Inspired by this question: Can Minor Illusion/Silent Image be used to make it look like you're about to cast other spells, to waste enemy Counterspells or Dispels?
Here's the scenario:
A party member wants to fool an enemy into thinking that they are casting a spell. They take out components, do hand gestures, and starting chanting but do not actually initiate the casting of any spell. The enemy, fooled by this, casts counterspell at the pretend-spellcaster. How does this resolve?
Is counterspell successfully cast (obviously with no effect)? If so, is the slot used to cast counterspell lost?
Or, can counterspell not be initiated in the first place (since there is no real spell being cast)?