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Win Or Be Hexed With A Seven Year Itch (Alexa)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 09-05-12 15:43
Ten, perhaps 15 minutes after Hufflepuff scored its second goal, Alexa Wenlock is sitting back on her broom, quaffle in hand, waiting for the signal to put it back into play. Hufflepuff had hat the ball but lost it on a foul. Alexa can't help but think it's too bad it wasn't a foul situation giving Slytherin a goal shot. Glori Hodfuffer would probably have blocked such a shot but sometimes attempts made on foul shots get past a keeper.
When the signal comes, Alexa has the quaffle passed off to Mason and is moving her broom forward all in one smooth motion. Mason Jeffers easily catches the lob, pulling the quaffle in close to his chest, also accelerating. All this took place just past the halfway point along the pitch, on the side towards Glori, which Alexa doesn't mind at all. Less distance for Mason, Olive, and she to have to move the quaffle. Ducking down as a bludger comes at her, Alexa flies around Jasper Jenkins who'd just been hit by the very bludger she just ducked. He seems fine and his slowing seems more to have been more reflex than injury induced.
Skirting Basil Wynbourne who's so intent chasing down the second budger he doesn't seem to see Alexa there, she pulls in close to Mason as he prepares to pass to Olive. The throw is a good one but Olive's reaction time is just enough off she fumbles the catch, Marlow MacDougal zooming in with hopes of stealing. Olive recovers, pulling the quaffle in close, and offering Marlow a somewhat sarcastic Aw, too bad you couldn't steal grin.
Though everyone playing today is hoping to win the House Cup, Alexa thinks the Slytherin team is somewhat more fervent. Cornelia Vanderbilt is a seventh year so unless she fails, this is her last house Quidditch match at Hogwarts. She's made it quite clear that losing is not an option. As Cornelia would really have nothing much to lose if she were to resort to violent or malicious acts against her teammates should Slytherin lose, Alexa has very little difficulty imagining Cornelia would do just that. She hopes she's wrong but she very much does not want to find out.
Her imagination rampantly running scenarios through her head of what Cornelia might do should Slytherin not win the 2005-2006 Hogwarts Quidditch Championship, Alexa is even more aggressive than usual in getting in Sadie Mickle's way, keeping the Hufflepuff chaser from interfering with Olive as Olive readies a shot for goal.
Funny Bone (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 09-05-12 18:29
Olive's shot got past Glori, though only barely just, but hit the metal rim of the hoop, sending the quaffle bounding back. Jasper catches it, but he's somewhat hemmed in so he passes to Sadie. She darts away with Mason right there with her. Mark gets a bludger off, smacking her in the side. It's not an overly bad hit from what Mason can tell but it does allow him to sidle up close and pluck the quaffle from Sadie's hand.
Mason quickly hurls the quaffle back to Alexa, who in turn shoots the ball toward the ring nearest. Glori throws herself at it but by some miracle the quaffle slips through. The score now tied, 20 to 20, Hufflepuff takes possession once again. It's Marlow with the ball, throwing to Jasper. He, Marlow, and Sadie cluster together in formation, cutting off the three Slytherin chasers from the most direct access to Jasper and the quaffle, thereby limiting their options for trying to steal.
A bludger wallops Mason right on his elbow at the spot often called the funny bone. His arm practically goes numb with pain and for the next couple or so minutes, he's fairly useless, making him glad for a change that Slytherin does not have the quaffle. He'd not been able to do much if his team had had it and Olive or Alexa needed his help.
By the time the pain in Mason's arm recedes enough for him to see clearly again, Hufflepuff has just about gotten the quaffle down to Gus V. Sadie has it now, drawing in near to where Gus V. keenly keeps watch, not about to let himself get distracted again. She throws but Gus catches it, handing it off to Alexa when she flies in close. Alexa sprints away, swerving to get out of the way of a bludger then passing off to Mason.
He's got a sort of knotty bruise right on his funny bone now, making him inwardly whinge a little at bending and straightening his elbow. Using that arm to keep the quaffle pulled in close to his torso, he won't have to worry about the pain again until he goes to pass or throw for a goal. And, at least the pain isn't radiating up and down his arm anymore. His mum once told him it's called the funny bone because one of the arm bones is named the humerus. Silly name for a bone and it's not even spelled the say way as humorous, which does mean funny.
