Grounded

Wow. You guys missed me. AND I HAVE OVER 200 REVIEWS! Thanks guys!

Let's move on.

xxx

Geography - C. Knowledge of Tri-Kingdoms, and neighboring Kingdoms is subpar to lacking. Scarcely knows of borders, shows no interest in lands and terrains.

Mathematics - D. Missing and incomplete work.

Art - B. Not an artist, but shows major promise, and strives to perfect her works.

Literature - B+. A lover of novels and written works. Vocabulary is top notch. Writing assignments missing from certain dates.

History - F. Severe lack of of focus. Falls asleep in class. Expresses little interest in class.

Physical Education - A+. Excelling in archery. Fencing is coming along. Track and field is excellent.

Dance - F. Refuses to set foot on dance floor. When engaged, shuts down after a few steps.

Music - C+. Is musically inclined, but falls asleep in in class. Misses simple notes, and

Diplomacy - D-. No diplomacy. Bases ethics on emotion, rather than read a situation and maneuver.

Assembly - B-. Shows promise in regards to hosting small parties. Larger banquets may require work.

Roland crossly hung the blemished report in front of the shamefully shrinking Lydia. Miranda angrily drummed irked fingers to her crossed arms. Her tapping foot demanded an explanation. "Care to explain this, Young Lady?"

"Umm..." Lydia hugged her arms behind her back, "The teachers are incapable of filters?" She laughed nervously.

"This is no laughing matter, Lydia." Miranda curtly replied. "Your grades have dropped tremendously in the last few weeks."

"I'm sorry, okay!" She hoarsely retorted. "I've...just been...distracted." She timidly hid her wand behind her back.

Roland spied the wand and his his scowl narrowed. "How ARE your magic studies coming along, Lydia?" He asked, folding his arms with an inquisitive glare.

"Um...they're fine." She replied, confused by the sudden change in subject. "I'm actually further ahead than I thought."

"Far enough to put your wand in it's case?"

"In it's case? What do you-" It dawned on her when Roland motioned his hand for the wand. "NO WAY?!"

"Yes way!" Roland countered tersely. "We had an agreement. You are allowed to study both magic and royal lessons so long as you committed to both equally." Lydia croaked her counter argument. Then her and Roland's conversation after the duel replayed in her mind. Her protest died on her breath. Roland egged her with his curling palm. Lydia reluctantly handed him her wand. It was like her soul was ripped out of her hand. "Until your grade improve, and you've caught up in your studies," Roland put the wand in his bedroom trophy case, "There will be no wand waving!" He locked the case. "No potions, no spellbooks. In fact, I want the spellbook you keep in your room. Cedric can hold onto it and your potions."

"HE CAN'T! I mean…" She cleared her throat. There are a number of reasons that's a horrible idea. None of which Lydia can tell without spilling the growing number of secrets she's keeping. "The book won't allow anyone but me to have it! The last time someone touched it, it blinded them temporarily." A silent win.

"Why so much security for one book?" Miranda interrogated next.

"Well..." Think, think, think, "The...fairies entrusted the book to me. And...Cedric is an absolute clutz, anyway!" She needed to hold her ground of Miranda was going to sniff the lies one by one. "He might burn my book when he screws up a spell." Lydia must have sounded convincing. Roland was nodding in agreement. Crisis averted. Ubos would never forgive her if she handed him over to Cedric

"I still want you book, and I want your potions locked in the cabinet you have in your upper wing." He commanded.

"Yes sir..." Lydia moaned downtrodden. All this talk of magic reminded her of an appointment she was about to be late for. "I understand you said I'm grounded from it; The fairies wanted to meet with me today about my progress. Would it...be alright if I went?"

"As long as you mention you're on a magic hiatus until your grades improve." Miranda approved.

"Thank you!" Lydia was out the door and halfway to her room.

Roland sighed dismally. Miranda cooed, hugging his arm. "Don't tell me you're the type of father who feels guilty about punishing his daughter." She teased.

