#Dimity can't floss or do the Carlton

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Winter Song

Ch 17 Winter Winds

Chapters: 17/31 Word Count: 1,537 Fandom: The Worst Witch (TV 2017) Rating: Teen Warnings: A brief mention of what happens to frogs in a witching academy Summary: A winter storm delays everyone’s holiday departure. What do you do with a castle full of cooped up girls? Ada has a few ideas – but if Hecate can survive the day, it will be a miracle.

Notes: This story is part of the B-Sides: Stories from the world of Hecate’s Summer Playlist series. It is a prequel to Hecate’s Summer Playlist.

Well, I’m not getting caught up, exactly… but at least I’m not falling further behind. Winter Winds is by Mumford and Sons.

The fic itself bubbled into my brain a fabulous drawing by @saltbroom showed up on my dash. I lost it for a bit, but @emiline-northeto found it for me again.

Thanks again to Sparky. She’s getting more familiar than she ever expected to be with The Worst Witch.

All you sharp-eyed readers who notice when I make an error in continuity, it will not hurt my feelings at all if you let me know. I’d love for this to actually be coherent when all the parts have been added (and fit with the rest of this universe).

Peering out the window, Ada strained to make out anything through the swirling snow. As the sun rose, Ada had hoped that visibility would improve. Instead, all that changed was the curtain of precipitation shifting from an inky whirling mass, to a gray one, to the current white one.

Hecate stood at her shoulder, studying the weather report on her maglet. “It’s too big for a weather spell, even if we all joined powers.” She tapped the screen and frowned. “According to the Ordinary weather, the storm has settled in for the time being.”

Ada gazed out the window again. “I do hope Dimity is managing. Perhaps—”

A blast of snow and cold air exploded into the middle of Ada’s office, sending furniture and people flying in all directions. In the quiet aftermath, the only sound was Dimity Drill, gasping for breath as she lay on the floor, a tangled mess of limbs, robes and broomstick.

“Dimity!” Ada and Algie rushed to help the flying instructor sit up while Hecate quickly magicked the room back into order. “Are you hurt?”

Dimity shook her head. “I don’t think so… knackered, mostly. It’s an absolute whiteout, Miss Cackle. I couldn’t even see the castle.” Slowly, with a bit of assistance from Ada, she climbed to her feet. Algernon took her cloak. “I had to transfer in at speed. Sorry about the mess.” Ada helped her to sit by the fire while Hecate made her a cup of tea.

“No sugar, just milk, correct?” Hecate held out a cup.

Dumbfounded, Dimity stammered up at Hecate, “Wh- you… You know how I take my tea?”

Hecate started to reply with a sarcastic remark, but then she remembered what Pippa had said about Dimity idolizing her. “I know how all my friends take their tea, Dimity. Now drink yours.” She gave Dimity’s shoulder a squeeze on her way to speak with Ada.

“That settles it, Hecate. We cannot permit the girls to leave the castle until the storm has passed.” She shook her head. “If the Star of the Sky can’t fly through it…”

“Quite right, Ada.” Hecate thought a moment before turning to Mr. Rowan-Webb. “If you and Miss Bat would please begin contacting the parents and letting them know that we will not be allowing the girls to fly themselves home until the storm has passed. If a parent or guardian would like to come and physically collect their student, they will need to speak with Miss Cackle directly to schedule a time. Any girl not collected by her parents will remain here until the storm clears.” Algie nodded before leaving with Gwen to make the notifications.

Turning back to Ada, Hecate checked her pocket watch and began formulating a plan. “I’ll have the staff prepare lessons for the girls who aren’t picked up. We’ll use the time productively, have no fear.”

“Oh! Well… Yes… that is certainly a very… responsible option, Hecate. Quite responsible.” Ada twisted the hem of her jumper, fussing with a loose thread.

Hecate narrowed her eyes. “Then why do I feel as though that is exactly the opposite of what will happen?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of a day of camaraderie. Team building, if you will.” Ada could see that Hecate wasn’t buying it. “Fine. A games day then.” She watched her deputy stiffen. “The term is over, and we all should be relaxing as it is.” Ada turned to include Dimity. “I shall leave the two of you to work out the details. Together. I believe there are more than a few games in the Confiscation Cupboard. Feel free to use any of those that seem appropriate – not the Cards Against Humanity, please.” Ada checked the time. “Shall we start right after lunch? Which reminds me…” Ada wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I shall go inform Miss Tapioca that her break has also been delayed.”