Realizing his thoughts are drifting, Mason refocuses just in time to avoid another bludger, spots Olive with an opening and, grimacing slightly, straightens his arm to make the pass.
Snitch Sightings, False & True
Author: Griet
Date: 09-05-12 18:52
The false alarm courtesy of the Quidditch commentator had given both Aleydis and Cornelia a start, but they had quickly figured out that the snitch hadn't actually been spotted by anybody. Rumor had it, an exuberant first year had misspoken and Geoffrey had overheard the conversation and taken it for truth. Whatever the story, the distraction had been enough to put Slytherin behind by ten points.
Quite by accident, Aleydis and Cornelia had been flying close together when all the excitement happened. As soon as the score changed, Aleydis noticed a dark cloud settle over her older sister. Cornelia peeled away to put some distance between herself and Aleydis, probably so that she could stew privately (or as privately as one could when on display before hundreds of spectators).
The last time Hufflepuff and Slytherin had faced each other, Aleydis had gotten to the snitch first. If Cornelia had her way, the end result would be the reverse this time.
After a bit of systematic searching, Aleydis thought she had perhaps finally spotted the snitch, only to realize she'd been staring at a spot made by the sun. She looked over her shoulder to determine whether or not Cornelia was having better luck, when she saw Basil enter her line of sight. He was too busy intercepting a bludger to take any notice of her.
Aleydis thought about how he had helped her study in the library. She had never really been with him one on one and hadn't known what to expect when she'd asked to join his table. Aleydis had been pleasantly surprised to learn that he was actually really nice when he wasn't around others who might influence him to be otherwise. He'd seemed to take a genuine interest in helping her study, which she had deeply appreciated. Maybe she would ask for him help again sometime.
Suddenly, a cheer erupted throughout the Pitch. Alexa had just gotten the quaffle past Glori, tieing up the score once again. Aleydis looked for Cornelia, but she was too far away to read her face. Then a flash a gold came between them. Aleydis saw it first and charged straight forward. Geoffrey shouted, "Vanderbilt, that's Aleydis Vanderbilt, has spotted the snitch, for real this time!"
Cornelia sprang into action and zoomed straight ahead. Aleydis was slightly closer to the snitch, but before she could get anywhere near it or collide with Cornelia, the golden ball jerked to the side and then took off, leading both seekers on a wild chase. The ball zigged and zagged and the girls followed it, avoiding the obstacles in their path along the way.
But then a bludger struck Aleydis in the shoulder, and she pitched forward momentarily, losing sight of the snitch in the process. Augustus, who had been trying to defend Aleydis from the bludger, immediately used the same one to hit Cornelia. It struck her squarely in the back and forced her eyes closed just long enough for the snitch to vanish completely.
Aleydis rubbed her shoulder and Cornelia reached awkwardly behind her to rub her back. The girls looked to where the snitch had just been but it wasn't there anymore. It was long gone.
A Fraction Late (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 09-06-12 09:41
Coming up on a bludger Caerwyn steers to position his broom so that he'll be able to hit the black ball on the trajectory he needs it to go. There's that satisfying crack of the bat against the ball, sending the bludger on its way. In the process of turning his broom and hitting the ball, Caerwyn had caught sight of someone in the stands waving at him. He'd not waved back, merely offered a weak, somewhat wan smile.
Caerwyn likes girls but his admirer is one of those prone to giggling for no reason and batting her eyelashes constantly as if she's got something bothersome in her eye. He does not find that overt silliness at all attractive but he's far too nice to out and out tell her he's not interested and even nicer not to tell such behavior is annoying in the extreme. That she trailed him around Hogsmeade part of the morning last weekend certainly did nothing to up her appeal factor. It's too bad really because she is an otherwise pleasant person, if seemingly somewhat limited in her ability to carry on a conversation (fashion, make-up, gossip). Maybe she is actually smarter than she comes across but has some strange notion that her something of a dumb blond (though she's brunette) act is what blokes like. Maybe some do but Caerwyn definitely does not and from what Gus, aka Augustus Hodfuffer, has said he doesn't either.
