a little spell study .. open

[Bryan Kelley]

It was some days after meeting with D'rorah in the Room of Requirement. The meeting had ended in a brief training session where Bryan had chosen a weapon, a staff, and D'rorah had started him through the first formations of the weapon. After D'rorah had left, Bryan had remained in the Room of Requirement for a while. He debated with himself on taking the staff with him out of the room. Bryan had decided on taking it with him, ignoring any of the looks any students he encountered sent his way. The staff he had chosen was not fancy and he had toyed with the idea of magically shrinking it, but somehow that did not seem like the correct choice. Instead, Bryan had left with it as if it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. He had found that people tended to notice things more if you looked guilty of something, as if you were trying to hide something rather than being comfortable, natural.

Since then, Bryan had taken to going through the forms that D'rorah had shown him during the early hours of the morning before his fellow dorm mates were awake. Bryan had easily cleared an area for himself, with magic, and the forms currently were silent, and even then Bryan took a page out of D'rorah's book and casted a muffling charm before he began. The Gryffindor attempted to remain aware of how he was doing the forms and the areas the Ravenclaw had corrected him in. However, Bryan was certain the next time he trained with the Ravenclaw there would be something she found he was doing wrong. He did not have her guiding eye to note when he slipped up, and his own attention could never replace the outside eye.

Bryan had just finished going through the motions that morning before he stored the staff among his things; His father had once charmed his trunk to hold an inordinate amount that the Gryffindor could easily put the staff within the trunk. Bryan was contemplating looking into such a charm for his robes as a way of carrying the item around without it being obvious to other students. Before he had gone to bed the previous night he had flipped through his school books, finding one that seemed promising for the spell he was looking for. It had occurred to Bryan that he could ask the Shadow Warrior, but he was interested in looking into himself, instead of interrupting her from the work she already did for the light fighters.

Releasing the muffling charm, and then changing his clothes, Bryan grabbed his side bag and left the dorm and then common room. He stopped by the kitchens for an apple and bagel, eating them as he left the school and walked out onto the grounds. He made his way down to Potter Park, deciding it would be a quiet spot to sit and read through his book and work on the charm, and also it offered some nice architecture that would be interesting to draw. Entering the park, the Gryffindor settled himself down on the grass in a somewhat secluded area before he opened his book bag taking his books out. He took the spell book out first and started to flip through it, stopping to read a few pages every now and again as he bit into the apple. He chewed to himself as the book rested on his lap, legs folded before him.

The Gryffindor was not quite interested in attempting the spell, but for the moment he was interested in reading up on it. However, first he needed to find it, but he knew it was in this particular tome, unless his sleepy mind had been playing tricks on him. As his blue eyes read through various pages, Bryan basically ignored what went on around him.

[Sam Kelley]

The day was young and yet so much had already happened. As had become habit over the last few days, Sam woke up especially early and slipped out of the dorms and common room to continue his training with D’rorah in the room of requirement. It was a harsh change in the boys schedule that had already allowed time for quidditch practices and daily jogs, but he was determined to make it work. In those last few nights he had fallen asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, his body taking time to adjust to the new demanding daily appointment. Even now he felt a bit sapped from the early morning activity, yet he forged on knowing that his body would recuperate well before he had to call on it for anything demanding again.

It was the kitchens that he now entered, the growl in his stomach demanding attention. The addition of the new rigorous activity had the boy eating more than usual and breakfast was no exception, the four pieces of fruit that Sam removed from the baskets a testament to this fact. He cradled a pear, apple, and banana in his right arm against his chest while his left hand held another apple. Just as the Gryffindor was rounding the corner to enter the great hall to find a friendly face or two to eat with, he caught view of a familiar form through the window. It was his older brother and he appeared to be distancing himself from the castle. Securing his hold on his breakfast, Sam quickly moved to the nearest door and jogged lightly in the direct he had seen the older boy walking.

