Sierra could feel a grin spread widely across her face as she thought about one, lone rock she needed. As she scouted the pitch for one that she might be able to catch, she listened for the sound of one or two falling in to her cauldron. It'd be just fine by her if that last rock would just fall on in, and then she'd be over and done with this unless Vindictus had something else for them to do.

Sierra started circling the pitch again, looking for an opening in the crowd, so she could dart in and snag some rocks. With all the other flyers around, though, there really wasn't space at all. Where were all these people coming from?! Were there usually this many people in class?

...

Sierra saw one, lone rock falling by itself just a few yards ahead. She dashed forward, a smile spread all the way across her face and stopped just below the rock. Closer...closer...closer...

...CLINK!

Victory! The rock landed just perfectly, and with that, Sierra had caught the twenty-four rocks needed.

As Belle was getting prepared to swoop down, she noticed another wave of falling rocks. O.o.....oh joy... Belle thought. She dived using her quidditch skills from years before. She narrowly missed rocks hitting her eyes. She was thankful for that. Then she noticed her knuckles were raw red. She was having cuts on her hands too from the rough edges of the rocks.

Then Belle noticed some rocks were coming down. She dove down to where the most rocks were. As Belle dived, rocks were bouncing off the cauldron.

BING! BANG! BING! BING!

Was all she felt on the outside of her cauldron. Then Belle felt one go in the inside of her cauldron. Yes! She got one. Belle was happy. Her diving skills worked after all. Now she wanted to try her seeker skills again. Try to find any on the ground. As Belle noticed a glimpse of the rock on the ground. That rock was hers to keep.

URGHHHHH.

She hated these injuries. SHE JUST DID. Kat had already had enough injuries for today. Now all she was going to do is endure them. Ugh, can't she just leave and go to the Hospital Wing? She just needed to tend these wounds as soon as possible.

Sighs... Useless.

CLUNK!

SNORT. Just one rock... LAME LAME LAME LAME. Kat can do better than just that. She will. Promises.

Laura was zooming around the pitch, just looking for a couple of rocks to fall together, she hoped that she could find two coming down together, she was really ignoring just one rock falling on it's own.

*clang *clang*

Laura smiled she had finally made it, she looked at her cauldron and smiled, she now had 25 rocks in the cauldron, she was so totally excited about that, she was glad she had got the amount of rocks that she had, she had reached her target.

"a game sure!" she said to her friend. and really it was no surprise she was in a class really it was a surprise the SLYTHERIN was in a class but ariana had been to every class she was enrolled in this term She was a bit proud of herself. She flew forward catching up with her friend

Pink Pang Clang.

Rocks hit the side of her cauldron and her shoulder "ow. merlins beard! she said. Unbeknowst to the girl in the middle of all that Pingingand Clanging a single stone made it into her cauldron tolling 18

And then another wave of rocks. THAT'S IT. If Kat could just make these rocks fall on Vindictus's face, that would be really entertaining to her. Cause honestly... this was a lot of waves already and Kat's body was filled with bruises and injuries from all the flying rocks. GULP.

The blonde just stayed there. She didn't want to move or else her body would get bruises again... And it made her look ugly. She'll sacrifice some rocks first...

CLUNK! CLUNK!

"What the-?" Kat reacted. So even if she stayed in place, the rocks would go after her? NOBODY TOLD HER THAT. Hmmph, so stupid.

All the swirling and zig-zagging he was doing was making Theo's headache even worse. But he wasn't gonna let that get in his way. His technique alone gained him another five rocks within two minutes.

Though he WAS very aware that all the other students were snatching all them up.

There'd BETTER be some left for him.
....

Stopping for another moment to check his cauldron, Theo BEAMED at the full eighteen rocks, big and small ones. How many were left? Four? Let's hope nothing, or no one would knock him off NOW.

Ding, ding. OH TWO MORE, and he didn't even try. Oh, sheesh.

Content with his progress so far, Max continued to glide slowly through the air, aware of the people around him at all times. His gaze alternated every few seconds between the sky and his surroundings, planning every move carefully. So what if others were catching rocks faster than him? He was not getting slammed into by others, losing his rocks, or being smacked by falling rocks every few seconds. Slow and steady won the race, right?

As he tilted his head upward, he spied a falling rock whose trajectory put it a few feet away from where he was - until he very neatly turned and caught it in the center of his cauldron. "Eleven," he tallied under his breath, shooting a glance down at Emmaleigh near the ground to make sure she was still okay. "Almost halfway there.," he murmured, turning his eyes back up to the sky, eager to reach that halfway point.