That bludger he'd just sent towards Slytherin chaser Olive Green makes contact, but only a little and certainly not enough to affect her hold on the quaffle. She flits across the pitch, swooping around those posing obstacles before passing the quaffle off to Alexa Wenlock. Caerwyn starts towards the nearest bludger but when Gus Hodfuffer reaches it first he gives attention to locating the other one.
Basil Wynbourne is on it and from the looks of things, he's hoping to hit Sadie Mickle with it. Caerwyn shoots across the pitch, trying to get to Sadie before the bludger. He's in time so is able to effectively shield her from a hit. Alexa still has the quaffle and is drawing uncomfortable near Glori and the triple rings so Caerwyn aims the intercepted bludger at Alexa.
He's too late. A fraction earlier and the bludger most likely would have hit Alexa square in the shoulder as she set up a throw for a goal attempt. As it is, the bludger hits her but only after she's released the ball. The bludger that does make a difference is the other bludger, Caerwyn thinks hit by Mark. It got Glori full on the arm as she was reaching to stop the quaffle. The force of it was enough to knock her hand back, out of the way, allowing the quaffle to get by and through the hoop.
For the first time this match Slytherin leads, the score now 20 to 30.
(Emily) At the Championship Match
Author: Liam Murray
Date: 09-06-12 12:53
Emily Murray watched with excitement the Quidditch match. Next year she would be joining Hogwarts and then she would have a house to root for. For now she was supporting Hufflepuff because not only had it been her mother's house but also because Liam and Andrew seemed to prefer it to Slytherin.
But both of her brothers didn't seem in a good mood today. They wanted to see their houses, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, playing. Andrew, who unlike Liam and Emily, wasn't a Quidditch fan, was reading The Daily Prophet. From time to time he would raise his head from the newspaper and obverse the match but he didn't seem very interested on it.
On the other hand Emily couldn't take her eyes away from the pitch. She admired the way the players flew with agility on their broomsticks, how the quaffle was passed from hand to hand and how she heard the hiss of a bludger when it passed near the stands.
Before the match had started Andrew and Liam had been pointing out the teachers Emily would have next year as well as the head of each house. Emily thought Professor Kent looked nice while Professor McGonagall seemed a severe person. Liam assured her she was a great teacher. Professor Snape was a bit scary with his black robes while Professor Miller looked the coolest of them all as he was cheering out for the players of his house's team with enthusiasm.
"I want to be part of the Quidditch team next year, " Emily declared to her parents. None of them seemed to find that a good idea. They told her she was too little and not very resistant. Besides she would be a first year. It was rare for a first year to be part of the team.
"Hey, don't be sad, Emily. You'll have seven years ahead of you. A lot can happen, you know?" Liam said trying to cheer up his sister.
Emily smiled at her brother and then she continued to watch the game with interest. She watched Alexa Wenlock scoring give the advantage to Slytherin. Emily clapped her hands but she was a bit disappointed. Secretly she was hoping to be sorted into Hufflepuff next year.
The Cannot Look Attractive While Playing Rule (Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 09-06-12 15:34
Slytherin is ahead in this all important last Quidditch match of the school year; so, once more all is right in the world. Or, nearly so. The situation would be greatly improved if Basil hasn't felt the entire match that he needs this blinders or blinkers or whatever they're called that horses sometimes wear. Anything that would help him from catching glimpses of Aleydis. There should be some Quidditch rule about not looking so darn good while playing the game.
Pulling round at one edge of the pitch on the far end, bringing his bat to bear on a bludger, once more Basil catches sight of her. It's very fleeting because of how he's turning and where she is and most of the other players moving rapidly in between but he could have done without nevertheless. At least she's not a Hufflepuff chaser. Talk about distracting!
The bludger he's just hit doesn't do exactly what he'd hoped, which was to smack Jasper, the current possessor of the quaffle. It does, however, screw up what looks to have been a pass intended for Sadie. Jasper is forced to suddenly alter his plans, ending up throwing to Marlow but he's hasty and it's a bad throw. Mason sneaks in for an easy steal, shifting the action of the match once more in the other direction.
