(Quick note: I own none of the songs in this chapter; they belong to their original artists)
Miss Lovegood was about to send the owls to look for the Order of the Wand, when she saw James still looking worried. "Prince James, you have nothing to worry about. We all know to stick together if the Order of the Wand is around, and we'll protect each other from them. You know that."
"I know, but I remember being afraid to sing outside my door for so long," James admitted, taking comfort in stroking Benjamin's feathers. "Then when I was used to singing in public again, I had that spell cast on me, which made me re-live the day I lost my voice and said I'd never sing in public again."
"But you were able to break it, with Vivian's help," Amber reminded him, "You saved me from that spell, and she was able to help you overcome it, remember?"
James nodded. He recalled how Vivian had kissed him, then told him that he had to sing the song. He had sung it with Amber, and the spell had truly been broken. "I just don't want what happened to Vivian to happen to me," he admitted. "We know what Baron von Rocha did to her talent."
"That won't happen," Sofia assured him, "If Baron von Rocha wants to do something like that with you, he'll have to go through us first."
"All of you are right," James smiled a little. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't keep thinking about that, and I know we'll stick together."
"James, none of us blame you for losing your voice; it could happen to anyone," Lucinda smiled. "But at least you're singing in public again, and that's all that matters."
"You told us how the spirit of your birth mum came and told you it was all right to sing," Wendell agreed, "She was right. I've heard you at camp when you led the sing-alongs, and you always had fun. I also remember when I was working at your castle that one week, I heard you singing to yourself as you went down the hall for something, and you sounded nice. I know I wasn't in your good books at the time, but I'm glad we're friends again."
"I've heard you singing in the halls when you attended the workshops and Game Day, just like Queen Melinda used to do when she sang on the way to classes," Miss Lovegood added, smiling as she watched James and Wendell fist bump. "The sorting hat was right; music has returned to Hexley Hall. But enough of that now. I think we should have some extra help." As she spoke, she cast out three cat-shaped Patronuses, and sent them out the door. "It's true that the teachers have been alerted to the Order of the Wand being here, but maybe some of the students should help us as well."
"Who else is here so early?" Amber asked.
"Here come three of our students now!" Miss Lovegood grinned. She introduced them as they came in. "Everyone, this is Makayla Anderson, and Rachel and Noah Harris. They were at Game Day when Grimtrix attacked, but they were protected by the Shield Charms Lady Dorrie, Lady Candice, and Princess Lucinda set up."
"It's good to see you again, and I'm glad you were all right," Sofia smiled as everyone shook hands with the newcomers.
"We wanted to help when that man attacked, but we were under the shield charms," Makayla, a 10-year-old Pepperton girl, explained. "Later, when we had been let out along with everyone else who was under a shield, Miss Lovegood said to go right to our Houses and stay there until the threat was gone."
"Miss Lovegood told us later how the wizard from Avalor and the blonde girl turned the bad guy to stone!" Rachel, another 10-year-old Pepperton girl, grinned. "Noah also saw you guys riding those big winged cats, and he wanted to jump onto them and join you!"
"The wizard from Avalor is Mateo," Dorrie volunteered. "Candice and I know him well."
"And that blonde girl is my royal sorceress Aleena, but did you get the chance to ride the jaquins too?" Sandra asked.
"Oh, yes," Rachel started laughing. "Miss Lovegood and I practically had to lift Noah off the jaquin he was riding, but it was really nice of Mr. Mateo to make him a little plush jaquin of his own. He made one for me and Makayla too!"
Noah, an 8-year-old Waldgrave student, grinned as he thought of the little gray and silver jaquin on his bed. "That was so cool! We touched the jewels on the collars and the names appeared!"
"That's right; yours was named Stormy, while mine was Nara," Rachel remembered, thinking of the blue and white jaquin on her bed.
"Mine was Angelo," Makayla grinned, thinking of her tan and cream-colored friend on her own bed.
