Armand dropped down to dodge the spell. And now that he was lower, he had the perfect shot. He threw the stiffened vine at Clifford's feet, getting them tangled. Then with a smirk he held a hand out. "Accio vine!" The strength was as he predicted with the stability of his magic, and the boy was dragged then dropped to the floor, being saved from undue pain by the cushioning charm.

After he cast the spell, everything happened super duper fast. One second he was there, perfectly stable with the ground nicely beneath his feet - just where he happened to like it best. Next thing he knew, he had the crazy vines tangled around his ankles and literally dragging him to the ground.

"Whoooaaa!" He managed with a huff as he landed backwards on the cushioning charm. "That. Was. So. Coooool!" At least now he knew what the cushioning charm had been for.

He couldn't help but laugh at the child. It was nice to see children who still enjoyed such things. "Indeed." He made his way over and released him from the bonds. "Of course, who can see the limitations in using this vine for combat? Particularly outdoors?"

"Cheers, Sir." Clifford thanked the Professor when he released the vines that had been digging into his ankles. His volunteering work, seemingly over for the day, he jumped back to his feet and slipped back behind his desk.

What could be the problem with using that vine in combat outdoors?

Hmm.

Noticing the lack of response from fellow students, Apedemak spoke without raising his hand. "The vine loosened when you touched the plant's wound to soil. If used outdoors the vine would likely slacken soon after the victim hit the ground. Though, I do not understand why soil has such a reaction on the vine?"

Alex smiled, "Couldn't have put it better my self."

"Very good. Two points. Not to mention, if you need the vine to loosen, and the dirt does not have a neutralizer, you've other problems. Carrying around a handful of dirt can be a nuisence." He grabbed a pole and allowed the vine to wrap around it. "These plants have been bred to have a weakness to iron pyrite, which will neutralize them whenever it is introduced to a wound. But only from the wound to the tip. On first discovery of the plant, they had to be conditioned to it. Don't ask me how, but they managed. I hear pyrite is soothing to them somehow. But wizards needed a weakness if they wanted to use the plant."

Garret had snickered at Clifford's downfall, that vine thing was wicked awesome. He couldn't wait to show Heath! Tarzan would go absolutely bonkers for it, and then maybe they could perfect their technique and try it on Masterson. They needed to keep the old man on his toes, after all.

And then maybe they'd work on their vine swinging.

Iggy frowned, "But Sir, who carries around Iron pyrite?" He knew he didn't have any pyrite on him. He preferred the real stuff, to Fool's Gold.

Jason thought to himself, he can thank the professor for figuring out how to get to the girls side with the swinging vines.

"Well, that's the trick now, isn't it?" He smirked and cut another piece of the vine loose. "The good news is, it's in most dirt in trace amounts. The bad news is it's only in most dirt, and not all. And you don't always know which is going to be which until it's too late." He laid one end of the vine against the base of the first, and it nearly adhered itself. He cut another and repeat the process. "Now, someone mentioned vine-swinging. Who actually wants to give it a try?"

Garret actually came up off his chair in his haste to get his hand up in the air, "MEMEME!" He waved his arm to emphasize his excitement, ooooooh vine-swinging! Heath was going to positively die of envy now!

Alex raised his hand with non-chalance, "I've done stupider things before."

Will's hand shot up so hard and fast that he actually stood up on tip toe. "I'll do it, sir!" he shouted eagerly. Never mind that he was always a little afraid of Professor Erikson... VINE SWINGING? Oh HECK yeah! He wondered if, should he be picked, he should change his uniform for one of those loincloths like in the black and white muggle movies his grandpapa showed him... Zoltan, the jungle man, wasn't that his name? He waggled his hand in the air to make sure Erikson didn't miss noticing that his hand was up, up, UP in volunteer mode.

Barry put up his hand "It can`t be that bad"

Erikson couldn't help but laugh at the reactions that he got from the students. "Alright, then. Billium, I believe you mentioned it first. You can have first go at it, then I'll let everyone else have a shot. Get over on that table over there." He pointed to a table to the right of them which was a good four feet off the ground.

Will jumped up and sketched a quick salute at the professor. "heee hee HEEE..." he squealed happily as he dashed over and climbed up onto the table. He contemplated the loincloth thing- they had learned a charm for changing clothes last term, after all... But then, really, he didn't feel like being that exposed. He rolled up his sleeves and readied himself for his great flight. "How do I do it, sir? Do I just grab a vine and go?" He wasn't sure if the plant would get offended or something and he didn't want to end up tangled into it and bound up, if he could help it. Or worse, strangled.

He chuckled lightly. "No no. Here." He handed the pole-like vine over. "Hold it at the base, then lean it over onto that bar right there..." He pointed up to a beam that had been put there for the sake of the class. "Then give it a tug to make sure it's latched on. Once it is you can hold onto it a little higher up. Then hold tight, jump off, and aim for the table on the other side, alright?"

Will listened intently and nodded. He was glad to see Professor Erikson looking more relaxed than he had in recent times, smiling and chuckling even. At least if this went badly, perhaps Will wouldn't lose points like in that disastrous charms class. "Yes, SIR!" he said. He carefully followed the instructions, attaching the vine and tugging on it. It seemed secure. He grabbed it up high above his head and shoved off from the table, hard.

In an instant, he was sailing through the air! He couldn't resist the moment, giving out his best Zoltan, Jungle man, yell. "Aaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaah--haaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" he cried as he crossed over toward the other table. Not really thinking, he let go with one hand to beat his chest like he'd seen the man do in the muggle film. He immediately started sliiiiiding down the vine. Will panicked and grabbed the vine again- just as the vine grabbed at him. Thankfully, his feet hit the safety of the other table at that moment. He balanced on the table, letting go of it with one hand.

"That. was. AWESOME!!!!!" he said happily. "Can I queue up to do it again?"

He chuckled slightly and walked over, using the soil to get the plant to relax... the particular length let go of both Will and the other vine it was attached to, causing the hanging bit to come swinging down. "Talk to me after class. Everyone else, get in line and take turns. Be careful not to hold it too high up." He reattached the vine to the swinging portion and brought it back to the table for the other students to have a turn. "First come, first serve, one time only."

Will nodded, hopping down. He suddenly liked Professor Scareikson Erikson a whole lot- he wasn't as scary as he'd thought, perhaps. He watched the others queue up for a turn in vine-swingin' paradise.

Barry got into line hoping he was next. And guess what he was he asked the professer "May I swing on the vine?"

Clifford watched Will's vine swinging show in awe. The Prefect sure made it look cool. He was sure he hadn't looked quite so cool being dragged to the floor, but hey. "Woooo!! Go Will!" He grinned, claping enthusiastically when the show ended. "Dude, you rock!"

Will bowed low at Clifford, grinning. "Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week- try the veal!" He laughed, leaning back to watch the others have a go.

Erikson nodded. "Up on the table, Barry. I'll hand you the end after."