A strong burn filling his legs as he moved, but he pushed through, wishing to catch up with the brother that he hadn’t seen to be able to catch in the recent days with his early bedtimes. Soon Sam found himself within the confines of Potter Park with no sign of Bryan visible. After a few minutes he smiled as he happened upon his quarry, who appeared to be enjoying the privacy of the out of the way location. He paused to consider the scenario for a moment before shrugging, it had been days since they had really hung out at all and some family time was well overdue.

”Hey big brother,” he said with a smile. Not waiting for an invitation, Sam approached and eased himself down onto the grass across from his brother. His laid the three pieces of fruit out before him and took a bite of the apple in his hand. ”Long time, no see...” he remarked as he chewed the fruit. ”What are we up to today?”

[Bryan Kelley]

Sometimes it seemed that Bryan had a one-track mind. The Gryffindor could certainly place all his focus in one thing when he sole desired it. This trait especially reared its head when the teenager was working in his sketchbook. He could often immerse himself in his drawing to the point he forgot completely about everything else. The Gryffindor was able to do this even without those strange moments of inspiration when he knew not what he was drawing or why. Those moments irritated Bryan as he could never place any rhyme or reason to them. He had heard of artists being taken away in moments of inspiration, but he had never heard of them never knowing what had been going through their mind when they were working on a piece. It was disturbing at best, and Bryan hoped that the Ravenclaw would be able to shed some light on what these drawings were eventually. She seemed interested but then Bryan had produced images that seemed to be related to the Light fighters, which could only beg for some sort of explanation.

However, it was not art that Bryan was focusing on in the moment. Rather, Bryan had turned his attention towards almost studying. One had to say almost as Bryan was not reading the spell book for a class but rather for his own personal reasons. However, it was with the same intensity that he approached the book as he did drawing. The Gryffindor knew how to apply himself when he felt like it, but most times it rarely stretched outside his field of interests. However, considering that Bryan held some interest in finding his answer, it was little wonder that the boy was able to delve into the text with much the same intensity that his Shadow Warrior showed in her own research. However, Bryan did not have the same patience that the Ravenclaw showed in her studies.

So the surroundings around Bryan went mostly unnoticed by the Gryffindor as he turned the page, reading on the spell he had felt would be the most use to him. He had always been good with spell work, having a love for Charms and an aptitude for the spells in Defense Against the Dark Arts. So it was little hardship for him to do some reading up on the spell first. If anything, Bryan was someone who liked to be prepared rather than rushing in headfirst. He liked stepping back and looking at things from different angles. It was probably one of the reasons why he had taken to art so well. It was little surprise then, that Bryan did not seem to notice when someone had intruded in his space, disrupting the silence as they settled down on the grass in front of him, breaking the silence with the munching of their apple. Bryan’s own apple had been forgotten after three bites as his book took up his interest.

However, the Gryffindor was aware of the younger Gryffindor’s presence, to the point that when the younger boy spoke the older one did not even seem to acknowledge it. However, he did as was proven by the remembrance of his own apple and the subsequent taking a bite of it. He chewed, his eyes on the tome. He swallowed before turning a page. “Just the best way to kill annoying brothers without being killed in turn by parents,” he commented in reply, never once lifting his eyes from the tome.

There were multiple points in which Sam had annoyed Bryan. The last time the younger lad at annoyed him Bryan had made use of the staff he had recently acquired from the Room of Requirement. However, that annoyance was still in place, as Bryan still did not care for the fact that Sam had went behind his back and had sought out D’rorah to join the Light fighters. Now it seemed to Bryan he had not only himself to actively look after but watch the back of his head strong brother. It would have been much easier if Sam had not been involved. However, the Gryffindor was not ignorant of the training sessions that his brother was now taking part of with the older Ravenclaw. The younger Gryffindor certainly seemed to meet with D’rorah for training far more than Bryan did. Bryan knew that D’rorah meant for Sam’s training to be grueling, it was hard not to pick this up from their connection and from what she told him, but he also knew his brother and knew the younger boy welcomed the challenge. Not to mention the stubbornness that often accompanied the challenge when viewed in the light he would not quit and leave his brother at the mercy of the wolves, so to speak.

