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Distractions
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 01-14-13 17:46
Professor McGonagall sat in the staff box and watched the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, which had been underway for just over thirty minutes now. Normally, she was an avid and enthusiastic Quidditch fan, especially when it came to her own house, Gryffindor, but she couldn't keep her head in the game today––not even with her great nephew Madoc playing beater.
Her distractions were many. She had already been approached by several parents questioning (and very much believing) the drivel in both of The Daily Prophet articles, in which Rita Skeeter had singled out Hogwarts professors. "Are you sure that Somerset isn't teaching the dark arts rather than Defense Against the Dark Arts?" and "If Professor Ravenscroft is into incest, then she's no doubt into pedophilia too!"
Professor McGonagall had staunchly defended both Professors Somerset and Ravenscroft, and would continue to do so until such a time when the masses found sense and stopped believing everything they read, especially when the author was Rita Skeeter, a witch notorious for exaggerating the truth.
The recent release of the article about the Ravenscrofts had Minerva and many other staff members wondering who might be the next target of Rita Skeeter's investigative reporting. After an interview with Marzipan, Professor McGonagall had learned that unlike with Ethan, Rita Skeeter had not accosted her for information. Some of the material mentioned in the article had been documented, such as the deaths caused by the hands of both Marzi's and Weston's fathers, but other information she must have gotten from a source or craftily deduced on her own.
Madoc slung his bat back and hit a bludger with a resonating crack that temporarily jarred his great aunt from the whirlwind that was her thoughts. This was his very first real Quidditch match, if a forty-five minute exhibition game could be considered real. It was certainly his first time playing with his team other than during practices, and also the very first time meeting Slytherin on the field. This would be a taste of what was to come next month, when Gryffindor and Slytherin played their official match against each other.
Unfortunately, Gryffindor was losing, forty-zero. Madoc tried not to feel bad about it, believing instead that Slytherin had caught a lucky break. In fact, three of the four goals had occurred in succession, when Hunter Green had found himself the target of both bludgers simultaneously.
Gryffindor did have possession of the quaffle right now, however, via Etta Wynbourne, who was captain of the team. She zigged and zagged around the very obstacles placed in her path and then lobbed the ball at the left-most ring, but Gus van Tassel easily batted the quaffle away.
Etta caught the rebound and tried again. This time, Madoc tried to assist her with one of the bludgers, but it arrived a litte too late. Gus batted the quaffle away again and dodged the black ball.
This time, the rebound when to Olive Green of Slytherin.
Madoc took a moment to scan the stands, where he knew his family was sitting. They were all in the Slytherin stands, because that's where Malden sat. Somehow that didn't boost Madoc's confidence, though he could tell that his parents were cheering him on, even if Malden wasn't. His grandfather was also there, but Menelaus McGonagall sat stoically next to Malden and watched the game unfold without such much as a cheer or fist pump.
Minerva has seen her brother arrive, though she hadn't said hello yet. Although they had appeared to make amends, the world had changed since their last friendly meeting. She remembered what he had been like in the old days. It was why they had become estranged. She worried that he would slip back into old habits, and what that would mean for his family.
She watched him, sitting with Myron, Cate and Malden, and wondered what was going on in that head of his.
Maggie
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 01-15-13 02:46
Adelaide's sudden appearance, with her infamous files, led Nate to spend his Saturdays at the Ministry, studying them carefully and dispatch them to the right place or person. It had been Mr Higgins' idea, to leave his young assistant in charge of the files, and although Nate was thankful for this opportunity to show his chief that he could do more than fetch his coffee and run his errands, today he was not in the mood for extra work.
Jenny Gabble had been upset when he wrote to her about not being able to visit Hogwarts for Homecoming Day. Apparently, she was counting on his presence. Nate assured her that he'd visit Hogwarts some other time, once he wasn't so busy with work. He did not know why Jenny wanted to see him so badly, and he made a mental note to ask Tim about that.
