|
|
Wrong Team
Author: Wendy Mills
Date: 03-06-13 01:41
No matter how hard she tried to enjoy Quidditch, the sport did not say anything to Wendy. She would always be a fan of football even if her friend Andrina claimed it to be very dull.
Nevertheless she had decided to go to the pitch that morning because her house was going to play and she knew everyone would be talking about it for the next few days, and she did not want to be the one who had no idea what they were talking about. Besides, her roommate Aderyn Carter was going to play, and Wendy thought it would be nice to support her.
The match was now tied and after the initial curiosity, Wendy stopped looking at the players and she started to look around the pitch with interest. Some students had brought their families today, but she knew it would not make any sense to invite his parents to a sport they had never heard of and that they probably would dislike it as much as her. Perhaps it was the speed: sometimes the players flew so fast that it was very hard to understand what was happening and who was holding the quaffle.
But Wendy also disliked the violent nature of the match: the bludgers scared her, and she did not know how someone could enjoy playing a game knowing they would be chased by those dangerous balls. Andrina tried to explain to her it brought intensity to the match, but that theory did not satisfy Wendy.
Araxie was seated next to them, sketchbook on her hand. Wendy had no idea how could she draw in such an environment, but the fact was that the empty sheet of paper was already gaining the form of the pitch.
She kept looking around, wondering if Katheryn Finch was watching the match with her friends. Wendy had drawn her name for the Secret Santa and she was glad Katheryn was a somewhat familiar face in the large student universe of Hogwarts. She was also a Ravenclaw and she was friends with some of Wendy's classmates from other houses: Lilith Balfour from Slytherin and Savannah Applewhite from Gryffindor. Wendy had seen Katheryn several times at the Ranvenclaw common room and they also belonged to the same Fitness & Athletics class.
Wendy wrote to her mother about Katheryn and told her what sort of gift she would like to offer her. The packaged had arrived yesterday in the morning and now it rested inside her school trunk, waiting to be wrapped up and sent to Katheryn once the right time arrived. The present was a pencil case that Katheryn could use to store her quills and other supplies. It came in the shades of blue, their house's color. Wendy hoped she would like it.
Feeling Andrina impatient next to her, Wendy decided to pay attention to the match. That was the moment a lot of people started to clap their hands and she decided to copy them.
"Wendy!" Andrina protested.
"What?"
"You are cheering for the wrong team."
Her cheeks turned bright red and she quickly stopped to clap. She muttered an apologize and from now on she decided to keep her eyes on Andrina to make sure when was the right time to clap her hands.
Quidditch Match With Small Children
Author: Saffron
Date: 03-06-13 19:01
Niccola doesn't understand the ins and outs of Quidditch yet but she loves the spectacle of it all. Aaron thinks they should allow her to join the Quidditch Little League now that she's four. Saffron is not opposed to the idea and they did get Nic her own tiny broom not long ago.
Brandon, on the other hand, at one and a half, enjoys watching Quidditch to a point. He likes being able to join the cheering and watching brooms fly by at a blur, balls whizzing by, and just being part of the crowd in general. He also tends to bore fairly quickly of watching the match itself, preferring to want look around the stand they're in for something else to draw his attention, even if it means attempting to squirm away and go after it. Saffron distracts him for the time being with hot chocolate cooled just enough for him to drink and a Brandon sized handful of animal biscuits.
As Bran settles on her lap to munch his biscuits and have Mummy hold his drink Saffron's eyes go to six heads side by side in a row a little further down. Hard to believe how many years ago those same six - Marion, Callie, Katheryn, Lilith, Savannah, and Hope - were here with her at a Quidditch match that coincided with Marion's birthday. She knows that in a blink Nic will be one of the students and wonders which house her daughter will cheer on the loudest.
One of the six is who Saffron drew for Secret Santa. Knowing Savannah Applewhite rather well by now, Saffron has some idea of the the girl's likes and dislikes. One of those likes are cute and stylish dresses, especially if those dresses have flowers somewhere, either as embellishments or the print of the material. She found a dress she thinks fits the bill. It's sleeveless but she knows Savannah has a little capped sleeved cardigan that she can wear over it if wanted or needed.
Brandon deciding to snuggle in closer to Saffron, his now full tummy combined with being bundled up warm making him drowsy. Saffron shifts slightly to better accommodate him and still be able to watch the match.
