Yay more. This one was...interesting. I had the idea in my head, but the details just kind of went where they wanted to. lol Hopefully it still works. Cedric is ten and Charlette thirteen. Enjoy!
"Sursum aqua!" Cedric flicks his wand in an arc over his head and lifts a stream of water in the air. It glides smoothly, following each slight curve of his hand. His face breaks out in a large grin and his eyes spark with delight. A laugh erupts from him. "Didja see that?" He whirls around to face his teacher.
The teacher smiles and nods at him. "I told you you'd get it." He gives Cedric a thumbs up. "Like I always say – remember the sorcerer's secret."
Cedric nods with the whole upper half of his body. "Yep. I always remember too. And I always get it right, even if it takes me a while." He focuses on the teacher so much that he loses his concentration on the water. It drops from the sky and drenches him. He gasps, a shudder racing up his spine.
The teacher chuckles. "You have to pay attention. Otherwise that happens." He points to Cedric's clothes. "Now it is just some harmless water, but with more advanced and dangerous spells you could really hurt yourself."
Cedric smiles sheepishly. He rubs at his face to wipe away the water and shakes his head to fling the droplets from his hair. "I know. I'll be more careful next time."
"And every time after." The teacher looks meaningfully at him.
Cedric nods. "Uh-huh."
Greylock grinds his teeth. From a few feet away he stares through narrowed eyes at the scene. He crosses his arms and clenches his hands into tight fists. His blood boils and he wishes with all his might that looks could kill because surely it would sear Cedric alive.
"Alright, class!" The teacher claps his hands. "Break time!"
No one waits. They all scurry from the class and out into the schoolyard. Everyone wanders off into their groups and Cedric is for the millionth time to his own devices. He knows that they aren't supposed to go far – anywhere beyond the schoolyard – but he goes anyway. There's nothing for him inside the confines of that space. Nature has been and will always be a more comforting place.
He makes his way to the river. There is a tiny cliff that juts out over the waters, just high enough so that when he sits he can dangle his legs over the edge and they do not touch the surface. He swings his legs idly back and forth as he stares out over the water. He murmurs the spell from before and waves his wand in a slow back and forth motion. The raging waters calm and lap gently back and forth with his command. He twirls his hand and the water spirals upward, like a small tornado. With a flick of his wrist he shoots the water forward and it slams into the tree on the far side of the river.
Cedric grins from ear to ear. He has been able to hit the tree from day one. It isn't the power that pleases him, but the fluidity of the spell. He can get the water slam and ricochet as he pleases, but to be able to make the water dance with grace and from any angle is another story entirely. That is something he managed only today. But over the years he has learned something about himself – once he gets it, he has it forever. As long as he is alone or at the very least in good company.
He continues to play with the water, making it wind like a snake and spring upward like a rabbit. He loses himself in the beauty of the water and the peace of the breeze kissing his skin and ruffling his hair. He becomes so enraptured that he doesn't realize he is no longer alone.
Greylock stands only a few feet behind him. He looks hard at Cedric, trying to decide what to do with the moment. Cedric doesn't see him, doesn't even notice. This he is sure of. The boy was never any good at observing his surroundings. He could do it – right now – and there would be nothing Cedric could do. But what fun is an unwitting victim? So he says, "You are going to get in so much trouble."
Cedric jumps. The water shoots off in ten different directions – one spurting him right in the face. He twists around to see the familiar face of Greylock. "Don't tell." He whispers. He picks himself up and faces Greylock. He clasps a hand over his chest and looks wide eyed at Greylock.
Greylock barks out a single syllable laugh. "Yeah, right. You've been a thorn in my side since day one." He points a finger at Cedric. "Taking all the attention from me when I'm clearly the better sorcerer. Making me look like the bad guy."
Cedric ducks his head and bites his lip. "W-What are you talking about? I never did anything to you." He scowls for a fleeting instant before his expression grows timid once again.
"Of course you did." Greylock bites back. "It's all your fault that he doesn't give me the time of day anymore – my own dad!"
Cedric starts. "Your…father?" He blinks. His eyes widen as realization sets in. "You mean…but I didn't-" He throws his hands forward in protest.
"Shut up!" Greylock swipes his hand in front of his neck. "It doesn't matter what you thought. All that matters is you did it." He stalks toward Cedric. A fire lights in his eyes. "For all these years you've been his little pet. And I've. Had. Enough!" His arms snap out and he shoves Cedric as hard as he can.
