It had been a mostly pleasant day in Lovella's standards. This meant that no one had had the gull to cross her in anyway whatsoever. This also meant she hadn't had to leave anyone in the hospital wing like she'd done many times before. Of course, no one had ever been brave enough to tell the nurse exactly how they'd sustained such serious injury, and it's not like they would believe them anyway. To the teachers Lovella was the perfect student. Attentive, studious, and punctual; these qualities had given the professors quite the deceptive effect when it came to her true ambitious side. It was her ambitious side that had found her here in this empty classroom. It was in places like this that she could drill herself tediously on her spells with little risk of someone interrupting her.

If someone had walked in on her, besides coming under fire from Lovella's fury, they would have been curious as to the manner of items she had laid out in front of her: a couple children's dolls, stacks of postage, goblets presumably taken from the Great Hall, a trunk, and a cage containing a rather large tortoise. To Lovella, however, these were all part of the routine.

She stopped to take a deep breath... and began. "Engorgio!" She said while pointing her wand at one of the dolls which immediately swelled to several times its original size. This was followed by "Incarcerous!" which caused ropes to spring forth from her wand and wrap themselves around the gigantic toy. Finally, she said "Expolso!" and a jet of light erupted striking the object causing it to violently explode into a shower of stuffing and bits of rope. Spinning on her feet as though she were a dancer Lovella said "Incendio!" causing the stacks of paper to catch fire and reduce to ash. Next came the goblets which she attacked with "Reducto" and they too exploded into scraps of metal. Returning to the remaining doll she thrust her wand forward and cried "Serpensortia!" causing a large snake to burst forth onto the floor. "Oppugno!" She said and the snake lurched at the doll tearing it to pieces. Then with a flourish of her wand she made a slashing motion at the tortoise's cage while saying "Diffindo!" which tore the metal bars in half. Finally she took a moment to rest and admire her work.

Practicing against immobile objects was not what she would have liked. In all honesty she would have preferred to practice against her fellow students, but at least she could repair the damage she'd done to non-living material. True 4th years weren't even supposed to know some of these spells, but Lovella never cared too much about restriction. Why should she? If she was going to excel past her peers then she needed to be prepared for all possible situations.

"And mother is feeling well?"

"Oh yes, Master Casey," Dingy^§ said. Student and elf were currently having the briefest of briefs along an empty hallway. Casey could always beckon the elf at the simplest command but Dingy also had ways to alert Casey unseen if the elf felt there was something important to report. "Mistress Darla awaits your next chance to visit."

"It would have to be in March." Recovering mother or no, Casey was not the slightest bit interested in approaching Hogsmeade over the Valentines weekend. Under any disguise seen or unseen. He kept his eyes watchful. Part of the reason for randomized check-ins with his house elf was to avoid notice and they were starting to stray close the library. Which was Mr. Morgan's domain as much as Slytherin house and the head was always critical of Casey's 'attachment' to an elf from home.

Casey was about to dismiss Dingy when her heard the sounds of violent spellcasting coming from a room ahead. He paused to contemplate this as Dingy stated what was obvious. "Not all students find the Come and Go Room for practice needs."

Casey noticed the elf fidgeting. "They don't make you clean up any room after heavy spell damage, do they?"

"No, Master. But Dingy will volunteer to help the other elves if Dingy has time. But, Dingy, hasn't--" Dingy gulped. "Dingy feels the need to punish Dingy afterwards."

"What for?" Casey said, bewildered. "We'll discuss this later. You may go." Casey didn't want Dingy visible for much longer and his curiosity was peaked when he heard the snake conjuring Serpensortia! from beyond the door. As the elf disappeared Casey crossed to the door. The list of suspected students within considerably narrowed, all being from Slytherin. Wand gripped in one hand Casey opened the door to peak.

Stone, he should have known. Be it any other Casey would be ready with a condescending quip but it wouldn't be wise to set Stone off with retaliation.

Lovella heard the creaking of the door just as she lowered her wand arm. Quickly spinning on the tip of her foot, she snapped her wand towards the mysterious intruder. The remnants of her practice session still lay scattered between herself and the entry way. She had meant to fix the items and repeat her spell work wordlessly, but now she may get a chance to practice non-verbal spells on an actual student.

"Who's there?" She said, her words resonated through the room and the atmosphere grew slightly more frigid. It was almost as if her change of demeanor could actually affect the temperature. "Don't try hiding behind the door. I'll just blast it away, so come out and let me see you."

She hated being interrupted like this.  True the castle was beyond enormous, but it seemed that no matter where she went there was always someone else there. It made it very hard to practice in peace and quiet. That isn't to say that Lovella hadn't sometimes made her own peace and quiet by threatening the other students, but that was of little consequence.

She could just barely see the person who was poking their head around the door. Whoever they were they had better show their sniveling face soon or Lovella would collect on her promise of destroying the door.

