FINALLY. I FINALLY was able to write some more. Thank the gord. lol I've been dying to and absolutely refused to go to sleep until I got this one out (against my better judgement lol). But who cares because after tomorrow SPRING BREAK. And soooooo much writing. Yippee! I hope you enjoy this installment. It was fun, as always. :) And Charlette is eleven and Cedric eight.

"Here it is," Charlette throws her hands out in a wide arc. "The best school you'll ever set foot in – Hexley Hall!"

Cedric lifts his head and looks wide eyed upon the school. It is massive, bigger than anything he has ever seen. There is no comparison with his home. This place wins hands down. It is at least ten times as tall as him if not bigger bricks blaze blue to match the uniform all the children wear, including himself. He peers down at his clothes and tugs at them. He frowns. They are a bit too tight and short, but he can't find it in him to complain. He doesn't want to irritate Charlette or make a bad impression.

"Whadya think?" Charlette leans forward and tilts her head to see his face. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Cedric manages a tiny smile. "Yeah, looks great."

Charlette sours. "Come on," She plants her hands on her hips. "Show a little more enthusiasm. Say it like you mean it."

Cedric ducks his head. "Sorry, Charlie."

"Charlette." Her tone is sharp. She holds a finger up. "Here you call me Charlette. None of that childish nonsense like mother insists on using."

Cedric shrinks further into himself. "O-Ok, Charli-er, Charlette!"

Charlette brightens. "Thata boy!" Ahw ruffles his hair. "Now come on," She motions forward. "Time to get in there and learn some magic." She shoots ahead, leaving him behind.

Cedric starts. "W-Wait up Charlie! I-I mean, Charlette." He scrambles after her.

They enter the school side by side. Many eyes are drawn to them and he swears that the kids whisper furtively to one another once they think he isn't looking. Don't they realize he still has ears even when his eyes don't see? It makes it seem that siblings are a matter of great interest. Are there no other related people in this school? The attention makes Cedric's skin crawl and he tucks his chin are low as possible into his throat. He crosses his fingers in his pockets and prays that the other kids young and old grow bored with the novelty that is apparently them.

Cedric can not be happier when he finally reaches his destination. He turns to bid farewell to Charlette and get one last reassurance that everything will be alright, but she is already gone. He blinks at the empty space that she once occupied. Why…? She is all he has here – his last line of defense. And yet she deserted him, just like that. He swallows hard. Oh well. No matter. He can do this. He can. So he straightens and walks with steady steps into the room that will be his halfway home for a whole year.

Everyone's eyes snap to him, just like in the hall. Only this time all goes deathly silent. Instantly his confidence falters. He shuffles the rest of the way to his seat – a place in the very back. He doesn't want to be stared at. In face he would be perfectly fine with being completely forgotten. That way he couldn't possibly make a fool of himself.

Even as he makes such a choice it does not free him from all scrutiny. While most of the children go back to what they were doing, there is one who does not. They watch him intently, a mischievous glint entering their eyes. Cedric feels like a fly with a person hovering just over them, ready to squash him. It causes his stomach to flip over and over. He feels sick. He jerks his head in the opposite direction, trying his hardest to forget the person's presence. Surely they'll lose interest if he doesn't give them the time of day. Right?

Cedric's choice to ignore the boy, however, only eggs him on. "Hey!" He yells. "You!"

Cedric means to keep his gaze set as far from him as possible, but he is intrigued. He glances from the corner of his eye. Still he does not say a word.

The boy crosses his arms. He smirks. "You're Goodwin the Great's kid, aren't ya?"

This is all it takes. This is all it ever takes. The other children's heads swivel, their eyes widen, and they zone in on him like he is some rare piece of art.

Cedric slides down in his chair. He wants to say no, to tell the boy that he has made a mistake. But he knows that they will find out the lie soon enough. It won't take long. Surely Charlette and all her friends have spread the word. By the end of the week if not the day everyone will know that the second child of Goodwin the Great has entered the system. So he simply says, "So?"

There is a collective gasp. "Really?" One girl says as she bends back over the chair behind her. "No way!" Another says. A laugh bubbles on her lips. "He's the greatest!" A boy yells over the crowd. "You must be too!" Two kids say in unison.