Cedric gasps as the ground disappears and only air is left beneath him. He flings his arms out, but his fingers don't even graze the cliff. He plummets, crashing into the rapids and plunging into the depths as the water swallows him whole.
Greylock glares down at where he went under, violent ripples spreading out from the focal point. The currents of the river quickly diminish the evidence and nothing but blue reflects in his eyes. "That'll teach him." A good scare can do wonders to persuade a pansy like Cedric. He'll come up in a minute and he'll think twice about stealing away his attention ever again.
Cedric frantically swings his arms and legs, but he goes nowhere. He spirals beneath the surface, the rough waters punching him from side to side. Panic twists his face as he struggles to find his way to the surface. But no matter which direction he goes, there is only water. His lungs burn for air and his vision blurs. Help…
Greylock's brows slowly knit together. A frown tugs at his lips. This isn't right. The fool should have surfaced by now. His eyes widen in alarm. Can the idiot not even swim!? How useless! His hand shoots to his mouth and he gnashes his nails. What to do? What to do? What to do? He jerks his head toward the school. There isn't time for that! But then that means…
Cedric's eyes grow heavy and his mind fuzzes. Everything slips away until there is nothing – no sound, sight, or even the touch of freezing water on his skin.
Greylock nabs his wand from his sleeve. Which spell? Which one!? If it works, teleporting is clearly the way he should go. But even as skilled as he is, that is far more advanced than his capabilities. But the spell he can do would mean accepting responsibility. And does he really want to be responsible for the idiot? He groans. Oh well. Here goes nothing. "Pedes ad pinnulas!" He taps his legs then chucks his wand behind him before diving into the river after Cedric.
The emptiness bleeds to black. Cedric opens his eyes to a world with no color or anything but himself. He sits up and blinks. He looks around and puzzles over where he could be. All he knows is there is a great tightness in his chest and he is terribly cold. He rubs his arms to warm them.
"You'll be alright." A tiny voice echoes.
Cedric jerks his head up and searches for the source.
In the next instant a little girl appears before him. One look is all it takes to place the extravagant purple gown. It's the girl who gave him his trademark yellow ribbon. She kneels down in front of him. "You'll be alright." She pats him on the head.
Cedric stares in awe at her. "What are you doing here? How? The last thing I thought…" He presses a finger to his chin. "I was…" He sucks in a sharp breath and chokes on something. He pitches forward, bracing himself with both hands on the ground.
Sofia rubs his back. "You'll be alright." His voice is tiny and far away despite being right next to him. "Just don't give up. It'll be alright soon."
Cedric gasps for air. "I-I…c-can't breathe." Tears well in his eyes.
Sofia wraps him in a loose hug. "I know. Just hang on a little longer." Sofia flickers in and out and finally completely disappears. In her place appears Charlette. She buries her face in Cedric's hair. "Hang on my little Cedric."
Greylock cuts through the water with unmatched swiftness, his fins flipping furiously. He searches frantically for any sign of the idiot. A panic slowly rises within him. Then he spots it – a dark mass. He very nearly breathes in from sheer relief. He presses his lips tight together and plows on. He reaches the still mass and locks his arm around Cedric's waist. He lugs his heavy body up and breaches the surface. He draws in a deep breath and swims for the side. The current is swift, but no match for his fins. He leaps over the side, dragging Cedric over the edge and along the dirt. He pulls until Cedric's body is stretched out over the solid earth. Only then does he relax.
He sighs. His chest heaves and his body trembles. He stares wide eyed at Cedric. His heart beats double time and his throat constricts as he notices Cedric isn't moving. "Come on," He hisses. He smacks at Cedric's cheek. "Wake up. Wake up you idiot!" He holds his breath.
No change.
Greylock practically screams. Then an idea hits him and his face lights up. He searches desperately for his wand. No! He threw it away. He digs his hands into Cedric's robes and draws out his wand. He tilts Cedric's head back, opening his mouth. He dips the wand down near Cedric's mouth and mutters, "Sursum aqua!" He jerks the wand up and a stream of water zips from Cedric's mouth and follows his command. He smirks and sends the water out to the river where it belongs.
"Hey," Greylock bends over Cedric. He pats Cedric's cheek. "Wake up."
Cedric jolts upright. He gags, choking up more water. He clutches at his sides, his head spinning. He moans, a tiny whimper passing his lips.