"Not in the least." He reassured her, touching her warm hands. "Grounding Lydia isn't what's bothering me."

"Then what is?"

"King Magnus of Rudistan is arriving on Thursday." He rolled his eyes mentioning Magnus. "A good man, he may be. He never misses a chance to boast of his himself and those he surrounds himself with." Roland escorted Miranda to a bird's view portrait of Rudistan. King Magnus was on the side. "He's always trying to out do everyone. Reminding me that what I accomplish pales to his. And I have to serve as his host during his stay." He sort of feels like a hypocrite. Complaining of duty and obligations when he is punishing Lydia for not living up to hers.

"Rolly, I'm sure he won't be as bad as all that." Miranda attempted to raise his hopes. Roland pouted his lower lip. Miranda fixed his collar and ascot, "You'll see. He'll visit for a day, we'll entertain him, then he'll go home without incident." She primed his uniform, patting his chest with assurance.

"I sure hope so."

xxx

"GROUNDED?" Eezeyal and Ubos shouted their disbelief.

Lydia shrank three more sizes since leaving her room. She would have told the two the bad news while there. But locking up her potions was heartbreaking. Plus she was running late to her meeting with the fairies. She's skilled at walking and talking.

"Dad wants you and my wand in his room until further notice." Lydia moaned. "Can't you make a duplicate of yourself? No way I can leave you locked up in a glass case!" She implored.

"Of course...I...can, but..." Ubos needed to comprehend what was happening here. It's all moving too fast. "Why has the King grounded you?!" Ubos floated into her arms. Servants passing by have nearly spotted him. It was too embarrassing to talk about. It could be passed off as nothing. Ubos might fall for it. Eezeyal? it'll be a cold day in Hades before she can get a lie past him. Lydia wordlessly showed Ubos and Eezeyal her grades.

"WHAT IN TARNATION!" Eezeyal voiced his outrage. He flapped backward, directing a seriously disappointed scowl at his girl. "I'm with King Role on this one, Liddy! No magic until those grades of yers come up!"

"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side, remember?!" She scoffed.

Eezeyal swiped her head with his tailfeather. "There ain't no sides when it comes to education!"

"Eezeyal is correct, Princess." Ubos added to the third degree. "You promised your father you would uphold both magic and royal duties equally." She doesn't need to be reminded. "In truth, magic should be in the reserves to your Royal duties."

"Or maybe my royal duties can take a complete backseat." She snarled. "I was a sorceress first. I'm only a princess by marriage."

"Cinderella, Tiana, and Belle also had past lives to which they dedicated themselves. All three adjusted and are successfully fulfilling the roles gifted to them."

Lydia stopped him there. She set him on a pedestal, glaring affronted. "Don't compare me to the perfect, hardworking, tatters-to-tiaras princesses! I'm not them." She snapped.

"I am not comparing. They are mere examples." He calmly assured her.

"Could have fooled me." She mumbled.

"Oh how heartbreaking to see good friends arguing." A sarcastic, haughty voice crooned from the ceiling. Eezeyal and Lydia fretfully sprang in front of Ubos in a mock barrier. Wormwood chuckled menacingly at their pitiful defense. "Here I was under the impression your friendship was steadfast."

"How long has that ebony pest been there?!" Eezeyal whispered.

"I have no idea." She growled lowly. After all this time, one would think she'd learned to look before she speaks to Ubos. Said book furrowed his brow, pressing against Lydia's back to hide. Not that there was any point.

"No need to be so secretive, Princess." Wormwood fluttered to a bust beside her. His smirk widened spotting Ubos peaking behind her. "By all means,Ubos..." He let the name slip, encasing Ubos's spine in ice, "Come join us. We're all friends here." The word was more like a poison. Ubos sighed resignedly.

"You ain't got no friends here!" Eezeyal frothed at the mouth.

