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(Sadie) Chain Reaction
Author: Griet
Date: 02-20-12 18:08
Sadie had felt good about Hufflepuff not only scoring the first points of the match but also managing to pull ahead even more, thanks to her own goal. Now the tables had turned. Ravenclaw had seemingly found their momentum and had managed to even out the score. Sadie hoped that Ravenclaw wasn't on a roll and that they wouldn't push past Hufflepuff for the first time all game.
Jasper had accepted the quaffle after Jack's score and zoomed across the Pitch, determined to put distance between the quaffle and the Hufflepuff goal hoops. Sadie and Marlow pulled into formation just behind him and on either side. They flew that way for a short time undeterred, though the Ravenclaw beaters worked hard to hit Jasper with both bludgers. The Hufflepuff beaters worked just as hard at deflecting them elsewhere.
Suddenly, the snitch bolted right past Sadie's nose, causing her to veer inwardly, which had the ill-effect of knocking her broom handle into the bristle of Jasper's broomstick. The movement wasn't too jarring on its own, but the little tap nonetheless caused a series of things to happen.
Jasper's course altered enough for him to brush against Caerwyn, who had popped up to defend him from one of Jade's bludgers. Caerwyn accidentally knocked his bat into the quaffle, dislodging it from Jasper's grasp. Aleydis and Christopher came at the pack from both sides, since the snitch had apparently gotten lost amongst all the bodies colliding into each other.
The quaffle started to fall, but Deak accidentally kicked it when trying to maneuver away from Marlow, who'd almost locked broom handles with him quite unintentionally.
The quaffle flew out at an arc, and for the briefest of moments, all anybody could do was watch. Then there was a mad scramble to catch it, which led to more accidental collisions. Sadie came out of the fray with a scrape over the back of her hand from somebody's bristles.
Marlow ultimately came out on top with the quaffle in hand and continued toward the Ravenclaw hoops. Sadie let out a sigh of relief and followed, but not before catching a quick glance at both seekers, who had gone back to searching for the snitch, it having disappeared again.
Last weekend, Sadie had been in Hogsmeade with Aleydis and had gotten a present from the same woodworking vendor Aleydis had purchased her gift from. Aleydis had playfully accused Sadie of coyping her idea, and Sadie had totally owned up to it. But her puzzle box was better than the one Aleydis got Coach Krum, she thought. Anyway, it was four puzzles in one. Hopefully Nathaniel Ross, a fellow Hufflepuff, would like his Secret Santa gift!
Lunch Discussion
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 02-20-12 19:45
"I'm going with the miso soup, chicken tempura, and a California roll. Maybe some udon." Harry states, setting his menu aside. "Want to share a calamari starter?"
Looking up from her own menu Ginny works the inside of her right cheek before answering. "It sounds good but no, I shouldn't."
"If you want some, then why shouldn't you?"
"Because we're getting married in several days and I don't want to have to be wedged into my dress with the seams threatening to split if I even think about breathing."
Harry gives an amused snort. "Unless you're planning on wearing a painted on dress, I hardly think you need to worry about sharing a few bites of calamari."
"So you want me fat at our wedding?"
"You are not fat now and you could gain several pounds between now and the wedding and you'd still be far, far from being considered fat. I'm going to get the calamari. You are welcome to eat some if you want."
Ginny glares at Harry for about two seconds before returning her attention to the menu. "I'm getting the sunomono salad with shrimp and I'm leaning towards the Hawaiian roll. You've hardly said anything about the house."
"It's okay. I don't dislike it but I don't love it either. The rooms are tiny and there's hardly any yard so even though it's in a great location, I'd say pass."
"I didn't care much for it either."
"Of the houses we've looked at the past few days we both only really liked one."
"But not its location. Do we keep looking or do you want to consider building? Or we can look at adding on to Wildwood."
"I really like Wildwood but the more I think about the future and maybe starting a family, I'm not sure it's the best place for us after it having been compromised more than once. Since we're not in any huge rush to find a house, I'm fine with continuing to look at houses and lots to build on. One thing we do need to make a decision on asap is honeymoon."
