((and everyone else, trying not to over ping)) "Oh please," Magnus said, "you wanna know 'ow many of me workshops went wrong?" The boy started counting them, ticking them off with his fingers. "Werewolf workshop--'alf the club was crying, I broke me rib and was put under a potion, acromantulas 'alf the club was outside or standing in terror, patronus practice I couldn't manage cos I kept fainting in front o' the fake dementor and I were the captain, House Elves--there was a row and I was struggling not to shift... want me to keep going? I'm pretty sure if I pick flobberworms they'd attack and burn down the school. But, Me point is if they'll let me do workshops when clearly they are doomed, then you're fine with two minor accidents." Magnus snickered, when Eros gave in and he clapped the boy's shoulder. "There we go. Well if I'm gonna loose, I wanna loose ta you seeing as you designed it. I bet the Arpies would be interested in your ideas. I'm full o' surprises?" he asked very intrigued by that but nodded, "me size and age and innocent look--people often underestimate me." He grinned, "Coppers o' London learnt the 'ard way I'm wily."

Merlin was expecting for Eros to tell him to go rest but he felt quite well, maybe still a bit of a headache but nothing terrible. "I'm back because I wanted to return and I'm not a quitter or a coward, besides I'm having fun and I love your workshop. The accidents are not your fault, if you stay around me for a whole day you will notice how accidents happen around me all the time, mostly because I am quite clumsy and well ok I can say reckless at times. And if you think things have gone bad in your workshop is because you didn't went to mine where so much happened that you will be surprised how I'm not expelled by now. A man got eaten alive, so that should tell you enough. This little bump, is nothing." Merlin smiled to Eros and then clapped his shoulder. "You are doing excellent, and I will chase you but I will take the last turn so I get a chance to rest a some, alright?" He was serious and firm on his words not taking them back no matter what excuses Eros put. "So, you are not scared of a dragon are you?" He smiles. "I won't make you hit a ring..or at least I hope so."

After listening to Magnus story about his workshops and remembering some of the events he witness himself, he once again concluded this workshop was the least dangerous of all. "Really, I insist this is the safest workshop I have been in..ok I take that back the safest was the wizarding schools one, then this one." Merlin was grinning and hoping Eros would let him fly again.

Magnus nodded, "I've been ta some very safe ones but yeah 'onestly I'm surprised I ain't chucked outta school either. I 'ave the worst luck so if I'm still allowed ta 'ave workshops, the staff surely ain't gonna be mad at understandable bumps."

Merlin sheepishly responded. "Well I haven't been in all the workshops, I missed a few so I'm only talking about the ones I did participated on."

"I've been running a few clubs and 'onestly me clubs are rather doomed. Trust me, if I were over this workshop, I'd probly wind up 'ave us all attacked by the brooms or the ministry in 'ere ta take me to Askaban."

Merlin laughed. "As long as we don't get attacked by Dementors we are fine because I can't cast a patronus and well you told me what happened with the fake one." He was thoughtful. "Maybe the captain or Gaia, or anyone else can cast the patronus but would it chase a way many of the Deementors? I don't want to find out."

"I bet the ministry is watching me workshops... what's the werewolf up to now? I'm sure it looks nefarious. And even though the ministry don't use dementors no more but I'm sure if any appeared, it'd be in one of me workshops. And I keep fainting near 'em so yeah, I'd 'ave ta be rescued. So really, its a good thing I ain't over this one."

Paddy realised she'd been staring at the course for long enough. Taking a belt, she looked around to see if anyone was looking willing to fly against her, considering how she'd almost knocked Magnus off his broom the first time she attempted broomstick flying.

()

Magnus noticed that Paddy was looking at the course. "Wanna take a crack at it? Sauvage and Fade are going against each other, Gaia and Eros are gonna take a flight and I think Eros and Merlin are too sooo, would ya like to go werewolf ta werewolf?" He grinned, "we could make a bet if you like."

"I'm willing to give it a go, although I don't think I have any chance of completing it without you getting my flag," she admitted, "unless I have a two minute head start instead of two seconds." She thought for a moment before adding, "what did you have in mind for the bet if you win?"

Merlin couldn't stop laughing at Magnus words, even when it may be a joke it wasn't so far from the truth which suddenly made him serious. "I won't let a dementor or anyone hurt you, I would eat the dementor if it even try it." Then he laughed. "Can you even eat a Dementor?" It was a question he needed answer to.

