(A/N: Mid-terms. They're such a drag. This is definitely going to cut into my writing. My apologies everyone, but if it takes me a few days longer to update, blame it on the exams.

Chapter 7: Magic Lessons and Uninvited Guests

Sophie was in a bad mood; she had been ever since Angorian's threat. Howl was trying to calm her down, but so far was unsuccessful.

"Sophie, you know that nothing can ever come between us." He told her.

"I know." she fumed. "But how dare that… that… woman say things like that. Such disrespect and cockiness! She threatened us! She threatened us!"

Sophie's clothes and hair began to whip around her as her magic flared up. She didn't even seem to notice what she was doing. Howl gulped nervously. He was strong enough to undo any magic she performed, but he still didn't want any accidents.

"Sophie, watch your magic." He said carefully.

"What magic?" she shouted. At that point she began to glow. Now that caught her attention. "Oh, sorry."

She took a calming breath and the power settled down. Howl came up and hugged her from behind. "Maybe we should start your training tomorrow, love."

Sophie nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're probably right. I'm sorry, Howl. I haven't been in the best of moods lately."

Calcifer chose that moment to fly by. "I'll say." He commented. "I don't think I can stand nine months of your mood swings."

Both Sophie and Howl glared at him. "Now is not the time, Calcifer." Howl growled.

Calcifer yawned. "Whatever."

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"Emotions are a big part of magic." Howl explained, as he and Sophie sat in the field of flowers. "They can affect the type of magic you use, which is why you need to work on controlling your emotions. You've seen what happens when you get angry."

Sophie nodded. "Mostly the magic that I perform is destructive."

Howl nodded. "Yes, anger has that affect."

"And I've seen what happens when you get upset." Said Sophie, referring to the time he had oozed green slime.

Howl turned red. "Yes, well, that is just an example of what happens when you don't control your magic and sadness is your biggest emotion. It was accidental magic."

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Sure it was. You were just getting me back for mixing up your hair dye."

"Well… I looked terrible as a redhead!"

Sophie chuckled. "It wasn't so bad. Besides," she ruffled his jet-black hair, "I like your natural hair color better."

Howl shook away. "Ok, we're getting off topic. We need to start your training."

Sophie nodded. "Yes, yes, you're right. So, teach me a spell."

Howl sighed. "Sophie, it takes many years to become a witch or wizard, not to mention we start our training when we're very young. You're only going to have magic for about nine months. You won't be learning any spells, just how to control the magic you do have."

Sophie frowned. "Oh, that takes a lot of the fun out of it."

Howl shrugged. "Sorry, but that's just the way it works. It normally takes about six to seven months to be able to have complete control of your magic. At that point is when those with magic start learning spells. I suppose I could teach you some spells that you could use during your final months of pregnancy."

Sophie began getting excited. "Really? That's great! I can't wait! Even if it is seven months away."

Howl was amused by Sophie's excitement, but she was unaware of how difficult it was to learn magic. It would be very difficult for her. Her mood swings would make it very hard. In order to control her magic when she became emotional, he would need to 'trigger' certain emotions. Happiness was the easiest to control, because her body and mind were at peace. But anger and sadness would be much harder; anger especially. Howl gulped; he was going to dread those lessons.

"Sophie, when you end up doing accidental magic, and you will end up doing accidental magic-"

Sophie's eyes narrowed "Oh, I will, will I?" she interrupted as a mood swing hit her. "And why is that? Do you think I'm not going to be able to handle my training? Do you think I'm weak? Is that what you think, Howl? Or is it that you're just so strong that you think it will be hard for me compared to how it was for you?"

Howl looked scared. "N-No. That's not what I meant at all. Everyone ends up doing accidental magic. It has nothing to do with you. I was just going to say that when you do slip up that you'll need to be able to know how to stop it."

Sophie's anger immediately evaporated. "Oh, why didn't you just say so?" she said cheerfully.

Howl sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought. "Ok, well listen carefully, 'cause this is very important. When you do learn how to control your magic and the situation occurs for you to use it, there is a very big factor that you have to consider. And that is how you want the outcome to be."

Sophie cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Uh… well…" This was not easy to explain. "Um… you see… it's like… no… you would… ah, that doesn't make sense." He scratched his head, trying to find a way to put what he was trying to tell her into words. Suddenly he was struck by inspiration. "Ok, I'll give you an example. Lets say you're hungry for an apple."

Sophie blinked. "An apple?" she repeated, having no idea what Howl was getting at.

The wizard nodded. "Yes, an apple."

He held out his hand and a rock floated into it. Sophie raised an eyebrow. "That's not an apple."

Howl shook his head. "I know. Just listen. You want an apple, so you cast a spell to make one appear." He waved his hand over the rock and it turned into a juicy red apple. "So now you have an apple, but it may not be what you wanted."

Sophie was more confused than ever. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Howl held out the apple. "You have an apple, but it may not be the kind of apple you wanted. Maybe you wanted a green one, or a yellow one, but instead you got a red. You see what I'm saying. What you're trying to accomplish while performing the spell is a factor."

He tossed the apple aside, turning it back into a rock. "Let's take the spell you were under. The Witch of the Waste had intended to turn you into an old woman. But how old was 'old'. She couldn't just cast a spell to make you old and have the results she wanted. She had to focus on '90 year old woman'. It's the way the spell is performed and not just the spell itself. Do you understand?"

