A cornerstone of life at Cackles' was tradition. And December was no exception. Although it wasn't all about Christmas; It was an international school of magic after all, and in-between the ongoing lessons and same old school life, students also celebrated Hanukkah and Bodhi Day, as well as the countdown to Mawlid an Nabi, Christmas Day, Hogswatch, and anything else, all came in to play.
So over time Cackles had become a great boiling cauldron pot of 'every years', mimicking what other family members had done when they were at the school, and practices. Crystal ball calls home, cards passed about presents exchanged, candles lit and other general things.
Tuck from home would suddenly include advent calendars and so many sweets not even Miss Hardbroom could completely control in the influx of sugar fuelled midnight feasts.
The pre-breakup concert that had turned into a talent show and would later be a pantomime was always the main gossip.
There was always a ginormous snowball fight in the yard the first break time after the white stuff settled. And every year someone( or a few of somebodies) would always take things too far, either making a rude snow witch, attaching a sled to a broomstick or accidently pelting a teacher with a snow ball, much to the delight of the others. Mildred had managed all three two years in a row so far and no doubt in line for a third.
The staff had had a Secret Santa* for the past five years and joined the girls at meals more often. The first time was a lot more successful than anyone would have thought so. Frank nudged Ms Tapioca the afternoon after boxing day and remarked how much nicer it was with misses HB and Drill weren't arguing. Mr Tapioca replied they were only occasionally and at half volume, which threw a lot of questions up about what exactly Miss Drill had gifted HB with (Ideas varied from sweet to rather suggestive!).
There was always a weekend skating on the frozen rivers and the lake- enchanted either to freeze solid or at least pose no danger of cracking. There bumps and cuts and scrapes and someone, normally a Hallow showing off. But the real danger more often came from Miss Hardbroom who was also skating about, circling like a bird of prey looking for misbehavior.
The final night disco wasn't ever really much of one by any disco enthusiast's standards. but it was always fun none the less. If only because HB would always be bullied into at appearing a little more festive. The year before last, Griselda told the newer girls, she'd not only been sporting a sprig of holly in her bun but been practically dragged on to the dance floor a few times by various members of staff.
"She glared at Rowen-Webb when he tried to get her do the Machina." Fenny put in.
"yes but she actually danced WITH some people." Gris insisted. "And she didn't look as though she wanted to swan off in a huff." It hadn't really dancing more stepping lightly back and forth in time to the music. there were as many HB's typical eye rolls and scoffs yes. But a little more smiles and she'd seemed more amused at the antics around her. Plus Griselda swore blind to the first year Miss Hardbroom was even making gooey giddy gay eyes at one particular partner.
"She's making that last bit up." Fenella smirked, "Or at least exadurrating." but wasn't convinced it didn't happen at all.
There had always been arguments over garlands and plants too regardless which of the many celebrations they were for. How much was too much, where was it really appropriate to hang them, and of the age old palaver of "Miss Bat Will you go and get your own plants and stop raiding Potions store?".
And every one remembered THAT ONE TIME (but never the year curiously enough) when Miss Drill had been sticking up for Davina again, putting herself between the two other arguing teachers. But mostly just arguing with HB. Both scarlet were with rage and in full flow when the chief Wizard cried,
"Why Miss Hardbroom you're stood under the mistletoe!"
The women had both looked up to see he was right- (although how it had gotten mixed up with dried out spring flowers Miss Bat had turned into bunting was any ones guess!)-then looked at each other, both turned scarleter. It was quite sweet until Heliboring ruined it. The second he leaned in, Miss Hardbroom vanished on the spot. There was some debate afterwards whether Miss Drill was so desperate to avoid him she'd yanked Miss Bat forward to act as a human shield; or whether Miss Bat had been too keen to act as distraction and dove at the wizard, but accidentally pushed Miss Drill over and down a three stone steps in the process. Either way Miss Bat got her wish of a mistletoe smooch, and the wizard at least for short while at least learnt some manners but Miss Drill ended up twisting her knee so was unable to go on the skiing trip with her then boyfriend and (Tended too by Miss Hardbroom) had to stay at the castle over New Year.
