Chapter Text
It was noon. This meant lunch, and so the five of them were enjoying the Adler dorm’s cafeteria-time.
Dot was currently mixing together several different meals in pursuit of the ultimate lunch. He’d asked the staff for extras of everything, and now Finn’s food was also being recruited for Dot’s endeavor. “Hey, I was eating that!”
“But Finn, I need it to make my sandwich. I figure if I start bulking up and then working out with Mash then all the girls will want me. Girls like fit guys, right?”
Lemon sighed dreamily. “Yeah, I’m partial to muscleheads. Well, musclehead.”
Mash ignored them, busy mixing his protein shake.
“Please, Finn? For me?” Dot blinked, oh so innocently. Finn took one last resigned bite before handing over his tray. Dot giggled with glee. “You’re the best, man!”
“He just does whatever he’s told. I don’t know if it’s obedience or fear. He needs to grow out of that.” Lance was talking to his locket. He nodded sagely, as if his sister had answered from within the necklace. “It is why everyone picks on him.”
Finn overheard Lance’s mutterings, and so he pouted. That may have been true at the beginning of the school year, but he had grown a lot since then. They all had; they’d needed to in order to help defeat Innocent Zero.
Mash also overheard Lance, and he had an idea.
-o-
“Finn. Wake up. Finn. Finn, wake up.”
“Hwuh?” It was still dark. Why was he being woken up?
Mash pulled the blanket off of Finn and deposited a clean muscle shirt, leggings, and shorts on top of him. “Get changed.”
Finn dragged himself up into a sitting position. The clothes flopped out of the neat pile. He blinked at them as if they would explain what was happening. “Whuh?”
“You’re coming running with me.”
Running? That explained why it was still dark out. Mash always woke up early to go on his jog, usually exiting quietly so as not to wake Finn up. Why was today different? Too tired to argue, Finn got up and started changing. The clothes were too big. Finn was a lot smaller than his buff buddy. Cinching the shorts, he went to grab socks from his dresser. Finn had jogging shoes (not that he’d ever used them for that before). He yawned and followed Mash out of the room. The first door breakage of the day usually happened now - how was it that Finn slept through it? Now that he was seeing it occur he didn’t know. Mash didn’t exactly destroy the school’s property silently. He trudged behind his roommate.
“It’s c-cold.” They’d made it outside and the loose fabric did not hold any body heat. “Mash, why-”
“You’ll warm up once we start running. We’re going to the stadium.”
“Where we had the exams?”
“Yeah. The duelo team left some training stuff there too. We’re going to use it, ‘kay?” Mash started jogging, going slower than usual so as not to leave Finn behind.
The world was definitely different during the early morning hours. It was quiet, except for the few woodland animals that lived in the surrounding trees. Finn wasn’t used to it. He thought it was nice, but it would be better to be back in bed and sleeping through it. He still didn’t know why Mash had asked him to come. Were these morning jogs lonely?
They ran down to the stadium. There was a chain blocking the entrance, as soon as Finn saw it he knew it was pointless. If Mash wanted to get in somewhere he was going to get in no matter what. As expected, Mash grabbed the chain to try and open it. He yanked too hard and the metal snapped as if it was paper. “Oops.”
He stepped over the discarded links. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
“I know.” Finn wasn’t out of breath, but close. Why did Mash do this every morning? Why had he agreed to come? Wait, he hadn’t agreed at all! He was just about to ask why he was here when Mash walked over to a training dummy that the athletes had left out. “I don’t know what this is actually supposed to be used for. But you’re going to punch it.”
What!?
Finn wasn’t a duelo player, but even he knew they used the training dummies for practicing blocks and hand placements. The sport may have involved a lot of flying but it could still get pretty physical. The dummy looked hard. “You’re not supposed to punch these. Why do you even want me to? What’s going on?”
“Punch it, Finn. Punch it.” Mash demonstrated how to make a fist. “Put your hand like this.”
“I know how to make a fist, but-“
“Do it. Punch it. Come on, punch.”
