Five. Four. Three. Two. One. The tug at his center let Fox know that he was on his way to Casanov Castle. Of all the transportation in the wizarding world, going by portkey was his least favorite. It was always such an awkward feeling, not to mention he always felt like an idiot standing there with his hand on a random inanimate object.

He landed gracefully on his feet in the dirt just outside Casanov Castle. He sniffed the air around him. Scotland. HE could hear rustling around him and sounds of a larger creature coming from further away. Dragon. Fox smirked at Aria's taste and took a step forward. A large foot came down just where Fox had been standing. The tall blond imdiately spun around, his wand drawn, He sneered at the troll towering above him. He mumbled something and a jet of red light burst from the tip of his wand. The troll keeled over in an instance, hitting the ground with a thud that shook it.

Fox grumbled something about trolls and continued on his way to the door. With a flick of his wand the large iron knocker began to clang itself against the door.

Aria was in the back of the library, in her own 'Restricted Section' adding in some reccent purchases, two Dark Arts texts. She was adding the last one in when she heard a loud 'thud' from outside.

Right after the shrill perimeter enhantment went off, letting her know someone had breached her property. This happened a lot, usually it was only an animal, but last time it had been Quinn Adams trying to spy on her.

She stood up and dusted herself off and that's when she heard the big iron knocker coming from her main door. Perhaps it was only a visitor, she thought, Although not many people knew where she lived.

She decided to hurry down before the dragon found them. Although if it was a fellow NDE her security team knew not to kill them.

She reached the first floor and walked to the main door, opening it, expecting to see Allison or her cousin Alessandra who had taken to coming over reccently and asking about the NDE. Instead she saw Fox Canning, standing on her doorstep.

She raised an eyebrow in a silent question then looked out behind him to see Lantern, her Chinese Fireball, ambling towards them. She liked to eat humans, she had just fed the Ex Hogwarts Flying Instructor and a cripple to her. She waved her away and looked back at Fox and the stunned troll behind him.

"You stunned one of my security troll?" she asked emotionless. Under her breath she mumbled, "Useless trolls," before reviving it.

She opened the door and gestured inside. "Come in," she said, not too pleasantly.

Fox caught Aria's unpleasant tone and smirked to himself as he followed her in. If it were he that caused her unpleasant attitude, he was thoroughly please with himself to have that scale of effect on someone.

His thoughts migrated as to why he was really here. " I'm sure you heard about my father's death by now?" The extremely wealthy and powerful Canning name had been displayed throughout the papers, announcing Alistair Canning's death--although Fox knew better, that it was murder.

"What you may not know, is I have come into a great sum of money and influence that would be most beneficial to the Neo Death eaters.." The conections that the Canning family had produced over the centuries were endless and their wealth was something most could only dream about.

Aria did not want to stand and talk in the entrance hall and was irritated to be interrupted on her day off from teaching. She motioned that he should follow and led him to the sitting room where she sat on one of the velvet chaises. A small mini-bar stood in the corner.

"Help yourself to something to drink," she said, manners be d*mned. "And yes, I have heard of Lord Cannings death. Most regrettable," she said, not looking at all like she regretted it.

She listened to him state how he could be beneficial to the death eaters.

"I suppose you'd have to discuss that with Harshing," she said, "Students are not allowed to join the NDE with the exception of Flame Harshing. And since the Death Eaters all fully pure-blood, many of our families come from extreme wealth and influence."

She paused for a minute and then asked, "Did you come here to inform me personally of your father's death?" she asked. "Or is there something else you're here for?"

Fox resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her pathetic excuse for condolences. "Spare me your platitudes, Aria." He eyes narrowed a bit. He wasn't shy about hiding own attitude either. Fox could already tell this new relationship he had with Aria Casanov would be an endeavor.

His eyes flashed when she spoke of Flame. He quickly dismissed that thought. "The reason I came here was because of some other suprise events, and as much as I hate to admit it, I need someone to train with at school. If you accept, I give you permission to perform whatever spells you must---with one exception." He added hastily, knowing she was capable in deducting Avada Kedavra as the exception. "My skills cannot grow weak..." He spoke the last word with distain.

Aria glared at him. One exception--Avada Kedavra she assumed. She fought the urge to curse him right then, he was annoying her, but she really did need to learn how to control her temper. Mentally she counted to ten. She didn't need anything around her exploding. she had just finished repairing the half of the sitting room she had demolished a couple of days ago in a rage. Although the far wall wasn't complete yet but he hadn't noticed so...

"What kind of suprise events?" she asked. "And what kind of training do you require?" She had never required training, she had begun torturing and killing people and learning as she went along.

Fox's attitude was feeding off hers, especially when she tried to question him about topics she needn't know of. "That's my business." He stated through his teeth. Flame was of his concern right now, and only his concern.

