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Championship Match
Author: Griet
Date: 09-03-12 08:45
Sadie strapped on her shin guards and listened to her cousin Aleydis give what would be her last Quidditch speech of the school year. Hufflepuff had made it to the Championship Match and would be playing against Slytherin today in what would no doubt be a very exciting and unpredictable game. After Aleydis finished up her speech, co-captain Caerwyn put in his two knuts worth. His eyes shone with excitement as he talked up the match. He finished up by putting his hand in the middle of their circle. Aleydis put her hand on top of his. Sadie put hers on top of her cousin's, and so on until everybody had a hand in the center of the team circle. As one they shouted, "Go Hufflepuff!"
They broke apart and grabbed their equipment and then lined up at the locker room door. Already, the Pitch sounded full to the brim. The Hufflepuff team could hear lots of excited chatter and some cheering. A few minutes later, the announcer, this time Geoffrey Ludlow of Gryffindor, welcomed the spectators to the Championship match.
"And now, here are our players!" he shouted excitedly. "For Hufflepuff…" And the doors to the locker room flew open. The seven Hufflepuffs mounted their broomsticks and took off, waving to their fans, of which there were many present at the Quidditch Pitch today.
"Captain and seeker, Aleydis Vanderbilt!" Geoffrey shouted. "Co-captain and beater, Caerwyn Valentine!" Beater Gus Hodfuffer! Keeper Glori Hodfuffer! Chasers Sadie Mickle, Jasper Jenkins and Marlow MacDougal!"
For the most part, thunderous applause met the Hufflepuffs as they made their circuit around the Pitch.
"And for Slytherin…" Geoffrey went on, "captain and seeker Cornelia Vanderbilt! Co-captain and beater Mark Farnon! Beater Basil Wynbourne! Keeper Gus van Tassel! Chasers Olive Green, Alexa Wenlock, and Mason Jeffers!"
The Slytherin fans made a very good effort attempting to be as loud for their team as most of the rest of the school had been for Hufflepuff.
Aleydis and Cornelia touched down at center field and met Coach Krum, who stood by the trunk of Quidditch balls.
Aleydis smiled at her older sister and held out her hand. "Good luck, Cornelia."
Cornelia scowled, seized her sister's hand for a rough handshake and grumbled, "Yeah, you too."
Then they mounted their broomsticks again and took up their positions directly overhead.
Coach Krum released the balls in order, leaving the quaffle for very last. He pitched it high over his head. In a flash, Sadie snatched it out of the air and rocketed away in the direction of the Slytherin goal hoops. She had a bit of difficulty pulling free from the pack, however, and quickly found herself boxed in by the three Slytherin chasers. She looked around for an opening, but Jasper and Marlow couldn't seem to get into a good position to accept the quaffle. One of the Slytherin beaters, she didn't know which one, fired off a bludger in her direction. Sadie noticed it just in time to roll her shoulder out of the way. The bludger forced Olive to move away and gave Sadie a split second opportunity to pass the quaffle to Jasper. He caught it easily and continued on toward the Slytherin goal hoops.
House Cup: Hufflepuff vs Slytherin
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 09-03-12 12:48
In Viktor's estimation, today's Hogwarts House Cup championship match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin should be a great match if their most recent meeting, the last official game played at school, is anything to go by. After being beaten out of catching the snitch by her sister, even though a bad concussion was to blame, Cornelia Vanderbilt is surely determined to win this one. That she is known for her temper and is a somewhat bad loser has Viktor wondering if he should tell the other two referees today, Janet Felps who coaches Fancourt College's Chimaeras and Blaise Cadogen former seeker of Blane College's Griffins, to keep a close eye on her. He decides again it, not wanting to put a negative thought in their heads about Cornelia or the other Slytherins before the match even begins. Slytherins has enough of a stained reputation from deeds done in the past by those that came before this current lot without adding to it.
When Viktor had the two team captains, who just happen to be Cornelia and her sister Aleydis, meet him for the prematch handshake, he very pointedly reminded them, "Let's play a clean match."