“But-“
“Punch it.”
Finn was confused, overwhelmed by Mash’s insistence, tired from the unexpected exercise (and the early start to his day), and still a little cold. He was wearing clothes that weren’t even his; the extra fabric was uncomfortable. He hadn’t been able to ask a question without being interrupted or spoken over. Why was Mash doing this? He normally wasn’t like that! Lance’s words from yesterday about him being too obedient rang in his ears. He balled his hands into fists and held them at his side, clenching his eyes shut. All of the frustration exploded out. “I can’t punch that! I’ll break my fist! I'm not strong like you, Mash!”
Finn opened his eyes, afraid Mash would be mad or even disappointed with him. Instead, he was holding a thumbs up sign. “I’m the strongest. I’ve proved that again and again. But you just stood up to me. So yes, you are strong. I hope you won’t forget that. Don’t let Lance’s words bother you.”
“Oh.”
How could he have forgotten? This was just like how Mash had praised him in front of Carpaccio. He’d stood up to someone stronger than him then. And when getting past those gate guards, and when helping Rayne fight… even during the fight against Innocent Zero he’d faced off against someone more powerful.
Wait, all this had been because Mash saw him get upset over Lance’s comment!? He could have just said something instead of dragging him all the way out here!! Finn sighed. This was just how his friend operated, he supposed.
“Thanks, Mash. But I’m still not going to punch it.”
“No, you don’t need to. Let’s go back.” Mash stepped away from the dummy and onto something wooden. They heard it crunch. “Oops.”
What was that?
Finn knelt down to check as Mash lifted his foot and stepped back. It was a wand, well, now it was pieces of a wand. Who had lost their wand here? The wooden pieces let out one last blast of magic before going inactive. Finn had been the closest, and so the misplaced magic hit him.
“Are you okay?” Mash didn’t know anything about wands or magic, so he hoped his friend was fine. If not, would Finn be able to use the healing magic he’d awoken to help himself? Mash wished he’d paid more attention in class.
“I think so. Maybe I should go to the nurse anyway.” Finn prayed that whatever magic had hit him was non-lethal. He felt okay, for now. He wished he knew who owned the wand. Then he would have a better guess as to what type of magic that was. They started to walk away, making it to the stadium exit when it happened.
Finn shrunk to the size of a baby.
If he had thought he had been swimming in the oversized muscle shirt before then now he was drowning in it. The underclothes he’d put on shrunk with him. The spell also materialized a pacifier, which Finn removed from his mouth to stare at in a daze. All he had wanted was to get through his student career peacefully. Why was every twenty-two minutes of his life full of mortal terror!?
“Woah. You’re a baby now.” Mash picked him up.
“Oh no, the last bit of magic in that wand must have done this!” Finn clutched his head in a panic.
All Mash heard was incoherent babbling. “I don’t speak baby.” Taking the pacifier, he put it back into Finn’s mouth. He carried his de-aged friend as he walked back to the school. “Who had weird magic like this?”
Finn tried to remember if anyone in the exams had magic that could do this. (He couldn’t, not realizing that he’d been frozen in time when the culprit arrived, attacked, and disappeared. Mash had been busy causing hallucinations at that time, so he didn’t know about the wand’s owner either.) Not knowing who used the wand meant that they wouldn’t know how to undo the spell. It wasn’t like they could use the splintered wood they’d left on the ground. Would the school nurse be powerful enough to undo whatever this was?
Absentmindedly sucking on the pacifier as he thought, Finn realized how warm and safe it felt in Mash’s arms. He was walking at a steady pace, almost rhythmically. And Finn had woken up early today too, so he was tired…
“Do you- Oh. You’re asleep.” Mash stopped to stare. Finn was so tiny now. He had to be careful not to squeeze too tight. It was just like when he was trying to move the cream puff from the tray to the plate, he had to be delicate. He kept walking. They’d made it back into the academy now, and the hallways were still empty.
The nurse’s office was closed. She was probably still in her personal quarters as she prepared for the day.
