SPLAT! Kitty yelped in surprise as Esme's paintball came out of nowhere and got her in the back. Yikes, one more hit by Hufflepuff and she would have to switch!

At first she was about to fire at Esme because she wanted her on their side (and because she had hit her first), but seeing her being fired at by five different people (two from Slytherin) changed her mind. Not wanting Esme to get hurt by so many paintballs, she instead turned her wand at the other Hufflepuff (CARL) and shouted, "Pingo BLUE!"

Azura looked at Jace as he spoke about strategy! That made sense! As long as their friends could get them back, it doesn't matter if they got hit!

The purple eyes girl was perhaps a little too deep in thought when suddenly paint came flying at her! But Jace protected her!

She sent him a grateful smile as she snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry Jace! And thank you!" She gave him a warm grin before she started to move out of the way of the flying paint!

She aimed her wand towards Carl and said "Pingo Blue!" Take that Carl!

Rachel had thought that Azura would have been hit but thank goodness Jace had managed to protect her in time. This was what teamwork was all about. She didn't get to spare more time looking around though he did notice Kitty getting hit. Oh no!

She had better try to keep a better eye on the Ravenclaws, herself included. But no one seemed to be aiming at her as yet which was a good thing. This left her free to find someone else to target.

"Pingo Blue!'' Her words and wand were aimed at the Head Boy.

Their team might not be large and it might consist of more younger ones then anything but they were sticking together! That's what really counted here and they also had a plan to work from.

Just barely had she gotten her paint flying towards her intended target had paint come flying her way. Was it at her or was it at her snakes in general? Hadleigh really wasn't all to sure and honestly speaking she didn't quite care. Without giving it much thought she cast a strong "Protego" creating a shield in front of herself. Barely was the shield in place before painting was hitting it. Whoa that had been close!

It took her a second to realize the offending colors had come from Angel as well as from Rachel. It appeared everyone was a target right now. "Thanks Jaemin!" she smiled at the younger boy. Yes she had known he helped protect her from being splattered.

What was this? Pick on Esme day?

The Hufflepuff was rather amused as Rachel sent a spell towards her. "PROTEGO!" she called out at the last moment, blocking the shot. Unfortunately the same couldn't have been said for Azura's... or Jace's as she hadn't been expecting three assaults at the same time. Ravenclaw sure wanted her, huh?

Well now she was BLUE like them. Ah well.

Carl still got a thumbs up as he hit Azura with yellow paint. Unfortunately she couldn't finish the job since she was now on the blue team.

Scanning around for someone else to hit, she was surprised when she was hit with another TWO paint spells - these ones from Hady and Mason. Wow, she was doing terrible at this activity but then she hadn't been expecting EVERYONE to shoot at her. Did she have a target on her clothes or something? She snorted.

Looked like she was now GREEN. How long would that last for?

Thank goodness Hady had caught the blue one that had come her way; Jaemin's shield had taken the red shot easily, but then it was gone, and she had been wide open. The small Slytherin gave the taller girl a smile before looking around them, at the chaos. There was colour flying everywhere, and people everywhere, and good Merlin. What a mess.

"We should get in a loose circle formation, too," he murmured, pulling on Hady's free arm and looking at her with big eyes. "That way they can't hit us in the back... and we can protect each other..."

Their circle wouldn't be very big, but it would hopefully be effective, right? For protection, and for attacking. Jaemin cast a glance at Ariadne and the Mason girl he hadn't spoken to all term, then almost as an afterthought he pointed his wand in Jace's direction.

"Pingo Green!"

Splatty splat splat?

Yoongi saw the defiance in Angel’s eyes but was glad that she didn’t protest and had gotten up to participate. He smiled at her and nodded. “That’s the spirit!” he said enthusiastically and turned to see if his red paint had hit Jace.

Unfortunately it had not and Yoongi could see the red paint splattered on the ground where the young Ravenclaw had stood earlier. Too bad , he’ll just find anot-------

-SPLAT!-

He felt something hit his shoulder blade and as he looked over his shoulder he saw blue paint on his uniform. Then he saw a first year (Rachel) , who he had not noticed amidst all the others pointing her wand at him. Had she just…had he been HIT!?

