Page 2 of Spellbound and Gagged

The lavender essence spilled across the table, seeping into the overturned pot of stinging nettles. The reaction was immediate and unexpected. A shimmering, purple-tinged mist rose from the mixed plants, enveloping Juno and Thaddeus before dissipating into the air.

The room fell silent as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what effect this accidental combination might have. Juno and Thaddeus stood closer than they had in years, their eyes locked. The air between them crackled with an invisible energy that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with years of unresolved tension.

A curious heat spread through Juno's body, her usual energetic demeanor softening slightly. It felt like sinking into ahot bath after a long day, if that bath was filled with tingling magic and heated looks from her ex-boyfriend. "That's peculiar," she said, her voice sounding huskier than usual. "I feel calm, but also somehow more aware. Like I've had three cups of alertness potion with a calming draught chaser."

Thaddeus seemed to be fighting an internal battle. His rigid posture relaxed a fraction, but his eyes were more alert than ever, fixed on Juno with an intensity that made her knees weak. "Interesting," he said, his deep voice slightly strained. "It's as if your lavender has enhanced the sensory effects of my stinging nettle, rather than negating them. I feel alert, yet oddly relaxed. Like a cat in a patch of sunlight, ready to pounce at any moment."

Juno was acutely aware of every point where their bodies almost touched. The scent of lavender and nettle mingled with Thaddeus's own unique smell, creating an intoxicating blend that made her head spin. She remembered how it felt to be held in his arms, to trace the lines of his face with her fingertips, to lose herself in his kiss. The memory was so vivid she could almost taste it.

Principal Malachai cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "Well," he said, his tone carefully neutral, "it seems we have a clear demonstration of why both your approaches have merit. Perhaps there's something to be learned from combining your techniques." He glanced meaningfully between them. "May the best herbologist win."

Reality came crashing back like a bucket of ice water. Juno stepped away from Thaddeus hastily, her cheeks burning. She smoothed her robes with shaky hands, trying to regain control of her racing thoughts. What just happened? For a moment, it had felt like all the years between them had melted away, leaving only the raw, powerful connection they'd once shared.

"This proves nothing," Thaddeus muttered, but there was a lack of bite in his words. He looked as flustered as she felt, which was oddly satisfying.

"On the contrary," Juno retorted, summoning every ounce of composure she could muster, "I think it proves everything." But in her mind, she wasn't sure what exactly had been proven—their professional rivalry or the undeniable chemistry that still existed between them?

As the meeting adjourned and people filed out, Juno and Thaddeus lingered, awkwardly attempting to clean up the spilled plants without looking at each other. The air between them remained charged, filled with unresolved tension that was equal parts rivalry and attraction. Juno felt like she was trying to ignore a screaming snapdragon in the room.

Their colleagues' knowing looks didn't go unnoticed. Minerva Everhart passed by, giving Juno a supportive shoulder squeeze and a whispered, "Come find me later. We'll talk." Coach Archie Hawthorne, Minerva’s husband, winked at Thaddeus as he left, earning himself a death glare that could have withered a venomous flytrap.

Juno stole glances at Thaddeus as she worked, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He moved with the same smoothness she remembered, his long fingers carefully gathering up the scattered nettle leaves. Once upon a time, those hands had cupped her face so tenderly and had tangled in her wild curls as they kissed. Now they were just really good at cleaning up magical messes. How fitting.

"I didn't know you were back in Grimm Mawr for good," she said finally, breaking the awkward silence. "Last I heard, you were still cataloging rare magical orchids in the Amazon. The International Herbologists' Journal published your findings on the Moonfire Orchid last spring."

Thaddeus paused, his hands stilling over the mess. "Plans change," he said simply. "The jungle was... educational, but it lacked certain things."

"Like what? Indoor plumbing? Beds without giant spiders?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. "Among other things." His eyes met hers for a brief moment before darting away. "And what about you? Still singing lullabies to your plants?"

"Only on special occasions," Juno replied, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "Usually birthdays and solstices."

They finished cleaning in silence, but it was less strained than before. As Juno gathered the last of her supplies, Thaddeus cleared his throat.

"May the best herbologist win," he said, offering his hand.

Juno hesitated before taking it. His skin was warm against hers, callused from years of fieldwork but still unmistakably familiar. "May the best herbologist win," she echoed, trying to ignore the way her pulse jumped at his touch.

As Juno walked back to her quarters, her mind raced faster than a swift-tailed salamander on a sugar rush. She'd spent years building walls around her heart, convincing herself that her feelings for Thaddeus were nothing more than a youthful infatuation long past. But one accidental touch, one shared moment in a magical mist, and those walls had crumbled like a poorly cast transformation spell.

She entered her rooms, immediately enveloped by the soothing scents of her personal herb garden. Usually, the familiar smells of lavender, rosemary, and mint helped to center her, but tonight they only reminded her of the intensity of her encounter with Thaddeus. She could have sworn the memory mint was snickering at her.

"Oh, be quiet," she muttered to the plant, which responded by rustling its leaves in what was unmistakably a chuckle. Thememory mint was one of her more sentient specimens, capable of not just storing and replaying memories but also expressing simple emotions. Next to it, her mood-sensing marigolds had turned a teasing shade of pink, while the empathy echoes in the corner swayed in sympathy with her turmoil.

Not all of her plants were so responsive, of course. The standard herbs remained still, receptive only to basic nurturing magic. The defensive species, despite Thaddeus's claims, responded well to her gentle approach, though they communicated mainly through magical signatures rather than physical movements. But her specialty had always been empathic flora—plants that formed genuine connections with their caretakers, ranging from simple responsiveness to near-sentience in rare cases. These were the plants that thrived most under her nurturing methods, developing magical properties far beyond their ordinary potential.

"I'm not in the mood for your commentary," she told the memory mint, which merely shrugged its stems. The gesture was so reminiscent of Thaddeus's dismissive shrug that Juno groaned and moved away from the windowsill.

Juno moved to her favorite armchair, sinking into its comforting embrace with a dramatic sigh. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to remember.

They had been so young, so full of dreams and ambition. Thaddeus, with his quick mind and quicker smile, had captured her heart almost from the moment they met. They'd been inseparable throughout their years at Grimm Mawr, partners in class and in life. Their differing approaches to herbology had been a source of playful debate back then, not the bitter rivalry it had become.

What had gone wrong? The memory of their final argument still had the power to make Juno's chest ache. It had been just before graduation, when the pressure of final exams and futureplans had been at its peak. Thaddeus had been accepted into an elite magical botany research program in South America. He'd wanted her to come with him, to explore the world beyond Grimm Mawr.

But Juno had already been offered a teaching position at the Academy. She loved this quirky little town, with its eccentric inhabitants and charming traditions. She'd asked him to stay, to build a life with her here. But Thaddeus had been adamant about exploring the world beyond their small town.

Words had been said that couldn't be taken back, pride and stubbornness keeping them from reconciling. And then, before they knew it, graduation had come and gone, and they'd gone their separate ways.

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