Greylock lets out a sigh. A small smile peeks out on his lips. "You idiot."
Cedric peers up through half lidded eyes. He sniffles. "C-Cold…s-so…c-c-cold." He wraps his arms around himself. He pitches forward and coughs up more water.
Greylock cringes. He waves his wand and undoes the spell on his legs so that he can leap to his feet. He sprints ahead, then stops short. He looks over his shoulder. He doesn't know why, but he says, "Be right back." Then he hurries on, back toward the school and to find Charlette.
Cedric leans to the side. He tilts over so he lays sideways and all he can see is the currents of blue. It sends a shudder up his spine that he isn't sure is from the cold or the fear. "M-Mo-m-mie." He sobs. Tears roll down his cheeks and soak into the ground.
Greylock turns the corner, nearly tumbling over himself. He catches himself on the old oak tree and keeps running. He is very aware of all the eyes locked on him, but for once he doesn't care. He makes a beeline for Charlette and her stupid friends. "Charlette!" He struggles to get in good breaths. He slams his hands down on her table as he reaches it, only able to stay up that way. His legs tremble beneath him. "Char…Char…lette."
Charlette glares holes into him. "What do you want you little toad?" All the other girls around her scowl just as fiercely.
Greylock points in the direction of the river. "C…Cedric…"
Charlette's eyes snap open wide. "Cedric!?" She lurches forward and seizes the collar of his shirt. "What about Cedric!? What. Did you do?" She bares her teeth and trembles terribly.
"River…" It is all Greylock can muster before he sinks to his knees. The energy of casting a transformation spell on himself is too much to bear anymore. He can scarcely keep his eyes open.
Charlette gasps. "No…" She shoots to her feet and pivots. She races to the river. "Cedric!" She shrieks. "Cedric!" All the other girls are right at her heel. "Cedric, answer me!"
Greylock looks miserably after her. Pain creases his face as he wishes he could follow – to see how it all ends – but he doesn't have an ounce of strength. All he can do is lean heavily against the table. Maybe Cedric was always right. Maybe he is terrible.
Charlette comes up on the river and stops short. Her eyes bulge and her heart skips a beat at the sight of the body strewn out on the other side. "Cedric!" She clears the river in one swift leap, not missing a beat as she runs toward the body on the ground that can only be Cedric.
The other girls can only stare from the other side. They don't dare try and clear the river otherwise they might suffer the same fate as Cedric.
"Cedric," Charlette's voice cracks. She scoops him up in her arms, cradling him. She strokes his hair. "Cedric, are you-are you alright?" Her lip trembles.
Cedric whimpers. He leans into her. He clutches her clothes at her chest, holding on for dear life. "Char…lie." It skips his mind that he is never to call her that here. In his foggy mind he can only tell that it is her and that he wants her to be here so very badly. "I was, s-s-so scared." He sniffles.
Charlette draws him into a tight hug. She clutches him to her chest and leans over him, laying kisses on his forehead. "You scared me to death." She shudders. "God you made me think-I thought…" She shakes her head. She can't bear to finish the thought.
Cedric reaches a trembling hand up and runs his fingers over her cheek.
Charlette starts. She stares down at him for a long moment and then smiles tearfully. Tears well in her eyes, her relief overflowing. She curls her fingers around his hand and squeezes. "I love you so much Cedric. My little Cedric."
Cedric manages a feeble smile in return. "Love you too." He breathes before exhaustion sets in and his eyes slip shut. Her steady heartbeat soothes him into slumber, where the sounds of the rushing water and her rapid breaths fade away and only the little girl's face smiles over at him.
Sofia waves at him in the blackness. "I told you you'd be alright."
Cedric nods vaguely. "You were right. Yes. Just like before."
Sofia giggles. "Just be more careful next time." She pats him on the head.
Cedric smiles weakly. "Uh-huh. I will." He nods once more. "I will."
Alright, so this one was weird. I hope the blackout scene wasn't too confusing. Basically he was about dead and so was imagining the people he wanted to see. Sofia clearly wasn't there. I just thought it would be cool to include her and have him remember her even if only subconsciously after a whole year. Plus on top of that I remember a few people saying after Substitute Cedric that it would be cool if the teacher was Greylock's dad. I liked the idea and so implemented it. Hope it worked for you all too.
So what did you think? I hope you liked it. I'm super excited for the next one. So get pumped. Please review!