Cause I just set them up to knock them down [Open]

[Justin McCarter]

In the privacy and overall silence of the library, Justin McCarter sat at a secluded desk at the far end of the rather large room. Laying on the surface in front of him sat his imported Italian leather satchel and a single envelope baring his name written in emerald green ink in his mother's handwriting, the McCarter crest sealing the paper in wax. His green eyes dare not look up from the creamy paper nor did they really want to stay there. Inside the letter would be the same as the others. My dearest son, it always began with that salutation and always ended with With Much Affection. In between the salutation and closing would be useless nonsense about his father's latest ventures, his mother's latest parties and gossip, and their expectations of him to improve the McCarter name upon his graduation. His mother was so predictable, so weak. The very opposite of anything he wanted to be.

His father proved to be clever enough, however, always stepped on and pushed aside by men just as, if not less, magically and financially equal as himself. Justin refused for that to happen to him- he refused to be weak in any aspect.

He grimaced. Nearly everyone around him was predictable and weak. Teachers, classmates, old childhood friends... He looked down at his lap. Casper had become a very powerful wizard indeed and would prove to become a very notable member of the wizarding world in the near future; but, he has remained stuck in a comfort zone of dark magic and rare curses instead of using his logic.

Justin withdrew his wand from his pocket, aimed it at the letter in front of him and said, barely above a whisper, "Evanesco". Causing the envelope to disappear entirely from the desk. For what seemed to be the first time in a decade, he lifted his eyes from the table to glance around the library. A few random students spotted the bookshelves and far away tables and the shelves looked as if they could use a few hundred house elves to clean the dust. Might as well work on Charms homework... Merlin knows I need to after being busted by the Charms Professor in the Trophy Room.."

[Zachary Pyler]

Zachary took the marble staircase two steps at a time to the fourth floor. My mirror charm is freaking flawed, if that Justin kid just brushed it off like it was nothing, speaking of nothing NOTHING useful is in my damn charms textbook, how the hell am I supposed to learn charms from it!? He took an exit to the fourth floor corridor and walked briskly down the fire-lit hallway into the bright, spectacular library. This was the first time Zachary had been to (or even seen) Hogwart's library. Wow, this beats back at home by a longshot! The stacks of books made Zachary feel like an ant, trapped in a maze. There were books everywhere, and he had no idea where he was going.

"Charms? Defensive." He said in an almost curt voice to the librarian who kindly pointed him to the far end of the library. As he neared this desolate area he notices a sole inhabitant. Justin McCarter. He instinctively raised his head (still bandaged from the trophy room incident) and had every intention of walking past without so much as a word when he noticed his bag. An Italian leather bag. The exact bookbag that hung from Zachary's shoulder. The over-priced bag limited to wealthy and powerful families, you could call the designer just a bit selective. He came to a halt instinctively before thinking aloud in a rather curious voice, "Where did you get that?"

Shit! He hadn't intended to talk to this McCarter kid, the same kid that was the very reason he was in the library this instant. He noticed his charms homework was completely filled in except for one, ironic, witty answer. "Number three is Finete, you should know."

[Justin McCarter]

From the corner of his eye, Justin saw Zachary approaching and subconsciously he grip on his wand tightened. As Pyler's advance drew nearer and nearer, Justin braced himself for the possible curses that may be coming his way. He hadn't exactly been... kind to Blaze who he knew to be Pylers friend and housemate.

"Where did you get that?"

He paused for a moment. Where did I get what? he looked up to Zachary's face which was looking at his bag. Realization sunk in. "Oh, umm... I got it in Italy last summer. I heard the satchels were good, but I wanted to see it for myself before I bought it. I don't trust rumors." He looked at the bag. It was, indeed, quite nice. Justin was not known to settle for inferior things. It was either having the best, or not having it at all. He looked back up to the Ravenclaw "Why?"

[Zachary Pyler]

"Oh, umm... I got it in Italy last summer. I heard the satchels were good, but I wanted to see it for myself before I bought it. I don't trust rumors."

He didn't intend to sound friendly when he said "Yeah, me either. If you have the means to decide for yourself, why let anyone else have the fun, right?" he said as he laid the identical bag next to justin's on the table. "I have an aptitude for charms if you need any help, you mind if I sit?" he said grabbing the Complex Charms for Charismatic Characters book from the shelf behind him. He didn't have a problem with Justin, it was his friend Casper he didn't like. Except Justin might still hold a grudge for the singed hair of his, compliments of Zach's flaming bookshelf to the head manuever.