It was one of the reasons why Bryan had only attempted once to get Sam to back out once he found out the younger joined. Since then, the Gryffindor had slowly resigned himself to the fate of having his younger brother tagging about and watching his back – just as Bryan was watching the younger’s back. Each had a streak of protectiveness and each showed it in their own way.

[Sam Kelley]

Sam let out a loud laugh through the mouthful of partially chewed apple at his brothers words. He figured easily enough that Bryan was a bit pissed at him for what had transpired over the last few days, but the boy had learned log ago that these bouts of frustration between them were never a permanent thing. He could get irritated with the older boy too, so he didn’t take the words personally. Laughing had long since proven to be the best reaction to these instances.

”Awww, come on man...you can’t tell me you’re actually surprised...” Sam took another bite of the apple and spoke again before chewing it entirely. ”You know me better than I know me and even I know this was going to happen like this.” The boys statement was true for the most part. Yes, he had tried to get Bryan released before trying to join him, but it still remains accurate that if his brother were going to be involved, then Sam was going to be involved.

”I need for you to be okay with this, Bryan. Besides, after hearing the full story, it sounds like a good gig.” Again he bit at the apple taking the remainder of the edible surface in and eating it quickly. ”So how about we say that I’m sorry and laugh this off like usual? I know you hate e now, but you’ll love me tomorrow...why put it off?” Sam still grinned as he chewed the remainder of the apple, fully expecting his brother to crack a smile and oblige the request. It wasn’t that Sam discounted Bryan’s feelings, it was that he fully understood them. He took had that annoyance with Bryan and other siblings at times, but he had learned it was silly to dwell on.

”So what are we up to today?” he asked, repeating his original question.

[Bryan Kelley]

The reaction that Bryan received for his reply was not unexpected. Sam was correct in that the Gryffindor probably knew the other better than he knew himself. Bryan was sure it probably worked vice versa by now. Sometimes such closeness could be a thorn in ones side. However, Bryan ignored the laughter that erupted from the Gryffindor. Instead, he flicked away a bit of apple that had flown onto the page of his book when the younger Gryffindor had burst. There was a bemused smile on Bryan’s lips, but it was nothing like the laughing grin that was spread over the other boy’s face. Bryan was still annoyed with his brother, but he long since left the I want to physically hurt you phase. He had still been in that phase when he had whacked the Gryffindor with his staff. Sam had laughed then too.

“I like to pretend that you’ll occasionally do something out of character and surprise me,” the older boy commented, after Sam had finished laughing and could speak correctly, at least correctly for someone who spoke with their mouth full of bits of fruit. The older Gryffindor decided to ignore the following statement the younger one stated. Bryan knew that Sam realized that he would get over it eventually, that he was probably already underway to being resigned to it. It did not take a genius to understand that neither Gryffindors were going to back out and one had only two choices left to them. They could either remain mad at one another for the rest of their lives, and as tempting as it was it really wasn’t all that practical, or they could get over it and make the other’s life a living hell in a variety of ways. The latter definitely seemed more like the style of the two brothers. Bryan had already decided that D’rorah was helping him in the goal of the latter, though he was smart enough to realize she did it for more reasons than merely to torture Sam. Though given how well Sam could annoy someone, especially someone who liked silence as the Ravenclaw did, Bryan did not doubt that the Ravenclaw would seek ways to silently torture Sam, or at least get him to close his mouth for more than five minutes at a clip.

“A bit of boring book research,” Bryan stated, glancing up for probably the first time since Sam had sat down, looking bemused at the younger Gryffindor, knowing the younger’s dislike for anything book related. “On a spell like Dad had placed on our trunks,” he finished, turning his gaze back to the book. Bryan figured Sam was probably smart enough to realize what charm Bryan was talking about, even though their father had placed it on the trunks a long time prior, and the possible reasons he was looking into it, considering he had hit Sam in the head with one possible reason the other night. It was not as if Bryan could walk around with a stick that was a few inches taller than he without garnering some attention. A staff was not like some weapons, which could easily be concealed under one’s robes, it would probably be a bit humorous to see one try it but Bryan saw the futility of the idea. He had toyed with the idea of magically shrinking the staff but he did not want to mess with the make-up of the staff, in case he accidentally did something to weaken the weapon. Besides knowing his luck, he’d shrink it and while it was in his pocket it’s twist and release the two blades on either end and end up stabbing himself. It was not a pleasant possibility.

