Beatrice happily observed the students doing the activity, even having a few chuckles at their attempts of the tongue twisters. She had tried not to choose overly difficult ones but, that would have been more fun. For next time.

After completing the visualisation activity, she clapped her hands together in a simple rhythm. Not an instrument, but still musical. "Great work guys, how does that feel now?" She probably expected them not to notice much difference... yet. "Right, I've just got one other little activity before the main one."

She went over to her desk and pulled out a container of worms. "Everyone take a worm. I want you all to turn it into a matchbox. BUT first I want you to mumble the spell and try and keep you wand movements sloppy, poor posture, without really focusing on the spell. Think that you’re turning a worm into a water goblet, or a dragon into a matchbox or something, and see what happens. Then I want you to CLEARLY say the spell, FOCUS on it, and use very precise sharp wand movements. I want you all to see if you notice a difference." She walked around the room with the container open, allowing everyone to take a worm. "You can work alone or with a partner, I don't mind." But please MERLIN somebody work with Mr. Blaise Bellaire.

She went back to her desk where she pulled out her own wand. "Flint-ee-FORS," she said clearly, pointing her wand at the worm and flicking it upwards. It transformed the worm into a matchbox. But in case anyone forgot, she waved her wand at the blackboard so that the spell appeared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboard

Incantation: Flintifors
Wand movement: Point and flick upward
Effect: Turn a small creature into a matchbox

OOC: I am loving the responses! Sorry to move it along so quickly. You can play catchup with the other activity before doing this one, I don't mind. However many posts you think you can do this one in is fine. I'll probably post the next bit within 12 hours so that we have time to do it but as I said, you can play catchup as much as you need.

SPOILER!!: Catch-Up #1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

SPOILER!!: Responses

At the sound of another drum, Beatrice looked to Davie who, much to Beatrice’s delight, had started eating the lollies. That was reassuring. Nodding, Beatrice said ”Absolutely, and I also find writing things down helps lock it into my memory. Good method, Davie!”

Beatrice clanged the two small cymbals together once it seemed that everyone had contributed to the discussion. Well, almost everybody. “Great suggestions everyone. I just wanted to repeat one of the suggestions I heard. Paulina made a note that it’s easy to become discouraged, so giving a little pep talk helps. And it can absolutely be discouraging. I remember being a student and having a spell that I could NOT get the hang of. It felt like I had tried everything, and I just couldn’t do it. I became so discouraged and lost confidence in my own abilities, which affected my other subjects. So I want you all to take note of that. It’s important to give yourself a little pep talk once in a while, especially when dealing with difficult things. Because YOU ARE ALL capable if you put your mind to it.” She paused, looking at all of them. “All of you are capable if you put your mind to it,” she repeated. It was important.

After another few seconds, she moved on. “My second question, leading from that, is how do you feel when you can’t cast a spell, even one you keep practicing? Do those methods you just mentioned help? Or do you have to try something else?”

Yay, the professor liked his answer! For the second question, Davie again rapped out a beat, and added, "I find that practicing with a friend helps. Your friend can give you feedback without all the pressure of a professor, and plus it's fun to do magic outside the castle or the classroom." Like practicing incendio in the back of the library, near lots of flammable stuff... yeah. Heh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

After listening to all of the fantastic responses, Beatrice clashed her little cymbals together again. "Fantastic ideas everyone. Each and every one of them!" Golden stars for all!

"Now, I want us to do a little activity. So, if you would all stand up and take one step away from your desk. Any direction, just not right in someone else's space." Because nobody liked a personal space hogger.

"Firstly I want us to do a little bit of a stretching exercise. I find that with a lot of tension, espeically in the neck and shoulders, and my posture goes down the tip. And with it... my spell casting abilities." Who knew... "So, copy me!" And she tilted her head over to the left for thirty seconds, then the right. Then tilted her head forwards for thirty seconds, then back, looking up at the ceiling. Then she rolled her shoulders backwards ten times, then forwards ten. "Ahh that feels better," she said, but her muscles were much older than those of the students, so she wasn't about to be surprised at their lack of enthusiasm. One day, perhaps, they would.

"Secondly! We cannot expect to succeed if we mumble! Correct and clear pronunciation of incantations is VITAL! Even if you are casting a non-verbal spell. So, I want you all to copy after me. Speak VERY clearly and overpronounce every word!" She flicked her wand to the board, where the words she was about to speak appeared. Clearing her throat, she began, making sure she was exaggerating every sound.