Oh dear, ultimatums. The sarcasm almost oozed out of Casey's eye roll like jelly from a donut. After a mental pause he vowed to not use that metaphor again.

"Salazar's Shiny Pate, Stone. I'm not going to do anything to you," he said as he opened the door wider. Though his wand was half raised because Casey wasn't stupid when there was another wand pointed at him. Though he truthfully wouldn't do anything unless Lovella Stone made the first move. "What if I had been a professor at the door? Would you have blasted the door at Professor Storm or Professor Kesali?"

Not that either would be unable to defend themselves from such action. That raised the question of if Ignan Storm would deliberately harm a student, well, more harm than what was allotted in a Defense class. As for the one-eyed Nightengale Kesali, he'd probably her do lines in the comfort of his office and a coffee table of apple tarts along with whoever else he had detention detail over that week.

Casey could tell what she had been up to as anyone who kept up regular spell fighting practice could recognize regimental patterns of incantations and spell effects. But he decided to have some fun from what he could see from the remnants of her practice: the ron dolls, the conjured serpent, the wrecked bars of the cage.

"Having trouble getting your snake and your turtle to mate?"

Lovella exhaled slightly. It was simply O'Doherty, but what was he doing skulking around this area of the school? Normally, Casey wasn't a bother, in fact, despite his short stature Lovella quite respected the boy's magical prowess. It was hard to tell simply by looking at him, but O'Doherty was very skilled when it come to wand work, and had an ambition to match; there were even times when Lovella considered him an even match for her ( which was very gracious considering her considerable pride). Unlike the other students, she knew that it would be harder to successfully hex or curse someone like him.

The rather short Slytherin walked into her practice room nonchalantly, making sarcastic quips here and there. It was incredibly hard to get underneath Lovella's skin with simply a few jabs though. He was right, of course. She really shouldn't be so hasty when it came to threatening with violence. What if that had been a professor? After spending so much time building up her reputation it would be a shame to ruin it by one rash decision.  Still, she would never admit to being wrong.

Not wanting to fully lower her guard, but also not wanting to appear hostile she casually waved her wand and thought Reparo. Slowly the bits of cup and doll picked themselves up and began finding one another, while the bars of the cage bent back into place.

"I hardly think a professor would have been having an evening stroll down this part of the castle for fun, O'Doherty." She began, walking over to the now docile serpent which smoothly coiled around her feet. Pointing her wand to the floor she then said "Vipera Evanesca!" And in a puff of black smoke the snake vanished.

"And if you must know, I've been practicing spell work although it's really none of your business."

Some ways off from the classroom door, Esther paused from where she stood, head cocked to the side as she listened, amusement– or was it glee? –lighting up her eyes. Noise spilled out of the room like gushing water, that it was easy to note the usual bangs and whatsit of the more violent spells, as well as the dulcet tones of her classmates—and from the snippets she could catch, it wasn’t the most scintillating conversation to overhear, but anything involving either of the two was always something a girl could trust to be at least somewhat interesting (albeit in a fashion less like a scandalous exclusive of Witch Weekly, and more like a troll picking its nose). Both were famously irritable, she knew, that coming across them was not unlike finding a knot of vipers. And Lovella Stone always had a truly stunning temper…

An awful one, to be sure, that sometimes it had Esther wrinkling her nose in distaste at the excessive show of violence that usually followed. But at least it went nicely with her hair, if not her complexion.

Her nails tapping silently against stone as she walked, Esther made her way to the door, just in time to hear Lovella tell Casey off. She snorted softly, but audibly, the soft huff nearly as cute as her face; rude, she thought with– yep, amusement.

For a very brief, brief moment, she took a second to lament that she had wandered by alone—not because she was worried about being alone with these two, but because she was regretful she had no one to send off to the kitchens and bring her snacks. In a few minutes the bluntness of their barbs would give her the munchies, she was sure.

“Casey was only asking,” Esther pouted as she slipped into the room, not even looking at them as she did. Instead, she was inspecting her nails rather seriously until she claimed a spot by the wall, one of the chairs that had been pushed against it. Sitting down with a graceful sweep of her skirt, she crossed her ankles and wiggled a bit, before finally deigning them both a smile. Or rather, Lovella, whose height from this new perspective had given her head a fetching halo. Esther’s smile was positively cherubic. “You were quite noisy, you know.”

Without waiting for a response, she twinkled at Casey, “hello, Casey,” and looked back at their more temperamental Housemate with wide, earnest eyes.

