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(Asher) Strained
Author: Jolyon
Date: 12-26-13 15:12
Asher returned to the empty space next to his mother after making a pit stop and getting something to drink from the concession stand, only to find his seat occupied by none other than his father. Worse still, his parents had their heads bent in conversation and looked far too cozy for his liking. Not that Asher had received any indication that they were anything other than friends, if they could even be called that.
On his mother's other side, Arielle's entire face was lit up, as if sitting with not just one parent but two made up for a lifetime of familial disappointments. Asher scowled and loudly cleared his throat.
"Can I have a seat?" he asked, the irritation very evident in his voice.
His parents and sister both noticed him for the first time and immediately scooted over on the bench to make room for Asher. The row was already packed with spectators, so they couldn't go very far. Asher ended up perched on the very edge of the bench, which was uncomfortable enough without having to sit next to his father too.
"You played well," Jolyon said to him.
Asher feigned disinterest and muttered, "Thanks."
The truth was he felt very pleased with his performances in both matches he'd played in so far today. He'd hit well, aimed well, and even managed a few turnovers in Slytherin's favor. The only thing he wished he could have changed was the facial expression he probably had every time he leaned or stretched a certain way. For some reason, the muscle at the very top of his right leg felt strained. Asher wasn't sure what happened, but it hurt whenever he twisted and sometimes when he walked.
Now he had a break. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff were currently playing their match. Next would come Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, followed by Asher's final match of the day, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. That was the match he actually looked forward to the most, because Hufflepuff appeared to be the favored team this year since it consisted of veteran players. If Slytherin could beat Hufflepuff, then that would certainly make Asher's day.
Foiled By A Bludger (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 12-26-13 17:32
Shortly before Bran needed to return to the locker room to once again don his game gear his father, Finan, leans into his older son. "Have I mentioned how proud I am of you? Making your house team as a first year."
Bran grins at his dad. "You've mentioned it once or twice."
Finan gives Bran's arm a squeeze. "Your mother and I have been talking and we think you should have your own broom before Ravenclaw's first official match."
"Really?" In his excitement, Bran's voice goes squeakily high. Normally, that bugs him when it happens but he hardly even notices, his mind already racing through the various broom models he'd most like to have.
"Really. Mind you, it will be an early Christmas present."
"That's okay. I'd rather have it for that first match rather than wait."
"You'd best get going. We'll talk more when your match is over."
The match, Ravenclaw against Gryffindor, with referee Glen Jaimeson, gets underway soon after Bran practically skipped to the locker room. Not five minutes into the time allotted for the game Bran spots the snitch. Up up up then down down down, skimming the grass, curving sharply to hug the wall of one of the stands, and then, just when Bran thinks he's got a lock on getting the short distance to it closed before Cai Carter, Gryffindor's seeker reaches him, and the snitch, to add the pressure, a bludger streaks across the tip of his broom, a school issue. The broom wobbles from the hit, even though it's no more than a glancing blow. And the snitch disappears. Bran scans for it, looking up and down, seeking any sign glinting gold ahead and behind.
Mindful of how much time is left in the match - Bran is looking forward to a regular match that only ends if the snitch is caught - he climbs slightly higher and starts looking anew for the winged ball. From time to time he glances at what Cai's doing, not wanting to miss out on the chase should be next to spot the snitch and give chase.
Greens At The Exhibition
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 12-26-13 20:31
Watching the Jade and Hunter up against each other in the exhibition match currently taking place, that of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, Olive massages a darkening lumpy bruise on one upper arm. In the Slytherin match against Ravenclaw, Olive had had the quaffle, driving in for a goal attempt. Her arm up, in the process of throwing, a bludger courtesy of Aderyn had smacked her hard. Luckily, her fingers were already disengaged from the quaffle so though her hand did touch the ball from the force of the bludger, the quaffle had already moved enough away from her that the touch didn't do much in the way of affecting the ball's trajectory. Beatrix wasn't able to stop the ball so despite taking a hard, very painful hit, Olive managed to score.