"I assure you I am proficient with the intensity and expertise of my spells, but I pride myself on my speed and ability to be swift and sharp. Throw whatever you wish my way. I'm merely training and attuning my senses during a duel. It's easy to torture and kill someone lesser, but I refuse to be caught off guard if a worthy challenger arises."

Fox let a smirk roll onto his features, noticing the wall on the other side of the room. "Perhaps you could use the time to take your frustrations out on something that can fight back, and give you a bit more of a thrill."

Aria followed her gaze to the far side of the room. "Now when did I say I did that?" she said, "Perhaps I'm merely rennovating."

She stared at him. "If you had gotten the news I did, you'd have demolished your sitting room too, I'm sure." she said, a smirk on her face, despite the anger she now felt remembering the report from St. Mungos. She was going to kill Ricky Ladder.

She wasn't going to duel him. She had much more experience than a seventeen year old and frankly, she wasn't in the mood. She was seriously considering telling him to join up with her cousin and kill Ricky Ladder though.

"I'm not in the mood for a duel at the moment," she said, she still felt nauseous. "But perhaps we can think of something else to help you sharpen your dueling skills." Something where she could be an oberver, she thought. Two broken bones in one week were enough, she thought, remembering her wrist and leg.

Fox grinned at her as she looked between him and the abused wall. He was unsure of what might have sent Aria over the edge. That was something that many death eaters had in common. A lot of them easily lost control. Fox had his first slip up in years just the other night. He prided himself on his emense amount of control over his emotions. Lately he'd been slipping because of Carly, but now, because of his unexpected visitor, he felt things coming back together after his momentary lapse.

"What did you have in mind. I just need to do something."

"Actually, I was thinking of killing Ricky Ladder, but I think I could accomplish that on my own. Unless you'd like to do it." She said. "Although I think my cousin might," She let her voice trail off, she'd think about that later.

"Have you killed anyone yet?" she asked him, curious. What she needed for him was a test, of how far he was willing to go to acheive what he wanted. She needed to know who he cared about.

"Bring me someone close to you by the end of the week," she said, inspiration striking her. "I don't care who it is, as long as when I ask them they can confirm they were once your friend."

Fox knew his answer to Aria's questing might hinder her judgement on whether or not he was ruthless enough to join the NDE. "No." He stated simply, ackowleding the fact that he had not killed anyone yet. It wasn't because he was incapable, he was just biding his time at Hogwarts, being smart.

Fox had harnessed a great power, but the thing that made him the most lethal was the fact that most were unaware of what he could do. Only three people had a true inkling of the talent Fox possessed and the potential of his greatness; The late Alistair Canning, the death eater Damien, and last but certainly not least, the one who influenced him the most, Flame Harshing. Their partnership was a force to be reckoned with.

Fox raised a brow upon Aria's request for a friend. " A friend? " He scratched his chin. Not many people were dumb enough to let him get close enough to be a friend. "Okay."

Aria studied him through narrowed eyes. She wasn't sure he would do it; everyone got caught up with their friends and what not and then those feelings got in the way of other things. Like Allison not killing Trey for being a traitor.

That's why she herself didn't bother with it. She had people she talked with, but if need be she wouldn't hesitate to kill any of them. She never let feelings for another person stand in her way. Family perhaps, after all, blood ties were important.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" she asked. "You are welcome to use my dungeons," she said. She kept some nice torture devices down there.

She wondered if he had tortured anyone before, not just a quick crucio, but something that laste longer, like what she had done to Quinn. He was still looking into replacing that eye, she thought and a smirk came onto her face.

"Have you ever tortured anyone?" she asked curiously. Perhaps she should duel him after all, to see what he was like...

Fox eyed Aria obviously sensing in the air the thing she was enthusiastic about. Torture. Fox was neither obsessed with torture or death, but knew that if it was required, he would take down the opposition with ease. Power was Fox's ambition. He desired it above anything else. He was begining to realize that allying himself with Aria was not the way to go. Sure she was NDE, but he knew someone higher up in the rankings. And now that Flame had returned for him, he was seeing his path more clearly.

He moved to rest himself on the arm of one of her chairs. His hand reached up to stroke the scruff on his chin. "Not that I'm critizing your line of work, Aria. But don't you think torturing people for sport is a little...clumsy. Especially for me at the moment being very much in the public eye with my father's death and my above and beyond extravagant, not to mention suspicious, inheritance." He paused. "I'm not trying to weasle my way out of anything, merely trying to not slip up like dark wizards so often do. I do find what you do intriguing, naturally. It's easy to see that you are the brawn of the NDE. Me--Well, I like to think before I do something messy."

He leaned back slightly and folded his arms across his chest.

Aria frowned and studied him for a moment, thinking. If he didn't want to go about things by torture and death why would he want to become a NDE. There was something about the way he spoke...and then she realized he wanted something different. She was alright killing people; she killed them when they got in her way, or sometimes when she was bored or having a bad day.