This event in turn started the annual betting pool of who would catch which witch under the mistletoe, with bets place on who do another Cackles December tradition! Albeit not one the staff could turn a blind eye to, even if it was the holidays.
Well sort of.
The holiday period might not start being a holiday till January but it was still cause for celebration. And a cornerstone of celebrations at Cackles' was tradition. in-between the ongoing lessons and same old school life, students celebrated Hanukkah and Bodhi Day, as well as the countdown to Mawlid an Nabi, Christmas Day, Hogswatch, and anything else, all came in to play.
Some celebrated on the days they knew they would get a lesson off or no homework, and some that didn't celebrate anything but the fact that herb gathering and cross country would be cancelled because of the snow. And the rest celebrated with their friends a whole hodgepodge of the lot!
But the majority were also celebrating the yule Solstice. So much so it was almost compulsory to join in. It was a witch school after all. Which is why one great yearly tradition was, if you'd put your name down, getting up very early to watch the sunrise in the yard with Miss Bat, Miss Hardbroom if the two teachers were speaking and whichever other teachers had been dragged out of bed to attend.
Given there celebratory assemblies either side of the event at more civil hours or private events in bedroom windows, and the fact it would be freezing and deafening out, the majority of students let it slide and had a lie in, leaving Miss Bat's outing to the naïve first years , class swots and students who actually wanted to be there.
Which is why very very early on a Snowy morning before dawn, but much earlier than really necessary Davina was up dressed and getting all the rest of staff up too. in rank order. first the headmistress, then as deputy: Constance was next, followed by Imogen (then frank and Mrs Tapioca if they'd stayed overnight). Being headmistress didn't save you from having your nice warm blankets yanked off you. Because if Miss Bat wanted you up she would get you out of bed in Her own way of rousing them for special occasions, be it their birthday or the start of international yak week. A way that was hated by the other members of staff because it involved loud knocking, singing, breaking and entry and the icing on the cake physically jumping on the bed; Like an overactive child excited to see that Santa had been. But she still did it, and continued to do so until the lump in the bed moved.
"Yes, yes I'm awake, Davina." Amelia groggily putting on her glasses letting Davina pull her off the mattress then shooed her out so as to get dressed, tuning out to the Singing in the corridor. Amelia left her room and followed the chanting teacher up the stairs, who babbling excitedly as she scurried ahead, knocked on for Constance in a similar fashion.
Or she would have if Constance had been there to wake up.
Davina shrugged, petted a sour looking Morgana and left just as quickly as she arrived. On important days like this, Constance was, traditionally, already up pressed and dressed before Davina could attempted to jump her up in a similar fashion so it wasn't unusual.
But Amelia paused at the door a moment. The bed had been made, but it didn't look as if it had been done fresh that morning. And Constance couldn't be already up pressed and dressed if her boots stood polished between court shoes and trainers, nor if her best cloak and hat where hung over the chair.
Amelia blinked and looked back at the row of shoes. Something went click. And the mild concern of Constance's whereabouts was suddenly replaced by a panic of her whereabouts in relation to that of Davina's. "Miss Bat! Wait!"
Even sprinting she wasn't quick enough to avert and JUST as she reached the now open door someone in Imogen's room shrieked in surprise. As did Davina, at finding not just one lump but two in the bed. And not two legs but four. There were Three in the bed and Imogen said "get off Davina told you not yesterday not to-." With a groan, before waking up properly very sharpish. "Miss Cackle!"
"Imogen?!" Miss Bat squeaked, "Constance!?"
"Bat- oh hell."
"Language, Miss Drill."
"Miss Hardbroom-"
"Will you stop that pantomime!" Constance snapped, pushing Davina off her and pulling the quilt to her chest to preserve her dignitary. Despite the fact she was wearing her purple silk pyjamas.
The three of them made quite a sight. Well Miss Bat In a Rudolf jumper under her special robes and enough flowers from-who-knows-where, holly and leaves knotted in what could have almost been a Christmas wreath upon her head made a sight just herself. But coupled with the couple who'd clearly caught being coupley made quite a sight indeed.
