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Daniel & Hadrian
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-12-11 13:30
Just after Hogwarts pulls into the lead again, Daniel is sent in to take over keeper duties. Hunter high fives him as they pass each other, Hunter hating to leave but knowing he's been in a long time and someone else should have a turn. Daniel sprints to the Hogwarts goals, getting into position, ready to block whatever Danal de Magie Académie throws at him. Also being substituted is Kaden Bridger in as chaser with Clarence Mathis exiting the match.
Hugues has the quaffle and is looking for an opening to pass. Hugues, whose name Daniel was told is the equivalent of Hugh, throws to Kaden. Kaden catches it but doesn't have a good grip on the quaffle. He loses his handhold and Olive grabs it before Kaden can recover his fumble. Olive barely covers any distance when a bludger hit by Roberta Fieri causes her to also lose her hold on the ball. Amaruq is the one who gains possession, just barely beating Wiggy to it.
Amaruq drives in towards Daniel. He's not within optimal goal range. It's a hard throw with a lot of muscle behind it but with the further distance it has to cover Daniel's easily able to block. He stops the ball by catching it then has to wait a few seconds for a Hogwarts chasers to get reach that end of the pitch. That's just how far out Amaruq was from him when the chaser threw the quaffle. Daniel passes off to Mason, feeling a little heady from the adrenalin rush of now being fully part of this match.
Over on the platform, Hadrian cheers on not only his cousin but the entire team. Hadrian would dearly love a shot at playing today but he knows it's not going to happen unless some freak thing happens that disables enough of the other Hogwarts chasers that coach has no choice but to put him in. Yesterday morning in practice, Hadrian's left hand was smashed badly enough that five of the bones broke - three in his fingers, two in his hand. By the special trip yesterday afternoon , the Skele-Gro had taken effect well enough that Hadrian could go and enjoy himself but he was told he wasn't to play Quidditch for the rest of the weekend. Sucks but at least he's here and been able to participate in the practices and special events and is able to be on the platform now instead of stuck in a hospital bed or something.
Hadrian whoops loudly in support of Mason as the younger boy swooshes rapidly by pursued by both Hugues and Kaden. A bludger passes by closely enough that Hadrian instinctively draws back. The bludger is on an arcing path that's already taking it back over the playing field. Even though the bludger, which had been hit by Jade, hits Hugues, Hadrian empathetically flinches. Hugues doesn't slow but does rub his shoulder as he continues his efforts to get close enough to Mason to get the quaffle. Mason doesn't keep the quaffle much longer though, passing to Wiggy.
Wiggy in turn gets in close to Olive and hands off the ball. Olive rockets forward, low over her broom, quaffle tucked in close to her body. It's only when Hadrian sees Wiggy with his arm back, ball in hand that he sees that the pass was a faked hand off. Wiggy sends the quaffle to the hoop that June is furthest from. It looks like it's going to be good but a bludger hit by Marilee that was meant for Olive, by a stroke of good luck, collides with the quaffle knocking it off course. Mason, Wiggy, Kaden, and Hugues mass towards the quaffle at the same time. To no one's surprise really, this results in a four way collision and officials al Atrash and Herring blowing their whistles. Like everyone else in the stadium, Hadrian can do nothing but watch and wait to find out if anyone's hurt or if any foul or fouls will be called.
Jill
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-12-11 14:02
As bad as that four chaser collsion appeared, three emerge unscathed. Wiggy's knee is pretty banged up and by the time he reaches the Hogwarts platform his knee is visibly swelling. Jill goes in for him, glad to be getting her chance though sorry it had to be because Wiggy's hurt. Jill, being Jill, just before she reaches the other players can't help but think how she wouldn't mind sitting with Wiggy, helping him with an ice pack or something. As soon as she's to where Mason is preparing to take a foul shot Jill, again being Jill, is thinking how nice it would be to cozy up to Amaruq or Hugues. Or Jacques or Marcus. For that matter, there's also Danal students Nicholas and Logan, whom Jill had met Wednesday night. Glancing around at the packed stands, there are a few others Jill's met and a few others she's seen but doesn't know the names of whom she wouldn't mind having some time with either.