The boy holds his hand up and all the others silence. "So," He grins. "Show us what you can do – the son of the prodigy Goodwin."

Cedric's throat tightens and his hands tremble. His breathing becomes faster and his heart beats double time in his chest. He keeps his head trained forward, but he looks frantically all about him as if searching for some sort of escape. What he expects to find he has no idea. All there is are a couple windows and a door. And he is in the back. Stupid! He should have gotten over the stares and chosen a front seat. Escape is more important than avoiding all attention. And now he has neither.

"Well," The boy crosses his arms over his chest. He smirks.

Cedric shakes his head, slow mechanical movements.

The boy scoffs. "What do you mean no?" He scowls. "You can't say no to me. You know my dad is a teacher here."

Cedric lays his arms on his desk and lowers his head to them. He flops his head over sideways, looking once more away from this terrible boy.

The boy clenches his fists and growls deep in his throat. "No one ignores Greylock the Grand."

Before he can do anything though, the teacher enters the class. "Good morning class." He says. He smiles at them as he looks over each and every one of them.

"Good morning Mr. Caron."

"Now, it is the start of a new year but I know all of you have been practicing at home and do not need a refresher course, even the new students. So we'll jump right into it." He draws his wand from him robe. "We will practice the disappearo spell."

Cedric groans. Great. A spell he doesn't know in a place where everyone is watching. This can only go wrong, terribly, terribly wrong.

The teacher flicks his wand and a stream of balls fly out and over to the students. One drops on each student's desk. "What you do is flick your wand sharply and say disappearo in a clear and confident voice." He nods to them. "Now you give it a try."

There is a wave of movement and echoes of voices as everyone tries the spell at the same time. Cedric is the only one who does nothing. He stares dully at the ball just in front of his face. If he doesn't do anything then nothing bad will happen and he might even be able to get away with saying he tried the spell and it simply didn't work. Anything is better than looking the fool. Everyone else already thinks he is except mother. He doesn't want these kids to as well.

"Come on kid," it is that same boy again. "Go on and try it why don't you?" He doesn't even look at the ball as he says the disappearo spell and it works effortlessly. The ball vanishes.

Cedric groans. Why won't this guy just leave him alone already?

The teacher looks up and notices Cedric. "Ah, Cedric is it?" He strides up the row and closer to Cedric. "Go on and give it a try."

Cedric lifts his head and frowns over at the man. He shakes his head weakly. He keeps his lips pressed firmly together.

The teacher frowns. "Come now, son. You have to at least try. You won't ever learn sitting and staring at it." By now all the other students have twisted around in their seats and are watching Cedric.

Cedric draws his wand out with a trembling hand. He can tell just by the tremors that this will not go well. It never does when he is visibly nervous. Which is only all the time, or at least all the time that people are watching. He flicks his wand, "Disappearo." He is amazed that his voice remains steady. Yet it is not enough. It never is. The ball vibrates, blinks in and out, then shoots off.

Greylock's eyes widen and his body jolts with the pretenses of action, but there is no time. The ball smacks him square in the eye before bouncing to the floor. He yelps, yanking his hands up to his eye. He snaps his head around and glowers with his one visible eye. "You dolt!"

Laughter erupts. It is in part due to the ball hitting Greylock and in part to how terrible such a simple spell turned out. Cedric, however, can't distinguish the two. He sees it only as laughter directed at him. He thrusts his head down and throws his hands over his face.

The teacher looks sharply at all the children. "Quiet."

All the children snap their mouths shut.

The teacher shakes his head. "Now go back to your spell practicing." He waits for every single one of them to turn around and then he directs his attention back on Cedric. "Cedric," He touches the boy lightly on the shoulder. "Come on."

Cedric draws his arms further in on himself.

The teacher sighs. "Look at me."

Cedric doesn't want to. Even if the man won't mock him, it is just one more person to be disappointed. But the sharpness in the man's tone gives him no other choice. He lifts his head and tenses in preparation for the inevitable lecture. "Told you." He grumbles. "I'm no good."

