Chapter Text
The face before Ada dissolved in a swirl of mist and magic and the mirror settled back into her reflection. She shook her head, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed deeply.
If he wasn’t the Great Wizard…
She took in a steadying breath and let the tension fall from her shoulders. At least the summer was here, and she had mopped up the last disaster from the year gone. No more drama. No more explosions. Two blissful months of quiet.
Even as she thought it, she found herself missing the girls terribly.
Ada stood from her desk and stepped to the window, watching as students and parents lifted off and zipped away over the horizon, farewelled by the black figure of Hecate.
Tomorrow Ada could sleep in.
As she watched the last gaggle of girls mount up and disappear into the sky, Ada wiggled her fingers gently, lifting the transparency illusion that cloaked her wedding ring. She ran her fingers over it, as she often did when it was invisible, and smiled.
She loved the girls. She loved the school. Truly, deeply. But it would be a very nice change to sleep late next her wife again.
Right on cue, Ada watched Hecate clasp the watch that hung around her neck and pop it open. Even at this distance, Ada could see her lift the face of the watch and remove the wedding ring that sat nestled among the cogs and levers, and slip it back onto her finger.
The sight warmed Ada to her core.
*****
That night most of the remaining staff left for their own homes and families. Mrs Tapioca said a brisk farewell before disappearing to a cottage in the middle of some far away wood that she refused to name, insisting they would get on just fine without her.
Though she would never admit it, Ada was beyond relieved. She appreciated Tapioca’s dedication, but there was only so much pea soup one could consume in a single calendar year. Lucky for the remaining staff, Dimity broke out her not-so-secret talent, and whipped up a storm in the kitchen. Not a literal storm, of course, though it certainly sounded like it at times. It was a feast and a half. Roasts and vegetables in unusual and delicious sauces, greens and beans that tasted like spring, and desserts fit for the greatest of Great Wizards.
Algernon and Gwen set them a beautiful table in the hall, hanging candles in the air and weaving a blanket of vines overhead. Hecate summoned bundle after bundle of dry wood and built raging fires to warm them through the night. Ada, for the first time that year, broke the seal on a box of some unhallowed alcohol that had been aging in the dungeon for what must have been an inordinate amount of time, at the very least since before Alma Cackle’s time.
The five of them gathered up their glasses and toasted to the year behind and the year ahead, and set themselves up for a long night of gossip and laughter.
*****
Ada woke to the sun streaming through the window and the gentle scratching of a quill on paper.
“Morning, my love,” Ada hummed, opening her eyes before a sharp thudding pain manifested in her temple. “Oh…”
“Your head?” Hecate raised an eyebrow, mouth curling up slightly, but with no malice beneath.
“Worse than I would have expected.”
Hecate placed her papers aside and laid a hand on Ada’s forehead. She waved a hand to summon a glass of water and a vial of light blue liquid. “I have something for that.”
“Of course you do,” Ada yawned. “I don’t believe you’ve ever been caught unprepared.”
“No, I don’t believe I have,” Hecate nodded and pursed her lips, suppressing a smile as Ada chuckled softly. They both knew that was so unbelievably untrue.
Ada sat up, downed the potion and the water, and felt instant relief. “Oh, thank the moon I have you.”
Eight years in, and Hecate still blushed ever so slightly at Ada’s words.
They rose leisurely, in no hurry to be anywhere, and dressed into what could only be described as holiday attire. That is to say, Ada wore a well-worn pink cardigan, and Hecate settled on a dress without a high collar.
The pair came gliding down the stairs toward the kitchen at half ten, and found Dimity frying something delicious in a pan over the stove.
“Sleep well, you two?” Dimity said with a bright smile before hesitating. “Unless I don’t want to know in which case I don’t need any more details thanks.”
Hecate stopped short, eyes wider like a rabbit in a spotlight.
“No,” Ada said in her naturally tender tone. “I’m afraid I was rather quickly to sleep. That Dragonwine had quite a kick to it.”
“What about you, HB? Sleep alright?”
“Like a fox in winter,” Hecate replied, smoothing her features as she sat Ada down firmly with a look that said Today, I get to take care of you, and moved to pour two cups of tea. “May I be of assistance, Dimity?”
“Yes, I was going to ask if you could whip up some of your famous berry pancakes.”
“I can, if the cupboard is well enough stocked.” Hecate materialised at an empty space by the bench and began summoning ingredients with swift movements here and there. Ada simply sat sipping her tea and watching, a small smile lighting up her eyes.
Today was a day of rest, and it stayed just that. Their late breakfast turned into tea in the library, Ada and Hecate reading their respective books and occasionally sharing some fascinating titbit. Tea became a late lunch and lunch became a walk in the sunshine and a gentle kiss in the garden, and that afternoon became a small, casual dinner with just the five of them dining on the remainders of last night’s wonder. Dinner became an early bedtime, and bedtime became the warmth of Hecate’s arms and early sleep, drifting off into the realm of dreams.
*****
Ada woke on the second day to Hecate sitting up, her book in hand, dark hair cascading down her shoulders, reading by the sunlight streaming through the window. Ada found her breath caught in her chest. This was certainly the most desirable way to wake.