Mason makes the shot but June blocks it. With the game now going on around Jill, her thoughts turn to the game. She dashes in front of Kaden who'd gotten the quaffle from June and is now throwing to Hugues. With Jill literally in front of him now, Kaden alters the direction of his throw, sending the ball to Amaruq instead. Amaruq takes it and speeds away. Marilee has just hit one bludger while Mark's gotten to the other. The other two beaters, Jade and Alasie Irniq, who'd come into the came about the same time as Jill, are each trying to stop the bludgers sent by the other two. Jade's racing to reach the one hit by Marilee before it gets to Mason, who's making it difficult for Amaruq to pass. Alasie is moving around other players as if she's on an obstacle course, intent on reaching the bludger Mark's just hit.
Alasie reaches Mark's bludger but not before it knocks into Kaden's broom. She bats it but it's not the best of hits, sending the bludger wobbling crookedly. Instead of going to her target Olive it bumps Jill's calf. It's such a slight bump, a glancing blow at best, Jill hardly notices it. She's undeterred in getting in close to Hugues, to whom Amaruq has finally managed to pass the quaffle. Mark's gotten to that same bludger again and it now dings Amaruq right on the elbow of the arm holding the quaffle. It's not the hardest of hits but it gets him just right that his arm reflexively jerks and he loses the quaffle. With a grin, Jill steals, whips her broom around the other direction and accelerates away.
How Did I Miss That?
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 04-12-11 16:34
At roughly the same time Daniel had gone into the match, Christopher went in as well. Cornelia had been in a long while and had spotted the snitch a few times. She was doing her usual, efficient, single minded best but Coach Batuti decided it was time to give someone else a turn. Cornelia looked none too happy but holds her tongue knowing it could affect her chances at getting back into this match or playing in the next one.
Christopher listens more to the game than watches it. It's fun to watch of course but now that he's in the match as Hogwarts seeker, his watching the action is during those times when he takes a break from the methodical pattern he's flying to sit still for a moment, eyes scanning for any movement that might be the snitch. It's one such moment that he spots the other team's seeker. Christopher's brow furrows wondering how the hell he missed the fact that Armand LaPierre has come in for Ciara Stanton.
Returning to the task at hand, Christopher runs a hand over his face, brushing hair in need of cutting from his eyes, wondering what else he might have missed. As he flies, he looks from side to side, taking in everything around him, noting who's playing and each and every time remembering exactly when each person began playing. For the life of him he just can't place when Armand did and never heard it announced. All Christopher can think is that it was pretty much the same time as he entered and he was so focused on getting his search going that he temporarily blocked everything else.
Christopher looks to his right and none too soon. He jerks back as a bludger goes by where his head had just been. That would have hurt and maybe resulted in him having to leave the match if the bludger and his head had had a meeting of the mind. Continuing his forward search, head slowly turning from side to side, eyes scanning all around his field of vision, Christopher listens as the announcer does a play by play of a Danal drive in to the hoops. He pauses to turn and look, a smile breaking out when Daniel rebuffs another goal attempt.
Moving again, Christopher can't help marvel as he did both days in practice at how without the sunlight bright in the cavern, there are less accidental false snitch sightings. The inside foil of candy and crisps wrappers don't glint misleading. There's no play of light across jewelry and watch faces. There are shiny things that do catch the artifical light in here but nothing like the tricks of the eye that sunlight can cause.
All this means that when Christpher sees something glimmery and shiny skipping along across the pitch far below, he's pretty sure it's the snitch. Going into a dive, Christopher hopes Armand hasn't yet spotted it.
Into The Fray (Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 04-12-11 20:42
Itching to get into the match, Basil literally hurls himself off the platform the second Theodosia Batuti tells him to go in for Mark Farnon. In his usual aggressive style Basil races to the nearest bludger, jaw set, bat back, eyes on Kaden Bridger. The bludger takes Kaden on the arm just as the Canadian chaser is reaching to pluck the quaffle from Jill.
