Pandora's Box: The Deleted Scenes
Six
(From Chapter Twenty-One)
There was the familiar scrape of wood on wood, and Constance's heart leapt to her mouth as she realised that Fenella was going through her underwear drawer. Heat flooded her usually pale face, and Grizelda was just opening her mouth to express her exasperation on the effect that this discolouration had had on her make-up when she was prevented from speaking by a low wolf-whistle from the other girl.
"Fenella Feverfew, drop those knickers now!" she exclaimed. Fenella raised an eyebrow at the unintentional innuendo laden in the words but complied with Constance's request, dropping the black lace item back into the drawer and taking a step back, still staring at the contents with a mixture of what looked to be half-fear and half-admiration. Constance cast a spell to shut the drawer, the satisfying thwack that it gave as it slammed back into place enough to set the entire dresser rocking.
"Fenella," she began, a little shakily, folding her arms as the younger witch flinched at the sound of wood creaking, "we have rules for a reason…"
"I wasn't aware that investigating teacher's wardrobes was against any rules," muttered Fenella, turning back to face the livid deputy.
"It is actually," said Grizelda, not looking up from the stash of make-up on the dressing table as she waved a small pamphlet decorated with the Cackle's logo at Fenella. "Number one hundred-and-twenty-seven: Ex-pupils do not and will never have the authority to go rummaging through the underwear drawers of the senior staff."
"You actually made a rule about that!" Fenella exclaimed.
"It was a late addition," mumbled Constance. "When you two arrived."
For a moment there was a heavy silence in the room, broken only by Grizelda's muted cursing on being unable to find a particular shade of lipstick.
"But why didn't you tell us?" Fenella eventually said.
"Why didn't I tell you that you weren't allowed in my private drawers?" Constance responded incredulously.
"No…" Fenella cast an awed glance back at the offending receptacle. "Why didn't you tell us you were a moonlighting Ann Summers rep?"
Well… No, I honestly can't say what inspired this one.