For two weeks' straight, Frodo found himself in a better position on teaching his friends than he had in the past. The first time he taught another hobbit hand magic was to Merry and Pippin, but even then they were all just learning and getting the hang of the basics of hand magic. This time, they were learning defensive spells and offensive spells that Frodo hadn't dreamt of teaching before. They were the spells he knew from the start, and some spells he was just getting the hang of. Either way, it was all a learning experience that they were practicing together.

Aria struggled at the hand magic. It was taking her weeks just to not only say the correct spells, but also to use the hand movements Frodo taught her. Not only that, she was becoming overly dependent and expectant on having him be there to guide her through the steps more than actually practicing on her own. So maybe the right motivation was needed.

"Aria, see what you can do against Pippin," Frodo said, changing up the groups.

"Pippin." Aria chided. "I can take him."

"Let's see if you can," Pippin said, readying the spell.

"Go easy on her. She's a girl," Sam spoke up, trying to be a gentle-hobbit.

"Easy?" Aria said, enticed by the notion. She tested Pippin, "Come on, Pippin. Treat me like you would another. Give me your best shot."

"I don't want to do this," Pippin said, moping.

"Pippin, please. I can take it," Aria said, straining the thought.

"You want a challenge," Frodo said, encouraged. He moved Pippin off to the side, "Go on. I'll take her head on."

"Okay. I didn't want to face her. She's a girl," Pippin said, rushing back to Merry and Sam.

"Come on. Am I that bad?" Aria teased, loudly.

"This isn't a game. Blast a spell at me," Frodo said, taunting back.

"Okay," Aria said, waving her hands in his direction. "Expelliarmus!"

"Protego!" Frodo said, quickly. He just barely got the spell up when Aria's bounced back. He looked at her in surprise. "You're quick, you know." He moved his hands back. "And that's what I was hoping for."

"What do you mean?" Aria asked, confused and energetic. "I can always do another."

"There's that confidence," Frodo said, pointing to her. "Keep doing that and you should have it down. Just remember you can do this. Have some confidence in yourself. You'll get there." He added. "I'm not trying to sound mean or anything. I…"

"I know," she added. "I need some more confidence in myself. I'm sorry."

"For what?" he asked, confused. "You're doing fine. Let's continue to practice the spells."

And they did, Frodo and his friends. The lessons were going well so far, even more so now that Aria had a little bit of confidence in her. Already, Frodo found himself sorting out the situation well. Yup, that's how things looked from this point.

…

The Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin loomed closer. Ever since the hobbits were released from the Author's Chambers, none of them were allowed to play Quidditch. It was a real bummer to some hobbits, who were looking forward to playing in the game. None more so than Merry, who was eager to tackle a Slytherin like Lotho for example. He just wanted one good whollop. He nearly had him when…

"Merry," Frodo asked, approaching him.

"Frodo, I missed my chance!" Merry said, startled but annoyed.

"To do what?" Aria asked, curious.

"Lotho was right there and he… oh," Merry said, watching the hallway. Lotho was gone. Great. He lost his chance.

"Well, the match is starting soon. Would you like to come?" Frodo asked him.

"Yes I would. Let's go," Merry said, leading the way down the hallways and stairs, reaching the grounds in minutes. At last they made it. The Ravenclaw side of the Quidditch stadium was packed, but it was enough for him to search for Pippin in all this mess. Oh yes! There was Pippin, sitting with Diamond. Clearly he missed something there. "Hullo Pippin, Diamond! Well, it looks like we're pairing off. Now I wonder… oh Estella!" Merry called, moving through the crowd of students. He would find her yet… and there she was with Fatty Bolger.

Maybe he should leave…

"Merry, oh Merry, how excited to see you," Estella said, grabbing his arm.

"Hullo," Merry said, joining her and her brother. "Hullo Fatty. I see Folco's with you."

"Hullo," Folco said, annoyed. "Seen Frodo lately? I want to tell him that he's wrong about my parents."

"Folco, you're not your parents. You're…"

"You're taking his side! Unbelievable!" Folco said, waving his hands in the air.

"Do you know that… whoo!" Merry said, collapsing on the stadium. He felt the side of his head. There was wet blood that smelled fresh. No way. A bludger struck him hard. Well, there was one thing to do… faint…

"Merry… Merry!" Estella's voice broke out of his thoughts. Merry awoke, lying on a warm bed with clean white sheets. He was inside the hospital wing, gathered by friends.

"What happened to me?" Merry asked, confused.

"You were hit by a bludger," Estella said, explaining promptly. "And you lost a lot of blood. The teachers brought you to the hospital wing as quickly as they could."

"And there's something else, too," Ron said, concerned.

"I got kicked off the Quidditch team," Harry said, facing Merry. Merry was stunned. How did such a thing happen to Harry? "It was Umbridge's doing. It just isn't right."

"Educational Degree Twenty-Five," Hermione said. Merry didn't need another word.

"It just keeps getting worse and worse," Merry said, falling asleep. He could hear voices, but they were muffled. All he remembered, before he woke up the next day, was playing Quidditch in a storm, losing his broom to the Whomping Willow and Umbridge's toad face in his face, spouting out Educational Decrees like mad. It was a nightmare. Dear him, it was a mad, mad nightmare. Great. What else was new?