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Start Of The Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw Match
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 06-15-13 13:01
Though still a little on the cool side for some, the last day of March is very much a typical early spring day for this area. A big plus is that the sun is out and though there are some clouds here and there, rain isn't in the forecast and the clouds are more the large, fluffy variety, not grey and foreboding. Standing on the pitch, trunk of balls at his feet, Viktor's opinion is that this is a very good day for a match. Of the same opinion are the two friends who'd helped Viktor referee the last match Karl Broadmoor and Flora Lynch.
With the day being so nice the stands rapidly filled. From his vantage down on the pitch the seats look fairly packed to Viktor. The match announcer starts up the usual pregame chatter, a cue for Flora and Karl to take up positions in the air. Shortly after that the teams are announced.
First is Gryffindor, the announcer loudly calling out their names as each flies from the locker room, taking a turn around the pitch to growing applause. There are the two beaters Madoc McGonagall and Edgar Steele, the chasers Hunter Rabnott, Marjani Batuti, and Julietta Wynbourne, keeper Hunter Green, and seeker Cai Carter.
The Ravenclaw team, in its blue and bronze uniforms, makes a turn around the pitch as well as the members exit the locker room, their names echoing around the pitch. The two beaters are Jade Green and Aderyn Carter and the three chasers are Ramona Mickle, Jack Emerson, and Alastor Jenkins. The Ravenclaw keeper is Beatrix Vanderbilt with Christopher Chant as seeker.
The team captains, Etta and Jack, meet Viktor in the center of the pitch to hear the usual admonishment to, "Play a clean game." The two shake then mount their brooms to join their respective teams as Viktor releases the bludgers and the snitch. Last is the quaffle and once it's in the air, the match is on, Viktor taking to the air right behind.
Marjani, Hunter R, and Etta vie with Jack, Alastor, and Ramona for the quaffle. Marjani has fingers on it but Alastor does as well, wrenching it from her before she's able to strengthen her grip and fully take possession of the red ball. She makes a sort of grunt as Alastor wrests the quaffle away and takes off.
Alastor attempts to put some distance between him and Marjani but she's right behind him. To her left are Jack and Hunter R. She can see Etta in her side vision to the right but doesn't see Ramona at all. What she does see is a bludger coming straight at her. As she pulls to the side, tilting slightly on her broom, Marjani can see Jade ahead and is pretty sure that's who she has to thank for the bludger. As this could be her last match at Hogwarts, if Gryffindor doesn't make the championship, Marjani does not want to be taken out of the game before it's even begun. She fully expects to get hit by some bludgers during the match but that one looked like it might have conked her in the head if she'd not moved. If he thought Marjani had even a hint of a concussion, Viktor would take her from the match in a heartbeat. He's annoyingly overprotective that way. She can well imagine how bad he'll be when he has kids who are actually his own and not ones thrust upon him as Marjani and Zuberi more or less had been.
Alastor makes a pass to Jack, Hunter R very nearly intercepting. When Edgar clips him on the shoulder with a bludger, Hunter R is able to get the quaffle afterall. Steal made, the Gryffindor chaser turns the direction of the action. He narrowly dodges a bludger, so narrowly Marjani wonders if he didn't get a tiny bit of a hit from it on his leg. If he did though, it wasn't enough for him to even take notice.
Looking to pass, Hunter R sends the quaffle to Etta. Darting around Aderyn, she accelerates in the direction Beatrix awaits. Marjani increases her own speed, wanting to get into a better position to assist Etta should it be needed. There's still a little way to go to be in the best range to throw for goal but Marjani wants to be ready, sure that Gryffindor will make the first goal attempt of the match and, hopefully, the first goal as well.
Headache (Hunter)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 06-15-13 18:04
For a moment Hunter had thought that he'd be first of the two keepers on the spot to defend against the opposing team's onslaught as it tries to add ten points to the score. Usually he'd be eagerly anticipating the opportunity to rebuff the other team's efforts but today he's got a killer headache and for once Hunter is just fine with all the action staying down Beatrix's way. Besides, the more Beatrix is having to deal with the quaffle, the higher the likelihood Gryffindor will score.
