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(Aderyn Carter) Championship Injury
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 07-24-14 19:59
The match had already been full of action, and Glori had already taken a bludger hit to the arm, but she seemed well enough to continue in the match and that meant that one set of hoops would not be unguarded. Fingers slipped through her hair for a moment as she shifted on her broom, bat resting against her right thigh for a moment before she righted herself and quickly got back into the mix of things.
At the moment Jasper Jenkins had the quaffle and had just released it at the hoops guarded by Beatrix Vanderbilt, in hopes to put the score higher in favor of Hufflepuff. Aderyn let her gaze flick quickly across the pitch, hunting for a bludger – catching sight of Jade Green, and the motion of her bat she knew there was a bludger headed in this direction. Quickly repositioning herself, she would get in line with the bludger, and with a satisfying crack the hard, screaming ball was launched toward the trajectory of the recently released quaffle.
A grin danced upon her lips as the quaffle and bludger quickly crossed paths, sending the larger red ball in a brief downward spiral. It would be Alastor Jenkins who would quickly lay claim to the big red ball, and within moments the action was speeding in the opposite direction – toward the Hufflepuff hoops guarded by Glori Hodfuffer.
Within moments, the quaffle had changed hands a multitude of times, but at the moment was still in the hands of Ravenclaw's chaser, this time Ramona Mickle, who was lining herself up for an attempt to score, but with the close proximity of Hufflepuff chaser Marlow MacDougal, quickly passed the quaffle to Franciscus who would make the goal attempt, only to have the shot blocked by Glori, who quickly put the quaffle back into play by putting it in the hands of Ramona's older sister Sadie.
It took only a moment for the action to once again return to the Ravenclaw hoops guarded by Beatrix Vanderbilt, and hopefully there wouldn't be any more points in the favor of Hufflepuff before Bran Hyland laid claim to the snitch and Ravenclaw brought home the Quidditch Cup this year. Eyes flicking upward, taking her attention off the action she caught sight of Bran and Aleydis, the seekers who were still scanning the pitch for that elusive golden ball that, when caught, would bring the match to an end.
That momentary distraction was enough, however, to have her in line of a bludger, that in other circumstances would have missed her, however Caerwyn had been slightly off on his aim trying to disrupt the attempt of Alastor to intercept the pass between Sadie and Marlow. Blinding flash of pain launched its way through Aderyn's right shoulder and her right hand went limp, sending her bat tumbling toward the ground below. Her fingers went numb and she saw stars for a few moments.
A whistle was blown and within moments Coach Krum and Karl Broadmoor were at Aderyn's side, and it took only a few moments to determine that it would be best if Aderyn headed to the hospital wing since she was having issue feeling her fingers after the bludger's intense impact with her shoulder.
Reluctantly, Aderyn agreed, and was escorted off the pitch, where Broderick met her and assured Coach Krum that he would ensure that Aderyn made it to the hospital wing. Just as they reached the castle, the announcement echoed from the pitch that Marlow MacDougal had scored again for Hufflepuff, putting the score at 30-10, now more than ever Aderyn wished that it would be Bran's hand that closed around the snitch bringing victory to Ravenclaw this year.
At Least It's Not The Keeper Or Seeker Out (Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 07-25-14 12:35
It's not good that Aderyn had to leave the match but being down a beater is not nearly as awful for the team overall as would be their keeper Beatrix or seeker Bran. If a team's seeker is taken out of a match the only way that team can win is if it's able to make so many goals that the 150 points awarded for the snitch aren't enough.
Ravenclaw is again in possession of the quaffle. Alastor is speeding down the pitch with Jasper and Sadie on either side. Jade reaches a bludger to send towards Jasper, frowning slightly when Gus swoops in before it's even halfway there and gives it a tiny course correction to send it more towards Alastor. She races after it, knowing she'll be too late to stop it from reaching Alastor unless he were to alter his own course but she can still get there to send it along at someone afterwards.
Right before the bludger reaches Alastor he passes to Ramona. She weaves around Caerwyn who's after one of the bludgers and Marlow then throws the quaffle to Franciscus. He's not all that far from Glori and the hoops so within seconds the ball is once more being aimed at one of those metal circles in the hope it will get by Glori and pass through the ring.
Glori has other ideas though, quite literally punching the quaffle back. Ramona and Sadie nearly bump heads going for the ball but even with that it's Marlow who gets hands on it. Her possession is short-lived not because she's thrown for goal but because a bludger Jade hit has met its mark.
