This was a pretty long flying course for a beginner, Janelle decided as they moved on. Sparky was a gamer so he kept on going. Continuing to guide the dragon with her wand, she tried to keep up with him. Up and through hoop ten Sparky went. The hoops were all becoming a blur to Janelle now.

Janelle had been concentrating so hard on keeping Sparky on track that she hadn't stopped to focus on the whole picture. Little mini dragons flying in all directions with their "trainers" following along behind them. It was quite a sight. But quickly she turned her attention back to Sparky and the task at hand. They made it hrough hoops eleven and twelve successfully.

"Hang in there Sparky. We're almost finished. You're doing great." Janelle loved this dragon. She was going to be so sad when he had to leave her and go on to his real dragon life.

Norah ran her fingers over the inside of Posy's wings over and over and over again for long enough that it seemed like the whole entire class had already gotten their dragons flying all over the place. C'mon, little dragon. Please? She repeated the motion until the dragon had spread her wings to their full width. "You can do it, Posy. Just fly fly fly. It'll be fun, I pinky promise." Would the dragon understand better if she said it in French? Norah didn't know any dragon language but she DID know french, if that was relevant. Maybe dragon language was like Troll. She let out a couple of grunts that clearly meant 'Will you please fly because this whole thing is kind of embarrassing even if you are adorable.' That sounded like Troll for sure. She watched Posy shift around with her wings spread, still not flying. For the love of MERLIN what was wrong? The fourth year stuffed another marshmallow in her mouth in AGONY.

She let out a muffled, "Please?" with her mouth still full, and Posy took off from her hand with a big flap of her ickle baby wings. "Waaaaaait!" She took a ginormous swallow as she waved an arm at the flying dragon. "I haven't told you where to go yet!" WHERE WAS HER WAND? AHEM. HELP.

Eight. Nine. Ten.

Noel watched and moved with Nala. So close to the finish line, little one. The others were done and they wee behind but no matter. Nala was doing great. He wondered if the professor would let him take Nala for a tour. Or maybe he could sneak her out. Lamb would certainly enjoy if Nala hung around with them. The crup would probably be scared and hide under the bed. It would be funny, oh yes.

Moving toward the eleventh hoop, Noel continued cheering. And wooooooooooosh. There she goes.

Professor Thompson was right. Sparky seemed to be getting tired. He was definitely not flying as fast as he was before. "Three more hoops and then you can rest. Keep going, keep going." The little guy definitely needed encouragement at this point. He was fading fast.

Through hoop thirteen. "Two more Sparky, two more." Janelle led the dragon to the next hoop. He was slowing down even more. "You can make it! Through hoop fourteen. "Go, go,go" Sparky had slowed down to almost a standstill and there was just one more hoop to go. "Come on Sparky. One more hoop! It took some doing, but Sparky finally flew through the last hoop. 'Yay Sparky. You did it !!" Janelle was so proud of her dragon.

"You deserve a rest now. You worked hard." Janelle said, "Finite" The flame coming from her wand died and she quickly switched spells. "Wingardium Leviosa", she said. Sparky floated toward the tank with his trainer beaming along side of him. Gently Janelle eased him down into the tank. "That was awesome. You're a pro at flying already." This had really been a fun lesson. Janelle hoped that she would get to see Sparky again before he was returned to the sanctuary.

Toby felt a little mean at the prospect of sending a fire spell right at an animal, but he only had to remind himself that this was exactly what said animal liked and maybe even needed. Like how salamanders lived in fire (the magical ones, of course, not the mundane ones). Then he didn't feel so bad at all.

"Incendio," Toby cast, having retrieved his wand and pointing it under Sparky. He'd considered trying the spell non-verbally, but as the only non-verbal spell he'd managed was a spell that made flowers grow, and with it being pretty important to successfully cast the spell in this activity, he decided against it. "Incendio."

Sparky, who had initially started wobbling about in the air a little bit, finally started flying off towards the hoops. Toby followed, not wanting to stay sat down for any longer than necessary, casting one more encouraging, "Incendio!"