Olive moves just ahead of Jill, accepting a pass. Jade has just missed out getting one of the bludgers, Alasie Irniq getting there first. Basil, eyes narrowed, rockets forward, swerving around a couple of the chasers, to get to the bludger Alasie's just hit. Jade meanwhile has reached the other one, sending the black ball into the middle of Hugues Crespelle's back. Basil's bludger slams into Amaruq Uyarasuk. Basil had only meant to hit Amaruq around the shoulders but got him in the head instead. It's a really hard hit, dazing Amarug. Basil has no remorse that he's injured the other player though he does feel a little bad that it wasn't in the way he intended.
Amaruq ends up leaving the game with Hugues's sister or cousin, Basil isn't sure which other than knowing the two are related. A foul that allows for a foul shot to be taken had been called as well so Virginie Crespelle accepts the quaffle to take the shot for Amaruq. It's a good throw but Daniel easily blocks. Olive now has it and the Hogwarts chasers begin moving the quaffle back cown the pitch.
Basil starts to send his next bludger at Virginie but it looks like Danal seeker Armand LaPierre has spied the snitch. No one else has noticed yet and by the time they do, Basil's bludger has crossed Armand's path, forcing the seeker to slow or be hit. In those few seconds the snitch is off again. Armand shoots Basil a scowl then resumes searching for the winged ball.
Smirk on his lips, Basil goes after that same bludger. This time it's with thoughts of smacking it at Hugues, not because the chaser is being a particular problem to the Hogwarts chasers at the moment but simply because Basil can't stand the name Hugues.
Basil in for Mark. Virginie Crespelle in for Amaruq Uyarasuk.
(Gus) Confusion
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 04-13-11 02:13
Gus kept looking at Coach Batuti wondering when it would be his turn to play. As if she was reading his thoughts she called him and told him to replace Daniel. Gus flew immediately to the hoops' area, studying the pitch around him.
He tried to ignore the cries of his fans, not only the Hogwarts' ones but also the Danal girls. But his father always told him not to be rude to people so he waved to the audience. Coach Batuti didn’t seem to like this gesture because soon she was telling him to focus on the match or she would take him out of the pitch and he would be the player who had been less time at a pitch in all the quidditch history.
In order to avoid that, Gus paid attention to the match. Olive, Manson and Jill were doing a very good job with the quaffle, and the Danal chasers seemed to have difficulty to regain it for them. Unfortunately Hugues Crespelle had managed to block the pass between Olive and Jill. But he didn’t keep the quaffle for long because a bludger with Basil’s signature made him drop the red ball that fell into Manson’s hands.
It took a while until the Danal chasers managed to fly into the Hogwarts’ side of the pitch. When that happened Gus was in position, ready to defend his hoops.
Unfortunately he had troubles spotting the quaffle because of the massive amount of players in front of him. Not only the chasers and a couple of beaters but it seemed that the Danal seeker Armand LaPierre decided to join the party. Maybe he was after the snitch and probably Christopher thought the same because he went after Armand.
The place was a confusion and Gus had lost the quaffle for a moment. But not for very long, soon he spotted it flying to his right. Unfortunately he didn’t reach there in time and soon the Danal students were celebrating at the bleachers. Only later Gus managed to identify Virginie Crespelle as the author of the goal.
Frustrated and ready to blame everyone else for his failure, he watched the Hogwarts' chasers flying away with the quaffle once again dominating the match.
Going In (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 04-13-11 11:09
In the roughly twenty minutes since the Canadian team tied the score yet again, there's been a great deal of back and forth with the quaffle, bludgers whizzing all around, two spottings of the snitch, and exciting game play all around. Caerwyn was starting to think that the snitch would be caught before he had a turn but now he's going in with Jade coming out. As he's flying across the pitch, Caerwyn sees that the Danal keeper June is flying towards that team's platform. He listens for the announcement of who's taking over as keeper. Jacques Poisson.
Coming up on a bludger, Caerwyn already got a target in mind. Virginie Crespelle. She's got the quaffle at the moment. Caerwyn swings his arm back and gives the bludger a solid, thwacking blow. He watches briefly as it soars away then lays low over his broom to sprint to where he sees the other bludger. Alasie Irniq beats him to it through so Caerwyn hastily alters course to go in pursuit of that bludger once it's clear of Alasie's bat.