Unbelievable… but clearly the paint was there. This meant he had to be careful not to get hit a second time or else he would join the blue team…and he did not want that… red was more his color anyways.

He needed to find someone for his team and that’s when he noticed Jaemin. The Gryffindor pointed his wand at the first year , shooting red paint in his direction.

Yes! Hady and her spells had both hit Esme! Now they had an extra team-mate, which would make things a little bit easier for them.

Mason gave Esme a devious smile, "Welcome to the Dark Side." Mwahahahaha. "It's gonna be super fun!"

Yeah! Jaemoon ( was that his name???) had a pretty good idea, if they could protect each other, they'd stand a better chance. . . speaking of protecting. "Protego!" Mason shouted and cast the Shield-Charm over him just as Mister Head Boy's paint came flying towards him. "He almost got you there, Songbird!" Nicknames were fun, just go with it, "I think that plan is bloody brilliant!"

Stepping into the circle-formation with the rest, Mason prepared to defend her team-mates if anyone were to try and hit them.

Azura was fully on guard now! She had to be with all that paint flying every which way. Her purple eyes were scanning everyone when she saw Jaemin shoot green paint right at Jace!! Eeeek!!!

She took a few running steps forward and as soon as she was next to Jace, put up her wand and yelled "Protego!" The green paint splattered off of her shield charm and bounced harmlessly away. There! She had saved him back..

A warm smile was beamed at her friend..

"Saved ya." She grinned before she moved away to look at Carl checking to see if her blue paint had hit its mark yet.

SNORT.

Esme wanted to cackle at what Mason told her about being on the Dark Side. She really did love the Snakes but then she liked all of the Houses. Most of her friends were in Ravenclaw though; they seemed to be taking over the school. "Do you guys have candy?" she asked curiously. That's what they said about the Dark Side and she didn't want chocolate so the candy would suffice. Really she was just getting hungry again even though she had eaten before coming to class.

Since she was now a Slytherin, Esme needed to get more people over to the green side. Maybe she would start with Rachel since she had been the person to begin the assault against her... Plus she could end up on the same team if another Slytherin got her. "PINGO GREEN!"

She watched as the spell went towards her friend.

Songbird?

Jaemin stopped and stared at the Mason girl for a looooooooooong moment, blinking in confusion. He'd had a lot of nicknames in his lifetime, but that was... definitely not one of them. It wasn't particularly bad, but it was just... different. He scrunched his nose at her and gave her a smile and a quiet "thank you" before turning his attention back to the battle.

His paint hadn't reached Jace, which was sad but not surprising. When Esme took her shot at Rachel, however... Jaemin directed his wand at the Ravenclaw girl and did the same.

"Pingo green!" Come play with them, Rachel!

What? He paint really did hit the Head Boy! "YAY!'' Rachel cried happily, jumping up and down once or twice. Her excitement had been cut short when she realised Esme now belonged to the Slytherin team. That was no fair. Rachel wanted her favourite person on the Ravenclaw team.

Oh no! Esme was aiming at her! It was revenge and Rachel knew it. "Protego!'' She sent up a Shield charm in time but all of her attention was being focused on the pseudo Slytherin that she failed to notice a real Slytherin aiming at her as well. Not until she had the green paint upon her that she looked around and saw Jaemin. "Nice aim,'' she told him despite the situation.

Where were all the Gryffindor? He could only notice the head boy and two more. Now he was getting worried. Moreover he was a first year. How many can a first year handle. But it was time to attach and not worry. Could take a few if he tried. Going through the spells in his mind. Pingo and Protego. Okay. Let get on with it.

Looking for a close target around him he noticed a slytherin standing. And without wasting much time he pointed his wand at his "Pingo Red" he shouted and the colour boom flew from his wand towards the boy.

Candy??? Um no. They were too sexy to eat candy.

