Securing the Grounds

[Link Sybrant]

Link walked around the edge of the grounds, checking to make sure his brother's charms were still working properly. "Elan, you certainly know how to keep people out." He pointed his wand towards the edge of the grounds, simply thinking a few charms to test the protective capabilities.

School was about to start and he was determined to make sure that the students were safe. Losing his wife and almost losing his brother had taught him to take nothing for granted. No one was invincible, not even his big brother. "Y'know Marvolo, it's not a very good idea to be sneaking up on someone when they're testing protective charms with violent ones."

[Marvolo Black]

"Who's sneaking?" Marvolo replied with a slight laugh as he walked into a more visible field of vision.

"But you know me, I like a bit of risk... Mind if I aid you in this? As you also know my affinity for violent charms?" he then asked with innocence.

[Link Sybrant]

Link simply shrugged his shoulders, nodding in approval. He pointed his wand back towards the ground, muttering a few more incantations. He stopped after a while, rubbing his eyes. He could feel the scar covering his right eye, drawing his mind back to that night with his brother.

Snapping back to reality, Link pointed his wand at Marvolo, muttering 'Babbuloso', the charm his brother had used on him once to cause him to babble mindlessly. He couldn't help but chuckle at what he had done to the straight faced Professor.

[Marvolo Black]

Marvolo's eyes widened as he immediately knew what had just been done to him. He took a large breath, his mouth opened, and suddenly the words were flowing. It was probably more words than he'd said combined. Ever.

"Oh you Devil, I know what you just did there. What a cruel spell. I heard a story of a man who was once put under this, and it caused him to talk for so bloody long, that when the caster never removed it, said man died from lack of air. However I also heard that he later reappeared as a ghost, babbling on, as you'd expect. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if someone did something similar to Peeves, that annoying bastard. Just a couple weeks ago, he showed up in my office and had a whole song rehersed for me! While I was flattered, not, he amused himself by running about my office, singing and making a huge bloody mess! Thankfully it didn't take long for Akakios to send him off right," as he mentioned his friend, he glanced down and saw that Akakios sat there, wide-eyed, looking at Marvolo with the greatest bewilderment. "Akakios is a genius, you know. Smarter than any Ravenclaw, I'd bet you! And for sure smarter than that one little twit whom shall not be named. She thinks she's got everything, and has suffered through it all, but all she's really got is her wicked little finger around the Headmaster! Well I'm not as foolish in that subject as he is. If it was up to me, she'd have never been admitted late, anyway. As it were, there's not that much I can do about it. Just like this damn bloody curse which I can't do anything about!! ..What a cruel spell. I told you the story of that man I heard about, but did I tell you about that Lockheart bloke? Claimed he once freed a man of this, but oh-ho, we all know that all that lunatic could free-up was space in his mind..."

[Link Sybrant]

As Marvolo began to speak about a student, mentioning his hatred and describing her, Link began to realize who he was talking about. "I'm sorry...who? Who are you talking about?" He folded his arms, glaring at Marvolo curiously, wanting to make sure she was who he thought she was. And if it was Kyleigh, Marvolo was going to regret talking about her.

Link had vowed to protect Kyleigh ever since he watched her parents die, and he wasn't going to let Marvolo talk badly about her. Especially since he knew his big brother had a thing for her.

[Marvolo Black]

Marvolo knew very well who and what Link was referring to, but even like this, Marv was smarter than to continue going on about THAT.

