[Library] Random Requirement

[Edan Ashby]

By the time he reached the seventh floor corridor, Edan was out of breath. Leaning against the stone wall for a brief moment, he stared intently at his surroundings.

Everything looked normal. So normal, in fact, that Edan was a little disheartened. Was this really where the room was located? The one everyone in Hogwarts made sure to try and visit at least once?

Deciding the dusty tome from the library wasn't out to trick him, Edan pushed himself off the stone wall and took a deep breath. "All right, focus on what you really need," he whispered to himself, trying to clear his head. It was hard to get rid of all the random thoughts and images, like what he'd had for breakfast or the long Arithmancy equation he'd have to memorize for tomorrow - but eventually his mind was blank.

I require a new wand, Edan thought to himself, walking past the blank section of wall three times. His eyes were squeezed shut tightly, and it took a moment for him to open them when he finished.

Edan groaned to find himself staring, once again, at an empty wall.

[Vanessa Malfoy]

Vanessa was beyond overwhelmed by this newest act of such a dark servitude. Why did they have to choose her to do these unthinkable things? She grabbed her stomach as she ran up each flight of stairs, tear-drops streaming down her face. This wasn't exactly normal for Ms. Malfoy, or anyone Malfoy for that matter. She was use to hiding her emotions around others, but now the best thing that she could hope for was to go un-noticed by her fellow classmates.

What had caused such a stir within the young Slytherin? Perhaps it was the silvery blue stains that adorned her small figure. Her hands were drenched with the sticky goo, and she was holding with her a strange leather book. It had become an accessory as of recently, and she was often found mouthing off to students at the very mention of it. Vanessa slipped her book into her brown messenger bag, wiping her hands hastily onto her white button up. She had gone so quickly up the stairs that she brushed right by Edan, hardly noticing him, or too worried to care. The door to the room seemed to open up immediately for her, and she rushed in without a moment's wait. She needed a sink and some new clothes to wash away the evidence, and within that moment the room's powers were used to cover up a dark job indeed. When she finally realized the other student she thought to lock the door, but it was far too late. He had entered the room, and she was almost positive he'd have questions. "Do you mind leaving?," Vanessa asked in a shrill, disgusted tone. She looked him up and down, trying to look as though nothing was wrong even as droplets poured down her face.

[Edan Ashby]

It was a blur. A decidedly fast blur that disappeared into the wall Edan was staring accusingly at. In fact, an entire door materialised before the Ravenclaw's eyes and he was both stunned and frustrated.

"You!" He cried furiously, completely absorbed in his failure to retrieve the Room and because of that fact, oblivious to her frantic appearance. "You ruined it! If you needed to use the lavatory, you could have picked some other location! Try the third floor next time!"

Edan had hoped that somewhere in the room there would be a new wand waiting for him, but when he had followed the girl he was severely disappointed. At first, he figured she didn't even know she was in the Room of Requirement but when she snarled at him he finally began to notice the finer details of the situation.

"I do mind," He snapped in a voice that sounded like he claimed the room. He was there first, after all, and her requirements interfered with his own. But his glare succumbed to a frown at seeing her appearance, and Edan suddenly didn't know what to do. Offering her a towel seemed to be out of the question.

"What have you been do - what is that?" He was pointing in a rather confused awe at the stains on her shirt. Though at first glance they seemed neutral, Edan was immediately plagued by more sinister thoughts. After all, she did look like she had something to hide and it was becoming increasingly obvious that Edan was witnessing something he probably shouldn't have - or didn't want to witness at the very least.

[Vanessa Malfoy]

Vanessa was scrubbing vigorously at her arms, even when her flesh was clear of any remnants. She just kept seeing flashback after flashback, feeling as though she was just covered with evidence of the events prior. She glanced down at her top to find large sums of the unicorn's blood as if it refused to let her live it down. Now there he went, questioning her right away which was just making matters worse. She needed to be alone, and in a school this big it was almost impossible. "Do you think it's polite to go about demand answers like that? I don't even know you, creep. So how about you stop staring at things that don't pertain to you and get on with your worthless little life?"

She was once again using anger and threats to hide her emotions, but this time it wouldn't work out so well for her. You see, words kind of lose their meaning when their said through sniffles and fading sobs. If anyone else were to find out about what he had seen she would be a goner for sure. People already questioned her family name, this would just be the icing on the cake. "Listen," she said, growing quite serious now. "I was just making a potion is all. Sorry I'm in such a bad mood. I uh, just had a rough day. Now can you PLEASE just..leave me alone?"

