#dovey

Lady Leonora Lesso, the strict and imposing Dean of Evil, had always carried an air of severity, yet there was something softer in her step tonight. Moving through the night with a quiet grace. Her dark, flowing robes swished as she walked, her boots making soft tapping sounds on the stone floors.

In her arms, she cradled a pile of carefully wrapped gifts. She would be using her magic if it weren’t for the fact that she wasn’t willing to wake up the students who were light sleepers, knowing the glow from her fingertips would only be attracting attention.

With a sigh she moved down the hallway, internally muttering about how inconvenient and embarrassing it is for someone like her to be doing such things.

Thinking that She was the first to arrive, as always, there was the grand Christmas tree that stood proudly in the center of the room. The tree was adorned with twinkling lights, glittering ornaments, and strands of gold tinsel—everything a student could imagine for the holidays…

As she neared the grand hall, Lesso’s heart skipped a beat. There, just ahead of her, was a familiar figure— Dovey the Dean of the School for Good.

“Shit.” She muttered as She tries to hide herself behind the pile of presents she was carrying, moving slowly away from the area that Dovey was at.

Dovey was placing down a Large box with a tag that simply read: To the students of good. Just Right before she turned and caught Lesso in the act.

“Lesso..?” Dovey thought to herself as she could not believe her own eyes, the thought of Lesso who’s always feared by everyone is giving out gifts in the middle of the night seemed almost amusing and hilarious to her.

Her blonde hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders, as her eyes lit up with mischief in her mind the moment Lesso made Eye contact with her.

"Well, well," Dovey said, her voice a soft tease, "looks like I’m not the only one with a secret." She said as she walks towards her.

"Dovey," she said, her voice was stiff as she tries to hide her true emotions.

“I wasn’t aware we have another Secret Santa in this school..”

“And No one needs to know.” Lesso said almost immediately, cutting her off out of embarrassment.

“And here I thought you didn't believe in Christmas."

"I do not," Lesso replied curtly, "But I do believe in duty. And this," she gestured to the pile of gifts in her hands, "is my duty tonight. The students of Evil must have something to wake up to in the morning."

“Uh huh.. Definitely something that the Dean for the school of evil do..”

Lesso glared at her, but there was no real heat behind it. "You will not speak of this to anyone," she said firmly. "This is a secret between the two of us. No one must know."

Dovey’s laughter rang softly through the hall. “Let’s keep it that way, shall we? As much as I would love to be telling everyone about how the great evil dean is actually Santa Claus in disguise.. it would ruin the magic wouldn’t it?”

“Of course.. we wouldn’t want to ruin that silly little make believe that the students still believe in.” Lesso scowled.

“And I didn’t expect you to be so sentimental. You’ve certainly got a soft spot for the little ones, don’t you?”

“I am not some sentimental fool,” Lesso said, though the slightest hint of affection could be heard in her voice. “I simply understand the importance of ensuring the students are inspired and motivated… even if they don’t realize it.”

“Ah, of course," Dovey replied, her eyes glinting with playful curiosity. "Because the students of the School for Evil have been so good this year, haven't they?" She exaggerated the word good, letting the playful jab hang in the air.

“You’re insufferable.” Lesso scoffed before she adjusted her long dark cloak and crouched beside the tree, placing small packages under the boughs with painstaking precision. Despite her stern exterior and reputation as one of the most formidable figures in the school, tonight she was an entirely different person.

There were many presents she carried, every present has its own unique charm to it. As if it was wrapped carefully to the students likings and personalities.

Some of which had ribbons in dark, Gothic hues. While some, had cute intricate designs of snowflakes tied with golden ribbons. She knew the nuances of each one's personality, their desires, their little quirks — Observed through conducting classes and teaching them for quite some time.

After placing all of the individual gifts under the tree, She carefully placed the last gift. A beautifully wrapped box with a tag that simply read: To the students of Evil.

Dovey bent down, picking up a gift from the floor and eyeing it with a playful grin. "I have to admit, Leonora, I didn’t expect to catch you in the act. I thought for sure you’d be asleep by now, plotting how to ruin everyone's holiday spirit."

Lesso sighed, as if to imply that she was forced to participate in these small acts of kindness against her will. But her eyes were betraying her hidden emotions. “I’d better been well off as the Grinch then.” She joked.

“The grinch who stole Christmas?” Dovey lets out a stifled laughter, as she walked towards Lesso.

“But even at the end of the story, he still cares.. No matter how evil he tries to be”

Boop!-

Dovey tapped her finger lightly on Lesso’s nose, before giving her a playful grin.

“You know.. It’s actually nice to see a different side of you, Leonora. You don’t let anyone see it, but I know you care about them..”

What Dovey said seems to strike a chord in her, as her gaze subtly shifted to the students' sleeping quarters. Each one of them sleeping peacefully, tugged in their beds.. Some slept in a disheveled posture which seem to almost bring out a slight tug on the side of her lips

"You’re allowed to enjoy this, too. It’s Christmas, after all."