(Aleydis & Sadie) Hufflepuff
Author: Griet
Date: 03-06-13 19:07
Aleydis squinted. It was a clear day, perfect for a game of Quidditch, but a little too bright. She wasn't wearing goggles, but maybe a tinted pair would be worth the investment, if they even existed. If they didn't, maybe she could patent the idea. Maybe Coach Krum could sell them at his store in Hogsmeade.
She realized she was thinking about something other than the match in progress and gave herself a mental shake. She had to focus. Ravenclaw had just put another ten points onto the scoreboard, and while it was early yet, anything could happen.
Her gaze drifted across the wide expanse of field, but the golden snitch didn't reveal itself. Or maybe it was far enough away that she couldn't see it, even though she was looking straight at it. She raised a hand to shield her eyes, but Aleydis didn't see anything worth pursuing.
She turned to look elsewhere when her eyes found Basil in the stands, sitting next to his friend Ivan. Ivan was shoveling popcorn into his mouth, looking less than attractive with stray kernels stuck to the front of his cloak. Basil was looking right at Aleydis and grinned when she looked at him.
She grinned back and thought for a moment about how warm she would feel in his arms, when she realized she wasn't paying attention to the task at hand again. She shook herself inwardly and turned away from Basil, but not before giving him a quick wink.
Sadie, meanwhile, raised her hand to her mouth and blew on her knuckles. They were chapped from the extreme cold, but she had also rubbed a layer of skin off when she'd found her hand caught between the handle of her broomstick and Jack's during a sprint earlier in the match. Her knuckles weren't bleeding, but they were raw. They stung from the wind and the simple movement of clenching and unclenching her hand.
She'd experienced worse pain during a game of Quidditch, though, and quickly put her mind off her discomfort. Her Hufflepuff teammate Marlow surged forward with the quaffle tucked underneath her arm. Jasper was a little behind her to the right, giving her protecting from both Jack and Ramona. Sadie urged her broomstick forward to take up position on Marlow's other side, but Alastor got there before Sadie could.
Marlow and Sadie both reviewed their options, without knowing what the other was thinking. The chaser in possession of the quaffle debated handing the ball to Jasper or simply dropping back suddenly while everyone else continued to pull ahead.
Sadie made herself flatter, ducked low, and pushed her broom as fast as it could go, until she was nearly underneath Marlow. She gave the younger girl's leg a tap, in case Marlow hadn't yet noticed her, and then held out her arms to accept the quaffle, which Marlow dropped straight down.
Sadie slowed down almost immediately, and when the others doubled back to catch her, she darted off to the side and away, crossing paths with Aleydis, who had finally begun to think she'd spotted something. The girls collided into each other, causing Aleydis to lose sight of whatever she thought she'd seen and the quaffle to go flying in a total freefall.
Ramona was there in an instant, yanking the red ball out of the sky and pulling it close to her body. She changed direction and shot away, heading in the direction of the Hufflepuff goal hoops.
Aleydis and Sadie exchanged brief looks before they parted ways, Aleydis to continue searching for the golden snitch, and Sadie to catch up to her little sister before Ramona could score yet again for Ravenclaw.
Gifts Finally Arrived (Callie, Katheryn, Marion)
Author: Saffron
Date: 03-07-13 11:31
Marion DeMarco along with friends Callie Blackwell, Katheryn Finch, Hope Hyland, Lilith Balfour, and Savannah Applewhite is cheering on the Quidditch match. Marion is rooting for her house Hufflepuff, Hope and Katheryn are pulling for their house Ravenclaw, while Gryffindor Savannah and Slytherins Callie and Lilith are cheering just to be cheering. The six are sitting in the same row, sharing some blankets and squished together for added warmth.
In a lull of noise Marion comments, "I forgot to mention that Caleb's gift came this morning."
Callie perks up at this news. "Hopefully that means the box I got just before coming to the pitch has Madoc's."
"You didn't check the package?" Lilith looks surprised that Callie wouldn't have ripped into it right away.
"I was running late so I didn't pay attention to where the box was from."
Katheryn, pulling her eyes from Jasper passing to the quaffle to Sadie and wishing the one of them would drop it or something so that Ravenclaw could regain the ball, gives Callie then Marion a smile. "I don't understand how we could send in the orders together and me get that Nott chap's in on Wednesday but you two are only now getting yours, if that package for Callie even is the Secret Santa present."
