It was coming up to the end of October and a very special anniversary. Every day in the build up there would be some reminder of this time last year. "This was the date Amelia confronted me in the staffroom." or "This was the date we went to the supermarket together." As it happened their actual "official" anniversary was at the weekend and the music event that they had gone to the year before was on again. They made plans to recreate that night by going to dinner and then to the concert as they had twelve months before.
The difference was, this year they were getting ready together, stopping to exchange meaningful looks and kisses as they did. There was another difference as well.
"Darling, you do realise that you are ovulating again?"m Constance had pointed out a couple of days beforehand.
Imogen had realised and she was excited to keep trying. Perhaps the timing was some sort of sign?
"It's strange what can happen in a year Sweetheart. This time last year I was worried about saying something silly to you when we went out for the first time. Now we're married and soon we'll have a family together."
Kissing her and cheekily pinching her backside Constance responded, "I have noticed that at some point during the year you stopped worrying about saying silly things."
She wasn't forgetting her own insecurities from that time though. Every time they had arranged to meet she had been worried that Imogen would tell her that she had changed her mind, that she didn't want to go out with her anymore. "I really was acting like a teenager." Now, she knew that what was between was forever and she was looking forward to many special dates in the years to come.
Their anniversary was wonderful. Amelia was on supervision and while she didn't say anything to the couple, she too was thinking of the year before and was so happy with the way things had gone. There had been no more mention of a baby but she knew it would happen sooner or later, hopefully sooner. She smiled at them as they left the school that evening, both looking beautiful. It was also amusing to see the students do a double take when they saw their teachers looking very different yet again and heading out for the evening.
When they returned hours later everyone was in bed. Feeling very sentimental they went to the staffroom where they had shared their first kiss, sharing some more, although not as shyly now. They did still check the stationery cupboard for old times sake.
"I wanted to kiss you so much baby, wished more than anything that you would tell me that you felt the same. When you did, I thought I was dreaming. I can't believe everything that's happened since last year, it's better than anything I could have dreamed of."
Constance recalled not wanting them to simply "try", how she had worried that it would seem like an experiment doomed to fail. As it was they had started something incredible that night that neither could have predicted.
Afterwards she lead Imogen up to their bedroom so she could show her how she truly felt. For both this was about them, not just trying to conceive, although that would be a very happy result. As they made love they were both so grateful to have taken that chance and for what had transpired since the previous year. They stayed awake for most of the night talking and laughing in between passionate embraces and as they eventually fell asleep they both wondered what their second anniversary would entail.
Unfortunately after that wonderful, peaceful weekend the usual Cackles madness was back in full swing. Within a few days Ethel had turned Mildred into a frog and it was only afterwards that they discovered the second year had been blaming Constance for it.
"Honestly, I try and try with that girl and she still thinks I would do that to her?"
Imogen stroked her wife's hand as they sat in Amelia's office. She understood that Constance really was making an effort, even though Mildred clearly couldn't see it and didn't help herself with some of her antics. She thought of Jamie's words from a few months ago and knew that as the potions mistress she needed to be tougher than the other teachers.
The students also had a tendency to aim for a mile when offered an inch which also didn't do them any favours. She had hoped that they would start to see the other side of the woman she loved but clearly that was not the case yet. She did think that it was slightly unfair that Mildred was being punished along with Ethel but when she heard what they were being banned from she would have gladly swapped places with the second year herself.
"Helliboring? That creep. Does he really have come here?", she fumed thinking of how he had offered his services to Constance when she went to get the conception spell.
Amelia was in agreement but knew that there was no way of avoiding a visit without causing major offence which would not help the school one bit.
Constance interjected, "Darling it's fine. He knows I have a partner. He doesn't know it's you, although I imagine he will after being around the girls for thirty seconds. Please don't worry. He's hardly going to proposition me in front of the students." Truthfully, she was not happy herself. Hellibore was a pain at the best of times but right now she was feeling especially tired as a result of the frog situation and didn't want to see Imogen upset by him.
Of course he discovered the relationship news quickly. "I must say Miss Cackle, I'm surprised that I wasn't invited to Miss Hardbroom's wedding."
Imogen rolled her eyes, it had been her wedding too and she was standing right there. Next he'd be saying he had expected to be invited to the wedding night. "Yuk, I need brain bleach. Why did I even think that? I feel ill now?", she scolded herself.
Even though he wasn't talking to her she felt that she needed to answer. "With respect Your Honour, we had a very private ceremony with only our close friends and family there, it was nothing to do with the school."
As he blustered about she added in her head, "And you cracked onto my wife, you're lucky I haven't shoved your staff where the sun doesn't shine."