"If we do an island, I like the brochures for Fiji's Turtle Island and for Martinique. There's Venice, that place in Canada you like, "
"Banff."
"And St. Petersburg in winter has a romantic sound to it."
"We just need to shorten the short list and pick one."
Ginny pulls out the brochures again and as soon as they've placed their lunch order, they start trying to narrow down further the short list of honeymoon destinations.
(Ramona) Interception
Author: Griet
Date: 02-21-12 07:03
Ramona had emerged from the moment of chaos miraculously unscathed and wasted no time chasing after Marlow, who'd been the first to lay her hands on the quaffle after its loss by Jasper. Marlow held onto the ball long enough for everybody else to catch up to her, and then passed it back to Jasper.
Jasper quickly handed it off to Sadie, who threw it back to him when Alastor maneuvered in front of her to intercept one of the bludgers. Sadie swerved, but this time without incident.
Coming around Alastor, she opened her arms to accept Jasper's pass, but Ramona saw her opportunity to steal the quaffle back for Ravenclaw. She zoomed ahead and cut right across her sister's path, plucking the quaffle from the air.
Caerwyn perhaps anticipated Ramona's movements and aimed a bludger her way, but she darted away quickly and narrowly avoided getting hit. She shot away, catching in her periphery Sadie in hot pursuit. Ramona knew her sister was a trifle annoyed with her, but she also knew that it was all in good sport and that there weren't really any hard feelings between them.
Deak pulled up along side Ramona, ready to take the quaffle if she needed to get rid of it for one reason or another. Jack pulled ahead and sent constant looks over his shoulder at her. She saw the ideal opening and propelled it forward. Jack turned slightly to catch the ball and then continued on his way to the Hufflepuff goal hoops.
Glori got ready. Jack let the quaffle fly as soon as he got within scoring range, but Glori batted the red ball away. Jack caught the ball on the rebound and shot again, but this time the quaffle bounced off the rim of the goal hoops. This time Ramona got the qauffle. She started to aim for once hoop, but when Glori began to follow her movement, Ramona threw the quaffle at a different one. The ball almost didn't make it in, because Glori was quick enough to at least get her fingers on the quaffle. But it did go in!
Now Ravenclaw was winning the match!
Ramona shot a beaming smile at anybody who happened to look her way. By chance, she glanced into the staff box, where she saw Professor Hodfuffer watching the match. She had gotten his name for Secret Santa. When in Hogsmeade last weekend with Beatrix, she had also gotten the idea to get a variety of teas as a gift. She found a tea box sampler at Botanicals & Beyond that seemed to have a little bit of everything in it.
Horrible Week
Author: Nathaniel Ross
Date: 02-21-12 13:31
Nate had his worst week ever at Hogwarts. Thanks to Phyllida, his face was covered with a grotesquerie of pimples that seemed reluctant to abandon his cheeks and forehead. Half the school had assisted to the episode at The Three Broomsticks and those who didn't heard later to story in the common rooms or at the Great Hall. Some students looked at Nate with pity, others teased him. His face was so hideous that even some of his colleagues had troubles to look him in the eyes.
Phyllida had cast a powerful jinx, probably with the strength of her fury. Nate tried every spell he knew to try and remove the pimples but nothing worked. Tim gave it a try too, and his face got even worse. On Monday morning, Nate finally decided it was time to go to the Hospital Wing asking Madam Pomfrey for help.
"They will eventually disappear with the time," the healer assured Nate after a quick analysis.
"But can't you remove them now?"
"You aren't ill, Mr. Ross. And in case you didn't notice, I have half the beds occupied due to colds. Colds that can turn into something worse if I don't assist the students who really need me. I cannot waste my time removing some pimples. Besides it's quite late. Don't you have classes to attend?"
Hopeless, Nate left the Hospital Wing for the dungeons. Potions was the first class of the week. Thank Merlin he didn't arrive late, but he was one of the last students to be seated, and he felt most of the eyes turn on him and his pimples. It was like suddenly he was popular but in a bad way. His face also didn't pass unnoticed from Snape, who informed the class that today he had decided they would brew the Beautification Potion. The Beautification Potion changed the drinker appearance in order to make them seem attractive to the human eye.