“Well, I guess we better go back to our room. Oh, right. You’re not awake.” He started to walk back, but then decided that maybe Lance would be able to help. Wait. Where was his dorm? All of their friends always came to his and Finn’s room, so Mash didn’t know where everyone else lived. Okay. Back to his original plan then.
He put Finn down on his bed before crossing the room to sit on his own. He needed a plan beyond getting to their room, because he’d just completed that step. Thinking produced nothing. This wasn’t a battle that demanded a creative strategy from him. He was a man of action, preferring to leave the thinking and panicking to who was now gently snoozing.
Still unsure of what to do, he decided to get ready for the day as if nothing was wrong.
-o-
Finn woke up to Mash standing beside his bed yet again. Now he remembered why he hadn’t bothered to buy himself an alarm clock. He went to rub his eyes and seeing his tiny hands reminded him of his current predicament.
He yanked the pacifier out with a despairing ‘pop’. “I can’t go to class like this!”
“Huh? I still can’t speak baby, Finn.”
Finn couldn’t stop the frustrated tears from pooling. He held up his arms and made a grabbing motion with his hands.
“You want up?” Mash lifted him. Finn pointed to his desk. He reached for his quill, but Mash held him back. “I don’t think babies are supposed to hold stuff like that. Wait, you’re not going to try to eat it, are you?”
Finn shook his head. If he could just write, then he could communicate again! Mash trusted him. He sat at the desk with Finn on his lap. Grabbing the quill and some paper, Finn wrote down a question. ‘What did the nurse say?’
“Oh, right. You were asleep. She wasn’t there.”
‘It was early. Will you please help me get ready for the day?’
“You don’t have any baby clothes.”
‘I can try to shrink some. May I have my wand?’
Mash retrieved it for him and put him on the floor. Finn waited for some of his clothes to be put on the bed. He said a simple shrinking spell, which worked. Wait! If he could still use magic, then maybe??? He tried to use his healing magic on himself, but it didn’t work. Dejected, he supposed it made sense. He wasn’t hurt, just altered.
He toddled over to the bathroom. Getting to the tub, he turned back around and pointed. He’d need help for this too.
Half an hour later they left the room, both of them clean and dressed for class. Mash was holding Finn in one arm and their textbooks in the other. Finn was tightly gripping his wand and nervously chewing on the pacifier. Surely their classmates were going to make fun of them…
Every girl who saw them in the hall cooed over how cute the baby was, and they didn’t know there was an even younger Ames brother, and could they hold him?
Finn buried his face in Mash’s robe, embarrassed. This only led to more delighted squealing and exclamations of his adorableness.
“MAaAaaaAASHH~ Good morning, husband! Hey, what’s going on, what’s with all the girls crowding you OH MY GAAAHH!! He’s so cute!!!!” Lemon had found them, and she was now snatching Finn from Mash before either of them could argue. “He looks just like Finn!! But as a baby, oh you’re so cute yes you are!”
“That is Finn.”
Lemon stopped rubbing her cheek on Finn’s. “Wait, really!?” She took another look. Yep, this was Finn alright. She hugged him tighter and resumed snuggling him. “Finn, you’re so cute!”
Finn was overwhelmed by the attention.
Seeing that Lemon was not going to relinquish her hold, the other girls left with disappointed mutters. Mash explained what had happened, and then had to explain it again as soon as he was done because Lance and Dot found them.
Dot nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, the baebiez spell wasn’t fun. It was one of Innocent Zero’s gang who did that, right?”
One of Innocent Zero’s subordinates!? How were they supposed to undo a spell from someone who was in the most powerful group of magic users!?
Lance nodded, confirming Dot’s statement. He took Finn from Lemon. “You’re the same size that Anna was when she was a baby.” Lance closed his eyes and cuddled Finn, lost in a memory.
Dot asked the obvious. “Do you think the nurse could help with this?”
Mash sighed. “We need to try that again.”
