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(Gus) First Goal of the Match
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 11-17-10 15:16
Finally it arrived the hour of the quidditch match against the Sidney School of Wizardy.
Coach Batuti had made a speech at the locker room before the game and after each player reflected on her words, they left to the pitch, some with enthusiasm, and others nervous. Gus was excited to be the first the keeper to play and he was ready to show the world what he was made of. Especially to his parents. He had begged them for a new broom and maybe after seeing his performance today they might finally say ‘yes’ to his request.
Gus flew in his old broom up in the air guarding his hoops. Once the match had started everything went away from his mind with the exception of who had the possession of the quaffle. The chasers from the Sidney School of Wizardy moved fast but Griet, Olive and Hadrian accompany them with ease.
The quaffle was now at Walter Wolowitz’s hands, one of the Sidney’s chasers. He flew with velocity towards the others chasers but the pass he did to Adam Beetson was intercepted by Griet. The captain of the Hogwarts team worked together with Olive and Hadrian and soon they were ready to make their first goal attempt. Hadrian shot but the quaffle went to the hands of Earl Gyngell, the Australian keeper.
Lakshmi Karuvila, who received the quaffle from Earl, tried to move towards the Hogwart’s hoops with some difficulty because a bludger had been sent into her direction by Blake. Although in Gryffindor, Gus had to recognize the beater had done a great job.
His mind started to wonder about how he would be received like a hero if their team won today’s match. He wondered about the pretty Australian girl who would be sad her team lost but Gus would write to her, comforting her.
“Watch out Gus!” He heard, from the stands. But it was too late. Gus had been thinking on other things that were not the match that he only realized at the last minute that Walter had shot the quaffle into the left hoop’s direction. His gloved fingers still touched the red ball, but he couldn’t do anything to avoid the goal.
Sidney had scored. And the game was now 10-0 to the enemy.
Cursing himself he delivered the quaffle to Olive and watched as she avoided a bludger, managing to hand over the quaffle to Hadrian. Alastor helped Olive get rid of the bludger sending it to one of the Australian chasers.
Instead of drowning himself on the humiliation of having suffered the first goal of the match, Gus focused himself in the game with everything he got. The next time Walter shot he grabbed the quaffle with both his hands, making a good defense which made the Hogwarts’ stands cheer for him. Happy he threw the quaffle to Griet.
When he made sure all the chasers were far away he risked a glance at Christopher, but the Hogwarts seeker didn’t seem to have spotted the snitch yet.
Nearly Game Time (Marjani)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 11-17-10 15:36
The students and staff from Hogwarts coming to watch the school's first Interscholastic Quidditch Tournament match began arriving at Sydney's School of Wizardry two hours ago. This is also the very first IQT match, what with Sydney being the most easterly located of the schools involved. Two other matches are taking place today with one of the other five IQT teams having a bye this week.
Marjani peers out of the dressing room doors leading onto the pitch. The Sydney's Quidditch stadium appears to be packed. Hopefully, the teams will give them a great match, making the trip worth the effort for those who came long distances. Somewhere in those stands is Zuberi. At times, Marjani still can't believe he withdrew his name from contention for a spot on the team. At least it was because he's trying to do better with school and not because he was ticked at the possiblity of being named Keeper again. Marjani will have to try and spot him once she's out on the sidelines and the match begins. Yesterday on the sight-seeing trip, she bought Zuberi a couple of things and saw Dosie buying some things that are probably for him as well.
Marjani shifts position at the door when Jill Prewitt comes over to look out as well. "That's more people than I thought would be here. Did I look all right earlier today?"
"Yeah, you looked nice like you always do."
"I just know my hair was sticking up funny on the side. I kept patting it down but it felt like it kept going back up."
"I didn't notice it looking out of place," Marjani assures.
The earlier that Jill's referring to was when after both teams had had time on the pitch for practice and then gotten cleaned up, they'd posed for photographs, some of each individual team and some with both teams together, and ones of individual players and smaller group shots. They were told that after the match there will be another picture of the winning team taken. Everyone will get an option to buy whichever of the pictures they want and they can also buy the entire set of that's wanted instead.