"Yes, we all got jaquins like those too," Amber smiled, thinking of her little friend Emerald, who was on her bed at home.
"My stuffed jaquin Jorgina, and my doll, Jenny, get along nicely," Candice happily remarked. "They have a place of honor in my room at Enchancia Castle."
"Mateo also gave one to Aleena," Sandra smiled, recalling how Mateo had given Aleena a turquoise and silver jaquin along with the ones he gave her and her friends. Aleena had told her that Hechicera liked watching as she made her potions, she got along well with her phoenix Sinistra, and she liked playing with Reno and Eldora.
"My little friend Zebra helps me with my stories," James agreed.
"Okay, everyone; owls first, jaquins later!" Miss Lovegood chuckled. However, she smiled as she thought about Nicodai, the little blue and purple jaquin in her own office.
Makayla, Rachel, and Noah blew the whistles they had to summon their owls. A minute later, their owl companions appeared, and as they landed on their outstretched arms, Dorrie and Candice aimed their wands at them. As Makayla, Rachel, and Noah watched, they felt crystal pendants appear around their necks.
"What's this?" Makayla asked.
"Just a little present so you can talk to and understand your owls, and our animal friends," Dorrie smiled. She motioned toward her friends. "We all have something like that too."
Sofia, Amber, Sandra, Lucinda, and Candice nodded. They all wore amulets that let them talk to and understand animals, but the cover story was that Dorrie, Candice, and Lucinda had enchanted their necklaces to let them talk to animals. As for James and Wendell, who wore medallions that let them talk to and understand animals, the story was that Lucinda had also enchanted crystals for them so they could talk to animals as well. James also had a badge that let him talk to and understand animals as well, but he didn't mention that to them.
"This is so awesome!" Noah cheered, stroking his Masked Owl's feathers. "Spirit and I can talk to each other now!"
"So can April and I," Rachel smiled, stroking her Northern Spotted Owl's feathers.
"Ludo and I can too!" Makayla grinned, stroking her Barred Owl's feathers.
"That's wonderful!" Candice smiled. "Now, why don't we send your owls with ours so they can keep a lookout for the Order of the Wand? I'll even send my cat with them. You don't have to worry," she added, seeing Rachel's look of concern. "Creamy loves hanging out with our owls at home, and they get along well together. He also likes coming with me to visit the other owls in the owlery."
"Okay," Rachel smiled.
Creamy led the way down the hall. He and Candice loved exploring Hexley Hall when they had free time, so they were able to discover back areas of the school that were rarely used. He even had a pleasant conversation with Ludo, Spirit, and April.
Suddenly, as they were going down another hallway, Creamy signaled the group to stop. "Hold on," he whispered. "I hear something."
"My lady, why don't I try next?" they heard Baron von Rocha's voice. "I can overpower them with my magical music."
Neila smiled. "All right, Baron. Do whatever you must to stop them."
"I'll go with you to make sure they don't sing with you. But if they do sing, tell them that you sound better than they do!" Ezekiel added.
"Is that the guy that James was worried about?" Noah whispered.
"Yes," Rachel whispered back. "Before we left, Miss Lovegood told us who to look out for, and what they looked like."
Makayla whipped out the notebook she brought with her, and she started writing down what Baron von Rocha was saying. "He's going to go after Sofia and her friends with something called magical music?"
"Magical music?" Rachel echoed, "I hate to say it, but that sounds cool! I'd love to see that in action, and maybe learn how to do that too!"
"We'll get the chance to see it, Rachel, but I think we should get back to the others and let them know what's going on," April hooted.
"You're right, April, and at least Makayla wrote everything they said down," Rachel grinned as they slipped away unnoticed.
When they were back with their friends, Makayla showed them the notes she'd taken. "I wrote down a lot of what they were saying," she said to Miss Lovegood, "I want to help too."
"You certainly did help, Miss Anderson," Miss Lovegood grinned. "Now we know what to look out for! And Miss Harris, I know you like music, but Baron von Rocha uses his talents for evil."
