A/N: I didn't know if this started yesterday or today haha. So here is the first prompt!
Chapter 1: Decorations
Diana didn't particularly like the winter holidays. This time of year was a reminder of her early Christmas's with her parents. They had always spent every second they could with her. The manor would be decorated in every room with an enormous Christmas tree that filled the entry way. Her father would take the 3 of them on sleigh rides and they would drink hot coco. Her favorite memory was opening presents Christmas morning while cuddled up with her mother and father. They were bittersweet memories. She loved the feeling of love she felt when she thought of her time with her parents, but she would always be jarred back to reality. Now she only had her selfish aunt and cousins to go back to, and the manor would have the bare minimum in order to save on the cost. She wanted to stay at Luna Nova for Christmas so she wouldn't have to be reminded of her parents, but that would raise questions among her peers, and she didn't want to incur their pity.
Diana had resigned herself to another painfully lonely Christmas as she made her way to the dining hall for breakfast. She had decided the best way to keep her mind off of her troubles would be to ignore the festivities all together, this was just another short break she could study during.
The staff however were unaware of Diana's genius plan and had started decorating the Halls of Luna Nova in preparation for the holidays.
Diana let out a heavy sigh, everywhere she looked there were there spirits and students decorating the walls. The hall leading to the cafeteria had many large garlands with red bows, sparkling ornaments, pine cones and lights hang across the ceiling. A goblin on a stepstool was tying ribbons to the light fixtures and a large Minotaur was holding a ladder steady just to the side of the cafeteria entrance. A student was on top holding an excessively large wreath that was overflowing with mismatched decorations. She had one foot and one hand on the ladder and she stretched as far over as she could toward a hook, desperately trying to hang the wreath over the entry way.
Just as Diana was wondering why the student didn't just use magic to hang the wreath she noticed the cute little ponytail and realized it was none other than Akko.
"Akko really." Diana said quietly as she sighed. Raising her voice so other witch could hear her she called out, "You know that you can use magic to hang something so high. Or just let the staff do their job."
Hearing Diana's voice Akko looked over hear shoulder and gave her a huge grin.
"I love decorating for Christmas! And I promised Herbie I'd help him!" Akko said, turning back to her work. She stretched just a little farther. Almost there. "I tried using magic at first but I couldn't get it right." She stretched a little more. "Besides. Ive-" she inched closer. "-almost-" just a little more. "-got-" Akko stretched just a little too far and her foot slipped. She let go of the wreath and ladder as she lost her balance. Her arms waved wildly in the air as she fell, desperately trying to grab onto something.
"AKKO!" Diana yelled, as she whipped out her wand. "Paleis Capama!" She caught Akko just before she hit the ground. Diana let out a sigh of relief as she set Akko down gently before hurrying to her side.
Akko sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck. "Well I almost had it. Heheh."
The Minotaur rushed to where Akko had fallen, but once he saw that she was indeed fine, he gave her space and moved to where the wreath had fallen. He picked it up and started inspecting the damage it sustained in the fall.
Diana looked over Akko, checking for any hidden injuries she could have gotten from the fall. "Honestly Akko. If I hadn't been here you could have gotten seriously injured. You need to lookout for your safety more. I'm not always going to be around to catch you." Diana said with a touch of concern. If there was one thing that could get her mind off her own troubles it was Akko, /especially/ Akko in danger.
"Ahh I'm fine Diana! I was just trying to hang up the wreath I made, this years decorations are going to be the best!" Akko gave her friend a huge smile before turning to the Minotaur.
"Herbie! Is the wreath ok?" Akko asked, walking closer to look at it with him.
"It should be ok, none of the ornaments cracked." the Minotaur responded.
"Alright! Then time to try again!" Akko said, reaching out to grab the wreath.
"Akko!" Diana said incredulously. "Did you learn nothing from that fall?"
"But now you're here to catch me hehe." Akko smirked.
"Absolutely not." Diana said. She brought her wand up and concentrated. "If you are that dead set then allow me." And with that she focused her wand on the wreath in Herbie's hands and lifted it above their heads. Akko watched as it came to a rest on the hook she had failed to reach.
"Yay! It looks perfect doesn't it!" Akko jumped up and down and twirled around under the archway. "This is the best time of year don't you think Diana?" Akko said smiling.
"Oh. Well, I do suppose it has its charms." Diana said, caught off guard by Akko's question.
"There is so much to dooooo~~~ C'mon you have to help me!" Akko said practically beaming as she grabbed Diana's hand and started dragging her along.
"Akko! What about breakfast? Surely you wouldn't miss that!" Diana said desperately. All she had wanted to do was forget about the holidays and bury herself in her studies, and this was the exact opposite!
"Don't worry! Lotte said she'd save some, and Jasminka is making Christmas cookies! We can eat after."
Diana realized Akko had made up her mind and resigned herself to being dragged along by the incorrigible girl. Well maybe it won't be so bad, Akko seems to be enjoying herself after all. Diana thought as they left the cafeteria behind.
Professor Holbrooke watched the two girls run off with a smile. "I'm glad someone can get that gloomy look off of Diana's face." She chuckled to herself before heading into the dining hall.