A Hogwarts chaser zooms by him just then. Jill and she's got the quaffle. Either his bludger to Virginie causes her to lose it or it allowed Jill to steal. Though, then again, maybe Virginie was passing the quaffle and Jill intercepted. Caerwyn shrugs. Doesn't matter that he didn't see and wasn't listening to what the announcer was saying. All that matters is that Jill has it now.
And now Mason has it. Jill's passed it off and Mason's rocketing around Kaden Bridger to reach where Jacques now tends the Danal hoops. Mason shoots. Jacques blocks. It's Olive on the rebound and immediately throwing the quaffle again. Jacques blocks again, sending the quaffle to Hugues Crespelle.
With another Danal target begging to be hit by a bludger, Caerwyn swings his bat back at one of the hard, black balls, all to happy to oblige.
Alexa & Alastor
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 04-13-11 13:35
For once Alastor is not irate to not have already had a chance to play in this IQT match against Danal de Magie Académie. This trip had been going great. Alastor had been having an excellent time but when he got up this morning his head was hurting. He took a potion for it at breakfast but not only didn't it help, the headache has grown increasingly worse as the day has gone one. By the time the quaffle was first being tossed into the air, marking the start of the match, Alastor felt worn out. With it being a full blown migraine he's glad of the fact that the match is indoors. Having a sun glaring, as it is outside today, playing off the vast expanse of white out there, the pain would be even worse. Alastor would have to have sun glasses on just to be able to sit on the platform if the pitch weren't in this awesome cavern. Alastor hadn't said anything to the adults on the trip, especially not to Coach Batuti but about 30 minutes into the match she'd come over and asked him what was wrong. He'd downplayed it, saying it was just a little headache. Alastor didn't want her thinking he'd be incapable of playing. He was and is willing to play if the team needs him. Like most Quidditch fanatics, Alastor would play with broken bones if need be. Luckily for him though none of the other Hogwarts beaters are injured or seem to be sick or in any sort of pain that he can tell. It's meant that while the coach might like to play as many members of the team as possible, she doesn't HAVE to use Alastor.
Alexa hands Alastor something to drink. He looks curiously at it. "Something for the head," she tells him. Professor Isuki said to give it to you."
"How did she know?"
Alexa shrugs. "No idea."
Alastor accepts the drink and chugs it, making a face at the chalky aftertaste. "Thanks."
"Alexa! In for Olive!"
Alexa grins. "Gotta go. Feel better!"
"Run up the score."
"Will do my best," she says, moving quickly away to let Coach Batuti know she's heard and going in.
Danal had called a time out and since they'd had possession of the quaffle Alexa moves into a position to cover Virginie as Hugues puts the quaffle back into play. It goes to Kaden who then tosses it back to Hugues. Alexa joins in the pursuit of Hugues, repeatedly putting herself in between Hugues and Virginie. This pays off when Hugues goes to pass to Virginie but Alexa intercepts. She wheels around in an arc, flying back the other way.
A bludger cuts across her path but it's far enough in front that she doesn't need to slow to avoid it. Alexa pours on the speed, Kaden and Virginie both right on her heels. Her eyes cut to one side, sees an opening, and passes the quaffle. Alexa pulls a face when it's obvious the second she lets go that it's a bad pass. Kaden snatches the ball mid-pass and just as Alexa had done seconds ago, wheels around in an arc and darts away.
Kaden makes a long pass to Hugues who closes in on Gus. Hugues prepares to throw, attempting to fake a shot to his right - Gus's left - when he's really throwing straight towards the center hoop. Gus sees this and has the block until a bludger smashes into his side, knocking Gus off balance. The quaffle goes through the hoop and for the first time in the match Danal leads.
The score is now 40 Danal, 30 Hogwarts.
Marjani Goes In
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 04-13-11 14:19
Shortly after Danal scores its fourth goal Marjani goes in for Mason. She was starting to think Dosie was mad at her again or had forgotten her but then she remembered once more that Zuberi had said about Dosie trying hard not to let anyone think she's showing favoritism to her sister. Marjani supposes that it means at times Marjani will have to suffer. And waiting to get into the match definitely constitutes suffering in Marjani's book.
Alexa has the quaffle and Marjani is trying to get ahead so she can accept a pass but Kaden Bridger keeps getting right in front of her. Marjani scowls, puts her broom into a slightly angled dive, ducks her head as she passes under Kaden's feet, then almost immediately goes into a climb, levels off and is now in front of Kaden.