[Sam Kelley]

Sam’s eyes lit up a bit when he saw the older of the pair start to break before him. The sight of his brother’s smile was enough to make Sam feel better about things. Not that he had felt bad or guilty, but he knew well enough that he had defied Bryan’s wishes and it was good to know that he was already starting to look past that fact. It wasn’t the first time and most certainly wouldn’t be the last time. That wasn’t to say that Sam didn’t trust or respect his brother, he did, but there were certain things that you did not leave those you cared for to do alone. It was a product of their upbringing, but the Kelley’s fully subscribed to the ’No man left behind’ way of interacting with each other.

The young boy laughed again as his brother spoke. ”Surprise you, eh? I’m the way I am in the interest of not disappointing you.” It was true, Sam was a creature of habit and predictable on certain fronts. ”I mean, when have we not had each other’s back? Okay, I got one!” An even more amused expressing came to the Gryffindor’s face as he started peeling the banana. ”Ok, we’re taking it back a bit here. Muggle school, third grade, well you were in fourth and I was in third. Remember that Timmy Taylor kid?” He was unable to refrain from a burst of laughter. ”Mum got a call and i got sent home for the day for attacking him after he called you Bryan Smelley. Really man, how can you not appreciate history like that?”

At mention of research, Sam made a bit of a face and scrunched up his nose. He nodded a bit as Bryan continued on to explain the enchantment, the last few days of experience making it easy to connect the spell in question to his motives. In fact, the younger of the pair had also considered the issue as it applied to himself. During the summer he would have his own blade crafted and it wasn’t hard to realize that one couldn’t exactly carry such a sword around in normal situations. Sure, he could probably conceal a katana standing up, but the prospect sounded dodgy, not to mention uncomfortable.

”Maybe you can look into something similar for me while you’re at it? I’d need enough space to hold something that’s a shade over a meter long in total length.” It was with hopeful eyes that Sam looked to his brother as he devoured the piece of fruit. Transfiguration was a talent, but research definitely wasn’t his thing and he prayed that Bryan would see fit to allow him to piggy back on a great idea.

”Speaking of that, how are things coming along there for you?” Even though the two were alone, Sam opted to pay attention to D’rorah’s advice on discretion and take nothing for granted when it came to keeping their secret. She had said that the best way to protect Bryan was to keep his ability from being discovered and that was something that he was committed to.

[Bryan Kelley]

Bryan listened in amusement when Sam moved on to provide an instant when the two boys had not looked out for one another. Bryan arched a brow at the story Sam related, a smirk was touching the older boy’s lips partly at the story and partly at the fact Sam had not really made his point. “That’s an example of when we’ve had each other backs not when we didn’t, which I believe was the point you were trying to make?” the older Gryffindor stated, aware that in a sense Sam had made his own point, seeing as the example he brought up was not one when the two had failed in some regard. However, he also failed because he had stated I got one, which implied the Gryffindor was doing to share a story to illustrate his point, which it didn’t. “I appreciate it by very carefully ignoring it,” Bryan stated with a serious tone that belittled the fact he was teasing his brother. Sam would never let them forget the history they had forged it, not that Bryan particularly wanted to. He had good memories from their childhood, and he was not interested in forgetting them. He knew some people were not as lucky, even if at times he wished he and Sam were not as close.

