Heyo. How we doing? Only a few days till Christmas! I think.. im ready.. But we'll soon see! Intresting fact, i dont actrually like christmas. Its very stressful, and i dont like a whole bunch of my family.. Dispite this, over the last few years, me and my mom have gotten a real neat routine going! So i have a feeling this years gonna be a good one.

ENJOY!

Chapter 22: To make a house a home..

Hecate spent the next two weeks staring at the three school photos on the fireplace. It was like they were haunting her. It wasn't that she hated them. Infact, the pictures were just fine. She remembered the day each one of them was taken..

Pippa had been fussing over her hair all morning before. Not a strand could be out of place for her. She'd fussed so much, she'd moved on to fussing about Hecates! She was just grateful Pippa settled for brushing her hair for an hour straight instead of some elaborate up-do. As for Mildreds, Hecate had spent the morning trying to round up her rowdy year.. Only to find Maud and Enid trying to pull Mildred out of a tree!

It's not like they were tied to bad memories. But it all of a sudden felt as if this was a house for them. Hecate had lived in denial of this being her permanent home for a very long time. She had no plans on going anywhere else, but while her confinement was still present, she didn't want to make a house out of her forced predicament.

Now she lives with others.. As Pippa had pointed out, Hecate was most likely going to be working and living here until she dies.. If Pentangles never returns, Pippa may face the same fate. Though, to Hecate, it seems like that's exactly what Pippa wants at this point, and Hecate was more than happy to live with her until death do they part.

As for Mildred, She'd be living her full time for the next two years as it is. After that, she'll most likely go to college, and so for the next three years she'll be visiting every holiday.. That's at -least- Five years of Mildred living Here. It's not like there's another home she could return to.

It made Hecate contemplate why the pictures gave her pause.. Her Mothers Voice floating through her head, "Joy, The Walls are for work of art, not stupid little pictures. Keep them clear of clutter, and you too could have a respectable home."

A Respectable home.. Who was her mother to decide what was respectable for Hecate? It felt rather childish of Hecate to rebel against a dead woman, but she'd always felt somewhat spiteful over the elder witch. She'd spent her whole childhood being raised up, and knocked back down. Even when her mother fell ill, she may have been left to her own devices, but the world was watching.

Hecate made her way to her own room, looking upon the Dressing table, her eyes caught on the Drawings Mildred had gifted them. The weekend after Mildred was Ill, she'd Given them A Lovely Hand Drawn picture of the three of them, along with a drawn picture of Cackles.

It felt.. Very natural to own a child's drawing… She was always told growing up that there were more productive ways to spend her time, so anytime she did test out her artistic talents, it usually went in the bin.

With a Hum, she moved to the wardrobe, taking out a beaten up box hidden at the bottom of it. She first took out the newest additions to it, The 3rd Year School Photos. Each student had three photos taken a year. There personal School Photo, There Year's Photo and the Full School Photo.

Hecate took the Year's Photo and The full Year's Photo, placing them down besides her. She dug around slightly, finding her own Full School Photo from her third year. Another Photo within the box gave her pause..

She stared at it for a good ten minutes, just remembering.. It was the only Family Portrait she had. A Much bigger and painted version used to hang up on top of her childhood fireplace. Father had insisted on getting two done, one painted and one taken. Just in case they ever needed it repaired..

The Picture looked rather pompous. Her Mother In her long, Victorian inspired dress, hair slicked back into a neat low bun, Paired with her Silver cane keeping her steady. Her Father looked every bit the Wizard, Hands neatly placed behind his back, his long robes looking like something straight out of the past..

Her Brother stood next to her, Dressed in his Camelot College Uniform. He must have been in his last year.. He looked the most colourful of them all with his Green Blazer. The Only pop of colour Hecate had on her was the red sash around her waist. The Photo looked far older than it was, it was almost hard to believe it was only took Twenty Seven Years Prior.

She had many mixed feelings towards her family, but she could never deny the love she held for them. She'd give anything to hear her mother complain about her once more. Anything to see her father look up from his work just to give her a reassuring smile. Anything to have her bother wack her over the head and call her a dork.. But life had other plans..

Hecate took the pictures with her into the main hall, Including the newest Family Picture drawn by Mildred. It didn't take long for Hecate to have them all up on the wall.. It was.. Strangely domestic..

