They wake up next to each other. Curling around each other, both of them move around, sleepily untangling.
"Good Morning.", Pippa rubs her eyes, smiling into the uprising sun.
"This is the first night in forever that I slept through."
Hecate beams at her, a twinkle in her eyes.
They leave for breakfast, quietly eating their oats. "This is not so bad.", pippa shoves another spoonful in her mouth.
"I don't even know why I never had breakfast."
They giggle.
"Pippa!" Felicity has entered the room.
"Why are you sitting next to the freak?", she asks, pulling at Hecates hair.
"Leave her alone!" Pippa stands up.
"It's okay Pippa. See you in Potions.", Hecate whispers.
They leave, Hecate staying behind, pulling out a book of her pocket.
"Pippa, love, you really don't have to pretend to like her that much.", Felicity pulls her arm around her, shoving her to her seat.
"I mean it's nice to have the homework and all, but don't you get tired?"
Pippa blushes.
"She Trusts me now, Fee." Looking down guilt washes over her. She had shared her results with Felicity, to shut her up. But now that she thinks about it she feels sick, heat rising to her head.
They both fall into a routine. Ignoring each other during the day, smiling at each other during chanting, quietly working on their potions assignments, then at night slipping into Hecates bed, watching the orbs move, or sitting on the roof, watching the real stars. Sometimes they'd talk.
The first time Pippa had talked about her mother she had cried. Hecate just brushed her hair away, stroking her back until she had stopped shaking. Barely looking up, Hecate had told the story of her parents and their ruling over her, dreading to go home for winter break. Pippa had grown quiet, after she finished, just taking her hand, holding it tight. And they always sleep next to each other.
It's innocent and soft and Pippa never felt as refreshed after waking up.
Winter rolls into the country and snow starts to settle on the roofs of the castle. A quiet whisper about the Yale ball has started, exciting everyone. Even the potions teacher had smiled softly at the glowing faces. Groups of students waltz around the halls, humming a tune. Hecate had gotten up early this cold day, brushing her long hair out.
"Hecate, why don't you ever wear it down.", Pippa has come up behind her, taking the brush, moving it with the black flow.
"It's unpractical .", The dark witch starts to pin the hair up, repeating the words of her mother.
"Can I do your hair today?", pippa takes the pins out again after she nods.
Her fingers move quickly, taking strands of hair, creating a flow half up do.
"My mother taught me this.", they both look into the mirror.
"You are so pretty." Hecate blushes deep. She never thought of herself as pretty.
She smiles the whole day, her hair flowing behind her, a piece of a Pippa still with her.
Then she gets shoved. Falling to the floor, she hits the stone.
"What has she done to her hair.", Felicity had found her.
"Look at it. Disgusting." Hecate trie to get up, but gets shoved down again. She clenches her jaw, tears forming in her eyes.
"I will not cry.", She repeats in her head, over and over again. Reaching into her pocket she grabs the dark familiar wood, calming down.
"Hecate,it's highly unpractical.", her potion teacher raises an eyebrow.
"I know." She brushes it back, pining it quickly. "Pippa did it." She blurts out, smiling again. A slight smile tucks at the lips of her dark opponent. "It's good you've found a friends. Now work." They work in tranquility, moving quick. The potion come out just right, a victory for Hecate.
"Will you be going to the Yale ball?", pippa whispers during class.
"NO TALKING, MISS PENTANGLE.", the teacher doesn't even turn around.
"I don't know yet. You?", Hecate writes on a small piece of paper. "Probably." Pippa writes back. The paper bursts into flames.
"I said no talking. Detention. Both of you."