On October 28, the world of entertainment lost a great legend. Matthew Perry passed away at age 54.
After yet another run-in with Hexley Hall school bully Derek von Schroeder, Wendell finds comfort in the form of two of his friends. They try to help him when Derek comes back, but something goes wrong, but everything turns out all right in the end, and Wendell takes comfort in knowing that his friends will always be there for him. I only own my original characters Sandra, the Culinary Arts teacher Nick Bamba, and the school nurse Madam Nicole Duncan. If anyone is interested in the recipe, PM me. The Rembrandt's music is not mine, and on a more serious note, rest in peace Matthew Perry.
It was just another regular day at Hexley Hall. Today, however, some of the students from Royal Prep were attending classes there since Royal Prep was closed for a week due to an accident in the Potions class. Sofia was helping her friend Sandra carry her latest taste treat to the Culinary Arts classroom. "Sandra, this will be your greatest treat yet!" Sofia smiled.
"I know you always say that, but thanks, Sofia," Sandra said as she looked over her tray of cinnamon cream cheese squares. "This is a new recipe, and I hope everyone likes it."
"I'm sure they will," Sofia smiled. "They look really good, and I can't wait to see the teacher's face when he tries one!"
Their pleasant conversation was cut short when they saw the biggest bully in Hexley Hall, Derek von Schroeder, ganging up on their friend Wendell.
"Didn't Jerkwad von Schroeder learn his lesson after the stunt he pulled at the workshops?" Sandra frowned, recalling how Derek had trapped her and Wendell in a bubble during the workshops Hexley Hall had during the summer, and bounced them around until Miss Lovegood stopped him.
"Don't call him names, Sandra, but I don't think he did," Sofia frowned.
"Fine, but okay, here's the plan," Sandra said as she put her treats down. "First, we'll keep an eye on my treats, so nobody steps on them."
"I'll put a Shield charm on them for you," Sofia offered.
"Thanks, Sofia," Sandra nodded as Sofia did just that. "Next, we free Wendell from the Dancing Feet spell that Jer…" she paused as Sofia frowned at her. "Okay, fine, that Derek put on him. After that, we help cheer Wendell up. Then when he feels up to it, all three of us rat out von Schroeder to Miss Lovegood."
"You need to work on how you word your ideas, Sandra, but it still sounds like a plan!" Sofia tried not to giggle, but failed.
"Whatever you say, Sofia, now let's do this!" Sandra said as she got her wand out. "Let's get Wendell out of here with a spell he unknowingly taught me during our first duel! Fumos!"
Derek tried to find Wendell to come at him again, but to his surprise, everything was covered in fog. "What's going on? Where are you, loser?"
Derek was so busy looking for Wendell, that he didn't hear Sofia's voice. "Accio Wendell!"
Wendell looked up in surprise. He had seen the fog appear, but he didn't see who grabbed him. "What's going on? Who's there?" he demanded, struggling to stand still.
"First things first, Wendell…Finite!" Sandra replied as she lifted the curse on him.
Wendell sighed in relief when he felt his legs become still. "Sandra? Sofia?" he asked. "What are you two doing here? And where are you?"
"Oh…right," he heard Sandra's voice. "Like Sofia said, Finite!" She nodded in approval when the smoke cleared. "Sorry about that, Wendell."
"Not as sorry as you're going to be for helping that loser!" Derek shouted as he ran at her.
"Sofia, get Wendell out of here!" Sandra ordered. "Take him and my pan of treats into the classroom. And see if you can find the teacher to help me. Even though I'm getting better at dueling with wands, I still have a few things to learn!"
Sofia nodded. She knew that Hexley Hall's cooking instructor was not just a skilled baker, but also a former dueling champion.
As they left, Sandra turned to Derek again, but he sneered at her. "Come to fight your loser boyfriend's losing battle? Why don't you stick to the kitchen where you belong?"
"Is he my boyfriend? No, he's a friend who's a boy. But is he the person who Zoe or I plan on making the royal sorcerer of Orillia if one of us ever becomes queen, you better believe it!" Sandra snapped as she drew her wand.
"He can't do proper magic like me! And I have him to thank for learning this about you!" Derek shouted, aiming his wand at her. "Orchideous!"
"Sandra!" Wendell shouted. He broke free from Sofia and ran to her. "Protego!"
"Thanks, Wendell, but I tried to hold my breath when I saw the flowers coming at me," Sandra smiled. "I know I could have cast Ebublio, but I forgot."
Sofia frowned when she heard her start wheezing a little. "Maybe so, Sandra, but I think you were hit with some flowers anyway," she said as she held up some Wheezing Wisteria flowers that had come in contact with her.
"It was still a good attempt, Princess Sandra, and well deserving of those twenty points to Waldgrave," they heard a new voice behind them. The group looked up to see the Culinary Arts teacher, Nick Bamba, coming up to them. "But really, are all of you all right?"
"I am, sir, but I think Wendell and Sandra might need to see Madam Nicole," Sofia admitted as she watched Sandra struggle to breathe.
"If you think I should, I will, but what about Derek?" Wendell asked.
"You let me deal with him," Nick said as he walked toward Derek. "I'll take him to Miss Lovegood as I take you and Princess Sandra to the hospital wing."
"Ah, multitasking," Sandra smirked, but she had her hand on her chest as she struggled to breathe.
When they had been settled in the hospital wing, Madam Nicole Duncan examined them. "Princess Sandra, you're going to be just fine," she started. "Just drink this restorative draught, and you'll feel better in no time."
"Are you sure it will work?" Sofia asked. "Sandra's not really allergic to flowers, but they tend to overwhelm her."