Mason, Alexa, and Olive are able to make short work of moving the quaffle down pitch, aided by both Mark and Basil with a couple more well placed bludger hits. Not that Gus Hodfuffer and Caerwyn are falling down on the job either. Gus gets in what turns out to be a fairly nasty hit on Jasper. If not for the shin guards Jasper is wearing, Basil would expect the Hufflepuff to be sporting a massive purple and black bruise on much of that part of his leg by this evening. He'll still probably have a nice bruise, just not as bad as it could have been. Hits like that and when someone gets cracked a good one in the head are a reason why Basil prefers hitting the bludgers rather than being hit by them.
By now, Olive has the quaffle and is moving in for a goal attempt. Glori rebuffs it with Mason snagging the quaffle practically right out of Jasper's hands. Mason throws but with an assist from Caerwyn and a bludger, his shot also is turned away. It's Sadie with the rebound this time but she's stopped in her tracks before she gets very far when she nearly collides with Alexa. Losing her grip on the quaffle it drops, both Sadie and Alexa scrambling to get it first. Basil lucks out with a bludger close enough for him to help Alexa. It gets Sadie in the shoulder, offering enough of a distraction that it is Alexa with the ball.
Basil punches his fisted free hand into the air when Alexa takes a goal shot and it slips past the fingers Glori has in contact with it, unable to get enough traction on the quaffle to alter or stop its motion. Slytherin now leads 40 to Hufflepuff's 20.
What's The Point Of Scoring Goals? (Augustus)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 09-06-12 19:14
Gus, Hodfuffer not Van Tassel, glances at the scoreboard in the hope that a mistake has been made. But no, it still reads Hufflepuff 20, Slytherin 40. Of course, unless Slytherin can score so many goals that Aleydis's catching the snitch doesn't matter, then Hufflepuff is still very much in this match. Really, in a way, goals don't even matter except in that particular circumstance.
As he searches for either of the two bludgers, Gus wonders why goals aren't all that important in most matches? Was the aspect of the quaffle and making goals for points introduced because there's not an over abundance of thrill watching two people seemingly aimlessly flying about hunting down a hard to spot small winged ball? As much as he's read about Quidditch, Gus remembers nothing specifically addressing the reason points from goals often count so little. At least here at Hogwarts, they are important, going towards the total tally House points tally at end of term.
Sighting one of the bludger, Gus boosts his speed, eyes darting from the bludger to the throng of chasers where Sadie Mickle has the quaffle after a turnover by Slytherin. Targeting Alexa, Gus tracks the path of the bludger, finding satisfaction that it does exactly what he wanted it to do. It is too bad, though, that bludgers can inflict a great deal of pain. Gus never hits one intending to cause serious injury and he always feels bad when a bludger he's sent inflicts something worse than a mild bruise. Not bad enough to quit the game or change positions unless he's needed to but somewhat bad nonetheless.
Sadie has to roll her broom to one side to avoid the other bludger, hit by Mark. In the process, she drops the quaffle down to Jasper who's came up fast under where she and Alexa are. Jasper zips away, Olive in pursuit. Gus races Basil to get to a bludger first, the one he'd hit a moment ago but seeing that Basil's going to be there before he does, Gus heads back towards the chasers as they close in on Gus Van Tassel thinking he'll get between that bludger and whichever of his team's chasers Basil's sending it to.
Two things happen at the same time. Jasper throws the quaffle for goal and instead of intercepting that bludger with his bat Gus gets an accidental kick to the head when someone, he's not sure who, slightly above dives down into the melee. Basil's bludger smacks Gus a second or two later when he'd taken his eyes off the incoming ball and didn't have his bat at the ready because he'd automatically reacted to being kicked. The bludger thankfully gets him through the torso and not the head. It is a harsh reminder of what he'd just been thinking about earlier, the pain that can come with getting hit with a bludger, whether the intent is to hurt or not.
