02 All Alone
As surprising as it may seem, Constance hated to listen in on other people's conversations. For one, it took a lot out of her magical abilities to do it. But mainly, if anyone ever found out they would automatically assume it was because she didn't trust them, and they'd never trust her again in return. She had known that she was going to be the topic of conversation once the three teachers had moved out of earshot. She felt compelled to find out what was being said about her. As it happened it wasn't too bad, the usual curiosity about her lifestyle, but nothing hurtful.
They were a nice group of women to work with really. Amelia was a good employer, she seemed to appreciate her teaching abilities, as well as her strength to discipline the girls. Amelia was far too soft for her own good mused Constance. And she had made an effort to get to know her deputy head a little more personally even though Constance never disclosed anything about herself to anyone. She wished she could talk to Amelia sometimes about the things that were going on in her mind, or the things in her past that she still dwelled upon. But it would mean laying herself bare and vulnerable to her. Constance didn't feel very comfortable even thinking about it.
Davina was a worry, very imaginative, very nice, wonderful with the girls but most of the time she lived in a cupboard! She had bouts of silliness which usually ended up in some kind of disaster or other that Constance had to rescue her and the girls from. She wondered what the woman had been like as a child, hyperactive no doubt. Constance would not have liked to have been one of her teachers!
Then there was Imogen...for a start the woman was a non-witch. Not that she had anything against non-witches, but it did make life rather difficult. The woman sometimes just couldn't understand their world. She was young, intelligent, rather attractive and could speak to the girls on a level to which they responded. Sometimes Constance envied her when she did that, but then remembered that the girls needed discipline as well as understanding. Someone had to be the bad guy! Sometimes Constance would feel such anger towards her, but other times she would get so hot under the collar thinking about the woman that she would have to make her excuses and calm herself down. Imogen didn't seem to have a clue of her attractiveness, or how her toned and muscled body went on show against those cropped tops and running vests. Constance was feeling rather warm simply by thinking of her. Imogen had been the first person in a long time that made her feel this way, but she'd rather argue with her than to be friends and nothing more. That way It was easier to pull down the barrier when she was just about to open herself up. And she would if she could, she felt comfort and loyalty when she was in Imogen's company. As though if you were lucky enough to be called a friend, you'd be friends forever and she'd be there for you whatever happened. Still there was no point in musing on what she couldn't have. Besides, love and relationships were for fools who had nothing better to do than to dream of hearts and flowers.
Constance sighed, stretched and looked around the room. She smiled, at least she was now alone for the holidays, well almost. Mr Blossom didn't leave until the end of the week and Mrs Tapioca was going to the airport tomorrow. So it was time to get back to the books and finish preparing next year's potion classes. How Mildred Hubble had survived year one and was expected back for year two was beyond her. Mildred was a nice enough girl and even Constance could admit that most of the trouble she got into was merely for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it did not excuse the fact that she wasn't particularly gifted in classes, especially potions class! Hopefully the lessons she had in mind for next year would remedy that somewhat. Constance started scribbling furiously on her notepad, once she had an idea there was no stopping her.
A few hours later, but sooner than Constance would have liked, Mrs Tapioca had cooked dinner for Constance, Frank and herself. It was a very kind and generous thing to do, considering that they were all now on their holidays. Constance ate hers alone in the library, she didn't want to be around Maria while she flirted with Frank Blossom. Not that Constance had anything (much!) against that sort of thing, as long as it was as far away from her as possible she didn't mind. She had to admit that Maria was an exceptional cook, her tagliatelle was to die for. Constance was reasonable in the kitchen, but she never deviated from the recipe. Although, the things that she could create with witchcraft were pretty spectacular, but that was technically cheating. Her stomach full, Constance settled herself more comfortably on the sofa so she could have a little nap.
end of chapter 02
As surprising as it may seem, Constance hated to listen in on other people's conversations. For one, it took a lot out of her magical abilities to do it. But mainly, if anyone ever found out they would automatically assume it was because she didn't trust them, and they'd never trust her again in return. She had known that she was going to be the topic of conversation once the three teachers had moved out of earshot. She felt compelled to find out what was being said about her. As it happened it wasn't too bad, the usual curiosity about her lifestyle, but nothing hurtful.
They were a nice group of women to work with really. Amelia was a good employer, she seemed to appreciate her teaching abilities, as well as her strength to discipline the girls. Amelia was far too soft for her own good mused Constance. And she had made an effort to get to know her deputy head a little more personally even though Constance never disclosed anything about herself to anyone. She wished she could talk to Amelia sometimes about the things that were going on in her mind, or the things in her past that she still dwelled upon. But it would mean laying herself bare and vulnerable to her. Constance didn't feel very comfortable even thinking about it.
Davina was a worry, very imaginative, very nice, wonderful with the girls but most of the time she lived in a cupboard! She had bouts of silliness which usually ended up in some kind of disaster or other that Constance had to rescue her and the girls from. She wondered what the woman had been like as a child, hyperactive no doubt. Constance would not have liked to have been one of her teachers!
Then there was Imogen...for a start the woman was a non-witch. Not that she had anything against non-witches, but it did make life rather difficult. The woman sometimes just couldn't understand their world. She was young, intelligent, rather attractive and could speak to the girls on a level to which they responded. Sometimes Constance envied her when she did that, but then remembered that the girls needed discipline as well as understanding. Someone had to be the bad guy! Sometimes Constance would feel such anger towards her, but other times she would get so hot under the collar thinking about the woman that she would have to make her excuses and calm herself down. Imogen didn't seem to have a clue of her attractiveness, or how her toned and muscled body went on show against those cropped tops and running vests. Constance was feeling rather warm simply by thinking of her. Imogen had been the first person in a long time that made her feel this way, but she'd rather argue with her than to be friends and nothing more. That way It was easier to pull down the barrier when she was just about to open herself up. And she would if she could, she felt comfort and loyalty when she was in Imogen's company. As though if you were lucky enough to be called a friend, you'd be friends forever and she'd be there for you whatever happened. Still there was no point in musing on what she couldn't have. Besides, love and relationships were for fools who had nothing better to do than to dream of hearts and flowers.
Constance sighed, stretched and looked around the room. She smiled, at least she was now alone for the holidays, well almost. Mr Blossom didn't leave until the end of the week and Mrs Tapioca was going to the airport tomorrow. So it was time to get back to the books and finish preparing next year's potion classes. How Mildred Hubble had survived year one and was expected back for year two was beyond her. Mildred was a nice enough girl and even Constance could admit that most of the trouble she got into was merely for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it did not excuse the fact that she wasn't particularly gifted in classes, especially potions class! Hopefully the lessons she had in mind for next year would remedy that somewhat. Constance started scribbling furiously on her notepad, once she had an idea there was no stopping her.
A few hours later, but sooner than Constance would have liked, Mrs Tapioca had cooked dinner for Constance, Frank and herself. It was a very kind and generous thing to do, considering that they were all now on their holidays. Constance ate hers alone in the library, she didn't want to be around Maria while she flirted with Frank Blossom. Not that Constance had anything (much!) against that sort of thing, as long as it was as far away from her as possible she didn't mind. She had to admit that Maria was an exceptional cook, her tagliatelle was to die for. Constance was reasonable in the kitchen, but she never deviated from the recipe. Although, the things that she could create with witchcraft were pretty spectacular, but that was technically cheating. Her stomach full, Constance settled herself more comfortably on the sofa so she could have a little nap.
end of chapter 02