Returning his gaze to his book, Bryan answered the question Sam had put towards him on what he was up to. He knew his brother was not interested in books, which was the area that Bryan seemed to do better in than Sam. However, Sam had athleticism over Bryan, so they were rather even. If anything the two boys seemed to complement one another in their faults and strengths. Bryan had not been incorrect in his assumption that Sam would catch onto why he was researching that particular spell. However, the Gryffindor arched a brow when the younger asked to be included in on the results of Bryan’s research. His eyes caught the hopeful gleam in his brother’s similar blue eyes. “I’m just looking to expand the inner space of my robes, perhaps an extra large pocket for storing my sketchbook,” he stated, using his drawing as one possible excuse for looking up the spell while giving his brother an idea of what he was looking to do with the spell.

Bryan did not lift his gaze again from the book when Sam asked his next question. Instead, the Gryffindor flipped back a few pages to re-read some information. It was definitely hard to focus when Sam kept asking questions and requiring attention on himself. “I should probably get in some more tutoring time from D’rorah,” he answered his brother simply. “I don’t see her often and she’s only shown me some basic techniques.” Bryan kept with the tutoring cover that D’rorah had created when Sam had had intruded on her and when she had spoken to Bryan in the library. It seemed as good a cover as anything, considering Bryan did struggle with at least two of his classes.

[Ethan Lacroix]

(( Mind if I cut in? If so say the word and I'll go harass someone else. ))

Ethan was similarly up early (though not as early as the Gryffindor brothers) that morning and with uncommonly similar intent. Disappointed with how unfamiliar the foil had felt in his hand the other day and with summer holidays only a few months away, he was determined to sharpen his fencing skills before returning to the orphanage and his informal teaching position. Not wishing to jab the thin metal object about his dorm room however, he took his training elsewhere. Normally he'd have found an abandoned classroom, but as he left the Hufflepuff commons he saw that the morning looked to be shaping into a glorious day. Adoring the rare sunny weather, he instead decided to practice outside. Returning to his dorm, Ethan changed into a long-sleeved shirt, then slipped his typical plain tee on over it, hoping the layers would help ward off the early spring chill. Grabbing his gloves and his foil, he headed out into the foyer and from there through the front doors.

Pausing on the step just outside, he smiled and stretched in the warming rays. Looking about, he decided to head toward Potter park. It would hide him well enough from anyone else who happened outside, yet had enough open areas to allow him room to maneuver. Slipping his gloves into place as he walked, Ethan draped the practice weapon casually over his shoulder. It would be good to get back into regular self-training. The sport had ever been relaxing for him, a way to clear his head and focus on something else. Before it had distracted him from the death of his family. Now it did wonders for his poor feelings toward his poorer Potions marks.

With a mighty yawn causing his eyes to squeeze shut, Ethan entered a sequestered little corner of the park without even noticing the two other boys there. The irony of walking into the scene holding a foil so soon after the younger Gryffindor had considered the impracticalities of strolling about with a sword also escaped him. Ethan ran one hand down over his face to wipe away the remainder of his grogginess before opening his eyes and starting slightly. He was barely a dozen feet from the other two at this point. A glance between them told him they weren't Hufflepuffs, but he could garner little else. Figuring some kind of greeting or explanation was better than standing and staring, he offered, "Oh, sorry. I didn't expect anyone else to be out here." At that he looked all around to see if he'd missed anyone else. No one popped into view however so he turned his attention back to the two.

Hazarding a final quick glance over his shoulder at the way he'd come Ethan added, "I can go somewhere else if this is a private conversation or something. Didn't mean to intrude." A small, friendly smile replaced his uncertain look of surprise.

[Sam Kelley]

Sam smirked at his brother’s comment and shook his head as he began peeling the banana. ”You’re such a git sometimes, you know that?” the younger asked with a continued head shake. ”You know what I meant!” Where Bryan was generally the calm and articulate of this pair, Sam was not. He was given to flights of fancy and his mind was anything but one track. Often times a new thought would strike him and he would shift gears mid sentence as he had here. For many this proved confusing, but Sam knew better of his brother who had known him his entire life. People often had issues keeping up with the workings of Sam’s mind, as D’rorah had pointed out just the other day, but that activity had a way of turning itself into an advantage in certain situations. Sure, the lack of idleness had certainly taken it’s negative toll in the boys academics over the years, but the speed at which he processed what occurred around him had proven invaluable as a seeker and striker and would no doubt continue to serve him well in combat as his training progressed. Where many preferred looking either forward or backward, Sam was the most comfortable in the moment, where his perceptive and agile mind served him best.