Jasper's goal effort was stopped by the other Gus. Twisting around to see where the quaffle is, Gus spots Sadie with it but he has no idea if she caught it on the rebound or grabbed it away from one of the Slytherin chasers or even intercepted a pass. He's got a bludger right there to help her out if he can swing himself around into a better position. He''s quick about it and good thing too because Sadie's got an opening to take her own shot for goal. Gus is able to send the bludger and with it not having far to go, it smacks Gus Van Tassel right about the same time the quaffle is reaching him. The bludger does the job, keeping Gus Van Tassel from being able to stop the quaffle.
The score now stands at 30 to 40, with Slytherin still in the lead but with Hufflepuff, happily in Gus's opinion, is catching up. Too bad none of those points matter in the big picture unless one of the teams runs up the goal score too high for the catching of the snitch to make a difference.
A New Defense Method
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 09-07-12 06:40
Nate stood up and clapped his hand when Sadie Mickle scored.
"I have no idea why are so happy, you're still losing," Phyllida said next to him.
"But not for long. You'll see," Nate replied seating next to her and kissing her cheek. She turned her head to him and soon they were kissing each other on the mouth. The kiss was only broken because a student not far away had yelled 'Goal!' but it seemed that after all Glori, the Hufflepuff keeper, had managed to defend the shot.
Phyllida had been a little bit grumpy these days because of the upcoming N.E.W.Ts. Not that she was nervous, but she had complained more than once that Nate had been neglecting her.
Instead of spending Spring Social outside having fun, they had been at the library studying, and whenever she wanted to put down the books for some kissing and cuddling, he would resist, saying he had to study.
He passed his arm around her protectively but she pulled him away. Nate looked at her confused.
"You're the enemy. I can't be seen kissing a Hufflepuff at the Championship Match."
"We just kissed a moment ago…"
"That's because I forgot. But it was a mistake. No kissing until this evening. Until you will need it because you will be too sad with your house's defeat so only my kisses would be able to console you."
"Keep dreaming. You'll be the one needing a shoulder to cry on, " he gave her smiled and then he took out a chocolate frog from his pocket.
"You're challenging me Ross?"
He swallowed the frog, not chewing it properly and he touched his wand inside his pocket, just in case. Phyllida's rage attacks were something hard to prevent and who knew if he would end up with his face filled with pimples again.
But Nate had learned a way to defend himself. He closed his eyes and kissed her softly. She tried to push him away but he was stronger than her. Soon the Quidditch match was forgotten as they kept making out at the bleachers.
Keeping Her Head In The Game (Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 09-07-12 08:55
Temporarily losing track of who has the quaffle, Olive takes a second to regroup. She's not said anything to anyone and she doesn't think it shows yet but she got up this morning feeling off. As the day progressed, she's felt increasingly worse. Olive thinks she may have picked up whatever it was Marjani had last weekend and earlier in the week and that a few others have also come down with. If she can just make it through the match without embarrassing herself or Slytherin, she vows she will spend the rest of the day curled up in bed, even if Slytherin wins and a party rages well into Sunday night or even carries all the way over to Monday morning. Thank God, thank Merlin, and whomever else there is to thank that OWLs do not start Monday. She's got a grace period to recover from this before the exams begin.
Okay. Jasper has the quaffle. Alexa is right up on him looking for an opening. Bludgers. There, near where Cornelia is searching for the snitch. Both Mark and Gus H. are after that one. Other bludger. Too close for comfort. Olive kicks her broom into action, carrying her out of that one's path and out of Caerwyn's way as he chases it down.
Alexa nearly steals the ball from Jasper but he shifts the quaffle to the opposite hand. To get it now, Alexa would have to lean in far too close, reaching across Jasper's body, greatly increasing the chance of fouling. Olive maneuvers to get in on his other side but Marlow blocks her from doing that by taking up the very position Olive had been angling for.
Jasper hands the quaffle over to Marlow. The other girl is aware that Olive is right there so she quickly accelerates. Sadie is just ahead and Marlow prepares to pass. Nice pass but, to the delight of all the Slytherin rooters present today, Mason darts in at the last second to steal just before the quaffle reaches Sadie.