"For example, Mr. Ross would be an excellent candidate to drink this potion. But I have my doubts a single dose would manage to make all those pimples disappear."
Some students laughed and John Worsley congratulated Phyllida but she told him to shut up. The class was a torture for Nate, especially when Snape stood beside him informing him he was watching each of Nate's movements to make sure he didn't steal a single drop of the potion.
Finally the class ended and he was one of the first to leave the dungeon. The other teachers revealed themselves to be kinder than Snape. He had the impression McGonagall had sent him a somewhat pitiful look and Professor Sacheverelle didn't seem to mind when Nate made a wrong interpretation of his I Ching. Professor Miller told Nate to come to his office in the end of his class. Nate wondered what was this about since the Muggle Studies teacher was also the head of Hufflepluff house. In the end Nate left Professor Miller's office blushing and with a package of a muggle cream for pimples, named Clearasil.
The cream had helped a little bit however Nate spent all his free time at the library trying to find a better solution for his face.
Phyllida had tried to talk to him and apologize but Nate had shoved her away. He was hurt with what she did and if she didn't want the kiss she should just say 'no' or push him away, not ruin his entire face. He did the best he could to avoid her, locking himself inside the Hufflepuff common room whenever he had the chance, and always sitting in the other corner of the classroom when they had classes together.
Today was the quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Nate didn't felt like showing off his face to the entire school, but as a prefect he felt it was his duty to be here today for his house. Thanks to the cold, he was able to cover his face with a Hufflepuff scarf and a beanie and almost no one paid attention to him. He watched the match while he ate some sugar quills and chocolate frogs, cheering when Hufflepuff scored and hoping eventually Aleydis Vanderbilt would catch the snitch. However he couldn't avoid thinking about Phyllida and how it would be much more fun to watch the match with her.
Trying To Score Again (Jack)
Author: Kody
Date: 02-21-12 15:07
The score is 30 Ravenclaw, 20 Hufflepuff and while a ten point lead isn't much it is, in Jack's opinion as a Ravenclaw, a damn sight better than being down by twenty. Now to keep Hufflepuff from making it a tied game again.
Jasper has possession but soon throws to Sadie. Banking into a turn to maneuver around other players, she takes a bludger from Jade. Deak swoops in to try for a steal but Sadie is having none of that so he presses in close, making it difficult for her to make much progress down pitch. Marlow passes by underneath for Sadie to drop the quaffle to her only to have the ball knocked sideways by the second bludger. Marlow had to lean into a roll for it but Jack had been right up on her so is able to get to it more quickly than she is.
Quickling wheeling around, Jack sprints back to where Glori is once more on full alert. Caerwyn tries to slow him with a bluger but Jack's able to dodge it just before letting the quaffle go in a throw to his left. Glori makes the block, catching it in the process. With a scowl, Jack looks on as she hands off to Marlow, who promptly takes off in the other direction with Jack dogging her, looking for any opening to retake the quaffle.
Marlow's older sister Liannah is who Jack drew as his Secret Santa gift recipient. Like Jack who should be a seventh year, thanks to a stint at Happy Haven Liannah is a level behind so though fourteen is a third year and, like Jack, she is a Ravenclaw. One of the group referred to as the Wenlock cousins or Wenlock relatives, Jack does know Liannah somewhat through Deak but with him being seventeen and her being fourteen, she currently falls just short of an age that he'd pay more attention to.
At first Jack thought finding a gift Liannah would like would be something of a struggle. With the age difference and knowing her mainly as one of Deak's "little" cousins he found he didn't have a great deal of real information about her to base gift buying on. In the days between the name draw and getting into Hogsmeade he'd started watching for her around the Ravenclaw common room, in the Great Hall, the library, and the common commons. He noticed she likes jewelry and that it's not always the same pieces. When in Hogsmeade he'd gravitated toward the shoppes and vendors carrying a selection of jewelry, picking out a charm bracelet that as he was debating whether to purchase it or not, Jill Prewitt told him was cute and he should get that one. He did.
