Christmas Hype in June cos why not? Hurt and comfort with fluff.

Warnings: mild references to homophobia, as well as some make outs and references to their sex life later. If they are to OoC its just hyper. I borrowed a couple of bits from The Worst Witch and The Wishing Star, ww'17 (re drying spell), The Muppets Christmas Carol, and a hint at Princess Sammi's Secret Santa fic.

"Go on Miss Drill." Amelia said suddenly.

"Go on where?' Imogen blinked, confused. And realized she'd gazing of into space, rather than taking in the county athletics results. They were sat in the staff room one late afternoon in very late November.

It was supposed to be a staff meeting. For all the staff not just herself and the headmistress. But so far, they were the only ones there. Constance was clearly delayed somehow, Tapioca was clearly cooking dinner, Frank was clearly off fixing or planting something, and Lavina was clearly skiving. No one ever had music practice this late! But neither Amelia or Imogen were worried. No matters of great importance arising as Constance had already taken care of everything before it needed to become an issue.

Amelia was sat at the head of the table working her way through Witch Weekly puzzle pages while she waited. Imogen faced the windows, her own magazine forgotten, chin resting on one hand and her cup of tea in the other. A tea pot and a plate of biscuits sat between them. The sun was starting to set, hiding behind the hill side and it would be getting very dark very shortly.

"Go on. As in ask what ever question it is you're mulling over and thinking of asking me while the others aren't here." Amelia clarified, not looking up from the Spell-doku she was doing. In fact, Imogen was fairly sure she hadn't looked up from it all in the past four minutes.

"Don't look at me like Imogen, I can practically hear the cogs turning. It's distracting. And if Constance was here she'd tell you to stop day dreaming and spit it out."

"She would." Imogen agreed. "And then make me feel silly for asking."

"Whereas I think there's no such thing as a silly question."

"…Alright you got me there."

Technically Imogen had been wondering if it was worth taking a run to find where her girlfriend and the third-years had gotten too. But the real question had been at the back of her mind all day was probably the one Amelia meant.

Imogen blamed the jingly jingles and ho ho ho's on the radio advert break that had woken her up this morning.

"Do witches do Christmas?"

"Do Christmas?" Amelia finally looked away from her puzzle and Imogen as she'd predicted did indeed feel daft for asking.

"Yes. Or Yule or Hogswatch? Or any holiday festive stuff? I mean as well as Hazelmance and the Solace."

"Well," Amelia thought a moment pushing her glasses back into her hair. "No. Not really? Not to the extent you're probably used to. It depends what families do I suppose. And you get witches from all sorts of backgrounds and faiths. I suppose it depend what you mean by festive stuff too. I don't think it's ever caught on the same but I suppose many traditions are sort of blended. The girls seem to get a bit of everything here."

She sat back in her chair still pondering and Imogen topped up their teacups. This year Christmas Day itself fell on a Saturday anyway so it was going to be a fairly ordinary Cackles' weekend in the buildup to the end of term. It wasn't strictly traditional but Amelia let the girls have relaxed, days around holiday dates, much to Constance's annoyance. Not that Constance was against celebrating anything; she just preferred a structured assembly or something rather than giving the girls an excuse to just lounge about.

"I don't think Cherrytrees or Newts bother to attend a solace once they leave school. Mind I know quite a few families who don't do Yule even. Wiccan and hedge witches mostly. And a lot of the magical community don't trust the church as an organization to do Christmas as such... Why do you ask?"

"I just wondered." Imogen shrugged trying not to be put out. Amelia frowned slightly and Imogen knew that look too well. It was the one Miss Cackle wore when she wanted to get to the bottom of something. Jadu Wali had a theory that Miss Cackle in another life would have made a great detective or psychologist.

"You've been here a while Imogen, I'd have thought you'd have known that by now? It's hardly advanced foster's effects."

"I know its just… after the secret santas these last couple of years and the dinners, I wondered-do some witches do Christmas and the like? Not so much the religious side but like present giving, the tree, the tat, the christmasy plants."

