'Hmm...' Freya thought as she watched a number of arrows bounce off the professor's shield. 'What is it with Professors and their risk taking this year? Oh well, works for me...' She waited for further instruction and wondered why her aim was off today, it wasn't like her.

Elizabeth had sat back, watching everyone else try the spell after she had done it the first time. It wasn't that she thought she didn't need any more practice, she just wanted to watch everyone else's techniques. And it had gotten a bit tense when Professor Pierce had offered herself as a target, but the stunt had proven that the protection spells worked.

Tilting her head to one side as she realized some of the other students had decided to try casting the spell nonverbally, she moved to stand in front of the target she had used earlier again. Staring at the target again, she jabbed her wand at the bullseye again, thinking Shrowan! forcefully. And she felt vindicated when an arrow shot out, aiming straight for the target and watching as it imbedded itself in the center.

Mackenzie took some deep calming breaths, knowing no one could get hurt. "Shrowan," she said as she jabbed her wand towards the bullseye. An arrow came shooting out of her wand and she watched as it hit just to the left of the bullseye. She didn't let that discourage her.

She took another deep calming breath and said, "Shrowan," with more force as she jab her wand. Soon, the arrow was sailing out of the end of her wand and straight into the bullseye. She couldn't believe how quickly she had gotten the spell down. This class was turning out to be her best one. She smiled, very proud of herself.

Chris smiled at Professor Pierce as she made her point at how safe it was he then retried his spell trying to get the middle of the bull's-eye this time. "Shrowan!' he yelled and it shot out of the tip of his wand and it whistled through the air and with a thud it went in the bull's-eye."Yes, Professor Pierce i got it in the center!"

Wow... people at this school have good aim. And to think, professional darts and archery people couldn't always do this well.

"Erm... Shrowan!" Jake uttered, watching as the tip of an arrow fell out of the end of his wand.

"Well... it's progress..." he muttered, picking up the arrowhead and placing it on a desk for safekeeping. "Shrowan!"

Ahh... and here was the rest of the arrow, clattering down.

Jake wasn't quite sure where he was going wrong, so he looked around at the people having success. Then he remembered the jabbing motion, kind of like a sword thrruuuust.

One last time.

"Shrowan!" he tried, whilst jabbing the wand forwards. This time, a full arrow actually came out... and dropped a foot away from him.

"Progress!!!!!" he smiled. That wasn't bad for him.

Ana pointed her wand to the target and said "Shrowan!" and an arrow came out of her wand. wow! great!. She wonders if she could do it without talking and she give it a try. Shrowan she thought but nothing happened probably too advanced for a first year she thought

Alex smiled gently, "Try saying it like this, SHRO-wan. And try not to be nervous, you'll get it dear."
"Good job!" Alex beamed, it was very encouraging when he students caught on quick.

Chris smiled and said "thanks!" and he turned around and faced the targets again. "Shrowan!" and he shot another in the middle again. He beamed he was so proud of himself. He was really getting the hang of this.

Okay, this isn't entirely unlike archery, and archery isn't so hard. Tobi tried to convince himself, but the idea of shooting a sharp projectile from his wand didn't sit too well with him, seeing as he didn't seem to be able to manage ribbons so easily.

Tobi had kept his mouth shut and paid very close attention all of class up to this point, wanting to make sure he got the instructions right. Ten targets, pick a target, speak the incantation clearly. You can't hurt anyone, they're protected.

Tobi positioned himself, aiming for the nearest target

Ready, Aim.. Oh! Yeah, the Goggles!

He brought the Goggles, currently sitting atop of his disheveled mane of blond curls down over his eyes.

"SHRO-wan!"

Miracle of miracles, for once in his life, Tobi had carried off an incantation correctly. The arrow flew strait from his wand toward the target, hitting just left of the bull's eye.

I did it! Tobi's mind rejoiced. I did it I did it I did it! WOO!

Hokaii...

Jake raised his wand, and held it like a snooker cue, resting it on his hand. This was the only way he could get the aim and the jabbing motion in one go.

And... FIYYAAHHHHH!!!!!

"Shrowan!!!!!" he cried, doing the jab thingy. Unfortunately, the power of the arrow sent his wand a little off balance, causing it to veer off a bit lot.

"Well... that sucks..." Jake muttered, resolving to trying different ways of doing this spell. At least this time the arrow went a little further.

GAH!!!!! Stupid protective goggles are getting on my nerves! Jake thought, determined not to remove them.

Amanda tried once more on the target, she stepped behind the line and got a good grip on her wand. "Shrowan!" She said the incantation clearly and the arrow came out of her wand hitting dead center of the bullseye after her third time practicing this spell. She was quite pleased with herself and with more practice, she would have perfect aim all of the time.

"That was great everyone! For homework, I am going to set up a firing range just like this in the room across the hall. You will have three shots at the target, the better the shots**, the more points! As a bonus, after your homework is done, I will leave the firing range open for the rest of term! Feel free to come in and practice the spell, or any other spells, on the targets." Alex said with a grin. "Are there any questions?"

OOC: **= 'Better shots' means, like the previous homework, will be graded on creativity and success with the spell.

For this particular homework, it will be due in 4 days instead of the normal week.

Twilight Mcdonahue had gotten to class on time and had noticed her professor wasn't feeling well , but she thought it best to stay in the back of the classroom as her eyes were hurting her and she didn't want to add to any trouble.

She slowly made notes about what was being talked. She blushed at the comment of being afraid and actually that wasn't her problem, she was afraid of the arrow going somewhere else with her vision so blurry today. She did go and get her glasses though. She put the drops in her eyes the nurse had given her and just watched the other studetns start.

Finally her vision started to clear and so she stood up and tried to make the same wand movement that she saw the others do and then say "shrowan!" Her wand did not produce an arrow but instead a stick that stuck to her wand. SHe felt like crying (again here she goes wasnt it bad enough she cried in charms class!)

Ana heard what the professor was saying. That should be a fun homework!...she thought and smiled to herself thinking on the dozens of arrows flying across the room. She gather her things "Bye bye professor!" and she left

Twilight hesitated, she wasn't sure what to do, did she raise her hand and ask her question or should she go up to the professor's desk and talk to her close up. She still had tears in her eyes. She carefully wiped them away with her sleeve and tried to think what to do.

Maybe she should just go to her office and talk to her there. She quietly picked up her things and packed hr bag and softly left the classroom.

"Alright then." Melanie said, nodding and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. She didn't know about everyone else, but regardless of the teachers demonstration she still was a bit wary of the flying arrows. Of course the stubborn Hufflepuff was never going to admit that to anyone. Ever.

She held her wand in her hand, trying to make it balance itself out before she tried the spell again. "SHRO-wan." she said, mimicking the professor to the best of her ability and making a little jab in the air with her wand. With one of her eyes squinted and the other closed so she could aim the girl made the arrow go flying. She had, of course been aiming for the target, but instead the stubborn arrow had decided to go down. It hit her own shield bubble, pitifully and landed on the floor. Regardless the first year was thrilled. At least this time an arrow had came from her wand. "Thanks Professor." she said grinning.