"Do we get trophies or something?" Alexa Wenlock asks, joining them at the door. "I don't need one or anything but it would be cool if we did get something like that."
Marjani doesn't know if the winners of the individual tournament matches get trophies or not and doesn't know if there will be participation trophies or not. The only trophy she for sure knows of is the one for tournament champion and there's probably a smaller trophy for whichever other team plays in that championship match. She tells Alexa, "I don't know. Guess we'll find out after this match but if not, I can ask Dosie."
Right then Griet calls everyone together with a simple, "Time to line-up."
Neither Marjani nor Jill nor Alexa are starters this match so aren't in the lead of the double row of players. Marjani really wants to play in this game and hopes that all the hours of practicing how they're to do non time-out substitutions won't have been wasted, or that others get sent in but not her. She's understanding better the difficulty Dosie has in not playing favorites with Marjani but Marjani also knows that she's a darned good player and wants air time here in Sydney that's not practice related.
What seems like just seconds later, the doors of the locker room open wide and they can clearly hear the game's announcer beginning introductions of the Hogwarts team.
Marjani soon finds herself watching the match, impatient to get in there herself and then, disappointment when not all that long into the match the first goal is scored and it's not Hogwarts doing the scoring!
Go Hogwarts!
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 11-17-10 19:51
The Quidditch Pitch at Sydney's School of Wizardry was packed to the brim with spectators supporting both schools. The Hogwarts crew waved black flags and pennants emblazoned with the school crest, while the Australian fans did likewise with their own school colors.
Ethan sat in the middle of a crowd of Hogwarts students. Rosamond sat to his right, while her sister Aveline sat on her other side. The three adults had a great view of the action above the field, being seated at the halfway point between both ends of the Pitch. So far, to the disappointment of everyone at Hogwarts, the opposing team had already scored.
But, it was still early yet in the match and anything could happen.
Ethan's position in the stands not only afforded him a good look of the field, but he also had a view of Penn, who sat in the very front row of the same section of bleachers. That Penn and Meadow were relatives still surprised Ethan somewhat. He never would have made the connection on his own, though Ethan couldn't think of a reason why he would have ever had reason to do so.
Naturally, the relationship only worsened what Ethan felt about the Slytherin first year. If Meadow had always known his identity, or at least put two and two together at some point, then perhaps it was she who had set Penn upon him. It had occurred to Ethan that he could have verified whether or not Penn had cast the spell that had sliced open his back at that Dueling Club meeting by using Prior Incantato. It certainly wasn't too late to do so, but by now Penn would have cast several dozens of spells, if not more.
Also, Ethan didn't necessarily want Penn to know that his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher had some suspicions about him. Perhaps Penn already knew––Ethan was aware that he probably wasn't always very good at shielding his facial expressions––but perhaps Penn didn't have a clue. As usual when presented with a mystery, Ethan didn't want to prematurely tip off the person he was investigating in case information became lost to him as a result.
Now with Meadow in the mix, Ethan felt more intrigued by Penn than ever. He wondered what, if anything, his aunt had said about Ethan, and whether Penn was her puppet or if he had taken things into his own very capable hands.
"Ethan? Are you even paying attention?"
He blinked and shook his head as if to shake away his thoughts. Ethan turned to Rosamond and said, "Sorry. I drifted off for a moment."
"Well, it is the middle of the night," she teased him.
Ethan chuckled and focused on the players again, though the temptation to gaze down at Penn felt overwhelming. It shouldn't have today, however, because for once Penn seemed to show an interest in something other than dueling. Maybe there was some semblance of a normal boy in there somewhere.
Ethan picked up the pennant that had been resting in his lap and waved it wildly over his head in support of the Hogwarts team.
