Kace got the hang of Henshu and now he had to go on and practice the Ligatenous spell. Hmm...and this one was supposed to conjure chains. But them had to aim at the dummies? That should be simple and he just had to point his wand.

He practiced saying the spell first. "Lig-a-at-en-ous-......?" Yeah that sounded about right. Nope nope...not compared to what he wrote down. He tried again.

"Lig-at-en-ous...Lig-at-en-ous....Lig-at-en-ous....Lig-at-en-ous...Ligatenous....Ligatenous....Ligatneous....Li gatenous....." he smiled when he was getting the hang of it.

He decided it was time to put the spell in action. He walked over towards the dummy. He pointed his wand and felt confident. He pointed and said, "Ligatenous!" very clearly and then he saw little chains appear out of the wand but didn't reach the dummy. But at least it worked right?

Okay so next spell he could do this. He did the Sneezing sounding one so now it was time to do this one. He watched the others and was really annoyed he couldn't hit someone with the chains. That would have been cooler than the dummy but for now he would have to deal. At least they weren't lecture lecture lecture. So this one Professor Chaos would be on the alright list.

So he looked at the dummy and pointed his wand, "Ligatenous!" Nothing.. Really this again. He could do this spell it couldn't be that hard other second years were doing it. His mind left the spell as he thought about who'd he would use the chains on when he realized he wasn't doing the spell again. Sighing at his own focus he turned and pointed, "Ligatenous" Still nothing..

He kicked his foot forgetting he never took the grip charm off and tripped stumbling into someone.

Okay, she was ready.

Eyes narrowed and focused on the dummy that was across from her, Ella raised her wand and aimed directly at the chest area. Her mind was clear as she said, "Ligatenous!"

She knew before she saw it that her spell had worked, could feel the power of it even before she witnessed the chains wrap around the dummy. It was amazing, magic was. Especially when you managed to do it correctly, yeah? The eighteen year old was going to thank all the practicing she'd been doing lately.

NEWTs really were a blessing and a curse.

And she was going to go again, just to be sure that wasn't luck.

Wand pointed again after shaking out her arms a bit, Ella focused all her attention on the dummy and what she wanted knew was going to happen. "Ligatenous!"

....And she was going over.

Oh Merlin.

SQUEAK!

He wasn't laughing, that was good. Beverly gave him a grateful grin. She wouldn't cry if he had. Just gotten a bit grouchy with him, but she didn't want to be grouchy with him. He was pretty chill.

"I guess," she said, trying not to sound so disappointed. Maybe it was the load of homework or the fact that she tried finishing it all in one day, but she was oddly tired. She needed sweets. "I concentrated more on the dummy than in the spell," she admitted, rubbing her forehead.

Grinning sheepishly, she watched as he took a go at the spell. Her eyes brightened when the chains Train Boy produced wrapped around the dummy. Limp, but still there.

At the wink she playfully rolled her eyes at him. "You say it like it's a good thing," she said. "Okay, my turn again."

This time she felt a bit more confident. Not like Gryffindor here, but more than a few moments ago. She pointed her wand at the dummy next to Train Boy's. "Ligatenous!"

As chains sped toward the dummy, she concentrated on her goal. She wanted that sucker trapped and chained. The chains hit the dummy square on its face, toppling it over. Well...

"That...was better." It made some damage and the chains hadn't just poof'ed like before. Improvement, yeah.

His turn. :3

Sander looked up when Professor Romanos responded to his question. He nodded his understanding. 'Okay, so it'll either be Relashio or Defodio, to break the chains. But what about now. Do I leave the chains on the dummy?' Sander thought to himself. He glanced over at the dummy before looking at the Professor before turning back to the dummy. Then he shrugged. Since this was his practice dummy for now, he decided that he would practice casting the spell again.

He looked at the dummy, pointed his wand at it, concentrated on what he wanted the spell to do and then said the incantation, "Ligatenous". Chains flew out of his wand and wrapped itself over the dummy, clinking against the ones that were already there.

