Chapter Text
Imogen stumbled through the door of the staff room 10 minutes before the start of lessons. She quickly headed over to the coffee pot, pouring the liquid into her mug shakily.
“Quite unlike you to be late, Imogen.” She heard the headmistress comment behind her. Drill turned around, holding her drink close to her, appreciating the warmth. Did no one else realise how cold it was in here?
“I must’ve been tuckered out yesterday, that's all.” Amelia looked unconvinced, along with Davina, who had been eying the PE teacher suspiciously.
“Are you sure you’re feeling alright, dear? You look like you haven’t slept in weeks! Oh, I do hope you haven’t caught what was passing around the 3rd years!” Imogen rolled her eyes at the chanting teacher.
“I’m fine, Miss Bat. Maybe a little headache, but that's all..”
Constance looked up from her book, “A headache that is causing you to shiver like you are in the middle of a blizzard, Miss Drill?”
Imogen scoffed and sat on a nearby table. “Seriously, I am fine. I don’t see what the fuss is-” Suddenly, a large sneeze erupted from the woman. The rest of the staff looked between each other sceptically.
Amelia got up, passing the younger teacher a handkerchief from her pocket. “If you say so Imogen, however, don’t be afraid to take the day off - if you need it.” Drill shook her head rapidly.
“That would be unnecessary, Miss Cackle. I’ve just had an unlucky morning, caught me off guard.” She smiled gently. The headmistress let out a hum of disapproval and the school bell rang, signalling the beginning of morning classes. The teachers began shuffling out the room, leaving the non-witch and deputy last to leave.
Constance approached the PE teacher, silently placing a small vial on the table she was sitting on. “For the headache…” The witch said. And before Imogen could even open her mouth to thank her, she was gone.
Miss Drill had to admit, the potion worked wonders for her headache. She might even have to ask Constance for some more of it. The only downside was, with the headache gone - the increasing fatigue throughout her body was becoming clearer. The sun was blaring down on the class, not helping her cause at all as she led a group warm up. “Surely this will do me some good." Imogen thought as she let out a sigh and broke into a series of jumping jacks.
Constance stood at her office window, keeping a steady eye on the group in the courtyard - or more specifically the woman leading the group. Something was obviously wrong with the PE teacher and she was too stubborn to admit it. Whilst her symptoms looked somewhat mild, Drill could’ve easily caught something magical, and who knows what would happen if she did. Her immune system was bound to be weaker than a witches’. Cackles had enough disasters, the last thing they needed was a member of staff dropping dead. The potions teacher was snapped out of her thoughts when she spotted the group leave the grounds, towards the forest. Constance sighed and turned away from the window, reluctantly walking back over to her desk.
The shrill sound of the PE teacher’s whistle echoed through the trees and the class began their journey through the forest. The first half of the cross-country went smoothly, with Miss Drill throwing words of encouragement to the complaining students ahead of her every so often. Of course, she could understand their grumbling. She would never admit it, but her subject must seem boring compared to all the magical ones they attend. Even the staff thinks its useless at times...
The second half was when Imogen noticed herself struggling to keep up with the girls - no matter how hard she was trying. Her body was slowing down and she was losing control of her breathing. The trees that hung over her were morphing into splodges of brown and green. She kept pushing. “Miss Drill! Are you alright?”
The yell came from a blur of blue polos ahead of her, which were now stationary. Imogen stopped behind them, swaying dangerously, pain shot through her. “Get someone.” Was all she could muster before everything went black.