Lydia curled a hand to his beak. She glanced back at Ubos. both reluctant to reveal him to the already aware raven. It was Lydia's own fault. She never should have brought Ubos with her to Hamil. To Lyndor at all. She's so used to talking with him - hiding him from passersby - she never imagined Wormwood would be the one to pay attention. He hardly expresses interest in her or anyone not Cedric. He all but admitted to knowing about Ubos on the return trip home. Their only saving grace is that Cedric seems to be in the dark about him. But it won't be long until he catches on. He can't talk to animals, but Cedric and Wormwood have a powerful relationship.

Ubos submitted and floated in front of Lydia, matching Wormwood's smirk with his hard stare. "Ahh, the book behind the Princess's magical curtain. I must admit, a talking book as an instructor is new to me."

"I can assure you, there are several like myself." Ubos stated sternly. "Each one training or has trained their student to new peaks of potential."

"What a shame you found yourself a speck at the bottom of a barrel." Wormwood snickered. Lydia ignored the blatant insult. She had Eezeyal pinched at the neck, preventing him from doing anything too rash. "How does it feel to play nursemaid to a pampered Princess?"

"Better than being the prop to a disgraced sorcerer." Ubos cleverly countered. Wormwood was taken aback, stammering in absolute insult. Eezeyal and Lydia were laughing their heads off.

"See here, BOOK!"

"No. You see here!" Ubos practically touched his nose to Wormwood's beak. The anger burning in them unnerved Wormwood. "I know full well your owner is a virulent obstacle in Lydia's path. In spite of their recurring cooperation, he's adamant about opposing her."

"What is your point, Book?" Wormwood was losing patience with him.

"While I humbly ask Lydia to keep my animation secret, it will not inconvenience or irk me in the slightest if others learn of me." He so warned. His reasons for being a secret are well known to Lydia and Eezeyal. They have respected his wishes thus far and continue to do so admirably. Sofia, due to her diligence and care of her amulet, was allowed in on the secret. Others are kept at arms length. "The option to use my existence to harm either of these two or those close to them, however, will Usher consequences I shudder to speak of."

"Regale me anyway please." Wormwood struggled to steady his wavering voice. "What sort of punishments can a book muster."

The smooth razor edge of a knife gleamed in Ubos's narrowing eyes. "Proceed to test the limits of my patience, and you shall see." Shivers shared between the stoic raven to the cringing Princess and owl. Ubos is scary when he's upset. "Come along, Highness." Ubos scooted her on her way. "You will miss your appointment with the fairies if we procrastinate."

"UGH! Hey! Stop shoving!"

Wormwood's feathers ruffled. "Blasted book..." He flew for Cedric's tower.

"So...um...about me getting a copy of you." Lydia hated to bring it up. Least of all while being pushed down a hallway.

"Clap your hands twice, utter duplicatus, and say my name." He heatedly summarized. Wormwood's encounter left him boiling over. He felt his pages wrinkling he was so furious.

Lydia and Eezeyal shrugged. She promised no more magic, and she'll keep her promise. After this one spell. It was a matter of life and death. Ubos locked in a cage is inhumane. "Duplicatus Ubos." Lydia clapped twice. First a glowing dot appeared. Then it spanned into an Ubos carbon copy. "Cool!" Lydia cheered.

Ubos removed from her back, floating to a window, "Hand that to King Roland and he will be none the wiser." He sped up his instructions, anxious to get out of the castle.

"What about you?" Eezeyal flapped after him, baffled by his departure.

"There is a matter I must attend. I shall return." Without another word Ubos left.

Eezeyal and Lydia exchanged baffled and concerned stares. "I think our bookworm friend is losin' his nerves." Lyda grunted, scowling. "Just sayin', Liddy. Can't exactly think of anythin' else that'll send him out that window like a bat from Hades."

"Wormwood is to blame on that note." Lydia snarled. Lydia's witnessed Ubos grow angry before. But that just now. Something wrinkled his pages. "That featherduster stroked a sour cord."

"Wonder what."