With reluctance, Nate pulled the first file of the pile and opened it. It has been written by a wizard named Thomas Hart, and it dated from a decade ago. Thomas described a cursed toaster found in a neighborhood of Leeds with detail. He mentioned its shape, colour, size and height, explaining to the reader that whenever a Muggle wanted to make a toast, the magical artifact would multiply it by ten and repel each piece of bread in every possible direction, far enough to splatter the kitchen window. The family dog spent its days barking at the toaster.
Mr Hart concluded that someone had cursed the object with a multiplying jinx, and he suggested maybe it had been an act of revenge, or merely a prank, towards the Muggle family in question. He wrote that the object had been apprehended and taken to the ministry, while the Muggle family's memories had been fully modified.
Since this file was older than ten years, and Nate knew that there was no Thomas Hart working at the Muggle Liaisons Office at the moment, he concluded the man in question was probably retired. He threw the file into the bin, knowing there was no need to keep it. Even if the guilty witch or wizard has not be found, he doubted he or she would go to Azkaban for making a toaster make more toast than it should.
The next files revealed themselves to be of the same kind as the previous one: a flower pot that grew tropical plants, no matter the seed inserted there, a pair of shoes that would make the person who put them on to suddenly feel the need to tap-dance, a mirror that would show not your current reflection but how you would look when you became old…Most of the cases were not recent and all of them had been solved.
From time to time there was a file that would have to be sent to another department and Nate would put those on another pile at the edge of his desk.
Hours passed, and, not encouraged by the number of files he still had to sort, Nate decided to take a coffee break. He left the Ministry of Magic and navigated the busy streets of Muggle London. He entered one of the many drinking and eating establishments in the district. The place was almost empty except for a couple of old ladies who spoke about the midday soap opera, and a middle aged man who busied himself with the crosswords of his newspaper. Nate picked a table by the window and sat there, observing the Muggles on the street.
"Good afternoon," a jovial voice greeted. "What would you like to order?"
Nate turned his head to the waitress, recognising her immediately. It was Maggie Hawthorne-Masterson. Like Adelaide, she, too, had been in his year and house at Hogwarts. But she had only joined the school in their last year. Maggie was wearing an apron and holding a small notebook to write down the orders. Nate was surprised to see her here, working in a Muggle cafe. The last time he had seen her had been at the End of the Year Feast. She was dating one of his roommates, a boy named William.
"Nate!" she greeted him with a smile.
Soon they were seated in front of each other, catching up. Maggie's supervisor did not seem to mind it, since there were barely any customers at the moment to serve. He told her about his job at the Ministry, while she mentioned the flat her brother Lawrence had offered her as well as her studies in Communication at St. Emrys.
"I work here as a part-time job. Usually the evening shifts. I'm exhausted by the end of the day."
"Don't you get tempted to use your wand at times?" Nate asked in a low tone, making sure their conversation wasn't overheard. But no one seemed to be paying attention.
Maggie giggled.
"Of course! But I don't want to get into trouble. Besides, this is like free exercise. There are some people who spend their money on the gym to get fit, while I win money for moving around and carrying weights."
He laughed, and then they started to speak about Hogwarts, remembering the classes they had attended together and some of the teachers they used to have at school. Maggie had gone briefly to Hogwarts for Homecoming Day, and she told him how she was hoping Hufflepuff might win the Quidditch Cup this year.
"I'm more concerned with the Wasps' performance this season, " he confessed to Maggie.
Since Phyllida was gone he didn't have the chance to talk about Quidditch with anyone. At work, Mr Higgins had prohibited such topics, and they were only allowed to discuss the football league. He was very glad when Nate had decided to support Chelsea instead of Manchester United. Tim was not really into Quidditch. He followed with more attention the Globstones professional championship.
"Do you have a favorite team, Maggie? " Nate asked with curiosity, as he took the cup of coffee.