Ramona and Sadie grapple for the quaffle that went into freefall, coming close to knocking heads again in the process. Ramona gets a firmer hold on the ball than Sadie, rocketing away as Jade intercepts a bludger meant for her. Sadie is actually too close still to effectively use the bludger against. She'd have to barely tap the black ball and the resulting hit wouldn't be enough to harass Sadie in the slightest. The alternative would be to risk doing serious injury because even what Jade thinks of as a medium hit could do real harm with Sadie still in such close proximity.
Jade does do a very light tap but only to help her work the bludger into a better position to target Jasper who's come up extremely close to Ramona, looking for an opening to steal the ball back for Hufflepuff. As she's getting it set up for the real hit Jade wishes a light drizzle would start. She's getting a little warm and with trying to do the job of two beaters she knows from here on out she'll be working up quite the sweat.
Feeling A Bit Peckish (Marlow)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 07-25-14 16:25
The game has been going on long enough that Marlow's starting to feel a little peckish. She ate a good breakfast and once the match ends will have a late lunch but expending so much energy between the two she wouldn't mind a time out that allowed for them to stuff a few sugar biscuits in their mouths or something. There would have to be someone on hand with those biscuits but since this is wishful thinking Marlow isn't going to let the details get in the way.
In the forty-five or so minutes since Aderyn Carter left the match due to injury the quaffle has changed hands more time than Marlow could keep up with. There have also been no goals made by either team.
At present Hufflepuff as the ball, the quaffle in Jasper's hands. He's on the verge of passing to Marlow, waiting until a bludger is out of the way. She easily catches the red ball though she does have to do a little bit of a barrel roll to one side when Franciscus reaches over to try and grasp the quaffle.
Marlow zigs and zags, looking for Sadie to be open to move the ball forward. Alastor is shadowing Sadie closely but with Caerwyn getting off a bludger the needed opening is created for Marlow to pass the ball. Sadie gets a firm grip on the quaffle but Jade sends the other bludger at her. The hard black ball only grazes Sadie but in reacting to it she does nearly drop the quaffle.
By that time Jasper's been able to race ahead, putting himself in a position to take a hand-off when Sadie's ready to pass. Marlow is also in a good position though Ramona keeps getting uncomfortably close. The Ravenclaw is careful not to deliberately foul but fouls are so easy in this fast moving game with bludgers whizzing about, beaters racing after those bludgers with their sturdy bats, and seekers sometimes oblivious to anything but locating the snitch. When she twice almost collides with Marlow, Ramona wisely pulls it back a notch, opening up the distance between them enough for Sadie to send the quaffle Marlow's way. Franciscus had gotten in between Sadie and Jasper, making it more difficult to successfully pass that direction.
Ravenclaw doesn't make it easy but the three Hufflepuff chasers once more work their way to where Beatrix is on high alert. Marlow takes the shot but it's not a great throw, the quaffle somewhat wobbly in its flight. Beatrix catches it outright, handing it to Alastor. It's always a tiny bit disappointing when there's no scramble for a rebound after a blocked shot, or so that's Marlow's opinion. Going for the rebound can be both fun and challenging.
Alastor hastens away, eager to get the quaffle away from Beatrix's domain and back to Glori's. Leaning low over her broom, Marlow speeds after him, just as eager to bring the quaffle right back to the Ravenclaw kept end of the pitch, once more wishing she had something to snack on, even a stick of celery, one of her least favorite things to eat by itself.
Ravenclaw Vanderbilts
Author: Griet
Date: 07-25-14 18:20
Franciscus fell into position next to and slightly behind Alastor, who had just received the quaffle from Beatrix after Marlow's attempted goal. Ramona took up position opposite her cousin, so that the three Ravenclaws flew in V formation across the Pitch. They were soon broken apart by a bludger courtesy of Gus and an ill-timed crossing of the two seekers, both of them having possibly sighted the snitch. The sighting turned out to be a trick of the light, and the excitement that had just built up in the crowd deflated quickly like a popped balloon.
No one was hit by the bludger Gus sent, but Franciscus and Alastor both came close. Franciscus ended up swerving away, and Alastor jerked his broom in the opposite direction so that he almost bumped into Ramona. The temporary chaos made it easy for Sadie to nudge the quaffle free from Alastor's grasp, but he fumbled to keep his hold on it. For several long seconds they grappled for possession of the ball. Jade soon aimed a bludger at Sadie, forcing her to abandon her quest for the quaffle.