Oh, for Godric's sake! Now not only was O'Doherty standing smugly in front of Lovella, but she had to put up with the presence of a gossip crazed, pretty girl like Esther too. Did such a thing as privacy even exist in the spectrum of society anymore? At least Lovella could have the comfort of knowing she could talk freely in front of Casey, but Morrell? It was like having a tape recorder in the room, and one that sometimes decided the story would sound slightly more sumptuous with a few extra ingredient in the recipe. Lovella hadn't encountered too many situations where the gossip was actually about her (though she was sure there had been) considering that when she interacted with fellow students the information was usually widely known by all, but she had heard her fair share of Esther infused gossip.

Lovella could tell the girl was  preparing to soak up the encounter about to take place by the way she comfortably slid into one of the seats against the wall, adjusting her delicate frame into the perfect position. Of course, her appearance was flawlessly punctuated with perfected make-up and the like; what that girl wouldn't do to make herself look a little older. Personally Lovella went for a more simple but clean appearance, not spending an excessive amount of time on extravagant adornments, but at least caring enough to come off well-groomed to her superiors.

"Forgive me for my insensitivity." Lovella said her words coated in a heavy layer of sarcasm. Honestly, from the way Esther was gazing up at her with those cutesy eyes, and perfect face she could have been mistaken for a china doll. This one wouldn't break as easy though. "And next time I'm using combustion charms on metal goblets I'll make sure to let them know to keep the racket down."

Across from the trio, the giant trunk Lovella had laid out with her array of other items began to shake violently. Giving the convulsing case the briefest of glances she pointed at it and cried "Silencio!" then immediately returned her attention to her fellow Slytherins making several strides towards Morrell. "But what do we owe the pleasure to for gracing us with your presence? Figured our similar temperaments could make for a juicy story?"

((OOC: Augh so sorry for holding this up!))

"All the more reason for a professor to be looking for things out of place if they were patrolling around here," Casey replied to comment on the evening strolls of the staff. "Not that the time is near curfew but you never know, some may be extra watchful." Not Jowd though, Casey had once caught a glimpse of skimming above the ground on something the size of a welcome mat.

The idea to pester Stone was becoming regrettable, hastened by the arrival of Esther Morrell. Slytherin girls were a very particular bunch, similar of course in house values but never a coalesce that could contain all the personalities. Sure, Morrell wasn't as brusk as Stone but you wanted to be leery just what you talked to her about.

"All skilled wizards practice." Casey couldn't fault Stone for that. The spellcasting elite of their year typically their own training regimens. "I just never figured your preferred battle stance was in praxis for trashing a bartered goods and pet shop."

"Oh, believe me O'Doherty," Lovella started walking over to stand by the still trembling case, "I would very much prefer to practice on actual students, but I fear I might have been... a little too hex-happy as of late." Twirling her wand she narrowed her eyes towards the pair of students across from her.

"It wouldn't be fair of me to practice on my usual targets without giving them a chance to recover first." Of course, she also didn't want to raise too much suspicion in her direction from the professors, but that went unsaid for the most part. Lately she had been letting herself get more then a little irritated by the immature antics of her classmates which meant she was more generous with her wand work then usual.

"So, I've been using whatever I can find as of late." She smirked slightly. "But if you can send anyone my way O'Doherty I'll be more then grateful."

"Ha ha ha." It was not a real laugh but the right kind of fake laugh you used in circumstances when people talked about how much they wanted to hurt other people. Even to this day it was a useful skill for the Slytherin crowd.

"So Stone," Casey said, trading smirk for smirk. "You're looking for real wand fights, ones with truly skilled opponents and not waiting around for Duel Club. It's so infrequent anyways."

There was, perhaps, a small part of Casey's mind that was realizing what was about to happen and trying to censor the thought before it exploded into a whole scheme that went beyond the typical realm of school-time shenanigans. But then, Casey's kind of school-time shenanigans weren't the typical sort anyways.

"Notice I'm not actually sending any names your way but if you want to trade spells without the professors watching there's only one place to do it." If Casey didn't keep the showmanship of his actions simmered he might end up sounding like an announcer on the wizarding wireless. "Haven't you ever heard of the Battle Club?"

At Lovella’s rather violent casting, Esther’s smile fell, pink lips twisting into a moue of disappointment. Posturing; how… trite. And she seemed to be laboring under a teensy misconception, too, if she thought Esther was one of those gossips. Or that she and O’Doherty were even that interesting. “You should get out more, then,” Esther helpfully informed her with a faintly pitying frown; it was obviously true, “if this is what you come up with. And can’t find anyone to practice with.” And getting advice from Casey.

Because, Battle Club? Oh Merlin. “Actually, both of you should get out more.” Casey in particular always looked like he was in dire need of a tan. “Alex was sick, and was chosen by the Goblet again,” almond-shaped eyes narrowed as she pointed this out. Helpfully. Both of them were members; they knew this—everyone knew this. But if they were so eager… Well, that changed things. And to think, someone had been soooo concerned she was just snooping around, too. “Sounds right up your alley, though,” said Esther sweetly, as she admired her nails. Each one a pale, shimmery pink, they had been painted to perfection.