The boy nodded to his brother’s remark about the storage space for his sketch book. ”Even if you don’t want to do it for me, just tell me how and I’m sure I can handle the wandwork.” Though he put aside no time to ponder it, that very statement summarized the boy well. He was good with a wand, especially with transfigurations that altered things, but research was not at all his thing.

With the topic veering toward D’rorah, Sam again found himself nodding affirmatively. ”You definitely should. And be sure that you’re putting in the time to study on your own too.” A casual observer that knew the younger Gryffindor and was ignorant of the tutoring metaphor would probably feel their head spinning right now at the implication of his statement. Within Sam’s words was a bit of veiled sternness toward the other boy. It wasn’t a mystery to him that Bryan’s strengths lay in other areas, but he needed to know his brother was committing himself to learning to fight, as his life would surely depend on it at some point. ”Maybe she can tutor us together at some point so we can study together on our own?” Though it had not been mentioned, Sam had his reasons for such a suggestion, the main one being so that he could push the older boy. If there was one thing that years of competition and training had taught Sam, it was that a friendly competition with a training partner that could really push you was a valuable thing, that was one thing that he was coming to appreciate in the older Ravenclaw girl that he would’ve probably found unbearable in most other situations.

”But perhaps we can discuss this more later...” the younger said just after a light sound of rustling grass indicated that their conversation was no longer private. Sam didn’t turn around to examine whoever it was that had joined them as it their identity really didn’t matter, the conversation was over regardless. A moment later when the voice rang out, the boy glanced to his brother with a slight roll of his eyes, obviously not thrilled at the conversation being interrupted before they could discuss more of this new thing that they were vested in together.

”Not at all,” Sam remarked, not wishing to draw attention to the Gryffindor duo. D’rorah had made the severity of secrecy very clear and announcing it by being openly secretive and sending people away didn’t seem smart to the lad. No, the brothers could find their time in the common room at night or elsewhere, there was no need to draw curious glances from even the most innocuous of observers.

[Bryan Kelley]

Bryan did not rise to Sam’s statement on his being a git. The older Gryffindor did not really see the point, and besides, he was still amused at the jumble mess that had to be his brother’s mind. Bryan really did wonder how Sam managed to get dress in the mornings sometimes. If he didn’t live in the same house with the younger lad he would be in severe doubt that the younger Gryffindor could actually manage to accomplish the feat. As it was, Bryan was certain that it was probably a difficult task with how Sam’s mind seemed to constantly shift gears when something even more exciting entered it. Bryan had seen this happen with his younger brother enough to no longer be surprised by it. If anything, Bryan decided to keep some of the surprise in his mind to throw the younger, as Bryan certainly did not think he knew everything that Sam would do. However, it was still a statement that people prescribed to. Since they were close and family, it seemed only logical that the boys would be able to predict how the other would react in certain situations.

The older Gryffindor chuckled when Sam mentioned that if Bryan was not up to doing the wand-work himself. He could easily imagine that Sam would readily take up that mantle. Books academics had never been the younger’s cup of tea, but give him something that was more practical base and Sam could probably do it with zeal. Sam always approached the more practical aspects of academics better than the book portion, whereas Bryan tended to approach both sections neutrally, only really excelling in the section he found more interesting rather than if it was just wand based versus book based. “I can readily believe you would,” Bryan commented in response, glancing up from his book. His blue eyes remained locked on Sam as the younger boy continued to speak. A wry smile touched his lips for a moment.