[Katarina Devanport]

Katarina stepped into the library casually and rather quietly, not even bothering to ask the librarian for direction. She had been in this sector of the castle for random book so many times that she could find a misplaced book blindfolded. Her dark hair was straight today and left down and her eyes were much softer than the irritable, frustrated, and furious eyes they had been for the past few days. Beaten by a fourth year? How was that possible? How could she cast such a pathetic weak spell that it wore off within seconds? These thoughts ran through her mind abruptly causing her steps towards the Charms section to be more abrupt as well. Katarina had never failed at anything in her life. Not a recital, a task, or a class. Moreorless a duel to a student two years her junior! The failure consumed her.

She stopped midstep as her gray eyes landed on Justin McCarter and Zachary Pyler a mere three feet in front of her. Together. Sitting at the same table. Talking? She tilted her head ever so slightly to the left "Umm.." she began "Should I be worried?"

[Justin McCarter]

"Yeah, me either. If you have the means to decide for yourself, why let anyone else have the fun, right?" he said as he laid the identical bag next to justin's on the table.

Justin's thoughts raced as he eyed his bag's twin and then looked up at Zachary. Perhaps Justin was just out of the loop, but he had no idea that Zachary was financially comfortable. Now the Justin was actually looking at Zachary rather than opposing his best friend, he realized that Zachary's financial situation wasn't just comfortable but down right cozy. Why haven't I heard of the Pyler family before? He brushed that thought away quickly. It was a common habit of his for letting the names of his parent's friends and acquaintances to go in one ear and out the other. Odds are, Pyler's parents had probably attended a gala or two at Justin's home in the past and he had probably met them. But he knew for a fact that he had never met Zachary before in his life- faces he never forgets.

"I have an aptitude for charms if you need any help, you mind if I sit?"

This interrupted his speeding thoughts. Zachary seemed nice enough, but trust was something Justin wasn't born with, it had to be earned. Still, Justin didn't harbor any animosity towards Zachary and truth was, he needed the help in Charms. He released his tight grip from his wand and gestured towards the empty seat in front of him. "By all means. Potions is more of my specialty, Charms... well, I could use some help- yeah. Especially after being caught and royally chewed out by McKlennon. Pretty sure I'm not her favorite pupil right now."

"Umm.." she began "Should I be worried?"

He hadn't even noticed Katarina's near silent approach, which was very much unlike him. Slowly his lips turned into a crooked grin and he looked at Zachary while he spoke "We were just arranging plans for a rematch. No big deal" He returned his attention to Kat 'What are you up to?"

[Katarina Devanport]

"We were just arranging plans for a rematch. No big deal"

"Rematch? Count me in!" she released a small chuckle and examined the two males infront of her. Zachary had a rather large book in his arms- typical. Justin, on the other hand, had nothing but his wand. There was a certain lack of tension in the air that anyone who was involved with the Trophy Room escapade would have expected. Then again, she thought to herself Justin and Zachary weren't opposing each other

He returned his attention to Kat 'What are you up to?"

"Oh...I was just going to read a few charm books to maybe figure out why my spells didn't last as long as they usually do the other night.." She trailed off. It was rather embarrassing; she was not weak and charms was one of her favorite classes in which she excelled in. Yet, the outcome of the previous dueling revealed otherwise. "How about the two of you?"

[Zachary Pyler]

Zachary had taken his seat before Justin responded. He wondered if he had met Justin before, he seemed to have the same lifestyle based on his appearance. I bet he gets the typical rich kid judgment often, too. Zachary noticed Justin's right arm clutching his wand, his observant nature didn't let much get past his senses. He's defensive, huh, at least i pose a threat. At this moment he caught a glimpse of a blue scarf, coming round the corner. Katarina. Strangely enough there was very little tension between the three.

"Umm.." she began "Should I be worried?"

Zachary took a moment to analyze the question, it had a good point. Should he be worried? Perhaps Justin was just going to find a clever way to get revenge for the bookcase-to-back incident. Yes, that did seem like his style, clever, manipulative, a typical slytherin would just go in for the kill, but not Justin, he seemed to make sure the murder would be untraceable. Zachary didn't really have friends, in face he was pretty sure there were still a few scars on his back from where trust had previously betrayed him. Justin took the opportunity to speak as Zachary thumbed through the index looking for stronger mirror charms.

"We were just arranging plans for a rematch. No big deal"

These words bothered Zachary, was he attempting to impress Katarina? He had no beef with McCarter, it was Casper fucking Castora that he would gladly attempt an unforgivable on. Zachary let the statement slide as a joke, due to Katarina's response. He didn't talk much, he was too busy attemting to figure out where he knew the name McCarter from, it sounded familiar. It didn't exactly sound trustworthy.