"Nonsense." He smiles. He bends over so he is at eye level with Cedric. "No one is born a master. Everyone has to learn how to be a sorcerer or sorceress from scratch."

Cedric scoffs. "Not my sister."

The teacher grimaces. Right, Charlette. His star pupil. She almost always knew the spells ahead of time. Of course with a sister like that he would feel this way. "She's no different. She just knew the secret." He gives Cedric a meaningful look.

Cedric perks. "Secret?" His eyes widen and he holds his breath.

"The sorcerer's secret." He flashes Cedric a smile. "It's knowing to never give up. You try and try again, until you get it right. And if you never give up then you will get it. I know it."

Cedric stares wide eyed. It's a silly notion really, but that isn't enough to squelch the rising joy within him. His face lights up. "Ok!" He nods. "I'll try again." He lifts his wand. For the first time in a long time he doesn't feel nervous, not even though he knows everyone must be watching him at this point because it is far too quiet. "Disappearo!" His voice rings clear. The ball on the floor vanishes. He gasps. He slaps his hands to his cheeks. "I did it!" He snaps his head around toward the teacher. "I did it."

The teacher beams. "I knew you would."

Cedric giggles. He grins up at the man.

With the deed done, the students lose interest. All but Greylock. He stares through narrowed eyes. He glowers at Cedric, his lips curved into a sharp frown and his arms crossed over his chest. He won't let this stand. No one gets special treatment here, especially when it means he gets less of it.

The class continues to practice until it is time for lunch. They all go outside and sit around on the grass or tables or wherever they want. They go in groups. Cedric only knows one person though. So instead of settling to eat he trots around the area looking for her – Charlette. He finds her and his face lights up, but in the next instant he stops and his expression dims. He frowns. She is sitting with a bunch of her friends, her girl friends. He sticks his tongue out. He'll have nothing to do with that. So he heads the opposite direction.

He meanders over to an old oak tree. He only glances over the other tables, each one filled with students and their established crowd. So he doesn't dare intrude. He settles beneath the shade of the tree and takes out his lunch. He takes slow bites, savoring the flavor. It is plain, but it is good. And within seconds he relaxes. The sounds over all the other students fade away and he finds himself in an impenetrable bubble of solitude. Perfect.

He is so wrapped up in his little world that he doesn't hear the footsteps approaching or even see them once they come to a stop in a circle around him. "Hey, Kendric." Greylock says.

Cedric blinks. He peers up over his sandwich. "Um, it's Cedric." He smiles sheepishly.

Greylock rolls his eyes. "So," He tucks his hands behind his back and leans forward. "Wanna play a game?" A grin twists his lips. The other kids around him snicker into their hands.

Cedric frowns in thought. He glances from his sandwich to Greylock. "Sure, I guess." He shrugs. He puts his sandwich down and stands.

"Good," Greylock slides his wand out from his sleeve. "We'll play a game called Whose Tricked."

Cedric touches a finger to his lips. "I've never heard of that game."

Greylock bites his lip to keep from laughing out loud. "Oh, it's a very popular game around here. All the kids know it."

Cedric looks around at all the others surrounding him. A chill races up his spine and he is suddenly on edge. He doesn't like the looks of this. Their eyes are eager, but in an almost cruel way. "R-Really?" He backs up. "How do you play?"

"Whose Tricked? It's easy. You's tricked!" He jerks his wand up, "Resuscitabo!"

Cedric gasps. He is lifted off the ground, high above the kids. Panic pricks at his brain like needles. He kicks his legs and waves his arms frantically. "S-Stop!" He shrills. "P-Put me down!"

Greylock smirks. He flicks his wrist and turns Cedric upside down. "What's the matter?" He sneers. "Can't Goodwin the Great's kid get out of a little lifting spell?" The other kids cackle, egging him on. He bounces Cedric up and down.

Cedric's hair dangles in front of his eyes. His stomach flops and he can barely breath he is so overwhelmed with fear. But he can't cry, won't. That will only give them more reason to mock him.

"Come on, Cardtrick." Greylock laughs. "Use your sorcerer's secret."

Across the way one of the girl's at Charlette's table looks up at the sounds coming from around there tree. "Oh, looks like something's going on over there." Whatever it is has drawn quite a crowd.