The little dragon flapped and soared through the air, making it through the first silver hoop, no problem. The next two were in a straight line from the first, so as long as he kept going straight, Sparky could easily make it through them. Toby still watched carefully, though, ready to cast the spell whenever he was needed.

Through the second hoop went the dragon... and then the third.

"WOOP WOOP!" Toby called out excitedly, a little disproportionately so given the activity, but he couldn't help it! SPARKY was FLYYYYYYING! This was a MOMENTOUS DAY probably, like a baby's first steps!

SPARKY'S FIRST HOOPS.

Toby BEAMED and watched the dragon, raising his wand to cast the spell again to get him to turn for the next set of hoops. "Good job, little guy! Incendio!"

Regina and AJ stared off on such a good foot. They were speeding through the hoops one by one and the next thing you know they were off. So off. What happened? Merlin only knew. Regina was not following her guidance at all. Could it be that her dragon was being a bit rebellious and didn't want to listen to her mama aka AJ? Maybe. Boo, Regina. Now was NOT the right time to be a drama llama. Focus. The dragon was going to blow this for the both of them.

Trying not to get defeated, AJ once again focused all of her energy on the task at hand. "Incendio." Come on, dragon. "It's okay Regina. We can still come back from this." Her words of encouragement seemed to be doing the trick because Regina was back on track. YES!

Hoops ten and eleven went by in a breeze. "Only four more left." Another one was right in front of them. Regina was through. YES. YES. YES. Thirteen and fourteen was conquered. "One more, baby. Just one more." And they were through that one as well.

Something clicked for AJ at that very moment. It wasn't about winning or being the best. It was about training a dragon and overcoming obstacles. She was patient and helped Regina feel comfortable. This was what mattered. This is what made her heart soar. This my friend was what it was all about. She was a winner no matter what. Who cares what place she actually came in?

Norah searched for her wand in a state of complete PANIC as Posy flew off in the completely 578% certainly INCORRECT direction. Losing her very own ickle dragon would be even more tragic than that time she'd lost her favorite jumper with the little sequins and that still hurt even though she'd been an 11 year old baby back then. Obviously this was the REAL DEAL. The wand, which had been in her pocket the entire time, was pulled out and brandished frantically as she called, "Incendio!" much louder than was ever necessary. That way! GO THAT WAY. PLEASE.

Posy began to fly towards the hoops, and Norah ran under her, flapping her arms just in case the dragon forgot or something. You never knew, really. She was itty bitty teeny tiny, so you could never be too careful. Plus arm flapping was much more fun than not-arm-flapping, but nobody needed to hear that part because that sounded baby-ish and she was NOT a baby, in case anybody needed a reminder of that. The fourth year let out a loud "Wooooooh! Go Posy!" as the dragon maneuvered her way through the first three hoops. Aiming her wand underneath the dragon once more, she cast another "incendio!" and watched again as Posy made it through hoops four and five. AW YEAH.

As Boo sailed easily through the third hoop a grin formed on Hady's face. This was going along just great! Her little dragon seemed to have the hang of this flying thing as she continued right on course towards the next hoop with Hady following close behind keeping up the 'incendio' charm.

Quickening her step the brunette stuck close to her smaller charge making sure not to let her get to much ahead of herself. Just as they got close to the hoop Boo must have spotted something for she began to veer off course following whatever it was Hady couldn't see. "Hey! Boo, come back here we're not done!" she called after the dragon rushing ahead to catch up. Holding her wand higher she was able to get the flames set back underneath Boo's belly and guide her friend back in the right direction and straight through the next hoop. And then the next. Five down and only ten to go!

"Nice work, keep it up girl," she encouraged proudly.

AJ had one tired little dragon on her hands. It was just as she made her way through the last hoop that she noticed it. "We'er all done now, and you get to take a nice rest." She deserved it.

Off to the tank she needed to go. A quick finite and there wasn't anymore flame. "Windgardium Leviosa," she cast and watched as Regina rose into the tank. Perfect.

"I'm so proud of you, Regina." She wouldn't be able to see her over the summer, and that was a bummer, but AJ really did have tons of fun with her during the lesson.

