"You two are awfully unconcentrated today. Not that would be unusual for you, Miss Upland, but I expected better from you, Miss Thropp."
Madame Morrible wasn't too pleased with the lack of focus on her teachings.
The two girls attending her sorcery tutoriak were constantly trying to drag the focus on holiday centred charms and spells but she was having none of this nonesense!
Her tutorial was a serious business, no time for joking around like pre-schoolers!
"Pardon us, Madame", Elphaba said excusingly, and tried to concentrate on the spell Madame Morrible had spent the better part of the lesson teaching to them.
"Maiorem terranum basica humioli peiora!"
As desired, the pot of soil on the table in front of the girls started sprouting a flower that blossomed in the matter of seconds.
"Oh look at it, it's beautiful!", Glinda exclaimed excitedly, admiring the splendid apricot coloured bloom.
"Miss Upland, stop getting distracted and perform the spell yourself, please."
"Sure, excuse me. Maioram terrarum basica humus..."
"No, no, no, stop!", Madame Morrible interrupted her.
Glinda realised that instead of building roots and a stem, the soil in the pot had started multiplying and tumbling out of it.
"How often have I told you that the wrong pronounciation or slightest alteration of the words can be fatal for the meaning of the charm! It is maiorem, not 'maioram', 'terranum' not 'terrarum' and 'humioli' not 'humus-something'. Now repeat the spell. Correctly, this time, if possible."
The headmistress' tirade was dripping with contempt for her terribly untalented student.
"Maioram terran..."
"No! Maiorem! Is there nothing but air in your head! Concentrate!"
"Oh, Madame Morrible, can't we do something festivity related instead? Spells for everlasting candles, how to enchant decoration to put itself up..."
"Actually, I have already taken care of that", Elphaba murmured inbetween and quickly shut her mouth again as she saw Madame Morrible give her a depreciating side glance.
"We will do no such thing, Miss Upland, you have been chosen to study the fine arts of sorcery and not some shenanigans for your entertainment. Now on with the plant growing spell!"
Huffed, Glinda repeated the spell, correctly this time and a violet flower blossomed in her pot.
"Pretty!", she mouthed, mesmerised by the rich colour.
Meanwhile, Elphaba had been flipping through Madame Morrible's spellbook ever so subtly to try and find some holiday related charms after all.
She found that she wasn't able to pronounce half of the words and quickly put the book aside again.
It looked like she had to improvise some more with the spells she had already learned.
After the lesson was over, Glinda let out a frustrated groan.
"The headmistress is going to drive me insane one of these days! She keeps nagging at me, although I'm not even very bad."
"Well, looks like 'not very bad' is just not good enough for our dear Madame Morrible", Elphaba noted.
"But I have an idea as to how we can still benefit from this class and contribute something to your Lurlinemas celebration."
"You have? Let's hear then!"
"Do you remember the spell we learned to change the taste of a bitter pill?"
Glinda grimaced.
"How could I forget this debacle."
"Well, I figure it is possible to use it for other substances as well, speaking of food and beverages. We could serve usual tea and spice it up with a little magic."
"Miss Elphaba Thropp, so rebellious lately, I like that!", Glinda nodded approvingly.
"You do realise I was speaking of spicing up the flavour, as in making plain herb tea taste like Lurlinemas candy, do you?"
"Whichever you meant, I am still marvelling at your engagement."
"I guess, I just want you to have a nice celebration."
"Admit it, you like Lurlinemas."
"I'm quite indifferent to it, to be honest."
"You love it."
"Alright, fine, I do like it. Are you satisfied now?"
Glinda grinned.
"Of course I am, Elphie. Come on, let's have some spiced up tea in the dining hall."
"You know I still occasionally loathe you, right?"
"Whatever you say."