Now, in the air, Hufflepuff taking first possession of the quaffle, Viktor catches sight of Marjani in the stands. She had indeed been ill last Saturday with a virus. Flu-like but not, Madam Pomfrey told them, a true flu, Marjani spent a few days with a nasty headache, body aches, and fever. Thankfully, it only last a few days, during which Viktor constantly checked on her to the point Poppy bluntly told him, "You're concern for her is bordering on irritating. Leave her be to rest." Chastened, Viktor had made himself limit the number of times per day he checked on her, though he will now admit to having sent Zuberi to the hospital wing a few times in his stead. He hopes that neither of his "kids" gets sick again anytime soon. He doesn't think he can handle much of that.
The middle, make that start, of a match is neither the time nor the place to dwell on Marjani having been ill last weekend and the start of the week, particularly as she is now feeling fine and in attendance to the match, cheering on good friends Olive and Alexa. Good thing, too, that he's not letting his mind wander all over those few days because a bludger hit goes wild, angling badly off Gus's bat, and goes straight into the stands. It's clearly an accident as Gus Hodfuffer would never purposely try to hurt a spectator or anyone else for that matter. When such a hit is intentional, it's called bumphing. Though not a case of bumphing, it's still a foul.
Viktor blows his whistle and, much to the chagrin of Hufflepuff and Gus Hodfuffer in particular, Slytherin gains possession of the quaffle.
Location Unknown: Acclimation
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 09-03-12 13:14
Berthold Beatenberg had spent the last half century of his life as nothing more than a spirit in a book. During that time, he had been very much aware of his surroundings and the constantly changing world––though admittedly more so on the Muggle side of things than that of its wizarding counterpart. Being at least minimally conscious of the world around him had made the leap into his old body slightly less jarring.
The benefit of being trapped in a book for decades and decades was that the body Berthold had found himself in had been the exact same one he'd left behind––no older. Not that he hadn't been all that young when he'd left life as he'd known it. He'd been middle-aged, and appeared to be so once again.
Acclimating himself to the modern wizarding world had proven to be somewhat of a challenge, especially when Berthold had had nothing left to his name. No home, no money, and no resources at his disposal… but he did have friends.
Tracking them down hadn't been too difficult. He'd checked all their old haunts, those that still existed, at any rate––back rooms in pubs, private clubs, and where they'd once lived. Those old friends he'd approached had been understandably astonished to see Berthold again, but not so surprised to see that he hadn't aged when they'd had. Among the inner circle, it had been no secret what had happened to him.
And now they envied him his "youth". How had he come out on top when he'd been the one who'd gotten punished for fraternizing with one of them? But that had been many years ago and bygones were bygones. The recent loss of their one-time leader put everything into perspective. They were glad that Berthold had returned.
But most of all, Berthold is glad to be back among the truly living. He has decades of catching up to do, but the thing that has his undivided attention right now is discovering the identity of the person who murdered Grindelwald. Grindelwald will be avenged, and Berthold is planning on being the one doing the avenging.
In Attendance
Author: Marzipan
Date: 09-03-12 15:07
Marzipan sat in the staff box with her colleagues and watched the Championship Match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin get underway. Earlier, she had taken the boys to her mother's house. Georgia had complained that she hadn't gotten to spend much time with her grandchildren lately. Marzi had thought today would be the perfect day to rectify the situation, since both she and Weston had plans.
Marzi looked toward the steps leading up the staff box, but Weston hadn't shown up yet. He had left in the morning to follow a lead his mother had give him about her mother. Weston had said he would try to make it back before the match, but Marzi wouldn't fault him if he were late. Tracking down his grandmother was very important to him, and Marzi supported him whole-heartedly in his quest.
The weather was very pleasant, being sunny and warm. Marzi was glad that the cooler weather was gone for the most part. She was ready for summer and everything that came with the warmer season. The end of term was near, just a mere month away. Marzi looked forward to a bit of a break from Hogwarts, though she and Weston had no holiday plans. They were simply looking forward to spending time with the family without the burden of working for a living getting in the way.
Not that Marzi no longer liked working at Hogwarts. She still enjoyed it immensely. It was just that now that she had a family, she had other, more important obligations in her life. Her children would always come first. She would drop everything for them in a heartbeat.
She realized that she hadn't been paying attention to the action in the air and gave herself a mental shake. But then she gazed toward the stairwell again and saw Weston come up. He spotted her right away and made for the empty seat right beside her.
"Hi," he said, kissing her cheek. "What did I miss?"
"I honestly couldn't tell you," Marzi admitted. "I've been daydreaming."
"About what?"
"About our family. Nothing in particular, though." She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "Did you have any luck?"
