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Gryffindor vs Slytherin
Author: Ella
Date: 01-24-12 07:21
The day of the first match of the Quidditch season had finally arrived. Ella, clad in her Gryffindor uniform and standing in the locker room, turned to face each of her six teammates.
"Well, this is it. The most anticipated match of the school year, if you don't count the championship match, that is."
There were smiling faces all around. Last year had been great fun, visiting different schools in different countries and playing Quidditch against different teams. But the inter-house matches were somehow more thrilling, especially with the longstanding rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
"We've practiced really hard and I definitely think we're ready to take on Slytherin. I would say we're evenly matched."
"We're totally better!" Blake exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "Everybody knows that."
"Let's prove it, then," Ella said, mirroring his smile. "Let's go out there and win."
They piled their hands together and shouted, "GO GRYFFINDOR!"
Soon thereafter, the doors to the locker room flew open. The seven Gryffindor players mounted their broomsticks and burst onto the scene to lots of cheering and a little bit of booing. The announcer identified each team, starting with Gryffindor:
"Hunter Green as keeper, Charisma Stone as seeker, Captain Ella Harville and Blake Holloway as beaters, and Co-captain Julietta Wynbourne, Marjani Batuti and Hunter Rabnott as chasers."
Followed by Slytherin:
"Gus van Tassel as keeper, Captain Cornelia Vanderbilt as seeker, Co-captain Mark Farnon and Basil Wynbourne as beaters, and Olive Green, Alexa Wenlock, and Mason Jeffers as chasers."
After a few circuits around the pitch, Ella and Cornelia touched down and met at the middle, where Viktor Krum stood with the trunk of game balls at his feet.
"I vant a nice, clean game," he said to them.
Ella thrust out her hand to Cornelia, who sneered at it before squeezing it with her own.
"Good luck, Ella. You're going to need it," Cornelia said.
"We'll see about that, Cornelia," Ella responded. She took her hand back and mounted her broomstick again.
As soon as everybody was in the air once more, Viktor released the balls. He started with the two black bludgers, one of which nearly hit Basil in the face right at the start. Then Viktor released the golden snitch. It seemed to disappear almost instantly.
Finally, Viktor tossed the quaffle into the air. Etta snatched it before anybody else could lay a hand on it. She soared away from the pack, eager to put distance between herself and the others. Gus, still a bit far from all the action, nevertheless readied himself for Etta's approach.
Olive and Alexa were quick to catch up and positioned themselves on either side of her. Etta made quick work debating what to do next and dropped the quaffle straight down. It landed in Marjani's open arms, but she only had the ball for a second, thanks to Mark's bludger. It struck the quaffle dead-on, knocking it from Marjani's grasp.
Marjani and Etta scrambled to recover the ball, but it was Alexa who managed to catch it. She immediately turned her broomstick around and rushed in the opposite direction. Ella, meanwhile, intercepted the bludger Mark had used to cause the turnover and aimed it at Cornelia when it seemed like she had spotted something interesting. Cornelia flinched only momentarily, but it was enough for her to lose sight of whatever she had seen.
Alexa, in the meantime, had passed the quaffle to Mason. Mason passed it overhand to Olive, who quickly handed it back to Alexa. The red ball flew from hand to hand until Mason had it in his grasp again. He was in scoring range by now and attempted a goal, only to have Hunter catch the quaffle.
Hunter G. put it back into play via Hunter R. At the same time, Ella reached a nearby bludger and used it to distract Mason from attempting to steal the quaffle back. Mason managed to avoid the bludger, but just barely. The black ball grazed his arm but didn't do any damage.
Ella started to go after the same bludger, but Basil was nearer to it and would most likely use it on Hunter Rabnott. Ella, instead, moved to position herself between them to protect her teammate and to hopefully keep the quaffle in Gryffindor's possession.
Elevating A Mood (Basil)
Author: Jared
Date: 01-24-12 18:07
Nearly getting a nose job from a bludger before the match even began did not put Basil in the best frame of mind. He's hoping that with Etta on the opposing team there will be plenty of opportunities to smack her with a bludger, which in turn will elevate his mood.