Her mind back in the match for the moment and not on the desire to go lie down on the pitch and die, Olive rapidly whirls her broom around then flies to form a wedge with Mason and Alexa with Mason in the middle. A bludger bops Olive on the leg but it's nothing to take much notice of and so insignificant as to feel more like the sting of someone clasping a hand down too hard rather than the blunt force of a bludger. That, or the aches and pains from this bug she's picked up are bad enough to make a bludger hit seem comparatively mild.
Feeling herself starting to drift off again, Olive forces herself to pay attention. As Mason's just hurled the quaffle at her, it's a good thing she did. Catching it, Olive rockets past Jasper who'd tried for an interception, ducks another bludger, then seeing Alexa in the clear, makes the hand off.
Even with Olive's deficient state the three Slytherin chasers are able to quickly work the quaffle down to where Glori is on high alert. Time to see if Slytherin can add ten more points to the score. It's also far past time, in Olive's opinion, for Cornelia to capture the snitch. She really, really wants to stop playing now and go be prone somewhere. How Marjani made it through much of a day insisting she was fine, Olive will never know.
Cheering On Hufflepuff (Glori)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 09-07-12 14:03
Glori stops Slytherin's latest goal attempts using one of her favorite methods, batting the quaffle away with the tail of her broom. She has no idea why she loves doing that. Maybe it has something to do with seeing how far she can swat it. No matter the reason, this instance sees Hufflepuff regaining possession when Marlow catches Glori's hit. As she watches Marlow peel away with Sadie flying a zig zag trying to slow the Slytherin chasers from catching up and as Jasper punches ahead of them both, probably to set up to receive a pass, Glori wonders if her love of batting the quaffle is an indicator she she try for beater sometime. Of course that might mean displacing Caerwyn or her cousin Gus, something she really wouldn't want to do. There's always taking the position when playing for fun. She'll have to try it sometime.
Over the course of the next eight or ten minutes Hufflepuff gets the quaffle three quarters of the way down the pitch only to have a Slytherin hit bludger allow Alexa to steal from Jasper. Slytherin starts back Glori's way but a foul by Mason turns the quaffle back over to Hufflepuff. There's a foul shot, which Gus Van Tassel blocks then Slytherin once again has the ball. Back and forth with neither team making much headway and with Slytherin unable to get the quaffle back to even the halfway point along the field, which is of course to Hufflepuff's favor.
Glori lets out a cheer when Hufflepuff yet again regains the quaffle when Sadie intercepts a pass between Olive and Mason. She immediately makes a pass of her own, throwing to Jasper. In turn, Jasper shoots the quaffle in a goal attempt. Gus Van Tassel is able to get a hand on the ball, slapping it away. Marlow gets to the quaffle first as Glori really wishes her voice carried over the other noise in the Hogwarts stadium to warm Marlow of a bludger. All Glori can do is cringe for Marlow when the bludger knocks her hard in the shoulder and causes her to drop the quaffle.
From Glori's position all the way at the opposite end of the pitch, it looks like a free for all melee as all six chasers do a virtual knocking of the heads scrabbling for the red ball. Glori lets out another cheer when it's Sadie up from the fray with quaffle in hand. She lets the ball fly before some of the others even realize she'd gotten it. With everyone so clustered together in that dive to get the quaffle, Glori's cousin Gus has a much clearer shot at the other Gus and had already sent a bludger in the keeper's direction when Sadie makes the goal shot.
The bludger hits Gus Van Tassel, the force of it on his shoulder jerks arm, which in turn allows the quaffle to slip past. The match once more has a tied score, now at 40 points apiece.
Happy as a Clam
Author: Griet
Date: 09-07-12 17:36
Cornelia was suffering from severe mood swings. One moment, she was happy as a clam, excited over the fact that Slytherin was kicking Hufflepuff butt. The next, she was sulking because once again, Hufflepuff had managed to even up the score. At least Slytherin hadn't fallen behind again––though perhaps Cornelia had just jinxed herself in thinking that very thought.