“Between the two of you, you’d do circles around me if I joined,” he stated when Sam said that Bryan should join D’rorah and he in their training session sometime. Bryan could only imagine that he would hold the two back, or rather just be a third wheel to their party. Bryan picked up from his connection with D’rorah, that her training time with Sam was rather strenuous to start with. As it was, Bryan could not keep up with Sam in his normal runs, at least in the long-term aspect of it. Bryan was not much of a distance, endurance runner. Running was not his mode of release, so he had never worked on building up his physical strength like Sam had done, although the athletics Sam was involved with played a large role in that as well.

Shortly after Bryan had spoken the sound of the rustle of grass underfoot reached the two boys and Sam had spoken, closing off the conversation. Bryan merely shrugged his shoulders in response, turning his gaze back to his textbook for a few moments until the voice of the intruder had broken through the silence that was left after Sam had finished speaking. Bryan looked up from his text to the boy who had stumbled upon them. Bryan wasn’t really sure if he was that much bothered by the interruption or not. He knew it was probably only a matter of time before someone interrupted them, but it was still a mild nuisance since this had been the first time the two brothers had broached this particular subject with one another. He mentally shrugged it off before he said, “Nah, it’s no big deal.”

Bryan shifted in legs, straightening them out for a moment in a stretch, before leaving them straight with his text remaining on top of his knees. “What draws you out this morning?” he asked the other boy in a simple conversation starter. It didn’t pay to be rude after telling the Hufflepuff that it was all right to interrupt them and then not say anything more to the boy.

[Ethan Lacroix]

The tentative smile faded a bit at the younger boy's reaction. Though he claimed to not be bothered, his refusal to even look Ethan's way or give him more than three syllables gave the distinct impression that he answered thus only to be (marginally) polite. And Ethan was fairly certain he'd seen the boy's eyes roll. A second apology already forming on his lips, Ethan began to slide one foot back, ready to turn and leave the two untroubled. The older boy's more genuine words halted his retreat however and he instead took a small step closer. Bringing the foil down off his shoulder, he set the tip on the grass at his feet with both hands lightly resting on the hilt, though not putting any actual weight on the bendable metal. One shoulder rose slightly as he answered, "I was just looking for a place to practice. Usually I find a spare classroom but..." He gestured up at the mostly clear sky, figuring that to be explanation enough.

Eyes drawn to the book on one of the seated boys' knees, Ethan's head tilted slightly to see what he could of the cover, which was really just the top edge. It looked vaguely familiar but he couldn't really tell so his attention again shifted back to the boys themselves. "What about you guys? Research? Tutoring? Plotting to overthrow the administration?" A slight grin formed at that, though a part of him was a bit concerned. Caira had told him some students were involved in whatever darkness was gripping the forest and hoping to draw it into the school. He certainly wasn't rushing to conclusions, but it was a possibility he considered.

Looking from the more friendly seated Gryffindor to the other, Ethan paused and stared for a moment. Obviously the boy looked familiar. They did go to the same school after all. But there was something attached to the recognition that he couldn't place. Suddenly he snapped his fingers, veritably exclaiming, "You're Sam Kelley, the quidditch player!"

[Sam Kelley]

Sam resisted the urge to turn and face the visitor while his watery blue eyes stayed with his brother for a few moments. He made no attempt to convey anything further than the previous eye roll to the older boy, but instead paused to garner what he could from Bryan’s gaze and expression. One of the benefits of growing up with a person was the uncanny ability to read them that developed over the years and that was the skill that Sam called upon now. He didn’t search for anything in particular, just the general way that his brother perceived the owner of the voice that he hadn’t yet recognized. A moment later the younger of the duo turned to look on the Hufflepuff and found himself actively resisting another roll of his eyes.

Sam didn’t know the other boy’s name, but he recognized him easily enough as the one who always seemed to find a reason to be near Caity when he would catch glances of her throughout the school day. It was apparent that her fellow Hufflepuff fancies her as far as Sam was concerned, but he also knew well enough that she was probably just as oblivious to it as she was with his own thoughts of her. Though it offered no benefit to openly acknowledge it and he had no intention of doing so, the younger boy viewed Ethan as competition and not the good kind that he appreciated above the quidditch pitch either. They both liked the same girl and that knowledge would remain ever present in the fiery Gryffindor’s mind when he looked upon the other lad. Sam didn’t hate Ethan nor would h allow himself to over such a situation, but he wasn’t going to befriend his unwitting rival either.