Now to practice the first spell again. He pointed his wand at his feet, and said, "Finite" ending the spell. He then moved around to make the spell was removed before he cast it again.

Concentrating on the spell and with a twist and a horizontal flick of his wand, he pointed it at his feet and said, "Henshu.". He then tried out the spell by walking around. The floor didn't feel as slippery as it had been earlier.

Thud

He was on top of someone. "I'm sorry.. I forgot to take the spell off my shoe before starting the next spell." He quickly got up and offered the older girl or umm the head girl his hand. Oops he had knocked over the head girl. He noticed the badge and stared at it a bit.

He looked to make sure she was alright, but still tried to act cool, "So sup" He nodded a bit, "Getting these spells pretty good?" He pointed his wand wanting to impress now. "Ligatenous" The chains went out but his wand was pointed high so the chains flew way over the dummies head.

"Oh well I meant to do that. Just going towards the dummy is kind of boring need to spice it up." yeah, because that sounded like the cool thing, right?

Welp.

Ella wasn't sure what had happened or how she had ended up on the ground with a first year on top of her but considering everything going on lately, this didn't seem that strange. Her luck had boarded Oakey-status and this was just one example of that.

"S'okay," She mumbled as she fought the urge to cry out at the pain that was currently shooting up her side. Merlin, what had she broken her hip? The blonde accepted the boy's hand and noted that he was the Gryffindor. The loud one who had been rude to Airey. Oh, ho, ho. Looks for you, little one. At least he'd apologized.

Sup? The eighteen year old smoothed her uniform once she was off the ground and raised her eyebrows slightly. "Just, y'know, practicing spells." Cause class and all. Yeah. She would have answered his question about how her spell work was coming too but then the boy was shooting a wild spell at the dummies and Ella did all she could not to laugh. Cause laughing would have been really mean.

"Spice it up, right." The kid got a grin from the badger who was amused at his antics. "Just be careful, yeah?" Seriously.

Seeing the slightly stressed look on her face, Michael gave her an encouraging smile. "Hey, don't worry too much about it. You almost had it. Just gotta practice is all."

Just like him apparently. He had done managed this spell before, well okay not this spell exactly but he had conjured ropes before and chains weren't really that different so this should have been a piece of cake.

Except that his mind had been elsewhere. He hadn't been lying when he had said that to her. "Well it's certainly not a bad thing." He flashed her another smile before turning towards the dummy to see how she went this time.

He probably should concentrate more on the spell they were supposed to be doing than how pretty he thought she was. There were far too many girls at Hogwarts. No wonder he couldn't pay attention properly.

Seeing the chains hit the dummy and then knock it over, Michael gave her a slightly surprised look before applauding her efforts. "Remind me to never get on your bad side."

Merlin!

Michael turned back to the dummies and raised his wand, took a deep breath and focused on his intentions. "Ligatenous." Just like before, chains flew out of his wand and flew straight at the dummy.

This time they managed to wrap themselves around the dummy AND stay there. He turned back to Little Bunny and grinned. "Of course it's easy to hit something that is stationary."

Ben guessed he should actually try to cast the spell upon the dummy seeing as most everyone else was at that point in the practice. And it wasn't as if the incantation and the movement would be the trouble but the intent and the follow through. And the aim in some respect. He had to make sure that the spell only hit what he wanted it to and avoid the rest of the people around him who were trying the same thing. Ligatenous...Ligatenous...Ligatenous....Ligatenous he went over and over in his head in further practice before he did the deed.

"Ligatenous!" the Gryffindor finally cast aloud, aiming at his target, thankfully the only target they had been allowed to work with. Benjamin didn't fathom trying chains on a living target. Sure enough the spell worked, chains appearing out from his wand and shooting ahead of him. He jerked in surprise and had to catch himself before the movement of his arm sent them off in an awkward direction.

Perhaps his luck was holding for it soon hit the dummy in front of him. However it didn't quite wrap around it like he supposed it should have, the chains slipping down the form once the spell dissipated, clearly not tight.