Constance was sat now Blot up right and clearly wishing the bed would swallow her up or she'd vanished the instant she'd awoke. Her Cheeks as pink as Imogen's excessively girly slip of a nightie. Imogen herself looked as happy and relaxed as anyone would be after being jumped on, waking up to find a head mistress in the door way and before breakfast. She was up on her elbows akquadly tangled about the potions mistress and the sheets, in a position that looked as uncomfortable as it did compromising. But Imogen seemed shocked to notice.
"Miss Bat could you go and get Maria up please, I think these two are very much awake."
Davina did as she was told. Albeit in a rather sedate shell shocked manner.
"I can explain." Imogen said weakly.
"Really Miss Drill?" Miss Cackle said, looking at them over the top of her glasses. The bed head pair exchanged serious looks.
"I-err… she sleepwalks?" Imogen tried. And failed.
"Oh thank you very much!"
"And sleep cuddles too?" Amelia frowned. "Actually no don't tell me. "
Miss Cackle unsure of what to say. So just frowned at them. Amelia had never had to deal with illicit inter-staff romances before. She should really by rights tell them off and have the two face disciplinary action. But she'd always left Constance to deal with that sort of thing.
If they had just been sleeping, Constance wouldn't have a semi healed love bite on her collar nor there fluffy handcuffs on the night stand.
If it had been a one night stand they wouldn't be wearing night clothes.
If they had just been having meaningless sex they wouldn't have been caught unawares.
Like Imogen's trainers in Constance's room, there where little touches here and there (such as two different hair brushes and vast amount of bobby pins on the vanity and a well-worn silencing spell) that told Amelia whatever had been going on had been going on clearly been going on for some time.
"Miss Hardbroom, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I slept in." Constance chocked.
"In Imogen's bed?"
"…Yes head mistress." Constance said then groaned "I assume it's too late to say 'It's not what it looks like'?"
Amelia was interrupted by a scream- an actual scream- from Davina down the hall way.
It all happened so fast; from where she was, Miss Cackle registered Miss Bat shoot downstairs in distress. But Amelia's attention was more on avoiding the Frank coming the other way, not looking where he was going, just away, up the stairs to his own room. He was just a blur of a full moon legging it past her (and the open door judging by the twin shrieks) with only a pillow shielding his vegetables. Astonished she caught but a glance of a Sheepish Ms Tapioca's face around before the door slammed shut.
"Well…" Amelia mused aloud and turned back to the two teachers. "At least you can say it's better than whatever that looked like."
Imogen burst out laughing, nervous hysterics really.
"Has he gone?" Constance asked weakly. She hadn't uncovered her eyes yet.
Miss Cackle unsure of what to say. Again.
Amelia had never had to deal with illicit inter-staff romances before and now Davina had unwittingly exposed two in one day. She should really by rights tell them off and have them all face disciplinary action. But that would mean having to ask for details. And worse in fairness would also having to address the fact Ms tapioca was also having an interstaff relationship and Amelia decided she couldn't quite stomach looking Frank in the eye just yet.
"I'll see you both outside; we might just make it in time for the sunrise." Amelia said deciding to let them be. It was the season of goodwill after all. She then paused at the door a moment. "And I'll make sure Davina is NOT to wake you up the same way Christmas morning. Happy Yule."
And still trying to process what the Heckitty just happened, she left them to get ready while she headed to the staff room. Hopefully Ms Tapioca would also be ready in the kitchen soon; to make a kiwi laden fruit salad Before Davina could spend her first solace in the cupboard. Or worse stay in there till New Year.
A cornerstone of life at Cackles' was tradition. But tradition change and can be adapted. Or be scrapped altogether. That very Solace Davina was henceforth barred from waking anyone up in her traditional manner. And Miss Cackle made it a compulsory tradition amongst the staff that, regardless to celebration; let couples come down for breakfast in their own time.
(* Speaking of tradition for me it's not Chrimbo for me without rereading all the Christmassy stories on FF in particular Princess Sammi's Secret Santa and Handcuffs, which influenced that chunk of text highlighted :D Happy Christmas if you're celebrating)