Gryffindor has had the quaffle since that first goal attempt made by Slytherin minutes into the game. Gryffindor has made two of its own goal attempts with Gus Van Tassel deftly deflecting the ball each time. Unfortunately, both those times a Gryffindor chaser was able to take possession of the quaffle. At least between the Slytherin chasers, Mark Farnon and Basil, the other team has only been able to make two attempts so far.
Basil cuts off Blake Holloway to get to one of the bludgers. He hits the ball on an angel to get the trajectory on it he wants, aiming for Etta's back seconds after she's accepted the quaffle from Marjani Batuti. He grins as the black ball hits her square, the force of it knocking air from her lungs. Etta's distraction of getting hit from behind allows Alexa to dart in and steal the quaffle.
Alexa wheels her broom around, sprinting down the pitch. Spotting the other bludger, Basil accelerates for it but Ella reaches it first. Undeterred, Basil shoots forward to intercept, figuring Ella is aiming for Alexa. He figures correctly, hitting the bludger away from Alexa then going after it again. He gets in front of it, turning his broom as he does, to better aim at one of the Gryffindor chasers. He'd love to send the bludger at Etta again but as it's Hunter who's harassing Alexa, that's who he aims for.
Alexa passes to Mason, who has Etta flanking him. Grinning again at having what to anyone watching the game would consider to be a legitimate reason to knock another bludger at his cousin, Basil hurries to reach another of the hard black balls, thinking how nice it would be if he could take Etta out of the game.
That Boy Is Seriously Warped (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 01-24-12 18:59
Taking yet another bludger hit courtesy of Basil, Etta suppresses a sigh. His targeting her every chance he gets is something she did not miss in the slightest last term. As Etta does not care much for her cousin, it's fine with her if he doesn't like her either. What she doesn't get is why, exactly, Basil loathes her to the point that he's gleeful every time he knows he's inflicted pain on her with a bludger. He doesn't get that happy when sending a bludger after others so Etta knows it's personal. There's a huge difference between loving the position you play and loving to purposely hurt another player. To her, it's just another example of Basil being a deeply and seriously flawed individual.
The latest bludger hit came just as Etta was reaching to intercept a pass between Mason Jeffers and Olive Green. The quaffle gets by her and Olive tucks it in close, zipping away with Marjani Batuti hot on her heels. Etta joins the pursuit while simultaneously trying to prevent Mason from getting into a position to either assist or to retake possession of the ball.
Olive is nearing the Gryffindor guarded hoops, Hunter Green on alert. Olive looks as though she's going to take the shot but at the last second she passes to Alexa. Alexa drives in, letting the quaffle fly towards the hoop at Hunter's left. He has to stretch to get it but is able to kick the quaffle away. Etta vies with Mason for the rebound but she can't get a good grip on the ball.
Mason immediately shoots, throwing the quaffle more towards center. Hunter has the block until Mark pops him with a bludger in the shoulder. It's just enough to allow the quaffle to squeak past the Gryffindor keeper. The stands erupt as the first goal of the match is made by Slytherin.
No Time To Celebrate (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 01-25-12 16:10
First match of the term and Slytherin makes the first goal. Better still, Mason scored that goal. He'd love to take a moment and bask in the glow, give himself a few pats on the back and accept any others might want to give but as he can't really expect the match to come to an absolute stand still just because he put ten points on the scoreboard, Mason quickly moves into position to guard Marjani. Hunter passes off but it's to Hunter who tucks the quaffle in close as he veers around Alexa, who's hoping to steal, and Basil, who's going after a bludger.
The six chasers are now flying in the direction of Slytherin's keeper. Even though they still have a ways to fly to get there, Gus is already alert and at the ready. Hunter is looking to hand off the quaffle, eyes going to Marjani. She's trying to jockey around Mason to be in a better position to catch the ball should Hunter throw it to her. At the same time Alexa is jockeying to prevent Hunter from getting off a clean throw.
Hunter ends up passing to his other side when he sees Etta has an opening. No sooner does he make the throw then Olive is in between Etta and him, intercepting the quaffle. She pulls a hard 180 to head back the other way but before she's fully around Ella gets off an bludger that catches Olive on the arm. She ends up dropping the quaffle. Mason and Marjani race at breakneck speed to catch it.