"He'll tell us…" She hugged the Ubos to her chest, "When he's ready."

xxx

Ubos hid himself away in the forest, far from prying eyes. He whisked himself open, rapidly flipping his pages. A map of Enchancia and surrounding areas appeared. "Now then…" He scanned the map, following breadcrumbs he'd jotted to keep his knowledge of thel and sharp. "The castle is here…" He followed a line to an aqua garden. "Past that...across this...and Mystic Meadows is...right there." He smiled. He slipped the map back to his pages. With a wiggle of his nose a vortex opened. He slipped inside. The vortex closed behind him.

xxx

The coach stopped outside Royal Prep's gates. Lydia released a breath of relief. Merryweather sent a letter requesting Lydia join her and the other fairies around lunch time at the school. They wished to speak with her on the progress of her magic studies. Lydia managed to make it five minutes before lunch began. If she remembers correctly, their office is through the front door, past the music room and around the left corner from the dance room. Or was it vice versa. She'll figure it out.

"Thanks Harold." The Coachman bowed his head.

The lunch bell tolled. In the blink of an eye student flooded every corner of the hallway. Bumping and trampling over one another to reach the cafeteria, and be the first out to recess. Lydia kept close to the wall. The stampede of three foot students was dangerous.

"And here I was thinking Royal Students differed from common folk." She mumbled. "What do you think, Ezee?"

"That I still don't like Ubos hidin' stuff from us." Eezeyal refused to let it go. Lydia was beginning to get a migraine. He perched to her shoulder. "We have to pour our hearts out while he keeps it all in?"

"Sounds familiar?" She giggled. "When I first met you, the most I got from you were one liners about food and sleep."

"My two favorite things." He admitted proudly. "And why do you have to turn the tables on me?"

"Because I need you to accept the fact that not everyone we meet is going to be open. Ubos isn't as close to us as you and I are to each other."

"You'd think we'd breached that wall. He's calling you Lydia more often than princess."

"As I said," Lydia cradled him in her arms, "Give him time. Ubos will warm up to us when he's good and ready."

"Remind me again how it is you're failing Diplomacy/Debate class." He teased.

"Humans are less understanding, and far more aggravating, than animals."

"That's mean to say, isn't it, Lydia." Lydia paused and turned around. Sofia laughed at her surprise, waving impassively.

"Hey, Kiddo." Lydia beamed.

"It's the better half!" Eezeyal flew to Sofia, landing on her head. Better half? Lydia put her hands to her hips. "How's life inside, Lil' Sofie?"

"Great, Eezeyal!" It amazed the owl on how such a laid back girl hasn't been trampled by these rowdy royals. Guess he hasn't given her enough credit. "How are you?"

"I'd be better if her talkin' spellbook would be honest with us!" He stretched an accusing wing. Lydia groaned irritably, rolling her eyes. "The guy pulled a vanishin' act this mornin' and left use with question marks up the wazoo."

"Try not to take it personally, Eezeyal." Sofia batted her adorable blue eyes. "I'm sure Mr. Ubos will come to you when he's ready."

Eezeyal's mouth dropped aghast. "Cut from the same cloth these two are." He smacked a wing over his eyes. "How can it be?"

"Our mom raised us right." Lydia snidely remarked. Eezeyal wasn't going to touch that one.

"What are you doing here, Lydia?" Sofia walked her along, wanting to get her lunch. "Did someone leave something home?"

"No. The Fairies wanted to talk to me about my magic studies." She itched the embarrassment on the back of her head. "Though I'm having a difficult time finding their office."

"I'll take you. It's this way." She led Lydia past the art room. Guess Music room was wrong. She mentally laughed at herself. "You're not in trouble are you?"

"With them? No. Dad? Oh yeah. " She shuddered recalling that conversation. "I'm grounded from using magic until my Class grades improve."

"That bad?" Sofia gasped. Lydia smashed her bangs to hide her shame. "OH! Man! What rotten timing!" Sofia stamped her foot. Lydia's glad she's understanding - not. "We've started learning magic today. Turning a rock into a ruby."