Nearly Causing A Concussion Or Worse (Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 02-21-12 17:44
Marlow, Sadie, and Jasper are able to get the quaffle back down to where Beaxtrix is still hanging in. There's little doubt that if Ravenclaw wins, Beaxtrix will be skipping the first part, if not all, of the celebration to get medical attention to whatever needs healing. Even after more than five years living in and learning about the Wizarding World, Jade is still in awe of the fact that broken bones can be knitted back together in just a few hours and if what someone told her is to be believed entire bones can be regrown in less than a day. Why couldn't her father had decided to fill the family in on his background when Jade was not quite six and broke three bones in her foot?
The three Ravenclaw chasers, Alastor, and Jade help Beatrix out as much as they can without breaking any rules and having fouls called. Jasper, now with the quaffle, still gets a shot off. Beaxtrix is slower to use that arm but she's still able to stop the ball, hitting it off its course. Marlow grabs it but the bludger Jade's just hit smacks her in the hand. It's not a hard hit but Marlow's fingers must sting. She throws for a goal but the shot isn't a great one. Beatrix blocks it again, this time with the quaffle rebounding off her broom and straight into Ramona's arms.
Ramona weaves through the pack to carry the quaffle down the pitch. Caerwyn has a bludger ready for her but Alastor gets in between her and the black ball, redirecting it at the other Mickle in the air, Sadie. Jade's coming up on that other bludger, arm swinging the bat back but suddenly has to freeze the motion. She'd been so narrowly focused on getting to that bludger and hitting it at Jasper that she'd totally missed seeing Aleydis. Thank goodness she saw the Hufflepuff seeker in time because Jade would have cracked her bat into the side of Aleydis's head. That would have been very, very bad.
Once Aleydis is safely out of the way, Jade repositions, locating where the chasers are and determining whether Jasper is still her targer this hit. Deak's got the quaffle now and Marlow is between him and a pass to Jack so with Marlow now in her sights, Jade smashes her bat into the bludger.
Calling Dibs (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-22-12 12:53
Trying hard not to yawn - that could screw up how he hits the bludger he's about to send in Deak's direction - Caerwyn would have thought that by now he wouldn't be so darned sleepy. He's didn't sleep badly last night and didn't get up at the crack of dawn so he has no idea why he's had so much trouble feeling awake today. Caerwyn would have thought that after so much time in eye opening frigid air, in the midst of an adrenaline rush filled match the sleepy feeling would have long passed. He really hopes it's not a sign of coming down with something. A cold, the flu, and some stomach thing are all making the rounds. With exams and papers due all week for end of winter term, the last thing he needs is to come down with something.
Bludger dispatched, successfully catching Deak in the shoulder just as the Ravenclaw was in the middle of cocking his arm back to throw the quaffle in a pass to Ramona, Caerwyn starts to follow after that black ball when he spies the other. It's closer to him and he can get to it before Jade does. Reaching it, Caerwyn notices Aleydis looking as if she's honing in on something. When she straightens slightly, slowing as she makes a wide arcing turn, Caerwyn determines she's not on the trail of the snitch and hits the bludger at Jack, who's trying to steal the quaffle from Marlow. She'd intercepted the off kilter pass between Deak and Ramona.
The bludger misses Jack but Caerwyn doesn't chase after it. Jade's closer so he just needs figure out where she's going to hit it so he can place himself in its path. He's also ready in motion, correctly guessing that since it's Marlow with the quaffle, that is who Jade will target. She makes a face at him for messing up her hit but then she grins. Jade Green is extremely competitive but she's also a good sport. And cute.
Caerwyn blinks. That thought came out of nowhere. As she's only twelve as far as he knows, he thinks it's somehow a wrong thought to have. He's fourteen. Is it okay for a fourteen year old bloke to find a twelve year old girl cute? Caerwyn isn't actually sure. Until recently he'd not paid much attention to the whole dating and coupledom thing.