Okay, so with the wand movement and incantation pretty much down pat, Sophie should really focus her attention on those dummies in the back of the room. Sophie traveled across the room and stood before a dummy. So she needed to pretty much attack it with chains, right?

Right.

Sophie raised her wand again and simply pointed it toward the dummy. "Ligatenous!" she called out. A poof of pure smoke shot forward and surrounded the dummy. Well, if she was trying to run him out the room, she would have been in luck. Unfortunately, there were no chains involved in the attack.

Ian felt himself lifted up and he took a few minutes to try and stretch out his legs. He continued working on the spell until he was sticking to the ground. It took some time and work with the amount of wand swishing he had to do, but he made sure he could do it ambidexterously.

After he'd 'mastered' Henshu, he began working on the next spell, trying to ensure that he was well of other students whom he might inadvertently hit. He was a little skittish after the affair in the treehouse.

Mitchell looked at his wand for a few seconds. Conjuring chains. Cool. He didn't know that was a thing. Ropes, yeah. Chains, not so much.

Walking over to a wall he aimed his wand at it. "Ligatenous." he said. ... Meh. That could be better. He touched the feeble chain that came out. It looked like a necklace chain really.

He took a deep breath. He'll give it another shot. "Ligatenous!" he said. This time in a stronger voice. He smiled. He was pleased with the chains that came erupting out of his wand. Sure it wouldn't stop like a truck, but it would be enough to... stop something. Yeah. Cool. Now. What was the activity? He was ready to use it now.

Of course he was spicing it up. Totally meant to do that yep. He wouldn't say anything else about it. "Careful? Oh of course I'm careful always careful." Sure why not. He was sometimes careful it worked right? He looked over to the dummies and thought about trying again. "Well have fun." He turned and went to walk away but tripped and fell on his face again.

OUCH

Stupid shoe he pointed his wand, "Finite" There now his shoes wouldn't stick again. Getting up he gave the head girl a I'm cool.. I'm cool look.

Now it was time to practice again, pointing his wand, " Ligatenous" The chains flew out again and just missed the dummy.

Well he got the spell to work that's what counted right?

With a final round to observe the students, she paused near the Slytherin, watching her attempt at the spell. Oh, so close. "You're pronunciation, Miss Newell." she said, moving to stand by the girl. "Even though it's instinct to do so, you haff a little too much emphases on the 'a' sound. Try and lessen it."




They couldn't wait another minute. Time was running out.

"Alright! Everyone! Stop vot you're doing!" Slowly moving back to the front of the class for a final time, she waited until they settled down before speaking. "Ve're at that time for our little house competition. Ve'll take a ten minute break beforehand so I can set up. Feel free to sit and chat. Relax. Those of you who von't be participating, you may sit upon the stands."

Just about to head out to grab a few things for the activity, the professor clicked her tongue and turned back to the class. "You may continue practicing the spells if you so vish, as vell."

Now...onward to get all the things!

OOC: Hello everyoooone! Still here? Goodness to Merlin, you guys are amazing! Got a little long, didn't it? Don't worry, class will be over shortly after our lovely competition type activity thing. Head on over HERE where we'll be starting sooooon.

Practice was really all she needed. Maybe a bit more, but definitely getting better. If she couldn't capture someone with chains the least she wanted to do was knock them over real good. Beverly grinned at him, letting him know that he was right. Practice, practice.

Not a bad thing? How can having your mind elsewhere not be a bad thing? It meant loss of focus. If he'd meant it that way, she didn't know, but that's how she saw it. So she simply narrowed her eyes at him then grinned.

Merlin. Such a smiley guy, wasn't he?

She couldn't help it, she laughed at his reaction to her knocking over the dummy. "I doubt that could ever happen," she mumbled. He was always happy and stuff, how could someone like that get on her bad side? Or anyone's at that.

He did it!!

"Take a bit more credit, that was a good one." She grinned. The chains were STILL there, definitely the best shot between the two so far.