"I went to where she used to live but she apparently moved some years back," Weston said. "The wizard who lives there now knew her but hadn't spoken to her in years. He told me he thinks she moved to Brentwood, but he couldn't say if she's still there now or where exactly in Brentwood she might be. I decided not to go there and investigate. I'll do it another day."
Marzi squeezed his hand again. "That's something, at least."
"Yeah, it is. I just hope she'll be willing to talk to me when I find her."
"She can't fault you for existing. Her problem lies with your parents."
"I know, but…"
"I know." Marzi squeezed his hand a third time. They turned their attention to the match and put all their efforts into following what would no doubt be a very exciting and very close game.
So Close
Author: Griffin Price
Date: 09-03-12 16:50
Rising from the library table he's been using since arriving at St. Emrys this morning, Griffin stretches, neatens what looks to be research for an assignment, then leaving books, parchment, ink, and quill there, he picks up his bookbag and strolls toward the exit, giving every appearance of someone in need of a break. Since Trinity Term began, Griff has mainly been working the on-going, long-term white slavery of Muggles/brothels investigation and the continued search for the man wanted in connection with the bodies found here at the university, the disappearance of others, and at least one known attack. There are enough working shifts here at St. E. that he's not has to work overly many Saturdays, so Griff doesn't mind being here this morning. He especially doesn't mind that if he had to work a Saturday morning, it was not last Saturday. Carys, Tristan, and he were able to attend the British National team's match against Mongolia.
When Griff first arrived at the uni this morning, he'd taken his time getting to the library. He'd gotten coffee at one of the canteens, sitting and drinking it, giving the appearance of reading the newspaper but actually alert to goings on around him. He'd gotten a refill before slowly walking in the general direction of the library, stopping at one point at the campus bookshoppe as if checking out a new display of clothing geared toward the university's various colleges when really he was studying a chap who seemed to be mindlessly lurking about. It's only when another bloke stopped to talk to the guy that Griff moved on, overhearing the chap tell the other, "I'm on my way to break up with Lena but I don't know how to tell her so I've been standing here trying to thinking of a nice way to put it."
Griff had set-up in the library since that is a location where many come on weekends to get work done. He's taken one other break so far and on it he took a stroll through the corridors of one of the residence hall sections. On this break, he's returning to the canteen, in want of a refreshment. He scans the canteen while waiting on a fruit smoothie to be blended then finding the drink is just the pick-me-up he needed, Griff starts back for the library, taking a different route.
Halfway there, Griff turns a corner in time to see a woman struggling with someone in a hoodie. Partially drunk smoothie now forgotten, he drops it while his other hand brings up his wand. "HEY!"
Both are startled, enough so that Hoodie is able to grab the woman and twist her in such a way to be a shield against anything Griff might do. Hoodie is trying to drag her backwards to a door leading to a stairwell. Griff is on the verge of casting either a stunning spell or a immobilizing spell on the woman so she can't be used by Hoodie when she suddenly stiffens then crumples at the same time Hoodie's wrenched the door open. Hoodie's cast a spell of his own. Probably had his wand at her back.
Griff has to pause to make sure the woman is okay then using that little messenger trick Orders of the Phoenix use and now Aurors tend to use as standard as well, he sends off his patronus to bring help to this spot. The woman is alive and her breathing is unimpaired so Griff runs into the stairwell and dashes up after Hoodie, who is most likely looking to get to the surface and make a break from the grounds. If floo access weren't restricted, Hoodie would probably have tried to get to an egress point. Same with apparating. No way those on guard around such points are going to let someone who looks to have someone hot on his heals use an exit floo or disapparition spot.
Whenever Griff gets a glimpse of Hoodie up the stairwell, he shoots off a spell but with both of them running and Hoodie weaving in and out of view, targeting correctly is a real bitch. Reaching the surface level, Griff breaks into daylight, stopping only long enough to get his bearings and find which direction Hoodie's heading. No surprise, he's going to the next gate off the grounds. Unfortunately, the morning being as nice as it is, there are a number of people, probably students who live on campus, spread about, making it harder for Griff to get a clear shot. A few jump in to help slow Hoodie down but their reactions to what's going on are slow enough they turn out to be more of a hindrance.