Meeting Madeline
Author: Sy Tremont
Date: 01-16-13 13:01
Having been in London just short of forty-eight hours, I was still attempting to get used to the time difference and I was seriously jonsing for some familiar company - even one of the one night stands that I'd managed to score before I'd left LA. Either way, I was currently heading to the designated spot where I would find Mister Sullivan and the young Madeline Destrand, the latter who would soon be in my care.
I'd apparated into Hogsmeade Village not too long after nine am, which did not feel like nine am, it felt like four am as I was still on West Coast time - how long was this going to last? I was sick and tired of the jet lag and suffering through the time difference. I'd gone through the strict security protocols set up around the grounds specifically for the event today.
Once I'd gone through that I'd taken time to observe what I could from outside the castle. It looked like somewhere I would have wanted to go to school, because who hadn't wanted to live in a castle when they were kids? Be a knight in shining armor and save the princess and all that...but fantasies like that oft fell by the wayside and ultimately I'd grown up and found more interesting things to do with the princesses rather than simply 'save' them.
"Ah, Mister Tremont...forgive me Sy. You made it. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show. Miss Destrand will be along shortly, she'd gone with a couple of classmates to get a hot chocolate I believe."
I nodded and settled into a somewhat relaxed position against the thick trunk of a tree that marked the meeting spot. My gaze flicked over the students gathered, I'd not been given a picture of the girl I was now supposed to care for and that in and of itself annoyed the hell out of me. Simply because, if I'd had a picture I would have been able to pick her out of the throng of students, family and siblings.
I didn't however, have to speculate for long on what the girl looked like as a group of about four girls approached the tree where they are standing.
One of the girls recognized Mister Sullivan and stepped forward. She was a petite thing, nothing more than perhaps four feet even, and wearing robes that bore Gryffindor colors and sigil upon them. The other girls wore the same colors on their robes and only one or two of them looked a bit older.
"Madeline. I would like to introduce you to Mister Sylvain Tremont. Your brother and guardian." He turned his attention to me. "Sy, this is Madeline Destrand, first year Gryffindor."
Formal introductions out of the way, I turned my attention to Madeline and her group of friends.
"Hi. Is there somewhere we can talk?" I asked, not sure exactly what I'd say to her or if it would do any good.
"Maybe after the first exhibition game. Gryffindor is playing and I do not want to miss it! There is a new seeker this year, apparently Charisma Stone didn't want to play and allowed the privilage to go to someone named Cai Carter...we can only hope she will be as good as Charisma or Gryffindor will not stand a chance at the Quidditch cup this year."
Right, she was a snotty little thing. Hiding my frustration I nodded my head. "Very well, if that will work. I could sit with you if you do not mind..."
What in the hell was wrong with me? I mean really? Was I going to let this snotty little kid talk to me like she was the one in charge. Not likely.
"No, scratch that. I will be sitting with you and your friends, like it or not. I came here to meet you, to perhaps figure out a way to make this work - and you will help with the endeavor or simply deal with the decisions I make with or without your input."
Oh, the look she gave me was something not fitting to an eleven year old girl of Gryffindor house, but more fitting to a girl that had been sorted into Slytherin. If looks could kill, I would have been dead and cursed a hundred times in the span of three seconds.
"Fine." She huffed and turned to look at her friends. "It would seem that I must entertain my brother, the King from America, who seems to think that he can dictate every aspect of my life, after having only met me scant seconds ago and learning of my existence earlier this week. I shall see you all later, provided I am not punished for stepping out of line with His Majesty."
The girls giggled at the dramatics from Madeline and with a hug and quick good byes, the girls wandered off leaving the pair of us alone. Where in the hell had Mister Sullivan gone? Great, this was going just wonderfully.
"Alright, I get it. I'm the one that ruined things for you, I know how much you got from his death, but I didn't ask for this - any of it." I said, watching her as I sank back against the tree.
"You think I did? To find out that the man I admired, the man that I adored, the man that I called father, was flawed, impure and had an affair with some woman in America before I was even born and the product of that was now the person getting what was rightfully mine by birth? Right, it's just what I wanted."