"Gilderoy! Oh, I'm sure you've heard about him. Taught that infamous Harry Potter in his second year and was made of absolute bollocks. As I heard, he could have almost been swallowed alive by that Basilisk that used to call Hogwarts home, I think it would have been better off that way anyway! Speaking of snakes, I wonder who I'll be getting in my house this upcoming year, aren't you? I mean I'm not really, but I need to sound at least semi-interested, right? But if all I get again this year is the dimwited-future Death Eaters, I might just put my wand into my mouth and mutter a killing curse, if you know what I mean. I'm sure you've had days like that. Especially when you clearly work so hard to put up such a sugar-coated front. Why bother? It just takes extra work and the majority of the time is fake. So what if everyone thinks you're an ass for it, that's my life, and it's not that bad. It's actually refreshing the most of the time! About as refreshing as a dive in the lake with some mermaids! They're actually some ugly SOBs, as I'm sure you know! In all those BS fairytales they're supposed to be pretty, red-haired, and they their lives are musicles! I'm glad it's not that way though, that would just be ANOTHER pain in the ass. I'm also sure the giant squid would have commited genocide before he let that get out of control. Speaking of genocide, have you heard all the recent statistics? Apparently muggle population is actually slowly going down, and the wizarding world population is going up! Now that almost all of the crazies have finished inter-breeding with their cousins, the majority of the wizarding world is actually starting to wed muggles. I avoid that dilema completely by staying single."

It was unclear if what he was saying had any truth to it at all, or if it was just never-ending babbling.

[Link Sybrant]

Link grabbed Marvolo by the collar of his shirt, bringing him impossibly closer to him. "Which student are you talking about, Marvolo? Which student is it that you hate?" He gripped his collar tighter. "Who is it you wouldn't admit? Who thinks she's suffered so badly?" He looked deeply into Black's eyes, doing his best to procure the truth.

If it was Kissinger he was speaking of, not only was he insulting her, but his older brother as well. And he wouldn't have that.

[Marvolo Black]

"Don't fool yourself Link, you know exactly who I mean. I know you're smart enough to figure THAT much," he continued to speak. "I've seen the ugly side of her, but clearly you're just as hypnotized as your brother by her! Are you sure she's not part Veela? I mean, I don't see it, but enough men do, I think, she's gottem used to it. Can you blame her? She's got power beyond what even I or Elan has, but she's too immature to learn proper control over it. She could do great things, but the way she's going, Voleurdevie will have her before she does anything that can even compare to 'greatness'. It's not my fault, and it's not hate if I'm only telling the truth here. She's been nothing but a pure bitch to me since the first time she laid eyes on me! I never even had to say anything, but she clearly resents the fact that 1) Elan trusts me more than he does her, and 2) She can't comprehend the fact that I'm NECESSARY in keeping the Dark Lord back. She doesn't trust me because I walk on the dark side, just to provide her, and all the other students with safety! And she has the audacity to mistrust this safety, and question the manner in which I provide it! She wants, and thinks she knows the truth, but the truth is, she can't handle the truth!"

[Link Sybrant]

Link released Marvolo's collar, shaking his head at him. "Marv, sometimes I wonder what my brother sees in you." He brought his fist back, then across his face, drawing blood. He watched with a sense of accomplishment as Marvolo lost his balance. "And this is one of those times."

He stepped towards Marvolo, looking down at him. "Voleurdevie won't have her, because I am protecting her. From everyone. Even you." Link turned his back on Marvolo, shaking his head in slight disgust. "And I am not entranced by her. I was there the night her parents were killed...and I am partly to blame here. It's my job to make sure she's ok. Can you blame her for hating someone who affiliates with the Dark Lord? He murdered her parents, in front of her." He looked back at Marvolo, anger etched into his face. "I didn't even know she was there. She still doesn't know that she was with Voleurdevie for several days before we found her. We obliterated that memory, but she's so powerful that she still sees that in her dreams at night. She knows that Voleurdevie had her in his clutches. Just, not consciously that she could speak of."

[Marvolo Black]

Marvolo's words stopped flowing, and now instead, out-flowed some blood as he was knocked to the ground. He was momentarily stunned, to put it simply, and that shock stopped even the spell for a few moments as he listened to Link. As he did, his eyes narrowed.

Now, as the babbling curse set back in, it was extremely painful because of his jaw, but he couldn't stop it.