"I know, but maybe there's a way I can use a spell like that for good," Rachel smiled.
"If I had a dollar for every time I said that when I was researching spells in my copy of Maleficent's spellbook!" Candice chuckled as she took it out. "But I remember reading something about magical music in one of the chapters."
"Did you find anything we can use against Baron von Rocha?" Dorrie asked.
"Well, Sofia told me that the only way to fight magical music is with magical music," Candice reasoned. "And it so happens that I know a musical counter-spell if Baron von Rocha uses his magic against us. The only thing is, we'll have to sing as we fight."
"Is there any other way to do battle?" James smirked.
"And don't worry, James, if Zeke says the singer sounds better than we do, we just sing the song anyway!" Sandra smirked.
"That's what karaoke's for, right? To have fun and let amateur singers butcher professional singers' songs?" Makayla asked, knowing that Rachel loved music, and was even in Hexley Hall's Chorus.
"I couldn't have said it better myself!" James grinned.
"And if we do sing off-key, that will help distract Ezekiel," Candice joked.
"Candice, is it okay if I use a spell too?" Sandra asked as Ezekiel and Baron von Rocha approached them.
"Okay," Candice nodded.
Using her 12-and-a-half-inch hawthorn and phoenix feather wand, Sandra aimed it at a spot above Baron von Rocha's head. "Let's get this party started! Musica Balladia!"
"I love these instant karaoke party spells!" James grinned as he aimed his 12 3/4-inch hazel and unicorn hair wand at Ezekiel. Sandra had explained to him the difference between the 'instant karaoke party' spell and the 'song in the head' spell; the latter spell would rebound on the caster and affect them if someone distracted them, while the former allowed everyone to join in the song.
"And I get to use my new wand in this fight!" Noah cheered, holding up his 10-inch blackthorn and unicorn hair wand. Up until a few weeks ago, he only had a training wand. He had kept working on his wand techniques and practicing spells, and Miss Lovegood and the staff had turned his training wand into a real one.
"That's right, Noah, but be careful," Rachel agreed as she whipped out her 12-inch long birch and phoenix feather wand as she began to sing.
Get out old Dan's records
Get out old Dan's records
We will dance the whole night long
It's fun to play the old time songs
If old Dan could see us now I know he'd be so proud
"I love this song," Makayla smiled as she whipped out her 10-inch spruce and phoenix feather wand, "My Uncle Theo always sang it to me when I was little, and I remember dancing with him to it once!"
"If you know and like the song, just jump right in and join us," James smiled as he gave her a little twirl.
He cast an Impediment Jinx at Ezekiel as he continued, Bring out old Dan's records
Bring out old Dan's records
"How did Mother's phrase go again, music makes everything better?" Amber smiled.
"And how does Mom's phrase go again, the more the merrier?" Sofia grinned.
At the same time, Amber smiled as she remembered dancing to this song with Roland and Queen Melinda as she joined in, I remember my aunt Bea
She'd dance with Dan till two or three
If old Dan could see her now I know he'd shout out loud
As she adopted a dueling position, Sandra joined in, Dig out old Dan's records
Bring out old Dan's records
Candice sang with her as she turned into her White Maleficent form and they cast a few spells at Ezekiel and Baron von Rocha, We're all here, we've all got dates
We'll dance all night to the seventy-eights
If old Dan could see us now I know he'd be so proud
If old Dan were with us still I know he'd come around
"Rachel! Noah! Makayla! Copy our movements!" Lucinda added, "It's just like when we were practicing!"