She rolled her eyes and contemplated turning and heading back to find her friends, at least she wouldn't be standing here arguing, instead she'd be sitting maybe with Lauren MacDougal's family and cheering on the Quidditch match that was currently going on and she was missing.
"You know what...I think we'll try this another time. Go have fun with your friends. I'll attempt to figure this out and continue to come to grips with the fact that the only family I have left wants nothing to do with me because I'm little more than a black, tarnished smudge on the honor of a man now dead and buried."
I turned my attention away from Madeline, intending on heading toward the gates and perhaps the nearest pub I could find a cold drink. However, I got three steps before I felt a hand on my arm, wordlessly asking me to stop.
"Alright. You win. Come watch a couple of matches with me and then maybe we can talk after."
I turned to look at her and with a minute nod of my head, we turned and headed to the pitch - getting there just as the match was about half way through and there was a slim chance that Cai Carter of Gryffindor was going to catch the snitch for a win in the short match.
Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Exhibition (Basil & Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 01-16-13 13:14
Accepting the quaffle after a foul by Hufflepuff is called Etta eyes Hufflepuff keeper Glori Hodfuffer and tries to decide where to throw the red ball that would give her the best chance of getting the shot past Glori. Right now the score is tied at 10-10. Etta would dearly love for Gryffindor to pull ahead, something the team had not done in goals during the first match against Slytherin. Gryffindor had played well, with few faults. Chasers were well in sync and Hunter Green blocked more shots than he let past him. Slytherin just did a little better. The green clad chasers might have scored more goals than Marjani, Hunter Rabnott, and Etta had but at least it was Gryffindor with the snitch, something that wasn't necessarily going to happen in a match only 45 minutes long. Somehow, Gryffindor had done just that when at the 44 minute mark Cai Carter was able to snag the winged ball before Slytherin's Rylee Marks was even able to join the pursuit. Having heard some of the nasty remarks about Rylee making the Slytherin team as seeker, Etta felt a little sorry for Rylee at not getting to go neck and neck with Cai for the snitch. A little sorry, but not too much as she's definitely in favor of her own team capturing the snitch than another team's seeker.
Deciding to shoot to her left Etta lets the quaffle go, inhaling sharply as she watches the ball soar towards one of the hoops, Glori rocketing her broom to the side for the block. Frowning slightly even though she's not at all surprised Glori was able to stop the quaffle, not when faking out the keeper is harder to do when making a foul shot, Etta had still been hoping. At only about twenty minutes into the match there's still time to put more goals on the board but with end scores of these exhibition matches more likely to be without the 150 points from the snitch, every single goal attempt is important.
Jasper Jenkins has the quaffle now but soon makes a pass to Sadie Mickle. Etta gets in close to Sadie watching for any opening the Hufflepuff chaser might make that would allow Gryffindor to reclaim possession. Out of the corner of her eye she spots Hufflepuff seeker Aleydis Vanderbilt and can't help but wonder how Basil's doing in that department.
In the stands, hair still slightly damp from the hasty shower he'd taken at the end of the previous match, Basil cups his hands over his mouth to shout, "Aleydis, the snitch! The snitch!" as the small ball flutters back and forth directly in front of the seating section he's in. Too bad he can't use a spell so she could actually hear him.
Good friend Ivan is on one side of Basil but on his other is his father. Edward Wynbourne gives his son a puzzled glance. "I can't say would have ever thought you to try and give aid the Hufflepuff team."
Faye Wynbourne smirks. "It's not the team so much as a particular person, dear."
Edward looks from son to wife then back at his son again. "This Aleydis is your girlfriend?"
As Basil is saying, "I don't have a girlfriend, Dad," Ivan is chiming in, "Basil's in love with Aleydis," earning him a sharp poke in the ribs from Basil.
"Ignore Ivan. Someone hexed him and now he says randomly strange things." Wondering how his mother knows about his like of Aleydis Basil next says, "Mum, why would you think I am in support of a particular person?"
"Mothers know these things, poppet."
"I'm too old to be called poppet."