And he kept talking about connections and wealth. She had her own wealth and connections and she didn't drag it up in every subject.

He wanted more than to be a NDE. He wanted power, she could see it in his eyes. Perhaps he fancied himself another Dark Lord. The thought almost made her laugh out loud.

And his arrogance irritated her. He talked of himself as if he was all powerful. To her what he was was an untrained seventeen year old who had never killed anyone. He had no experience and she offered him a challenge--a simple thing they had all done many times since joining the ranks, kill someone, and he was turning it down.

Now her anger was building again; she had been working hard to keep it in check.

She took a deep breath. "Yes it can be clumsy and messy," she agreed, "But only if one doesn't go about it the right way. If you don't want to kill anyone..." she stared at him a moment, her eyes dark and then suddenly, emotionless. "I guess you don't have it in you..."

She was still angry. Overhead her chandelier exploded, thrusting the room into semi-darkness.

She was off the couch in a second and standing away from the broken glass, several cuts on her arm.

"If you still want that duel," she said from the corner, "I'd be happy to oblige you." She tried to get her temper under control before she exploded something else wandlessly. She had years of experience dueling others more powerfully. She had this duel in the bag.

She decided to waive the formalties. She pointed her wand at him and said, "Sectemsempra!"


[OOC: Yay! Another long post... :] ]

An amused smile drew on Fox lips as Aria tried to degrade him because of his lack of open hostility. It wasn't working. Flame was the only one who got to him in that manner, because she knew the right things to say. She wanted the same things as Fox. Aria didn't. If everything went acording to plan, he made a mental note to teach Aria a lesson for doubting him.

The second she said the word duel, Fox's fingertips were at the ready, anticipating what the change of air was signalling was coming.

He hopped off the arm of the chair and in one fluid motion ripped his wand from his pocket and cast a strong shield charm easily deflecting his own most commonly used spell, sectumsempra. The bloody image Cedric Goldragon swifty sprinted through his thoughts.

With a quick flick of his wrist the space above the two of them began to swirl as violently black clouds took over the ceiling. Rain fell in sheets, quickly flooding the floor. Lightening bolted and loud beats of thunder clapped. The atmospheric charm was only used as a distracting force. He pointed his wand at Aria's chest. "Confringo!" He shouted darkly, ready to blow her limbs from her body if he had to.

Aria enacted her own sheild and swished her wantd to make all of the lightweight things in the room, painting, candlesticks, decorations, to fly at Fox. At best the could cause bruises but they were more of a distraction and a way to oscure his vision.

Then she tapped herself with her wand, using a powerful dissolusionment spell which almost rendered her invisible; her would still be able to see her, he'd just have to try harder as she had taken on the exact color and texture as whatever she stood in front. As the items in her room continued to fly at him, she cast a muffliato so he he wouldn't be able to hear her moving or casting spells well. She was a little irritated that her room was being destroyed (again) and flooded.

Quietly and gracefully she moved away and pointed her want at him, taking careful aim, then sent two spells quickly his way, the first Silencio, the second, crucio.

Fox dove for cover as the Casanov castle decor was sent on an assault. He was nicked in the face by a candlestick as he moved to his feet in a crouched position. The small blow didn't phase him, but his cheek did start to bleed.

His now dark blue eyes strained to catch a glimpse of Aria. He knew what she had done. His highly trained eyes caught the outine of her body instantly. He pointed his wand at her and yelled. "Stupify!" A red light brust from the tip of his wand just before he was hit with the silencing charm.

Now he was p****d. He tucked and rolled gracefully out of the way of the unforgivable curse. He'd been hit by that way to many times to let it catch him unaware now. The silencing charm had warn off. Popping up to his full height he centered his mind and in a still and controlled voice muttered "Incarcerous" and watched as not only one or two or even three, but rope after rope extended and weaved their way toward Aria. They didn't move to completely bind her, but more or less the area she was hiding in. The ropes created a dense jungle around her.

With a wave of his wand the violent weather ceased. And then with another flick and another word, "incendio" the ropes in which surrouned the general area in which Aria was in, began to swiftly go up in flames. Fox stood at the ready.

Aria was behind the chaise and it was hit with the stupefy spell and the ropes began to bind themselves around that section of the room. Several seconds later that had gone up in flames.

She moved away a little, just so she wouldn't catch on fire, and didn't bother to douse the flames. The smoke began to thicken so she peformed a bubble head charm so she would have a supply of clean air.

She pointed her wand under the chase and whispered, "Serpensortia," watching as a snake slithered out, then repeated it twice more. They could provide a useful distraction.