"She'll be fine, Princess," Nicole smiled. "An ancestor of mine, who also has the same sensitivity to flowers, invented this potion since he and his wife spent so much time tending her flower garden and she wanted him to help her." As she spoke, she examined Wendell. "And you'll be just fine as well, Mr. Fidget," she continued. "The spells cast on you will have no lasting effect on you whatsoever."
"That's good," Wendell smiled a little. "But what about Derek?"
"Don't concern yourself with Mr. von Schroeder, Mr. Fidget," Miss Lovegood said as she came in. "He's having an in-school suspension for the rest of the month, and he did lose 50 points for what he did to you and your friends."
"Well, it's a start," Sandra said as she took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh of relief that she could breathe again.
"Yes, and thank you, Miss Lovegood," Wendell agreed, "But Sandra, what you said before, did you really plan on making me your Royal Sorcerer when you become queen?"
"Or when Zoe becomes queen and I become First Female Knight, whichever comes first and whichever you prefer; the future's not set in stone," Sandra nodded. "But you and Aleena did get along really well when you and your parents came to visit last month, and you even helped her when King Magnus came to meet with Dad."
"And afterward, you and I rode on your flying horse," Wendell smiled. "The only reason Mum never caught us was because she was so enchanted with Miss Aleena's pet phoenix and that fountain of hers!"
"Yes, and Phoenix has forgiven you for kidnapping her, but I also heard that Aleena's going to make a copy of her fountain for your place," Sandra agreed. "I can tolerate the fountain's perfumed water just fine, and Sinistra and I get along really well, but it's the flowers that bother me."
Wendell nodded, having heard about Sandra's sensitivity to flowers during the welcome-back carnival. "But at least the flowers are outside, right? So they don't bother you there?"
"Some of the flowers don't really bother me, but there are ones that are still pretty potent, so I usually work with the knights on the other side of the castle while Mom and Zoe work in the gardens," Sandra agreed.
"That's good, but we can talk about flowers later," Sofia broke in, "Wendell, are you all right? Derek's been after you a lot, from what I heard from Madam Nicole telling Miss Lovegood."
"He's only really awful when Dorrie and Candice aren't here to stop him," Wendell shrugged.
"And of course Dorrie and Candice are back at the castle today helping with preparations for that meeting Dad's having with some of the kings," Sofia muttered. "But it's nobody's fault, Wendell," she added, seeing him look down. "And you didn't know they weren't here. You just probably figured they'd come later."
"And don't think about it anymore, Wendell," Sandra agreed as she took out her wand. "Just keep in mind that you can count on us to be there for you when you need it!"
"Not just us, but all your friends too!" Sofia agreed as Sandra waved it, and started singing with the music.
So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke
Your love life's DOA
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year, but
Sofia joined her on the chorus, I'll be there for you
(Sandra echoed, When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Sandra sang back, Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
(They sang together, 'Cause you're there for me too)
Wendell smiled. "Thank you, Sandra! And thank you too, Sofia!"
"What are friends for?" Sandra asked as Sofia smiled and took the next verse.
You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast
So far, things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that
Wendell waved his wand, casting his own spell as he joined in the chorus, I'll be there for you
(Sandra echoed, When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Sofia joined in, Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
(The girls sang together, 'Cause you're there for me too)
"Silk flowers! Nice job, Wendell!" Sandra smiled as she caught one of the circlets of flowers that Wendell had conjured.
"I learn from my mistakes," Wendell smiled back, recalling how he had made a bouquet of real flowers for Sandra once, and they didn't agree with her.
Sofia smiled as she caught her own circlet and joined in, No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I'm best with you, yeah
"Have I mentioned that I love this song?" Madam Nicole smiled as she heard them sing. She'd been listening to the conversation and singing along herself.
"I've heard you singing it once before," Wendell agreed, having heard her sing it to herself once when he had come to her after another run-in with Derek.
Nicole smiled as she sang, It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month
Or even your year
Wendell started the last chorus, I'll be there for you
(Sandra joined in, When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Sofia joined in, Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
(Nicole sang back, 'Cause you're there for me too)
They all finished the song together, I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)
"Well done, all of you, and well deserving of fifty points each," Miss Lovegood smiled.
"Thank you, Miss Lovegood," Wendell smiled, Sofia and Sandra echoing him.
"Now, I think we've all had enough of these unpleasant feelings for today," Miss Lovegood continued. "I noticed that Princess Sandra has created yet another culinary masterpiece, and I think we should all enjoy them with some tea! How does that sound?"
"Sounds good, and thanks again for finding that chai tea for me," Sandra agreed. "I'm sorry if I'm not a normal tea drinker."
"Don't worry about it, Princess," Miss Lovegood smiled. "Everyone has different things that they like or dislike. Speaking of which, I stole a taste of your new dessert, and it's very good!"
A few moments later, the group was settled in Miss Lovegood's office. They had just gotten their snacks and were preparing to dig in when Miss Lovegood stood up. "Attention, everyone...and that means you too, Princess Sandra! Listen to my announcement first, play with Wilfred later!" Sandra smirked and stopped petting the Norwegian Forest Cat as Miss Lovegood continued. "All of you did a wonderful job helping each other! It makes me proud that you've learned so much and that you use that knowledge to find ways to take care of one another. And though sometimes the ways don't work out exactly as we plan, we find a way to make them work for us. Excellent work today, everyone!"
"Hear hear!" Sofia smiled as everyone raised their cups.
"Salut!" Sandra agreed.
"Thank you, everyone!" Wendell smiled.
"As we said, Wendell, what are friends for?" Sofia smiled.