Mason gets his fingers on the ball a split second before Marjani but his grip is tentative at best. She moves in to plunk it from his hand only to snatch her own hand back thanks to a bludger from Mark. That added second allows Mason to more firmly hold onto the quaffle. He pulls away, putting his broom into a climb, leveling off when he reaches the same level that he'd been on just before diving after the ball.
Now heading back towards Hunter, Mason would like nothing more than to get off another successful goal shot.
Tied Score, Still No Snitch
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 01-25-12 18:02
The first match of the season, further intensified by the rivalry between the two houses that were on the pitch today – Gryffindor and Slytherin – and there had been a long standing feud between the houses going back to the founding of Hogwarts. Charisma, currently was hovering above the chaos on the pitch, searching for that glimmering, wing'd ball that would net the individual's team that caught it one hundred and fifty points. The cold wasn't entirely helping either, but she was glad for her new set of gloves that she'd gotten from her Mum when she'd come during the Fall Festival.
At the moment Mason had the quaffle and the score was ten points in Slytherin's favor. Mason was shooting toward the Gryffindor hoops being guarded by Hunter Green. He attempted to make a pass to Alexa, but thanks to a well aimed bludger from Blake that intercepted the quaffle's trajectory changed and it was quickly caught by Marjani who, after a quick 180 took off toward the Slytherin goal hoops guarded by Gus Van Tassel.
A quick pass to Hunter got the quaffle closer and closer to the goal hoops, before he would pass it toward Etta, the co-captain of the Gryffindor team. She took the shot, and with only minor fake, sending Gus in the wrong direction she sent the quaffle through the right most hoop. Gus' block attempt failed only by mere centimeters his fingers passing just under the big red ball. "And the score is tied ten to ten from the goal scored by Julietta Wynborne."
The Gryffindor section exploded into cheers and applause.
Within moments the quaffle was back into play in the hands of Slytherin chaser Olive Green who was rapidly heading toward the goals to attempt to put Slytherin back in the lead once more. There was another attempted pass between Olive to Mason, and this one unfortunately for beater Ella who had tried to deflect the ball from it current path with a well aimed bludger, made it into Mason's hands. He tucked the ball to him once more and darted toward that trio of hoops guarded by Hunter Green.
Isma flicked her gaze toward Cornelia who was currently scouting the pitch opposite her, and sighed lightly, hoping that she would be the one to catch the snitch this time, and propel Gryffindor to their first win of the season, and she knew that Cornelia wanted to be the one to catch the snitch and have Slytherin win the first match of the season. She continued her sweep of the pitch, continued canvassing the expanse of the pitch for the glimmering golden ball. She lost track of the match beneath her, lost track of everything going on around her as she thought she'd seen the glimmering ball, but it was gone before she could find it again.
(Mark) Slytherin Possession
Author: Isolde
Date: 01-25-12 18:40
Mark didn't like the fact that Gryffindor had already managed to tie up the match. Granted, it was still very early in the game and anything could happen. For his part, Mark hoped that Slytherin left Gryffindor behind in the dust!
He shot a quick glance at the crowd in the stands. He knew that Kate was cheering him on, wherever she was. Was she sitting with the rest of the gang in the Slytherin stands, or was she sitting with her fellow Hufflepuffs, most likely the only one cheering for Slytherin to win.
Slytherin currently had possession of the quaffle. Mark expended his efforts in defending his chasers from the Gryffindor beaters' bludgers and by attacking the Gryffindor chasers as they tried stealing the quaffle for themselves. Simultaneously, he kept glancing at the Gryffindor seeker to make sure she hadn't spotted the snitch.
Mason passed the quaffle back to Olive, narrowly avoiding the bludger that had just streaked past him, courtesy of Ella. Olive dived, finding her way blockaded by Marjani and Etta, and accelerated to put as much distance between herself and the others as possible.
Mark, meanwhile, rushed at one of the bludgers, intending to aim it at Hunter, who had managed to catch up with Olive. WHACK! The ball struck the bat hard and sent vibrations all the way up Mark's arm. The bludger nicked Hunter's thigh but didn't distract him from harassing Olive.
