Clark had been of the opinion that Sophomore Treasure was hers as soon as it became common knowledge that she was running. He had been correct, no one had signed up to run against her. Raven Darkstar was running against Minnie, so Minnie did have to campaign. Instead of campaigning for herself, this year Alice and her roommates were helping Clark.

Today, Alice and her friends were walking around handing out shield-shaped 'Vote for Clark Hayes, the Guardian Griffin" badges. The shield was white with the griffin in red so the black letters stood out. She had offered to help him with his speech, but Clark said he already had some ideas of his own. Knowing her brother as she did, she figured that whatever he said, it would be memorable against the backdrop of normally dull speeches.

His opponent was a wispy girl from a wealthy family named Adelaide. She never went anywhere without her hair and makeup done, was possibly the biggest gossip in the freshman class, and tended to flirt with the boys that came from families that also had 'money.' She was probably one of those socialites that Clark would rather avoid.

The last time she had spoken to Clark in private, he had joked that the day Adelaide started flirting with him, he would know that his identity as the Carleton heir was out.

After finishing with the badges, they walked back to Clark's table. "Anything else we can do to help?" she asked her brother.

"No thanks, you all have been great," he said, grinning as he turned around to talk to the next freshman by his table. He had managed a respectable line, though not as long as hers had been last year. Then again, he wasn't offering free hugs.

Next they went to Minnie's booth, and she also seemed to be doing well. "Of course I'm voting for you," Alice told her when asked.

"Because I haven't returned the favor you did for me at the candle sale last year, and you already have something in mind?" she asked.

"That works for me," Alice teased.

As they walked away Virginia asked, "So, what favor was that?"

"I did her shift in addition to mine at the candle fundraiser last year," Alice answered.

"Oh yeah," Virginia said. "That was when Angela saw you at the Glen with Grabby and thought you were on a date."

"Yet another way she was responsible for your marriage becoming public," Ellen said. "Though in this case there was no way she could have predicted that Angela would have seen you two and made assumptions."

"I'm not actually angry with her about that—making the marriage public I mean," Alice said as they walked. "We weren't really talking much at the time, and it forced us to have some conversations that Hieronymous and I really needed to have. It was horrible at first, though."

Virginia nodded vigorously. "Who wouldn't have been upset? I mean, all those people asking you how Grabby is in bed…."

Alice grimaced. There had also been Hieronymous' reaction to the ordeal. She had been hoping for protection, and he had scared her instead. He had thought she had betrayed him, and he should have known better. She had called him out for scarring her, the next morning, and he had apologized and offered the protection she had expected the previous day. He had also further explained himself and apologized again later that day when she had gone to see him.

Alice mused, "Until then I had planned on ignoring the marriage as much as possible, trying to pretend it hadn't happened. When it became public, there was no ignoring it anymore, for either of us. It became necessary for us to become friends, and he was able to admit that he liked me. I hadn't expected that. It made me consider that maybe this could work after all, that maybe it was a blessing in disguise."

"Considering that it was well known at the time that Grabby hated everyone," Virginia said, "his liking you was in itself miracle."

"Not that Virginia is saying that you're hard to like," Ellen joked.

They entered their dorm room, and sat down.

"I know," Alice said. "And I was grateful that you two led most of the school on a wild goose chase."

"It was kind of fun," Virginia admitted. "It was like we were pranking the entire school, but only for a good cause, and we couldn't get into any trouble for it."

Alice giggled, wondering if Virginia had actually 'pranked' more people than Donald ever had with that one deed.

"Well, at least it's turning out well for you," Ellen said. "You two are dating now…wait…you called it 'courting?'"

"It's like dating but much more formal," Virginia said. "The richer you are in the wizard world, the more formal you have to be. Most do it before rather than after marriage, though."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "My pre-martial courtship was 'get married or the manus eats you.' Not what every girl dreams of."

"The flowers you get now are certainly nice," Ellen said, looking at where the lilacs still bloomed in the vase. Alice had been practicing her green magic to keep her flowers blooming and looking fresh until more arrived.

"Do you especially like lilacs?" Virginia asked. "You seemed really happy the day you got those."

She had not told them about what various flowers meant. They were her friends, but it would be too much like letting them read love letters. Still, she could not stop a bit of a blush from reaching her cheeks. "Well, yes, I had wanted lilacs for some time now."

"Well, what are you doing at the end of your year?" Ellen wanted to know.

"We're extending our marriage contract…essentially getting married again," Alice said. "If we don't the marriage expires."