Hope suggestions, "Maybe the shoppe was really busy with other holiday orders and that's just how things turned out as they get everything owled off."
The others agree that's probably what had happened. They all also want to see the gifts before they're wrapped.
Marion, Callie, and Katheryn had put heads together and gone with similar though also quite different gifts for their respective Secret Santa recipients, ordering from the same shoppe. Marion had gone with something called a varsity style jacket in Ravenclaw blue and with the Ravenclaw crest.
Callie had drawn Madoc McGonagall's name. She too chose a jacket but as Madoc is a beater for Gryffindor, the one she selected has on the back a large version of the Gryffindor crest along with the word Beater written above.
Katheryn had been somewhat stumped. She'd gotten Titus Nott's name but knew nothing about him. Lilith was able to give her some information as she's not only in the same year as Titus but the same house as well. Mainly what Lilith said was that he chummed around mostly with Anton Avery, Valeria Mockridge, and Petula Parkinson, a stuck up, often mean spirited trio who tended to look down their noses at everyone else. As that information wasn't the most helpful in determining a preset to give, Katheryn ended up selecting a green hoodie that had a crest on the back outlined in black and with the interior of the crest also green with a very large silver snake coiling on it as if to strike.
It looks as if Hufflepuff might be about to score again so the girls turn their attention to the action over the pitch, unable to talk over the sudden roar of noise anyway.
Momentary Distractions (Hope, Lilith, Savannah)
Author: Saffron
Date: 03-07-13 12:12
There's a mixed reaction of boos and wild cheering when Ravenclaw keeper Beatrix Vanderbilt is able to turn back the Huffelpuff goal attempt. As those who'd jumped to their feet settle back into their seats Lilith finds herself scanning not only the faces of the players but the faces she can see of students and staff in this set of stands and others, wondering who drew her name in the Secret Santa gift exchange. Many have already found their names on brightly wrapped presents placed under one of the trees, often the one in the commons, by their Secret Santas. Many have not yet found such a gift, Lilith being one of them. When hers does show up, she's not sure if she'll open it right away or savor it, trying to guess what's inside. If the gift giver's name isn't on the outer wrapping, there would also be the fun of trying to guess who that person is.
Lilith had drawn the name of third year Gryffindor by the name of Tamsin Branstone. She'd asked Savannah for what information she could give on a housemate. Savannah hadn't known much but did try to find out a little more. In the end based none of that mattered because upon learning her daughter had drawn the name of another girl, one who's around thirteen, Rosalea Balfour has sent a pretty watch that looks as much like a bracelet in Lilith's opinion as it does a watch.
Savannah had also gotten a girl's name, that of someone in her year but a different house, Araxie Loren. Araxie is rarely seen without a sketchbook of some sort and from what Savannah understands Araxie not only does drawings but paintings. Having an uncle who is a bit of an artist and who is always wanting more art supplies and canvases no matter how much he already has. With this in mind Savannah asked her parents for enough money to get Araxie a canvas or two. She'd lucked out with a holiday sale, able to stretch the galleons for three canvases.
Hope, like Callie, Marion, and Katheryn, had gotten a boy's name. Edgar Steele to be exact. She'd not wanted to go the same route as those three, nice as one of those jackets or hoodies be but Edgar is in the same house as Madoc. He's also taking over one of the beater positions. Hope didn't want to order a jacket identical to the beater one Callie picked out for Madoc.
There was a Gryffindor version of the varsity jacket and a Gryffindor hoodie but she didn't want to copy what Marion and Katheryn had done, even if the crest and color would differ. She'd looked at other clothing items in the same catalog, nearly going with a long sleeve t-shirt. She's not sure exactly what changed her mind or why she hesitated but she's glad she did. The very next day, in a different catalog she found a Hogwarts themed chess set. She's not hesitated, sending off for one right then.
All thoughts of Secret Santa are forgotten for the moment as Hope jumps to her feet, screaming a cheer for Ravenclaw when Jack Emerson makes an interception then speeds towards Glori Hodfuffer, ready to add more points to the Ravenclaw tally.
Sinus Pain & Pressure (Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 03-07-13 16:26
Pausing a moment to pinch the bridge of her nose, Jade regrets not taking something for sinus pain and pressure before taking to the air for this match. That had only briefly crossed her mind because at the time the pressure wasn't that bad and there was no pain. She guesses that the air this high above the pitch is even higher and that zooming at top speeds after bludgers is making things worse. She'd try breathing through her mouth to see if that alleviated some of the pain but that would mean getting severe dry mouth and possibly a sore throat with only a handful of time outs as possible moments to grab a drink.