Norah cast "incendio!" again to keep the flames set under Posy's little dragon belly. She watched and cheered as she ran underneath the dragon flying through the sixth hoop. "Way to go, Posy! You're so....Rosy. That's why you're the one I chose....y." Okay, maybe she wasn't cut out to be a poet, but LOOK! Her little baby dragon was through SEVEN entire hoops already and nothing disastrous had happened. It was probably some sort of MIRACLE!

She did a little jig as Posy advanced through the eighth hoop. "Go go go!" This was even more exciting than SNAIL RACES and she'd done a million bazillion of those with Sebby and Marcel over the summer. She was the champion of snail races, uh huh. It was mostly because Marcel liked to poke the snails more than he liked to race 'em but nobody really needed to know that bit.

Oh Nala you beautyyy. If he didn't have to hold his wand steady, he'd be taking pictures. Noel cheered, and then said 'Incendio' and then cheered again, and then 'Incendio'. It was a process and they were so clooooose.

TWELFTH.

Nala swooped in and twirled and flapped her wings, Noel moved - not caring who he bumped into because look at his Nala being so gracious and ferocious at the same time.

THIRTEEN.

Maybe she knew she was close to finish too? Bbecause she was being more swift, and gliding so easily. Just as she swooped through FOURTEEN, she raaaawwred. FIREEE.

AAAAAAAAAH. YES.

He was maybe too pumped up for this and that is why he perhaps imagining things but he could swear he saw Nala gave him a look, like for a mili second and just as she did, she zoooomed toward him, going round his head and then straight to the final hooop. FIFTEEEEEEEEEN. Noel roooooared and pumped his fist in the air proudly. "THATS MY GIRL, YEAH!" And a dragon girl. How perfect.

Well they might have not finished in top three but they finished and he was happy. Nala glided here and there, her speed visibly wary now. She was tired just as the professor had said. Pointing his wand, Noel cast the final spell 'Wingardium Leviosa!' and levitated her to the tank. Moving to the tank, the fifth year adoringly petted Nala's tiny head. "Oh you brilliant dragon"

Three hoops down, only twelve to go,Toby thought to himself as he watched the fire shoot from his wand and towards Sparky. Again, it felt a little brutal, but these were DRAGONS, he just had to remember. They liked the heat, and they could handle it.

"This way, Sparks," Toby called out cajolingly, making kissy noises not unlike how one might beckon a cat towards them. Sparky turned towards the next set of hoops, mostly because of the fire, but Toby liked to think it was because he totally understood what he was saying. Yep. "Goooooooooooooood dragon. Incendio!" He angled that last spell to make sure Sparky stayed on track, then again walked alongside him as he flew through the hoops.

Another hoop down, and Toby was sure he could see signs of the dragon getting tired already, which was understandable, he supposed. But still Sparky persevered. WHAT a NEAT CAN-DO ATTITUDE. Gold star for you, lil drag-drag.

"Thassit boy, you got this!" Along Toby went with him, clapping his hands and WOOPing and basically being a one-man crowd. After another hoop, it looked like Sparky was beginning to veer off again, but with another "Incendio!", Toby set him back on the right path.

Another hoop defeated! That was SIX done already, and only... uhhhh... however many left. Toby was too busy to try to count or do maths.

Angel was totally enjoying this, well she was glad that she wasn't up in the air with the dragon.

"Come on Crazy!! Come on Crazy!!" Angel smiled as the small dragon went through the third hoop and then the fourth hoop. "Your doing amazing." Angel giggled.

Angel was watching Crazy doing all the searching, she had a feeling that things were going crazy and that everyone would think of calling her crazy because of the name she had come up with.

Angel suddenly realised that the dragon was going through the fifth hoop, this was so amazing.

After Zander had finished eating only the most beautifully roasted marshmallow of his life, had he DEFINITELY decided that yup this was TOTALLY the best lesson ever and now he was gonna set it in stone. Did anyone have something that could be used for carving? Because he was serious about this. Mhm. Great lesson Professor T. What else have you got?

And Merlin, he did not disappoint.