"And finally, I want you to concentrate on your FOCUS. Everyone close your eyes." She paused to look around and make sure all eyes were closed. "Think about the shades black, white, or grey. Keep focusing. Now think about the ocean. Okay, now a green elephant comes along. Picture it. FOCUS on it. Now think about it walking through the shallow water. Now think about it going for a swim." She stayed with that for a few moments, hoping that their minds were clear EXCEPT for those images she wanted them to focus on. She sort of had a point to her madness...

Streeeeeeeeeeetching, yes, Davie raised his arms up above his head as high as he could, then rolled his head to the left, then to the right, then stretched his arms out behind his back and touched them together, then to the front where he interlocked his fingers, then he stood up and shook everything out, and now he was ready to move on to his verbal exercises.

This was a good idea, really, to do before EVERY class. It got the blood flowing and kept people from falling asleep! So Davie cleared his throat before beginning, making certain he was being NICE and LOUD and emphasizing each syllable as a scholar studying Shakespeare would.

"Les-ser lea-ther ne-ver wea-thered wet-ter wea-ther bet-ter.
I thought I thought of think-ing of thank-ing you.
Can you can a can as a can-ner can can a can?
She sells sea-shells by the sea shore."

Finally, it was time to close his eyes and imagine shades of grey... nice, calm, soothing grey.... grey fading into teal and blue and green... fading into an elephant, walking along the seashore.... a BRIGHT, LIME GREEN elephant, that was.... the green elephant wading into the shallow water, kicking it up with its trunk, smiling a bit with its big mouth... and then, deciding it should go deeper, and holding its trunk up above its head as though it were a scuba stick and the elephant was a diver... hehe. Davie smiled at the thought, and popped his eyes open as the professor moved on. Ah. He felt so much more relaxed now!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Beatrice happily observed the students doing the activity, even having a few chuckles at their attempts of the tongue twisters. She had tried not to choose overly difficult ones but, that would have been more fun. For next time.

After completing the visualisation activity, she clapped her hands together in a simple rhythm. Not an instrument, but still musical. "Great work guys, how does that feel now?" She probably expected them not to notice much difference... yet. "Right, I've just got one other little activity before the main one."

She went over to her desk and pulled out a container of worms. "Everyone take a worm. I want you all to turn it into a matchbox. BUT first I want you to mumble the spell and try and keep you wand movements sloppy, poor posture, without really focusing on the spell. Think that you’re turning a worm into a water goblet, or a dragon into a matchbox or something, and see what happens. Then I want you to CLEARLY say the spell, FOCUS on it, and use very precise sharp wand movements. I want you all to see if you notice a difference." She walked around the room with the container open, allowing everyone to take a worm. "You can work alone or with a partner, I don't mind." But please MERLIN somebody work with Mr. Blaise Bellaire.

She went back to her desk where she pulled out her own wand. "Flint-ee-FORS," she said clearly, pointing her wand at the worm and flicking it upwards. It transformed the worm into a matchbox. But in case anyone forgot, she waved her wand at the blackboard so that the spell appeared.

So first they had to mess it up on purpose and THEN they had to get it right? Well psh, that wasn't hard for him. Davie went up and collected his worm, grinning at all the memories of his BFF Charlotte it gave him.

TONGUE TWISTERS OH OH OH.

It was like this task was made for him. He could do these in his sleep, and even still...these WERE the ones he did every morning in the mirror, especially now that he didn't have daily rehearsals with Miss Grimaldi. Standing straight, Rooney opened and closed his mouth, clicking his jaw for a little while and then sucked in his cheeks to be a fish for another little while before massaging his cheeks with a forceful hand.

He was ready!

"AHEM." Now this, was going to be a spectacle.

Prepare to be in awe, classmates.

"Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better. Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better." Three times the charm, three times the talent. It wasn't his fault that he was polished at this and it didn't seem to be difficult for him, but he had been doing this since he could talk. He bet that someone who had played quidditch since they could...well, whatever. They'd be a pro. This was his quidditch. HIS.

Next? "I thought, I thought of thinking of thanking you." And just to step it up a notch, he threw in some actions. A touch to his chest, then his head. Returning to his chest, then head, then the other side of his head and then a hand shake and a point. "I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you." Everything was pronounced perfectly and he didn't falter once. This was definitely his forte. He didn't stop there, though, and continued with the other two tongue twisters from the board, again without issue.