Readjusting her grip on the bat Jade steers to where a bludger has just come through the pack of chasers, Hufflepuff currently in possession of the quaffle. It's Sadie with the red ball but she looks to be thinking of passing. Sadie keeps looking to her left where Jasper is. Rather than target Sadie, Jade sends the bludger towards Jasper.
Her eyes dart back and forth between that bludger and roving the rest of the pitch for the other spot of black. She notes that the one sent to Jasper makes a connection just as Sadie, sure enough, had let the quaffle go in a pass. The bludger hit on Jasper is the split second distraction needed for Ramona to swoop in and get the quaffle.
Jade spots the second bludger but it's further from her than the one that just smacked into Jsper and Aderyn looks to be headed that direction. Back to the one she just hit it is then. She has to pull up short though when Caerwyn gets there first. The crack of bat to bludger reverberates, Jade close enough to hear it despite the volume of noise across the pitch.
Ramona has passed to Jack who's not that far from Glori and her hoops. Ravenclaw had made a recent goal attempt only to have Glori catch the ball, throwing it to one of her teammates, Sadie, afterwards. The turnover coming so close to the three Hufflepuff tended rings is why Jack is already within goal range.
Jade shoots after the bludger Caerwyn hit, speeding after it in an effort to reach it before it connects with Jack. If she gets to it in time, she'll alter its course just enough to put it on track to hit Glori and then cross her fingers that someone else doesn't get between Glori and the bludger before it reaches the intended target.
Glints Of Gold (Christopher & Devon)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 03-08-13 15:56
Devon Abbott is torn. As a Hufflepuff she should unreservedly be supporting her house team. As the cousin of the Ravenclaw seeker, she feels she should also be cheering for Christopher. He's been so helpful, as has his girlfriend Catriona. Devon thinks she would have been hopelessly lost and confused those first few weeks of school if not for them. She does want Hufflepuff to win but also wants to loudly show approval whenever Christopher flies near the stands she is or when it looks like he might be on the snitch's trail.
Despite the gap in ages and even though Devon has settled in nicely, getting on well with old friends and new, Christopher has continued to show her kindness and help when she's needed it. For example, he encouraged her to put her name in for Secret Santa and said he'd even look in Hogsmeade for a gift. If he couldn't find one, there was always ordering for a catalogue.
Nice as he's been to her she did expect him to return from Hogsmeade last weekend with a shrug and a, "Sorry, but I couldn't find anything that seemed right for Beatrix." Beatrix Vanderbilt, also on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team is the name Devon drew. Instead of what she expected Christopher returned with a bright, multi-colored tote with the word LOVE written all over it. When Devon went to thank Catriona, thinking she probably either picked out the tote bag or helped Christopher select it, Cat has shaken her head. "He did it all himself."
That he'd offered to shop for her in the first place came as a little bit of a surprise because Christopher hadn't had to look around the village or order anything for his Secret Santa recipient, Jolyon Kent. His mother, Candice, had owled him a few days before the name draw even took place, telling him she'd picked up several antique and vintage items recently at a shoppe going out of business. Candice listed the items, asking if he thought any of them might make good Christmas gifts for the friends he wanted to get a little something for or if Cat might like any of the items, particularly a vintage hair comb.
On the list was a large, fancy Victorian birdcage. When Christopher drew Jolyon Kent's name a few days later for Secret Santa, he'd immediately owled off to his mother that if she had no plans for the birdcage, he'd like it to give as the gift to Professor Kent who has two exotic birds. His mum put it in a box, shrunk the box down to make it easier to transport then owled it. The box, now restored in size and wrapped, is under the tree in the Common Commons.
Christopher flies by the stands where Devon is sitting, waving to her as he goes. He can't help but grin when she goes to return his wave and applaud him only to have one of her friends pull her arm down and say something, probably something along the lines of reminding Devon that Christopher plays for the enemy team.
Passing Aleydis going the opposite direction, doing what he's doing and taking the time to really looking for the snitch instead of cruising along rapidly scanning eyes back and forth, Christopher wonders if she wishes the sun weren't as bright as it is today. With the snow and ice on the ground the sunlight glints of it and at times those glints not only look gold but they appear to be shifting. It's gotten tiresome darting down on at regular intervals to make sure a flash of gold is just a glint of sun and not the snitch. Christopher even spent awhile flying as close to the pitch as he could get without his feet dragging the ground. He can't do that all game though because the snitch probably wouldn't be sticking around so low the entire match. It could but it's not probable.