Hunter had gotten up with the headache and as he doesn't get them very often, generally only when he's sick, it's definitely not easy trying to pay attention to the match with the pounding in his skull. Before downing a potion he'd commented to one of his roommates that the thumping in his head was like having a jackhammer drilling around. All that earned him was a blank look followed by Hunter having to promise to explain what a jackhammer is, complete with pictures.
The potion helped dull the pain, but only a little. He'd have paid a visit to Madam Pomfrey for something stronger if not for the fact that with the headache as bad as it is and one potion only cutting the pain a little she'd want to make sure he isn't coming down with something. If Gryffindor doesn't make the big game then Hunter doesn't want to miss his last game of the Hogwarts season.
Unless he's mistaken, right now Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are the two teams at the top of the leader board. Gryffindor trails Hufflepuff but not by much, though it is quite a bit ahead of Slytherin, 190 points total to date versus only 70, but there's this match for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw and there's the last regular match, which is between Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Depending on scores today and the next match, teams may be great shuffled on the total points list.
His team's chasers have reached Beatrix so Hunter, squinting against the headache and listening to the student announcing the match, refocuses on the game. He'd somehow missed a pass that put Marjani with the quaffle. She drives forward, throwing to her left. Beatrix bats the ball back with one hand, sending it straight to the other Hunter, Hunter Rabnott.
Hunter R. goes to throw straight away but jerks his arm in close to his body as a bludger from Jade passes by uncomfortably close. Once he's on the clear, Hunter R. tries again. Once more Beatrix turns it back. This time Jack's able to get the rebound, whirling around on his broom and rocketing away.
Hunter rubs a circular pattern on one of his temples, thinking this would be an excellent time for that potion to finally fully work. He'd never admit to anyone how relieved he is that Jack is forced to slow thanks to a bludger from Madoc. Etta catches up with him, harrying Jack's progress in Hunter's direction. Jack passes to Ramona, who has to duck under her own teammate Aderyn as the younger girl climbs going after a bludger.
The three Ravenclaw chasers pass the quaffle back and forth, working it nearer to Hunter while holding Etta, Hunter R., and Marjani at bay. Still squinting against the headache pain, Hunter keeps his eyes on the quaffle, not wanting to be caught off guard if they make it all the way to him.
Ouch
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 06-16-13 09:16
Madoc banked right, swerving past Christopher, and reached out his bat arm to intercept a bludger knocked away by Jade. He slammed the black ball hard, feeling the vibration travel up the length of his arm. It flew squarely between Marjani and Hunter R. and nailed Ramona in the shoulder, loosening her hold on the quaffle. Hunter swooped in for the steal and immediately turned tail to carry the red ball in the opposite direction.
Madoc circled around and quickly scanned for the two bludgers, debating which he should pursue. In a matter of seconds, it became evident that he would have zero luck reaching either before both Ravenclaw chasers could, so he zoomed ahead to protect Hunter R. from the attacks that would probably follow. Sure enough, Aderyn and Jade struck each bludger within seconds apart and aimed both for Hunter, who retained possession of the quaffle. Madoc urged his broomstick faster and pulled up beside Hunter, while Edgar fell into position on the chaser's other side.
Edgar knocked Aderyn's bludger away, angling his bat so that the ball traveled in Alastor's direction. Around the same time, Madoc focused on the other bludger and prepared to swing, but he grossly underestimated where it would strike his bat. It hit low, squishing his fingers and forcing a grunt from his lips.
A shrill whistle sounded, and the game came to a halt. Professor Krum suddenly materialized at Madoc's side and gently pried the bat from the boy's bruised fingers.
"Can you move them?" asked Professor Krum.
Madoc hesitated and then gently uncurled his fingers. Nothing appeared broken, but everything hurt.
