The staff and the netball team signed it as well as some other children." Mrs Coppertwine smiled

"Yes good luck Drill, I hope your new job helps you connect with your daughter" Mrs Fraser chided still deciding to not believe she had one.

"Hey stop that were you not in the local a few months ago. Imogen's daughter is a lovely looking girl, black hair and fair skin." Mr Macpherson complimented

"Oh well doesn't sound like she even looks like you…" Mrs Fraser began but was interrupted by Imogen

"How do you know what she looks like she's never really out and about?" Imogen raised her eyebrow and stared them down.

"Sorry Imogen we followed you, to find out why you went into the wood, you know it's haunted and the castle. We saw a young girl shout to you and then you went in with another woman a lot taller looked an image of the girl she a relative of yours?" Mrs Coppertwine asked as Mrs Fraser sat down smugly.

"No. She isn't and for your information Emerald has my eyes hence her name. I don't understand why you had to follow me. You could ask me like any normal person would or look at the pictures that have sat on my desk since I started here." She handed them a picture in a black and green frame of herself and Emerald from last year, the year they had gone camping on a big site in America, Emerald had made loads of friends and Imogen had considered moving there but decided against after coming to the conclusion there were no witch schools within 100 miles of the desired location.

"Well she certainly break a few hearts." Mr Macpherson laughed and Imogen smiled back a genuine smile.

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The end of the day came and for once Imogen took up on the offer of a drink but only one. The majority of staff came and sang 'for she's a jolly good fellow' as she left, finally. Collecting a few things from the house she made the short walk to Castle Overblow carefully checking all her old running routes were still accessible.

Imogen had studied Miss Hawkins' lesson pans and made the conclusion they weren't very thorough and focused on witch things like flying. Although she wasn't an expert on that she wanted to help the girls get fitter so they could do things easier and maybe more efficiently.

As she walked through the big gates she couldn't help but smile, this is where she belonged and she wasn't likely to give it up.

Author's note: Hope you enjoyed that and noticed the nerdy reference in there. It might not be obvious but it might be too obvious.

Spoiler: It had happened so quickly she had been running and then crouching she couldn't catch her breath, it hurt to move, the dark walls were spinning faster, faster, faster until everything went black