Spotting something glittery gold rapidly moving towards the ground Christopher goes after it, sure it's the snitch this time. He reaches the object after a steep dive requiring quick reflexes to pull out of before slamming into the ground only to find it's a piece of jewelry, a bracelet to be exact. Looking up to the stands he's in front of, Christopher sees a girl looking over the side. When she sees Christopher and he holds up the bracelet for her to see, she looks a little sheepish. As he flies up to toss it to her, everyone else seems highly amused, even the announcer.
With a roll of his eyes he goes back to flying a somewhat organized pattern, looking out for bludgers and other players and for any signs of fluttering gold.
(Beatrix & Ramona) Ravenclaw
Author: Griet
Date: 03-08-13 16:45
Ramona formed her hand into a fist and made a beeline for Marlow. She knew she had to act quickly, or she could cause a major collision and get called on a foul. The trick was maneuvering everything just so and thereby avoiding trouble. The problem was Ramona wasn't entirely certain her reflexes were quite quick enough for what she was attempting.
Her hasty plan came about because the Hufflepuff beaters were monopolizing the bludgers. At the same time, Sadie and Jasper attempted to ward off Jack and Alastor, who were relentlessly harassing them in their effort to get the two Hufflepuffs away from their teammate holding the coveted red ball. Marlow flew ahead undaunted, the quaffle in the crook of her arm.
Ramona zoomed at Marlow at an angle. When she got close enough, she veered her broomstick the other way in an attempt to straighten out, while simultaneously using her fist to pop the quaffle out of Marlow's possession. The ball went flying, only to hit Sadie in the shoulder and bounce right back into Marlow's arms.
Ramona, meanwhile, had over-adjusted the angle of her broomstick and nearly careened into Caerwyn, who had gotten into position to strike at one of the black bludgers. By some stroke of miracle, Ramona avoided Caerwyn and his bat and somehow managed to straighten out, but she had fallen far behind the pack.
Up ahead, she saw Marlow ready the quaffle for a throw at the goal hoops Beatrix guarded. Beatrix hunkered down on her broom and prepared to lunge in whichever direction necessary to stop the quaffle from entering one of the hoops. Unfortunately, Caerwyn directed the bludger at Beatrix, a split second after determining the trajectory of Marlow's throw.
Beatrix batted the quaffle away a moment before the bludger struck her in the shoulder. She winced and instinctively pressed a hand to her throbbing shoulder, as if the touch would soothe her pain. Meanwhile, Sadie caught the rebound and threw the ball at the right-most hoop. Beatrix reacted slowly and was unable to stop the quaffle from entering the hoop.
She groaned, even though it was her cousin who had made the goal. Now Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were tied 20-20. She put the quaffle back into play via Alastor and felt very glad that the pack was moving well away from her for the time being. She rubbed her aching shoulder. It still hurt a lot, but the pain had dulled a tiny bit.
Beatrix watched the other players get smaller and smaller and then allowed her mind to wander a little. She had put her name in for Secret Santa and selected Duncan Dippet, a first year student. At first she had wanted to get him a chess set, but then she had found a game called Aggravation. What she liked about the board was that it had Hogwarts colors on it, even though the game had nothing to do with the school. Beatrix didn't know if Duncan had friends in houses other than Hufflepuff, but if he did, then maybe they would like to play with the color of their own house.
There was a turnover in the game, and soon the pack was racing back towards her. Beatrix got ready for the next onslaught.
Playing Hard (Alastor, Jasper, & Marlow)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 03-08-13 17:24
Happy that Hufflepuff had finally scored another goal Jasper shadows his brother, current holder of the quaffle. Alastor can still act a right snobby git but he has gotten better. Must be that thing called maturity. Or maybe it's more like Alastor has some girl he's been hoping to win over. Knowing his brother, that's more likely it. Though he is nice overall, here on the pitch when their houses are going against each other, Alastor plays hard. Jasper does too, as does their cousin Marlow, but some of that snobby git attitude shows up in Alastor. At least he's not the sort to deliberately foul or play dirty. Jasper isn't sure Coach Krum would allow anyone like that to remain on any of the teams but Jasper knows of players on pro teams who have a knack for unfair play while never truly getting pegged for it by referees as the match is going on.