He knew the pain would gradually subside, though with the extent of the bruising, it probably wouldn't totally go away before the end of the match. Madoc was ambidextrous, however, and told Professor Krum that he could continue playing and just use his other hand. If in time, his other hand felt well enough to handle the bat again, then Madoc would resume using it, as it was the one he favored, but he could certainly make do with the other one for the time-being.
Professor Krum handed over the beater's bat, which Madoc took into his other hand. He gave it a practice swing to show he had no qualms about resuming playing. With a nod, Professor Krum flew off to put the quaffle back into play. Madoc waited for the whistle and then traced the immediate area for the nearest of the two bludgers.
(Beatrix & Ramona) Keeper & Chaser
Author: Griet
Date: 06-16-13 09:18
The timeout gave Beatrix the chance to rest. Playing keeper often meant she spent a good period of time seemingly doing nothing, but she always needed to be alert in case the quaffle changed hands, which usually happened in a split second. It never mattered if the pack happened to be way across the Pitch. The quaffle could find its way in her neck of the woods in no time at all.
Her reason for wanting a bit of a rest was because Beatrix suffered from a terrible cough. Whatever sickness she had seemed concentrated in her lungs, resulting in her constantly hacking up the mucus built-up in there. Occasionally, she felt a tickle in her throat which set her off in a coughing fit, but for the most part, the coughing started from deep within and sounded like a bullfrog croaking up swampy water.
At least Beatrix didn't feel lightheaded or stuffyheaded. She would never be able to stay upright on her broomstick if she were. Beatrix also didn't experience reduced reaction times, diminished energy, or fatigue. Except for the terrible cough, she felt perfectly fine. She just needed a bit of a break to cough up a lung without worrying about the quaffle suddenly finding itself on her side of the Pitch.
All too soon, the quaffle was put back into play by Coach Krum. Beatrix cleared her throat, making a face as she swallowed a bit of mucus stuck at the back of her throat. She almost felt like spitting, but since Hunter R. had the quaffle and was rapidly drawing nearer, she refrained from doing anything other than readying herself for his approach. He quickly handed off the quaffle to Etta, but a case of butterfingers had the ball plummeting to the ground.
Ramona angled herself into a dive, corkscrewing as she attempted to claim the quaffle for Ravenclaw. In her scramble to get it, the bristles of somebody's broomstick scratched her cheek, but she ignored the stinging discomfort and plowed ahead. Ramona caught the red ball with both hands, then simultaneously maneuvered the ball to the crook of one arm and pulled up the nose of her broomstick.
When she was more or less level, she made a quick dash to the right, sliding between Cai and Madoc. She tossed a quick look over her shoulder to make sure the Gryffindor beater hadn't already intercepted a bludger to send her way and then threw the quaffle overhand to Alastor. He secured the red ball to his side and accelerated, momentarily moving ahead of the pack.
Ramona crossed the distance to the goal hoops, arriving around the time Alastor made his first goal attempt. The quaffle bounced off the rim and landed in his arms again. He shot a second time, only to have Hunter G. slap at the ball. Ramona nearly caught the rebound, but Etta was a hair quicker and flitted away with the coveted quaffle in her arms.
Turning to follow, Ramona leaned forward over her broomstick and jetted after Etta, who promptly passed the quaffle to Marjani. Marjani let the quaffle fly to Hunter R., and so on and so on. Ramona tried to wedge herself between the tight-knit Gryffindor chasers, but their formulation flying and quick handiwork was flawless. They reached the Ravenclaw goal hoops all too soon.
(Aderyn) Big Sis - 0 Little Sis - 10
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 06-16-13 17:10
This game was the game that I'd been dreading all year. It was against Cai on the Gryffindor team. It would be interesting and the two of us had been sharing playful, competitive banter all week long leading up to the game today.
At the moment, Cai was higher up on her broom scouting for the snitch, in hopes that Gryffindor would come out the victor and hopefully put them in the running for the Championship game closer to the end of term. Though, Ravenclaw right now, was a big contender for that game as well.