"Oh that sort!" Amelia smiled popped her glasses and giving her puzzle a glance over as she took back up her tea. "Yes its quite common in the magical community. Generally, for the children, don't want to leave them out of Santa. We did on my mothers side, Agatha loved it…"

(There was a heart sad flitter of Christmas past across her face. But Amelia carried on regardless.)

"And it ties in with Yule a bit. The wizards take huge delight in the festive stuff generally. Mostly the food and all old the druid things."

"And witches?" Imogen pressed.

"What about witches?"

"Do witches do Christmas." Imogen persisted. "The festive stuff. And present giving?"

"Well it's a good excuse for cocktail potions and having a coven party."

"What, all of you?"

"Ah" Amelia said turning back to her, knowingly looking over her glasses. "You are asking if a certain witch, with whom you are going steady with, does Christmas or any other religion and 'festive stuff'?"

Imogen scowled and tsk'ed.

"Yes." Imogen admitted, Much to Amelia's amusement. "… I was getting to it."

"You do not do subtle Imogen." She chuckled. "Maybe less beating about the broom next time. What is it exactly that got you wondering?"

Imogen shrugged worrying a corner of a page. "Well it's coming up. And there's only so many days I have free to go out to get anything if I need too."

"Why, my dear that's miles away yet!"

"Three and a bit weeks Miss Cackle. Two if she'd rather Yuletide."

"Is it? Oh. Right." Amelia made a show of reclining further in her chair but with a flick of her finger had her diary planner in front of her as well as Witch Weekly. Imogen sipped her tea and didn't comment.

"I just wondered if I should 'do' anything special. With Constance." She said instead. "Without it being an insult. I know she doesn't celebrate Christmas but would she be alright if I did. Or if I planned something for us together. I hoped you might know best on that front."

"Hm. What did you have in mind?" Amelia said.

"Oh, I don't know. I'd like to get her something. Or take her out somewhere on our day off." Imogen sighed. "I mean we do go out any way but-. I don't want it to shove Christmas in Constance's face if she doesn't celebrate it. Or worse hates it? Sorry I'm not explaining this very well."

"She doesn't hate Christmas or Yule. I can tell you that now." Amelia reassured turning a page, then frowned. "Well aside from when they start filling the papers with adverts."

She held up a prime example that took up at least half of the puzzle page.

"And doing any December supplies orders, goodness they're a pain. Or when some people use it to just be ridiculous with presents. Remind me to send a note out to parents. I don't want another Hallow hamper on my door step upsetting the other girls. Or Sybil."

Imogen grabbed a scrap of paper and wrote it down. "I'll forget to remind you otherwise."

"Good point. I just hope we both remember what that's about. Now, Constance," Amelia said and returned to the topic at hand. "She doesn't celebrate anything that I know of, so quite possibly she does so privately. But, I don't THINK she'd mind if you used Christmas or Yule as an excuse to go somewhere a bit more special than normal? Maybe warn her if your planning something large though, surprises are defiantly off."

Imogen assured her she would if need be.

"You know you're welcome to spend Christmas Day with your family if you'd like?" Amelia smiled over her mug. "I could bully HB into taking some days off to come with you perhaps? Gabrielle is visiting me for a change at the Solace, I could see she's interested in covering lessons."

"No don't do that. Travel and fixing the timetables isn't worth it." Imogen said, explaining how what with The Drill's being split down the middle and scattered about the country, a mother living in Spain and a sibling in the forces, a traditional 'Family' Christmas was never on the cards to begin with.

"Oh, my dear-" Amelia started. But Imogen smiled reassuringly.

"It's fine. I always see or phone as many as I can. The offer of Constance and me staying with my Dad and his family for New Year is still open, but I'm not keen." Imogen shrugged stirring her tea. "I thought more a date for Christmas really. Maybe the pictures if Constance would like."

"I think they still do a Christmas eve showing of It's a Wonderful life at the Community hall in town. And there's a plenty of fairs on." Amelia suggested, although there was a little bit of a frown on her face. "You're not avoiding introducing your family to Constance, are you?"

"No…not entirely."

Amelia's frown lines deepened.

"It's them I'm embarrassed about!" Imogen insisted for fear of being turned into something nasty. She cringed and explained. "I'm not out to most of them… (And there's a few I am out too I really wish I wasn't!) They're not bad and I love them, but-"

"You'd rather not introduce Constance to them as your girlfriend at a family function." Amelia finished. "For her sake."