Alastor makes to pass to Jack, deeply scowling at his brother when Jasper serves as an obstruction. Picking up speed, Alastor swerves suddenly, forcing Jasper either to be crashed into or dodge. He dodges. Alastor hurls the quaffle at Jack who angles around Marlow, picking up speed and ducking a bludger from Gus. Jade, however, is there with the other bludger, which does hit Jack. He doesn't drop the ball but he does slow. Marlow pulls up right next to him, making an attempt to steal but Jack switches the quaffle to his other hand, making a pass to Ramona.
Jasper, having peeled off from harassing Jasper surges in between Alastor and Ramona. He's doesn't so much intercept as knocks the quaffle off its path. This allows Sadie to swoop in and grab the ball. Sharply circling back the other way, she heads back towards Beatrix. Halfway there she hands off to Marlow, narrowly avoiding a bludger from Aderyn in the process.
Marlow takes the most direct route to the hoops, flying a mostly straight line until having to do a side hop to avoid flying into Caerwyn whose going after a bludger. She lines up for a throw for goal only to have Alastor get in her way. She makes a side throw to Jasper instead. He drives in closer, getting off the shot. Beatrix not only makes the block but she catches it.
Beatrix throws to Ramona, who in turn darts away. Alastor goes around the edge of the pitch where no one else is at the moment other than Aleydis flying higher up, searching for the snitch. He's able to quickly get ahead of most of the others, flagging Jack, who now has the quaffle, to let Jack know he's open. Marlow zooms in close, looking for an opening to regain possession of the ball but Alastor's able to catch the pass when it's made without Marlow being any real trouble.
Ramona, Jack, and Alastor pull together, making a series of quick passes, working the quaffle closer to Glori. It's Jack with it when the first shot this go around is taken. Glori knocks the quaffle back, the chasers nearest scrabbling for it. Marlow gets her hands on it only to have Alastor wrest it away. He makes the throw, not realizing he's holding his breath until after the quaffle has brushed past Glori's fingers and gone through the ring, putting Ravenclaw back on top 30 to 20.
Sisters
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 03-08-13 19:59
Rowan and Willow sat together in the stands and cheered on Ravenclaw, which just happened to be Rowan's home team. She was especially happy to see that the game was once again in Ravenclaw's favor, though only by ten measly points. Hopefully, Ravenclaw could get more points on the board and make the gap between it and Hufflepuff too big, even if Aleydis Vanderbilt, the Hufflepuff seeker, managed to get the snitch in the end.
Rowan wondered how often a snitch catch didn't lead to an automatic win. In all the years she had attended Hogwarts, mainly those from a quarter century ago, she didn't recall that happening once. She turned to Willow to inquire if she was remembering wrong, but her sister starting talking before she could even ask her question.
"So, I put a gift under the communal tree this morning before breakfast."
"So did I," Rowan remarked. "I guess we just barely missed each other."
Willow laughed. "I guess so. Anyway, it's for Professor Hodfuffer."
Willow was only a second year and therefore was not old enough to take Professor Hodfuffer's class. Nonetheless, she'd not had a difficult time finding a gift for him. She had learned that not only was he a professor of Ancient Runes, but he also wrote novels. The library at Hogwarts had them, and in fact, the Book Group led by Miss Bramble had recently read his book Gryffindor Gumshoe.
The gift Willow had chosen for Professor Hodfuffer was a set of leather-bound journals that looked like books. She had found them in a Scrivenshafts catalogue. Maybe he would write the manuscript of his next book in one, or maybe he would use them as journals or to keep notes. Whatever he chose to use them for, Willow had no doubt he would find them useful.
"Journals, huh?" Rowan said, after Willow described the gift to her. "I guess there's nothing wrong with that."
Willow pulled a face. "I should have shown them to you before wrapping them up. They aren't regular old journals. They're nice."
"I didn't say they weren't," Rowan automatically replied, suddenly feeling a little annoyed.
"Well, what did you get your Secret Santa?" Willow pressed. "Something nicer than a pair of handcrafted, leather journals?"
"A pearl ring," Rowan answered. "It's for Alexa Wenlock. She's in your house."
"I know that," Willow retorted. "I see her in the common room all the time."