They all walked to the medical office. It was open now, but the nurse only had one thing to say. “This is powerful magic, so you will need a really strong magic user to undo this. Sorry~”
Finn hopefully looked up at Lance, who was still holding him. He shook his head. “I don’t think I can undo this, sorry.” He noticed everyone was staring at him. “What? I can’t.”
Dot groaned loudly. “Dude, you’re the top of the class, if you can’t do it what are we supposed to do? Finn can’t stay a baby forever.”
They all stood there, thinking.
The nurse pointed at the clock. “Shouldn’t all of you be in class right now?”
“We have a freakin’ crisis, we can’t worry about class!” Dot would have argued more, but Mash grabbed the back of his shirt collar and started pulling him out of the nurse’s office. Once out of her sight, they resumed their brainstorming session.
Lemon bit her nail. “Finn, your brother is really powerful. He’d help you, right?”
Finn had considered that when this first happened, but he hadn’t suggested it because Rayne was on an extracurricular trip right now. The potions teacher had assigned him to collect some of the more dangerous and rare ingredients. He’d let Finn know before leaving that he would be out of the school.
Dot held out his hands. “Give him here, I’ll take him to Rayne. The rest of you should get back to class like the nurse said.”
Lemon and Lance scoffed. “How come you’re not worried about missing class?” “As if you can be trusted with a baby.”
“I can be trusted! And I have a study hall right now. Mr. Top-of-the-Class is supposed to be taking a test this period, remember? You were talking about it yesterday. And Lemon, didn’t you say you were supposed to be giving a presentation?”
Lemon gasped. “You’re right!”
Lance begrudgingly admitted that Dot was correct. He passed Finn over, but not before making a snide remark. It was Dot, he couldn’t resist. “Since you know everyone’s schedule, where are Mash and Finn supposed to be?”
“They have Magic History right now. But I already have the notes for the section they’re covering so they can just copy from me.” Dot was a diligent student; they’d all learned this when trying to help Mash study. Lance and Lemon left, reluctantly. They would get in trouble for skipping class. Finn, now in Dot’s academically capable arms, tugged on his friend’s tie. Dot looked down. “What’s up, dude?”
Finn shook his head. “Rayne isn’t here right now. Wait, I forgot you guys can’t understand me. This spell makes no sense. Why does magic like this even exist!?”
Dot pinched Finn’s cheek. “You’re so cute. I wish I could tell what you were saying though.”
Mash held up some parchment and a quill. “He still knows how to write.”
Dot put him on the floor and Mash handed over the supplies. Finn wrote about how Rayne was away. Dot groaned. “Plot device or something. Of course he chooses now to be M.I.A..”
‘I don’t know when he is supposed to get back.’
“So maybe he’s back now?” How did Mash get that answer from the information provided? “Where is his room?”
“You don’t know how the hallways are sectioned, Mash? The third year dorms are that way. What’s his room number, Finn?” Dot pointed and then waited for Finn to write the answer. He was swept up in the simplicity of Mash’s plan: going to wait by Rayne’s room for Rayne’s return. Finn sighed. They were just going to pick him up and carry him where they wanted anyway. This morning’s lesson about him standing up for himself didn’t matter now that he had no choice but to depend on them… unless he wanted to walk everywhere in this giant castle of an academy with his little baby legs. The school was still filled with aggressive students too; the bullying was less than at the beginning of the year but it still happened. Finn did not want to meet any of the more malicious classmates while in this form. Would they be cruel enough to hurt a baby though? He didn’t know and he didn’t want to find out.
Dot picked Finn back up. “I’m claiming the ‘party leader’ slot. Mash, you can be ‘player two’.” He practically marched as he led the way to the upperclassmen’s wing.
“Aren’t you jostling him too much?”
“Nuh-uh! Right, Finn?” Dot stuck his tongue out at Mash before exaggeratedly hugging Finn closer. “But aww, that’s cute how you’re worried about him.”
“Well, it’s kind of my fault.” Mash scratched his head. “If I hadn’t stepped on that wand then he wouldn’t be all baby-fied.”