THEY WERE GONNA FLY!!!

Well, the dragons were gonna fly. But same thing really.

Ahem.

Zander couldn't even contain his excitement. This was going to be AWESOME! So after Professor T demonstrated, Zander scooped up Fireball once more and began stroking his neck. Trying to soothe the dragon much like his Professor had done only a few minutes earlier. "You ready to fly, little one?" 'Cause ready or not this was actually the assignment so he'd have to fly. But it'd be a lot more fun if it wasn't against his own will. Y'know? Dragons have feelings too.

Angel was watching her dragon Crazy and she was glad with the way things going on. Come on Crazy you can do it. Angel giggled as she looked at the dragon as it went through the sixth hoop this was amazing and totally interesting.

Angel looked around and then noticed that Crazy was thinking about sitting on the hoops which wasn't what the dragon was supposed to do.

"Incendio!" Angel giggled as she made sure that Crazy kept on course. She watched as the dragon went through the seventh hoop.

Angel continued to cheer on Crazy. "Come on Crazy! Come on Crazy!!" Angel gigged as she watched the dragon go through the eight hoop, she was actually finding this fun.

This was exciting. Exhilarating. SHE was going to help guide a dragon fly. Sure, she, herself, was still getting over her phobia of heights, but this didn't involve her to face such dilemma. So it was all okay.

Wiggling in her spot, Beverly took Professor Thompson's advice and stroked the inner lines of Ash's wings. It was always good to learn new things, especially when it involved dragons. It would all work to her advantage when it came time to work with them in the near future.

Pushing the food aside after Ash turned to look at her, Beverly raised the arm in which the creature perched herself on. Carefully, and not close to hurt herself, Beverly cast, "Incendio." Silently as to not startle the dragon. And slowly, like a muggle air balloon, Ash rose into the air by flapping her wings.

"There you go. Keep going." Her dragon was FLYING.

Angel was watching Crazy go, she had got up and was actually enjoying watching Crazy go. "Come on you Crazy Dragon!" Angel giggled, did they all see what she did there. "Come on Crazy you can do it." Angel smiled as she watched the small dragon go through hoop number nine, she watched as it went through it again and again and again.

Angel sighed as she pointed her wand at the dragon. "Incendio!" Angel sighed, she hated using that spell on the dragon but it did seem to get the little creature on course which was so amazing and she watched as the dragon went through hoop number ten. Angel breathed a sigh of relief when that happened she had been worried it was going to try and rest on the hoop and if that had of happened she had no idea what she would have said to the Professor.

Ash was up in the air, and Beverly was right behind her...more like under her. There had been a few times when the small dragon wobbled in the air, and more than a few times Beverly almost got a heart attack. She knew she didn't have to be as gentle with them as she might with a baby kneazle, but still. It was inevitable.

Keeping a solid grip on her wand, she wondered if runes would have helped here. To keep her fire going and more steady. Not that it wasn't, but maybe it would have given Ash more confidence. Right now it kept knocking its head as it went in between hoops.

"That's okay, Ash. Try to keep balance."

Kate was really excited about having her dragon flying in the air. There was no way she'd be one of the first to finish by this point, but she was just happy to be flying her dragon. When else would she get to do something like this?! "Alright, Sparky! Let's go!" she cheered.

Kate guided Sparky toward the first hoop. He was really going now! He seemed to be having a good time, too. At least, he wasn't blowing fire and acting like he could eat her for dinner. Not that he could do that anyway with his cute little size. Speaking of fire... "Incendio!" Kate said, lighting a fire under Sparky.

Sparky took off and cleared the first hoop. "Way to go!" she cheered. First hoop down, fourteen to go. Kate guided Sparky to the second hoop, and he cleared it, too, as well. Whoa, they were really on a roll!

Three hoops. Five hoops. Head-bump.

Beverly winced, but the dragon seemed to be okay. She was a little feisty one, and it made Beverly stand there, wand arm out, like a proud mother. Was everyone watching her dragon? Because they should be. Ash might be a little shaky right now, but she was getting the hang of this quickly.

