Page 5 of Spellbound and Gagged

Juno whirled around so fast she nearly knocked over a pot of giggling geraniums. They tittered at her clumsiness, the little traitors. Thaddeus stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. How long had he been there? Had he heard her embarrassing confession to the echinacea?

"Shadowspire," she said, fighting to keep her voice level and her dignity intact. "Come to spy on the competition? Or just couldn't stay away from my magnetic charm?"

Oh gods, did she really just say that? A nearby shrinking violet began to wilt in secondhand embarrassment, and Juno had never related to a plant more in her life.

Thaddeus's lips twitched. "Merely passing by. I noticed your... enthusiastic teaching methods."

Juno bristled, partly from indignation and partly from the way his voice caressed the word "enthusiastic" like it was something delicious he wanted to savor. "My methods may not align with your militaristic approach, but they're effective. Just look at how these plants have thrived."

To her surprise, Thaddeus moved closer, examining the empathy echinacea with what looked like genuine interest. Juno held her breath, acutely aware of his proximity. The small hairs on her arms rose and shimmied with the pulse of magic that stirred from his aura against hers.

"They do look remarkably vital," he admitted, running a gentle finger along a vibrant petal. "Perhaps there's something to be said for a gentler touch after all."

The unexpected admission caught Juno off guard. For a moment, she saw a glimmer of the Thaddeus she used to know—curious, open-minded, always eager to learn. The Thaddeus she had fallen in love with all those years ago.

"I... thank you," she said, unsure how to respond to this sudden shift. "Your stinging nettles yesterday were impressive as well. I've never seen such a potent defensive reaction."

"High praise, coming from you."

They stood there for a moment, the air between them charged with unspoken words and memories. If she leaned forward just a bit, she could...

"Thaddeus, I—" she began, not sure what she was going to say but feeling the need to say something. Anything to break this tension before she did something monumentally stupid like kiss him in front of her entire classroom of plants. The gossip would spread faster than creeping kudzu.

But before she could continue, a clock chimed somewhere in the academy, breaking the spell. Thaddeus straightened, his expression closing off once more. Juno mourned the loss of that brief moment of connection.

"I should go. I have a class to prepare for," he said, his voice back to its usual cool professionalism. "Good day, Professor Runeheart."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Juno standing among her beloved plants, her heart racing and her mind in turmoil.A mood-sensing marigold next to her turned a vivid shade of confused purple.

"You and me both," Juno muttered to the plant.

As she made her way back to her quarters that evening, her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. She entered her rooms, immediately enveloped by the soothing scents of her personal herb garden. But tonight, not even the familiar aromas could calm her racing mind. The plants watched her expectantly, as if waiting for her to spill all her secrets like some botanical gossip circle.

"Don't look at me like that," she told a particularly judgmental-looking wise wisteria. "I'm handling this situation perfectly well, thank you very much."

The wisteria's leaves rustled in what sounded suspiciously like a snort.

Ignoring her opinionated flora, Juno moved to her workbench, where her Brewfest project sat in various stages of development. She had been working on a revolutionary new blend of nurturing and protective herbs that could be distilled into a standout potion for the event. If she won, the department head position would be within reach, not to mention the prestige that would elevate Grimm Mawr's status among magical academies for years to come. The Magical Herbology Journal always featured the winning concoction on its cover, and last year, three separate book deals had been offered to the victor. With Brewfest attracting delegates from every major magical institution in the country, it was the perfect platform to showcase her revolutionary techniques.

And if she lost? Well, she didn't want to think about that. Not just because of the career implications, but because of what it might mean for her already complicated relationship with Thaddeus.

As she began to work, carefully measuring out ingredients and channeling her magical energy into the delicate seedlings, Juno's thoughts drifted once again to Thaddeus. Was it possible that after all these years, they could find common ground again? Or was she setting herself up for another heartbreak?

Juno sighed, gently stroking the leaves of a fledgling courage coneflower. "What do you think, little one?" she asked. "Am I foolish to hope?"

The plant didn't answer, but Juno felt a surge of warmth from its leaves. She smiled, taking comfort in the simple, unconditional response of her botanical companions. At least plants didn't come with the complicated emotional baggage of exes turned professional rivals.

A nearby laughing lily let out a chime of amusement. Juno shot it a reproachful look. "Oh, sure, laugh it up. You try navigating a complicated romantic history while competing for your dream job."

The lily just giggled harder, its petals shaking with mirth. Juno sighed. At least someone was finding her situation amusing.

A knock at her door startled her from her botanical heart-to-heart. She opened it to find Minerva standing there, a determined expression on her face.

"I've been thinking about your situation with Shadowspire," the potions professor said without preamble. "And I have an idea."

Juno looked at her friend warily. "The last time you had an 'idea,' I ended up with blue hair for a week."

"That was an accident," Minerva said dismissively. "And besides, it looked good on you. But this is different. I think I know how you can win both the competition and the man."

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