She practically jumped when Mildred came in.. "Em, Hecate.. I was wonde-" Mildred came to an abrupt stop when she was the wall, her own picture placed among the others.. "You.. You put it up..?" To Hecate's ears, she sounded sad.. Why would she be sad? Is there some sort of social clause she'd missed? Mildred Sniffled slightly. "I-I was half expecting you to throw it away.. N-Not put it on display.."

"Is that an issue?" Hecate asked, hands resting by her side. As much as Mildred had gotten on her nerves in the past, she didn't intend to upset the child..

Mildred shook her head, a hand coming up to rub her eye as she moved closer to the wall. "N-No.. It's just.. It's nice, is all. Really nice of you.." It was almost surprise that maybe, just maybe, Joy Hecate Hardbroom, Had a heart. Mildred continued to look over the wall. She pointed to the Photos from last year, Reading; "Year 3 - 2020.. Iv had worse School Photos.." That, Hecate could believe. She then pointed to Hecate's own year photo. "Year 3 - 1990… This is yours and Pippas..?"

"Indeed." Was all Hecate could manage..

Mildred looked at the Family photo now.. "This.. This is your family..?"

Hecate swallowed hard, simply nodding and repeating herself, "Indeed."

Mildred smiled sadly at it. "What were they like? Your family.."

Hecate ran her hands over her dress, getting rid of the nonexistent wrinkles before she sat down on the couch. "My Mother, Constance was.. Overbearing. Very strict. A perfectionist.." She was also often Rude, Disciplined and controlling, but that was a whole other matter. "My Father, Jareth, He Worked hard.. So hard, he worked himself to death." It was only partly a joke.. "A Strict and well versed Wizard."

"And.. Your brother, Issac?" Mildred asked tenderly, she knew Hecate didn't like talking about him.. But.. She'd also never spoken of her mother and father either.

Hecate Paused before speaking. "He was very smart, but often acted the fool.. You didn't want to underestimate him, no matter how playful he might have been at that moment.." She often thought he did his childhood right, he distanced himself from the family as soon as he could, only really connecting with Hecate.. But it made him more free.. Hecate didn't have that option with her Mother looming..

Mildred nodded, saying no more on that matter.. After a moment, Hecate Decided to speak. "What was it you were wondering?"

"Oh!" Mildred livened up slightly, looking to Hecate. "We're about to go into December… And well.. I don't know what we do..?" Mildred sounded confused about what she was actually asking..

"What we do?" Hecate repeated. "What we do about.. What?"

"About.. Christmas.. Do the Hardbrooms put up a tree, and put tinsel everywhere it fits? Is there a dedicated spot for Gifts? Do you even do gifts?" Mildred went on a small ramble, plonking herself down on the couch next to Hecate.

"If.. Pippa.. Has any say in the matter, there will be Tinsel well into the new year.." Hecate said with Mild Disgust. She had never once decorated her Apartment. But now it was their apartment, and Pippa was a decorating Monster.

Mildred smiled and nodded. "I'll be sure to offer her a hand then!" Hecate gave her a look that said 'please dont', just earning a giggle off Mildred.

Hecate had never been a fan of Christmas.. Her House never had a Christmas Tree, and her family never gave gifts. Ada's Version of a Christmas Gift was the Teacher bonus.. Her and Pippa had never spent a Christmas together.. So no gifts were ever needed.. Even if Pippa did offer.

She supposed She'd have to get both Pippa and Mildred a Gift.. That would be her next task, she supposed.

Okay so, Half the time with the worst witch, you gotta guess ages and such.. Im going off the bases that they start at 11, end at 16, like all UK Secondary schools. (Aparantly you're ment to start cackles at 12, but in the first episode of 2017, Julie Implys that Mildred was about to start at her secondary school, Meaning Mildred would of been 11, turning 12 in the new school year.)

I think Hecate would off been in her third year 1989-1990.. Simply based off the fact that Mildred would off been in her third year 2019-2020. And the Indigo moon thing took place 30 years earlier, so 1990. We never get exact dates, so thats just my logic.

Iv also been thinking about the Characters and their Birthdays.. Cause we never get given any! (HB has been said to be a Capricorn and a Scorpio.. i think Capricorn works best.. Its an earth sign, and there ment to be practical, self reliant, stoic and ambitious.. - Btw, i dont think everything about the signs are right, i just think its intresting!)

When would you pin some other birthdays for verious characters?

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