Pronunciation next.

Some spells had the most troublesome incantations that were a real mouthful. Which was why in most classes you practiced to get it right before cast, sometimes even more than practicing the wand movement. So Benny supposed he understood this bit of the exercise a bit more in the grand scheme of things. The given phrases were just a load of tongue twisters to him though.

"Lesssss-ER lea-THer ne-VER wea-THERED wet-TER wea-THER bet-TER.

I thought...I thought..of think-ING of than-KING you.

Can you...can a caN...as a can-NER can...can a can?

She sells...sea-SHELLS...by the sea-SHORE."

First they were supposed to mess up the spell. Well, this first-year here was an expert at that. Hah. Was the professor finally playing to their strengths or was it just him? Slouching a little, Davie crossed his arms and leaned on his desk, half-heartedly, lazily pointing his wand at the worm.

"Fliiiiiiintifffffffforssssssssss," he drawled, adding a little yawn at the end to see if it would do anything. He watched as the worm gave a twitch, a bit of a flop, and then straightened up and poked it.

Nope, nothing. So he supposed he'd done that part right, as wrong as it was.

And now closing the eyes.

Yep...his eyes were closed as he listened to Professor York, clearly unaware she was looking to see if all of them had done as she had asked. All was black at first but gradually lightened up as he focused on what she was describing before them. A solid darkness dispersing into different form across his closed off vision. Black...below the horizon with lighter grey sky above. There....there was the ocean. Granted it was in shades of a black and white movie at the moment but it was there.

Oh and there was the green elephant.

Where had the professor come up with this imagery? Benny didn't know but he was trying his best to get it. To get that elephant, that christmas tree green colored pacaderm heading towards the water and decide to go for a swim. There! Could they move on now?

How did it feel? Not much of a difference to Adi. He was usually bouncy and full of energy, yes but he could always calm his mind when necessary. Most of the time, at least. Anyway, one more activity? Cool! He glanced over at Benny, checking to see that he had completed everything so far. When he caught his eye, Adi sent him a grin. Just looking out for you as always, Benny.

Worms! SUPER cool! Adi actually collected two worms- one for himself and one for the boyfriend. "Don't squish the worm, Dragon,'' he told him as he handed over the worm before settling his own worm on his desk. So, uh. mumbling Beatrice said? And not focusing? Yep, Adi thought he could do that.

''Flintifors!'' How was THAT for mumbling? Sort of? Since he had done it in his head. Hehe. Now he lazily pointed his wand at the wiggling worm then flicked is without a care as he imagined turning it into a water goblet. Would ya look at that? Wormy remained the wriggly worm! Of course it did. What poor spell work he had just practiced.

"Flintifors!" Super clear thinking of the incantation happened this time as a sharp point and flick upward happened. A matchbox was pictured in his head and viola! Wormy turned into one of those instantly!

Alright so they were stretching? What in Merlin’s name was this class even? First she wanted them to do the musical thing, now she wanted stretching? Okay, not that he wanted Bellaire back or anything (Merlin, no), but stretching? Wasn’t this a transfiguration class? Zander Adair saw no reason as to why stretching would help with that, but at this point protesting took all too much effort so he stood up and complied.

Copying Professor York, the Gryffindor tilted his head over to the left… For uh….. How long were they…. Was this bit almost…. Finally. That was like a whole eternity on the left. Just saying. Now errr… To the right? Merlin. How long was this stretching thing going to go on for, anyways? …. So he tiled his head to the right. Right. Right. Right….. Felt like another eternity. This was the longest thirty seconds of his entire— ahem. Forward. Right forward. For another lengthy thirty seconds. Y’know, maybe if they kept up with this they’d run out of time for the actual lesson. Hm, maybe Professor Botros would be down to do this?

Zander sure wouldn’t complain if it meant less time for Runes. Ahem. Just sayin’. But now he was tilting his head backwards because apparently they weren’t done with the stretching thing. Why. And even after tilting his head backwards, they still had work on the shoulders. So he rolled them backwards ten times, slowly. This was a painstaking process. He took it back. He didn’t need this in Runes. It was almost as dull as that Sowilo lesson. And ten times forward rolling. They were done now, right?