Olive looked for an out and found on in Alexa, who'd appeared at just the right time. Alexa accepted the quaffle and sped off, quickly reaching the goal hoops. She let the quaffle fly, only to have Hunter send it back to her with the bristles of his broomstick. Alexa tried again, but Hunter batted the quaffle away with his hand.
This time, Etta caught the ball on the rebound. She immediately turned around and set off, but Mark sent a bludger at her, striking her carrying arm. Etta loosened her hold on the ball but didn't drop it. She didn't get very far before Mason stole the quaffle back for Slytherin.
At The Quidditch Match
Author: Kissy Isuki
Date: 01-25-12 19:56
As long as Kissy has been aware of Quidditch at Hogwarts, the first match of each fall term has been between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Until now she's never wondered if this pattern goes all the way back to the introduction of quidditch to the school. She'd ask Declan if he knows but at the moment he's sitting a little further down from where she is with his parents who are visiting today and tomorrow. Kissy casts a glance around for Karma, wondering if the other Hogwarts history professor would know but doesn't immediately spot her.
Sitting next to her Ethan Somerset asks, "Who are you looking for?"
"Karma, but I don't see her."
"I would have sworn I saw her a few minutes ago," he says, swiveling around.
"It's not important. I had a history of quidditch question for Declan or her."
"What's the question?"
"Since the introduction of the game to Hogwarts, has the first match of term always been between Gryffindor and Slytherin?"
"Good question, and one I don't have an answer for."
Following the game's action as referee, Viktor Krum passes by their section of stands just then. Ethan nods in the other man's direction. "Viktor might know. Ask him after the match."
"I might do that. You two are good friends. How is he doing?"
"He says he's fine but I don't buy that for a second. Viktor blames himself for not stopping what happened."
"But he didn't know that man was so far gone. He'd visited Theodosia a few times but had never given any indication he'd gone mental, at least not that she ever mentioned that I know of."
"It's not the first time he was unable to stop a murder right in front of him. I'm sure he's had a few flashbacks."
Kissy only knows a little about what Ethan is alluding to and though she'd like to ask more, now really isn't the time or place. Instead, she asks, "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. Each day is a little better and having Lilly definitely helps."
"Speaking of, where is your gorgeous girl today?"
"She'd being doted on by grandparents. So... did you decide to have that procedure?"
"I keep chickening out. I very much want a child, to be a mum, but there's a little nagging voice that keeps reminding me I don't have to rush into anything, that I might very well meet someone within the next year or two to start a family with."
"That little voice has a very good point."
"Yes, well don't tell my parents that or you will get an earful about how I am thirty and soon no man will want me to bear his children because of how I will be such an old maid. Oh, and then you would get an earful from my mum about how you are single and very nice looking and don't you want someone to help you with Lilly, to do your cooking for you, "
"Darn my socks?" Ethan laughs.
Kissy deadpans, "You've already had this conversation with my mum then, have you?"
"When next you speak with Karma, maybe you should ask her mum to set you up on Magical Match dates like she's done for Karma," Ethan not so helpfully, and very jokingly, suggests.
"Oooooh, great idea! I will definitely do that! First though, I am thinking hot chocolate. Would you like some as well?"
"Yes, please, with whipped cream. Thank you."
Kissy flashes Ethan a grin as she gets up, joining in the cheers for an excellent pass just made over the pitch. A short time later she returns not only with the hot chocolate but also a bowl of sliced apples over which gooey warm caramel has been drizzled, which she of course offers to share with Ethan.
(Gus) So Far So Good
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 01-26-12 03:24
When Gus saw Etta was the one with the quaffle he sort of wished she would face him so this time he could defend her goal attempt. The fact that she scored so soon had annoyed him. But a bludger from Mark and then Mason's interception made the Slytherin chaser recover the quaffle.
Gus watched as he flew into the Gryffindor's hoops and he hoped he would score again. But instead he passed the quaffle to Alexa who didn't seem to have anyone covering her. Alexa was trying to score but a bludger from Blake passed really close to her making her drop the quaffle. The red ball then fell into Marjani's hands and she quickly flew to the other side of the pitch. Hunter and Etta were right behind her but it was only a matter of time until the Slytherin chasers were there as well. Olive and Alexa surrounded Marjani but she managed to pass the quaffle to Hunter anyway.
