For ffs dreamsinlilac Prompt 36- AU where their relation ship would be illegal. Went with the homosexuality is banned route. Let me know of any spelling errors orbit's that don't read well

If anyone was to wonder where the two younger members of staff were, they wouldn't have said together. Especially after the rumours of another staffroom row circulating the school.

Miss Drill, in training for a race no one cared for, was on her usual run evening run along the meadow and would be gone at least an hour and back in time to supervise supper.

Miss Hardbroom, in preparation for tomorrows lesson no second year had done their homework for, was out gathering some extra ingredients from the small but flourishing herb garden by the back gate and would be back well within an hour and promptly to supervise detentions.

No one if asked would see them together. Of corse there was the fact that if they were in the woods together it wasn't impossible for them to do so unnoticed.

Miss Hardbroom could creep around invisible and appear where ever she wished to on a whim. And Miss Drill could run very fast and knew the woods more then well enough to take a short cut without being s.

But why would they? To what purpose? what a ridiculous notion. Miss Drill had a boyfriend. Miss Hardbroom was- well, HB. EVERYONE knew the two teachers absolutely HATED one another. Or at least disliked each other at the best of times.

Didn't they?

Or was that just what they wanted everyone think…?

As Imogen approached the bend in the path that lead along the cross country root she slowed as though to catch her breath. In reality it was to make sure she hadn't been followed. Not that anyone would but better to be safe then sorry. the last thing they needed was Agatha springing unwanted surprises. Satisfied, Imogen jogged not straight on but veered off at an angle plotting a diagonal path for herself.

Deeper into the woods Imogen went; past a fallen oak that had been there so long it was nearly part of the undergrowth, other younger trees were pushing though its dead roots and bare rotten branches. Then past the clearing where she'd once found a lonely tabby cat, hid from bad witches and leapt to rescue Mildred Hubble from the mud.

It wasn't far or a very long run. But the woods quickly became thicker and more uncultervayted, until there was nothing but moss under foot. Not as much light either, the higher branches dappling out the sunlight and the trees trunks just a few feet apart. Here, at their tree, the PE teacher stopped. She lent back against the trunk and closed her eyes to actually get her breath back this time. And waited.

Their tree was no different from any other really. If it wasn't for the heart shape some love sick fool had carved into it at the start of last spring. Constance didn't approve of carving in trees, seeing it as a form of graffiti and harmful to the woods. But it was done with magic and quickly healed, rather then with the knifes she kept on her person always for plant use so it didn't count. it'd been the second rare spontaneous rebellion Constance had allowed herself to do in resent years. The first rebellious thing being her relationship with Imogen. But this took careful military prosiotion planning to achieve so was far from spontaneous. outside of the bedroom at least.

Waiting was perhaps the wrong word to use to describe what Imogen did there at their tree. She wasn't there alone for long at all. Two or three heartbeats later, a familiar swish of magic announced the witch's arrival. The rendezvous had gone to plan.

"Miss Drill?"

"Here."

For all the loud staffroom rows , when alone together the unlikely pair slipped into quiet tender whispers and hushed adorations.

Imogen didn't open her eyes straight away. Not until the witch rounded the tree stealing a kiss on Imogen's cheek. Imogen's sunny smile broadened to a grin.

"Have you been waiting long, my pretty?" Constance hummed in her ear. To Imogen she was beautiful as she was clever. More so when her deep brown eyes shone .

"No, only all day." Imogen mocked as she offered out her hands interlacing their fingers. And not minding at all when her HB gently kissed that smirk off her face. Just as Constance didn't mind when the kisses began to leave her a little giddy.

Here she felt loved. They both did. Here in their secret spot The laws that refused to acconolge their right to love one another were forgotten. along with the disproval of the guild who disliked inter magic and mortal relations. not to mention them being teachers in a boarding school with a strict no dating rule, one Constance bitterly regretted backing when it was first put forward. So they were a secret with a secret place. It wasn't sensible at all but no, she had to have fallen in love with Drill, and she with a Hardbroom. despite the the petty feud that had previously made the Montagues and Capulets rivalry look more like "Much Ado about Nothing.