Finn wished he could tell him that he didn’t blame him. He’d have to remember to do so once he was back to normal. If he tried now then they wouldn’t understand.
They made it to outside Rayne’s door. It was partially open, which was odd. Shouldn’t it have been closed? Maybe he was back??
Dot was about to barge in but stopped. “You go in first, Mash. Rayne’s kind of scary and I don’t want him to summon swords cuz we startled him. Finn might get hurt.” Again, Finn was squeezed close like a teddy bear. It did warm his heart to know that his friend cared, but he was sure that Rayne wouldn’t attack without assessing the situation. His brother thought before acting, unlike some people.
“He’s not scary. He likes bunnies.” Mash still went in before them. The door was already open, so he didn’t have to worry about pushing or pulling. “There’s no one here. But there are balloons. Is it his birthday?”
Finn shook his head. Dot carried him into the room and put him down. The redhead then opened a box that was left near the desk. “There’s more party stuff here. I thought you said Rayne wasn’t in school, was he playing hooky?”
“He doesn’t seem like the type to party.” Mash may not have been close with him but even so he could tell that Rayne was not one to carouse in any form. Dot, who loved to be contrary (usually with Lance but he wasn’t here right now), started a pointless argument. “It’s right here in his room. Maybe he parties like no one’s watching when no one actually is watching!”
“No. I don’t think he would.” “Dude, the party stuff is right here! He’s gotta be boogying down in here.” “But it’s not set up. He wouldn’t just dance in front of a box of party supplies.” “You don’t know that, no one’s watching him!”
Finn sat down, figuring he’d be here for some time. It wasn’t like he could add to or stop the conversation anyway. Nothing better to do, he sucked on the pacifier again. This thing was surprisingly comforting. Was it a side effect of being a baby? He hoped it wouldn’t be the case once he returned to normal. If he returned to normal. If Rayne couldn’t help, then would Finn be forced to grow up again? That would be frustrating, his teenage mind stuck in a child’s body. Would he be kicked out of the academy until he grew back into the schooling age? Lost in distressing thoughts, Finn didn’t hear the footsteps approaching.
“Sounds: Muffled Whisper.”
Finn’s blood ran cold. He knew who had that type of magic. But what was Margarette Macaron doing here? He turned to confirm what he already knew to be true. Sure enough, they were towering over him. Finn removed the pacifier to try and scream. Because of the sounds spell, all that came out was a muted ‘help’. Margarette picked Finn up before he could crawl away. Mash and Dot were still arguing over the box of party supplies, oblivious to the involuntary disappearing act happening directly behind them. Finn squirmed, but Margarette tutted. He wasn’t letting go. They didn’t speak to him until the two of them were out of the room and partially down the hall.
“Finn Ames, my my. What happened to you?”
Finn wiped at the tears that had started welling in his eyes. “You’re not going to hurt me, right?”
“Hmm. Whatever spell this is has muddled your speech. All I hear is babbling. Let’s see if this works. Sounds: Clear as a Bell.”
“Please don’t hurt me.” Finn looked up at them with big, wet eyes. Magarette giggled. “Why would I do that? Especially when I’m helping throw a party for your brother.”
Wait, they understood what he said! Their spell worked! Unfortunately, their first spell was still working too. That meant he couldn’t yell for Dot and Mash, who were likely still puzzling out why Rayne had a box of party supplies. “Why are you throwing a party? And if that’s all you’re doing then why take me like this?”
“Because I need your help, you know Rayne best. It’s actually perfect that you three showed up when you did. Abel, Rayne, and I are the house prefects. We have extra tests and assignments. I wanted a little bit of fun, and Abel wasn’t opposed.”
So they were having a party? “I’m surprised Rayne let you use his room.”
“Well, he wasn’t here to say no.”
So they were having a party with Rayne without his permission. In his room. Finn knew his brother wasn’t going to like this. “But when is he coming back that you’re setting up now?” Was it soon!? If so, great! Finn kind of needed his help with this whole baby spell business. Wait, Margarette was a powerful magic user too! And Abel! Where was he, anyway?