"You will always be my poppet even when you are eighty."
Edward interjects, "Yes or no, Basil, do you like that girl?"
Basil answers, "Yes," with a roll of his eyes.
"So she is your girlfriend or you've just not gotten that far yet?"
Basil glares daggers at the snickering Ivan before truthfully replying to his father, "I don't know what we are, Dad."
"Does she like you?"
"Yes, I think so."
Ivan, knowing he might suffer some actual hex in his sleep tonight, finds he cannot resist telling Basil's parents, "I saw them snogging behind one of the statues on a third floor corridor yesterday."
If not for his parents and Ivan's parents there to witness Basil would hex Ivan on the spot. Since he can't do that he jumps to his feet. "I'm going to get a snack." To Ivan's, "I'll come with you," he curtly says, "I'd rather go alone, thanks."
Making his way through the aisle and then heading down to ground level, Basil very much wishes the Slytherin match against Ravenclaw was still going on. He'd be in the air, bat in hand, with no knowledge that in a short while he'd be wanting to use it to beat his best friend to a pulp for having a big mouth.
Of course, that would also mean reliving an excruciating mash up with Jade Green. The small in size but large in ability Ravenclaw beater and he had been after the same bludger when the snitch came whizzing past. Right behind came the two seekers. Jade and Basil, bats in the process of being swung, had then simultaneously both dodged out of the seekers' ways, neither wanting to be the reason their respective team missed out on getting the snitch. The only problem was without meaning to they dodged into each other, a loud collision of bats, brooms, and bodies. Basil had ended up with a dislocated finger, which has since been reset and though sore shouldn't give him any problems in the remaining match he has today. Jade got a black eye and a nasty cut across one cheek. Both have assorted scrapes and bruises, which are all part of playing Quidditch though as beaters they are more used to dishing up the wounds rather than taking them. Also, neither seeker got the snitch right then.
Getting in line for a drink, Basil is turned so he can see most of the action between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Eyes fixed on Aleydis to the point the person in line behind him has to give Basil a nudge to move forward, he resolves to officially ask Aleydis to be his girlfriend by the end of the weekend. If she says no, he thinks he may have to traipse into the forest and find a dark cave to hide out in for about seventy years, or until Ivan's memory becomes feeble enough so he wouldn't remember to tease Basil about making a muck up of things.
(Mark) Parents Only Want What's Best
Author: Isolde
Date: 01-16-13 18:34
"Your mother and I have been thinking that you should work an internship during the winter holidays," Mr. Farnon said to his son, as they sat together in the stands and watched the exhibition match currently underway.
Mark frowned. He didn't like the idea of spending his time off from school going to work everyday. He wanted to relax during the holidays, not work.
"What sort of internship?" Mark queried.
"Something at the Ministry, maybe, or is there a field you are interested in? Potions, perhaps? Herbology?"
Mark really had no idea. He had barely given his future any thought, outside of wanting to spend it with Kate. His eyes roved to where he had last seen her, but he didn't dare look at her for very long. He didn't want to give his parents a reason to think they were still dating. They thought their son had quashed that ill-matched relationship a long time ago. How wrong they were.
"I don't know," Mark finally answered.
"Mark, darling, you need to think about your future. You have less than two years of schooling left. And then what?" his mother asked.
Mark sighed inwardly. "I promise I'll give it some thought."
"Good." She patted his hand and asked, "When do you go on again?"
"At 3," Mark replied. He had played in the first match against Gryffindor and the third match against Ravenclaw.
During the match against Gryffindor, he had done a great job disrupting attempts at scoring. Twice he nailed bludgers into the backs of the Gryffindor chasers as they drew within scoring range, and once he knicked the quaffle mid-flight, changing its course just enough to miss the intended goal hoop. Unfortunately, it had been Gryffindor to catch the snitch and not Slytherin.