Perhaps with any luck, her housemates would hex each other into toads.

Lovella was slightly taken aback by the suggestions of her house mates; essentially offering up themselves as target practice, well, at least Casey had while Esther merely encouraged him to. Needless to say she most likely didn't want to ruin those perfectedly pink nails she was verdantly admiring. What that girl wouldn't do to keep her flawless composure. And then  there was O'Doherty and his mysterious Battle Club. Lovella was already a member of the dueling club which allowed for some form of excursion into actual application, but still, there were limits to even that. Why else did she feel the need to sometimes practice her more advanced spell work on the occasional passerby that had pushed the wrong buttons?

"What the devil do you mean O'Doherty?" Lovella placed one arm on her hip and let the other hang by her side. "Is this battle club something of your own creation, or a practical joke? I mean if it's something the professors don't know about..."

She gave a quick glance over at Esther holding out her hand as if it were a golden trophy. Sometimes her obsession with looks sickened Lovella. "And I don't suppose you would have any interest in our nasty spells would you Morrell? At the risk of messing up your lovely nails I mean."

"There aren't that many options for 'getting out' around Hogwarts, perhaps when it's less frigid." Practically all of school life was bound to the castle. "It's true that Carstairs has been a champion. She's got Slant as co-president."

Casey was almost relishing the skeptic looks. "It's not my creation but it is new, new enough that no professors and few students would have heard about it. And when I say club I don't mean it as an alternative gathering of people to the Dueling Club. I mean club as in location. Though I found the music a bit much for scarcely five people."

"What other alternative would you want for a spot of fun, midnight duels in the armor gallery? Like the time the Durmstrang delegates were picking fights?[1] I believe that ended in fisticuffs."

He paused, expecting there would be more skeptical questions. But he was ready for any possible answer.

1.	A Matter of Honor - Nov 27

Esther rolled her eyes. For all she admired some of the people in dueling club (for their skill as well as their looks), if she would admit that they, as a whole, were a trying group for any one person to deal with. After the first meeting– of which she was just hearing the consequences of, especially when recent absences only confirmed the rumors –the petite Slytherin knew it for a fact. She couldn’t imagine having to deal with having firsties underfoot, too…

And while she did seem nicer than Alex most of the time (who could be even more scathing than some of the more frightening Slytherins Esther idolized  knew), Gracie Slant always was the more physically aggressive one. Gracie, Esther was quite sure, would have sent people to the hospital hut herself if she had to deal with them on her own. It certainly explained the whiff of firewhiskey Esther caught that one time, when she gave the sixth year’s drink a subtle sniff. “Don’t be obtuse,” she said, giving the sickly boy a wrinkled nose of contempt. “It’s unattractive. I meant figuratively. Duh.

“And last I heard, the students involved in that fight were idiots. Some Ravenclaw and that weird guy.” Dreamy, but weird. “That’s hardly a fair comparison.”

But while Esther delicately exuded disdain, she thought, and thought fast. The whole idea sounded like a great big secret –which, to be honest, she rather loved; being involved in anything exclusive did that, giving her a thrill, and for something dueling-related made the whole thing sound all the more thrilling. But for all it did, she wasn’t really a fan of it – there was certainly a number of activities far more interesting to a girl like her, at least half of which she could name off the top of her immaculate head – and she liked Dueling Club. For once, she was hesitant.

She didn’t answer Lovella right away. “I don’t know,” she hummed, honest, as those big, dark eyes met judging yellow ones again. They were round and calm, despite the wanton destruction around them, the increasingly sketchy conversation, and her own, ebbing interest in it and them. Her lips– having been pursed into a thoughtful pout as she looked at her nails –smoothed themselves into a sweet, pink, full-lipped smile, completely unconcerned by the redhead’s disgust. Her taunt barely rated an A. “Are you two worth the risk?” She cast the room an unimpressed glance. It was like a raging troll had been let loose in here.

If this was what she had to look forward to, with them as fellow members? Pass!

Casey was now testing Lovella's patience. She folded her arms and gripped her wand tightly. Whatever this battle club was had only captured her interest for a moment and now she wanted him to just be out with what it was.

"Alright O'Doherty stop dancing around the subject like you've been hit by a tarantella jinx. Just tell us what this blasted battle club really is already, you're starting to bore me." She said with a huff.

In truth she really did want to know more, but she hated it when people didn't just answer right out. Lovella had always preferred straight to the point responses. Heaven knows she tried to do the same with everyone else! Granted they didn't always interpret her critiques in a positive manner but that was neither here nor there. Even Esther seemed to have a grain of interest of what O'Doherty had to offer, albeit a small one.

"Oh, quit putting on an apathetic farce Morrell. If there's a secret to be had you know you'll want to know more." Lovella responded to the Slytherin sitting on the desks.