Constance was doing her best to avoid their guest. She didn't like the way he looked at her, he didn't even try to hide what he was thinking and the only person she wanted thinking of her in that way was her wife. However she was pleased it had worked out that Maud was getting a lesson with him, even though she knew the girl was nervous it was a good opportunity for her. As they got ready to enter the hall she was further distracted by Davina's dismal counting skills, "And I thought Imogen was bad?"
Finally it looked like the numbers were correct. Constance was glad to sit next to Imogen for the display and moved her chair as close as she could to her, needing the closeness. Even if Hellibore was a nuisance, his skills were interesting to watch and she could see that even her wife was intrigued. Of course at that moment Mildred was discovered and started going on about some wizard she had met when she was a frog. Constance wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, even more so when it turned out the girl had been right.
"Can anything around here just be normal?" she sighed, feel utterly exhausted.
While the unexpected party carried on she was approached by their 'Illustrious Guest'.
"Ah Miss Hardbroom, I did not get the chance to congratulate you on your marriage, seeing as I was not actually at the wedding. Miss Drill, now that was a surprise"
She gave him her best fake smile, "Thank you Your Honour."
He carried on, "I presume that when the spell I made for you takes effect, if it has not already, you will let me know? Unlike your wedding."
At this point Amelia came over on a rescue mission. She could see that her friend was not in the right frame of mind to deal with Hellibore, not that anyone really ever was, except maybe Davina.
Constance walked over to where her wife was talking to Davina, "Darling I'm very tired. You stay here I'm going to go to bed."
Knowing that the past few days had been stressful for both of them Imogen could think nowhere she wanted to be more than in their bed together. They quickly said goodnight to Amelia and Davina and reluctantly Chief Creep Helliboring.
Walking away she could feel him watching them a bit too closely so she reached out to take her wife's hand, resisting the urge to turn around and make a face at the old pervert. They went to their room, where after undressing and washing they went straight to bed with just a little kiss and cuddle to help Constance feel better. Imogen had never seen her fall asleep so quickly. The last few days had taken a lot out of both of them and she sighed as she spooned up to her sleeping love wrapping her arms around her to keep her safe from even the thoughts of creepy annoying wizards.
Over the next couple of days Imogen felt her own stress levels rising. There was a bug going around the school and although she had only caught a minor version of it she had still felt rough for twenty four hours. Most of the students seemed to have caught it as well as Amelia and Davina. Everyone seemed to be on the mend now but it had knocked her P.E schedule right off course. Just as she thought they had turned the corner Amelia came to tell her that she had sent Constance to their room at lunchtime as she really hadn't looked well.
"She tried to deny it of course and I really had to force her to go. I think she's caught the tail end of what we had. Please don't worry, some sleep and she'll be fine. I do need to ask you though, will you cover the detention she was supposed to take now? I would but I have to give a spell tutoring lesson to a couple of the fourth years and Davina and detention do not mix as you know."
Of course Imogen would cover detention, she just needed to run up and check on her wife first. She felt awful that she hadn't realised she was ill. Looking back on it she had been a bit unsettled the night before but Imogen had been so busy checking on the students and still feeling drained herself that once she lay down she fell into a deep sleep. She had barely registered that Constance had been so restless.
Feeling guilty she entered the room to find the love of her life fully dressed, hair still in its bun and fast asleep on top of the blankets with Morgana lying next to her. Constance never fell asleep in her clothes, even if she was exhausted she would just use magic to change into her pyjamas or even nothing at all. She also never slept with her hair up like that as it gave her a headache. Imogen debated undressing her but didn't want to risk disturbing the badly needed sleep so instead she gently loosened the dark hair and pulled up the crochet blanket from the end of the bed.
Giving her sleeping love a soft kiss, she whispered to Morgana, "Look after her until I'm back", receiving a purr in response.
"Aghh, those girls", she fumed to herself as she left the classroom after detention. Apparently the fact that they were already being punished had not registered with them and she had to tell them four times to stop talking and generally messing around. It was only when she threatened them with a 5AM ten mile run did they settle down and write the lines they had been assigned.
Plus Enid Nightshade was still acting up. It was nothing specific, just more looks, but Imogen knew that the girl still had an issue with her marriage.
"I just want to go to bed myself now", she thought even though it was only six o'clock. She just hoped that Constance was okay, she couldn't wait to wrap her arms around her and look after her like she deserved.
As she walked down the hallway to go up to their bedroom she met Amelia.
"Good, I was just coming to get you. Jamie is here to see you."
Imogen looked at her in surprise. He always called if he was coming.
"And he's brought someone with him."
She smiled, this was good news on an otherwise crappy day. "Abby?"
Amelia shook her head, "No dear, not Abby."
Confused and now feeling a bit worried she rushed into the staffroom to see herself who was there. As she entered the room and saw who it was she only had one question,
"What on earth are you doing here?"