In the match against Ravenclaw, Mark didn't get the chance to show off his skills as much and wasn't as lucky with his hits either. His aim was true when he managed to get to a bludger, but the Ravenclaw beaters had seemed all over the black balls during the 45 minutes allotted for the match. One of the times Mark did get in contact with a bludger was when one struck him in the shin. It had really hurt then, but it still throbbed even now. Mark wondered if he had a bone bruise.
"We want you to get work experience early, so that by the time you graduate from Hogwarts, you can find a well-respected and well-paying position," Mr. Farnon said. "Just think about it. If you work this winter, and next summer, and the following winter, then that's three different opportunities you'll have to better yourself professionally before graduation."
"I get it," Mark said, trying not to sound bored or annoyed. He couldn't wait for Homecoming to end and for his parents to finally go back home!
MacDougals
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-16-13 18:59
Flouncing into the stands where her parents Scott and Madeline MacDougal are watching Marlow in the nearly over Hufflepuff-Gryffindor match, Liannah drops in what she thinks is a ladylike fashion to sit beside her mother. "Here I am as commanded."
Madeline rebukes, "Requested not commanded. Keep up that attitude and you can forget about your allowance for the next month and you will pay for your own Halloween fancy dress."
Liannah is about to make a snippy retort but bites her tongue just in time, deciding she would prefer to have a steady inflow of funds for those owl order needs and to stockpile for buying a few Christmas gifts, not to mention the shopping to be done on the Hogsmeade weekend that's always near Christmas holiday. There's also the threat of having to use what money she has to pay for the costume she's picked out. Instead, she strikes a typical teen pouty pose while pretending to pay attention to Marlow's playing and while ignoring Lauren who is currently pretending to be Miss Goody Goody Perfect. Worse, Marlow will soon be joining them and will, Liannah is certain, be a pest, most likely tormenting her in front of their parents about Liannah's current crush.
Teasing Liannah hasn't crossed Marlow's mind since breakfast at least. She's been more focused on the day's exhibition matches and on Hufflepuff giving a good showing. She'd scored during the second match, Hufflepuff vs Ravenclaw, made some interceptions, and had one particularly spectacular steal. In this match, the fourth of the day, Marlow feels she's also done well against Gryffindor.
At the moment she's tracking Jasper with the quaffle, ready to take the quaffle when, or if, he passes. He does pass but to Sadie. Marjani closes in on Sadie, looking to steal so Marlow rapidly comes up from behind then wedges herself between Sadie and Marjani. Her timing proves to be spot on as Liam Murray sends a bludger that smacks Sadie. It's not a hard hit but it is across the back of the hand holding the quaffle. Her hand must be stinging, which threatens her grip on the ball, because Sadie almost immediately hands off to Marlow.
Marlow surges forward, driving in towards the the hoops protected by Hunter G. She pulls up short, quaffle in hand for a goal effort but the signal goes off to end the 45 minutes alotted for each of the exhibition matches. With great reluctance, eyes going longingly to the hoops, Marlow turns the quaffle over to one of the referees.
On the ground she hurries to the locker room to freshen up a little then goes to join her family for a late lunch. She doesn't know if they'll eat there in the stands or move to somewhere else on the grounds. Wherever it is, she hopes she'll be able to see the action between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in the match due to start shortly.
(Gus) Quidditch Aversion
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 01-17-13 02:30
"Oh Gus, you're bleeding! Are you sure you don't wish to go to the Hospital Wing?"
"No thanks, mum. I'm fine."
But Katrina Van Tassel did not seem very convinced. She took a tissue out of her white handbag and started to clean bellow his sons nose, trying to make the bleeding stop. Gus had been hit by a bludger at the very end of the match between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. It had been the young Aderyn Carter who made the hit and Gus was still admired with her aim. However the blow hasn't been that hard and since he didn't hear his nose cracking, he was pretty sure it wasn't broken. His mother had come right away to his assistance and she insisted on taking care of him. It was very embarrassing to have his mother cleaning his nose as if he was some snotty child and soon he was moving away, telling her he was all right.