There had already been a time out, when Madoc's hand had gotten hit, and he would no doubt have bruised knuckles for a while. Beyond that, my seasonal allergies were slowly starting to creep in with the change in seasons, which means that I was soon enough going to be miserable through the remainder of term. Right now, I was only dealing with slight sniffles and sneezing, but it would ultimately progress to the runny nose and watering eyes by the time spring had fully sprung.
Shifting my weight on my broom, I kept my eyes on the bludger that was just hit by Madoc in an attempt to knock the quaffle, or Ramona off track once she'd caught the quaffle a few moments ago.
I watched the bludger, and waited for a moment, before darting forward, briefly into the path of Ramona and lobbing the bludger toward Hunter R, who was attempting to try and close the distance between himself and Ramona to get the quaffle.
Jade managed to get to the other black ball and lobbed it in the direction of Gryffindor chaser Marjani, who was trying to come up on Ramona's other side, but couldn't get between Ramona and Jack anyway.
After a few moments, the quaffle was soon handed off from Ramona to Jack, and the chaser bent down over his broom, heading closer to the hoops guarded by Gryffindor Keeper, Hunter Green. I looked around for the bludgers, Edger had gotten to one, and I was slightly closer to the other than Jade was. I attempted to time it just right.
Edgar took a swing at the bludger, attempting to knock the quaffle off it's path and was nearly successful, but my bludger managed to knock into it, sending it spiraling toward Hunter Green, who was forced to move out of the way or take the bludger hit to the chest, which allowed there to be just enough space for the quaffle to sail through the right most hoop and send a cheer through the Ravenclaw fans in the stands.
The announcer's voice filled the pitch:
"With the first score of the game, Jack Emmerson, 10 point for Ravenclaw!"
(Edgar) Counter Strike
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 06-17-13 03:02
Edgar could not help to feel a bit upset when Jack Emerson scored. Gryffindor had lost the match against Hufflepuff and if the same thing happened today than there wouldn't be any chances of his house to make it to the Championship match.
To make things worse, Madoc had injured himself, but thank Merlin he was able to hold the bat with his left hand. Edgar was very impressed because his aim was still good and it was as if nothing had changed. There was still a balance between them and the Ravenclaw beaters, Jade and Aderyn.
Hunter Green passed the quaffle to Etta and the Gryffindor chasers got ready to counter-strike. Edgar used his bat to protect them from the bludgers, not really aiming at any of the Ravenclaw chasers in particular. He just focused on getting the heavy balls out of the way so Etta, Hunter Rabnott and Marjani could fly safely towards Beatrix Vanderbilt's hoops.
Etta had passed the quaffle to Hunter who flew with agility to the Ravenclaw side of the pitch. He then threw the red ball back to Etta. Ramona Mickle tried to intercept the pass but without success. At the corner of his eye Edgar saw Jade Green, Hunter's sister, aiming a bludger to Marjani who had managed to get rid of Alastor who was marking her, already in position to receive the quaffle. Edgar flew in that direction and with his bat he sent the bludger away, to the other side of the pitch.
He wondered what Hunter might feel having his twin sister playing against him. He had never asked him. The same thing applied to Cai and Aderyn. There seemed to be some healthy competition between them. But Edgar was sure if Evelyn would be playing against him there would be no mercy. She would take the match very seriously. Not that Edgar didn't consider Quidditch important, but he wouldn't try and injure his sister unless it was really needed. But he was sure Evelyn would not have second thoughts about inflicting him pain. Thank Merlin she never showed much interest in becoming a beater.
Marjani was very close to Beatrix's hoops but instead of trying to score she passed the quaffle to Etta who was better positioned. The captain of the Gryffindor team converted the pass into a potent shot but Beatrix made a good defense. Edgar recognized a fearless glow in her eyes and the people on the stands clapped their hands.
Beatrix handed the quaffle to Jack Emerson and Madoc gesticulated from the other side of the pitch. Edgar nodded, understanding what he meant: it was time to attack the Ravenclaw chasers with the bludgers. Edgar adjusted the bat in his hand ready for action.