"I loved that one. My friend Jessabelle and I made each other birthday gifts with that spell."

"I'm glad you like it. Because I can't seem to do it." Sofia slumped sadly. "Every time I try, I get a ruby red tomato."

"That's pretty close. Get lettuce instead of emeralds and make a salad." Sofia elbowed her in the cheap joke. "Ha-Ha. Don't beat yourself up. All you have to do is keep at it and you'll be a pro in no time."

"I hope so. I have a test on Friday."

"Sofia, I wouldn't be giving you my seal if I wasn't confident." Sofia wrapped an arm to Lydia. The two walked in a warm hug.

xxx

Ubos descended through a thicket of pure green trees. That travel vortex was rougher than he remembered. He must be getting old. The fresh mountain pine air absorbed into his aged bindings, flowing through his nose and mouth. Ubos allowed the bliss to drift him to a currently dried fountain. Tensions and stresses evaporated with each exhale.

"How long has it been since I vacationed to this land?" He muttered, eyes closed to let the serene beauty waft around him. He opened his eyes. "Perhaps I should consider a prolonged stay."

The quaint, quiet grounds of a forest bred estate had him basking in an eluded glory. Only the majesty and radiance of Mystic Meadows - a retirement community for sorcerers and sorceresses - could bring Ubos to his peace of mind. A different sort of magic kept this land alive. Pagodas to enjoy blooming gardens. An open theatre area. Homes and shops. All wrapped in a tidy bow of calm. The hustle and bustle of the world beyond the forest had yet to tarnish this beautiful place.

"Maybe when my time has ended with Lydia shall I spend my remnant days here." Ubos silently declared.

"I find that to be a capital idea, old friend." An elderly gentleman approached the fountain. His dusty rose robes strode on the cobblestone path. His glistening smile bouncing his long grey, curly mustache and beard.

"Goodwin the Great…" Ubos chortled lovingly.

"It has been quite a while, Ubos." Goodwin fixed his wizard's hat. "I am glad you've come."

"I wish it were under better circumstances, my friend." Ubos hovered to him. "I must speak with you about your son."

Goodwin exhaled somberly, folding his arms. "Let us speak inside." He guided Ubos to his home. "Winifred is out, so we will have plenty of time to discuss my son's delusions and duplicitous activities."

xxx

Sofia left to finish up her lunch once Lydia was at the fairies office. A pair of double doors never appeared more intimidating. Part of Lydia hoped they weren't in and she'd be able to come back later. No such luck. The fairies were at their desk, reviewing reports and order form regarding the school. They gleefully set their work aside to greet Lydia, embracing her in hugs as she entered. Lydia was happy to see them too. It's felt like a good while. However, when she sat down to get to business, Fauna was instantly able to see she was bothered by something.

"We've received a report on your progress." Flora announced chipperly. "We're pleased by the progress you have made."

"You're excelling faster than even we anticipated." Merryweather commended. "You're right on Lezard's robe tails." Lydia mustered a weak smile, humming in frail delight. It caught the fairies completely off guard. They expected her to be jumping up and down with joy. She resembles a girl who broke up with her boyfriend.

"Is something the matter, Dear? You look flushed." Fauna asked antsily.

"I...uh…" Lydia played nervously with her hands, shuffling her shoulders. Her cheeks were bright red. She let loose a resigned breath. "Dad, sort of, grounded me from magic." The shock on their faces rid her with guilt. "The grades for my royal classes are really bad. So Dad said no magic until they come up."

"I see…" Flora scowled, thumping fingers on her folded arms. She had a good idea what happened to cause the plummet. "You put your favored subject above your duties, haven't you?"

Nail on the head, that was. Lydia's cheeks darkened red. "It wasn't on purpose…" She wheezed. "I got carried away with how fast I was mastering my magic and-"

"And nothing." Merryweather aggressively interrupted. "You promised King Roland you would treat Magic and Royal Duties with equal importance."