Taking a step forward to give it another go, the professor spoke up. Oh. Right. She'd forgotten about the house competition. Looking over at Train Boy she raised her eyebrows, conveying something close to: We'll have to face each other. She wanted him to be on her team.

"Want to keep practicing?" she asked after Romanos was done. Or he could take a break while she practiced.

What wasn't to smile about? He was actually learning something in one of his favourite classes for a change and he was talking and joking around with a pretty girl. Not to mention that when he had met said girl that he couldn't get more than a few words out of her. Now they were having full on conversations and she was laughing and smiling just as much as he was.

"We've only just met." He said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I might do something to annoy you in the future. My best friend is annoyed with me right now." And he was pretty sure that she would love to knock him out with a bunch of chains.

He shrugged his shoulders again,trying to be nonchalant about it but he was quite pleased with her compliment. "Thanks." He didn't know what else to say.

Apparently though he didn't have to because the Professor was announcing the competition thing she had been talking about earlier. Michael looked over to Little Bunny and smirked. They might end up going against each other but he hoped that they didn't.

"I'll watch you." He rubbed the back of his neck and gave his legs a bit of a shake. His muscles were starting to feel a little tired.

Brynn looked up as she heard the professor's voice next to her. Oh.. was she doing it wrong? She listened to the advice and nodded, giving a small smile. "Thanks Professor," she said quietly before trying again. "Henshu," she said, pointing the wand at her right foot as she tried the twist flick a little more fluidly. And then the same at the other foot.

She was about to try it out when she heard the professor speak again. What.. another spell? She wasn't sure she had this one down yet. Ligatenous. That seemed like an interesting one. She listened to the instructions but wanted to make sure she had the shoe one done right before she started on it so she just committed it to memory for now.

Brynn slid one tentative foot forward and then the next. Had it worked? It did seem a little different and she took another, more confident step. Yes, she thought this was more secure footing now and she took a couple more steps. Now for the other one. She walked a little further so that she was near the back of the arena and in front of one of the dummies. Just point? Brynn pointed her wand and commanded, "Ligatenous." Nothing.

She was about to try it again when she heard the professor talk about some competition? Yeah.. she'd be one of the ones sitting in the stands. But since she had a few more minutes, she might as well practice this spell again anyway.

Bart was still practicing he had gotten both of them so now it was time to get a little creative. He did the candy cane weird movement, "Henshu" He scooted his foot to see if the grip was working and it did. Jumping to slide his body stopped and he almost fell again, but didn't. Now time for the fun.

He was a Jedi ninja didn't they know? So he took a few steps did some ninja looking spin stopped on his gripped shoe and pointed his wand, "Ligatenous" but nothing came out. Huff.. what! He did the steps again and pointed his wand, "Ligatenous" The chains came out and hit the dummy.

Sweet Jedi Ninja in the house! His eyes focused on the professor as she talked. Competition? Could he be in it? He was totally going to be in it.

Ben ended the spell and was about to try again when the professor's voice rang through the classroom once more to get their attention again. He lowered his wand to his side and turned back to the front of the room to listen to what was to come. a break and then the activity she had been mildly alluding to all lesson. With the two spells they had been working on, the second year would only imagin what they would be doing. this was defense against the dark arts after all, offense included as well.

Romanos also mentioned none participants would be able to sit out. Did that include him? he mused to himself. The woman had said something about the aged members likely not being able to take part and that surely included him. What with his hair really more grey then his natural color, his aches and pains and his light stubble. yet it still didn't make it any clearer as to if he'd be in this so-called competition so he opted to simply return to his practicing for now. Time would tell.

The Gryffindor turned back to the dummy he had been working on, taking a deep breath to prepare himself. Alright...you can do it Atreyu, he silently encouraged as he raised his wand once more to strike.

"Ligatenous!"

That much was true. They've only just met, but not just anyone would be as patient as he was with her. There was Silver, but girls banded together easier than guys and girls, no? OR...it was a Gryffindor thing. The only people she'd only ever had real conversations with were lions.

"If you get close, I'll let you know." He didn't look too happy about his best friend though, and she couldn't just not say anything. Friendship went both ways. You give and take, right? Well, if he wanted to be her friend.