"How the Hell can she blame me for that?! If anyone along with the Dark Lord, she needs to be blaming you, you know why! He didn't kill them. You don't think I know? You don't think I've kept my mouth shut about this to her, when I could have blown your whole secret? He's told me about that night, so I would know how much of a coward you are, hiding behind him about it! And even if you think you can, you can't protect her, if he chooses to come after her, he just hasn't had the time to bother doing so yet! It's not that I'm looking up to him here, either, I'm just being realistic! So you know what, FUCK Kyleigh. My opinion of her isn't about to change unless she starts to show her true colours to everyone but me. If possible, said opinion might even drop farther, for all I know."

[Link Sybrant]

Link brought his fist back across Marvolo's face again, sending him to the floor. As he did this, he lifted the charm with a single thought, not needing to speak his spells. "Coward? I'm the coward? I'm not the one who gets down on my knees before the Dark Lord to please him. I'm the one who stood up for him." He got down on one knee, close up into his face. "And I didn't kill her parents. That was your bastard leader trying to kill my brother. I was only 19, damnit. I can't help that it was deflected onto her parents and they died." He pointed his wand at the tip of Marvolo's head, staring at him angrily.

"Her true colors are with Elan. If you don't think she has enough control over her powers to stop you, then perhaps you should take her on in a duel and see how well you stand up against her?" He pushed his wand further into his head, then pulled it away, disgusted with him.

[Marvolo Black]

Marvolo groaned as another fist flew threw his face, but was thankful beyond belief when the spell was finally lifted. But then in a sudden move, his actions were doing enough talking for him: he whiped out his wand and brought it forcefully into Link's throat.

"Unlike every other one of his useless servants, the Dark Lord doesn't have to make me fear him, and ironically I'm the one he trusts above all!" Marvolo growled. "Clearly though, you're all still hiding behind that lie of it being him who killed them. His spell, but if it wasn't for your actions, they'd still be here today. In the muggle world, in their driving, you're the one who'd be said guilty. Yet she doesn't know any of that, does she? I'd be happy to tell her, but I'm afraid she doesn't believe me."

His voice kept cold, and icy, and his eyes were in a deep glare as he continued to hold his wand to Link's throat.

[Kyleigh Kissinger]

Kyleigh walked out into the courtyard, her new 7 1/2", white ivory, unicorn hair tail wand grasped tightly in her hands. She lifted it, holding it up to the back of Marvolo's neck, pushing it roughly into the sensitive part of his neck. "You might want to lower your wand, bastard." She clenched her teeth, anger in her eyes. Her face was still bruised from being attacked, only just now allowed to roam the school grounds. Elan had her 'grounded' in the Ravenclaw common room after she was released from the infirmary. She was now allowed to roam, though not too far.

Leaning closely to him, so that she knew only he could hear her, she whispered to him. "I know what you did. You're just lucky I can't seem to tell anyone else." She stood back from him, keeping her wand at his neck. "Do you really want to piss Elan off?"

[Link Sybrant]

Link shook his head when he looked at Kyleigh, not wanting her to get involved in this, not now. "Kyleigh, get inside the school. You aren't supposed to be out here." He clenched his teeth, staring at the wand Marvolo was holding at his throat. "You know I'm a better duelist than you, Marvolo. Do you really want to do this?"

He clutched his wand angrily, staring into Marvolo's almost lifeless eyes. He couldn't bear to look at Kyleigh, the guilt coursing through him as he looked at the now orphaned child thanks to his selfish actions.

[Marvolo Black]

Marvolo released a chilling laugh.

"Can you two hear yourselves? Do I really want to piss Elan off? Do YOU really want Elan to walk out and see THIS? And you," he said as he glared at Link still, though lowered his wand, slowly. "I could have you on the ground in the blink of an eye, without even using my wand. I can get inside you're head, and with my words alone have you begging for me to stop... but Elan would come down on me for that, which we can't have, so just don't fool yourself into thinking otherwise."