"How about the two of you?"

Zachary finally spoke up in his glazed, steady voice. "Oh, the same actually. Hey, are we allowed in that section?" he said as he pointed to the staircase leading up to what appeared to be some sort of a balcony, he could see the outline of a few books, that looked far beyond the comprehension level of any student. The staircase was marked by a sign that in big bold black cursive letters read quite clearly, "Restricted."

[Audrey Hitchcock]

The smile that usually inhabited Audrey Hitchcock's face had not returned, though the worried frown was no longer resting on her lips in it's place. Blank. That was how she was feeling, and it read on her emotionless features. She walked through the library with purpose. The large, leatherbound book in her right hand was heavy, and she was eager to return it to it's proper shelf now that it had served it's intended purpose.

Audrey was slowing her pace, looking for the exact spot that she'd pulled the book from when familiar voices floated around the corner of one of the giant shelves. Her attention was diverted as she recognized Katarina Devanport's voice.

"Umm.." she began "Should I be worried?"
"We were just arranging plans for a rematch. No big deal"

Shaking her head, Audrey stepped around the bookshelf. Justin McCarter and Zachary Pyler were sitting at a table together. How odd... the redhead though to herself. She tossed the book on the table in front of Justin. "There's a decent healing spell in there for you chest, if you haven't already had it taken care of." She didn't hold anything against Justin personally, though his strange admiration of Kat was a bit uncomfortable, mainly due to the fact that they didn't know one another very well. Audrey knew all to well how annoying Mike could be when he put on his masculine bravado. Sectumsempra would be the least of Mike's worries if he'd been dueling Audrey. Which, of course, lead her thoughts back to the piece of information that she'd overheard. "No rematch, please." Audrey knew that Mike would not be able to contain himself if he thought that he'd have another shot at taking Justin down, and she would just end up injuring him herself in order to stop him from attending.

[Katarina Devanport]

"Oh, the same actually. Hey, are we allowed in that section?" he said as he pointed to the staircase leading up to what appeared to be some sort of a balcony, he could see the outline of a few books, that looked far beyond the comprehension level of any student. The staircase was marked by a sign that in big bold black cursive letters read quite clearly, "Restricted."

Her gray eyes followed his gaze and a small, mischievous smile crept upon her lips as her eyes stopped on the "restricted" sign. She withdrew her wand and whispered " Locomotor Restriction Sign". Her wand serving as director, the cursive letters lifted into the air and was tucked in a small, four inch gape between the staircase and a bookcase. She returned her gaze to Zachary "It is now."

"There's a decent healing spell in there for you chest, if you haven't already had it taken care of."

Yet another smile found its way upon her face. This time warm and genuinely happy. "Hello my dearest" she said as she turned to face Audrey. Audrey was her friend, yes. But things had changed, pivotal things, and she had still kept Audrey in the dark. Granted, everyone was in the dark when it concerned her and her family; but still, she felt a slight pang of guilt for keeping such life-altering information from her.

[Mike Blaze]

Mike Blaze was lounging on a chair in one of the wings of the library where no students were. A Potions book in his lap with a piece of parchment laid out over the book, and a quill in hand. The only thing written on the parchment was his name. He tapped the quill on his thigh for a moment, not able to concentrate. It wasn't until he heard familiar voices that made him stop his tapping and bring the chair down on all fours, put his things away slowly and stand up. Slowly making his way towards the voices, he gazed through a shelf seeing Zachary and Justin sitting at a table with Audrey and Kat standing nearby.

"What's going on?..." Mike said slowly, coming around the shelf, his bag over his arm. He let his arm go across Audrey's shoulders, kissing her. He nodded to Zachary and Kat. Letting his gaze linger on Justin for a moment, nothing in the look he gave at all, no anger, fear, or even happiness. Mike's eyes slid down to Justin's chest, imagining what must be the aftermath, not knowing whether Justin got the slashes healed or not. "Justin..." he said slowly after studying his enemy for a moment. Turning his attention back to the whole group he asked, "Did I hear something about a rematch?" Mike honestly wanted nothing better than to rip Justin to shreds, but he knew if there was a rematch, no way in hell would Audrey let him go through with it, so he knew there was not much of a chance he'd be involved, if he honestly really wanted to be involved, he could find ways around Audrey, but for her sake right now, he had no intentions to participate.

[Justin McCarter]

. "There's a decent healing spell in there for you chest, if you haven't already had it taken care of."