Hunter then shot the quaffle towards the left hoop but Gus had guessed its trajectory and made a good defense, quickly passing the quaffle to Manson. But Marjani was faster and grabbed the quaffle first, trying to score. Gus defended that shot too, but he almost failed. A few more inches and his gloved hand wouldn't be able to reach the red ball.
The quaffle fell into Olive's hands but Etta intercepted the pass she was doing to Manson. A bludger from Basil saved the situation making the Slytherin team to have once again the quaffle's possession . As the Slytherin chasers hurried to the hoops defended by Hunter, Gus tried to spot the seekers. Finally he found Cornelia and Charisma flying above everyone else, seeking the snitch. But it seemed they weren't having any luck so far. His attention then went to the stands where a lot of girls were cheering for him. He couldn't avoid but to give a quick smile, but then his eyes were once again on the red quaffle that was still far away, in Alexa's hands.
Ella, the captain of the Gryffindor team, aimed a bludger to Alexa but this time she didn't drop the quaffle and passed it right away to Olive.
Without hesitating Olive aimed to the hoops, shot and scored, provoking a wave of applauses at the Slytherin stands. Gus celebrated on his broom but not for long because the match restarted.
Slytherin was once again on the lead. So far so good, he thought.
Ouch (Hunter & Olive)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 01-26-12 16:17
After the quaffle was put back into play following Slytherin's second goal, Hunter took a moment to sit back on his broom, massaging his shoulder. He'd taken a bludger hit to it a little earlier that at first hadn't seemed like much. Now, he's not so sure. It's increasingly painful and the muscles are tightening up. If the tightening continues, Hunter can't help but wonder if he'll even be able to lift his arm in another half hour. That would be bad; very, very bad.
Further down the pitch Olive grimaces as she takes a hit from a bludger hit by Ella. It's not a particularly hard hit nor is it even in a spot that would hamper Olive's playing. The grimace is because the bludger just happens to smack into her ankle in the very spot where Olive has a bruise from where she banged into a door jamb while returning to her bed in the dark after a middle of the night trip to the bathroom. It doesn't bother her walking but if she over flexes her ankle or puts pressure on the spot like when forgetting the bruise is there and crosses her ankles, the bruise reminds her it's there. Getting hit dead on the spot by a bludger is certain to make the bruise larger and deeper and could even make walking a little painful. Oh joy.
Another bludger passing nearby, sent by Mark and aimed at Marjani, serves to remind Olive that she needs to pay attention, especially considering she's had worst injuries on and off the pitch and that a bruise to her ankle doesn't affect how well she plays in this match, or shouldn't anyway.
Marjani has the quaffle but that bludger from Mark got her in the hand. She's looking to hand the ball off, probably to be able to flex her hand and take a second or two to massage her fingers. Olive swoops in to intercept, cutting Etta off. She doesn't retain hold of the quaffle for long, sending it to Mason who in turn throws to Alexa.
They rapidly work the quaffle back to Hunter, who frowns deeply at having them return so quickly after Olive scored the the Slytherin team's second goal. Hunter was also hoping for a few minutes to relax, working on the tension in his aching shoulder. He's hoping that the more he can soothe the tightness, the greater the chance of keeping his arm working for the duration of the game. How nice it would be if Charisma were to catch the snitch like right now, ending the match, and allowing Hunter to get the shoulder iced. He'd probably have to down one of Madam Pomfrey's unspeakably bad tasting potions but if it made his shoulder feel better and enable him to use it during classes next week without too much pain, he'd willing down an entire vial.
With the three Slytherin chasers practically on top of him, quaffle in Alexa's possession, thoughts of making his shoulder feel better are put on hold as Hunter focuses on doing his job. Alexa fakes a pass to Mason only to send the quaffle to his right. He swings his broom around to bat the red ball away. Mason goes to catch the rebound but Blake puts a bludger between the Slytherin chaser and the quaffle. Mason's hestitation in catching the ball in order to avoid being hit allows Hunter Rabnott to swoop in and take possession.
Hunter Rabnott sprints away, putting distance between Hunter and the hoops he's guarding, which is just fine by him. The longer Gryffindor retains the quaffle, the greater the team's chance of tying the score and the longer Hunter has to work on keeping his shoulder functioning.