Max gripped the handle on the school broomstick tightly, leaned forward slightly, and began his gentle glide once more, giving a swift glance to his surroundings before planning which of the falling rocks to go for next. He much preferred it when they just came to him - that way, he didn't have to steer around wild flyers, and he wouldn't fly face-first into falling rocks. Waiting for a rock that came a bit too close to him, he smirked as one started from high above him, just to his right. He took a moment to peer at those around him, checking that none of them were going to try to go for the same rock, then he promptly positioned his cauldron underneath and made the catch.

Halfway there.

WOah.

A sudden wave of overconfidence dawned on him, causing Theo to nearly fall OFF his broom from reaching out for a rock too far. This was usually his downfall during Quidditch matches. Just got too darn cocky. Well, that wouldn't happen anymore. Theodore was pretty sure his awesome chaser skills overcame any of that.

But once he concentrated, the second year managed to catch a further two rocks in his hands, not at the same time, obviously.

CLANG.

"OW!" Someone SO totally lobbed that at his cauldron-helmet. But, result, it bounced off of his head and into his collection. Ha, take that, imaginary rock-throwers!

...
.............. Okay.
.....................
Just one more but WHERE WERE THEY ALL?

Theo legit couldn't see any rocks.

Minerva smiled as she saw Ariana coming up behind her. "Great, this should make the rest of the class go pretty quick. I think you'll beat me though, I keep getting hit instead of getting them in the cauldron." She laughed and rubbed her eye that was watering from being hit.

Looking around she saw more rocks, "Over there.." she yelled as she leaned left a bit and took off toward the falling rocks. Heading under them she tried to figure out a good place to catch one. Leaning her head a bit she felt the rock hit the side of her cauldron, but not go in. Grumble.. this is not how it was suppose to go. She swung around and tried for another.. Hearing the clanging of the rock falling in she smiled, "There is another one.." She called to Ariana.

HE WAS SO CLOSE. Yet soooo far.

No matter how hard he tried, he just could not grab the last one. Maybe all the rocks to the head had sent his vision in a tizzy, or maybe the last remaining rocks were jinxed to fly AWAY from him? If either of those predictions were true, there would be one angry Theodore.

After clawing both hands into the air at flying rocks, and FAILING, Theodore threw an airborne strop, if that were even possible.

Yep, he just sat there, arms folded, and pouting.

But then it dawned on him, if people who had already caught their 24 were down there watching him now, he'd look a bit like a tool. So what a perfect way to show off his seekering skills. His first SEEKER MOMENT, since he was a chaser and probably wouldn't ever get a seeker moment. The second year leaned forwards and sped off across the pitch, lowering himself a bit more this time. Perhaps they were hiding down here?

He was soon following one, but it was going FAST, so he needed to go FASTER. However, obviously, he went too fast and soon lost complete control over his broomstick. Thankfully, he managed to keep a lid on things.

It wasn't that bad. When you think of it, Theo WAS still a second year with little broomstick experience.

*sigh* He wanted those rocks, though....

Over there!? Over where!? Ariana simply followed Minniee to where she flew Zippinf along next to her. Ariana wanted her ownn broom she'd go FAST FAST FAST.

oh HERE! she thought as a shower of rocks fell over their heads "OWWWW" she said as one knocked her right in the nose!

"Evil rocks!" she cried as she heard a slight PING in her cauldron "NINETEEEN!!" she said to min still rubbing her nose looking around most of the rocks were taken. SAVE SOME FOR THE RES.. CLUNK.. "TWENTY!" ariana had almost finished the final

MY ROCK. MY ROCK.

Some people called it stalling, Theo called it mulling over his current rocks. He stopped once again to recount them, because counting wasn't his forte and he worried about missing some. But nope, he was still just that one short. And the last one was proving most difficult. It was definitely a jinx. Or a curse, placed entirely on him. Cos Alec didn't seem to have had a problem?

After picking the perfect rock to follow, Theo gripped hold of his broomstick tightly and whizzed off towards it.

Nearly there. Nearly there. The second year lifted up his hand and streeeeeeeeetched it out. One... more... inch. *SNATCH* Theo tumbled forwards a bit, but ended up just doing some sort of loop-de-loop. Once he was back to normal, he opened up his hand and BEAMED at the last rock in his hand. And in the cauldron it goes.

THAT, ladies and gents, was Theodore's seeker moment.

He counted the cauldron contents for one last time, worrying that if he touched down to the floor, they'd all disappear again. In fact, he didn't immediately set his feet to the floor, just hovered about an inch from it. Yes, good plan.

*le wait*

Come onnnn, these other students were taking forever. Psssht.

