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Here A Bludger, There A Bludger (Caerwyn)
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-09-14 08:55
Reducing speed to better take in the pitch as a whole, looking to find the current location of both the bludgers, Caerwyn does a slow head roll. He'd fallen asleep reading and ended up with a slight crick in his neck as a result. One of the bludgers turns out to relatively close to his position so the head roll stops and broom speed increases, bat at the ready.
Target in mind, Ramona Mickle who's just taken possession of the quaffle after a pass from Franciscus Vanderbilt, he comes up on the bludger at the right angle, smashing the bat against the bludger to give the ball the necessary velocity to reach Ramona. The bludger is on track until Jade Green stops it from reaching Ramona. Jade sends it in Jasper Jenkin's direction and though Caerwyn has no hope of getting there in time, Gus Hodfuffer is nearby and stops the bludger from hitting Jasper.
Gus, in turn, sends that very same bludger towards Franciscus, who's just taken the quaffle back from Ramona. Aderyn Carter has just send the second bludger on a path to connect with Marlow MacDougal. Caerwyn hadn't been sitting still since hitting the other bludger so is in Marlow's vicinity. He isn't going to reach her in time but is near enough to be heard, or so he hopes, so he yells a warning. Marlow pulls back on her broom while turning at the same time. The bludger gets her but just grazing by, doing no damage and any pain inflicted is minimal.
Franciscus passes to Alastor Jenkins but a combination of Alastor having to duck that second bludger and an especially strong gust of wind just then has him fumbling. Sadie Mickle snatches the quaffle away, jetting off to where Beatrix Vanderbilt serves as Ravenclaw's keeper. Caerwyn races to beat Jade to one of the bludgers, him wanting to help the Hufflepuff chasers get the quaffle to the hoops and past Beatrix for another ten points, her wanting to prevent that very thing from happening. It's Jade to the bludger first so Caerwyn darts away, ready to intercept it once Jade's batted the bludger at her chosen target.
Another Goal Made (Jade)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 02-09-14 12:57
Sadie has passed to Jasper and now he's closing in on Beatrix's position. Caerwyn had gotten to a bludger before Jade and because she was so close to him, only just out of the reach of the Hufflepuff's bat, she had to sprint after the bludger to cut it off. Unfortunately, Marlow and Ramona get in the way, making it impossible to get the angle Jade needs to redirect the quaffle from Caerwyn's hit towards Alastor, who'd been trying to get the quaffle from Sadie and then tried to intercept the pass between Jasper and her.
Franciscus is directly between Jade and Jasper so hitting the bludger at the Hufflepuff chaser is no good either. Jade swivels on her broom, knocking the bludger at Marlow instead. Maybe that will slow her down. In the meantime, Jasper has annoyingly gotten in near to Beatrix. The other bludger suddenly appears, knocking into Jasper. Jade smiles, not having to glance around to know that it's Aderyn's work. If not Aderyn then Gus just made a big faux pas. Either way, Jasper loses his grip on the quaffle.
Franciscus and Jasper grapple for the ball, neither of them able to get a good grasp of it. Sadie swoops down as the quaffle falls, grabbing it up. She then tosses it to Marlow, who quickly shook off that bludger hit Jade sent her way only seconds ago. Marlow throws, trying to fake Beatrix out on where the ball's going to go but unable to fool the Ravenclaw keeper, the goal attempt is turned by with a hard swat of Beatrix's hand.
Ramona makes a dive for the rebound but jerks back when a bludger crosses her path. This allows Jasper to get his hands on the quaffle again. Jade goes for that bludger that just harried Ramona. She smacks it at Jasper, biting her lower lip knowing it's going to be close as to whether it gets to Jasper before he gets the shot off. The quaffle gets Jasper in the hand but he's just let go of the quaffle and the direction of the hit pushes his hand sideways, not forward, where it might have knocked into the ball and sent it off course.
