A Little Friendly Rivalry ((Caleb & Kael))

[Eric Caolan R6]

Eric kicked the ground hard and muttered under his breath. There was a reason he was in such a foul mood; he had just come from the Owlery and received his grandfather’s declination to stay with Mack for a portion of the summer. He would get even with him if it were the last thing he did. Why was his grandfather such a killjoy? It was unbelievable! He kicked the ground again and ran his hands over his face. Maybe he would go anyway, he could always lie to Mack and tell her that his grandfather said it was okay…no, he would not lie to her. She was his friend after all.

He walked across the grass and looked up at the sky, a beautiful day of course. He was not looking forward to his exams, but at least he had Quidditch to keep his mind of it. He turned his gaze back down to the world in front of him and saw a familiar face. A Slytherin Chaser by the name of Caleb Donnelly, who he was in no mood to see anyway. In their last match against each other, Eric was carrying the Quaffle and ran head on into Donnelly, making him drop it. It gave the jerk time to pick it back up and score. In actuality, it cost the Ravens the game. And yes, Eric was still bitter.

Frowning, Eric was looking for someone to take his anger out on. It was just luck he ran into one of the few people he wanted to clobber. He strode up to Caleb and tapped him hard on the back, “Hey there, Donnelly. Looking where you’re going this time or are you blind enough to run into someone again?”

He was aiming to pick a fight, he just hoped Donnelly would respond.

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

Caleb felt a soft stab in his heart as his eyes wandered over the pale yellow parchment in his hands. It was a letter. A letter from the orphanage he had been adopted from. It was telling him that they knew not who his parent's really were and if they did they had no right to actually hand out that information freely even if it was to help bring a son home to his rightful parents. Of course they couldn't. Why would they? Something told him deep down that they were lying through their teeth, but at the same time maybe he didn't want to know. Maybe they were protecting him from some horrible fate that would arise if he found out his true birth parents. Fiona had been there for him recently to tell him that he had the right to know who he was and where he came from, but Fiona didn't have any way of getting him the information he sought. Only one person did and he wasn't sure he really wanted to go through the trouble of contacting his parents to force them to tell him...at least not right now. Sooner or later he'd make them tell him. But until that day he'd let it slide.

Caleb crumpled up the bit of parchment and tossed it away, just before he felt a jab in the back. He turned to look over his shoulder as he saw the younger Ravenclaw staring up at him. He raised an eyebrow in annoyance as he looked over Eric. The kid that was younger than him, still matched his height and in that small bit itself Caleb felt his annoyance for the younger student grow. However, a small smile drifted across his face as he realized what the kid was actually talking about. "Still upset Caolan that you got schooled by Slytherin again? Not that I can blame you. But you should have realized it was going to be a losing match for you, you know we have the strongest team. We have had for the past two years, but then again I wouldn't expect an inexperienced player to understand that," Caleb said with a bite to his words. Normally Caleb wouldn't let himself talk this way to someone, but after the letter he had just received he was in the mood for a fight and if that meant that this Ravenclaw would be his opponent that's what it meant.

[Eric Caolan R6]

Eric raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "You schooled us? Yeah right, Donnelly! You must've hit your head or something. Fall off your broom? If you hadn't smacked into me, you git, our team would have won. Fair and square."

As Eric's mother would have said, "you could cut the tension with a knife." Eric was certain he was going to get a bigger rise out of Caleb, and a little shouting match was what he needed. Fuel his fire and get out his frustrations. "Really, Donnelly! What are they teaching you slimey Slyths in practice? The dirtiest way to cheat your way to the top?"

He folded his arms and flashed a cocky grin. "Tell you what. If you want, I can talk to Madam Hooch. I think she can fit you into the firstie Flying lesson. I mean...practice makes perfect, right?"