"Are you mad at me?" Rowan questioned, tearing her gaze away from the action in the air to look at Willow.
Willow rose both eyebrows. "Are you mad at me?"
"No, but you seem irritated."
"You started it."
"I didn't do anything."
"Right. You just insulted the gift I picked out for Professor Hodfuffer."
"I did not, but apparently you're offended I wasn't enthusiastic enough about what you got him," Rowan responded. "I'm starting to wish you would have stayed a damn doll."
Rowan regretted the words as soon as she said them. Willow's expression was stormy, mixed with hurt, as if she didn't quite know how to react.
"I'm sorry," Rowan said. "I didn't mean that."
Willow turned away and didn't say anything for a long time. Then she asked in a quiet tone of voice, "Do you think we'll get to see him again?"
Rowan frowned. "I don't know. I don't know if they will let him go."
They were referring to their father, who had been arrested by Hit Wizards sent to Westwick Grove after Elgiva had been attacked by him. He had initially been labeled an intruder squatting in what appeared to be an abandoned residence, until the truth of his identity was discovered. The girls were notified of his reappearance by Professor McGonagall, who'd allowed them one off-campus reunion with their father. It had been brief, and they had returned to the castle the very same day.
Linden Westwick was undergoing observation at the Ministry of Magic, but he was also under investigation for his dark past. It didn't matter that he had broken away from Lord Voldemort, hence the curse. He had still lived an immoral life once upon a time and would have to pay his debt to society one way or another. In all likelihood, he would eventually go to trial. What would come of his time in court would be decided in the punishment faze.
"Maybe at Christmas," Willow murmured. "Surely we can see him then."
"Yes, maybe," Rowan agreed. "I think so."
Willow nodded. "Good." After a pause she added, "I can't believe he's back."
"I know," Rowan said, "but things aren't exactly turning out like I thought they might." She had thought they would eventually be a happy family again. It had never occurred to her that her father might go to prison.
Some commotion in the air drew her attention. Ravenclaw had the quaffle again and was making quick work at reaching the Hufflepuff goals. Rowan and Willow both forgot their worries for the moment and climbed to their feet, ready to cheer Ravenclaw on to victory.
Black Cloud On A Sunny Day (Glori & Gus)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 03-09-13 13:45
Glori has lost count of how many Ravenclaw throws for goal she's stopped today. What hangs heavy for her are the three that have gotten past. Beatrix has faired slightly better, letting only two get by her. Still, Glori is starting to feel a little down at not doing a better job for her team, for her house. Sure if Aleydis gets the snitch this very second, with Ravenclaw only up by one goal, Hufflepuff is the clear winner. For Glori, though, there would still be the fact that the bludger got by her three times this match and as the game is not over, there's always the possibility of Ravenclaw making more goals.
Augustus isn't happy about the current score either but unlike his cousin he doesn't feel it personally and does not feel as though he's letting down the Hufflepuff team. He knows he's done his part well, hitting bludger after bludger. The game has been going on awhile now and Gus is started to get a little tired; however, that doesn't mean he's ready for the match to end. The match being over is one step closer to tomorrow and Sunday is one step closer to Monday, which marks the last five days of term before Christmas holiday. Next week promises to be busy with getting long-term assignments in along with exams. After that it's time to go home for those leaving school for the break. Caerwyn and Gus have lots of plans for those days off from school but Gus's mum also has plans for him to start going over OWL practice exams. He doesn't always make the highest marks but none of his are every anything to be worried about so he wishes Mum would not put the pressure on with the OWL practice exams at least until spring holiday.
Reaching the bludger he'd been pursuing, Gus smacks his bat against it, sending it towards Jack, the current holder of the quaffle. To his chagrin Aderyn's able to get to the bludger before it reaches Jack, redirecting the black ball towards Sadie. There's no way he can get to it in time to keep it from Sadie and Caerwyn's a good bit away racing Jade to the second bludger. Gus finds himself biting his lower lip as he races to the one bludger, hoping Sadie alters course before the bludger crosses her path or that she sees it coming and is able to duck or dodge.
Neither of those things happen. What does happen is that Ramona zips in between Sadie and the oncomnig bludger, looking to assist Jack. She doesn't see the bludger heading that way and ends up with the ball smacking into her from the side. From Gus's perspective, it's not a hard hit but in Quidditch even the "softer" hits can leave a bruise, bump, or even a scrape.