The other bludger, coming from the direction she'd just seen Gus, whacks Beatrix at the same moment she's leaning over for the quaffle block. The bludger throws her off just enough that the quaffle gets by her. Jade exhales loudly in frustration as the scores goes to 30 for Hufflepuff with Ravenclaw still at 20.
(Aleydis) Snitch Spotted
Author: Griet
Date: 02-09-14 15:44
Aleydis swiped the sleeve of her uniform across her nose and for the thousandth time wished she had a stockpile of tissues in her pocket. She wasn't sick, but the cold was making her nose run like a leaky faucet. Every time she looked down or leaned forward, she felt her nose begin to drip. It was terribly distracting.
Sometimes she caught sightings of the golden snitch early on, but this was the sort of match where she had yet to see it at all. From the looks of things, Bran Hyland, Ravenclaw's young, new seeker, also hadn't seen it yet. In some ways, it made for a boring game, at least on the part of the two seekers.
Aleydis was certainly very pleased that Hufflepuff led the match, even if it was only by ten points. After Beatrix handed the quaffle off to Franciscus, the ball made it only so far before it was overturned after a pass between Franciscus and Alastor was fumbled.
Sadie snatched the ball from the air after it went into freefall and then darted back to where Beatrix prepared for yet another onslaught of goal attempts. She shot, but Beatrix knocked the ball away with her hand. Jasper caught the rebound, but again Beatrix swatted the ball away from the hoops.
Alastor caught the ball and zoomed away, but Caerwyn and Gus simultaneously shot bludgers at him from either side. He swerved to miss one but couldn't outrun the other, which struck him in the arm holding the quaffle. He dropped the ball, and it was Marlow with the quaffle heading the short distance back to the goals.
She pretended to aim for one of the hoops, but at the last second, she aimed for Sadie, who shot the ball forward and into one of the unguarded hoops.
"Mickle scores again!" shouted the announcer. "Hufflepuff leads 40, to Ravenclaw's 20!"
Aleydis allowed a smile to cross her lips, but it was then that she noticed the snitch for the very first time. She wasted no time in following it, and Bran was quick to catch on to her pursuit of the winged ball. Being smaller, he easily caught up to Aleydis and even started to overtake her. Suddenly, the snitch took a hard right, and Bran turned so that he nearly ran into Aleydis, who was still slightly beside him. She swerved to avoid him and nearly spun into the stands, which were dangerously close to where they were flying.
Both lost sight of the snitch then. Aleydis darted her eyes here and there, but it was definitely gone. She frowned and glanced around at the spectators, who had gotten up from their seats to watch the two seekers chasing the snitch, which they had all seen with their own eyes as it passed in front of them.
Aleydis locked eyes with Heather Rabnott, who just happened to be her Secret Santa person. While in Hogsmeade, Aleydis had picked up an assortment of bath salts, which she thought any girl might like to have. In fact, Aleydis had gotten some for herself and planned on gifting her sisters, cousins, and mother some as well.
She looked away from Heather, wiping her nose with her sleeve as she did so, and resumed searching for the snitch.
A Little Saturday Afternoon Work
Author: Eoghan
Date: 02-09-14 17:34
Eoghan walks up behind his mother and, putting his arms around her, gives her a kiss on the cheek. "I should be off, Ma. Have some work I promised I'd get done today."
Keavy Riordin turns, one corner of her mouth turning down. "You should eat more before you go."
Eoghan pats his stomach. "I'm so stuffed I don't know where I'd put it."
Keavy tsks, bustling over to grab some containers. She waves her wand and within seconds there's food in each. "Then you'll take some for supper. You work too much and from the looks of you, Eoghan, you sometimes forget to eat."
"You're worse than Grams telling all of us we're going to dry up and blow away the first gentle breeze that comes along."
Keavy pats his cheek. "I am nothing like my mother."