"I'm sorry. I keep forgetting you're not my little boy anymore. "
"It's all right, mum. How about we leave the pitch until it's time for my next match? This place is crowded, let's go to somewhere quieter."
They went to the bank of the lake, where a few families were gathered here and there. For a moment the memory of Polly and that other guy kissing each other invaded his mind, enough to leave Gus with nausea. He was madder with himself than with Polly. He had been a fool. Once the news arrived to the entire castle about him and Polly breaking up, he became surrounded once again by giggling girls and admirers but this time, being the center of attention did not give him any pleasure. He just wanted to be left alone this time.
"Where is father again?" he asked to his mother. She had been looking at the castle with nostalgia, perhaps recalling the times she had been a student here.
"Working. And you know what he thinks about these school events…"
Edmure Van Tassel saw these events as something improper. He liked to say the school was a place to study and learn things, not an excuse to held a circus. It was very rare for him to come to Hogwarts and it was always possible to see the irritation in his face whenever a large loud family passed closer to him. Mr. Van Tassel would always look to his watch, as if he had some important place to go. Gus was pretty sure his mother was lying and that he was not working at all today. He was probably seated at home in Bristol, reading a complicated book on his favorite armchair.
"I wanted him to see me playing."
"You know your father, Gus. He rather see you earning Outstanding in your OWLs than being a Quidditch champion."
"He's jealous that's all. Just because he wasn't able to play doesn't mean I can't!"
"Don't talk about your father that way, Gus Jaime Van Tassel. That is not true."
"You know it is, mum."
Gus stood up from the grass and kissed his mother's cheek, excusing himself, saying he needed to go back to the locker room to get ready for his next match. He had learned about the reason of his father aversion to Quidditch during the summer. Edmure had been selected to play as seeker when he was on his fourth year at Hogwarts. He was slim and quick and apparently very good on a broom. There was a photograph taken by his grandmother of his father, proudly wearing his Slytherin Quidditch robes, holding an archaic broom that used to be the best of the best during those days.
Edmure's glory only lasted 20 minutes. He had been hit by a bludger, lost his equilibrium and fall from his broom. By some miracle he had survived, but he got very injured. Edmure had recovered but he was never been able to mount a broom again. He was too scared to fly and as the years passed his aversion to Quidditch only got bigger and bigger. The fact that his son decided to play and he was having success with it only made madder.
Somewhat mad he didn't really saw the direction he was taking. Gus ended up bumping into a girl. It was Angharad Carter, half-sister of Aderyn, the beater who almost broke his nose a moment ago. He had some classes with her.
"Sorry," he apologized noticing that due to the bump he had made her spill the drink she was holding. "I don't have any money here, but I'll pay you some other time. Sorry!" he repeated as he walked away, eager to go back to the pitch and forget about everything except the quaffle.
Glori, Wiggy, & Gus In The Stands
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 01-17-13 14:00
Their parents off talking with some friends Glori finally has a chance to ask Wiggy, "Why are you so tense today?"
"I'm tense?"
Glori gives him a look that has Wiggy shrugging and giving her a look right back. She changes tack. "Wishing you were out on the pitch right now?"
"Yeah, sure, but I've had a year already to adjust."
"I listened to the match last night. It sounded exciting enough I wished I'd been there."
Puddlemere United had played the Chudley Cannons Friday night. Wiggy had scored five goals during the match and there'd been a nail biter of a game ender with the two seekers had battled for more than fifteen minutes for the snitch as the little winged balled led them a merry chase around the Puddlemere pitch. Wiggy had gone this morning for a team meeting so the coach could give them an in-depth analysis of the game play but luckily there is no practice today. Wiggy was back at Hogwarts before the first exhibition match began and hasn't had to keep watch of the time, allowing him to enjoy the day. He's done just that for the most part but Glori is right, he's tense.
Realizing he's not said anything in response to Glori's comment Wiggy tells her, "It was a great match. Dad was there. You'll have to ask him if he used his omniocculars. If he did, get him to let you watch what he captured on them."