He listened to Ethan’s statement about practice and allowed his eyes to descend the length of the blade before venturing upward again. Sam couldn’t help but think that the implement looked like a toy in his eyes, given that the boy spent his mornings in combat training wielding a much more formidable weapon in a katana. This opinion certainly didn’t mean that the Gryffindor questioned the sporting nature of fencing, he could respect the competitiveness, but he did question its practical application.

A smirk and audible chuckle passed the boys lips at the query of their plot to overthrow the administration. ”It looks like you’ve found us out...” Sam glanced to his brother with a small wink and then back to the prefect before firing off a jesting reply. ”We’ve got Guy Fawkes with a book of matches hiding under the great hall and just waiting for the next time they dare to put pea soup on the lunch menu again.”

As the comedy of the statement faded from from the Gryffindor, he noted Ethan’s analyzing gaze and opted to simply look back in silence. For reasons previously considered, he wasn’t anxious to stir up conversation with the older boy, perfectly content to allow him to satisfy his curiosity and move along. A brown eyebrow arched curiously as Ethan eventually spoke. Surely students had known his name before due to being the seeker for the Gryffindor house team, but he couldn’t say that any had ever seemed as excited about it as the older lad did now. ”Uh, yeah,” he remarked, still caught a bit off guard. ”That’s me. This is my brother, Bryan, if you aren’t familiar.” Still not exactly sure what to make of the exclamation of recognition, Sam reached down to the grass and retrieved the apple he had brought out with him and took a large, audible bite.

[Bryan Kelley]

“Yeah, it’s a lovely day, isn’t it?” Bryan commented in response when the other boy, Ethan, if his memory was correct, had answered in inquiry. Bryan was familiar with the Hufflepuff boy as they had been in the same year since the start of their Hogwarts’ careers. Even if they were not in the same house, the usually had a few lessons together. However, Bryan could not lay any claim to any actual familiarity with the other boy. Bryan usually kept mostly to himself, his nose in his sketchbook, however that did not make the Gryffindor anti-social, as Bryan was not the type to shy away from conversations; he just was not normally the instigator of such conversations. As such, Bryan did not appear rude to Ethan when he stumbled upon them. Granted, Bryan was usually laid back enough that he wasn’t too bothered by a lot of things, but it did occasionally happen.

The Gryffindor lad did not pay much attention to the foil in the Hufflepuff’s hand. It passed his mind that he would look odd if he walked around with his staff in such a fashion, and wondered if people regarded Ethan strangely for the foil. However, the thought pattern was cut short when the other boy’s voice cut through his musing asking what it was that brought the two Gryffindor boys out that morning. His mind was not quite so quick to think of a response after his sojourned into his thoughts that Sam made a response first. Bryan smirked and shook his head slightly.

“Nah, he’s plotting, I’m merely listening,” Bryan stated with humor in his voice, motioning his brother when he indicated the other in his speech. The Gryffindor was not particularly the type to go plotting any sort of downfall, it was probably more believable of the younger Gryffindor than the older. However, the subject did not really last long before Ethan recognized Sam from his place on the Quidditch team, Bryan shook his head in amusement, waiting for the Quidditch conversation that could only ensue after such a statement. He dropped his gaze back down to his textbook, flipping the page over, his ears picking up when Sam had introduced himself as well.

“We have a few classes together,” Bryan stated, looking back up from his text to look at the Hufflepuff with a good humored smile. Bryan wasn’t really sure why Sam seemed so off towards the Hufflepuff right now. He knew his brother was normally a little more social than this, usually more the people person than himself. He knew not of the unspoken rivalry for a certain Hufflepuff girl that his brother was harboring after. Bryan did not really concern him with such things. He knew Caitlin, but she didn’t seem to like him, so he didn’t bother her or seek her out. As such, he did not pay much attention to who associated with her, including this Hufflepuff and his own brother.