Hoodie makes it to the gate, hurrying through. Griff isn't far behind but, bloody hell, the street is full of Muggle cars and a fair amount of pedestrians. Spring in Stratford-Upon-Avon is apparently quite the Muggle draw, or so Griff thinks, because too many of them have the look of tourists rather than locals. He momentarily looses sight of Hoodie as a bus begins disgorging its passengers but because Hoodie is still moving at a fairly fast clip combined with being one of the few in sight who are wearing a sweatshirt with hoodie pulled up on such a fine, warm spring morning, Griff quickly has him again. Only then Hoodie jumps into the back of one of those Muggle vehicles called a taxi. Griff pushes through a cluster of people, trying to get a look at the numbers on the taxi, thinking they might be traced and the driver could tell him where Hoodie was dropped off.
Somewhat discouraged at having been so close and at never having gotten a really good look at Hoodie's face, Griff turns around and jogs back to campus, wanting to make his report while it's as fresh on his mind as possible and to either get the numbers from the taxi traced or have get someone else put on that.
Week in Review: Homeowner and Worry Anew
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 09-04-12 14:21
This week had flown by, and after the trip to St. Mungo's on Saturday after Desi and I had picked up Ember from the apartment. We'd talked and hung out at her apartment for the duration of the rest of Saturday and gotten back to the apartment sometime early on Sunday morning. We'd slept in and woken up to a home cooked breakfast from Dex, and after various other events I'd met the Morgans and it was not the best circumstances but things had gone well and they'd both seemed to like me and I looked forward to spending more time with them.
Monday evening we'd met with Cameron Hawthorne, the real estate agent that Dex had ultimately met with and talked to for me while I was busy at St. Emrys and teaching at Hogwarts. He, Ember and I had looked over the photographs and information sheets he'd gotten from the agent and ultimately had gone to see a four bedroom house that was on East Lane. It was a four bedroom three bath house and seemed to have everything that I wanted, and could ultimately need when I was ready to settle down and start a family.
The paperwork for the house had been completed Thursday and official closing would happen just after the end of the term. Which means that I'd be moving amongst my other plans for the rest of the summer, and already things are in the works for a group trip to the south of France. I'd already rented the beach house we'd be staying in, and I'd also rented the house that Dex and I would be staying at in Greece when we went after the trip to France. Little did I know that Thursday would be the best day of the week, and things would fall apart on Friday afternoon.
Ember had mentioned something to me Friday during lunch and I'd told her we'd head to St. Mungo's after my last class which got out at three. She agreed and was waiting for me by the time I got back to my quarters. My schedule would be getting a touch more stressful within the next couple of weeks due to having to help with OWLs and NEWTs at least one day, and get my own students ready for their finals. We'd gone to St. Mungo's to speak with the healer, and thankfully we'd gotten the same healer that had seen her when we'd come with Desi on Saturday, so she recognized Ember and I.
"The sleeping potion has been making her feel weird and there is also the results from the tests if they are in." I said, as we got Ember seated on the exam table.
"Alright, I will see what we can do, and the results are in."
The giving of the results had been negative, and that we shouldn't worry. She gave Ember another type of potion that should help her sleep without the weird side effects that she'd been feeling. With things taken care of, Ember and I headed back to the apartment and she was going out with Cameron for dinner.
Dex and I had spent the night talking, and we'd sent another message to his parents letting them know what the healer had said and let them know that Ember was doing fine, and resting before she was going out. When Ember woke, she spent a little while with Dex and I before apparating out of the apartment, probably to see Cameron – she'd hit it off with him when they'd been looking at the house and had gone for drinks with him at Driver's bar, and she felt comfortable and safe with him, so that was helpful. The four of us had hung out over the past three weeks since Dex had started looking at houses in Hogsmeade to help me out. While Ember went out, Dex and I spent the rest of the day listening to Quidditch games on the WWN and cuddling on the couch, and worrying about Ember.
"I'm glad that Ember feels safe enough to spend the day with Cameron, and I know it helps that they are at Driver's bar, and he'll no doubt constantly be checking on her to ensure that she's doing alright and if he needs to get her home before things could potentially go bad," I said snuggling into Dex and resting my head on his shoulder.
"I know, and having Driver there to watch over her is I think the only reason that we both agreed to let her go without us," Dex said wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close to him, nipping lightly against my neck after a few moments.