[Edan Ashby]

His initial reaction was to be indignant. Edan, already reputable for being somewhat moody, was clearly not having one of his better days. As his mouth unhinged to let out numerous retorts, he finally registered the thickness of her voice, and it snapped shut again. There were things the Ravenclaw didn't know how to deal with, and crying Slytherin girls were somewhere near the top of that list.

Edan's suspicions were rapidly dissipating, not really because he didn't believe that something was up but more so because he wanted to get out of the room as quickly as possible. He didn't know her, the girl was right about that, and that also meant Edan didn't know how to deal with her.

"Okay..." He murmured tentatively, about to turn around and leave when suddenly her whole demeanor changed. It was drastic enough to make Edan raise a brow, and the way her eyes flickered - perhaps with realisation - made him wary. Her house's reputation and family name weren't something he could easily trust, after all.

"A potion?" He paused, regarding her with penetrating eyes. "Hang on, this - this," Edan reached out a hand to the sink, fingering a murky droplet. It was smooth, silky, and flowed down the drain like ink. But could it be what he thought?

Edan didn't finish right away, but as realisation dawned on him, he pulled his hand back. His voice was barely audible, eyes wide as he looked at the girl accusingly - seeing her in a new light. Almost like she was a monster. He was imagining it, surely, but as soon as he pinpointed the mess as Unicorn blood, a pungent smell diffused through the room. Edan inhaled sharply, feeling sick.

[Vanessa Malfoy]

Vanessa gave a sigh of relief as soon as he turned his feet, only half expecting him to keep quite and leave the room. Half of her actually wanted him to stay with her, but only to ensure that he wouldn't be spreading the news to everyone else in the school. One more viscious rumor, especially from someone that usually kept to the truth, and people would start to ask questions.As soon as he turned back around she shut her eyes tightly, almost as if she were in pain.

"It's not what you think Ashby! Just leave it alone!," Vanessa shouted at him whilst gathering up the new uniform from a table that hadn't been there moments prior. She raised her hand, brushing her fingertips across her shimmery cheek bones to wipe away the remainder of tears. Vanessa didn't know whether to feel cold or scared: he was treating her like she was some kind of monster, and he could quite easily destroy the popularity that she had been manifesting since her first year. It's not like she could tell her parents about this either. When they were dissapointed it was hell to pay.

She began to unbutton her white dress shirt, revealing an undershirt just beneath it and yanking angrily at a button that just wouldn't open. It was replaced by a brand new one, compliments of the room itself. Vanessa couldn't help a glimpse at his face, looking rather sickly indeed. "Ashby, please!," she shouted again, throwing the towel that she had been using to the floor. "I didn't kill it, you've got to believe me! It's just an ingredient, one that I picked up earlier today. I put it in my potion and it overflowed, thus this mess."

She took a slow, deep breath, trying to catch a glimpse of his eyes. "Honestly..do you really think I'm capable of killing something? I'm quite short you know, and in heels, so stop letting your little imagination take hold of you. Here," Vanessa tossed him a new towel, "clean yourself up."

[Edan Ashby]

As Edan looked on, Vanessa's heels seemed like the most severe of all weapons he'd ever seen.

"An overflown potion," He stated rather flatly, chalk-white expression growing flushed with anxiety. Edan wanted to believe it, and it was a will strong enough that he almost did, but it died as soon as he caught sight of silvery-blue evidence all over her figure. "Tell me, Malfoy," he breathed, and there was danger in the room now. "Exactly whom would require a potion so morbid in the first place?"

With these words snapping him out of whatever dreary state he'd been, the Ravenclaw reflexively wrapped his fingers around the uniform she was holding and tugged. It was stretched taut between them as Edan stared at Vanessa, a mixture of fear and disgust on his face. "I'm reporting you!" He all but yelled, grey eyes heated with fiery resolve. Everyone knew the dangers of Unicorn blood - the curse that paralleled its alluring incandescence. It was something beyond him, a dark magic that he didn't think Vanessa Malfoy could wield - though saying that, he was reminded of her tear-stricken face.

Immediately, he cast the small stir of sympathy away, and as if he could easily drag her along, Edan began pulling more viciously.

[Vanessa Malfoy]

Vanessa was awe-struck by his demeaning tone and quick actions, searching for some kind of explanation. She really couldn't find herself in this situation, it just wasn't an option. She could imagine her name being removed from the family tree and the abandonment of those around her. Her parents wouldn't want her around that was for sure, because she would be a threat to their own well being. An investigation of their home probably wouldn't show much as for evidence, but the blood itself and the book in her posession would send her away for life. The very thought of this had her in a fit of sobs and anger, and she just couldn't let him get a hold of that shirt. It was her last chance, her only hope of freedom and praise from parents that expected too much of her.