Noah copied Lucinda's stance as they joined in, Get out old Dan's records
Dig out old Dan's records
Makayla shot a few spells at Ezekiel as she joined in, Back to nineteen thirty-five
The foxtrot, jitterbug 'n' jive
If old Dan could see us now I know he'd be so proud
At the same time, Wendell and Sandra had teamed up and were casting more spells at Ezekiel as they sang, Get out old Dan's records
Bring out old Dan's records
As they cast different spells at Ezekiel and Baron von Rocha, Sofia and her friends finished together, High above the fireplace
There's a smile on old Dan's face
If old Dan could see us now I know he'd be so proud
If old Dan were with us still I know he'd come around
"Amber and I always think about our birth mom when we sing that part," James smiled as he cast a Shield Charm between Baron von Rocha and Noah. He glanced over at Amber, who smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I think about my dad Franklin, and my mom Natalie too," Makayla smiled as she squeezed his hand.
"And I think about my mom and dad from when I was a child," Dorrie fondly remembered, as Candice nodded in agreement.
"How sentimental. And that was well done, but now that rehearsal is over, it's time for the main performance," Baron von Rocha smirked as he faced James and started playing the song that would steal their musical talents. "You first, Prince James!"
"I don't think so!" Noah shouted, aiming his wand at him. "Expelliarmus!"
"Great job, little bro!" Rachel cheered as he caught the violin. "And if I may do something?"
"Go ahead," Sofia smiled.
Rachel had Noah put the violin on the ground, but before Baron von Rocha could get it, Wendell cast another Impediment Hex to slow him down, and Rachel destroyed the violin with a Reductor Curse.
"I've got an idea too," Sandra spoke up.
"Whatever it is, do it!" Amber called.
Sandra nodded, and looked at Candice out of the corner of her eye. She felt her amulet glowing under her blouse, and she was surrounded by a bright white light. When it cleared, Sandra had turned into a large white dragon.
"Nice job, Sandra!" Candice cheered.
"Not a bad way to break in my new power in battle, right?" Sandra grinned.
"That's brilliant!" James grinned.
"Yes it is, but just be careful!" Sofia warned.
"Right!" Sandra agreed as she tested her new wings and flew after Baron von Rocha, only to have something strike her in the shoulder. Since she wasn't used to her dragon abilities yet, she was a little shaky as she turned and faced her brother, who had become Eze Gray again. "Puny little nothing!" she roared when she finally faced him, "You attack ME?!"
"Note to self: use that line next time I have to fight someone as a dragon!" Candice grinned.
"Oh, Sandra, if only your magic was as sharp as your tongue," Ezekiel smirked. He aimed his wand at her. "Crucio!"
"Well done, Ezekiel!" Baron von Rocha called.
"Sandra!" Noah cried out when he heard her scream. He started to run to her, but Rachel held him back.
"Don't do it, Noah! He might hit you with that spell too," she warned him as Sandra fell to the ground.
"I…wish to be…human again…" Sandra groaned as she transformed.
When the light around her faded and she was back to normal, Wendell was at her side in a second. "Sandra! I'll help you!" He glared at Ezekiel. "I'll teach you to curse someone when their back's turned! And that's your sister!"
"Wendell, don't be a hero! Get Sandra to the hospital wing! I'll cover you!" Dorrie called, turning into her werewolf form and running toward Ezekiel and Baron von Rocha.
"But what about them?" Wendell asked.
"We'll take care of this! You just take care of Sandra!" Candice called.
As he got Sandra settled on a bed in the hospital wing and explained to the matron, Madam Nicole Duncan, what happened, Wendell couldn't help but sing softly to himself as he took Sandra's hand.
Stranded at the drive in, branded a fool
What will they say Monday at school?
"Isn't that an appropriate song for Princess Sandra?" Madam Duncan smiled, being a fan of the movie that song came from herself.
Wendell didn't hear her, since he was singing to himself, Sandy, can't you see, I'm in misery
We made a start, now we're apart, there's nothin' left for me
Love has flown all alone, I sit and wonder why-y-y oh why you left me,
Oh Sandy
Hearing the singing, Makayla, James, and Candice watched him. "They've come so far since their first meeting," Candice chuckled.
"Wendell certainly likes her," Makayla smiled.
"But as a friend," James grinned.