"If you are going to continue to tease me Dexter Morgan, it would perhaps be prudent of us to get off the couch and shut ourselves in the bedroom where we are less likely to be disturbed or walked in on…" I said with an impish grin and slipped from his embrace and headed into the bedroom, knowing well that he would more than likely follow within moments.
(Mark) Accidents Happen
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-04-12 17:40
The quaffle had changed possession numerous times since Gus Hodfuffer's foul, and several goal attempts had been made, though no of them successful. Mark would never admit it aloud, except maybe to Kate, but Slytherin House had definitely met its match. Hufflepuff played hard and strong, giving this decisive Quidditch game their all.
But Slytherin met Hufflepuff's each and every move and refused to back down. After all, the Quidditch Cup was at stake.
Right now, Slytherin had the quaffle. Olive had it in her hand, having just received a pass from Alexa. Olive looked to throw it either back to Alexa or to Mason, because Sadie and Jasper had just closed in on her and were trying to snatch the ball away from her. Mark wasted no time using the bludger he'd just rounded up to distract Jasper. The ball struck true, hitting the Hufflepuff chaser in the thigh.
The attack on Jasper was just what Olive needed to throw the ball to Mason. He caught it effortlessly and pulled it close to his body for maximum protection. Then he leaned low over his broomstick and took off like a shot.
Mark had already gone after the other bludger, but Caerwyn reached it first and targeted Mason with it. Already racing in that direction, Mark mentally calculated whether he had enough time to get between the bludger and Mason or if he would do better to get to the other bludger. He flew fast and furiously and somehow managed to pull ahead of the black ball. He whacked it hard, sending it in a high arc away from everybody, giving Mason the opportunity he needed to reach scoring range.
Mason quickly lobbed the ball at Alexa. She pitched it forward, but Glori batted the ball away with her hand. Alexa recovered the quaffle before anybody else could get their hands on it and tried again. Once more, Glori knocked the ball away from the goal hoops. Mason got the recovery this time and shot it straight forward with both hands. Glori caught the qauffle this time and handed it off to Marlow.
Marlow barely pulled free of Slytherin's scoring zone when a bludger courtesy of Mark hit her squarely in the upper arm. She let go of the ball, allowing Olive to pick it up. Olive threw it, but Sadie got in the way. Rather than catch the ball, however, Sadie accidentally bumped it so that it arced away, struck the bristles of Alexa's broomstick as she was turning, and sailed cleanly through one of the goal hoops before Glori even realized what had happened.
Nobody could believe it, but Slytherin was definitely happy about Alexa's accidental goal.
Hufflepuff with the Quaffle (Jasper)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-04-12 18:42
Putting the quaffle back into play Jasper Jenkins speeds past Marlow MacDougal who's in the process of throwing forward to Sadie Mickle. Seeing him now ahead Sadie, in turn, passes to Jasper. Alexa Wenlock attempts to intercept but she's a hair shy of getting there in time. Jasper ducks around Gus Hodfuffer going after a bludger then has to slow as the other bludger sails past uncomfortably close in front of him.
Olive moves in close, looking for an opening to steal. On Jasper's other side Mason closes the distance. Spotting Marlow, Jasper's fine with sending her the ball. That she's in front of his position now just makes it all the better as that puts the quaffle all that much nearer to the Slytherin kept hoops with Gus Van Tassel looking to rebuff any goal effort Hufflepuff makes.
No sooner is the pass to Marlow completed than Basil Wynbourne catches her hard in the front shoulder with a bludger. She winces and gingerly moves her arm as she switches the quaffle to her other hand. Accelerating to help her however she needs, Jasper ends up taking a close in hand off only to have Olive find that opening to steal. Cursing under his breath, Jasper wheels around to give chase.
He doesn't have to go far thanks to Caerwyn Valentine. The Hufflepuff beater gets in one of those just right hits that knocks the quaffle from Olive's grasp. It's not Jasper who retrieves it, however. It's Sadie. She speeds away, Olive clearly unhappy and right on her tail. Mason makes a nuisance of himself, blocking Jasper from being in the clear to accept a pass. Alexa is covering Marlow but can't seem to get positioned well enough to limit Sadie's view of Marlow and to her chagrin, Marlow is easily able to take possession of the quaffle.
Surging forward, Marlow is soon within goal range, eager to get Hufflepuff on the scoreboard.