Undaunted, Alastor plowed ahead, and Franciscus and Ramona quickly caught up to him. Franciscus hovered slightly behind Alastor for a few seconds and than shot forward to give Alastor someone to throw the quaffle to, especially now that both Sadie and Marlow were making deliberate motions at stealing the ball away from him. Sadie hovered so close she ran the risk of accidentally bumping into him, and Marlow kept reaching over for the ball.
Alastor found it difficult finding a safe time to throw the ball, but Jade once again targeted Sadie with a bludger. Caerwyn tried to intercept it, but Sadie nevertheless moved away from Alastor, giving him the opportunity he needed. He threw to Franciscus, who wasn't looking where he was going because he had his eye on the ball. Just seconds before the ball touched his finger tips, Franciscus slammed right into Aleydis, who at some point had doubled back and moved far ahead in her search for the golden snitch.
Both of them saw stars for a few moments. The quaffle went into free fall, and Franciscus was too dazed to immediately go after it.
In the end, Marlow had the quaffle. She pulled up severely with the red ball in the crook of her arm and took off towards Beatrix, who was so ready to stop whatever goal attempts came her way.
Ever since last weekend when Rowan bluntly informed her that Ash had no romantic interest in her, Beatrix had felt a variety of emotions. She'd been sad, woeful, lonely, and depressed, but she'd also been mad. What did Rowan know about relationships anyway? The last crush she'd had had been in the 1970s, for crying out loud! She was totally out of practice and wouldn't recognize romance if it bit her in the––Oh! The quaffle!
Beatrix lunged and batted the red ball away with a good deal of force. The ball landed into Alastor's arms, and he turned to take off in the opposite direction.
Beatrix knew it was silly to be mad at Rowan, and deep down she wasn't that mad. She just wholly disagreed with Rowan's viewpoint on the matter of Ash. Beatrix supposed that Rowan was uncomfortable with the idea of her best friend dating her brother. Honestly speaking, it would be strange if Rowan and Franciscus suddenly took up as a couple.
With that awkward image in her mind, Beatrix came to the realization that Hufflepuff had once again gained possession of the quaffle and were making their way steadily in her direction. She got ready for the onslaught. She was in one of her angry moods, which she figured was better for Quidditch than feeling too depressed to care about winning.
Marlow came at her again with the quaffle, and Beatrix knocked it back again. Jasper caught the rebound and made to throw at the hoop, but at the last second he threw to Marlow. Beatrix thought she was so clever and anticipated their little trick, but she never saw the bludger coming. It struck her in the middle and caused her to projectile vomit everywhere.
(Mockridge Townhouse) Paranoia
Author: Kirley Mockridge
Date: 07-26-14 08:49
Kirley eyed his notes once more before he started carving the runes he'd chosen into the stone. He had been slowly warding every property he had access to, and this one was the trickiest of the bunch. Cass' flat needed to be protected, but he couldn't completely ward the store or customers couldn't get in. Although he had considered some intent-based wards, meaning that those who wished harm to his wife couldn't gain access to the shop, he had yet to implement those, or even broach the topic with Cass herself.
He couldn't stomach the idea of anything happening again, and he had already gone through the family vaults, looking for any protective jewelry he could find, not only for Cassandra, but for Nephele, Valeria and Cloris as well. He took his responsibilities as the head of the family seriously, and that meant protecting the other members of the house, even if they could protect themselves.
Intent on his task, he did not appear to notice as his wife approached, as silent as a cat. Although physically much improved, shadows still lingered in Cassandra's midnight eyes; the mental scars would take longer to heal. But she worried more about her husband's wounds than her own.
"What did you decide upon in the end?" she asked softly. She would have had to be blind not to notice the single-minded obsession that had burned through him ever since he had rescued her from the Solomonari.
"Two separate wards," he said quietly. "The flat will be set so no one we don't approve can get in, and I'd like to put it under Fidelius too. The shop needs more intent-based, I think. I don't want to stop your customers, but I'd like to set the ward so anyone intending you harm can't get inside." He paused after finishing one of the last runes, looking up at her with a hint of a smile.
She didn't like to point out that the last person intending her harm had snatched her off the street, not from her book shop. She knew he already knew that. Her palm cupped his cheek as he smiled at her. Just the faintest hint of a smile curved her own lips in return.
"Fidelius is a serious countermeasure," she said. "Do we believe the situation deserves it? And, if it does, who are you making privy to the charm?"