Sophie nodded. "I… think so. I just need more information before I completely understand it."

Howl nodded. "That's fine."

"But before we get started."

"Oh, if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them. If there's something you don't understand I'll-"

Sophie shook her head. "No, it's not that. It's just… I'm hungry."

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"How can you eat all that?" Calcifer cried. "Jeez Sophie, if you keep this up you won't get fat from having a baby in your- WHOA, watch where you're throwing things."

"I'm eating for two now!" Sophie snapped.

"Calcifer, stop making fun of Sophie." Said Markl.

"Spoil sport." An evil smile spread over his face. "I can't wait to bring out the fat jokes."

Sophie clenched her fists as her irritation reached its boiling point. "Calcifer." She growled.

The utensils on the table began shaking as Sophie's magic began to surface.

"Warning, mood swing alert!" Calcifer cried, which did nothing to improve Sophie's attitude.

"Stop it, Cacifer" Howl warned. He turned to his fiancée. "Sophie, love, watch your magic. Remember what we talked about."

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Calcifer's eyes widened as all joking was set aside. "Sophie, someone's at the door. Control yourself. I'm sorry, ok."

Sophie took a few calming breaths and her magic began to settle down. "I'm calm. I'm calm."

Howl sighed. "That was close. You'll need to be more careful." He glared at Calcifer. "And you need to stop the teasing."

"It's not my fault if she's being Miss Moody." The fire-demon argued.

"It's my hormones!" Sophie snapped.

The person at the door knocked again.

"It's the flower shop." Said Calcifer.

Sophie's irritation became confusion. "The flower shop? But we're closed today. Markl, did you lock the door?"

The boy nodded. "Yeah, I even checked before we left."

"It's alright." Said Howl. "I'll get it." He went to the door and the dial changed. "Yes, may I help you?"

The person smiled. "Wizard Howl. So good to see you."

Sophie looked up. "I know that voice." She said to herself, walking over to the door. Her suspicions were correct. "Angorian, what are you doing here?"

The young woman smiled. "Just stopping by. I decided to pay Howl a visit since I could never catch him outside."

Howl put two and two together. "Oh, you're the person that's been searching for me."

Angorian snickered. "I am."

"How did you get in the shop?" asked Markl, wearing his old man disguise. "I locked up when I left."

"She has magic." Said Calcifer, coming out of hiding. "She's very strong. I can feel her power."

"Might I come in?" asked Angorian.

Sophie didn't trust the woman, but she didn't want Angorian to start casting spells. And if worse came to worse, Howl and Calcifer could use their magic. It would also be a relief to get all this straightened out.

"Very well." She said.

"Thank you." Angorian replied, giving Sophie a smug look. She looked around curiously. "So this is what the inside of your castle looks like. I expected more from someone as rich and as powerful as you, Howl."

Howl crossed his arms. "Ma'am, I don't know who you are, but you seem to know me. Have we met before?"

Angorian laughed. "Not necessarily. But I do know you very well. I learned of you through," her eyes darted over to Grandma Witch sleeping on the couch, "someone else."

"Really, who?"

Angorian smirked, but didn't answer. Calcifer hovered over to her and looked her up and down.

"Calcifer, that's rude." Said Howl.

The fire-demon flew over to him and whispered in his ear. "Be careful, Howl. Don't trust her."

"I don't." the wizard replied.

"Do I seem untrustworthy?" asked Angorian, having heard them regardless of how quietly they were talking.

Howl gave her a look. "Not to be rude, but my fiancée has been telling me that you've been harassing her."

Angorian raised an eyebrow. "Did she?"

"She did. She also told me what you said to her the last time you two met."

Angorian stepped too close for both Howl and Sophie's liking. "Well, she's a little chatter box, isn't she?" she said, running her finger over Howl's shirt.

Sophie was about to resort to violence, but Howl grabbed Angorian's hand and pushed her back. "I love Sophie. Nothing is ever going to get between us. So whatever it is that you are scheming, you might as well stop now."

Sophie smiled and looked for a reaction from Angorian. She was surprised to see the woman smiling.

"It doesn't matter." She said smugly. "I always get what I want."

Her hand began glowing and she reached for Howl again. Calcifer moved quickly, defending his friend by forcing Angorian away with a blast of magic. Angorian gave the fire-demon an angry look.

"Foolish fire-demon! You'll pay for interrupting."

In the corner, Grandma Witch woke up from all the noise. "What's going on?" she asked. The sleep immediately left her eyes as they fell upon Angorian and widened. "You!"

Angorian looked at the old witch and smirked. "Hello to you too. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

Grandma Witch got up and walked over to her. "What are you doing here? Leave at once!"

Everyone else looked confusedly from Angorian to Grandma Witch. "You two know each other?" asked Markl.

Angorian smirked. "We do."

Grandma Witch just glared at the young woman. "This is the demon I lost my heart to."

(A/N: Surprised? Angorian is the demon. That actually was in the book; another one of the crossovers I was referring to. What's going to happen next? I'll update as soon as possible, but with mid-terms and all, it might take a little bit longer than usual.)