She said nothing, just watched Hecate read; watched her eyes fall down the page, how the corners of her mouth twitched when something pleased her, and how she pursed her lips when something didn’t.
“Morning, Mrs Hardbroom,” Ada hummed deeply, careful not to startle her.
Hecate’s eyes flicked down to hers, and she gently set her book aside, hand moving to brush the strands of hair from Ada’s face.
“Good morning, Mrs Cackle.”
Ada found when they started the morning this way, it usually went very well for her. Today was no exception.
A frustratingly short hour later they found their way downstairs to bustling kitchen, where Gwen and Algernon were packing themselves a lunch for the journey they’d be taking north, and Dimity was making herself a second breakfast after what appeared to be a morning run. Ada couldn’t think of a more unpleasant way to spend her time, but alas, if Dimity enjoyed it…
Dimity was practically leaping out of her skin with anticipation, babbling excitedly about a conference she’d been invited to attend, and Gwen looked to be ready for a few weeks away from the castle walls and cold stone passageways. It wasn’t even noon before Ada and Hecate were standing on the castle lawn, waving their three friends goodbye and wishing them a safe flight.
Ada found the afternoon air crisp on her cheeks, and beside her Hecate drew her arms around herself unconsciously. Ada looked up to the empty sky, and back to Hecate.
There was no one to see. No one to think anything of it.
She smiled and took Hecate’s hand gently.
“Cold?”
“It’s just a slight chill,” Hecate breathed, looking back to the castle. “Shall we?”
Ada simply nodded up at her, and surreptitiously cast a warming spell over her wife. She knew Hecate would feel the tingle spreading up her arm and across her body, and she hoped very much she would accept it without comment.
If it had been anyone else, Hecate would no doubt have banished the spell and transferred the offender to some distant corner of the Arctic. But it was Ada, and she accepted it without a word, leaning into the magic.
Ada pulled her down for a soft and welcome kiss and they parted ways. Hecate transferred away and Ada took the short walk to her office, in search of that mound of paperwork she’d neglected for more pressing concerns.
*****
It wasn’t past five yet when Ada’s mirror began to swirl and shift and a face appeared on the other side. It was Esmerelda Hallow, of all people, nervously tugging her collar as she waited for Miss Cackle to accept the call. Without a second thought, Ada dropped her quill and waved her hand.
“Well met, Esmerelda. What an unexpected pleasure,” Ada smiled, hand touching her forehead.
“Well met, Miss Cackle. I’m sorry to interrupt, I just… I wasn’t sure who else to call.”
“What’s the matter, dear?” Ada asked, sitting up a little and leaning in, concern flooding her face.
“It’s just, we came home two days ago, Sybil and Ethel and I, and I thought Mother and Father would be home. They hadn’t said otherwise. But they weren’t here, and… they still aren’t.”
Ada’s heart lurched. “They left no word? No note or call to say where they have gone?”
“No, but I mirrored Aunt Mavis and she said they’d mentioned they might be going away for a while, to recover from the stress of the year...”
Ada worked hard to keep the absolute contempt from her face. This was s new low, even for Ursula and Mr Hallow.
“We were fine for a day or two. I thought they’d come back, and had just been held up. It’s only that, I don’t have any money, and there’s only so much in the kitchen. I don’t know that I should ask...”
Ada held up a hand. “Stop there, Esmerelda. I’m going to have a quick word with Miss Hardbroom and we’ll get this sorted out.”
Esmerelda nodded, anxiety plain on her usually calm and collected features.
Ada left the mirror’s spell active and transferred to the potion’s lab, where she found Hecate bent over a book, brow creased, scribbling notes on the page. At the sound of Ada’s transfer, she looked up, her smile disappearing as soon as she saw the look on her wife’s face.
“What is it?” Hecate asked urgently, straightening and dropping her quill to move to Ada.
Ada explained her call with Esmerelda, and it was all she could do not to curse Ursula and Mr Hallow as she spoke. Hecate’s face fell further with every word.
“My proposed solution is a little unorthodox. Students are not generally allowed to remain over the break,” Ada began, trying to broach her suggestion gently as not to dismay her rule abiding wife.
“But we shall make an exception?” Hecate probed, though the question was buried under layers of suggestion.
Ada blinked.
“Hecate, are feeling alright?” she asked, only half jovial.
“They deserve better, Ada. If we must bend an already flexible rule to accommodate that, I suggest we do.”
“Of course. That was what I had in mind.”
“Then that is what we shall put to Esmerelda.”
“And if they’d prefer to stay at home?”
“We will accommodate that, and keep a watchful eye.”
Ada nodded, hoping it wouldn’t come to that. With a snap of Hecate’s fingers, they were in front of Esmerelda once more.
“Well met, Esmerelda,” Hecate nodded, face prepared blank as she lifted a hand to her forehead.
“Well met, Miss Hardbroom,” Esmerelda nodded, hand on forehead. Ada could see it shaking slightly.
“Esmerelda, we would like very much to help you and your sisters. We have a couple of suggestions, for your consideration,” Ada spoke gently, and Esmerelda’s face lit up at her words.