"I would love it more than anything if I could. But I don't want them saying things or asking awkward invasive questions. Especially when things are so much more relaxed for witches. And we're all non-witches too? How does that part about secrecy apply without making Constance hide who she is?"

"Hmm no," Amelia said, then struggled to keep a straight face. "you can't really introduce her to your family as your Aunt, can you?"

Imogen groaned and buried her head in her hands on the desk. Two years on and no one had let either of them forget about that. On the bright it had cheered Amelia back up.

"It's Constance's idea to meet them at some point." Imogen grumbled, then lifted her head up. "But neither of us are sure about New Years. It's always a full house and so rowdy. I don't want to crowd her with drunk strangers if everyone's there. On top of – those other things."

"Ah I see. Maybe meeting your father for tea instead might be better for a first meeting?" Amelia suggested and Imogen agreed. "but if it is two of you - I mean I know we do things as a group, staff dinners and trips out, but I'll have a fiddle with the duties route…see if we can't get you both the weekend off and few more nights free." She added conspiratorially. Then waved off Imogen's thanks.

"Oh, don't be silly. I should have done it a while ago actually. She's your girlfriend for heaven's sake. It isn't fair you only get only the one full day off together a fortnight! Now, as for Presents… Other than some more folding cauldrons for the lab, I've no idea what she's after."

"Well, there's a potion book she mentioned for research. If I can beat her to getting it." Imogen smiled. "But I might need your help on that front. I doubt it'll be in WHSmiths somehow."
"I haven't seen anything that strikes yet. but I thought avoid anything too tacky." Imogen continued, Amelia nodded. "Some practical but nice things wouldn't be bad. She's always going through note books and red pens? And I think she could do with a new bag, hers is getting a bit worn. But it's nothing special, they're more everyday sort of things?"

"They'll be special if they're from you. I think that's splendid idea. She doesn't ever want anything for her birthday either when I've asked. But I've always gotten her some flowers or a useful plant and one of Mrs. Cosies' savoury cranberry scones." Amelia winked.

"Maybe we could have an actually proper birthday cake for her this year?" Imogen mused.

"That, she would defiantly not enjoy." Amelia scoffed. "She hates the idea of cake and being made a fuss of."

"I wish she'd let me just let me make a fuss of her!" Imogen said. "She won't even let me pay for our dates sometimes. That's what I why I wanted to know if I could do something for Christmas in the first place."

Once, Constance had off handily mentioned only ever gotten a birthday present on certain milestone birthdays, not every year. Just the one present on occasional years, something useful not frivolous, such as a new spell book; ("normally one for the next school year."). It explained a great deal about her character. It had also struck a chord in Imogen. And was one of the reasons she'd wanted Constance to be made to feel as special as Imogen felt she was.

It wasn't the lack of cake or candles or parties or cards HB had received as a girl that bothered Imogen. The presents didn't matter. it was the lack of tenderness and affection and even love that should have went with them or instead of them… and hadn't.

And the lack that seemed to have continued well into Constance's adult life. It was the bafflement she'd seen when Constance had been given thank you's or small tokens from the students after exams, or even compliments on anything other than her Academic work. When her gruff kindness or hard work was noticed, or people acted kind to her. The "you don't have to" 's too little things or in bed, and the joy and surprise when Imogen did, "but I want to."

Out of love.

Imogen couldn't help imagining her as a child or a teen in a sensible black dress in need of a hug that Imogen badly wanted to travel back in time and give her Constance. The little Constance in a sensible black dress in clutching her one sensible present to her chest thinking that was all she deserved; not knowing there was nothing she wasn't worthy of…

It was an image didn't match the currently drenched and fierce witch. The one who was storming into the court yard; giving an equally sodden Mildred and her class mates a sever scolding and probably several detentions before HB dismissed them.

Oh dear…

Oh, dear being what Amelia would have said if she'd had a chance to remark.

She didn't.

"That is IT! That girl has GOT to go!"

Imogen and Amelia jumped, not expecting Constance to appear directly in the staffroom.