"Nope, sorry." she said apologetically to Esme, "We do have a wide array of sea-food outside of our windows, though." Your pick. Merpeople or giant-squid?

It didn't seem like Songbird's new nickname bothered him, though he did give her one of those dumfounded starrrrrrreeeeessssssss. Oh well. She had saved him from the embarrassment of leaving the Dark Side for the Pride, so he just had to deal with it. (plus, she had nooooo idea what his name was. She'd have to find out later.)

Sticking to their original-plan of all aiming at the same person, Mason followed Esme's lead at wailing on Rachel. With a quick flick of her wrist and a "PINGO GREEN!" she sent paint flying Rachel's way. If any of it got in her friend's eyes, she'd have to apologise later. . . right now though, this was WAR!

As they spread around the teacher Elsa took a moment to look around. They were in a quick spacious clearing, something told her things were about to get physical. They were going into a paint war? How exciting!! Elsa quickly dropped her bag near a group of trees so her arms were free and rolled her sleeves up. She casted the Impervious on her clothes - or so she though - and got ready for action.

She circled around the clearing, finding Gabriel's back turned to her not far from there "Hey Gabriel!" she shouted so he would look in her direction. She wasn't about to attack anyone from the back for sure. She then pointed her want at him and cast the spell "PINGO GREEN!". She grinned happily. This was so much fun. To hell with the whole - think about friends and family and what war brings. WAR WAS SO MUCH FUN.

Carl looked at Azura, hoping his yellow paint had hit her. Surprisingly, Jace the Ravenclaw ran over to where she was and blocked the spell. He sidestepped quickly as the paint flew back past him. That reminded him, he should protect Esme. By the time he reached the older girl, she was hit by two blue, then two green paint. He stared - his teammate was gone! Giving her a weak smile, he turned his attention to the ongoing paint war.

The Badger saw the Ravenclaw send a spell towards him and he was prepared to defend himself. "Protego!" He shouted, blocking the paint. Ha, if he kept this up he might be able to survive - splat! He looked down to see his left arm dripping blue paint, thanks to Azura. Raising his wand, he prepared himself to fire spells.

Now there was a plan--a pretty good one, too. Actually, there were TWO plans when you counted Jaemin's, and Ariadne was on board with both of them. So NOW could she attack someone? Apparently so, because there were spells flying left and right.

Since the first spell cast by Carl, none of the other spells were coming toward her...YET.

She'd avoided trouble so far, but she KNEW that wouldn't last. Mason was standing nearby and had just cast at Rachel, and since there plan was to double attack the same person, Rachel it was! "PINGO GREEN!" she shouted, sending the paint right toward Rachel.

Goodness! It seemed that everyone had ceased their attack on Esme and had turned it on her instead. Rachel quickly cast another Shield Charm but unlike the first one, this one was considerably weaker. She pouted in exasperation. Why did her Shield charms always have to be so fragile? "You got me, Mason,'' she called to her friend. She was now officially a Slytherin for the next bit of this lesson thanks to her and Jaemin.

But those words were hardly out of her mouth when she was plastered with another bundle of green this time from Ariadne. The Eagle giggled. "Won't you girls welcome me to your House?''

Now THIS was the kind of activity Scarlett had been hoping for! It was also, strangely, the third paint fight she had gotten herself involved in this term. She enjoyed the fun of course, but it was a pain cleaning her clothes afterwards. She would NOT be upset if next term included LESS paint fights...

But this was WAR right now. Hufflepuff had to do well in this activity - their points depended on it! She was certain at this point in term, there was NO way they were going to catch up, but she would love to at least not be DEAD last.

First things first - a target. That was what Scarlett needed - and she found her target right away. Her friend Ariadne! Hehehe. She was too focused on Rachel to notice Scarlett sneaking up behind her (or so she hoped!) so this was the opportune moment to strike!

"Pingo Yellow!" she exclaimed, aiming at Ariadne and hoping her little sneak attack paid off.