“I suppose you’re right. It’s easy to forget, sometimes in all this…

— She replied while weaving one of her hands, gesturing to the bright lights and Christmas decorations around her. Though she couldn’t help but glance over at Dovey with a slight barely visible smirk.

“But don’t think this means I’ll start celebrating every holiday with you, Dovey. I have my pride.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Dovey laughed lightly, her voice full of warmth. “I wouldn’t dream of forcing that on you. Though, my door is always open.” She said with a grin on her face.

The room fell quiet, a comfortable ambience. As if everything fell perfectly in place.

“Merry Christmas, Lesso..”

Lesso’s eyes softened, there was a brief silence before followed by a reply that is soft but audible to the person standing beside her.

“Merry Christmas, Dovey.”

Was that a small smile, From the imposing Dean?.. Well, We would never know. All that we know is that the two of them shared the same goals, bathing in the fuzzy feeling of bringing a bit of joy to the students. They stood for a moment, looking down at the tree with its growing pile of gifts, and for the first time in a long time, both felt a little lighter..

"Ready to go, Santa?" Dovey asked with a teasing grin, nudging Lesso playfully as they both stood back to admire their work.

Lesso rolled her eyes feigning annoyance, before chuckling softly "After you, Dovey."

And with that, Both headmistresses slipped away into the shadows. Disappearing into the quiet halls of the School for Good and Evil, Knowing that the students would wake up the next morning to find their Christmas gifts under the Glowing tree..

.~.

It was now Christmas morning, and for the first time in a long time, there was a sense of peace in the air. The students had been awake for only a few minutes, stirring from their slumber in their cozy dormitories. As they began to trickle into the Great Hall for their early breakfast, a curious sight greeted them.

Under the enormous Christmas tree, surrounded by glimmering decorations and flickering candles, were dozens of neatly wrapped presents—each one labeled with the student’s name. The silver and black ribbons, the sparkles of glitter, the way the gifts seemed to glow with a secret magic… it was as if the very essence of Christmas had been carefully arranged for them.

“OH MY GOD! GUYS! YOU’VE GOT TO SEE THIS!” one of the students called out from the Great Hall, which caused a ripple of students rushing through the hallway wanting to get a good look of the commotion.

You followed along blindly, only curious to want to know what was happening. Until you reached the Great Hall..

“Presents?! We get presents!!?” One of your friends was in shock, similar to all the other students who had just entered the hall. The students' chatter filled the room, but none of them had yet questioned who could possibly have placed the presents there. They all just assumed it was a Christmas miracle, as many children do when magic is at play. None of them knew the true masterminds behind this holiday surprise.

“This one is yours” one of the student held out the two nicely wrapped presents and placed them on the floor near to you before they continued to rummage through the crowd full of students who were either squatting on the floor or bent downwards trying to find their own gifts.

You bent down to grab the two small package with your name written in elegant, curvy script.

Meanwhile. In the back of the hall, near the large stone fireplace, two figures stood with quiet smiles—Lady Leonora Lesso and Lady Dovey. Both of them were watching the scene unfold, content and almost sentimental.

Lesso let out a small, amused breath as the students began to crowd around the tree, unwrapping gifts with joy. “How Noisy.. I’m starting to regret my decisions on giving them presents now.”

Dovey lets out a soft laugh, “I know you don’t mean it Leonora, admit that you enjoy seeing them happy. Besides, they are just eager to know who mysteriously gave them presents.”

For a moment, your gaze met Dovey's. She smiled at you softly, her gaze flicking towards the gifts that you were holding on your hands. As if she was anticipating you to open it.

You looked away quickly, unsure if you’d imagined it, but the feeling remained— a quiet assumption thinking that they were the ones who had placed the presents there. But you had no evidence nor proof that it was them.

Lesso's lips curled into a slight smile, looking at your expression that was filled with unspoken assumptions. “Let them wonder, The mystery is half the fun after all...”

“What’s wrong? Were you not expecting Santa to give you a present?” Dovey’s voice reached you from the doorway, teasing you slightly at your expression. “We’ll be here if you need us.”Her tone was soft, and gentle.

Though Lesso did not say a single word, she placed a finger to her lips. A soft and unspoken gesture that speaks volumes.

Noticing the subtle indirect hint of that action, you felt a faint, almost imperceptible tug in your chest.

The realization hits. The gifts were from the Deans…

"Do you think they know?" Dovey asked quietly, as she gazed to Lesso.

"I doubt it," Lesso replied playfully, her voice low but laced with an unreadable warmth.

"But I don’t think they need to."

Dovey’s smile widened. "Perhaps not."

As the students continued to unwrap their gifts with wonder, the two Deans exchanged a quiet glance, a silent understanding between them.