A/N:So... Happy New Year. Some more recent updates from other writers have inspired me to bring you this ridiculous chapter. We may be getting near a conclusion. We may not. If nothing more enjoy it for what it is. Special thanks to all of you who still read and review. You're encouragment means so much.

To see him again after days of avoidance, after days of heartbreak and pining, Sofia could hardly bring herself to approach him, and she watched from behind as he conversed with Vivian, his eyes were downcast, and his face pinched as if with grief, and though he was always quite pale there was something as sickly to his complexion as she had seen in her own, and he heart throbbed strangely in her chest as she thought of what Vivian had said to her, that perhaps, he felt as badly as she did over their estrangement.

Sofia watched as Vivian excused herself from Cedric and approached James and she sent out a silent wish of luck for her friend, and remembering the promise they had made she summoned her courage and approached Cedric. She moved so quietly that her feet made no sound, though she feared he might hear the rustling of satin as she moved closer to him, but if he did he made no indicator of it. For a long time she could do no more than stand as she tried to steady her racing heart, her mouth was dry and she couldn't bring herself to speak, until she heard Cedric murmur her name in what was almost a sigh. She froze for a moment, sure that he was aware of her presence but when he did not turn, she realised that was not the case, and when she heard that wistful tone in his voice, it was then she found her voice, though it was little more than a whisper:
"Yes, Cedric?"

He spun quickly to face her, surprise etched on his features and the the look in his brown eyes oscillating somewhere between joy and terror. It was long before either of them spoke, but oh, there was so much to be said!

"You-you're here?"
"Yes."

He looked her up and down and then smiled bashfully.
"You look beautiful." he breathed.

Sofia felt a flush creep into her cheeks. He'd never said that to her before, but she needed more than that from him and she gazed at him so deeply, he felt as if her eyes were trying to penetrate to his very soul.
"Sofia…. I- I am so…. I can't even begin to tell you how much I-" Somehow he found himself unable to express the words of regret, that his heart felt so keenly. He remembered the Posy of Primroses in his sleeve and scrambled to present it to her, if he could not tell her through words than perhaps he could through actions.

Sofia stared at the Primroses and then back at Cedric.
"Are these for me?"
"Y-Yes…. They are primroses… I f-found the book you'd told me about, the one that tells how the flowers have their own language, a-and I… thought this best described how I- How I feel for you."

Sofia accepted the little posey and regarded it thoughtfully, stroking it's delicate yellow petals.

"What does the Primrose mean, Cedric?"

He blushed and looked down for a minute, but then he spoke.

"I believe, the meaning is, 'I can't live without you.'" he said quietly with a look that said more.

Sofia felt her heart still and then beat again. Did he mean it? Did he truly? It was not enough to make up for the rift between them, but it was a start. She looked at the flowers again and felt a stab of disappointment, and her lips twisted into a bitter smile, for it was the Evening Primrose he had given her. More than likely Cedric did not know that there was a difference in meanings, but somehow it was too glaring for her to ignore.

"The Primrose means, 'I can't live without you, but this is the Evening Primrose and it's said to symbolise Faithfulness and fickleness."

The colour drained quickly from the Sorcerer's face.

"Merlin's Mushrooms!" he cried "It's just like the marigolds all over again!" the last part was murmured to himself and then he turned to look Sofia in the eyes, grasping the hand that did not hold the posy of Primroses within his own.

"Oh Sofia, I didn't know there was a difference, you must believe me!
Sofia looked away but did not withdraw her hand.

"It's an easy mistake to make." she relented, "But, Cedric as much as I appreciate the sentiment that doesn't fix the things that have happened between us, you have no idea how much you've hurt me, I-" but she could not speak as a lump filled her throat and she quickly withdrew her hand to wipe at her eyes.

"Oh Sofia, p-please don't cry!" his hand shot up to hesitantly wipe away the tears, "

I regret it. I regret everything so much. I wish I could undo it, but I can't. I'm not sure how to make it better, but you were right, I do feel something for you and I think I have for sometime now."

Sofia blinked rapidly as he leaned closer to her, his lips hovered over her own and she could feel the heat from his breath.

"Sofia I-" and he leaned closer

She closed her eyes in anticipation, but the expectation was not met. Instead, there was the sound of someone clearing their throat and the couple both jumped to find Baileywick glaring at them with unconcealed disapproval.

"Cedric! It's time for your Magical presentation."
Cedric's glare turned to a look of confusion and then terror.

"The Doves!" he muttered.
Sofia could see clearly the magic presentation she had inadvertently suggested had been forgotten. He would be humiliated and as upset as she still was she couldn't let that happen, she had no choice but to help him.
She stepped in front of Cedric smiling up at the Castle Steward.
"We were just in the process of discussing that Baileywick, we'll be right there!"
Baileywick looked at her his expression deadpan but shook his head and urged them to hurry.

"Make it work." and he strode away.

"Can you distract them for a while?"
"I- yes, but what-"
"I'll get the doves, but I need time."
He nodded and then glanced at her again

"You're- you're still going to help me?"
"I promised I would and you know what my mother says about broken promises."
Cedric smiled ruefully.

"Thank you. Sofia I-"
"There will be time later." she said gently.

The couple shared a long look before running in opposite directions.