"I thought just the two of us, Mother, Valeria and Nephele, which probably means Pip as well. If you want Callie, then we can make her privy as well. I also thought it might be useful to have emergency portkeys, but since they can be warded against..." He put down his carving tools and tugged his wife into his lap, tightening his arms around her as if he were afraid she'd be torn from his embrace.
Cass wrapped her arms about his neck, threading her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. "Not Callie," she said. "Not that I don't trust my twin, but... I don't know that I trust the company she keeps."
Her gaze searched his. "Are you sure you're alright?" she asked him softly, her worry for him leaking into her voice.
He smiled, this time more of a real smile than just a hint. "I am, though I will admit this whole situation brought into stark relief how easily I could lose the people who matter to me." He was quiet for a moment. "I resorted to Unforgiveables," he whispered. "I've also been more neutral than Light or Dark, willing to use whatever I had to for my family, but I'd never crossed that line before."
"That line had already been crossed by them first," she reminded him. She shifted position in his lap, resting her head against his shoulder. "And I cannot criticise anything you did. I cannot say that I would not have done the same were the situation reversed. In fact, I probably would have done. I would do anything... anything... to protect those I love."
He nodded and held her tighter. "I could've killed them all when I saw the state you were in," he murmured. "Had they gone too far and taken you from me permanently, none would've left that room alive," he added, a slightly rough catch in his voice.
"But I'm still here." Her lips brushed his jaw. "I haven't left you."
"I know," he murmured, shifting to catch her lips in a searing kiss. "I will still rest easier once you and the others are safer though."
"Whatever it takes to give you peace of mind," she whispered against his lips. A half-smile crossed her face. "Just don't make life too hard for my customers, please."
A boyish grin slid across his face. "Would I really do that?" he teased gently.
"Not if you don't want to be on the end of a very painful hex," she retorted. Mischief danced in her eyes. "Something really itchy and uncomfortable."
"Evil," he muttered. "You are completely evil and far too sexy for your own good."
She laughed. "Face it," she murmured, and kissed him, "I was made for you. Nobody who was less than evil could keep up with such a devious Snake."
It's All Part Of Quidditch (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 07-26-14 10:29
Caerwyn doesn't know if a professional match would have a referee called time-out if a player upchucked but this being Hogwarts and Coach Krum in charge, the game is halted. A clearly embarrassed Beatrix is apologetic to those who'd been near, namely Marlow and Jasper. As Coach Krum has his wand, something none of the players are allowed to have during a match, the mess is quickly cleaned, even on the ground below. Beatrix is assessed for serious enough damage, such as a broken rib or ribs, before being allowed to remain. Caerwyn has to think that after a bludger hit such as that by tonight she will be sore enough not to want to have to bend, or even breath. As it was a bludger he'd sent and certainly didn't mean to cause that level of distress, Caerwyn is feeling guilty even though he knows it's all part of Quidditch.
Somehow with everything the quaffle had not gone through the hoop. As Beatrix was the last to touch it Coach Krum gives possession over to Ravenclaw. Play resumes with a throw of the quaffle from Franciscus to Ramona. Caerwyn had been visually tracking both bludgers during the time-out so there's no delay on his part going after one of them.
In the short time it takes it to reach the bludger the quaffle has gone from Ramona to Alastor so it's to Alastor that Caerwyn sends it. The bludger doesn't have far to go but Alastor's swerved around Sadie, the curving arc he taking him from the bludger's path. Luckily, the spot where Caerwyn had sent it doesn't cause a problem for Sadie.
Alastor passes to Franciscus but a bludger from Gus has Jasper intercepting. In a blink, Jasper is flying back toward Beatrix, who's still looking a little green. Caerwyn is in pursuit of a bludger as Jasper passes to Sadie. Sadie takes a shot but though she seems a little slow Beatrix taps the quaffle back. Ramona catches the rebound only to have the bludger from Caerwyn allow Jasper to grab it from her.
Jade has sent a bludger but Jasper's thrown the quaffle before it reaches him. His throw is to the far edge of the right most hoop. Beatrix is able to get there, throwing herself sideways at it, wincing in the process, but only manages to graze the quaffle with her fingers. It dings the hoop's rim but passes on through.
Pausing at the bludger he's reached for another hit, Caerwyn pauses with bat ready to get an idea of whom to target, the score now Hufflepuff 40, Ravenclaw 10.