Meanwhile, Wendell was singing, Oh Sandy, maybe someday, when high school is done
Somehow, someway, our two worlds will be one
In heaven forever and ever we will be, oh please say you'll stay
Oh Sandy
As Wendell sang, Sandra slowly opened her eyes. She smirked up at him as he spoke.
Sandy my darlin', you hurt me real bad, you know it's true
But baby, you gotta believe me when I say, I'm helpless without you
Wendell took her hand as he finished the song, Love has flown all alone, I sit, I wonder why-y-y oh why you left me
Oh, Sandy
Sandy, Sandy, why-y-y-y, oh Sandy
"If I had a dollar for every time Orillia's knights sang that when I got hurt," Sandra joked quietly.
"Yes," Madam Duncan smirked. "But you're very lucky, Princess. Mr. Fidget said you'd turned into a dragon earlier, and that certainly helped you. Your dragon hide was so strong that it absorbed the curse. But I'd like you to rest for a little while."
"And maybe this can help with your recovery," Wendell said as he slipped out. He returned a minute later and tucked something in at her side. "I slipped into Professor DeRoche's classroom and went to his closet. He's got a whole box full of these, so he won't miss one."
"What is it?" Sofia asked, seeing the little black and white plush creature.
"A Niffler, which gives me an idea for when we face the Order of the Wand again!"
"Now that I want to see," Sandra smiled as she sat up. "I thought I saw something silver in Zeke's pocket when he cursed me, but I didn't get a close enough look at it."
"Maybe he got a new wand?" Amber suggested.
"Maybe," Sandra agreed. "I thought he had his own wand, but he might have gotten another one somehow."
"That's an interesting thought, Princess, and you can see it as soon as you get some rest," Madam Duncan smiled. "I'm sure Professor DeRoche won't mind if you and Mr. Fidget borrow a few Nifflers. I've actually used a few of them myself when I was younger! They're so much fun to play with, but you have to keep a sharp eye on anything valuable!"
"We'll be careful, but I'm sorry I'm holding us up," Sandra apologized.
"Don't worry," Candice smiled. "You'll be up fighting alongside us before you know it."
"That's right," Sofia smiled. "And as you're resting, we can think of ideas for the next time we see the Order of the Wand."
Notes:
Thanks to Niagara14301 for helping with the details of this chapter.
Thanks also to Going on and on and on for helping with the details of this chapter.
Makayla Anderson, and Rachel and Noah Harris, are from Going on and on and on's and my collection The Lost Memories.
Jenny is from Chapter 21 of Niagara14301's story "Tales From The Castle".
Wendell working at Enchancia Castle for a week was seen in chapters 20-23 of Niagara14301's Dorrie Book 2.
James' thoughts of Vivian and Baron von Rocha stealing her talent is from The Princess Prodigy, and his memories of being hit by a spell to make him relive the day he lost his voice is from chapter 2 of my story The Hexley Hall Game Day Challenge.
Hechicera is the Spanish word for 'Sorceress'.
"Wendell, don't be a hero!" is a play on words from the Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods' song Billy Don't Be a Hero.
Old Dan's Records is by Gordon Lightfoot, and is a favorite song of Orillia's knights to practice dueling with.
Sandy is from the movie Grease, and that is an appropriate song for Wendell to sing to Sandra!
Musica (music style) is a spell I invented. This produces music so people can sing as they work, or sing during a fight (James would call this an instant karaoke party spell). This is not to be confused with another spell I invented, Earwormicus (music style), which rebounds the song in the caster's head if someone interrupts them. Earwormicus (music style) was first seen in chapter 35 of Do You Want to Sing Together XIII. Musica (music style) was first seen in chapter 47 of Do You Want to Sing Together XIV, and taught in chapter 22 of Do You Want to Sing Together XV.
Madam Nicole Duncan was first seen in chapter 2 of my story Royal Blood. She replaced her mother Amy as Hexley Hall's nurse after she retired.