Aching Collarbone (Marlow)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-04-12 19:26
In the adrenaline rush of getting the quaffle into goal range, Marlow MacDougal momentarily forgets the hit to her clavicle she took a short time ago. Just in time she remembers and switches the hand with the quaffle before lofting the ball towards one of the hoops. She's not sure if she could yet throw with the other arm the way her collarbone feels. Every movement is extremely painful but at least she can move that arm.
Annoyingly, Gus Van Tassel bats the quaffle away with ease. Mason Jeffers grabs it up and takes off but pulls up short to avoid a bludger. In doing so, unfortunately for him, that allows the other bludger to make contact and lets Sadie Mickle snatch the ball away from him. Pivoting on her broom, she hurls the quaffle as far from Gus as she's able and still have the quaffle on a trajectory to go through a hoop. Gus has to throw himself at the quaffle to reach it, getting fingers on it, but despite the valiant effort, the red ball slips past to go through the hoop. The goal brings the score to 10 points Hufflepuff, 10 points Slytherin.
Alexa Wenlock takes possession for Slytherin, handing off almost immediately to Olive Green. Olive darts away, determined that Slytherin will get the quaffle all the way back down the pitch and score again to pull ahead once more. Just as determined to keep the quaffle at this end of the playing field, giving Hufflepuff a greater chance of making back to back goals, Marlow shadows her, attempting to slow Olive down.
Caerwyn Valentine gets a bludger off but Olive unexpectedly changes course so the bludger goes far wide of her. Throwing the quaffle ahead and slightly down, she passes off to Mason who's slightly below and ahead of Olive and Marlow. Sadie nearly has the interception but draw back to avoid getting smashed square in the face but a bludger hit by Mark Farnon.
During the same time period, Alexa's flown ahead with Jasper Jenkins right along with her. Try though he might Jasper isn't able to muck up a long pass from Mason. This puts Slytherin and the quaffle fairly near where Glori Hodfuffer is closely watching the action, ready to do her best to keep Slytherin from scoring again. Frowning at how quickly the other team had moved the quaffle along from one end of the pitch to the other, Marlow tucks in close the arm that's on the side with the still throbbing clavicle. leans far over her broom and shoots forward, hurrying to catch up.
Day Full of Quidditch
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-05-12 08:58
Before the House Cup match began, Harry had been at Hogwarts in a somewhat official capacity, making a few rounds along the seventh floor. Professor Dumbledore does not have anyone on constant patrol, but he has had some like Harry, come in from to time, checking for anomalies in an effort to find a logical explanation for what happened to missing student Abdul Hazrat AlGunud and the cat Mrs. Norris. Dumbledore has indicated he has a few suppositions about what took place but what those suppositions are or how he came to have them, Harry has no idea. He's been told the few facts there are and been asked to make the occasional rounds, which are due in part not to uncover so far as yet hidden evidence so much as to ease the minds of students and staff alike.
After the relatively short time required to check out a portion of the seventh floor corridors, Harry had gone to Hagrid's hut for coffee. Hagrid had some muffins to go along with the coffee that he had not, thank Merlin, made himself. He still gets a ghostly pain whenever eating at Hagrid's because of one time when he cracked a tooth on Hagrid's speciality sponge cake. Harry never knew until then that a sponge cake could rate a 10 on the Muggle's Mohs Hardeness scale for minerals, equaling that of diamond.
After the muffins were gone and Harry had had a chance to catch up with Hagrid's latest and to give the somewhat elderly Fang some attention. As heavily as Hagrid feels emotions over people, pets, and things he's passionate about, Harry doesn't know how Hagrid's going to hold up when Fang does eventually pass away. If Hagrid's reaction to the loss of other "pets" such as Aragog the Acromantula who was anything but a pet really is anything to go by, when Fang does leave this plane of existence, Hagrid will have something akin to a meltdown. Harry made a silent vow to come visit Hagrid more, invite him over more.
Thinking about Hagrid, Fang, and the loveable dog's eventual demise put Harry in mind of Argus Filch and the death of that blasted cat Mrs. Norris. Harry likes cats but Mrs. Norris could not be included in that general view. She could be as sly and loathsome as Filch himself and certainly never seemed to have any affection or care for anyone but the Hogwarts caretaker. While Harry does want be empathetic over the loss of a pet that's more like a family member, he's found it bloody difficult as all hell to muster up much for Filch.
Around the time the Hogwarts Championship for the House Cup was to kick off Hagrid had asked, "Wan' ta come watch uh bit, 'arry?"