Rubbing it a bit too vigorously, she winces, forcing herself to stop worrying it. Olive doesn't want to have the bruise with raised lump so bad that she can't function in the last scheduled match, that of Slytherin against Hufflepuff.
Jade, glad she wasn't the one whose bludger raised such a welt on Olive's arm but who probably wouldn't have felt guilty if she had as it's all part of the game, swings her bat back on approach to one of the black balls. Gryffindor chaser Max has the quaffle and she's determined to change that. If she can cause him to lose his grip on the ball, Franciscus might be able to snatch it up.
Franciscus is as capable a player as any of his sisters though Jade still finds it a little strange not to have Jack on the team. The same was true the year before when Deak was gone. It's also taken some getting used to having Bran as seeker instead of Christopher. Jade wonders if when she's graduated Hogwarts someone will think it odd playing on the Ravenclaw team without her.
Jade's bludger targeting Max works. Franciscus gains possession of the quaffle and, pulling it in close to his body, speeds away from the end of the pitch where Beatrix patrols in front of the three hoops there, heading in the direction of Hunter, keeper of the other three hoops.
By the time the Ravenclaw chasers reach Hunter, it's Alastor with the quaffle. Alastor lets the quaffle go but it's not a great throw. Hunter easily bats the red ball away, trying to send it to nearby Mildred but it's Ramona who grabs it.
Ramona throws to her right. Hunter goes to his left for the block but a flash of something has him thinking a bludger is coming at him. He attempts to dodge the bludger but make the quaffle block. His timing is just enough off that Ramona's throw is good for goal and Hunter gets a slight bump on the head from the bludger.
The hit is so slight that by the time the match ends a short time later, the spot isn't even a tiny bit sore. Not at all upset to have avoided a headache, Hunter hurries to change out of his gear and make it to the stands to watch the Hufflepuff-Slytherin match with his family excepting for Olive who's playing this next game.
(Mark) All Alone
Author: Isolde
Date: 12-27-13 09:09
It seemed impossible to feel alone when surrounded by so many people, but Mark did. His parents had other plans and therefore didn't visit him for Homecoming, and since Mark had alienated all his friends, he had no one to keep him company. Not even Taran was available because he was splitting his time between his own family and Johanna.
At least Mark couldn't complain about the outcome of the exhibition matches in which he'd played so far. He and Gus might no longer be friends, but their "professional" relationship seemed all right. They knew each other's strengths and weaknesses on the Pitch and helped each other out wherever possible. Being beater, it was mostly Mark assisting Gus, but somehow Mark suspected if their roles were reversed, Gus would be looking out for him too.
In the lull before the last match of the day, Hufflepuff vs Slytherin, in which both Gus and Mark would both be participants, Mark couldn't help but look for his old friends. They were mostly together in a group, or had made it so all their families were seated together. Kate sat between her father and half-sister Tessa. She looked very happy. The sight warmed Mark, but it also made him feel envious. He wished he could sit next to her, but he had made his choice with her well-being in mind. She would be better off without him.
A part of Mark wished that his parents would have come to visit him for Homecoming, not only so that he could have someone to keep him company. He still didn't know why Kate had made the strange comment about his mother being dead. Mark hardly had time to dwell further on the puzzling thought, because it was time for the final exhibition match.
He headed back to the Pitch, grabbed his broomstick and bat, and got ready to take on Hufflepuff, the only team without any new players. The referee Glen Jaimeson got things going with the release of the balls. Olive was the first to grab hold of the quaffle. She tore off towards the Hufflepuff goal hoops, with Mark immediately aiming a bludger at Sadie, whose arm was outstretched to swipe the ball away from Olive. Although the bludger was coming from behind, Sadie seemed to sense its approach and quickly pulled her arm away, so that the ball sailed between the two chasers.
Mark was in the wrong position to intercept the ball, so he went after the other one. Unable to reach it before Caerwyn, Mark drifted back to see where Caerwyn would direct it. He got in between it and redirected it again at Sadie, who had doubled her efforts at harassing Olive. This time the bludger struck her in the shoulder. Mark grinned and then go back to work.