Jack is oblivious to all this, racing along shortening the gap to reach Glori. She's ready for him or, as he suddenly passes to Alastor, for the eldest of the Jenkinses. Alastor makes the throw, catapulting the quaffle to Glori's left. She hurls sideways for it, nearly unseating herself from her broom. She's able to swat the bludger away.
Jasper makes a bid for the ball but Ramona inches him out. She sets up for her own shot but Glori is again able to turn the ball back. Ramona gets it again but she's not lined up well for another attempt so she lobs the quaffle to Jack. In turn, Jack launches the ball more to Glori's right. She's there, fingers making contact when WHAM, a bludger knocks into her. It's a hard enough hit that even though it shoves her more in the quaffle's direction, it's so sudden and jerky it messes with her coordination. The quaffle eakes past, wobbling a little from where Glori had made contact. The red ball bounces on the rim of the hoop then goes on through.
Despite the glaring sunshine, made even brighter with the reflection off the snow, for the moment Glori sees only a black cloud as the new score is announced, Ravenclaw 40, Hufflepuff 20.
Close
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 03-09-13 16:33
Have a twenty point lead over Hufflepuff is nice but in the sport of Quidditch, a twenty point lead does not ensure victory. The only way to do that is to have a minimum 160 point lead so that even if the other team gets the snitch, you win. Christopher has never seen much written about why goals count so little when they make up the bulk of the match while the snitch is worth so very much. He supposes that back when the game was developing and evolving it was obvious fairly early on that having two people flying around after a small bird, trying to be the first to catch it wasn't all that entertaining for spectators. They needed some sort of action to fill in the long lulls between snidget sightings.
Even though he's a seeker and is the one going after the snitch, he still thinks quaffle goals should count for something a little more. Wincing in empathy over the pain Marlow must be in at the moment thanks to an extremely hard blow to the arm, a hit Christopher was not only witnesses but was close enough to hear, swearing he heard something crack, like say the bones of that arm, he especially thinks goals should count for more when moving the quaffle up and down the pitch comes with the hazards of bludgers. Seekers get hit by them as well, Christopher has had his fair share, but unless a seeker is thought to be or known to be on the snitch's trail, they're left alone for much of a match. An exception is when a team decides to play dirty, targeting the opposing seeker with bludger after bludger to remove that seeker from the match and ensure their own seeker is the only one looking for the snitch. Of course, if a team is obvious about it, and after a time there's no way it isn't obvious, the other team tends to respond by directing all bludgers to the dirty team's seeker. Scanning the immediate vicinity for signs of a speck of gold with wings doing anything from a slight flutter to a rapid beating that would do a hummingbird proud, Christopher has the thought that he's never heard of a match in which both seekers are out of the game. He's sure there must be some rule or contingency but if he's read of such or heard of it, it's not coming to mind. Something to either look up later or ask Coach Krum about.
As he's in the process of a turn to start flying back the other direction, Christopher catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. Swiveling for a better look, he spots it. The snitch has appeared as if by magic in an area he'd just checked. He swears the think can apparate at will.
The winged ball is flying along at a somewhat meandering pace, along a course that reminds Christopher of climbing uphill along switchbacks. Not wanting to alert anyone yet that he's sees the snitch and not wanting to spook the ball, he somewhat nonchalantly glides that direction, attempting to both watch the snitch and to figure out exactly where Aleydis has gotten off to.
When he's about a broom's length away, still trying to be somewhat stealthy in coming up behind the ball, Aleydis is suddenly right there parallel with him. Did she apparate as well because he certainly had no sense of her approaching.
The race is now on. Both seekers go low over their brooms, picking up speed, edging in closer to the snitch even though it too has begun to accelerate. Aleydis and he end up flying so closely together their knees bump a few times. Both have an arm outstretched, fingers reaching. Aleydis bumps up her speed a tiny bit but by thanks to Christopher's slightly longer reach, he's still able to grab the snitch before she does but, Merlin, that was close!
With a score of Ravenclaw 190, Hufflepuff 20, Christopher turns to Aleydis, hand outstretched to shake. "You nearly had it."
Aleydis offers a small grin. "Nearly. Good catch."
He thanks her then both fly towards the ground to join teammates already touching down. Christopher doesn't know about anyone else but now that the match has ended and he's not feeling the stress and adrenaline of finding the elusive snitch, he's really starting to feel the cold and could really use some sort of snack along with a warm beverage.