"It's hard to treat Royal duties with equal importance when they're a mind numbing eyesore." Lydia hissed. "All I'm learning is the tri-kingdom this, don't eat apples from strangers that, be careful of witches in cottages." Maybe not quite like that. Lydia was so fed up with the royal life she couldn't help exaggerate. "Dad knew from the get go that my magic was important to me."

"And it is that selfish behavior that will stunt your growth." Fauna forewarned, upset Lydia has become so narrowminded. Lydia was stunned silent. She wasn't sure what Fauna meant by that. How is doing what she loves going to stunt her growth? Fauna looked out the window, watching the gentle wind coast the tall grass, and leaf blades. "Enchancia is important to King Roland. Ensuring it's future is one goal that he has put before his many goals. And it is his intention to leave his people knowing they are in good hands."

"What does that have to do with me?" Lydia shrugged incredulously. What is telling her that supposed to accomplish. "Dad's a good man. Why wouldn't Enchancia thrive in the future?"

"The answer to that lies later in your years." Flora helped Lydia from her chair. "For now, you should return home to your studies."

"But-" Flora and Merryweather already had her out the door.

"And when your grades improve," Fauna put her hands to the door, "Tell us what you've learned." She closed the door before.

"What I've learned?" She scoffed, kicking the ground. "What am I supposed to learn from being grounded?"

xxx

A family tree of sorcerers preceding Winifred and Goodwin sprouted in the backyard. The peak of the tree of the neat and bunched by his family's heads. Then, as the tree progressed to grow with offspring, branches and leaves sprouted in erratic directions. Husbands and wives, cousins, uncles and aunts, sisters and brothers - the lineage ended toward the base. Goodwin and Winifred procreating Cedric, and his younger sister.

Photos of the supposed prestigious family depicted the growth of their lives. Winifred and Goodwin raising Cedric and his sister. Both growing up happy, then later in their years turn their backs on one another. Then the relationship with their parents became strained. A very unhappy household.

"And you say Wormwood has taken up arms against Princess Lydia and her owl as well?" Goodwin carefully interjected Ubos's inspection of his family history.

"Taking up arms is a drastic phrase." Ubos shook his head. Despite that is what's happened. "It has not gone unnoticed to me that Cedric and Wormwood feed off an animosity sprouted between them, and Princess Lydia and Eezeyal."

"It is a sad day when one's malicious ambitions seep into an innocent animal." Goodwin sipped tea crestfallen.

"Wormwood's poor upbringing aside, I've come to learn of Cedric's desire to rule the kingdom." Ubos stated how outlandish and foolish it sounded. He's born witness to Cedric's foolhardy desire. "Tell me the boy's thoughtless ambition is a phase."

"I wish I could." Goodwin moaned, exasperated by his son's foolishness. "With the encouragement of his mother, Cedric seeks to overthrow the King rather than be at his side."

"Why one earth would he covet such a goal?"

"He seeks to rule the world that disparaged and chastised him." Goodwin admitted with a note of guilt. "Subjugate all who teased and humiliated him, and enslave them."

"Times certainly have changed since our days as Royal Sorcerers." Ubos lied to a pillow, withering under the new generation's arrogance. Cedric is in that dark place no one his age should reside in. Ubos feared it will be near impossible to bring him from that sorrow. There did, however, exist a bright light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. "But I have faith in Princess Lydia."

"Princess Lydia?" Goodwin repeated, dubious of Ubos's faith.

"Have you yet to meet her?"

"I've not had the pleasure." He leaned on the edge of his seat, intrigued by Lydia.

"She and Cedric are hotheaded and stubborn." He chuckled lovingly. They were mirrors of one another. "Both also carry hefty burdens and heartaches that influence their craft." Goodwin jovially dreaded that notion. "They each have a goal that opposes the other. Incidentally, because of their steadfast drive, they display a silent respect. Admiration, if one were to go so far."