Minerva smiled at Ariana as she followed, "I wish I could have my bat right now. I could try and hit a rock into your cauldron for you." Now that would be fun. Looking around it seemed rocks were not falling as fast, hmm that might not be good. How many rocks did they need again. Just as she was going to ask a new group of rocks came falling down. "Catch me if you can.." She giggled towards Ariana and leaned right flying quickly towards the rocks.

As she made it closer to the rocks she felt them pelting her arms. This was getting really annoying, she went to glance up to find the best place to catch the rocks when she heard one hit in her cauldron, now why couldn't they all be like that. Soon she moved a small step forward right as two were coming down near her. Moving her head left she heard them clunk into the cauldron, but the force of two made the cauldron vibrate and hurt her head. "I think I'm getting a headache" She turned to see if Ariana got anymore when she felt something hit her arm and another fall into her cauldron. Woohoo that was twenty rocks.. She had to be close, right...

Energized and ready to continue the battle, Max tightened the strap securing the cauldron on his head, gave the cauldron a wobble on both sides to make sure it was still attached well, and locked eyes with his next target. As soon as he spotted one that started to fall within a few feet of him, he leaned forward on his broom and lined himself up underneath with plenty of time to spare. CLUNK!

Making sure that no one was flying in his vicinity - or at least that no one was going to run into him - Max picked up more speed than he had so far in an attempt to make the catch of a falling rock that was a bit farther away than he would have liked. As he flew, he held onto the broom with one hand and rested his other on the side of the cauldron for balance. In a last effort to get there in time, Max leaned forward just a bit more to speed himself up, and... CUH-CLUNK!

The rock must have hit the side before resting along the bottom because Max immediately tilted his head up to see if the rock had started to bounce back out - or if he had missed it completely- and it hadn't. Luckily, it had stayed in nicely.

So... maybe it was okay to go a bit faster?

"that would be so awesome if you DID!" have a bat that is... then she could justt knock them into each other's cauldrons... heh. that would be Funnnn.

if only theycould. they should of just played quidditch today instead of this dumb CLUMP.. Oh HAII Another rock. would you look at that.

Ariana ZOOMMEDDD to catch up to min as she dashed forward. She caught up to her with ease of course and then

Cling clang pink pong clang clunk a SHOWER of tiny stones fell on top of them another landing in her cauldron "this game is like pure Luck." really it was.

"Yes it is pure luck.." She said looking back at Ariana and as she turned her head to see which other way to go she heard a ping into her cauldron, "Yup pure luck.." She laughed and then looped around to face Ariana. "Hmm which way to go now.." Looking around she grinned and spun a 180 facing the opposite direction.

She sped away from Ariana to see if her friend could keep up. She was headed to the other side of the pitch when she stopped quickly at a rainfall of rocks that she couldn't see.. "Ouch..ouch..ouch.." Would they stop hitting her already. Then she heard a clunk. Well at least one got in the right place, thankful another hit in her cauldron.

Even though he wondered if his newfound interest in going faster was going to ruin his progress, Max decided that it was quite boring to go the pace he had been so far. If he did what some of the other kids had been doing, he could just swoop around the pitch, scooping up a bunch of rocks as he went! He had seen one kid lap half of the pitch and land a few extra rocks that way... it was pretty smart, really. But that kid also risked slamming into someone.

Max didn't like the idea of knocking anyone down - or having anyone knock him down. Everyone had worked too hard. Max would feel bad for weeks, even after the term ended.

Tilting his head up to peer at the sky, he kept an eye out for rocks that fell conveniently close to each other - and unlike with the first rocks he caught, he broadened the zone he was willing to chase and peered further into the sky.

THERE!

Though he was willing to go faster now, Max still couldn't help but peer cautiously around at the nearby students before leaning onto his broom and veering past them to reach the stones he wanted to catch. With a CLUNK!, he positioned himself under the first one, then swerved around a stationary student, dove, and caught the other rock with another CLUNK!

Sixteen down, eight to go.

Minerva looked behind her.. "Come on Ari.. Show me that Snake Chaser speed." She laughed as she leaned forward flying towards more falling rocks. This just even sounded like they needed straight jackets, flying towards rocks.. Looking ahead she dodged a few other students and then stopped trying to see if she could catch anymore rocks. Hoping to catch more then one, but happy for even just one.

She was about to turn and head a different way when she slipped, not sure what made her slip, but her hands slipped forward and the broom headed downward to the ground. This was not good, pulling up Minerva tried to get out of the nose dive. As her broom finally leveled she looked down, wow that was to close, she thought to her self and started to head back up in the air. Noticing she was headed toward some rocks she leaned her head down to try and catch at least one. Feeling the rock hit and hearing the pings and clunk she smiled. That was another one at least.