Inching closer to him, she whispered, "It'll get better, with your best friend, I mean." That was as much as she was going to touch about that subject. First, they were in class. Second, she was supposed to practice. Third, she didn't want to seem nosy.

With a nod and a small grin she faced the dummy. Train Boy's spell had worked, which meant if she didn't get the spell this time, then he'd have an advantage in the game. Meaning the odds weren't in her favor, and if they weren't then nor was Slytherin's. Gah! She was over thinking it. Spell. Right.

Taking a deep breath, she pointed her wand at the dummy. "Ligatenous!" Chains shot out of her wand, heading toward the dummy with momentum. They wrapped around it, securing the target in a tight grasp. Beverly beamed, actually really beamed.

"I did it." DID HE SEE?

Yes, Alice was still working close to Vesper, considering they'd been near each other the whole time and her knee's issue today didn't really encourage moving. Yes, she could hear tiny tidbits of her conversation. Yes, she noticed the glare before she chained up her dummy each time.

... and was kind of confused as to why she was on the receiving end of them, but the seventh year just shrunk a little and went to go find a dummy farther away from that particular Ravenclaw until Romanos gave them further instructions.

When she did, Alice was tempted to go take a seat in the stands, but in case the winning house got points... yeah. Okay. She'd participate. Whatever.

"That would be good." The workings of girls minds was still a mystery to him. He was new to this after all. But he thought he had his best friend worked out though. Apparently not.

Michael raised an eyebrow as Little Bunny sidled up to him and her words made him feel a little better. "I hope so." He murmured, "Because I miss her." They had never gone this long without talking to each other and he found that he didn't know what to do with himself at times. It was probably lucky that he was busy with classes.

They were a good distraction. Little Bunny was a good distraction too.

And yes he did see! Michael gave her another round of applause and bent over a couple of times. "I bow to your awesome wand skills." He tipped her another wink before reaching out and pulling on her sleeve. "Come on, lets go check out this activity thing."

Ian was just getting to the point where the chains were coming out and he struggled with his aiming and consistency. The professor had said they would have a competition between the houses. He looked around as she left the room and then began to try a bit more. Ligatenous! He watched with a measure of satisfaction as the chains headed toward the dummy, but didn't quite get them far enough as they landed harmlessly in a heap on the floor.

If they were moving on, Tobias really needed to practice this spell. That activity sounded like it could be good.

"Ligatenous!" he cast, pointing his wand at the dummy, but focused more on hurrying up so he could finish practicing. Perhaps it was focusing on the idea of the activity and not on the spell he was casting that made it not work out so well, because chains DID appear and they DID fly at the dummy.............. but fell short, landing on the floor half way between the dummy and Tobias with a great series of clanks.

The Hufflepuff stared at them for a moment, but then looked up again and focused on the dummy and imagining the chains wrapping all around it, making it impossible for it to move if it were that way inclined. He raised his wand.

"Ligatenous!" this time when he spoke it was louder and more enthusiastic. The chains flew forward and hit the dummy at full force, wrapping themselves around it. Tobias grinned; he wasn't too bad at this, even though it was technically a Transfiguration spell, Transfiguration being the subject he found most difficult.

Ideally he would have practiced over and over until it was perfect every time he tried it, buuuuuuuuuuuut there was an activity and he wanted in, so off he went to join.

Sweet they were moving into the activity? Lex glanced over at the dummies she'd restricted, casting a finite to get rid of the chains. No telling what the activity was but she was SO pumped, even if her joints weren't. They would have to deal with it given she'd begged to be allowed to participate in what was happening.

With the Professor needing to set up Lex decided to do a few finishing casts. Had to be up to par when the activity started.

"Ligatenous!"

Lookit the way the chain skillfully wrapped around the dummy again. Precious. The girl could almost see it being wrapped around other people too but it was supposedly bad form now with this badge so she'd keep such thoughts to herself and such actions to the dummies.

"Ligatenous!"