"She has got to go!" Constance said again pulling off and practically throwing down her pointed hat down on an empty chair. it left a puddle. Imogen and the headmistress exchanged a look as the deputy stood there dripping wet and raging.

"Hey? Constance?"

"Total disregard for discipline and decorum." Constance seethed to no one in particular, fighting the clasp on her cloak. "No care for her own magic or safety or those around her-!"

"How did the herb gathering go?" Amelia risked as her deputy vanished the hat, torn cloak and the broken empty basket.

"Awful. utter chaos. Barely a leaf between all of us by the end of it! And the rose hip bushes are now useless. That ridiculous feud-!" Constance replied with a snap, her arms folded tight and began Pacing about the staffroom like it were a cage. The effect was spoilt somewhat by the squelch of her boots and the creak of her dress fabric. And the trail of water she left.

"Then some bright spark- they won't tell me who, none of them! - started messing with Weather spells. Again! And Mildred Hubble made it much worse as per usual, AND this AFTER she fell in the pond! I almost lost my keys and my dignity getting her out, and we had a localized storm cloud follow us almost all the way to the castle before I could get it to dissolve-!"

"Constance." Imogen interrupted again, this time standing up and physically blocking her pacing route. The witch stopped short, Imogen's hands shooting out to steady her, not caring about the damp. "Hey?"

Constance blinked in surprise, still angry at the world but brought back to reality of Imogen's arms suddenly about her. She only fractionally became less tense. But paused her tirade at least long enough to dry herself and everything off in a vibration of air and a huff.

Amelia suggested she sit down and tell them about it. Imogen chivalrously pulled the chair next to her own out for HB to do so. Constance frowned at the fuss but didn't say anything against it. Not even when Imogen give her a peck on the cheek as she handed her a hot cup of tea while she continued to complain about the venture out.

"The girl has got to go." Constance grumbled again when she'd finished. but it had lost most of its bark.

"What did you set her? And the other girls?" Imogen asked.

"Lines for Mildred and I sent them all to hot baths and no leaving their rooms until supper, but I doubt any of them have learnt their lesson." Constance said.

Then shivered. They both really did make a fuss over that, and Constance bristled at them for doing so. But Imogen still wrapped a dry cloak around her shoulders, and used it an as an excuse to keep an arm around her and their legs touching. Amelia insisted on stoking up the little fire in the grate. And kept her back turned for a ridiculously long time fussing over it. Especially for someone with bad knees and who could have done it with a snap of her fingers. Long Enough for Constance to breath, her hands curled around the mug and lean into Imogen's touch.

They gazed at each other and Constance face just Softened, ALMOST soppily so.

"Hi." Imogen whispered.

"Hello yourself." Constance replied still grumpily.

She leant in and Imogen closed the gap. the kiss was quick, small but sweet. Constance sighed in relief and rested her head against Her Imogen's… for all of three seconds before Amelia cleared her throat. Constance wriggled out of the hold and both she and her girlfriend were sitting up ram rod straight by the time Amelia had stood back up and taken her time to turn back to the table.

But in that short snuggle, Imogen felt she had a vague idea of inspiration strike regarding what to get Constance for Christmas. If Constance would like to celebrate Christmas with her.

The rather lame duck excuse for a staff meeting finally got underway. Possibly just to distract HB. Constance was brisk as usual but a little more relaxed then when she'd arrived. Relaxed enough to warm to Amelia's 'suggestion' that the duties time table could and should be altered so Constance and Imogen had more mornings and evenings together.

Imogen was pleasantly surprised. Holidays, time off and breaks being foreign concept to Constance and all that. The witch did raise her eyebrow at the suggestion of actual days off and worried about not putting the girls needs a head of their own. But eventfully had her arm ever so gently twisted and was assured something could be worked out.

"Well, if it means that much to you." She shrugged, guff and soft at the same time. "Then yes that would be lovely Miss Cackle. I would … appreciate that. We both would."

Imogen couldn't stop grinning. It was going unexpectedly well. Especially for what was supposed to be a staff meeting.

That was of coarse until Lavinia Crochet skidded into the staffroom in a whirligig of excitement and inspiration. A Lavinia who'd had decided they'd be having a School Pantomime!