Even though Gryffindor isn't playing, Harry thought he could go for at least a little while to cheer on Hufflepuff. He's been told that the tensions and animosity between Slytherin and the other three houses isn't what it once was but unless one of his own children were to end up Sorted into that house, Harry cannot fathom cheering Slytherin on unless Imperiused.
On the walk from Hagrid's hut to the pitch, the two had spotted Adriana Fairchild. Harry hadn't spoken to his cousin in awhile so he'd called out, "Adriana! Hello!"
She'd stopped, turning to look, something of a delayed smile breaking, explained away when she says, "Harry, I hadn't thought to see you today. Hello, Hagrid." Looking to Harry again she asked, "How are you?"
"I'm good, and you?"
"I'm doing well, thank you. Heading to the match?"
"Yes, Hagrid invited me. I'd been doing a sweep of the seventh floor corridors then he and I had morning tea. Is that where you're going?" Though Adriana was angling more towards the pitch and not the main gates, for all Harry knew she was simply out for a stroll.
"I am. I promised some of my students I'd come for at least for part of the match. How is Ginny? Is she terribly upset at having made the national team only to have to back out?"
"Ginny is fine, though she's already somewhat moody. I'm told it may only get worse. Ginny was disappointed to back out playing but has said she's certain she'll be selected for the team when the next World Cup is to be played. She's also told me that when that time comes, I am sleeping in a different room for at least six months beforehand."
Hagrid loudly snorted and chuckled with amusement at this as Adriana let forth a peal of laughter. When she'd caught her breath she asked, "When is there to be a baby shower? For Hermione too for that matter?"
"I've no idea. If they feel I need to know, I'm sure they will tell me. Maybe." Harry grins. "Ask Majandra or Molly. I am sure they would know more about all that for both Ginny and Hermione."
Looping her arm through Harry's, Adriana grinned in reply. "I shall definitely do that. I can't tell you how excited I am to have another family member coming into this world."
"I am beyond chuffed myself now that the shock of the news has finally begun to wear off." At the stadium now Harry asked, "Where shall we sit?"
Adriana pointed to one set of stands. "Staff section all right with you both?"
"Course hit is," Hagrid said with a nod of his bushy head while Harry's response had been, "Lead the way."
Reaching the steps, a spot on Harry's head begun to tingle then suddenly erupted in a very brief flare of itchy pain. Rubbing his head, Harry wonder if something had bitten him. A few times during the match, that itchy pain would return for such short bursts the pain would be gone sometimes before Harry had awareness there was any pain. Other times it just gave an odd tingle. He couldn't feel any bug bite bump so couldn't imagine what it was. Only later, when he got home and looked in a mirror at the spot reddened from where he repeatedly, often absentmindedly rubbed it during the match, did Harry see the spot in question was right where his lightening bolt shape scar is located. Not finding any signs of a bite or a sting, he finally decided that somehow, somewhere he'd gotten a little bit of an irritating substance on a hand and transferred it to his forehead when brushing the bangs that never stay out of the way back from his eyes. It must have been something with a delayed reaction and the reason no places on his fingers or hands showed the same irritation is because he'd washed them at some point before the substance really went to work.
Shrugging it off, Harry cleaned up and changed clothes to go join Ginny at a party to listen to some of the World Cup tournament matches. By the end of the day, the other teams that have to play a third match will be known as will the others that get to move on automatically to the bracketed portion of the tournament. Harry wonders, as many around the UK's Wizarding World do, what team Britain will be paired with in the first brackets.
One last look in the mirror at the now fading red on his forehead, Harry dispparated for the party.
(Gus) Momentary Distraction
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 09-05-12 13:48
Gus was mounted on his broomstick, adjusting his right glove. Meanwhile Glori made an excellent defense but still the Slytherin team is on the attack trying to score and give advantage back to Slytherin. Alexa tries to score but Glori makes another good defense.
Gus wonders if the other players are nervous, especially with the Quidditch cup so near. Losing it at this point would be ridiculous. However Gus wasn't anxious. He is in fact upset because this might be his last game at Hogwarts. He hopes not, but since that incident with the pie eating contest at the Spring Social, his father had revealed some concerns about Gus' behavior and conduct at school.