Vanessa yanked back at the shirt with all the strength that she could muster, unable to reach for her wand which had been carefully stowed away in her leather messenger bag. "Please, you don't get it! You don't know what you're doing!," she shrieked back at him, growing weak with the thoughts that now flooded her mind. "My best friend, Armadio..he's dieing..," she whimpered, sniffling shamelessly and allowing a mess of tears to roll down her chin. "This is the only thing that would keep him alive! PLEASE!"

It wasn't anything close to the truth, but it was the only thing that came to mind. Making him feel bad for her and using the pain she now felt to conduct a sad, strangely believable story. "I'll get rid of it, but if anyone was to find out! I'm not a bad person, I'M NOT!"

[Edan Ashby]

Edan faltered. His grip on the fabric loosened as he considered her. What if it was Ethel who was dying - would he commit such a crime? At first, he denied vehemently that he would, but as he pictured his life without his best friend, the Ravenclaw wasn't so sure. His hand slipped away, falling to his side in a sort of weary awe. Perhaps he was no better?

But reality pried him away from his insecurity. Drinking Unicorn blood led to a cursed life, and he wouldn't inflict that on anyone - he was sure of it.

The Malfoys, on the other hand, were known to delve into such things. To grasp at the Dark Arts with greedy fingers, clasping onto the turmoil of consequence. And though Edan didn't reach for her uniform again, he did pull out his wand.

"I'm reporting you," Edan said finally, unsure of the truth but reeling with intuition. He pointed his wand straight at her, his eyes wide with the threatening gesture. "Because I don't believe you."

And at that moment, Edan realised he didn't. Not at all.

[Vanessa Malfoy]

Vanessa was terrified of what he's reaction would be, shaking inwardly as she began to tug at the flap of her messenger bag.She needed to get her wand out if things
didn't go as planned, something that she was almost positive was going to happen. Being a Malfoy gave her fellow classmates permission to assume certain things about her, including her stand on the dark arts.Whether this information was true or not was up for debate, but most had decided against her.It had never been placed up for trial, reported, or taken into any kind of action however. She was home free.. for now.

"Don't-you-dare," she muttered beneath her breath, eyeing the wand with vague suspicion. Did he have the courage to actually try something with her? She wasn't sure, but she didn't want to test it quite yet. "Listen Ashby.. You so much as tell one person about this and I'll make your life a living Hell. I have connections with people that will dispose of you so fast that you won't even see it coming. No proof, no drops of your precious blood.. Try me."

Vanessa was trying hard to appear stronger than she actually was, almost motionless with cold, staring eyes.She breathed in deeply as if trying to hold back a sneeze or cough, but she let out a barely audible whimper. A tear ran down her cheek, and she was no longer the strong face that she wanted everyone to believe in. She collapsed onto the floor, falling to her knees as a few tears ran down her cheeks. I took only a few more seconds for her to pull her wand out of her bag, pointing it directly at him in an almost accusing manner. "I won't let you ruin my life Ashby! You'll go down with me, I swear to it!"

[Edan Ashby]

Edan no longer needed an outright confession as Vanessa threatened him, a hurricane of emotion in her eyes. Though there was still a hint of pleading, he noticed it wash away under stubbornness; vengeance. It transformed her face, making her look sinister and desperate, a look Edan regarded with surprise. He'd expected a reaction, though he didn't realise it would be one that he wanted to see less than her sobs.

But within a moment, the room suddenly spun. As the sink disappeared into the wall, the uniform between them unraveled, becoming a heap of thread. "What's going on?" Edan, in his confusion, looked away from Vanessa even as she pointed her wand at him. His eyes roamed the walls and ceiling as an anxious weight settled in his stomach. The room had become a series of death traps right before their eyes.

"It's following your requirements!" Edan suddenly cried, his voice thick with fear. The wand in his hand felt useless - he had known all along that it wouldn't work against Vanessa, using it merely as a threat. But hers was in working order, and by the looks of the room, she had intended to kill.

The sound of locks bolted their only exit, and Edan felt a creeping chill down his spine. As soon as they were secured, a White Knight, reminiscent of a chess piece, came barreling toward them with his sword outstretched. Death was looming over him, but before he could clench his eyes, Edan saw it cut through the air not toward him - but toward Vanessa.

And feeling a sinking sensation, Edan swallowed. The room seemed to be after them both - but did that mean Edan had truly wanted to cause Vanessa harm?

He didn't have time to think as a Black Knight approached from the other side, this time aiming solely at him. If he did have that time to fathom the circumstances, Edan would have realised he wasn't capable of murder - and perhaps Vanessa wasn't either.

Because really, the room was following the requirements of Vanessa's ancient book, still snug deeply in her bag.