[kael]

It was summer and the OWLs were over and done with. He was going home soon, and had no homework to complete at the moment. Oh yeah, Kael grinned, a quiet grin that actually reached his eyes. Okay, so home wasn't a great place to be, not when he considered the mystery shrouding his parents and aunt that he was simply itching to discover the truth behind, but it was a lot better than school. At home, there were no obligations and no pressure, except for Lynnettes demands that he write another chapter or a sequel to some story or another, generally stories that he had reluctantly surrendered to her over a year ago. The, of course, there were her constant threats to rifle through his drawer of completed works and send one or three of them off to a publisher. Kael sighed, his good mood completely evaporated. Why couldn't his sister just recognize that he wasn't ready for a publisher to look at his work? He needed to get better and to build up his confidence, so that he wouldn't be completely shattered when the publisher told him that he was absolutely useless and had no talent whatsoever. If he ever did send his work away, it would be on his terms and in his own time; not his twins.

Kael scowled bad-temperedly, tempted to kick the trunk lying at the foot of his bed. The heat of the summer was irritating but still inviting, tempting him to grab his notebook and simply relax in the sun, perhaps getting more experience by gaining inspiration for another story. Lynnette would enoy it, his mind added helpfully. Kael sighed, the thought of his sister making his decision for him. "Someday I'll find someone who can deny her something she wants," Kael grumbled darkly, grabbing his quill, ink and notebook on the way out of the dorm. "And then he can marry her and I won't have to put up with her constant demands. What an exciting prospect." He wouldn't have to tolerate her demands all the time of she was married, or even dating. Then again, he didn't have to obey her now. It was just hard to turn her down when he knew that, in the back of her mind, she knew herself to be different.

The grounds had been the perfect choice to relax in. Very few students were around and he could concentrate because there was little noise. Well, Kael's eye twitched irritably. There had been little noise until those two idiots had decided to start an argument in the middle of the grounds. He wouldn't have minded if they had at least had the decency to start arguing in a place that was as far away from him as possible, but no, they just had to stand near him while arguing. Oh, the idea of hexing them was far too tempting for Kael to let even his gaze stray to his wand. A nice silencing charm would do the job perfectly but sticking them together was also a wonderful idea. Oh. Kael sighed, turning back to his notebook determinedly. If he was so tempted to hex them then he would, but only if they disturbed him once more. "Give them a while to shut up." Kael decided quietly, his grip on the quill tightening.

((Sorry that he never actually intervened but it's not in his nature to step in unless he's really-really annoyed. He's annoyed but not enough to hex them or step in. Next post, I promise he'll do something more interesting than sitting there and only talking about hexing Caleb and Eric))

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

Caleb laughed darkly at the kid. Caleb wasn't a rash fighter, he was the calm and collected fighter that usually meant big trouble if you angered him. He was reserved in his nature, dark, powerful, and horribly calm in everything. It was how he had come to be, after realizing that you were abandoned by your parents and didn't belong with anyone and that really no one wanted you, you got sort of dark and demented. Of course Caleb would never complain about it either. He felt it made him stronger and it did in its own way. Life was difficult sometimes, he knew that, and because of that he was willing to go through life with his wand at the ready. So being rash was not his way, he thought out every mode of attack he could before choosing the right one for the battle. On the other hand, this Caolan character before him didn't seem to think about anything before he said it and because of that Caleb already felt he had won. In which case he just smirked at the kid and laughed again.

"Caolan, you honestly think I need flying lessons? I did it on purpose you git. Made you lose the Quaffle in the whole tirade now didn't I. By the way, I wouldn't call that cheating. There is no rule in Quidditch that says we can't fly at another person, even if we just so happen to collide in mid-air and the opponent steals the Quaffle and scores. Really you should be practicing how to keep a hold of the ball, unless you feel the need for a song to be made up about you and your slippery fingers. I'm sure we could come up with the perfect little jingle for you," Caleb said with a smirk, his voice never raising as he stared the kid down. He had no use for annoying behavior and certainly had no use for younger students who felt in the need to approach their elder and fight them. The kid was just being a sore loser was all and Caleb knew it.

[Eric Caolan R6]

Eric scoffed and his eyes flashed a deadly green. This was what he wanted…a fight. And he was getting it. He clenched his fists and released them over and over. He was angry at his grandfather, at his father for succumbing to his grandfather, his mother for not taking his side, Mack for inviting him on a trip he could not take…he was mad at the world, and Caleb Donnelly was just the poor sap in the way of his rampage. He wanted to hit something. No, that was too easy, too rash. In order to win this little battle, he’d have to match wits with Caleb. That was it, wasn’t it?

