Ink and Parchment

[allison]

Books, books, and more books. This was the haven that Alice went to almost everyday; call her a bookworm, but it was true. She always was spending her free time either studying or doing her homework, or just to read. Alec laughed at her, but he was teasing, Alice knew that he didn't mean to make fun of her, not like some others. Still, sometimes she would just sit in the library and let her mind wander; the librarian didn't mind, since she was such a good student.

Normally, Alice would be looking through the books, for more information, whether she need it for class or not. She usually liked to check out books on dueling, and on offensive spells. She also liked reading about defensive spells, as well as some potions. Today though, since classes did not start yet, all she had to do was browse around. With a sigh, Alice sat down at her usual place, "Classes start tomorrow...maybe I should get a head start...?" she muttered to herself. Sure she'd be a bookworm, but she liked knowing what was happening. She liked to be ahead of everyone, but she knew most of the things they were doing this year anyways.

"I hope I can learn something new this year..."

[Leon Stark Kennedy]

Even though classed had yet to start Leon made his way up to the library. This was his N.E.W.T year and he'd have to study as hard as he could to make sure he passed them all. He decided to focus on the Auror route when he had done his O.W.Ls but now with his N.E.W.Ts coming those were the only classes he was taking so he would have to focus hard on everything. There was a girl already in here, Ravenclaw, he was pretty sure. She kind of looked a little stressed this early on in the year. He didn't like seeing people who he thought were stressed, neither did he like to strike up conversations with anyone. This time would be an exception.

He made his way over to the girl. "Mind if I take a seat?" he asked her, "I noticed we're about the only two in here and you were looking a little stressed there, at least I think you do." He had his hands tightly clasped to the chair waiting for her to welcome him to sit with her. He didn't no much about the younger students here, including this girl, never really got acquainted with any of them, no need for him really.

[allison]

Alice looked up, hand on her wand; startled. Blushing, she smiled and motioned for the Hufflepuff to sit. "Ah, sorry about that. I really wasn't expecting anyone else here..." she explained. As she looked at him, she noticed he was older than her; so that meant he was in his seventh year. She didn't see any prefect badge or head badge on him, and she didn't recognize him from last year's prefect meetings. She noticed he looked familiar, probably from quidditch, since she was always supporting Alec and the Ravenclaw team.

"So, what brings you here before classes even start?" she glanced around, and surely he was right, they were the only two there. "Oh! Where are my manners, sorry. I'm Allison Matthews, but everyone calls me Alice. You might know, or at least recognize my older brother, Aleric Matthews? Everyone knows him as Alec though." This was the first time she actually had a decent conversation with someone, from another house nonetheless, that didn't relate to school. As she looked at him, she judged him to be either a half-blood or muggleborn. He didn't seem to hold the...arrogance, for the lack of a better word, that many purebloods seem to have. She smiled softly at him, before turning her attention back to the dueling book she was reading, quil dipped in ink and ready to take notes on her clean piece of parchment.

[Leon Stark Kennedy]

"I wasn't expecting anyone to be up here either," Leon smiled as he took a seat. He leaned back, "I'm Leon Kennedy, and I know your brother, he's Slytherin's Seeker, I'm one of the Chasers on Hufflepuff's team," he smiled. "And I'm up here because I'm taking N.E.W.Ts this year and since I'm following the Auror track I think it's best I don't fail any of them, so it'll be nice to start earlier than later, especially with the commotion that'll be going on around here now with muggles joining us," he told her. So her brother was a Slytherin therefore she must be a pureblood as well. "How about yourself, what would you be doing up here so soon?" he asked her.

As a pureblood Leon wondered if she had any of the judgments on muggleborns like so many of them do because if so once she found him out she'd just push back away from him. He leaned back. "I'll assume your studying but I wouldn't be so quick to judge on that information with all the books here in front of you," he chuckled. He hadn't gotten any books to study with yet but he'd wait a few moments before getting up to do so. He couldn't get into the restricted section until the classes actually started but he could use some of the upper books that were in here as of right now.

[allison]

Alice smiled, Leon was easy to talk to; she could see him as a friend, at least, she hoped she could call him a friend. She nodded as he noticed her brother was the seeker; it was something he liked to boast about, mainly because he used his flying skills a lot during the game. He was quick, and agile on his broom, something many people, especially the 'lovestruck' girls, as she liked to call them. When Leon said he was a chaser Alice almost hit herself on the head, that's why he seemed familiar!

"Well, I thought I'd learn some more stuff before the classes begin...since I already know the cirriculum..." she blushed. There she was, being her nerdy self, when he probably wanted to study for his N.E.W.T.s. When he mentioned her books, she looked around herself and giggled. "Oh, I didn't notice that I had all these books around," she giggled again, "Well, we can study together if you'd like? I wouldn't mind getting an early start on studying for N.E.W.Ts."