Eoghan can't stop the laugh that burbles out, not even when it earns him a glare from Keavy. Maire Riordin enters then, looking from Keavy's glare to the still laughing Eoghan. "What's so funny?"
"Ma says she's nothing like Grams."
Maire snickers but quickly stifles it under Keavy's look. She shrugs. "Sorry, Ma, but you couldn't be more like Grams if you tried."
Keavy snaps a kitchen towel at Maire, which is easily dodged then thrusts the stack of food containers at Eoghan. Taking in the leftovers her brother now holds prompts Maire to ask, "Leaving already? I was hoping you'd go to the cinema with me."
"Sorry, Maire, but I promised to get some work done by this evening."
"Work," Maire repeats with a huge roll of her eyes and a slight sneer. "Work, work, work. Seems to be all you do anymore."
"Trying for a promotion."
"No matter. You shouldn't have to work slave hours."
Eoghan looks to Keavy for some support but her expressions it clear she sides with Maire on this one. He mouth purses, a retort on his lips but he ends up giving a shake of his head, stepping in to give his mother another kiss then hugs Maire. "Next weekend for the cinema, yeah? Owl me day, time, and location. My treat."
Maire returns the hug even as she sarcastically states, "Forgive me if I don't believe you until we are sitting in the theatre."
Eoghan gives her a quick peck and a wink then, with food containers in hand, goes to tell the other family members gathered at the Riordin's Ballybrack home, where they'd moved back to a couple of years ago after a long time in Greenland with both Keavy's job and that of Parlan Riordin's.
The goodbyes done, Eoghan apparates first to Dublin to deposit the foot containers and to retrieve an item before disapparating for Peel on the Isle of Mann. He's early though he wouldn't be at all surprised if his contact has also come early and is watching from somewhere nearby, making sure things are in the clear for an actual face to face.
(Luke, Edgar & Evelyn) Bags
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 02-10-14 02:37
The Gryffindor common room was almost empty. A lot of people had gone to thepitch to assist to the match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. But Luke had preferred to stay indoors with Alcmene. They had one of the largest sofas to themselves by the warm fireplace and while his girlfriend was reading The Quibbler, Luke was practicing the vanishing spell for Transfiguration on a small red handkerchief in front of him. So far he had managed to make all the four corners to disappear, but the rest of the handkerchief remained intact.
"What are you two doing here?"
Alcmene lowered her magazine and Luke looked up. Edgar was standing in the middle of the common room, covered with a scarf and a beanie, his cheeks red as the warm temperature of the common roof started to hit him.
"None of us felt like watching the match," Luke replied to his cousin. "What about you? I thought you were eager to be there today, because of Ravenclaw's new team members?
"That's what I was doing. But then a late owl dropped this on my lap…Can you believe it didn't came in a package? And I thought of bringing it to the dormitory before it would get ruined."
Edgar was holding a girl's purse in his hands.
"You were just afraid people would see you holding that," Alcmene observed and Edgar's cheeks became redder than before.
"And you are just here with Luke because you don't want your sisters to catch you snogging with him!"
Now it was her time to turn red. There was an awkward silence. Luke was the one breaking the ice asking Edgar what was the purse for.
"It's my Secret Santa gift for Savannah Applewhite. I hope she likes it."
"I got Callie Blackwell, a Slytherin. It also arrived this morning and it's on my bed."
Edgar nodded and he went upstairs to the boys' fourth year dormitory. He carefully storage Savannah's gift inside his wardrobe and he studied the present Luke was going to offer to Callie. He had also bought Callie a purse, but it had nothing to do with the one he got for Savannah. It was beige and smaller.
He went back downstairs and left the Gryffindor common room, saying goodbye to his cousin and his girlfriend. He had the feeling the moment the Fat Lady's portrait was closed behind him that Luke and Alcmene had started kissing each other. Edgar headed to the lowest floors of the castle in a rush, eager to go back to the pitch hoping the match hasn't ended yet. He almost bumped into his sister, Evelyn. She didn't seem to be in a good mood as she was holding a pile of books in one hand and a bag in the other.