But then he heard it. The trigger that flicked on his crazy switch: “…I did it on purpose you git…” Eric’s eyes shot wide open, “You dirty rat…There’s no skill in ramming into someone you reckless twit!” He laughed dryly and slapped his forehead, “And you call yourself a Chaser, why don’t you actually try chasing instead of running head on! What is it really, hm? You wanna take me out huh? Can’t stand the fact that maybe someone is actually better than you? Hm?”

He stood back and reached in his pocket, his hand safely on his wand. He did not think Caleb was dumb enough to match spells with him, but then again…he wanted to be safe.

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

Caleb couldn't stop the laugh that came from his lips. "Better than me? Oh Caolan you must be daft to think your pathetic attempts on a broom can best me. Then again what can I expect from someone who's mother was a lounge singer. Maybe you'll follow in her foot steps, eh? Or maybe you'll follow your father's and marry a muggle, create more half-breeds for the world," Caleb said. He wouldn't, under normal circumstances, ever say anything about blood, but he was rouled up and this Caolan kid was making him angry. One thing you had to learn about Caleb was that he was a great friend due to his loyalties, but he was also a great enemy to fear. He had his way of knowing things that most others didn't. Call it intuition, research, or just plain knowledge the fact was that Caleb listened and he listened well. Well enough to know stuff about everyone, even things that most people themselves didn't know.

Caleb looked over the boy in front of him. He called him a boy because that's what he was. Sure he was only a year younger than him in age, but the mentality of the person was what mattered. Caleb was a 6th year, but his age was far beyond that. He had grown up a long time ago and with that an old soul had taken it's place, this kid in front of him however was different, or at least seemed different. He was still young, still letting life toss him around. Caleb had learned how to control life long before he let it control him and he never regretted that, because it taught him things far beyond his years.

[Eric Caolan R6]

Eric looked Caleb over ready to rip him apart when the jerk had the nerve to laugh in his face. He gripped his wand tightly; maybe he would not be using it in self-defense after all. The last straw was when his mother was thrown into the mix. “You keep your filthy mouth shut about my mum. But I wouldn’t expect you to show respect for someone’s mother…” He laughed darkly, “Everyone knows how yours threw you away. Humph, sure my father married a Muggle, but at least I know who my parents are. You want to talk about family? Let’s not get into the skeletons in your closet.” He regretted his words as soon as they escaped his lips, he did not mean to say it…but it just happened. Like…word vomit, it left a foul taste in his mouth. He was not one to talk about anyone’s family, but no one had the right to talk about his.

Still, he was not going to back down. He’d match Donnelly blow for blow in this battle, even if he had to take a few cheap shots. But, it was Caleb who played the family card, not he. He felt like the third-year Eric Caolan who had to fight for everything he wanted, just to survive. He swore he would not let anyone bully him into doing anything, anymore. This chump Donnelly was not going to make him go back with his tail between his legs like he would have two years ago. No, he was going to fight for what he wanted. What…did he want anyway? An enemy? No. He just wanted someone to take his real anger out on. Was it really worth all of this hostility?

Yes… he thought stubbornly.

[kael]

They were loud. Loud and annoying. Like most of the other students actually. Kael scowled, his hand grasping his wand as the two arguing students made his decision for him. Not only were they being loud, rude and irritating by disturbing his work, but now they looked like they were going to curse each other too. "Where's a prefect or Professor when you actually need them," Kael muttered in disgust, watching the argument with vague interest. What was it about anyway? Kael wondered, his disgust only increasing when a comment from one of them answered his silent question. Quidditch. Of course. Wasn't it always about Quidditch? What would the point of House rivalries be if there wasn't such a stupid game to compete in and argue over? Oh, but if he had to get involved in an argument then why not one over Quidditch? At least it would rid him off the pent up stress bubbling inside his mind.