Working together had been bad enough at first, and Constance had often wondered how differently things might have been if Amelia had not sat them down and made they agree for the good of the school to put their differences aside, rather then firing one the other or both of them. She didn't like to think what would happen if her friendly headmistress would say if her deputy's relationship with the pe teacher was revealed.

They weren't at Cackle's now and not technically even in the grounds. Here alone there was no taboo between them. only passion, love and romantic sensual little stolen kisses on borrowed time. just being them.

But like the remainder of autumn, their time together out by their tree was brief.

"It'll be getting to dark soon to continue these trips you know." Constance complained. "And don't look at me like that, pussycat, I'm not having you risk breaking a leg or fighting any sudden snowdrifts."

"I know." Imogen muttered, gazing up at her witch pulling her closer by her belt. it was hard too tell who had who pressed up which tree. "We shouldn't have to hide. I wish we could do as we pleased."

"Imogen, we can't." Constance chastised in a hiss.

"I know we can't." Imogen huffed. Even though they were supposedly safe here she looked around wearily for any student who might see them. "I'm just saying i wish we could. Sometimes I just want to run away with you and never stop. Imagine if we could."

Constance didn't want to. It was too painful. But something Miss Cackle had been trying to drum into her the previous year found a voice.

"well… what if we went away together? Not running away as such but a rondavous went some where no one knows us."

"Like a Holiday?" Imogen blinked. She looked thrilled and shocked and baffled in equal measures.

"Exactly like a holiday." Constance said.

"Together?"

"Well I'm not going on my own."

"But I thought you hated holidays?" Imogen pushed. It was after all why during breaks in the term, aside from love letter and the occasional weekend rondayvous, Imogen had spent most of the summer pretending to be Surge Dubious's girlfriend, faking dates and fooling families. the only benefit the two adventure loving best friends shared in the bedroom was that Imogen had the bed to herself most nights while the scout master ditched his sleeping bag and instead donned sequin dresses to hit the clubs. Playing it straight lifted suspicion from both their real partners. Constance disliked the idea but had to admit it was logical.

"I hate ones I have with a dozen young witches in tow or where I can't have you to myself. Those have hardly been holidays." Constance said crossly and moved back to peck at Imogen lips again. "No, I'm not keen. But I'm just tried of secrets. Just as much as you are."

"Maybe we could even go somewhere the locals turn a better blind eye to our sort."

"Hmm. I hear some of the seaside towns like to even advertise themselves as Queer friendly."

"They'd be very quiet this time of year." Imogen pointed out. "And nothing much to do."

"Not many people to spot us in order to turn a blind eye to us then."

"I meant if theres nothing much to do we could just spend the entire time in bed having lots of frowned upon forbidden sex."

"Minx! must you be so blunt?" the witch chastised but they both giggled, blushing and finding the idea very very appealing.

"But we'd be on holiday together." Constance breathed. "As a couple."

Imogen stared at her, stunned, then hugged her, an action no one else would dare. Not many would blurt out "I love you," as she did either.

Constance chuckled and slipped a hand under Imogen's chin, tipping it up for a proper kiss. And more kisses; before they had to head back in their usual fashion.

Constance would walk along side her Imogen holding her hand as the cut through the woods till Imogen safely reached the path on the other side. then Constance would be gone and back in the castle before anyone would miss her. but not with out a kiss, abet invisible. And Imogen would run back to the school and everyone would be obvious to who was sleeping and 'sleeping' in whose bed once the lights were out.

But for a few more minutes at least Here she felt loved. They both did. Here in their secret tree planning a secret holiday stealing secret kisses, together.

Only they weren't as alone as they thought. Neither saw the figure watching them. An anyone who didn't believe what their eyes were seeing in the woods or what they're ears heard, especially of two teachers out of bounds breaking several taboos. After all, If anyone was to wonder where the two younger members of staff were, they wouldn't have said together. Or in love. Would they?