Them she cast a difindo at a small area of the ropes and quickly and silently moved by Fox until she was behind him. She sent a sectemsempra at him, the smell of blood would attract the snakes and he'd have to get busy trying to vanish them if it hit, then moved even farther until she had one of her bottles of liqour in her hand which she hurled at the flames, causing them to grow quicker and faster.

Then she pointed her wand at the doors and with a thud they sealed. The windows followed suit. And of course there was no apparating, due to her wards. They were both trapped in the same room.

Fox eyed the tree snakes and with three quick swishes of his wand, beheaded them all where they slithered. He spun with finesse at the sound of Aria moving behind him. Fox was caught off guard and couldn't manage pulling up his shield completely as one clean gash found itself across Fox's side. Burgandy began coloring his light shirt. This didn't put a stop to his assault. It only fueled it.

He watched as the fire began growing and the exits being sealed off. Aria was more insane than he thought. Ready to die then call a simple duel a draw. Fox grinned maniacally. Fox moved toward the spot Aria was standing in. He flanked her towards the fire. He pointed his wand by her feet and blew up the floor below her with another confringo spell. It sent pieces of stone, wood and dirt into the smoke filled air. Fox coughed once before Sending his own favorite sectumsempra spell at her. His eyes started to darken. He coughed again.

Suddenly the clouds began to form over head again, and the rain fell down is if it were a hurricane. It doused the fire in seconds. Fox dark blue eyes were only focused on one thing. Aria. A low growl escaped his throat. "You would really rather die?" He chuckled lowly.

He moved up in front of her and she saw his shirt soaking through with blood. One of the falling stones caught her in the head and she brushed at it with her hand and came away with blood. Anger burned in her eyes and they darkened as they always did when she was about to loose control.

She waved wand and all of the windows shattered, peices of glass flying which she redirected at Fox. Lamps began to explode around them, leaving the room barely lit, except for a candle that flickered on the mantle.

She dove to the side, sending a sectemsempra at him, and then. because all she thought of was the anger running throught her, Avada Kedavra.

She stood on the other side of the room but didn't answer his question. She took deep breaths, trying to clam the rage that was coursing through her.

"I won't call a draw," she said finally, her wand held in front of her, ready to fight.

Fox heard, rather than saw the windows shatter. He knew either way, forced by Aria's wand, or just in falling from the blast, glass was eminent. He caught sight of the large piece, spell already in mind from his preconcieved thought, and braced himself while holding his wand up infront of him. The jagged debris fell in soft pellets of sand at his feet. Quickly and brought up another shield, deflecting the sectumsempra curse.

Fox recollected himself in time to see the flash of green steering towards him. He fluidly jumped tucked and rolled out of the way having practice in dodging that spell many times before.. As he stood a low feral growl erupted in his throat. "I'm not you're average Seventh year, Aria. I promise you that." His voice was now menacing.

He lifted the debris laying around him, glass, stone, wood, using a levitation spell, and hurled them at Aria. "I too will fight to your death." He followed with a blindingly fast cruciatus curse as he whiped his wand.

Aria turned so that the class and wood that was deflected by her quickly erected shield hit her back and not her face. The crucio hit her but it wasn't anything she hadn't felt before, she had become pretty immune to Crucio's unless they were cast by someone extremely powerful.

She sent a crucio his way, meaning it much more than he had, and then a stream of fiendfyre. She had dealt with fiendfyre, if it didn't get you it was impossible to put out, it was dark fire.

She backed up a little and thought quickly. Smiling she conjured a set of six daggers in midair and used her wand to hurl them at him, before blasting a hole in the floor and dropping through into the dungeons.

The fiendfyre would eventually make it's way down here, being curse fire, but she didn't want to deal with it before she had too.

Fox was growing tired of this battle to the death. He knew his life was more important lived. Aria abvously thought her life a waste, so ready to give it up in a casual duel that stood for nothing. Fox dodged the cruciatus curse with ease and again managed to deflect the daggers with his shield charm. The daggers dropped clumsily to the floor as Aria set a wave of fiendfyre to her sitting room. Fox couldn't help but roll his eyes. Aria was suicidal. As he watched her dissappear through the hole she made in the floor, Fox decided it was time for him to take his leave. He knew he was of better use alive.

He aimed his wand at the shut door, shouted "confringo" and blasted it off its hinges and clear across the hall. He moved swiftly into the halls and out the way in which he had come in.

Once outside the castle door, he observed the same troll that had tried to stop him in the first place. Fox growled the words Avada Kedavra and watched as the green light escaped the end of his wand. The look of death washed over the trolls features instantly as he keeled over backwards.

Fox managed to make his way into the wooded area around the castle without being sensed by Aria's dragon. She must have found something more interesting on the other side of Casanov grounds. As soon as was available, the was a loud pop that broke the silence of the woods and Fox Canning was gone, leaving Aria to deal with the uncontrolable fiendfyre.