“Rayne should be back later today, according to my sources.” They held a finger over their lips and winked. Before Finn could ask, Margarette provided the answer. “Abel is supposed to be bringing the food. I was just heading in to set up when I found you. Why were you there, anyway? First years should be in class right now.”
Finn’s shoulders and head drooped as he explained. “I got hit with a weird spell and the nurse said I need a strong magic user to undo it.”
“And so you were running to big brother. You’re cute.” Margarette booped Finn’s nose. “Bad news though, babe. I don’t think he’ll be able to undo this. I can sense the spell’s magic and it's a doozy. Even I would have trouble with this.”
“But…”
“Ah, ah, ah. Don’t despair. We’re not the only strong magic users in the school. Aren’t you forgetting someone who surpasses even the divine visionary you’re related to?” Margarette let the younger boy think. Finn’s little face was an open book as he mulled over his senior classmate’s words. Who was stronger than Rayne? Maybe someone older, more experienced… A teacher? Who was the best among the faculty? It had to be who was in charge, right? That left only Headmaster Wahlberg. Finn said his guess and was congratulated.
“Good job, you’ve got some brains in your head! I can’t say the same for your friends. Look how long we’ve been out here talking and they still haven’t noticed you’re gone. I can still hear them fighting, actually.” Margarette had been leaning against the wall with Finn in their arms the entire conversation. “So, will you help me throw this party for your dear brother?”
“Okay. But then I have to go to the headmaster, right?” Finn was patted on the head. Margarette wasn’t so scary when they weren’t ranting about stimulation. “Yes. Oh, look. Abel’s back.”
Abel was still carrying his doll, bag of food in the other hand. “Am I interrupting something?”
“Not yet. Come, dear Mash Burnedead is the one who needs a little interruption right now.”
The three of them re-entered Rayne’s room.
“All I’m saying, is that if I had a room to myself then I would throw secret parties too.” “But we’re not talking about you. And Rayne has a roommate too, doesn’t he?” “I guess, look, there's two beds. See, so he has a buddy to party with. OR! Maybe it’s actually the roommate’s party box and Rayne hates it! That’s why he always looks so grumpy, he’s tired because he doesn’t get to sleep because his roommate is always partying!” “That sounds like it could happen.” “Trust me, Mash, I know these things.”
“Wow, they’re still going. Are they always like this?” Margarette put Finn down so he could walk over. “Yes, usually Lance is a part of this too. Lemon doesn’t argue, she just stares at Mash and sighs.”
“And you?”
“I try to keep the peace, with varying degrees of failure.” He panicked too much for them to heed his stuttered pleas. Finn smiled. His friends were still very precious to him. So what if they were absolutely ridiculous sometimes. Most of the time. Almost all of the time.
He walked over and tugged on Mash’s pant leg. “Mash!”
“Hold on, Finn, Dot and I are trying to figure this out. We’re close, I can feel it.” How did Mash manage to sound pleased with himself while still speaking flatly?
“But, Mash, I already know why that’s here.” How had they not noticed they could understand him again? “It’s because-”
“I got it! Finn, when’s your birthday? Was he gathering this stuff for you!?” Dot was also too smug for someone who was totally wrong. “That’s gotta be it! Sorry we ruined the surprise, bro.”
“That’s not it at all! Turn around!!” Finn pointed at Margarette and Abel. “They put it here.”
Dot and Mash finally paid attention, but they immediately focused on the wrong thing again. “You’re still carrying that doll?” “You’re all buff again.”
Finn face-palmed.
-o-
Thirty minutes later, Rayne’s room was decorated and the foolish first years were filled in on the situation.
Dot fist-pumped. “So glad I get to party instead of sitting in class. I’ll just do the make-up work tomorrow~”
Finn was sitting on Mash’s lap. “Oh, right. I'm going to have to explain why I missed a full day of class to all my teachers.”
“Nah. If you’re going to see Wahlberg later then he can explain.” Mash had gotten away with a few things thanks to the headmaster’s influence. He was beginning to depend on the immunity a bit too much (not that Mash realized that).