[Vanessa Malfoy]

Vanessa wished she had grabbed her wand while she still had the chance, but she would now to have to wait patiently for Edan's reaction to her threat. If he did have the courage to hex her now would be his chance, or so she thought, watching closely as his eyes fell onto the one and only door.

"What's your problem?," Vanessa demanded, having to turn around to get a better look. The door shut and locked them both in, not a problem since she had agreed with Edan's statement. Perfect. He was scared out of his mind and she would now get her way without making another mess. Her arms were placed across her chest, grimacing at him as she waited for the strange knight to kill him, or harm him at least. She would be home free!

You could imagine her surprise when it made a sudden turn, lunging for her with a sharp metal sword. "Oh Merlin," she whimpered, her mouth gaping open as she gave a look of pure horror. Vanessa began to scramble backwards, tripping along the way and having to continously crawl across the floor to keep a safe distance. Muggles would refer to this as the crab walk, but this wasn't exactly like the game.

"Edan! This is all your fa-ahhh!" Vanessa gave another shriek towards the knights next weapon of choice, looking with the corner of her eye towards a terrified looking young man. This is the point in which she discovered that they were both the prey of these menancing medieval warriors. She managed to grab a long metal chain, spikes emerging from each side. Her head tilted to the side, trying to decide what had caused such a stir in the room. It wasn't either of them, that was for sure! But there was no time for thoughts.

The black knight was trying to find a way past the long chain as she ran towards her bag, obviously being a highly advanced form of magic having stopped itself from tripping. It took her a moment after thrashing through piles of old school work to retrieve her wand, holding it high in the air a little too nonchalantly. Now, to get out of here..

She began to walk towards the door, which she wouldn't be able to get out of to begin with, stopping only when she heard the swishing of a blade. The white knight was set on destroying the poor lad that was for sure, the blade coming closer and closer to his neck. Without thinking the words, "stupefy!", were shouted, echoing throughout the spacious death chamber. She had successfully knocked his knight out before it could bring him any more harm. So this was the end, Vanessa thought, but it was the only the beginning of their war against the magic fortress.

Her own knight had discovered that he could just as easily step over the chain just as another doorway opened up, a circular contraption entering the room. Long spikes were revealed on each and every inch of it, heading right for her with an incredible ammount of speed. She had no time to think, no time to come up with one of the many spells she had learned in class.

All she could do was run, trying to make her way through the maze of death traps. She hadn't jumped high enough over a silver beam and got quite the scrape on her leg, blood rushing down her leg in large ammounts.

[Edan Ashby]

Edan was sure he would have uttered anything - a spell, a shout, a scream even - if he hadn't been frozen in horror at the fact Vanessa had more or less just saved his life. It didn't make sense to the Ravenclaw as his numb fingers desperately tried to keep a grip on his wand. She couldn't have - that would mean she didn't intend to kill him, which completely dissociated his remaining intellect. There was no one else in the room besides them, and there was no way Edan was requiring his own murder.

It dawned on him that if the room wasn't following either of their subconscious thoughts, that the Knight wasn't an emulation of his desires either. Relief washed over him, a combined effect of dodging the Knight and his understanding, but it disappeared at hearing a pained gasp.

"Malfoy?" Edan's Black Knight continued to stare blankly at him, and he stopped suddenly at the cringe-worthy sound of metal clashing. The spiked sphere barreling toward Vanessa was clearly the cause, and Edan's gaze traveled down its path, widening at seeing the punctures it made in the ground.

His wand seemingly moved of its own accord, aiming at the large weapon. It accelerated as if sensing it was in danger, and with perfect pronunciation, Edan shouted the first spell that came to mind.

Impedimentum!

Edan had hoped to slow the object down, rendering it useless, but his faulty wand struck again. The sphere only continued at a high velocity, but every single spike had disappeared in effect to his spell. Though less deadly, it wasn't any less dangerous. Edan gaped at his incompetent wand, realising that it was no aid to either of them at all even with the accidental ability of making things disappear.

"I require you" Edan suddenly pointed at the stupefied Black Knight, feeling his forehead perspire. He wasn't sure how long Vanessa's head start would last, and his voice was breathless with his desperation. "To stop that thing!"

Nothing happened. Edan was severely disappointed, but the room had never followed his requirements yet and so he hadn't had the highest of hopes. Just as he was resigned to an untimely death, the sound of the Black Knight's sword abruptly cut through the air. Unsheathed, the Knight held it high above his head gallantly, before charging right into the metal boulder.

"Get down!" His voice was drowned out as the two objects collided in an explosion. Glass, stone and metal flew in all directions, cutting the fabric of Edan's robes and jutting into the tender flesh of his face and arms.