****

How? Hecate wondered from her hidden spot, pressed against the cool stone wall of the Great Hall. Fewer than half the girls remained at the castle. How were they able to make twice the noise of the full complement of students? They’d gathered the girls together in the Great Hall; warming spells kept the large room comfortable in spite of the freezing weather.

A roar of triumph erupted from the group of girls gathered around Dimity’s enormous Ordinary television set. Hecate hadn’t even known Dimity owned a television – not that it surprised her. As she watched, the girls started a choreographed dance that involved shaking their hips and waving their arms around wildly. She’d been certain that none of the students would have been familiar with Ordinary video games, but Dimity had simply shrugged and said, ‘wait and see.’ Clearly, she’d been wrong. The girls were most excited to discover that Miss Drill had access to Dance Dance Revolution, Mario Kart and Fortnite. Hecate had watched a few minutes of the games – immediately insisting that only the upper grades would play Fortnite.

Another burst of laughter and the sound of overturned chairs drowned out the video gamers. She started to tell them to settle down but stopped herself when she realized that the pink sweater crawling out from under the table, clutching a spoon, was Ada herself.

Hecate scanned the room, looking for the Academy’s resident troublemaker. She spotted Ethel amongst a group of girls playing a round of magical musical chairs. She was pleased to see that Esme and Sybil were with her. Perhaps they could keep Ethel’s propensity for mischief contained.

Next, Hecate looked for the Academy’s resident trouble-magnet. She didn’t see Mildred anywhere. Suddenly alert, Hecate stepped off the wall. “Where are you, Mildred Hub-ble?” she said to herself.

“Miss Hardbroom?” Mildred was standing at her elbow, looking up at her expectantly.

It was only years of enduring the practical jokes from Amulet’s or the sudden squeals of girls at Cackle’s that kept Hecate from jumping out of her skin. “What is it, Mildred? Why aren’t you playing with Maud and Enid?”

“Well, you see… that’s what I came to ask you…” Mildred held up a red box. “We want to play Uno and we need a fourth…”

Hecate waited for Mildred to finish. Mildred just continued to look up at her expectantly. Oh. “Are you asking me to be… your fourth?”

“Will you? Please, Miss Hardbroom?”

Truly, today could not get any worse, Hecate thought. “I have no doubt that you could find a more suitable player.” Her eyes roved the room. Everyone else did seem to be involved in some activity or another. Dimity was still with the video gamers, though the girls seemed to be trying to teach her how to do some sort of… dance? Convulsion? Something that involved swinging her arms back and forth across her hips as they swayed in the opposite direction. Hecate had seen frogs dropped in a cauldron move with more grace. She made a mental note to harass Dimity about her decided lack of success later. Ada was still playing Spoons, and Gwen and Algie were nowhere to be found.

“That’s okay, Miss Hardbroom.” Mildred shrugged. “We can find something else to do.”

Hecate pursed her lips, knowing she would regret this later. “Wait, Mildred. It doesn’t appear that there is anyone else. I will join you, however, I’m afraid I don’t know how to play.”

Mildred’s whole body shook with excitement. “Oh! It’s easy! But… it’s still fun! Thank you, Miss Hardbroom!” She raced back to the table where Maud and Enid were waiting, looking both pleased and terrified.

Steeling herself against whatever awaited her, Hecate joined the girls at the table. The rules seemed simple enough, with just enough strategy to be entertaining. Hecate lost the first round spectacularly. Enid tried not to gloat but failed just as spectacularly.

“Very well, Miss Nightshade,” Hecate drawled. “Now that we’ve had our practice match, I suggest we play… first to three?” Three heads nodded eagerly.

****

“Hah! Draw four, HB!” Enid crowed. “You aren’t winning this time.”

Hecate took her required cards. She felt like she was holding half the deck. Mildred and Enid had figured out they could team up against her, playing cards to change the direction of gameplay or force her to draw whenever they could.  She loosed a tiny stream of magic into the cards and waited, careful to keep her expression as neutral as possible.

Soon enough, Maud played a draw card against Mildred. As Mildred reached for the deck, the required four cards flew out of the stack, flying across the table and striking a stunned Mildred in the chest.

“Maud!” Mildred giggle-glared at her friend.

“I didn’t do it!” Maude looked at Enid. “It must have been Enid!”

“It wasn’t me!” Enid poked suspiciously at the stack of cards.

The girls looked back and forth among themselves before finally turning wide eyes towards Hecate. “Miss Hardbroom! It was you!” Maud exclaimed.

Hecate let the smug smile show, just enough. “I believe it’s my turn,” she said, laying down a stack of cards. She left the spell on the deck, somehow not minding quite so much when the squeals of laughter came from her table.