"What's the matter, Ev?"
"I was expelled from the library because of a stupid owl! It kept taping the window because it had something for me. So the house elf that was in service kicked me out, saying I was disturbing the other students. As if I was the one making the noise!"
Evelyn then explained that she had a lot of things to study. She had been so caught up writing for the school newspaper that she left a lot of schoolwork behind. And now she needed to catch up urgently, since she didn't want to have bad marks on her finals. The bag she was holding was new with a blue background with a print of roses and it was destined to Katheryn Finch, a third year Ravenclaw. She was Evelyn's Secret Santa.
"It was almost falling from the window, because the owl left right away. It was carrying something else, and I guess it was in a hurry to deliver that as well."
Edgar shared with her that probably what the late owl was carrying was his own Secret Santa gift. The two siblings did not stay and chat for long because Evelyn was in a rush to continue with her study and Edgar wanted to go back to the pitch to continue to watch the match.
Wishing For A Heating Charm (Lauren)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 02-10-14 17:22
Hands wrapped around a cup of steaming mulled cider, Lauren MacDougal cheers on her sister. One of her Hufflepuff friends, Devon Abbott, pulls her coat more tightly around herself. "I wish I knew a heating charm."
"Me to! I wonder why all the stands aren't charmed. I'd think with several of our matches they'd all be, at least for the match if not all the time when it's cold."
Devon shivers again, then picks up her own still steaming cup, though hers is spiced pumpkin juice. After blowing across the top and taking a sip she states, "I wish Aleydis would hurry up and get the snitch. You've been rooting on Marlow, but since you have a cousin on the Ravenclaw team, are you silently cheering for them too?"
"Maybe a little but I've both a sister and a cousin on the other team so more for Hufflepuff. It's a good match but I'm also ready for it to be over. I'm cold and I just remembered that after breakfast I didn't put a Secret Santa gift under that tree in the Commons like I'd planned."
"I know you didn't get my name. Madeline Destrand did," Devon says of one of their second year classmates. "Some spa things and a sort of bracelet."
"I know you didn't get me either. Older Slytherin called Ash did." Lauren holds up her wrist. "He gave me this initial bracelet. So, who did you get?"
"Professor Masterson. Mum helped me with the present, a men's spa basket and some cologne."
"I have a professor too. Professor Morgan. Someone told me she cooks some. With Mum's help, we found a Chef Mommy apron and matching chef's hat and Mum found a pretty holiday apron to include too. Mum knows about Professor Morgan's husband missing so thought her little girls could use some extra cheering up and got them something to go in the Secret Santa gift. There are two matching aprons and chef hats, one each for the two older girls and a cute tiny apron and hat for Professor Morgan's baby."
Lauren stops talking as Devon and she take to their feet cheering loudly when it looks as though Hufflepuff might score a fifth goal. Seconds later, sitting down again, no goal made, the two girls shift their conversation to possibly getting a few others and getting in some studying this afternoon for the exams coming up this next week of school, the last of school for this year.
Life Changing Events
Author: Ella
Date: 02-10-14 18:21
Ramsey Dunstan Francis Harville opened his mouth in a wide yawn and then settled back to sleep. He was a perfect little baby with ten fingers, ten toes, big, blue eyes, and a smile that lit up the room. Ella was in love with him, even after she thought she couldn't possibly like him at all. Gone was her plan to give him up for adoption. He was hers and would be forever.
"I'm having a hard time believing this is real," Ella admitted softly, as she cradled her sleeping baby boy in her arms.
Francis, snuggled up beside her in the hospital bed, had his arm around her shoulders and gazed down fondly at the child he already thought of as his. "It's very real, Ella."