That's when the bludger hits her on the shoulder.
Marjani sighs, rubbing her shoulder, but doesn't slow down. It wasn't a bad hit but it does sting. She's ready when the quaffle does come her way, tucking it in close and increasing speed even more. Virginie is so eager for her team to regain possession, she nearly rams into Marjani trying to steal the quaffle away. Marjani thought that might elicit a blown whistle and a foul called but when neither happens she figures that from their respective positions right then, none of the three referees could see exactly what Virginie did.
Marjani gives a mental shrug. No matter. Virginie didn't get the quaffle and Marjani is closing in on the hoops where June Jacobs awaits. From Marjani's other side Sara Everette, who'd come into the match as the same time Marjani did, moves in to try to hamper Marjani. A bludger from Basil has her pulling back though.
Marjani is in the perfect throwing range for a goal... or perfect for her anyway. She sets the shot and lets the quaffle soar, holding her breath only to let it out in an exasperated sigh as the quaffle hits the rim. Jacques didn't have to do a thing, though he had tried of course. Hogwarts gets it on the rebound, shoots again but again a rebuffed, rebounded shot. Sara has it for Danal now so Marjani pivots her broom around and races after the Danal chasers, more than ready to steal the quaffle back asap.
Deak Gets To Play
Author: Kody
Date: 04-13-11 15:41
Going in at the same time as Marjani, with Jill exiting the match, is Deak. He'd hoped to go in before now even though his shoulder's aching somewhat. It's not bad but he thinks he did something in practice yesterday or maybe on the sight seeing trip. It's a dull muscle ache so he doesn't think it's anything major. It's more annoying than anything else with a slight amount of discomfort. He'll be sure to see about it after the match, especially now that he's in the game and using those muscles.
Sara Everette had made it almost to mid-pitch before she passed off to Virginie Crespelle, who had in turn immediately thrown long to Kaden Bridger. Jade got a well timed bludger in there causing Kaden to lose his grip on the quaffle before he had time to get a good hold. Alexa snatched up the red ball and started back to where Jacques Poisson guards the three Danal hoops.
Alexa now throws to Deak, who scans for Marjani only to spot a bludger on an intercept course with him. He barrel rolls, sees Marjani and lets the quaffle drop into her waiting hand. Upright once more, Deak streaks forward, ready to retake the quaffle should Marjani need to do a hand off.
Alexa moves in on one side of Marjani and with Deak just ahead of them they make short work of getting the quaffle withing goal range again. It's Marjani who takes the shot. Jacques blocks with Sara grabbing it. He hurls it to Kaden but Deak intercepts. Alexa's nearest to the hoops and in the most clear but Deak can't get turn the right way for a good throw to her so he ends up doing a backhanded toss to Marjani who then passes to Alexa.
Alexa takes the shot. Basil assists with a bludger and though Jacques's fingers brush the quaffle, causing it to hit the rim, the quaffle still passes through! The score stands tied once more at 40 points apiece.
Deak's in for Jill. Hogwarts made a goal. Score: 40-40
Waiting No More (Glori)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 04-13-11 16:22
After waiting and waiting and waiting, Gloriaspasiana goes in wit Gus Van Tassel coming out. Glori hates the waiting but she does far prefer it over not getting to play at all. Just think if no substitutions were allowed and only seven people got to play per match. And worse would be if the team only had seven people at all. Glori is certain she wouldn't be on the IQT team at all if that were the case. Too many with more experience playing for her to have made a cut of only seven when members of all four houses were trying out.
At least with all sort of patient waiting the match has been a long one and an exciting one to boot. Or at least Glori thinks so.
Parked in front of the center hoop, just slightly to the right, Glori stares down at the other end of the pitch. The Canadians had been within goal when Deak plucked the quaffle right out of Sarah Everette's hand. He'd gotten off a pass to Alexa before a bludger from Alasie Irniq clobbered him on a shoulder. It didn't look like a massive blow but in the couple of minutes it's taken Alexa, Marjani, and Deak to get the ball back the other way, Deak seems to be rubbing that shoulder a lot. Or maybe it just seems that way to Glori because of how every time she looks at him, if he does't have the quaffle in hand, he's rubbing that shoulder.