Charlette perks. "Hm?" Her eyes wander toward the old oak tree. It's hard to see anything past all the children standing around, but at the last second she glimpses it – those worn out shoes. "Oh heck no." She clenches her fists and shoves herself to her feet. She stomps to the scene, seizing her wand and preparing to bust all kinds of heads.

Cedric's eyes water, but he forces the tears back down. No, no, no, no, no!

"Flante!" Charlette's sharp voice resounds. She sends a blast of energy at Greylock, knocking his wand from his hand.

Greylock gasps and whirls around to face the culprit. Dang. He forgot about her.

Cedric hits the ground head first. He falls in a heap and doesn't even try to get up. He can only gulp in air as the tightness in his chest eases and his anxiety fades.

Charlette shoves the kids aside. "Move it!" She glares at every one she can. "Go on! Get! You heartless little brats!" She points her wand at them threateningly and they immediately scatter. Only a handful of Greylock's closest minions remain. She drops down to Cedric's side and untangles him. She sits him up straight and brushes off his clothes. "You ok?" She smoothes his hair.

Cedric leans into her. He rests his face in the crook of her neck.

Greylock grins. "Oh, how sweet. Big ol' Charlie to the rescue." He clasps his hands by his face. "What would little Redbrick do without you?"

Charlette's blood boils. Her hand tightens around Cedric's shoulder. With the other she points her wand at him. "It's Charlette, you nasty little prick. And I wouldn't mess with me if I were you."

Greylock scoffs. "Pah-lease." He waves her threat away. He bends over to snatch his wand up. "Like you could do anything to Greylock the Grand."

Charlette grinds her teeth. "Adducam rana!" A frog appears from thin air and plops down on Greylock's head. It makes a cruel yet satisfied smirk curl her lips.

Greylock screams. If anyone knows anything about him it's that he hates frogs. Loathes them even. He jerks backward and sways on his feet. He reaches for traction, but there is none. He falls flat on his back, his teeth clattering in his head as they slam together.

Charlette barks out a loud single syllable laugh. "Age before arrogance ya jerk. Never mess with Charlette the Supreme." She twirls her wand and blows on the tip.

Greylock scrambles to right himself. He swats at his face to knock the frog off and he never once stops screaming. Once he manages it he runs off in a hurry with his friends in tow. He doesn't even look back. But Charlette knows this isn't over. This won't be the end of it. Cedric has opened himself up as easy prey – only saved by her.

Charlette sighs. The triumph slips from her face and her eyes cloud with pity. She turns her attention to her brother. "You can't let them do that to you." She pets his head despite how stern she means to be. She knows gentleness is the best way to get to him, unlike her.

Cedric sniffles. He wipes at his eyes which have finally welled with tears. He hops brushing them away will make them stay away for good. He can't afford a tear stained face, not with half a day to go. "He tricked me." He whimpers. "That kid."

Charlette shakes her head. "That jerk was Greylock. He is one of the best sorcerer's his age, and he likes to think in existence, so he always wants the attention on him. You probably got a little too much attention and he got jealous, green with envy." She flashes a smile at Cedric.

Cedric snickers into his hands. "Like the frog."

"Just like frog." She laughs. "So as long as you keep your head down and don't steal the spotlight you should be fine." At least she hopes. Because she can't keep saving him. She just can't.

Cedric leans off of her. He smiles up at her. He picks at the hem of his outfit. "Thanks, sis. I…I was so…" He bites his lips and drops his eyes to the ground.

Charlette smiles sadly. "I know." Boy does she know. Him and his nerves. "You'll be alright though. Won't you?"

Cedric hesitates, but one look at her is all it takes. He puts on a smile and nods. "Yeah. I'll be ok."

Charlette beams. She ruffles his hair and presses her lips to his forehead. "I know you will, my little Cedric."

What did you think? I debated on whether to be clever and call this chapter 'Grey' for Greylock hahaHA...i'm not funny. But ultimately I went with green because frog and envy and i'm still not clever. lol Despite my uncleverness I hope that you liked it. And it only gets worse. Dun, dun, dun! Please review!