Abel was busy muttering to his doll about how great the room looked. Margarette was touching up their purple lipstick when they suddenly clapped. “I can’t believe I almost forgot the party music! Here’s where I needed your help, Finn Ames. What kind of music does your brother like?”
The door opened before he could answer. It was Rayne, who looked exhausted from traveling. “What are all of you doing-” He saw Finn. “What did you do to him, Mash?”
Mash held Finn up for Rayne to take. Once in his family’s arms, Finn rested his head against the steady shoulder. It felt like everything would be alright now, even though the problem hadn’t been solved yet.
“I accidentally stepped on a wand and now Finn’s a baby. Sorry.” Mash looked at the ground. Dot added some crucial information. “The nurse couldn’t undo this because the spell is from one of Innocent Zero’s lackeys.”
“How does trouble always manage to find you?” Rayne hugged Finn closer. “That doesn’t explain the room.”
Margarette held up their hand. “Abel and I wanted to celebrate surviving the school year so far. We couldn’t leave you out.”
“You could’ve. I’m taking Finn to Wahlberg to see if he can tell me how to undo this.” Rayne was not one to dally, and so he left the room with his sibling. He walked quickly. “I hope Wahlberg is in his office.”
Finn was about to ask how the ingredient gathering assignment had gone when Rayne put his cheek against the top of his baby brother’s head. “I haven’t held you like this in years.”
“I’m not a baby anymore. Well, I am right now but I meant normally. I’ll be sixteen soon!”
“I know.” He rubbed Finn’s back. “I know.”
Finn moved so he could wrap his arms around Rayne’s neck.
The duo made it to the headmaster’s office. Rayne knocked on the door. They heard a faint ‘you may enter’, and so enter they did. Wahlberg was sitting at his large and neatly organized desk. He put down his quill to greet his students. “Ah, the Ames brothers. Although one of you looks a lot smaller than I remember.” He waited for an explanation even though he was already going to help.
“E-Excuse me, Headmaster, sir, but Mash and I accidentally broke a wand from Innocent Zero’s people and now the nurse said I need someone really powerful to help.” Finn held his brother’s robe in a shaking grip. He wished he’d just let Rayne explain. “Will you help, please?”
Wahlberg nodded. “Put him down, Rayne.”
He did, and then stepped back to allow the more experienced magic user room to work. Finn tensed up as soon as Rayne let go. He chided himself, Wahlberg was not going to hurt him. The headmaster held up his wand and chanted a nullification spell. There was a poof, and then Finn was returned to his normal size and age. He couldn’t stop the relieved laugh from bubbling out. “Thank you, sir! Look, Rayne, I’m big again!”
“I see that. Thank you, Headmaster. I’m sorry to ask for more from you, but would you mind writing an excuse for him? You’ve missed all your classes today, correct, Finn?”
Finn gasped. His brother really did think of everything. “Yes, that’s right! Ah, actually Mash had told me before to ask so I’m glad you thought to…”
Wahlberg laughed. “I assume Mash Burnedead also missed class? I shall write a note for him as well.”
Finn scratched his head awkwardly. “And Dot.”
“Hahaha, you have good friends. I will include one for him. Please, sit while I pen them.”
Rayne and Finn sat on a small couch that he had in his office. The younger brother was too scared to say anything and the older one was too tired. He had come back from his trip only to have to immediately deal with an issue. He wouldn’t even get to rest, as there was a party waiting for him in his room.
“Here you are, three excuse notes. Do try to stay out of trouble. Though, I cannot blame you. Mash seems to attract more than his fair share. Please continue being his friend, young Finn.”
“I will! Thank you!” Finn accepted the envelopes with their notes and then scurried after Rayne, who was leaving without a goodbye. Finn stared at the papers. Of course he was going to keep being Mash’s friend. He’d deal with whatever came his way because of it. They had other people to help, so it would always work out in the end.
He smiled, and followed his brother to where Mash and Dot were eagerly awaiting Finn’s return.