Kael twirled his wand absent-mindedly wondering which spell would suffice for his purposes. He didn't want to harm; no, that would bring attention to him, and all he wanted was some peace and quiet. Which meant that there was only one spell that would do. Kael raised his wand discreetly, lowering it abruptly when a little black kitten jumped into his lap. "Why now, Pluto?" Kael rolled his eyes, before raising his wand for the second time. "Silencio," Kael said twice, silencing both of the arguing boys before raising his voice pointedly. "Don't you wish people would keep their petty little arguments to themselves, Pluto? Why on Earth people seem to think that everyone around them is interested in their affairs in beyond me." His head rose to raise an eyebrow at the older of the two boys. "And wouldn't you think that a Slytherin at least would be sensible enough to keep his voice down when insulting others. Then again, if a Ravenclaw isn't smart or considerate enough to keep his voice quiet, why should a Slytherin bother?"

[Caleb Donnelly S7]

((Just because it was bothering me in your post Kael...but Caleb is a Prefect and also I specifically said that he never raised his voice. Just thought I'd clarify that for you, since you unintentionally said he was raising his voice.))

Caleb smirked at Caolan. He had won and he had known it. Caleb could see the anger written all over Caolan's face and that was what he had wanted. People had to learn their lessons sometimes and Caleb found that some people only learned the hard way, so when Caolan had brought the battle to him, Caleb was only pleased to return it. The thing was Caolan obviously didn't know how to win the war. Caleb hardly crossed any lines when it came to fighting or arguing, it was the reason why he had been chosen to be a Prefect. He was fair and just in most of his ways, even if his own thoughts were different than those he was with. But when he could be Caleb was a dirty fighter, one that would take out everyone around him if it meant winning the war. And as such Caleb took pride in the fact that he had actually gotten that reaction from Caolan without really even trying.

As Caleb reveled in his latest win he didn't expect the stab that came from behind him. It was painful, to a degree he hadn't felt before. The knife seemed to stay there, the dull, rusty blade, twisting in his back, tearing up the flesh and tissue beneath. He's eyes narrowed and Caleb for the first time in his life felt the want and need to pummel the kid to a bloody pulp. It was one thing to insult him, it was another to insult his life as an orphan, besides it wasn't like it was common knowledge. Caleb's foster family had gone to great lengths to keep the fact that he was adopted secret, even from him. But here this kid, this half-breed knew something that only a select few knew. A few that Caleb would have to question thoroughly after he dealt with the one before him. He moved for his wand, but as he did so the voice of another person filled his ears.

Caleb's eyes flashed in anger as the spell from the new found intruder took effect. Green eyes blazed in hatred at the kid and he had a serious thought about actually using his standing as a Prefect to get the professors to take house points away from the kid, if the kid survived the war Caleb was about to bring upon him. He was a 6th year though, training in silent spells, in the working of the mind and that was enough for him as he thought the spell clearly in his head and with only a slight hitch the first time, pulled off the spell to let him speak again on the second try. His wand immediately moved to the stranger. "Next time you try a spell on someone make sure they aren't a Prefect first off and second make sure they aren't moving into silent spells," Caleb said in a soft dangerous voice. Eyes watching the stranger's every move and yet still keeping tabs on Caolan.

[Eric Caolan R6]

Eric mentally smacked himself on the face, he really did not mean to use such a powerful weapon against Donnelly. Maybe his grandfather was right about him, he could be such a child some times. But once his temper got going, it was hard to stop the damage that it could do. He had been in many fights before, tens if not hundreds of people have felt his sting. It was regrettable that he did not have a better grasp on it, he really was not such a bad guy. He opened his mouth to spit out an apology, but found his voice was inaudible.

He held his throat for a second and glanced angrily around for the culprit that had used the silencing charm. He saw him, a fifth year like him…Hufflepuff. He sneered at the audacity of such a thing. This little battle was between he and Donnelly, it had nothing to do with this runt. He pulled his wand out and aimed it right at the Hufflepuff’s chest.

“And when will little jerks learn to mind their own damn business?” he said hoarsely. There it went again…the demon known as the Temper from Hell. He could feel the anger rise within him like hot magma. He hated people involving themselves in his business which was clearly not their own. He gripped the wand a little tighter, thinking of a clever spell to whack him with.