… Okay he took it back. He much preferred the stretching. This tongue twister stuff, he wasn’t a fan. But he didn’t really have a choice here did he? So he began unwillingly and rather reluctantly…. ”Lesser leather never—“ This was NOT easy. Did she know? He paused for a few seconds, trying to figure out the rest before continuing. ”weathered wetter weather… better,” GEEZ. Sweet Merlin. That was the worst. But then there were MORE.

”I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you…..” He scrunched his nose at that one. It wasn’t as difficult as the first… But they all just had to start with the same two letters, didn’t they? York was doing this on purpose, wasn’t she? Zander knew. ”Can you can a can…” What was this one even trying to accomplish? ”As a canner can can a can?” Was that even english though? Merlin. And the last one was going to annoy the heck out of him, he could already tell. Everyone around him was already starting to sound like a bunch of snakes. So he cringed before reading forward, ”She sells seashells by the sea shore,” And they were done with the torture right?

Wrong.

… Focusing activity?

These were the worst. Zander took it back. His ultimate least favorite part of this entire routine. He was terrible with focus. That’s why he had been struggling with divination lately. It was the whole focus aspect that ironically threw him off. So while Professor Y was explaining all the things to imagine, Zander Adair chose to picture what he was planning to eat for lunch. Now THAT was something he could focus on.

As Professor York spoke, Paulina listened carefully. Oh. She was being smiled at, and once again had made a good point! She was on fire today and happy about that fact because personal answers could make her feel a lack of confidence. It was much easier to state things that weren't personal to her.

But moving on...it was activity time!

Honestly, this sounded a little weird to her, but she understood what Professor York was getting at and how important it was. She was more than willing to do the activity, it just was she had never been asked to recite tongue-twisters before.

Getting up from her seat, Paulina tilted her head to the left and held it for 30 seconds before switching over to the right side. Next she tilted her head forward and then back, holding each position for a further 30 seconds. Her shoulders were rolled back 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 times before being rolled forwards another 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10 times.

Paulina had to admit that she DID feel quite a bit better after that.

Closing her eyes and concentrating on the Professors voice Hady tried clearing her mind of nothing but what she was being told. She visioned nothing but white before picturing the ocean in her mind clear as day. A green el-what? Um alright a green elephant comes along and now he's walking slowly through the water. O-oh! Lookit! It's wading through the ocean about to go for a swim...

Hady didn't mind the exercise at all finding it a bit more relaxing then most others to be. Slowly she opened her eyes exhaling a deep breath. This wasn't so bad.

The next step was just as easy as she made her way to the front of the room and collected herself a worm. Slimy little thing but at least it wasn't a spider or anything. Heading back to her seat with the worm in hand she ran over the incantation in her mind. It was a simple one that she had perfected some time ago. Only she wasn't supposed to focus at all correctly and see what would happened.

Setting the worm on her desk she pulled out her wand and pointed it at the worm. "Flintifors," she barely muttered flicking her wand upwards lazily her mind picturing a small toy car rather then the matchbox she was supposed to be transforming her worm into. And nothing at all. Slimy thing was still squirming about on her desk. Surely that was to happen since she hadn't been picturing things clearly.

Now to do this correctly. A sharp point at the worm and a flick upwards with her wand, "Flintifors!" she called out clearly her voice full of content and focus. She could see it in her head the worm changing into a matchbox. Letting out a slow breath she looked at where there now stood a prefect matchbox in place on the worm. And that was how it was done!

With that stuff done, Zeke took his seat and listened to their next task, and what he heard, had him seriously questioning the class.

Like... was she TRYING to get them to develop poor spell casting habits?

She was MAKING them get a spell wrong?

Merlin.

Zeke collected his worm and pulled out his wand. If she really wanted them to fail, so be it, but it wouldn't be pretty.

With a lazy grip on his wand Zeke somewhat swished it in an upward movement, nothing at all like the brisk point and flick up it should have been, and in conjunction with that, he murmured a vague, "Flintifers." The result was not desirable at all. BANG!POOOOOOF!

A small explosion had sounded from the tip of his wand, but aside from a little smoke inhalation, his worm was otherwise unharmed, and STILL very much a worm. Was she happy now? He failed, on purpose.