Oh. Wait. "Ash, no." Beverly's tone was firm. "No biting the hoop. You go through it." The Norwegian Ridgeback glanced at her and gave out a growl. "Don't you talk back to me. Come on. I know you can do this." And more flames for you.

Casting Incendio, the dragon let go of the hoop and flapped her wings. She liked the fire, yes she did.

The warmth on Angelina's belly must have really been doing the trick, because the dragon tilted her wings and glided in the direction Dot was moving with her wand, flapping her wings a bit clumsily but trusting that each flap would propel her forward. Clever thing, to know how to do this without anyone teaching it to her.

"Now we're going through a hoop. D'you see it there, bitty thing?" She guided her wand toward the hoop, slowly to make sure that the dragon followed. It was a bit stupid at the hoop itself, since she nearly lost Angelina when she had to step around the hoop and her wand dipped. Stupid.

But they made it, and Dot moved on to the next hoop. "Come on, bitty thing. You're the best dragon flier I've ever seen. Ever ever."

Kate giggled a little as somebody else's dragon bumped their head on the hoop. It was just so funny and cute to see the mini dragon bump its little head, especially since the dragon didn't seem hurt. Kate's little dragon almost suffered the same fate, since she'd taken her eyes off it for a split second. kate quickly steered Sparky back on its path and toward the third hoop.

"Incendio!" she said again. The fire lit up underneath Sparky, giving the dragon more fuel to race to the finish line. Kate steered Sparky through the third hoop and began guiding him toward the fourth one. While Sparky was flying around, Kate occasionally checked to make sure he wasn't tiring out. So far, so good, though. This was good, since they were only on the fourth hoop out of fifteen. Why so many, Thompson?

Sparky flew through the fourth hoop easily. On to number five now! Kate guided him toward that hoop, and he flew through it, too. They were really moving along now!

One hoop down, and it seemed sort of like an impossible task to imagine that they were going to get Angelina through the rest. Not that she wasn't a trooper of a dragon, but Dot's arm was getting tired and she was sort of overwhelmed by repeating the same task over and over again. And over and over and over.

But she'd try to put up with it for as long as Angelina was flapping those tiny, lovely wings and staying in the air. Murmuring words of encouragement, Dot stepped toward the next hoop, and the transition this time was MUCH better. No bobbling at all, and the stream of fire from her wand was consistent.

"Incendio. You're marvelous, you are. Look at your pretty wings. You're much prettier than all the other dragons, bitty thing. Oh, too high. Come down a bit and go through this hoop." And that was three down.

Thumbelina had done a great job, truly she did! She was slowing in speed now that she had completed her task. Henric immediately cast the levitation charm on her so she wouldn't need to fly anymore. He would have levitate her back into his arms but the professor instructed them to put them in the tank instead. He frowned, not wanting to let her go yet.
"Rest well,Thumbelina..." he muttered sadly and gently levitated her into the tank. Once she was safely put inside among the rest of her companions, he walked over to the tank and pressed his face upon the glass. "Grow up well...okay, Thumbelina... I'll see you soon...." He made a promise with his dragon that he would. Henric wished he could have tame her more because he had dreams to become a dragon trainer one day. Henric walked back to his seat and saw llia already there. He could tell that she was saddened too when they had to leave their dragons in their tank. He silently sat put an arm around his bestie on his side,"Don't worry,llia..they're going to take good care of them at the sanctuary,"he reassured her.

"Oh Felix, come on, you need to stretch your little wings and have a go at flying," Zhenya said to the dragon, rubbing his wings. He opened his eyes and looked at her for a few moments before standing up again. Sort of. She rubbed his wings again, until he opened them, then she released him. He had no choice now but to fly.

He didn't fly up, he flew down, until he was back on the ground.

Why did she get the stubborn one?

Right, make use of Incendio. Zhenya picked Felix up, and held her wand with her hand and rubbed his wing again, until he opened them and started to flap them. When she released him, he flew up, and before he had a chance to fly back towards the ground, Zhenya pointed her wand underneath him and said "Incendio," tracing the shape of a flame and aiming it towards him.