Just When You Thought The World Was Coming To An End, A Miracle Happens.
Chapter Nine
The next day had dawned bright and sunny, but the air was as icy as ever. The snow had fallen thickly during the night and was just waiting for someone to tread on it.
"Can I go outside, please?" pouted Abby, practically hanging over the back of the sofa Constance had transfigured from one of the wooden chairs around the table. The witch was currently sitting with her feet up on the sofa reading, for once, not a research book, but a fiction novel she had found lurking in the corner of the staff room. There was a large fire burning in front of Constance and she felt rather drowsy, but she had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing at the look on Abby's face.
"You know that look doesn't work with me, but go on then, and make sure you wrap up warm," Constance had to shout the last part of the sentence so she could be heard as the door slammed behind Abby.
Abby hurriedly put on her black coat and matching red gloves and scarf, before running outside, not forgetting to shut the front door behind her. It was cold enough in the castle at it was. The snow was so thick that Abby found it hard to walk out into the courtyard. And once there she couldn't decide what to do. Looking at the vast space before her, she decided that building a snowman was the best option. Half an hour later however, Abby had grown bored and was now making as many snowballs as possible.
Constance closed the book and gazed into the fire. The clock on the mantelpiece struck seven and she yawned. Realising that Abby was still outside, Constance stood at the window and saw the girl continuing to make a mound of snowballs. The witch pulled on her coat, cloak, scarf and gloves, and quietly made her way out of the front door, closing it silently behind her. With a flick of her finger, she sent a couple of snowballs in Abby's direction. The girl jumped as they hit her.
"Hey." Abby marched up to Constance. "That's not fair, you used magic!"
"Oh, did I?" Constance feigned innocence, trying very hard not to laugh at the look on Abby's face. "Did I point my finger," and here she did the action, "and make the snowballs hit you?" This time she grinned as snowballs made their way towards the pair. Abby, realising what was about to happen, darted around the back of the witch, and before Constance knew it she had been pelted with snow. Conjuring the sternest face she could, she rounded on Abby, whose smile faulted at the sight of the woman. Now she knew why pupils were frightened of her when they were in trouble.
"Well?"
"I…I…well…it wasn't my fault, I didn't throw them at myself," Abby mumbled, looking at her feet.
"Pardon?"
Abby looked up at Constance, her lip trembling, fearing for the worst.
"I think," Constance said with a mischievous gleam in her eye, "this calls for a little punishment." And with that she tickled the girl, who was so surprised that she fell over into the snow. Constance knelt down beside her and continued to tickle Abby until they both became out of breath from laughing so much. The older witch stood up first and brushed the snow off her scarlet robes, coat and dark red cloak, before offering her hand to Abby. She then brushed the snow off Abby and pulled her into a hug, which was gratefully returned. Constance could feel the young girl shivering beneath her arms.
"You're frozen! Come on, let's get you inside, changed out of those wet clothes and sat in front of the fire."
Constance shooed Abby up the stairs, before returning to the staffroom to bank up the fire. Presently the door opened and Abby walked in wearing her pyjamas and dressing gown. She flopped down next to Constance, who pulled her into her arms.
"You should be going to bed, you know."
"I can't, its cold upstairs. I might freeze to death."
"Oh I'm sure it wouldn't come to that. If the worst comes to the worst you can always cuddle up with me."
Abby smiled and yawned. "Thanks, but for now I'll just stay here."
Constance smiled as Abby drifted into sleep, and went back to staring into the fire.