[Leon Stark Kennedy]

Leon smiled and looked at her, "you're a sixth year?" he asked just to make sure, "studying is a good thing during your sixth year especially for N.E.W.Ts I decided not to last year so that would be why I'm getting an early start this year," he smiled looking at her. "You never notice your books when you're the one in the pile of them," he chuckled. He stood up, "and speaking of books, if you don't mind I need to go grab a defensive spells book really quick," he told her.

He turned and walked over to the spell area and found the book he was looking for. "I'm good at Tranfiguration, but get me into Defense Against The Dark Arts and mind you I'm not horrible but I'm not the best at it either," he said walking back to the table and sitting down, "never really practiced much or learned much of it," he smiled.

[allison]

Alice nodded, smiling, "Yup, I'm a sixth year." She laughed along with him, as he mentioned her not noticing the books around her. As he talked about grabbing a defensive spells book, Alice immediately brightened, seeing as defense was her best strength. Offense was Alec's and defense was her's; they were definitely an awesome duo. "It's fine, I can help if you want; defense is my best point! If you need help with offensive spells then maybe we can get Alec to help out, it's his strongest point."

"You haven't practiced or learned defensive spells? Really? How else are you going to block spells that could potentially hurt you?" she asked, a grin on her face. "Plus, it's very good in DADA, incase you haven't noticed" she teased, putting her notes on offensive spells on hold real quick. She paused slightly, thinking about how Alec might react to helping out. He could say no or he could help, but she wasn't sure whether he might help in a bad way or actually help. With a sigh, she turned towards Leon, "So, where do you exactly need help?"

[Leon Stark Kennedy]

"I can block okay, but it's mostly the practicing and learning of more creatures, I get the technical side of it but the actual use of it is a little more difficult for me, I knew enough to get into N.E.W.T levels though," he smiled. She had offered to help him out and then offered her brother to help out. "Not really all that fond of Slytherins," Leon noted, "but I'd be glad to have your help," he said softly. He didn't wanted to be on the receiving end of any Slytherins spells.

He looked at her, "I just need help with the practicing of the spells, again technical side is my weakness," he said softly. He opened the book, "I guess I just hope that I'll never be on the receiving end of someone who's got it in for me," he told her softly. He glanced down at the book and looked over one of the first pages.

[allison]

When Leon talked about not being very fond of Slytherins, Alice smiled slightly, eyes downcast. She understood where he was coming from; but she hoped Alec wouldn't have to be grouped with the Slytherins. Everyone put him with the typical dangerous Slytherin stereotype, and she knew it to be true; but she didn't want to believe others did too. "It's ok, I understand. Sometimes Alec can get carried away in a duel. Not one someone wants to go against, especially if they are all that great in defense."

She smiled to show she wasn't offended by it or anything; she knew the feeling of not wanting to be on the other recieving of the wand. Last year, before summer break, there was some trouble between Slytherins and Gryffindors in her year; and Alec was in the middle of it. Alice tried to stop the pending fight, but instead, the Gryffindors thought she was taking sides. They shot a spell at both her and her twin. Lucky, her defensive spells were better than most, so she blocked the attack easily enough. Alec though, didn't let it slide, but he couldn't do anything since the DADA professor came running out.

"Well, how about after lunch, we can practice your defense; I'll be your opponent?" she offered, "I need help with the offensive spells anyways. It would be great practice for both of us." she added. She leaned over her stack of books to see what page he was on, "It'll be easier to start on page thirteen of that book," she said, looking back up at Leon, "The first twelve are all about why the spells are needed. It's just repeated again after the spell itself." She took a book from her bag, she brought it with her from her library at home. Opening up the page, she placed it next to the other book. "These spells are bound to be in N.E.W.T level classes, you should learn them too." she explained with a smile, seeing as the book was one of the more...challenging books there.

[Leon Stark Kennedy]

Leon looked at her and noticed. "I have nothing against your brother himself, I know he's not all that bad, I've learned you know we oppose each other in Quidditch," he said softly, "being a Muggleborn doesn't automatically get you in with Slytherins to begin with though," he told her. He closed the book. "If you want to bring him with you after lunch you can," he told her accepting the offer for after lunch. "You never learn if you don't have multiple opponents," he told her.

He then opened the book again and turned to page thirteen and looked down by the spells. "Well that's more helpful makes me not have to read non useful stuff," he smiled a very appreciated smile. He looked at the book that she pulled out. "I'll order this than," he said writing down the title of the name. He smiled, "I really appreciate your help," he told her.