(Edgar and Evelyn) Quidditch and Approaching Excuses
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-27-13 13:17
Edgar whipped out the sweat from his forehead and he looked around trying to locate the bludgers. Ramona Mickle passed by him at a great velocity holding the quaffle and he cursed out loud, for not being able to detain her. Thank Merlin his parents ,who were at the stands, could not hear him, or he would be in trouble.
While the Ravenclaw chasers worked their way towards Hunter Green's hoops, Edgar heard Madoc calling his name and he quickly spotted one of the bludgers. He entered on a race with Jade, Hunter's sister, in order to see who would reach the heavy ball faster. Moments later the match shifted and it was now Max Owens who held the quaffle, according to the commentator's indications. The comments were always helpful specially when his eyes were not on the chasers and Edgar decided to allow Jade to reach the bludger. Instead he would be waiting for the Ravenclaw beater's action and defend whatever shot she might do with her bat, making sure none of the Gryffindor players were harmed.
Jade aimed the bludger at Hunter Rabnott and Edgar changed easily its course, since he had been alert from the start. Hunter, Mildred and Max worked together in the hopes of trying to score. Beatrix made a spectacular defense for the Ravenclaw house and there were a lot of cheers coming from the stands. While the match proceeded, Edgar decided to try and cause some damage to Bran Hyland, the new Ravenclaw seeker and also the youngest in the pitch. Injuring the seeker was a good strategy to weak them and if it didn't work and Bran managed to dodge the bludger, he would at least be distracted enough from the snitch, giving Cai a few valuable minutes to locate it on her own. Edgar got his bat ready, speeded up his broom, and aimed.
While Edgar was at the pitch playing, Evelyn was seated at the stands, scribbling furiously on a parchment, that she brought with her.
"You should put that aside and have some fun, Ev," Mr. Steele said.
"Just a moment…" she replied, absent minded.
"What is it that you are writing, anyway?"
Evelyn looked at her father with irritation and ignored him. Mrs. Steele explained to her husband:
"She is taking notes. It's for her article at the school's newspaper. She was in charge to write an article about the Homecoming day and the Exhibitions Matches."
´
"Ha…" Albert Steele replied, and his eyes returned to the match.
Evelyn continued to write for a while. Being part of the Hogwarts Herald had become very important to her. She loved to see her name printed at the school's newspaper and she thought that being part of it gave her some sort of status at the school. People came to her when they wanted something published in the newspaper, even if she wasn't the one in charge for those decisions.
It also allowed Evelyn to approach people with the excuse that she was working on some article and needed some extra information. Last week she asked Justin Hodges how life was at Australia, with the pretext she was writing about the schools' international students. Dinah had been extremely jealous: Justin was one of the cutest boys of their year and she couldn't believe Evelyn had used the Herald to speak to him. On the other hand Evinrude didn't care. She only had eyes for Edgar and she got extremely disappointed when he didn't show up at The Three Broomsticks to have a butter beer with her. Evelyn had to explain her friend that Edgar could be slow at times and if she just wanted to go out with him, she should make herself clear and drag him to Madam Puddifoot's.
But Evinrude wanted Edgar to give the next and Evelyn was worried that she would have to be the one telling her brother about her friend's crush. She just couldn't understand how he could be so blind and he hasn't seen the obvious yet. Didn't he notice the way Evinrude looked at him? How she always tried to sit next to him during all the classes they had in common? Or how she was kept asking him for help her with homework? Frankly her brother could be so stupid at times…
The match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw ended and Evelyn decided to take a break, before the next match. She put her notes away and went to fetch some food for her and her parents. The line to the food booth was somewhat big and she tapped her feet with impatience. She had to hurry, because she really wanted to see Slytherin in action against Hufflepuff.
She recognized the boy in front of her as being Boris Samson, a fifth year from her house. He was friends with Mason Jeffers, one of Slytherin's chasers. Boris was not as cute as Mason, but bored about the slow pace of the line, Evelyn decided that a little conversation with him would do no harm. And so again ,under the pretext that she was collecting information about what students thought about Homecoming day, she approached him.