Whoops! That Wasn't The Plan (Alastor)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 11-17-10 21:35
For the Wenlock cousins on the Hogwarts Quidditch team - Alexa, Jill, Daniel, Alastor, Hadrian, and Deak - getting to come play against the Sydney's School of Wizardry team possibly has a little bit more meaning to them than to many of their teammates because cousin Dillane Darling is a Sydney's seeker. Having their two schools compete against each other has added to their excitement over the tournament.
For Alastor and Hadrian, that excitement increased even more upon learning they are both in the starting line-up for the match. Alastor is currently chasing down a bludger, dodging around three chasers and a seeker to get to it before Katandra Dingo. Since first meeting Katandra, Alastor has thought her extremely cute and rather interesting. The fact that she has flirted back is not stopping him now from flying all out to get to that black ball before he does.
Katandra gets there before him but because of where she's trying to send the bludger and because of where Alastor is, he's able to counter her move by intercepting the bludger and sending it in another direction. Unfortunately, this means it's not going where he needs it to, which is more or less the same way Katrandra had sent it. Alastor immediately starts after the bludger to get around in front of it so he can hit in like he needs. Of course, Katrandra will be there going after it again but as that's what beaters do, Alastor can't really get ticked that she's going to at least attempt something along the lines of what he just did. He just has to hope he'll get there first and hit the bludger in a way that makes it difficult for her to intercept it as quickly as he had just now.
Alastor races past the bludger, bringing his broom around to put him in position to hit it. He sights his target, arm swinging back. The bat connects with the bludger with that satisfying crack of a bat well centered on the ball. The bludger's course is reversed, sailing towards Sydney chaser Adam Beetson. To help him try and keep Katandra or the other Sydney beater, Invar Ostojic, from stopping the bludger before it reaches Adam, Alastor flies in right behind the bludger, peeling off only as it reaches where the chasers are clustered up.
He'd hit the bludger to where he looks as though Adam would be. The black ball is right on track for that but then Walter Wolowitz gets between where Adam is and the bludger. The bludger hits Walter's broom, does a weird rebound and still hits Adam though not where Alastor had intended. The bludger smacks Adam hard in the head and as most Quidditch players have been hit in the head with a bludger at some point, those who saw it could empathize, including Alastor.
At first, Adam seemed to shake it off but about a minute later he started listing to one side. Adam pulled away from the other chasers, signaling his coach. Alastor noticed that referee Greg Holland has seemed like he was about to blow his whistle but seeing Adam moving towards the sidelines, Referee Holland shifted his gaze to where Griet had just stolen the quaffle from Lakshmi Karuvila.
Alastor knew he should already be reaching that bludger again or be searching for the other but he finds himself watching Adam as the other boy reaches the sideline with another Sydney's chaser, Gillian something, comes into the game. Somewhat reassured now that if Adam's hit to the head caused serious damage, he'll soon have medical attention, Alastor shifts on his broom, angling around to get a better view of the pitch. Locating one of the bludgers, he darts after it, watching the action of the chasers out of the corner of his eye.
NOTE: The substitution is Gillian Vostokovich in for Adam Beetson on the Sydney's team.
Grumbling (Hadrian)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 11-18-10 10:21
Just after Griet stole the quaffle from Lakshmi Karuvila and Gillian Vostokovich had come in the came with Adam Beetson leaving it, the Hogwarts captain passed to Olive. Olive rocketed down the pitch with Sydney's chaser Walter Wolowitz in close pursuit. Walter keeps pace with Olive, reaching repeatedly across the small space between them, all somehow without causing a foul. Still, in the constant battle to prevent Walter from stealing the quaffle, Olive ends up losing her grip on it. Luckily, Hadrian is right there in Olive's other side, grabbing up the ball before it's gone far.
Hadrian leans low over his broom, pouring on the speed. Gillian is suddenly right there in front of him, forcing Hadrian to swerve. He swerves back the other way, rolling his entire body to one side to avoid getting kicked by the feet of Hogwarts seeker Christopher Chant, who's flying at a slightly elevated level in relation to Hadrian.
