Another chapter! I struggled with whether to put this here in the timeline or not, but I decided (obviously) that I would. Cedric is five and Charlette eight. Enjoy!

Cedric sits in the living room with his wand in hand. He shakes it up and down, directing the tip at the tiny ball sitting on the floor before him. "Floaticus Haver Aboon! Floaticus Haver Aboon! Floaticus Haver Aboon!" Cedric groans. He throws his head back and flops his hands onto the floor. "I said Floaticus Haver Aboon you stupid thing." He smacks the wand. A blast shoots from the tip and slams into his face. It knocks him back and he is thrown against the couch. "Ow…" He slides down until he lies flat on the floor, staring through half lidded eyes up at the ceiling.

A chorus of laughter filters in through the open window. Cedric's eyes snap open and he jolts into a sitting position. That isn't Charlette. And it isn't just one person either. In the next instant the door is thrust open and in file a string of girls. They are all of Charlette's friends from that school she goes to now. "What a quaint little house." One girl says.

"Quite." Another says. "Mother would just die to see something like this."

Charlette steps out from the masses. She beams. "Isn't it though?" She laughs. "There almost isn't room for you girls."

Cedric stares with wide eyes. His heart quivers. They all blend together, a mix of rainbow colors from their clothes down to their jewelry. There is one thing, however, that stands out. For some reason his attention catches on the gold – the curly plumes that frame each and every one of their faces. It is unlike anything he has ever seen.

One girl looks toward the couch and her eyes catch on him. "Hm?" She tilts her head. She gasps and her eyes widen. "Oh my gosh!" She squeals. She slaps her hands to her cheeks. "You didn't tell me you have a little brother."

Cedric stiffens. His palms sweat. He doesn't move or even breathe. Maybe if he pretends he doesn't exist they will too.

Another girl, Eliza, joins in with the first. "Oooooh, he's so cute." She races forward and kneels in front of him. She bends forward and pinches his cheek.

Cedric grimaces. He leans as far back as possible, scowling at her. "Floaticus Haver Aboon." He grumbles, pointing his wand at her face.

Eliza laughs. "And he's trying to do magic. Adorable."

In the next instant all the girls swarm him. "What a cutie." Rebecca says as she pets his head.

"Such cute little eyes." Jasmine grins from ear to ear.

"And that hair." Kelsea bounces the gray tuffs of his hair.

Charlette stands back, a grimace stretching across her face. She bites her lip. "Uh, yeah, guys. That's Cedric. But I really don't think-"

A burst of laughter cuts her off. Rebecca tickles Cedric beneath his chin.

Cedric squirms. His cheeks burn bright red. "Stop it," He scoots as far back as he can, but he soon finds himself up against the couch.

Eliza gasps. She lays a hand over her mouth. "I've got it!" She loops her arm through his and tugs him toward her. "We'll do his hair."

All the other girls cheer in agreement. They unclip the barrettes in their hair and grab at his hair in order to collect it into a patch to slip the hairpiece in.

Cedric groans. "No!" He pushes at them and struggles to worm his way out from the middle of them. "I am not a doll! Mom! Mommy!"

Charlette jolts into action. She seizes Rebecca's shoulders and pulls her back. She squeezes into the space where her friend once sat and shoves Eliza away. "Enough!" She wrenches Jasmine's hands off of Cedric. "Leave little Cedric alone." She glares at each of the girl's in turn.

Kelsea freezes with her hands on Cedric's hair. She smiles sheepishly and ekes out a laugh. She draws her hands to her chest and coughs.

Charlette rolls her eyes. She slides her arms beneath Cedric's armpits and lifts him to his feet as she stands. She pats his shirt and smoothes his hair back in place. "There." She smiles as she lays her hands on his shoulders. "All better."

Cedric grunts. He sticks his lips out in a pout. "I'm not cute." He glares past her at her friends.

"I know, I know." She scoots his along. "Now go on."

Cedric stalks off. He completely forgets the ball in the floor. All he knows is he needs to find mother. Charlette and her stupid friends don't get to just come in and take over the place.

"What was that?" Rebecca throws her arms in the air. "We were having fun."

"Yeah," Eliza crosses her arms in a huff. "We wanted to play with cute little Cedric." She clasps her hands by her face. A smile spreads over her face at the thought.

"You weren't playing with him." Charlette shakes her head. "You were using him. Like some kind of doll. And he isn't a toy. He's a human being."

Jasmine snorts. "Geez, relax Charlette." She frowns. "It isn't that big a deal."

Charlette heaves out a breath. "Just…please don't do that again. Alright?"

"Whatever." Rebecca rolls her eyes.

Kelsea glances from one girl to the next. None look all too pleased. So she takes the lead. "Sorry, Charlette." She ducks her head and clasps her hands at her waist. "We won't mess with him anymore."