She smiled and leaned her head against his cheek. For the longest time, Ella and Francis had been friends, but neither had forgotten that they had been more than friends before Ella had gone away––before Zane had taken her away, altered her memories, and changed her life forever. In that moment, however, the illusion that Ella and Francis had always maintained their relationship seemed extra strong. Anyone looking in on them would see a happy couple with their firstborn child.
In the time since Ella's return, Francis had not once attempted to pick up where they had left off way back on the platform at King's Cross Station at the very end of their seventh year. He'd known that Ella would need time and space in the aftermath of her escape from Zane's clutches. The unwanted, unexpected pregnancy had made Francis all the more hesitant to push Ella prematurely into something she might not be ready for.
Since Ella had never indicated he should keep his distance, Francis had done the only thing he could. He had been Ella's friend, which she had sorely needed and had also helped with the healing process. Ella would always appreciate everything he had done for her, even when he'd had no obligation whatsoever to her or her plight.
Now things seemed different. So very different in fact that a small box in Francis' coat pocket was threatening to burn a hole through the material. They might not have officially resumed anything, but the time felt right to ask Ella a very important question.
He cleared his throat and reached for the box in his pocket.
"Ella…" he began, suddenly aware how out of the blue his proposal might sound. After all, he and Ella might care deeply for each other, but they weren't even an official couple. They hadn't even kissed since Hogwarts.
"Yes, Francis?" she murmured, so very mesmerized by Ramsey.
"There's something I want to ask you."
She finally looked away from her baby to study Francis. Before she could ask him what he wanted to know, he produced the small box and said, "I know it's a bit sudden, and I know that we never really got the chance to resume things, but I thought you should know that I've loved you all along and I want to be there for you always… for you and Ramsey, if you'll let me."
Ella opened her mouth into a perfect O. "Are you asking me to marry you?"
"I know it's strange, but––"
"No, it's not. I mean, yes, it's unexpected and it's been so long since we've… but, it's not strange. It's… it's…" Ella smiled. "It's wonderful."
"It is?" Francis asked, sounding a little unsure of himself now that the moment had passed.
"Yes," Ella said. "I mean, yes is my answer. I'll marry you, Francis."
"You will?!"
Ella laughed. "Yes. You've already proven that you're devoted to us. I'd be a fool to turn you down. Besides, you already know how I feel about you without me having to say it."
"I don't mind hearing it, though."
"I love you, Francis."
"I love you, Ella."
He slipped the ring onto her finger, and then they kissed.
(Aderyn Carter) Bruises and Gifts
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 02-10-14 18:55
The score was currently 40-20 in favor of Hufflepuff and seriously that was not really acceptable, and honestly, I was ready for the snitch to be caught so I could go inside and have some hot chocolate, spiced cider or spiced pumpkin juice – something warm. Seriously...
At the moment, I was watching for a bludger that would divert another attempt at a score by any of the Hufflepuff chasers, and to also keep the bludgers out of the reach of the Hufflepuff beaters to keep them from blocking score attempts by any of the Ravenclaw chasers.
Right now, the quaffle was currently in the hands of Hufflepuff chaser Sadie, who was currently getting ready to hand off the big red ball to Marlow, however I managed to catch sight of a bludger at just the right time, and send it flying to intercept the path of the ball. Managing to get it, I knock the ball just before Marlow could grab it, and thankfully Ramona was there to grab it.
Within moments the group of chasers was off in the opposite direction toward the hoops guarded by Glori Hodfuffer, and I quickly scanned for bludgers. Attempting to ensure that Jade and I kept the Hufflepuff chasers and beaters from interfering in the score attempts by the Ravenclaw chasers – because we seriously had to win this one, it would be a good start to the year to be certain.
With Ramona having the quaffle, she was closing in on those hoops guarded by Glori, and just before she got close enough handed the quaffle off to Alastor, and it would be he who attempted to make the shot – however a bludger by Caerwyn would block the shot entirely, sending the quaffle off into a freefall, that had several chasers diving for it. It would be Hufflepuff chaser Jasper Jenkins who grabs the quaffle and again, we were all heading back toward the hoops guarded by Beatrix Vanderbilt.