Hadrian straightens out his course only to jerk his broom handle hard left when he spots a bludger coming at him. He narrowly avoids getting hit but now he's got Gillian harassing him again. Spotting Griet with an opening, Hadrian throws the quaffle hard, passing off the ball. The quaffle has barely left his hand when there's a violent blow to the tail of his broom, causing the broom to veer sharply, buffeting Hadrian around before he's able to bring the broom back under control. Only now his broom seems sluggish and not as responsive.
Hadrian swivels around somewhat and looks behind him to see that his broom tail is now slightly off kilter. Grumbling at the damage caused by the unseen bludger, Hadrian makes for the sidelines where Coach Batuti, having spotted the problem as well has just started to signal Hadrian. With spare brooms available, Hadrian hopes he's not out for the rest of the match as Deak Bennett enters the match in Hadrian's place.
Note: The substitution is Deak Bennett in for Hadrian Rabnott on the Hogwarts team.
In The Stands (Eden)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 11-18-10 10:57
Sitting among a cluster of friends and relatives, Eden Jenkins cheers loudly for Hogwarts. Just over two hours ago, she'd been groggy from the sleep she'd been trying to get in before time to leave for the match. Eden has showered after supper and though she'd attempted going to bed early she was just too excited to fall asleep. She'd finally nodded off just after 11 pm only to have Marlow shaking her awake 40 minutes later. It took another 5 minutes for Eden to actually drag herself out of bed before shuffling to the bath to brush her teeth and comb her hair. Then, because Marlow pointed out that Eden wouldn't need the thick sweater she had on, Eden had pulled the sweater off, recombed her hair, dashed to her dorm room to deposit the sweater, and from there had rejoined Marlow and their roommates to wait in the common room for their turn to portkey to Sydney. Professor Miller left with the prefects, all of them going ahead to help any of the younger students who might arrive disoriented or in need of help. Also, Professor Miller could collect the portkey as each group arrived.
Eden had been nervous about touching the portkey the first year girls were to take. She'd never portkeyed before and had heard it's a really wierd feeling, like having your belly button pulled followed by the rest of you. It was definitely odd but sort of fun at the same time. When it was time for the first year girls to all grab hold of the portkey, which was nothing more than a Hogwarts pennant, Eden and the other first year Hufflepuff girls had grabbed hold. Professor Hodfuffer made sure each had a good hold so that when the actual departure time came and a blue light flared up from the portkey, he was assured that their group would all arrive together at the other school.
All of Eden's grogginess vanished as the portkey activated. In that almost instantaneous moment of leaving Hogwarts and arriving at Sydney's Eden went from groggy to giddy. She's felt wide awake since but knows it's just the excitement of being halfway around the world from home at a Quidditch match in a tournament that is the first of its kind.
Eden frowns as Hadrian, one of her cousins, has to leave the match because of a problem with his broom. The frown quickly turns to smiles and cheers again because her brother Alastor is still in the match and now her cousin Deak is. Waiting on the sidelines, hoping to get time in the match as well are cousins Jill, Alexa, and Daniel.
Making a very loud, "Oooooooooh!" as Griet goes in for a goal attempt only to have it blocked by Sydney's keeper Earl Gyngell, Eden fervently hopes that Hogwarts scores some goals soon and that it's a Hogwarts seeker who catches the snitch!
Giving It Another Go
Author: Griet
Date: 11-18-10 17:47
Disappointment clouded Griet's excitement when Earl Gyngell blocked her goal attempt, but the feeling was shortlived. Immediately, Griet charged after Gillian Vostokovich, to whom Earl had passed the quaffle when he'd put the red ball back into play.
Gillian slalomed through every obstacle put in front of her, until her own teammate, seeker Kimberly Prince, suddenly darted right in front of her as she chased after the golden snitch. Gillian slammed hard on the brakes, while Kimberly, having seen the pack's rapid approach out of the corner of her eye, became distracted enough to lose sight of the winged orb.