"Thanks, I will. Still not going to tell me why you're so tense?"
"It's nothing, Glori."
"Then why does it have you so tense?"
Wiggy scowls at his sister. She can be annoying when she wants. "Let me rephrase. It's nothing for you to be concerned with. There's a girl, that's all."
"Oooooh. Do tell. She said she'd come today but hasn't. That's it, right?"
"Something like that." The truth is Wiggy doesn't want her showing up. Since signing an autograph and having dinner with Bradana she's been waiting after every practice, she's written him several times a day ever day, and has been increasingly pushy about getting dinner together again. Not being a Hogwarts graduate, a family member of or close friends with a student, or someone who lives in Hogsmeade, she has no real reason to come today but Wiggy wouldn't put it past Bradana to claim she's his girlfriend just to gain access.
To change the subject before Glori can pester for more information he asks her, "You up for another match today?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"That huge purplish-black knot on your head for one. Swollen fingers for another."
During the Hufflepuff match against Ravenclaw, Glori had been focused on watching as Alastor nearly collided with Jasper, resulting in Alastor stealing the quaffle from his brother. Not half a second later Caerwyn had hit Alastor with a cracking good blow from a bludger, allowing Jasper to dart in and steal the quaffle right back. She'd not noticed Ravenclaw seeker Christopher Chant at all as he bore down on her from the side.
Christopher was so intent on following the snitch he wasn't paying attention to where on the pitch he was or that he was flying directly into Glori. They'd both noticed the other before a huge crash took place but he did run into her, and somehow she'd taken a hit to her forehead that has left her with a big, dark goose egg and a slight headache. She was able to take something for her head after that match and had the Ravenclaw-Slytherin match to give the potion plenty of time to dull the pain.
The swollen fingers are from the match before the current one. Hufflepuff was up against Gryffindor. Marjani had gotten in close for a goal attempt. Glori was able to block the shot but in the process she also took a bludger to the hand. As her fingers were already on the quaffle, when the bludger smacked into the back of her hand the blow was worse than if she'd been hit before or after she'd had her hand on the quaffle.
Glori wiggles her fingers at Wiggy. "Stiff and sore but workable."
Cousin Gus and his best mate Caerwyn plop down in the spaces where Trina and Buck Hodfuffer had recently been sitting. Gus nods at Glori's hand. "So you're good for our match against Slytherin?"
"As good as I can be under the circumstances."
Caerwyn asks, "Why didn't you get them looked after?"
"Madam Pomfrey said the potion to reduce the swelling would probably make me sleepy."
"And your head?"
Glori gives Gus a half smile. "I've a little bit of a headache still but the bump only hurts now if touched. You two ready to play?"
They both nod, Gus saying, "I banged my elbow a good one earlier when making way for someone coming into the stands when I was going down but it's not my bat arm so I should be good."
Though the forty-five minutes allotted for each match seems horribly short to Gus, he sort of wishes they'd have something like this more often. Getting to play three quick matches in the same day is grand fun.
Gus had been eager for Quidditch to officially get underway here at Hogwarts. When the first Hufflepuff match kicked off this morning at 11:00, he'd gone straight for the nearest bludger, beating out Jade Green by a fraction to get that first hit. He'd also had a very brief moment where he thought it's too bad she's only thirteen because Jade is pretty cute. That she's a fierce Quidditch player as an added bonus.
After that first hit, Gus and Jade had vyed for that same bludger for several minutes into the match. She'd intercept his hit and redirect it only for him to do the same when she'd send the bludger after one of the Hufflepuff chasers. She wasn't overly thrilled that he not only got to the bludger and stopped it from hitting Sadie but that she'd not been able to get to the bludger in time when he sent it after Jack and the bludger had not only hit Jack but stopped him from throwing for goal.
With the next to the last match of the day taking place and the last match, the one between Hufflepuff and Slytherin starting at 3:00, Gus hates to see the exhibition match portion of the day drawing to a close. At least he gets to play that last match. That beats sitting in the stands any time.