It's getting colder and colder everyday. The leaves start to fall, and the sunlight doesn't reach as far as it used to. Hecate still sits on her rooftop, turning the last page. The constellation familiar by now, the night sky a friend, easy to read. But tonight Pippa does not show up. Usually she would be sitting on her bench by now, waiting for the song to wash over her, making her feel protected. Hecate waits for a few minutes looking over to the enlightened room across from her, watching her teacher. Then she hears footsteps tapping, softly. She turns around and there she is. Pippa balances with unsure steps over to her, then she sits down. Hecates heart is racing.
"It was you.", pippa smiles softly.
"I'm sorry to disturb you tonight, I just had to know."
Hecate blushes.
"What are you doing up here every night?", pippa grabs her own blanket, spreading it over her legs.
"I'm watching the stars. It's my secret assignment."
She starts shoves a paper of marks around.
"It's nothing special."
"I think it's special." Pippa lies down, the roof warm under her, Hecate had used a heating spell.
"I don't know anything about the stars. Can you teach me?"
Tensing up, Hecate opens looks up.
"What's that one?" Pippa points at one of the bright stars.
And Hecate starts to explain. Her voice is shaking at first, unsure of what to tell, but Pippa starts to ask questions and seems to be interested so her voice grows more confident with every passing minute. She starts to tell her favourite stories, Pippa listening with big eyes.
"I don't see that one." Sometimes Pippa can't tell the stars apart so Hecate uses her book to project the constellation in the air. When the sun comes up they still sit on the roof, Hecate finishes the last story.
"We should go back, Pippa." The sky slowly turns purple, a red orb climbing over the horizon, making space for the sun. The bright light of the moon replaced by the soft orange glow of the morning.
"Can I come back tomorrow, Hecate?", Pippa asks, hope in her voice.
"Yes.", Hecate nods softly.
"I'm glad it was you, and not somebody else.", pippa adds and then gets up.
At breakfast they smile at each other shortly before Pippa leaves with Felicity and her friends.
And Hecate can stop smiling the whole day. Even when she gets shoved into a wall by felicity. Even when she writes her letter home, confirming her arrival for this Christmas.
While she prepares her portion for today's class she looks at her teacher.
"Can I ask you a question?", suddenly brave she inhales. The teacher nods and waits.
"You and Mrs Sanders...", she trailers of again, leaving the sentence incomplete. Her opponent sighs.
"Yes. Yes we are together.", shame trailers up the older woman's neck.
Hecate looks down.
"It's forbidden isn't it?", her voice is small.
"It is." The tension is thick and the air feels to hot. Hecate nods once. Then she keeps on working.
"It's forbidden, but nothing bad.", her teacher straightens up.
They finish in quiet, nothing more to say.
...
"I want to learn more about this constellation.", pippa has brought a small piece of paper, Hecate looks at it, noticing the small dots.
"This is the Capricorn. It's not on the night sky right now. I'm sorry."
Pippa smile falls.
"Oh." But then Hecate pulls her with her.
"I could show you somewhere else!" They climb into her room and Pippas eyes grow huge.
"Hecate this is beautiful.", she spins around.
The orbs glow and move with a wink of Hecates hands. Pippa climbs into the bed lying down, patting next to her . Hecate sits down, her back straight. She creates the constellation.
"Come one Hecate lie down.", pippa stretches the blanket and pulls at her wrist slightly. They lie next to each other, looking up to the lights. Whispering, Hecate explains the different stars, each word sluring more, until they both fall asleep.