THUD

Owwww. That was a Big one! and heavy too. the girl thought as she lost her balance a bit bet caught it quickly not even noticing her friend sped off.

"Chaser Speed!?" She speed up to her as fast as the measly school broom allowed her too. "I can't show you Anythign on this measly school broom." she said catching up to her friend " but get me on my own and you'll see me really fly." she admitted as Min seemed to loose control and NOSE DIVE towards the ground "MINERVA!" ariana called out racing behind her friend... this was like her first quidditch game all over again. except it was min and not went and she was still on her broom and He wasnt. But then she managed to level out "what the hell was that?" she asked more the broom then her when PING "TWENTY FOUR!" she threw her fist in the air "that's all I need for the class!!!" though her and min we're still playing hehe hope professor doesnt mind

Minerva looked at Ariana with a bit of a surprise, "I.. I don't really know. i think all these rocks are making my head top heavy.. I slipped, glad I was able to catch myself though." Minerva swung around in the air a bit, yeah she seemed to have control again. "I have such a headache from this.. Can't wait until it's done." She stayed still in the air looking at her friend. "I think I'm going to fly to the other end, but not going as fast, take my time and hopefully avoid some of the rocks hitting me."

Minerva leaned forward and took off on down the pitch, this time being a little more careful. She dodged a few rocks and found herself below another downfall of rocks. Feeling them hit her she glanced up trying to see if she could catch any when baam right in the forehead a rock hit her. "Are you kidding me!!" She rubbed her head looking straight ahead again when she her a clunk, well at least one went in the right spot this time. What was that 24 now..

Subconsciously securing his cauldron once more, Max steered himself toward the stands, wanting to be near the outside of the pitch to get a better view of the playing field. As he did so, he saw a rock falling just ahead of him along his flight path, so he picked up his pace and tilted his head so the stone fell nicely into his cauldron.

So that kid before WAS on to something...

Maybe it worked just as well to keep moving than to stay in the same place and wait for the rocks to fall nearby.

As he neared the edge of the stands, Max slowed down, turned, and faced the middle of the pitch. He watched the others for a few long seconds, taking in their various strategies, then began to glide slowly through the air once more. He was growing quite bored of the sport and wondered why twenty-four was their goal. Wasn't it kind of a... random number?

Max turned his gaze over to the man in the stands, once again noting that he seemed to be finding a lot of joy in torturing his students - especially the young ones who kept managing to lose all their rocks. As he watched them, the seventh year spied a larger rock falling from the sky about ten feet from him. Picking up speed quickly, he positioned his cauldron underneath and braced himself for impact. CLUNK! "Ow..."

Ok so... she only needed one more rock in her cauldron. Just ONE more rock. That's all she needed and had to catch with her bloody heavy cauldron. Yeah, it was heavy despite the charm Vindictus casted on it. It wasn't working well with her head. Did he want to crush her skull?

LOL no.

THERE. There was a rock over there! That was all Kat needed to finally finish with this skull-crushing game of Creaothceann. Ugh. She should nap after this finals. Diving down and to her front, Kat looked up to see if she was aligned to the falling rock. She so badly needed to get it. UGH. The Slytherin closed her eyes...

... She was going to SUCCESSFULLY catch this darn rock.

CLUNK!

*SMIRK* So........................... I guess we should celebrate?

He watches that stone miss him by mere inches and fall the several feet towards the ground below. Silently he wanted to kick himself for having missed something-- he usually never misses a target he’s set for himself. Then again given that he was sore all over and theres this constant ringing in his ears certainly that’s a good reason to affect his performance right?

No he’s not accepting that as a reason.

He scoured the air for another rock that he could anticipate its trajectory and soon enough he spotted one. He dug his heels and zoomed upward, thinking of meeting the stone halfway thr--

--KLANG!!

He sped up too fast. He knew the stone didn’t fall into the pot because he can feel a spot on his head starting to sting…

Continuing his newfound method of gliding slowly to let the rocks come to him, Max tilted the handle on his broomstick downward and flew a bit closer to the ground to give himself more time to react to the rocks as they fell. He peeked upward at the falling rocks and jolted toward one, moving his head to let it fall into his cauldron with success.

Even with Vindictus's featherweight charm, the rocks were still a bit heavy as they collected on his head. Almost so much so that he worried he or they might topple over and out if he leaned too much to one side and lost his balance.

Which gave him even more motivation to get done as quickly as possible. There was a light at the end of the tunnel...

Upon spying another falling rock nearby, Max did almost a complete turn-around and shot after it. He leaned forward on his broom, awkwardly trying to keep his head upright, and made it under the rock just in the nick of time with a powerful CLUNK! He felt the other rocks bounce and shift as the new rock made impact.

Twenty.