Are You Sure You Don't Need To See The Nurse? (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 12-27-13 16:21
"Are you sure you don't need to see the nurse?" Felicia Randolph worriedly asks for the fourth time.
"Muuuum. I'm fine. It's just a scratch."
"It could get infected."
"I cleaned it and put a plaster on it."
Anticipating a remark about how dangerous playing Quidditch can be Mason points out, "I got the scratch after that first match. Quidditch isn't any worse than rugby."
Felicia holds up her hands as if in surrender. "I didn't say a word."
Mason rolls his eyes, biting back a remark about how she's said word after word about this ickle nothing of a scratch on his arm. Even with the harping on the scratch he's mostly glad his mum was able to come today, especially since being Muggle reaching Hogwarts means having to rely on someone else, such as Mason's dad, with whom Felicia is currently having a disagreement. They've been cordial those times today they've been together that Mason was also around but there was a palpable strain. Edmond had to leave for awhile but promised to return to ensure Felicia makes it home to Portsmouth.
As he makes his way to the pitch for the last match, that of his house Slytherin taking on Hufflepuff, Mason wishes his father had made it back in time to watch. Maybe he'll return soon and at least get to see part of the match.
Before long, all thoughts of the nothing scratch and his parents are gone. Mason's entire focus is on the Quidditch match, more specifically at this exact point, he's entirely focused on getting around Marlow so he can accept a pass from new Slytherin chaser Malden McGonagall.
Asher gives an assist with a bludger at Marlow. She dodges but both ducking and rolling. Malden throws with Mason cleanly catching the quaffle. His broom already pointed the direction he needs to go, he goes low over the handle and speeds away, narrowly avoiding the other bludger, sent by Gus Hodfuffer.
When the match ends Mason has a couple of bruises but they're mainly red at the moment, not yet turning black and blue. Still, by the time Felicity leaves some of them will be noticeable. Bracing himself for another round of, "Are you sure you don't need to see the nurse?" Mason goes to rejoin his mum, happy to see that his father did make it back in time to catch part of the match.
A Little Tired (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 12-27-13 18:33
During a referee called time-out so that Glen Jaimeson can make sure a broom is still fit to fly after a particularly hard bludger hit, Caerwyn stretches the arm he uses most for batting. He also takes the moment to close his eyes, taking a deep breath of the cool air, finding it refreshing now that he's warm from the exertions of the match.
It's not until this brief pause that Caerwyn realizes he's more tired than normal. For some reason he'd not slept well last night. It could have been from anticipation of the Homecoming events with the exhibition matches but he doesn't think so. He thinks it was just one of those times sleep was elusive for no real reason other than just because. Poor timing but nothing much he could do about it. Taking a sleeping draught wasn't really an option in Caerwyn's opinion because those can make a person groggy and draggy for hours the following morning in a way worse than just being a little tired from lack of sleep.
Time-out over, Caerwyn snaps out of his relaxed state, eyes scanning for the location of the bludgers. One is nearby and he accelerates towards it, aware that Mark Farnon is heading for it too. A glance at the chasers, who are bunched up at the moment, has Caerwyn slowing. He lets Mark get the bludger while he turns his broom to where Jasper is pulling away from the pack, quaffle clutched to his chest.
As he suspected Mark targets Jasper. Caerwyn intercepts and redirects, sending the ball in Olive's direction. The other bludger smacks into Sadie about that time. Caerwyn frowns, wishing he'd been able to stop that one as well. He catches sight of Gus and from the look on his friends face he can tell Gus is thinking along the same lines. Much as every beater would like to be able to stop every bludger from hitting any teammate, it's simply not possible.
By match's end, Caerwyn feels he did well overall, as he has in the other matches he's played today, despite not having slept well. He hurries to the locker room, not wanting to keep his family waiting any longer than necessary. The matches might be done but there's still time left for the other Homecoming events. Emerging from the locker room, slightly damp from a quick shower, Caerwyn hastens in the direction of the stand where his family he knows his family is waiting.