I flicked my attention up to Bran, hoping that he would catch the snitch and we all could go in and get warm, and it reminded me that I still needed to put his gift under the tree in the Commons. I'd shopped for him like I'd shop for either of my brothers, so that kind of made it easier, and I had Cai pick something up for him when she'd gone into the village.
My attention had been diverted, that I hadn't been paying attention, when I turned to check on the game, I barely had time to move from the bludger coming directly at me. Thankfully, the little bit of time I did have, I got caught in the arm, rather than the face – because I really did not want a broken nose or anything else. Now, I was really wishing that Bran or Aledyis would catch the snitch and this match could be over.
Game's End (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 02-10-14 19:33
If not for the layers underneath his Ravenclaw uniform along with the added buffer of various pieces of equipment such as shin guards, Bran is convinced he'd be frozen to his broom, unable to do anything but fly in a single, straight line, taking him further and further from the pitch unless someone stopped him. A strong gust of wind has Bran bringing a hand to shield his eyes from some sort of grit it carries. He should have thought to wear goggles.
While he's momentarily paused from seeking duties, he listens to the announcer for two or three seconds before turning his broom so he can also see, though his range of vision is limited due to still shielding his eyes. Jasper Jenkins has intercepted a pass, giving Hufflepuff possession of the quaffle. Jasper whips his broom around to speed in Beatrix Vanderbilt's direction.
Jade Green sends a bludger at him but Jasper's able to avoid it before passing to Sadie Mickle. The other bludger in the match soars towards Sadie but Gus Hodfuffer not only stops it but sends it at Sadie's sister Ramona, who's aggressively shadowing Sadie. That one goes slightly wide because Ramona alters her course when Sadie looks to be throwing a pass to Marlow MacDougal.
Bran thinks he's making a face as Hufflepuff moves the quaffle into the area around the hoops that is optimal for goal scoring. He only thinks he is because his face is numb enough he's not exactly sure what the various muscles are doing. He could be grinning wickedly for all he knows. He shifts his hand from shielding his eyes to touch his mouth but can't tell much through the gloves he's wearing to ward off the cold on his fingers and though he knows he's touching his face, there is really only a vague sensation of pressure there.
Expelling air though his mouth his breath puffing out before him, Bran turns his broom back around to resume his search for the snitch. Reaching the Hufflepuff end of the pitch, he turns to begin another pass back the other way on a slightly different path. He makes a frustrated sound while loudly exhaling, though through his nose since the inside of his mouth and down his throat still feel parched from opening his mouth a minute ago.
Movement in front but a little to the side catches Bran's attention. How the snitch can just suddenly appear in a spot when half a second before nothing was there and nothing was moving near that position is beyond Bran.
Urging his broom forward, picking up speed, he nears the winged ball, a hand outstretched for it, only to have it dash away. Bran gives chase. Aleydis, coming from the opposite direction races towards the snitch now as well. To the spectators, it would almost seem as though Aleydis and Bran are racing on a collision course in a Quidditch version of chicken.
Bran does alter his course just slightly and Aleydis does the same. The pass each other, both reaching out to grab the snitch between them as they go by. Bran isn't sure what surprises him more, that the snitch apparently slowed enough for him to catch it up and pass it or that he's caught it.
Aleydis is turning on her broom, clearly frustrated at having come up empty but also hopeful that Bran did the same. Realizing he did indeed catch the snitch, she looks crestfallen but quickly shakes it off, flying over to Bran to congratulate him on catching the snitch in his first official match.
Coach Krum is blowing a whistle to halt the other action taking place and the announcer gives the final score of Ravenclaw 170, Hufflepuff 40, Aleydis and Bran making their way to the ground, Bran still tightly clutching the snitch.