Author's Note: This story hit 1,000 viewers, so here's a bonus chapter to celebrate! This chapter was a lot of fun to write. I really enjoyed thinking about how a younger Cedric might behave if he was given some confidence and found himself in a place where he was appreciated.


The next morning, Sofia dressed up and arrived to school early again, hoping things would go better this time. Cedric had been back to his usual self ever since they left the garden, but she could still remember the way the way he looked at her when she had succeeded in casting the flower spell, and she was in very high spirits today. She couldn't wait to tell Dax all about it. She watched the crowd until she could see him coming up the walk, then smoothed her dress and ran out to meet him.

"Good morning, Sofia." He greeted her cheerfully, clearly feeling better than he had the morning before. She smiled and returned the sentiment. They approached the doors and stood off to the side of the entrance to talk.

"I did the spell yesterday! Mr Ceedric was there, and my parents even saw it. Everyone was so happy. It was like a dream, Dax!" She spun around, remembering how Cedric had picked her up and made the same motion. The connection wasn't lost on the sorcerer, who had been mentally kicking himself for the impropriety of the moment ever since it happened. He stiffened a bit, but reminded himself to relax before she had a chance to notice.

"I'm glad it went so well, Sofia. It sounds like you got exactly what you wanted." She nodded at him, still grinning.

"Uh-huh. Mr Ceedric called me brilliant! Can you believe that? Me, brilliant!" She was practically giddy, and Cedric wondered at how his words, words he hadn't even meant to say out loud, had such an impact on the girl.

The crowd of children who were making their way inside thinned, and Cedric remembered that he needed to be in the magic classroom for his "volunteer" duties.

"I've gotta go or Miss Fauna will turn me into a toad." He joked to the princess. She laughed, picturing Dax's head on a frog body, and they went in. Cedric walked Sofia to the door of her first class, and Sofia thought he was such a gentleman. He acts so grown up, she commented to herself with a smile. Like a little adult.

In class, Amber teased her good naturedly, having seen Dax escort her, and noticing the spacey look on her sister's face.

"I just needed to talk to him about something." She explained, trying to wave it off. Amber rolled her eyes. Nice try, Sofia, the older princess thought. I see the way you two have been acting. Hildegard passed Amber a note, and Sofia was glad for the reprieve.

The teacher entered the room and went right to the lessons. Sofia made it a point to pay attention, despite Amber staring at her through the whole class, and trying to pump her for information every time the teacher wasn't looking.

Sofia's grades had really suffered when she'd been busy worrying about Umbra, and she was determined to get back on track. The fact that nothing had really been solved with Umbra tried to derail her train of thought, but she pushed it away. Things were going great right now, and she was going to focus on that.

Cedric had hurried enough to get to Miss Fauna's classroom before the first group began to filter in.

"Good morning, Mendax. How are you today?" She asked without looking up, assembling some branches and vines into circles on her desk.

"I'm pretty good. How are you Miss Fauna?" He asked her, she gestured to the loose vines on her desk, and he took the hint and picked some up, observing the fairy and copying what she did.

"Just make one more. That will be plenty for the morning." She informed him. She studied the young boy's face for a moment, he was now engrossed in his wreath-making. He's doing a fine job of it. She noted. I'm so glad he volunteered. The first few students entered and made their way to the desks at the back, chatting as they went.

"How is our Princess Sofia today?" She asked the sorcerer.

"She practically danced her way to class." He mused out loud. Miss Fauna watched his pale skin turn bright red, his hands fumbling with the wreath he was crafting as he realized the teacher had tricked him into admitting that he'd escorted Sofia before coming instead of helping to make the pile of wreaths in front of him. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, giving a tiny, good-natured chuckle at her student's reaction. She decided to move on from that topic for now.

"For the sake of my classroom, let's keep our magic usage limited to the lesson plan today, agreed? Butterflies and flowers are lovely... on these wreaths or outside, where they belong." She informed him as he finished up his wreath and placed it on the table with the others. You told me to work with her. He mentally retorted to the fairy. Sofia wanted flowers, so I helped her make flowers.

When the class ended, Sofia was the first one out, and made a beeline for Sorcery class. She hurried in and took her seat. Cedric was busy going over the lesson details with Miss Fauna one last time. When he turned around, Sofia caught his eye and he smiled at her and mouthed "Hi." She returned his smile and gave a wave. Miss Fauna turned back to the wreaths, pretending she didn't see their exchange. The other children filled the desks around Sofia, and class was ready to begin.

"SINCE we all enjoyed the flowers so much yesterday, today we will all be conjuring our own." Miss Fauna announced pointedly. The class began to murmur, knowing that she was referring to the incident with Sofia and Dax the day before.

"Then, we will learn how to clean them up WITHOUT the help of enchanted brooms." Sofia and Cedric exchanged glances, knowing they had been caught. Miss Fauna nodded at Dax, and he flicked his wand at the teacher's desk, transporting the wreaths that were on it to each child's workspace. He had actually been told to pass them out, and he knew what she said about unauthorized magic in class, but something compelled him to show off a bit.

He heard the children begin to murmur to each other in approval and turned back to the class just as the teacher was getting them settled back in. She gave him a look that conveyed how very little his stunt had amused her, and he did his best to look apologetic. He ran his hand through his white bangs nervously and gave a chuckle. When Miss Fauna's back was turned to him again, he took a bow, which started all of the younger students right back up. He wasn't intending to be devious or disruptive, it just felt so good to have an audience that really seemed to enjoy watching him.

"If! I may continue..." Miss Merryweater stated gruffly, and Cedric sat down, deciding not to push his luck any further. He turned to see Sofia stifling a fit of giggles, her hands clasped firmly over her mouth. Just one more thing, and then I'll behave. He promised himself. He winked at Sofia, which set all the girls in the front row to whispering amongst themselves. He watched Amber nudge Sofia with her elbow.

Miss Fauna shot a glance over her shoulder at him, and he threw his hands up in mock defeat before clasping them behind his head, leaning back in his seat.

"Now, we will be working on two spells today. The first is the flower spell. You may cast it on any non-living thing in the room that you like, but do be sure to put at least some on your wreath." She demonstrated the spell for the class, and Cedric leaned forward in his chair, needing to know who had the gist and who he'd have to help. Sofia, feeling especially confident in her magic, was one of the first to try it. She held her wand out to her wreath, but then a sneaky expression crossed her face, and she turned it on Cedric's chair.

"Decorot Florion!" She repeated the words easily. Cedric's chair became covered in flowers, and she gave him a cheeky grin. He glanced at the teacher to make sure she wasn't still keeping an eye on him, then applauded for Sofia silently. She went back to decorating her wreath, and he set about making the rounds, offering help to anyone who didn't have the hang of the spell, yet. After every student had successfully decorated their wreath, Miss Fauna showed them the cleaning spell.

"You can start with the chair." She said, eyes firmly on Sofia.

"Spickspanidio." The princess recited with a wave of her wand. The class set about casting the spell. Soon, every flower that wasn't attached to a wreath disappeared from the room, and the class was dismissed. Cedric sat back in his seat, waiting for an earful from the fairy.

"Mendax, that may have been my most successful sorcery class ever." That was not exactly the lecture he had been expecting. He shot her a confused look, so she continued.

"Thanks to you, everybody's eyes were on the front of the classroom, and I don't think a single note was passed the entire time. They were all too busy watching your antics. You really know how to capture their attention!" With that, she flew around the room excitedly, preparing for the next class to come in and get started.