Edmure Van Tassel was a very severe man and seeing his only son, his heir, entering a ridiculous eating competition made him wonder if he needed more discipline. Gus had never been a brilliant student but next year he would have his O.W.Ls exams and it would be vital for him to have good marks on those. His father had told him he might consider giving up Quidditch and focus only in his studies. But Gus didn't want that. Playing Quidditch was the thing he loved the most at Hogwarts and he wanted to continue doing so.
He had written to his mother begging for help. Katrina Van Tassel was a witch who did almost everything for her son. However this time she seemed to agree with his father, saying she would rather have him Outstanding in all his O.W.Ls than coming home with a Quidditch cup.
Gus had been feeling pretty down the last past weeks but then Johanna came out with an idea: all he had to do was to have excellent marks this year and prove to his parents he could balance Quidditch and school. He was also hoping his team mates would do well at their exams so he could show his father how it was possible for him to keep playing. He had even been the one telling Mark to study. His parents had a high consideration for the Farnon family so he knew if he mentioned Mark and his grades they would probably reconsider about not letting him play.
He watched as Jasper managed to catch the quaffle and he passed it to Sadie. They started to fly in his direction. Sadie avoided a bludger by Basil and kept coming towards Gus' hoops. Olive tried to block the pass Sadie did back to Jasper, but without success. Jasper threw the red ball to Marlow and then Gus heard someone yelling next to Geoffrey Ludlow, today's commentator, at the bleachers: 'Look, that's the snitch!'
Everyone heard it around the pitch.
The match had stopped completely as everyone tried to find the two seekers. But Cornelia and Aleydis where just flying closer to each other, but without being in a frenetic chase towards the little golden ball that was the snitch. Geoffrey was already correcting what have been said by a very enthusiastic first year. But it was too late. Marlow had taken advantage of this momentary distraction and she managed to score. Hufflepuff was on the lead, 20 to 10.
Gus had hardly noticed it. He threw the quaffle to Mason knowing the whole team was probably mad at him at the moment.
Quidditch and Secrets
Author: Rylee
Date: 09-05-12 15:27
This morning had started typically for me as of late, breakfast in the Great Hall and then she went for a short run around the lake. After the run around the lake, I hopped in the shower to get ready for the Slytherin versus Hufflepuff Quidditch Cup Match that was being played today, and I was going to be attending – shocking wasn't it? I'd even gone through the trouble of spelling my hair in streaks of Slytherin Green and Silver for the match in support of my house team.
The best part of today, my sister Charlotte Marie is here with me. She'd brought me an awesome care package filled with goodies from the states both Wizarding and Muggle that would last me until after the term ended! Gotta love the influx of sweets and such to survive the stress of taking finals, and she made sure I had plenty to share with my roommates as well. She'd also brought her fiancé with her, and I was the first of the family to meet him. He's absolutely awesome, and told me that he'd gladly help teach me a bit more about Quidditch so that I didn't seem like such an idiot when I started attending more games during the school year next year.
So far the match was NOT going in Slytherin's favor and that no doubt had Cornelia seeing seething red, and with the match a repeat of the final match of the school year, Cornelia didn't want her sister to win the match again and allow Hufflepuff to get the cup. During a break in the action with the quaffle being passed back and forth between the six chasers with aid from the four beaters and the slate gray bludgers that could according to Patrick could do some serious damage if they hit you hard enough – and Rylee remembered hearing about the concussion that Cornelia had suffered from the last match and the bruises and such the other players have received over the year. "They can really do some serious damage if you aren't careful…" Patrick said again after a near miss that caused the quaffle to land into the hands of a Hufflepuff chaser.
"Rylee, please don't tell Mom and Dad. I'm debating on not even telling them until after the wedding…which will be the middle of June before I come home to spend two weeks with you guys," Charlotte said with a grin.
"Seriously? You are expecting me to keep this a secret Char? Have you completely LOST your MIND? Mom and Dad are going to kill you and more importantly they are going to kill ME if they find out that I knew about it before hand! " I said, staring at my sister as if she'd suddenly turned bright neon yellow, with vermillion streaked hair.
"You'll do it, or I'll tell Mum and Dad about your little secret and see how quickly you lose privileges for the rest of your time here at Hogwarts," Charlotte countered in a malicious hiss, before pushing herself up and heading to the concession stand. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the match hoping to lose myself in the building action and try and "forget" about Char's secret engagement and wedding plans so I don't slip and tell my parents or anyone else.