Tia had stepped outside as the Professor indicated, but had been deliberating hiding for the remainder of the lesson. It wasn't violence though; it was just a little paint and she'd gone and jumped in a MUD PIT during Arithmancy lesson, so surely a paint war would be tolerable, right?!?

Not. Because it was supposed to be reminiscent of war and Tia hated war. Aggression. All of that.

Except when she heard Jace whispering to the eagles that they could win their teammates back, well, Tia knew that's what she would try to do. That's when she saw it - Rachel - get kidnapped by the Slytherins!!! Flicking her wand, the Head Girl cast a non-verbal, 'Pingo Blue' at the first year eagle.

Not sure if the colour ball and hit his target or not. He heard his name being called out. He looked around and a second later he saw the green colour coming towards him.

He tried to defend himself and was just about to say Protego but it was too late he was covered with a splash of green. Hey! how could he have protected himself it was so sudden. Good he still had to be hit again to change his colour. He belonged to the red house and was in no mood of changing that.

He looked over at the direction from where he was hit. okay so it was Elsa. No problem. You'll be paying for that soon. He got his wand ready. This time attentive he didn't get hit again. Okay Elsa! Might wanna be ready

Okay, why is Azura rushing to him? What did he-- oh. Ooooh. Returning the favour, wasn't she? Jace cringed at the splattering motion of the green paint, and shook the remaining green goo from his brown hair. "Thanks." he said, smiling at his best friend. He really could count on her, eh? Jace had seen Jaemin point his wand at him, and this earned the Slytherin first year a grin. Did he want him on his team?

Brown eyes followed the movement of his best friend's attack on Carl, but the Hufflepuff did not get himself fully covered. Bingo. One more hit and Carl is their captive! Sort of.

Pointing his wand at the fair-haired boy, Jace fired blue paint on him. "PINGO BLUE!"

*S P L U R T*

The team work these first years had, no matter which House they were in was fantastic and he bet the Professor would be proud to see this. It made even Yoongi smile at their efforts. The spell he had casted at Jaemin had been blocked by someone else (Mason) but no matter because his eyes had found another target.

Tia. The Head Girl.

Yoongi moved away , trying to make sure he was somewhere behind her while she was trying to get her House mate back to the blue side. The same one who had successfully hit him with blue paint earlier. With a flick of his wand, Yoongi casted a non-verbal ‘Pingo red’ in the Head Girl’s direction and watched.

Ariadne spared herself a split second to laugh at the fact that she and Mason had basically plastered Rachel with green paint. Had she known that first spell would hit, she wouldn't have sent the second one flying that way. She could have sent it toward somebody else--the Head Girl, for example. She hadn't known that, though, but either way, it was a SUCCESS.

"Welcome to the WINNERS," she jokingly said to Rachel, avoiding the fact that Ravenclaw was currently slaughtering everybody else in the house points race.

Now...who else wants a piece of this GREEN PAINT?!



Ariadne had no time...literally NO time...to focus on who she should aim for next. Scarlett, who for some reason Ariadne had barely seen all school year, was currently sending a blast of yellow paint her way. Oh, no. NO WAY. She was NOT joining another team, because Slytherin had JUST gotten Rachel, which meant that they might stand a chance at winning this.

"PROTEGO!" she said, defending herself against that awful yellow paint. She was TEAM GREEN all the way. "Not this time, Scarlett!" Or ANY time, for that matter.

They needed to hit someone twice before their colour changed, so without further hesitation, Tia flicked her wand again at Rachel, casting another non-verbal 'Pingo Blue' in the first year's direction, to hopefully snag her back to the blue side of things.

Of course her distraction and preoccupation with getting her housemate back to the blue side had left her oblivious to what was happening behind her. It wasn't until she felt something smack into her back that caused the head girl to turn around startled. See - this is why she didn't like defense - she didn't have eyes in the back of her head! Sadly! Dealing with protection of magical creatures, she didn't have to worry about attacks from behind ... not to mention creatures couldn't cast hexes on you.

"Yooongiii!!!" She said upon seeing her counterpart and quickly cast up a shield charm to defend against a second hit, hopefully.