Charlette nods. She can't say she believes them, at least no one but Kelsea, but she can't really argue the point. So she lets it go. "Good." She sits in her place on the floor. "Now come on girls," She flicks her wand and a set of balls float from her pocket. "Let's practice."

All the girls settle around her. They each draw their wands and prepare to practice the newest spell.

Cedric stomps through the house, making a beeline for his mother's room.

Winifred is sitting in bed with a book out. She perks and peeks over the rim of her book as she hears less than quiet footsteps coming her way. "Oh, Ceddy-kins." She smiles and lays her book down in her lap. "What is it darling?"

Cedric comes to a sharp stop at the edge of her bed. He huffs and crosses his arms over his chest. "Charlie brought over her stupid school friends and they tried to turn me into a doll."

Winifred tries to squelch her laughter and turns it into a giggle snort. "I-I'm sorry Ceddy-kins." She covers her mouth with her hands.

Cedric's cheeks burn an even darker red. He ducks his head. "It's not funny mom!" He clenches his fists.

"I know, I know," Winifred gets the last of the laughter out. She clears her throat. "And I'm sorry. I just…" She grins. "It's a funny image."

"It wasn't funny." He pouts. "They kept calling me cute and tried to put bows in my hair."

Winifred smiles sympathetically. "But you are cute." She runs her fingers over his cheek.

Cedric leans into her touch. He smiles despite himself. "Yeah, well no one's allowed to say so except you."

Winifred scoots over. "Come on, Ceddy-kins." She pats the space next to her. "Come read with me."

Cedric lights up. He crawls up on the bed and wiggles over until he fits into her curve. He rests his head against her shoulder and wraps an arm around her. "What book is it mommy?"

Winifred smiles tenderly down at him. "The Sorcerer of Avalor." She lifts the book and flips to the beginning. "You might be bored by it." She chuckles.

Cedric pops his head up and shakes it fervently. "No, mommy. I won't be bored." He grins. "It'll be fun to read with you."

Winifred ruffles his hair. "Alright…once upon a time…"

An hour later Goodwin enters the house, looking as triumphant as always. "Another day is done." He notices Charlette and all her friends sitting in a circle and now staring at him. "Ah, Charlette m'dear. I see you are training. Good, good." He nods.

All the girls faces light up upon the sight of him. Their voices ring in unison, "Goodwin the Great!" The spring to their feet and crowd him. "You're the greatest sorcerer ever. I can't believe you're Charlette's dad!"

Goodwin chuckles. "I don't know about greatest. But I am the sorcerer to the king."

Rebecca pivots. "No wonder you're so good at this Charlette."

"Yeah!" Eliza chimes. "You're always the first to get spells."

Charlette shrugs. "All it is is practice." She waves her wand idly. She hops to her feet and maneuvers through the girls and to her father. "Plus I do have a great teacher." She leans forward and wraps her father in a half hug. She smiles up at him.

Goodwin hugs her in return. "Nonsense, m'dear. You do it all on your own. You really are just that good." He smiles softly down at her. "My little sorceress."

"Well," Kelsea pipes. "We should probably be going. Don't you think?" She looks around at each of them in turn.

Jasmine shrugs. "Yeah, alright." She grabs onto Kelsea's hand and twists around Goodwin. "Bye Charlette!" She throws a smile over her shoulder.

"Bye," Kelsea waves.

Eliza and Rebecca follow suite. "See you at school tomorrow." They echo each other.

Then Charlette and Goodwin are alone. Goodwin ruffles her hair. "So what spell did you learn today?" He raises a brow.

Charlette grins from ear to ear. She releases him and bounces back. "I'll show you." She scoops up one of the balls her friends left. She shoves it at him. "Hold it for me daddy."

Goodwin nods. He takes the ball and lets it rest in the palm of his hand. "Ready when you are m'dear."

Charlette gives a firm nod. She draws in a deep breath and brandishes her wand. "Mutato rana." She flicks her wand and the ball transforms into a small, green frog.

Goodwin grins. "Brilliant darling." He holds the frog up close to his face to inspect it. Its beady eyes blink and its gullet moves in and out with each ribbit. "It looks exactly like a frog."

Charlette clasps her hands behind her back. Her face shines as she looks up at him. "Thanks, daddy. I practiced real hard."

"Well it certainly paid off." He opens the door and sets the frog just outside. It hops away immediately. He closes the door and faces her again. "I've never seen such a realistic transformation from someone your age."

Charlette giggles. "Maybe I really will be as good as you."

Goodwin nods fervently, much like a child. "You will indeed m'dear." He lifts her off the ground and hoists her in the crook of his arm, the other bracing her back.

Charlette squeals. She latches her arms around his neck. She nuzzles him gently. "I'll be the greatest sorceress in all the lands." Not even Cedric will stand in her way.

What did you think? I had fun. I always have fun though. lol Most of these girls probably won't come back again, at least not for a major role. I might bring back one of them though, for an idea I've had since the beginning. Please review!