"Really?" Goodwin stroked his beard with intrigue. "To think Cedric has opened himself so far."

"Indeed." Ubos nodded confidently. He sees and hears it whenever they encounter one another. "Young pride casts resentment as a barrier. Beyond it: our young ones have a blossoming friendship."

xxx

Knock-knock-knock. An opening medieval wood door scooted discarded beakers and papers. "Uhh..." Lydia groaned meekly, entering the musky smelling lair of Cedric. "Baileywick said you CALLED!" Cedric yanked Lydia in and slammed the door, locking the numerous deadbolts. "And now I'm trapped with a loon in his man cave."

Cedric whirled around, grasping onto her shoulders. "I must hear it from a credible source!" He gruffly rasped. Total disbelief beaded sweat to Lydia's brow. "King Roland...has...grounded you?! TAKEN YOUR WAND?"

Of course he knows about that! She wheezed in her mind. Rumors travel faster than carrier pigeons around here. "Yes, Cedric. I have been grounded. Want it in writing?" She hissed impatiently. She's not in the mood for his smart remarks.

"No!" He swept his hands apart. He wanted her to cast all sardonics aside. This was serious. "I demand an explanation!" He stamped a foot, emphasising his demand.

"A what? Why?!"

"How does one, such as yourself, allow her wand to be whisked away and imprisoned?"

Lydia angrily puffed her pink cheeks. She twisted from him. "None of your business." She childishly pouted.

Cedric's brow twitched. He sat her down on a stool, dimmed the lights, and put her under a harsh guard's light. It was just his wand suspended over her head. "This is no laughing matter! This is SERIOUS!" A chair was slammed in front of her. Cedric spun it around, sitting on it backwards. He pushed huge, darkly tinted glasses up his nose. Lydia began to wonder if he read those mystery/crime novels again. "Never in all my years have I heard of a sorceress having her wand confiscated by her father."

"I'm sure it happens more often than you think."

"This is serious, Lydia!" Lydia? That's the first time he's really said her name. She...Hmm. The chair screeched sliding closer. Lydia jolted back petrified, catching herself on the wall. "Why does King Roland have your wand?"

"UGH!" The stool wheels barely keeping her aloft by elevated stones. She thrusted herself forward, edging him a distance from her personal space. "If you must know: I've been so preoccupied with magic my class grades slipped to a plunge."

"How bad a plunge?" Lydia's silence confirms it is bad. Possibly worse. "Oh the utter humiliation of it all!"

"Calm down, Cedric. It's not a big deal."

"I don't think you understand the severity of the situation!" It baffled him beyond words. How can she of all people be so casual? He's...concerned? Cedric confused HER one word after the other. "What will the people say if my considered rival is an academic failure?"

The moment cracked like an egg, and fried on Lydia's heating head. "SAY WHAT?!" Lydia erupted from the stool. Of all the arrogant, misogynistic, myopic, and callus things to say...he calls her a detriment to his rap sheet? YOU...STUPID- "THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT? YOUR STUPID REP?!" Cedric fell with a THUD. Lydia shoved the chair aside. She stood over him, leaning so far forward her glare was enough to keep Cedric pinned. "If you were so worried about your reputation being tarnished you should have thought of that before going with me to Lyndor! Or picking a fight with me!" Cedric broke out in a sweat. She's really mad. "Instead you incessantly targeted me, provoked me, and ushered a turmoil that would make the English and Powhatan assaults look like picnics!"

"When you...say it...like that-" Lydia marched for the door. She's done with him. "Wait! Lydia! I didn't mean-"

"If you'll excuse me, I have an immense amount of studying to do!" She practically broke the locks trying to get out. "I'll let you know when my grades improve so I don't damage your good name." Cedric winced when she slammed the door. Another mess toppled to the one already on ground.

"Oh...oh dear." He moaned, collapsing under his idiocy. "Did I say something wrong?"

To be continued.