"You'd better be inviting us this time," Ellen said, grinning.

"I still think you're a bit crazy," Virginia admitted. "But as long as you're happy and he treats you well, I'm not going to argue. At least, I won't argue if there's cake."

Alice had to laugh at that. "Fine, I'll order a cake. I should probably discuss some of this with Potsdam sooner or later. I think I'll get a dress too. The one I wore was ok, but I think I want one that's mine."

Virginia looked over at Ellen. "You help her pick the dress, and I'll help pick the cake. Deal?"

Ellen smiled. "Deal."

...

Alice sat in the stands, waiting for the freshman speeches. Minnie and Raven had spoken before she had. While they were still campaigning, Alice had thanked her class for their continued support, said that she would continue to be diligent in her work, and put in that she hoped this year would be less eventful than the last had been. That had gotten a few chuckles. They had been very vague with the details of her marriage, but most seemed to think that she had attracted Hieronymous' attention because of the Treasurer position—which was not entirely inaccurate.

Minnie had been reelected, and then the freshman presidential candidates gotten up to speak. She did not know either of those candidates. Then Clark got up to speak.

"I would first like to thank the audience," he started, "and congratulate your prudence in familiarizing yourself with the political process as well as your interest in our school community.

"I am running for Treasurer because I believe that this job suites me. I know the tasks that will be required of me, and intend to perform them to the best of my ability. As Professor Grabiner oversees the student government, I look forward to getting to know him outside of the classroom environment.

"I must also compliment my honorable opponent. First of all, I complement her for the hardy work ethic that she must have to volunteer to be in the mail room at five am each Saturday morning when most of the students are still sleeping in their beds. I grant that delivering the mail provides some insight into the lives of fellow students, but stuffing envelopes with allowances and delivering them to each room would seem a tedious task to all but the most dutiful.

"While I am sure that my opponent already possesses much in the way of social graces, I must commend her ambition of cultivating a professional working relationship with my brother-in-law. My sister, from her experiences as treasurer, assures me that he is in his customary state of cheerfulness early in the morning when dealing with members of the student government during his occasional visits."

Some of the students were goggling at her brother. Others had their hands over their mouths to stifle laughter. A few of the slower ones just looked confused, as there was no hint of sarcasm in Clark's voice. He was managing to sound like a gentleman as he pointed out possible weaknesses of his opponent. After all, who wanted the biggest gossip in the freshman class going over their mail? There were spells to open and close letters, but make it look like no one had tampered with them.

"In short," he was finishing, "I am pleased to place my accounting skills at your disposal, work with the president of your choice to make our traditional events successful, and carry out the weekly tasks of mail and allowance delivery if you will kindly vote for Clark Hayes the Guardian Griffin."

He gave a bow in response to the mixture of applause and laughter, and returned to his seat on stage.

When the room finally quieted, Potsdam came forward to announce, "And now, Miss Adelaide Nielson."

The wispy girl stood slowly, brushing her dark hair back, and walked to the podium. She looked over the audience for a moment before nodding to herself and tossing the cards that Alice suspected contained her speech over her shoulder.

"I will depart from my prepared remarks with a proposal of my own. I will withdraw from this race in exchange for a date with Mr. Hayes," she said, smiling at where Clark sat.

Alice was sitting close enough that she could see that Clark looked stunned. He had not considered that if his campaign speech was so well received that she would assume she would lose the election, that she then would bow out but attempt to do so on her own terms.

"If you're ok with it being lunch at the mall's food court, that would be acceptable," Clark replied. He then stood and shook the girl's hand.

Either he did not want to take the risk of losing, or he was being kind by letting Adelaide bow out gracefully. Either way, her brother was going on his first date as a political maneuver. She suspected that in the future if he were to be asked what his first practical lesson in politics was, he would say it was to leave your opponent a way to make a graceful exit. She looked over to where Virginia sat beside her, but her roommate seemed unruffled.

Virginia bent over and whispered to her, "What do you bet that she just wants to pump him for info on you and Grabby?"

Alice smiled. "Sorry, I'm on your side there." Of course, she may also consider him a legitimate target for her flirtations due to the fact that he could develop good business connections through Hieronymous. Those that wished to enrich themselves further often made it their business to know those connected to the truly wealthy. Hieronymous would count there, as the heir apparent to a moderately wealthy Great House.

Alice still hoped the girl was simply interested in gossip, so she would be distracted from attempting to pry into other areas.

...

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