Beatrice heard a small explosion and looked to see some smoke coming from Zeke's area. This made her smile. The results of poor posture, poor focus, and mumbling were important to see, and she hoped they were all realising this. Unless the smart cookies, mmm cookies, had already come across this realisation themselves. Either way, it was an activity she often came back to, especially during times of stress.

Clapping her hands together in another rhythm to get their attention, she started explaining the rest of the class. "Good work everyone! Right, so the final part of the class," and hopefully one they might enjoy, "Involves... DRAGONS." Pause for excitement?

"FIRST you will conjure rope circles by drawing a circle in the air and sending them higher, controlling them with your wand. Five rope circles, and try to send them up at alternating heights. Then you will transfigure a rock into a dragon. Have the dragon fly over to the pillar candles and have them ‘catch’ a fireball. You must control the dragon, sending it through the circles, breathing the fireball onto the ropes, transforming them into fiery rope circles. Once the dragon expels its fireball, it will need to get another one. Complete this five times. The candle pillars will get higher and higher, and the flame smaller and smaller, making it trickier and trickier. You must focus and be mindful of your posture whilst you are controlling your dragon."

And onto the board the spells appeared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboard

Incantation: Ceruchous (Ce-RU-kee-ous)
Wand movement: Circle
Effect: Conjures a circle of rope

Incantation: Draconifors (Dra-con-ee-fors)
Wand movement: Slash wand at target, and keep wand engaged to control the dragon
Effect: Transforms target into a small dragon

Incantation: Finite (fi-NEE-tay)
Wand movement: Shape of a shield
Effect: Terminates effects of spells

Beatrice raised her own wand to demonstrate. She rolled her shoulders backwards and stood up straight, feet planted solidly on the ground. "Ce-RU-kee-ous," she said clearly, drawing a large circle in the air with her wand. And a circle of rope appeared. She slowly aimed her wand higher into the air, sending the rope up. "Now for the dragon," and she slid a box of fist-sized rocks from underneath her desk. Setting one at her feet, she aimed her wand at it. "Dra-con-ee-fors," with a slash of her wand, and a small dragon appeared. Well, hello there. Still pointing her wand at it, she controlled the little dragon up and over to the first pillar candle along the wall, where it collected a spark of fire in its mouth. Then she moved her wand to point over at the circular rope, and the dragon flew over to it, and through it, leaving a fiery circular rope in the air. The dragon returned to her feet, where she pointed her wand at it. "fi-NEE-tay," she said, drawing the shield-shaped wand movement, dragon turning back into a rock. She repeated the spell, aiming it towards the firey rope circle in the air, removing all traces of her demonstration.

"Older students, I'd like you to pair up with a younger student and work together with them, or in groups. If you can't find a partner, I can work with you!" Of course Beatrice was smiling, but who would want to partner up with their Professor? Surely that would be motivation for them to find their own peer to partner up with. "Just come and collect a rock when you're ready, and sing out if you need any help."

OOC: I think this will take about 5 posts (please label), but I don't mind if you have to make fewer/larger post to fit it all in. You have until Thursday 23:59 GMT until class closes, and, of course, PLEASE keep working on the previous activities if you haven't finished, and if you'd like to.
If you want any IC assistance, just put something in the subject bar and we will help out ASAP. Any OOC assistance, PM/VM me.
Picture of the candles on the walls.

He had been about to complete the spell CORRECTLY, when they received their next instructions, and a demonstration.

There were some things he liked about this, but some things he didn't.

Pro's
1. Dragons were awesome.
2. Obstacle courses were awesome.
3. New spell to conjure rope circles! was awesome.

Con's
1. He already knew how to conjure and control dragons...

So technically, he was only learning ONE skill today, and it didn't even seem to be the emphasis of the lesson. Control? Was the emphasis of the lesson?

Nevertheless, he needed to complete the other activity before he could even think to attempt this one.

Wand in hand, and worm in front of him, Zeke pointed the Larch tip at his target and flicked it up while clearly stating, "Flintifors."

No kaboom.

No smoke.

SUCCESS.

He had a matchbox.

Done with the stretching, tongue twister and sort of focusing one, now what's next? The young lioness then watched the Professor... Were they gonna demonstrate flintifors again? But wait... this one was quite different.

For the first time, they needed to fail the spell, sort of. Ava then grabbed a worm and then demonstrated the spell, but as the Professor said that she needed to perform it poorly. She thought of transforming the worm into something different like... mushroom! And then with the poor wand movement, she tried the spell. "Flintifors." And......... Nothing happened, of course.