She frowned and glanced at the pack of chasers grappling for the quaffle. It had just popped free from somebody's grasp––Cornelia had no idea whose––and now seemed the be object of desire in a very heated game of tug of war. Several hands appeared to be on the ball, but Cornelia couldn't really make out what was going on because the chasers vying for the ball were all pressed together. The referees very nearly blew on their whistles to halt the match, when the ball suddenly slipped free and plummeted to the ground.
As one the chasers dived for it. Cornelia held her breath until she saw Mason come up with the ball in his arms. He had some difficulty changing direction but managed to keep the quaffle secure. Once he leveled out, he looked for an opening and threw the ball to Alexa, who threw it to Olive, etc.
Cornelia suddenly realized that she had been paying more attention to what everyone else was doing rather than focusing on the task at hand: finding the snitch! She glanced hastily around for Aleydis and relaxed when she saw that her sister was slowly scanning the pitch. Cornelia turned away from Aleydis and started her own systematic scanning.
And just like that, the snitch appeared, hovering a fair distance away but more or less directly in front of Cornelia. She inched forward, not wishing to give away what she had seen. Surreptitiously, she glanced over her shoulder to see if Aleydis had noticed. Aleydis hadn't, nor had anybody else. Cornelia looked ahead and inched forward a bit more. She prayed that the spectators wouldn't catch on to what she had seen. Those who supported her in catching the snitch might keep their lips sealed, but the rest of the fans would get loud to alert Aleydis and the opposing beaters that the snitch had been spotted.
Cornelia casually moved forward, amazed that the snitch was staying put. She wondered if it was teasing her and that when she got near enough, it would take off and lead her on a chase.
And then what she feared would happen, did. The crowd grew noisy and boisterous and started gesticulating wildly at the snitch hovering not too far away from Cornelia. Geoffrey got on his magical microphone and started shouting obnoxiously about the snitch being within Cornelia's grasp. The Hufflepuff beaters changed tack and went after Cornelia. Aleydis wasted no time racing over, but she was too far away to have any chance of beating her older sister to it.
Cornelia darted ahead and scooped up the snitch before it could go anywhere. A broad smile spread over her face and her heart beat wildly. She had done it. She had gotten the snitch. Slytherin had beaten Hufflepuff. Slytherin had won the Quidditch Cup!
Polly's Distraction (Catriona)
Author: Fionna
Date: 09-07-12 18:18
At the pitch with a group that includes Christopher, Bianca and Polly, Catriona has been enjoying the match not cheering for one team over the other. Some in the group have been avidly cheering on Hufflepuff, others have been just as vocal for Slytherin. With Ravenclaw not playing and with friends in both the houses that are, Cat doesn't care much which team wins. She's here for the company and the excitement that is Quidditch.
Shortly after Gus Van Tassel of Slytherin successfully blocks Hufflepuff's first goal efforts, Cat distinctively heard Polly, sitting right next to her, give a sigh. Thinking her friend is bored she leans in close to say, "If you aren't having fun, it's okay to go, you know."
Shaking the hair styled in curls today Polly tells her, "It's not that. It's something else. Maybe I should say someone."
Following the direction Polly's now nodding her head and looking, Cat's eyebrows arch in surprise. "I thought you were never sure if you liked him or not."
"I wasn't before. Now I am. I decided I do like him but he's not interested anymore."
"The thought of green hair or black stain in your toothpaste doesn't bother you anymore?"
"It does but if we were actually dating, I might not mind as much. Before, all that were things done for no reason. We never really went out. All that ever happened was a little flirting in the Commons. He is cute and built so even if I wasn't sure I liked him or not, I never thought there was any harm in looking."
"Your green hair wasn't all that bad really. Sort of cute. The black teeth, not so much."
Polly shrugs. "Doesn't matter anyway. He doesn't think about me any longer and there are at least a dozen girls in line clammering for his attention."
"You're pretty, nice, and do well in class. There are plenty of other blokes out there if you'd give them some sign you'd be interested."
"Maybe."
The noise level around them rose too much for them to talk without raising their own voices. As it's not a subject Polly wants to have a yelled conversation about, they drop it for now. For the rest of the match, Cat keeps glancing over at her friend, running through a list of available guys who might be interested in Polly if she'd give them a chance.