(Aleydis) Snitch Sighting
Author: Griet
Date: 07-26-14 11:25
The collision with Franciscus from earlier in the match didn't cause Aleydis any great pain, but it gave her the lingering effect of being unable to fly in a straight line. It wasn't terribly obvious, especially when she flew at a slow speed as she did now. Nevertheless, being intimately familiar with her broomstick, Aleydis simply knew when something didn't feel right.
In the long run, she didn't think it would cause her much trouble. The drifting was subtle at best and probably not very noticeable to the spectators. Still, it was kind of annoying and certainly served as a distraction for her now––even more so than the recent memory of Beatrix barfing in front of the whole school.
Aleydis didn't think her broomstick had had much contact with Franciscus during the collision. The siblings had knocked heads, though not very hard. The major point of impact for Aleydis had been one side of her body, with her shoulder getting the brunt of it.
Her shoulder throbbed a little now, but she ignored it in favor of her broomstick's inconsistency, when she really should have put her full concentration into finding the snitch. She flew a slow circuit around a portion of the Pitch, scanning her eyes this way and that while simultaneously trying to keep her flight path on track.
Aleydis glanced down at her hands clutched around the handle of her broom, when her eyes alighted on the snitch, drifting lazily below her. She dipped the nose of her broomstick downwards and made a rapid, spiral descent. The snitch didn't seem to care that it might get snapped up and made no motion to fly away. Aleydis reached out her hand and moved to catch it, when a bludger made impact with her forearm.
She lost control of her downward spiral and almost fell off her broomstick, but luckily Referee Carmody had been nearby and stopped Aleydis from falling. Aleydis frantically glanced around for the snitch while clutching onto her throbbing arm and saw that her worst fears were being realized. Bran was in hot pursuit of the snitch.
Wings Fluttering (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 07-26-14 16:24
Once early on during the match Bran had for certain seen the snitch. It was directly across the pitch. All the way across. He'd done his best to stealthily creep up on it without Aleydis realizing he was up to something. He was trying not to attract the attention of the Hufflepuff beaters, anyone in the stands or, worse, the announcer. Bran attempted to make his flight from one side of the pitch to the other appear as the usual, ho hum, where oh where could that winged ball be search.
Bran made the journey without incident. No one had yet realized his snitch sighting. He reached the spot where it was still hovering only to have the snitch vanish. Quite literally one second it was there and the next it was not.
After that, there were sightings that were only illusions of the snitch. There were glimpses caught from the corner of an eye but gone again with even the slightest turning of the head to get a better view.
Bran had started out in a grid pattern, something that many seekers do while searching for the snitch, but far into the match he's abandoned that technique for a more random approach. Paying more attention to scanning for the tiny ball he doesn't notice two of the chasers until they are nearly on top of him. They don't notice him until then either as one has the quaffle and the other is trying to wrest it away.
Bran climbs, one of them, Jasper, steers far around one direction while the other, Ramona with the quaffle, goes the other way while also doing a shallow dive. The three player collision is avoided and gives Ramona the chance to break well away from Jasper, allowing her to safely pass to Alastor.
Resuming his search Bran's attention is captured by a commotion further along the pitch and slightly behind him. Aleydis is after the snitch! Bran practically spins his broom around, crushing into his broom handle to cut down the wind resistance as he pours on the speed.
In the short time it takes to get there Aleydis has had the serious distraction of a bludger blow that nearly resulted in her falling. Though Bran hopes she's all right but doesn't give even a tiny pause now that he's got the snitch in his sights again.
It had been spiraling around towards the ground but by the time Bran arrives it's straightened out its course while continuing downward. Near the ground it levels off, Bran closing the distance to the snitch. It flies in a straight line near enough to the ground Bran has to make sure his feet are on the broom's stirrups, something he doesn't always do, to keep them from dragging in the grass.
The snitch suddenly darts upward. Bran doesn't take his eyes from it, concerned he'd lose it again but he dearly wants to check Aleydis's position. The question of where she is gets answered when he can see her in his peripheral vision, coming his way.
Bran increases speed, the snitch still on a climb. It suddenly veers off to one side, leveling off in a straight line again, Bran nearly overshooting the plane it's now on. Just as suddenly, the snitch veers again. Much to Bran's great luck and extreme job, the golden snitch comes straight at him. He snatches at the snitch as its path and his cross.
Despite feeling the wings fluttering against his palm before settling, Bran checks to see if the snitch is really there. The noise from the stands increases and then the stadium erupts in cheers as Ravenclaw is officially announced the 2007-2008 Hogwarts Quidditch Cup champion with a score of 160 Ravenclaw, 40 Hufflepuff.