Second try! Now Ava had to perform it right. She thought of transforming the worm into a matchbox. And then with the correct wand movement, she pointed her wand and flick it upward. "Flintifors!" VOILA!!! She had a matchbox now.

Angel was totally looking forwards to this, now it was time to get stretching, well she might as well give it a go, she really wanted to throw her wand into the middle of next week if anything went wrong.

Angel was going to do what the Professor said and so she started to do some stretches, this was going to be great well she hoped it was, one stretch to the left, one to the right, then left and then right again.

Angel was totally enjoying this and now she was going to try and do the second part of this exercise.

And now.... Time for REAL ACTIVITY!!

And it would involve DRAGONS? As in REAL dragons???

Woah... This was gonna be cool. Even they're just gonna transfigure the rock into a dragon but still... cool.

Ava watched Professor Beatrice demonstrated what would they gonna do for this main activity. Okay, first they needed to conjure the circle of rope, and then transfigure the rock into a dragon and control it so it could... catch the fireball? Woah...

So first.... she needed to conjure the ropes first. Making a circle motion with her wand, the young lioness then tried to conjure the rope. "Ceruchous!"

Would any older students want to work together with her?

Angel was totally enjoying this lesson and now she had to try and pronounce the classroom now all she had to do was figure out how she was going to do the next thing.

Angel started to pronounce the word and she made sure that she did it clearly and very calmly, she hoped that everything would be okay and she could actually get this right, especially after what happen with the homework and she was really scared about giving this ago.

In all honesty Professor York, he really didn’t feel all that much different, but he assumed they were supposed to feel something different so he didn’t say any of that out loud. Didn’t wanna make the Professor angry or anything… Ahem. As for the next part… He stood up to go grab a.. What? Worm? But this wasn’t herbology? Uh. So um, guess he went to grab a worm then. Yup. A worm. In transfiguration class. Interesting.

And they were focusing real hard on spells and movements and posture and? That was a LOT to do, Professor. Merlin. Flintifors. He had done this one before. ”Flintehfohs,” that was sloppy enough right? And he did so with a light wave and a slumped back. And he was thinking about food again. What? It was sort of a part of the instructions?

Flintifors. Kay. Well, nothing.

That supposed to happen right? Professor York was making a point here. Hm. Clever. Teaching them the right way to do things by teaching the wrong way. Interesting tactic. Very creative. And all done without the use of singing, just sayin’. This time, he straightened his back a little bit… Cleared his throat…. Started focusing on the actual result of the spell he wanted.

And with an upwards flick, he pointed at the worm. ”Flint-ee-FORS,” it wasn’t any surprise when the spell DID work. Just satisfying mostly. Look at his matchbook! It was glorious. Well okay, it was just a matchbox, but honestly it was nicer than a worm. Nothing too fancy though. He’d rather move on to those other spells she was starting to put on the board. The dragon one was one of his faaaaaaaves.

Angel was total trying to focus on the different colour, she thought about black and then white and she then thought about the colour grey, she made sure that she was staying focused about everything. She then thought about the ocean and then was she supposed to picture a green elephant coming along, now she was having to stay focused hard because she seriously wanted to laugh at the thought of a green elephant.

Angel was focusing hard and concentrating as hard as she could, she was enjoying this, so the elephant was now walking through the shallow water before it went for a swim, this is just awesome and she hoped that things would be great and she was sure she was ready for the next thing now.

Okay so next the professor wanted them to focus their attention of an image of her choosing. He could do that...for the most part. He closed his eyes and imagined shades of grey...grey skies to be more specific..over the caribbean sea....he was home looking out at all this from his balcony....the day was cool...Heath wasn't being annoying and the rumble of thunder meant that there would be rain...rain was good. It meant he'd have waves big enough to go surfing. So awesome...oh right!

The elephant...here it was on the beach in front of his home. It was walking in the shallows and waves licked at it's green feet. Oooh look...the elephant was wading deeper into the water...down down it went until it started swimming! Go green elephant go!

Dragons?

Adi glanced over at Benny. The Puffer had one already, he didn't need another. Hehe. But no doubt his bestie would be pleased about this turn of things in class. He listened to the instructions been given to them. Oh, cool! This sounds like SO much fun! But first... he needed to find an ickle one to help.