Marlow's passed the quaffle off to Jasper so since Ramona is shadowing him, looking for an opening to steal, Caerwyn lines up the hit to send the bludger at her, the bat making a satisfying crack against the black ball. His face scrunches up as he tries not to yawn again but the harder he tries the bigger the yawn wants to be. In the process, he nearly collides with Alastor. "Sorry. I didn't see you."
"Go take a nap. We don't mind," Alastor smirks.
Caerwyn snickers. "By we you mean all you Ravenclaw."
"Just trying to show a little support for a fellow Quidditch player."
"Suuuuuure, you are. Dibs on that bludger." Caerwyn takes off after it.
Alastor is right behind him, laughing. "Not if I get there first."
Let's Finish This
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 02-22-12 15:44
Usually after playing this long Christopher has had a few snitch sightings, even if only fleeting. So far this match, he's seen it when it was released at the start of the game, the tangled mess earlier that had involved Sadie accidentally starting a chain reaction, and possibly down near the ground early in the match. He can't be sure of that one. It was very fleeting and could have been a stray piece of litter or sunlight glinting off the powdered snow or even just his imagination.
Christopher doesn't think Aleydis has seen it any more often than he has or, if she has spotted it, she's been very low key about it. That wouldn't be a good thing for him. Aleydis could see the snitch, and have it before he even knew she was in pursuit if she were being low key. Sometimes spectators or the commentator or both draw attention to a seeker spotting the snitch but depending on what else is talking place, it can go unnoticed.
Something down near the ground once more catches Christopher's attention. He starts on a low angled dive, skirting around a couple of the chasers and Alastor who's in the process of batting a bludger. A few feet above the spot where he saw the sparkly gleam Christopher pulls up, coming to a stop. Nothing there but some snow mounded from where someone's foot had kicked it up when walking. As long as he's down at this level he might as well take a couple of passes. Sweeping his gaze methodically right to left and back again, he scans the air above the snow flecked pitch for anything that looks remotely like a small white and gold winged ball.
Near the base of the rings Hufflepuff keeper Glori is guarding, there's something causing a small eddy of snow. There's a slight breeze at the moment but that is the only spot where a snow is swirling. Around the base of the hoops at each end of the pitch, the snow is more mounded, rising further from the flat ground underneath. Christopher has to think that the snitch is hovering, hidden from his direct line of sight by some of a hump in the snow pile, its rapidly beating wings causing some of the loose snow on top to float and swirl.
Christopher starts for it. He has no idea whether Aleydis noticed the same thing he did or if she saw that he was fixated on something. Either way, he sees her out of his periphery in a dive at an angle that will have her leveling out further ahead of him, nearer to the base of the hoop posts. A determined set to his jaw, Christopher accelerates, catching up to her. Their movements parallel each other as they go lower over their broom handles, arms stretching out, fingers reaching.
Both make a grab at practically the same time. Christopher feels the cold damp of a wad of snow seeping through the leather of his glove. Crap! He looks up to see if Aleydis caught it and to congratulate her if she did but from the consternation on her face, all she got was a ball of snow as well.
Opening his hand to drop the handful of snow and to dust off his glove before resuming the search, Christopher is amazed to see a tiny pair of gossamer wings extending from the snowball. He's caught the snitch after all!
Ravenclaw wins the match 180 to Hufflepuff's 20.
There will be celebrating in the common commons and in the Ravenclaw common room. Christopher needs to remember to take the secret Santa gift for first year Slytherin Callie Blackwell to put under the tree in the commons. He's been meaning to do it much of the week but for some reason kept forgetting, even when he'd have it in his book bag and the HUGE tree there under which there are Christmas gifts.
Callie's present is small, a jewelers pendant box. While in Hogsmeade last weekend he'd been with Catriona when she bought Olive Green's gift. There were a lot of other nice things from which to choose so with a little help from Cat he'd selected a flower shaped pendant for Callie.
Christopher had made another purchase at the same time without Cat seeing. When they'd been looking, Cat returned several times to a red heart with filigree, obviously taking quite a liking to it. He's giving it to her as one of her Christmas gifts from him. If he hadn't been able to get it right then without her seeing, he'd have either sent an owl or waited and returned while they are on holiday, which starts next weekend.