The slowdown allowed Deak to get near enough to Gillian to swipe the quaffle from her grip. Before Gillian could steal it back, he'd passed it to Griet. Griet immediately turned tail and zoomed back to where Earl fiercely guarded his hoops.
This time she was determined to score. With the help of Blake, who aimed a perfectly timed bludger at Earl, Griet shot for the left-most hoop. Earl started to move in that direction, but the bludger struck his outstretched arm, causing it to crack sickeningly.
Meanwhile, Griet's quaffle soared cleanly through the hoop. She pumped her fist into the air and shot a mega-watt smile at everyone supporting Hogwarts in the stands. Her family hadn't come, other than Cornelia and Aleydis who stood on the sidelines (Cornelia rather sullenly), and Beatrix, Sadie and Ramona, who sat in the stands. Although she couldn't spot them, she knew that Oberon and Gervaise were there too.
Earl retrieved the quaffle and tossed it at Lakshmi Karuvila. He wasn't favoring the arm that had gotten struck by Blake's bludger, nor did his face betray that his injury was as bad as it had sounded upon impact. Maybe it wasn't, or maybe he just didn't want to leave the match. At any rate, Griet didn't ponder on it for longer than a second. She took off after Lakshmi and tried to steal back the ball for another attempt at scoring.
Pointless
Author: Sage Porter
Date: 11-18-10 19:03
Sage is sitting with his arm around Georgia, sharing a massive blue candy floss with her and their friends around them. He nearly accidently had the whole thing dropping when he jumped up with a loud cheer when Griet Vanderbilt makes a goal, bringing the score to 10-10. Sage caught the candy floss at the last second, grinning at Georgia who grins back, her lips stained blue from the candy floss as his must be. Impulsively, he leans in for a quick kiss, tasting the sweetness of the candy floss on Georgia's lips. They grin at each other again then look back to the pitch where the Sydney's team is now working the quaffle down the pitch to where Gus Van Tassel guards the Hogwarts hoops.
Sage isn't really sure when he becomes aware that there's been a change in who's sitting on his other side. When it does sink in, he turns to look, somewhat surprised to see Euan Abercrombie. Noticing Sage looking over at him, Euan motions towards the stairs. "Can I talk to you a minute?"
"Yeah. Sure." Sage turns long enough to Georgia to hand her the candy floss. "Be back in a few. You want anything?"
"Lemonade, please."
"Will do."
Sage follow Euan to the nearest stairs. Once down on the ground, the roar of the crowd is still loud but is somewhat muffled. They walk a little ways from the stairs so as not to block it for anyone else coming or going. Euan starts by saying, "Sorry for pulling you away. I saw you here and wanted to let you know something."
"Sounds ominous."
"It's not. More like... I don't know. Annoying maybe? Stupid? Pointless for sure."
"So what is it?"
"My sister still thinks you are the great love that got away."
"How is that even possible when she's the one who dumped me?"
"I know, right? Anyway, she's started seeing someone and is making it very public. She thinks that will cause you be jealous and that the jealousy will make you realize you want her back."
"You were right about the pointless. I don't dislike her or anything like that but I'm over your sister. If she weren't so dead set on seeing Georgia and me break up, I'd like to think of her as a friend but right now, she's making even that impossible."
"I didn't want to bug you with this but thought you should know so that if she starts showing up where you are with this male eye candy on her arm, flaunting him around you, you'll understand why."
"Yeah, thanks."
"I'll let you get back to the match. Don't forget Georgia's lemonade."
Sage offers his hand to Euan. As they shake he says again, "Thanks," then says, "See you around. Maybe we should get a pick-up Quidditch match going sometime."
"Next weekend?"
"Works for me. I'll tell Jared and we'll pass the word."
"Owl me to let me know when and where."
They part ways with Sage going to the nearby refreshment stand for a lemonade and a butterbeer. The line is short so it's not long before Sage is sitting next to Georgia, cheering on Hogwarts and asking, "What did I miss?"