His eyes spotted Ava. Why not work with the lil sister? "Gonna go help Ava,'' he told Benny and shuffled over to the firstie. "Prankster Burton! I'm here to help!'' Hehe. First they needed ropes, yeah? "Any luck so far, Ava?'' He didn't see any ropes around so maybe she needed some encouragement.

"Let's try the incantation first. Ceruchous. Ceruchous.'' And the wand movement? A circle. Adi practiced just that. He grinned at Ava. "Let's try it together now. Ceruchous!'' A length of rope shot up from his wand. WOOHOO! Like Beatrice had done, he sent it up into the air. High... up!

Angel was going to practice the spell when she suddenly realised that she had to do something cool. She had to say it sloppily and she had to do the wand movement wrongly as well, how awesome was this. Angel was going to find this hard since she had practice with the professor.

"Flintifo.....r.....sssssssssssssssssssssss!" Angel giggled as she said it very sloppily and then she pointed her wand and weakly flicked it upwards, she watched as the spell sort of worked but it wasn't very powerful.

Angel now had to do it but this time she had to focus on the spell. "Flintifors!!" Angel said the incantation clearly and then she did the wand movement and watched as the spell worked like it had in the Professor office. Oh now she saw why it was important to focus on the spell.

DRAGONS!

It didn't matter to the fourth year that she knew this spell and had done this before. Nope. All she had heard was the word dragon and her attention was peeked. Completely. She listened closely taking everything in the best she could even reciting each step to herself in her head. Watching closely as Professor York even showed them what to do. This was going to be interesting to say the least!

Opting to work alone unless someone wanted to pair up with her (she won't mind!) Hady slid from her seat and headed to the front to collect herself a rock. Carrying the rock with her to an empty spot she set it down on the floor near her feet. Alright now that she had her rock she needed to get started. Ceruchous. That was the incantation. Whispering it once or twice to herself she flicked her wrist her wand landing firmly in her grasp from it's holster on her wrist. "Ceruchous!" she recited clearly her mind picturing the rope appearing as she drew a large circle in the air with her wand. As the rope appeared she guided it higher into the air with her wand.

Dragon time! Pointing her wand at the rock at her feet she made a firm slashing motion at it with her wand, "Draconifors!" Standing right before her was a tiny but perfect dragon. Hello beautiful one. With a grin in place Hady used her wand directing her dragon up into the air higher and higher towards one of the pillars along the wall that held the small flame like candle. Her dragon collected the flame in it's mouth and then turned around heading straight for the rope she had made earlier and through it letting out a burst of flames from it's mouth igniting the rope on fire. It was awesome!

Directing her dragon still with the use of her wand it landed lightly at her feet. Sigh. Sorry little buddy but it was time for you to go. "Finite." Instantly her dragon was once more a rock.

Stretching out of the way, Paulina was ready to move on to the tongue-twisters. Has she ever mentioned that she didn't like tongue-twisters? She always stumbled over them and ended up making big mistakes. Thank Merlin they had been asked to speak clearly and pronounce every word; that meant that she could go slowly and there was no way she could mess up and embarrass herself.

"Less-er leath-er never weath-er-ed wett-er weath-er bett-er."

So far so good, but the next one would be harder as well as nonsensical.

"I thought... I thought... of thinking of... thanking you."

And now another one that didn't make any sense:

"Can you... can a can... as a canner can... can a can?"

Thank goodness she was on the last one and it so happened to be the only one on the list that she was familiar with. That meant that Paulina had no trouble at all saying it properly.

"She sells seashells by the sea shore."

Alright, now that Caleb was all stretched and stuff, he was ready to go. Pronunciation was a really important part of spell things...and now that he thought about it, he did mumble his words sometimes. Maybe THAT was why a few of his spells didn't work. Alright, now to repeat all this stuff...this was going to be FUN (not)...

"Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better.
I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you.
Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?
She sells seashells by the sea shore."

That last bit was the WORST. He was lisping and tripping over his words by the end of it...absolute disaster. WOW.

"Lesser leather never weathered wetter weather better...weather better," he decided to do it one line at a time, that was easier...

"I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you....Can you can a can as a canner can can a can?"

Alright, now the hard part, deep breath...

"She sells seashells by the sea shore...She sells seashells by the sea shore...."

Was this like a tongue work out? How many times did he have to do it to get his tongue thoroughly, um...stretched?