In Bloom (Twisted Wonderland x OC)

2: The Ramshackle Dorm

Headmage Crowley's description of the dormitory as "unused" was a severe understatement.

It seemed all care for the grass and trees on the front lawn had been neglected for decades. One door on the front gate was barely hanging onto its hinges, while the other housed a spider family. The stairway leading to the house was covered by black soot. All of the windows were boarded up from the outside.

The interior was in far worse condition that the exterior. Dust, almost looking like snow, covered every nook and cranny. All of the furniture were in serious need of repair or complete replacement. Every single cabinet was filled with cobwebs, dust bunnies, or a combination of the two.

This place truly lived up to its name as Ramshackle Dormitory.

"I don't like this, Cassie," Grim hugged on to my leg for warmth, "It's nothing like back home."

"Don't worry I know we can fix this...somehow," everywhere I looked, something needed repair or replacement. Finally, I caught sight of the empty fireplace, "Why don't you warm up the place a little and I will-"

Indistinct noises from above us made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. As if it was a reflex, my fingers found themselves around my clear quartz necklace.

Is this dormitory cursed too? I should have cleansed this place before I attempted to do any cleaning.

Carefully, I made my way to the main hallway, where three ghosts floated out from the walls.

"A guest! It's been so long since we've had a visitor," the first ghost eyed me up and down, "and a pretty one too."

The second ghost whined, "Why don't you play with us?"

"Yeah," the third ghost agreed, "Do you know how boring it gets when you have no ghost pals?"

"C-C-C-C-Cassie! Do something!" Grim trembled from behind me.

I folded my arms over my chest and firmly asked, "So, the three of you live here?"

The first ghost nodded, "There were other people living here, but they ran away as soon as they saw us."

"Then the three of you have done a terrible job of taking care of this place, just look at it!" I motioned around the house, "This is absolutely no way to welcome guests! It's an absolute disaster!"

"But-"

"No 'buts' coming out of you. If we are cleaning, you are helping too. Since you all can float, check the roof to make sure there are no holes. If you see any, repair them right away. "

"You can't-"

"I will focus on the lawn and gate outside and then whip us some dinner. After you're done repairing the roof, I want you three to help Grim in dusting."

"Hey are you listening?" the second ghost floated in front of me, "We're ghosts not-"

"Did you listen to a word of what I just told you?"

"Y-yes."

"Then get to it," I headed out towards the front door, "You better be done with your tasks before I'm done, otherwise I'll expel you from this house."

Ghosts cannot be completely exterminated by witches. However, kicking them out of their place of residence is a rather simple spell anyone could learn.

Grim chuckled, "If I were you, I'd do as Cassie says," he gave the ghosts a wink before he proceeded to his own cleaning.

--------------------

By dinnertime, all of the interior and exterior cleaning was completed.

With the ghosts' compliance, there was not a speck of dust in sight. With my magic, natural life in the front lawn was restored and the stairway was spotless. On the side of the house, a vegetable, fruit, and herb garden could be found. In the attic, one of the ghosts found a toolbox, which was perfect for repairing all of the furniture and the front gates. It looked like an entirely new dormitory. Grim and I even contemplated on renaming it.