Hey eye Audrey, a bit insulted to be honest. Would he honestly be walking around with large gashes torn through his skin for days? No, he wasn't a complete idiot. "Thanks..." he began slowly "But I took care of that the night of." he pushed the book a few inches away from himself. Not seconds later, they were greeted by yet another Ravenclaw- Blaze. Justin couldn't help but smirk at Mike's disdain for him. Sure, he could understand it now after the small... misunderstanding that had happened. But even then, Mike had harbored this hate for Justin that really, quite honestly, bemused Justin. He had never even insulted Mike before.

Mike's eyes slid down to Justin's chest, imagining what must be the aftermath, not knowing whether Justin got the slashes healed or not. "Justin..." he said slowly after studying his enemy for a moment.

He nodded his greeting towards Mike without the slightest hint of contempt. Why should he hold a grudge? A) The duel the other night meant nothing to Justin and never did. It was simply a mind game, and, to be honest, fun; and B) Grudges was a form of bottled hatred. Hatred is a form of weakness, and weakness is something that Justin doesn't harbor.

[Zachary Pyler]

Zachary's eyes widened at the sight of the moving restricted sign, after all the best things in life always involved breaking a few rules, right? Zachary completely ignored the arrival of Audry, followed by Mike. His blue eyes were glued to the restricted section, and the books within. With a wink of his eye to Katarina he said "Hey guys, I'll be right back, I...ermm...left something in the dorm."

He got stepped away form the traditional wooden library table and took a right around one of the stacks, every step moving closer to the restricted section. He was only inches away from the spriral staircase that was oh-so-taunting when he withdrew his wand, just incase. He glanced left and right, with no signs of staff members, or prefects he began to ascend the staircase.

He made it about four steps before he realized the staircase was rotating downward with him, he was ascending nowhere, he wasn't getting any farther than he would have on a StairMaster 2000. Shit! I knew there would be some form of barrier, but surely its not THAT strong, after all if it was THAT restricting, it would be in a different wing of the school right? I suppose it couldn't hurt, Accio Advanced Charms Book!

To Zachary's surprise a large black bound leather book flew into his left hand. He looked around to make sure it wasn't to be accompanied by some book-guarding-crazed fairy. No way, That Simple?! He covered the book with his robe and swiftly walked back to the large group, he sat down and opened the book to look at the first spell. It was the most complex charms book Zachary had ever laid his regal eyes on, with maneuvers, complications, and incantations Zachary had never even heard of. I guess I'm going to need some help learning these, I cant even read this handwriting. "Hey Katarina, can you make any sence of this?" he said sliding the book over discretely, "Don't let any staff see you, it's restricted, And by the looks of that old sucker anyone can tell."

[Katarina Devanport]

As Zachary walked away towards the former restricted area, Katarina turned her attention to the arrival of Mike. More importantly, the new tension that developed in the air between Mike and Justin. "Boys, boys, boys" she began "Let's put our big boy panties on and put our differences behind us shall we?"

Zachary's venture went quicker than she expected, yet here he returned to his seat at the table with a black leather book. Quickly she muttered another Locomotor spell and replaced the sign before it's absence went noticed.

"Hey Katarina, can you make any sense of this?" he said sliding the book over discretely, "Don't let any staff see you, it's restricted, And by the looks of that old sucker anyone can tell."

At the sound of her name she turned her attention quickly to Zachary, the open black book was too tempting to keep away. She placed her hand on the book, slid it to an empty spot in front of the open chair next to Justin, and placed herself in the chair all in one quick series of movements. She looked up slowly to meet Zachary's face "These are ancient Celtic incantations..." she flipped to the beginning of the book "It was written in 206 A.D... before English was even introduced to this country." her gray eyes scanned over the pages and flipped the book closed, the title staring up at her.

Once again, removing her wand. Accompanied with a small flick of her wrist she said clearly, yet quietly, "Reddo Advanced Charms Book ". The words quickly rearranged, bent, and formed themselves into legible English. She smiled up to Zachary as she slid the book back towards him. "That better?"

[Justin McCarter]

Justin smiled a bit to himself as Katarina took the empty seat beside him and took a side long glance at the book himself. He knew instantly the language it was written in. He also knew how to properly translate it without using a Reddo charm. There were certain... benefits that came from his father selling ancient runes, books, and scrolls. From birth he was well taught in languages. It was what both of his parents considered a useful talent.

"That better?"

He eagerly looked at Zachary. "There is one thing I've always wanted to do..." he began a bit timidly "Is there anything in there about the Legilimens spell?"