Marjani throws for a goal but Jacques Poisson stops it. Kaden takes possession, throws to Virginia only for the pass to fall short. It's Deak who gets it, almost immediately throwing for another goal. Another block. Now Sarah Everette has it again and is shooting back this direction. Virginie Crespelle passes her up and as she looks back, Sarah lobs her the quaffle.
Jade hits Virginie with a bludger, which has Virginie dropping the quaffle down to Kaden. Basil is sending a bludger at him but Marilee Sataa gets in front of it and sends it at Alexa instead. Meanwhile, Kaden's moving closer and is now passing off to Sara. She gets stopped by a bludger. Basil had gone after the one that had connected with Virginie and sent it Sara's way.
Glori watches on as for the next seven or eight minutes the quaffle keeps getting turned over. Hogwarts got it from Danal but before being able to shift back down to Jacques Danal took it back. Then Danal didn't get very far towards Glori before Deak, Alexa, and Marjani, with Jade's and Basil's help stopped them. Finally, Kaden breaks away, dodging a bludger by Basil. Marjani zooms in to try for a steal but she's hit by a bludger from Alasie. Kaden gets closer and closer with the other chasers nearing as well. At the last moment, Kaden passes off to Virgnie who chucks the ball at the hoop on Glori's left. Glori dives with hands outstretched and bats the quaffle away.
Sara catches it and throws again, hoping that Glori hasn't had time to recover only her angle is off and the quaffle comes straight back to Glori. This time she catches it to her chest, waits for the Hogwarts chasers to get better positions then throws the quaffle over to Deak. Then it's watching Hogwarts start moving the quaffle down pitch again and more waiting on Glori's part for any more Danal goal attempts.
(Aleydis) Going for the Gold
Author: Griet
Date: 04-13-11 18:58
Just when Aleydis thought that she wouldn't get a chance to play in the match against Danal de Magie Académie, Professor Batuti signaled for Christopher to return to the platform. As the only Hogwarts seeker not yet to play against the Canadian school of magic, Aleydis was asked to enter the game. She mounted her old Firebolt broomstick and lifted off, wasting no time in searching for the golden snitch.
First, she darted a glance at Armand LaPierre to see whether or not he spotted the target they both wanted to catch. She noted his movements and his position, but he didn't appear to see anything just then.
Aleydis flew quite a distance away from him, alternating between scanning the Pitch up, down, left and right and catching a glimpse of Armand as he did his own brand of systematic snitch searching. The good thing about playing Quidditch in a totally enclosed area like a cavern was the sunlight couldn't play tricks on a seeker's eyes. There wouldn't be a glint of gold reflecting off a piece of jewelry or a flash when sunlight hit the glass of omnioculars a certain way.
At most, foil wrappers might be of some distraction, but the Canadians didn't seem to be the litter bugs their British counterparts were.
Excepting the sheer size of the Quidditch Pitch, it should be relatively easy to find the snitch, thought Aleydis to herself. But if that were really true, then someone would have caught it by now.
It had been seen a few times already, so that was something at least. And seeing it and catching it really were two diferent things, after all.
It took Aleydis a long moment to realize that her thoughts were blinding her to what was in front of her face. Straight ahead, maybe a quarter length of the Pitch away, was a speck of gold. The snitch hovered in place, its filmy wings fluttering wildly.
Aleydis began moving in its direction, but Armand came out of nowhere. He breezed past her and reached out for the snitch with one hand open.
"No, no, no! I saw it first!" Aleydis called out, fighting desperately to catch up with him.
She ignored whatever the announcer was saying. Some of it was in French, anyway, because the announcer was too darn excited to remember to speak English for the benefit of the English-speaking guests.
Armand got within an arm's-length of the snitch when it finally moved. It flew straight down, avoiding Armand, who flew to quickly and couldn't immediately adjust his course. Aleydis, however, was far enough behind that she could make the dive and meet the snitch as it went down, down, down.
She wrapped her hand around it before it got too near to the ground, giving her enough room to pull up and avoid crashing. With a big grin on her face, she held up the golden snitch.