Merlin then noticed looking at the course and probably tired of Magnus and him causing trouble, but she obviously wanted to try it. "I would go with you, but I have to take a break for now and.." He was shy to say the obvious since he didn't really knew her. "Well I honestly don't want to cause more problems so...yeah."

Paddy looked at Merlin and smiled, "watching everyone else get injured is actually making me more confident in a strange way. There's little I could do to make a total fool of myself that someone hasn't already done, other than setting my broom on fire!"

()

Paddy mounted her broom, and decided to make the most of Magnus not paying attention. Speeding up towards the course, but stillnot flying as fast as the others had done, she started weaving through the first rings, realising that it was much easier the right way up. The first three rings weren't too much trouble, but she missed the fourth one entirely, and had to double back to fly through it. As she did so, she spotted Magnus flying towards her, and realised her extra (unofficial) head start hadn't really got her that far ahead at all. Swerving sharply to the left, she almost lost sight of the fifth ring, but more by luck than skill, she managed to fly through it.

( - I thought she could do with a longer head start :P)

Merlin laughed, even when he knew in a way she was making fun of him. "Well, that is a good way to put it. I don't think Eros would like a fire on his workshop." He whispered. "I think he had enough for now."

"Er, honestly I don't know. I'm not even sure if they are completely corporal. Paul said 'e's seen what's under the cloak cos 'e saw 'is dad's soul sucked away. It's 'is boggart--with one of 'is loved ones being the victim. Says its the stuff of true nightmares. But I do know in animal for it 'as less ability ta get to you," he replied seriously.

"Well," Magnus said thoughtfully, "er... 'EY, Wait, oooh now you're gonna get it." He hoped on his broom and took after his werewolf friend. "And I want something REALLY good when I win," he bellowed. Low as he could get he raced after her through the first several rings.

Magnus was approaching a lot quicker than Paddy was flying. She turned to look over her right shoulder, and inadvertently turned her broom sharply to the right. It took a second or three for her to find the sixth ring again, but it looked like she'd confused Magnus as well as herself, as he'd flown right past her. Flying through the 6th and 7th rings, she sped up towards the flags behind the goals. Not being overly confident at flying with only one had on her broom, she slowed down a lot before reaching out and grabbing the flag, and was certain that Magnus would find it easy to catch up again.

Merlin listened to Magnus and didn't say a word and even if he wanted to Paddy has used the opportunity to cheat on him so he let his thoughts run. He didn't think the dementors were corporal at all or even alive, they seem like death itself to Merlin. After his friend took off after the other wolf he watched and cheered. "GO MAGNUS!!" Since he was friends with Mag, he obviously was on his side and would be watching closely, he was sure he could win this one easily.

Magnus over shot Paddy but that was okay, because he was able to get the flag from the post before she did and simply waited for her to catch up to him. She must have missed seeing him beside the post. He let her get a little ahead of him before he chased after again. But it only took a brief moment before he caught up with her and took her silver flag. Chuckling he said, "you better make me gift REALLY good." as he sped off through the last several rings, doing one of them upside down. Then he dived straight to the ground in a Wronski Feint pulling up inches from it, flopping off the broom onto the patch of grass right beside Merlin and Eros. He held up both flags with a cocky smirk. "I'm gonna 'ave lots of nice new things from this workshop."

Merlin was smiling and clapped when Magnus finished the course. "You were excellent! Poor Paddy thou, I think she had no idea what was happening."

Paddy cursed under her breath for not noticing Magnus waiting by the post, but decided to finish the course anyway, just to prove she could. She was determined to improve her flying skills some more though - she might never be good enough for the Quidditch team, but not turning corners accidentally was more important to her. Looping back to where everyone was standing, she carefully brought her broom in low to the ground before landing. "So what did you want for that bet then Magnus?" she asked, laughing despite having lost.

"I knew I didn't stand a chance," she admitted to Merlin (), "I only started flying last term, and didn't get much chance to practise over the winter break."

"Thanks," Magnus said beaming, "Though it weren't quite fair. Paddy only started learning to fly."

When Paddy arrived on the ground he said, "You did really well, Paddy, I'm impressed, bet you'll be ready for the teams soon. 'ow'd your new broom 'andle? Hmm.... ow about a small pet? Merlin keeps trying ta get me a puffskin but I really don't want one of those."