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(Franciscus & Beatrix) Goals x 2
Author: Griet
Date: 06-15-14 18:02
Franciscus held his breath the split second it took for the quaffle to leave Ramona's fingers and sail towards the goals, but then Hunter Green reached out and slapped the ball back into the fray. A mad scramble to gain possession of the ball followed. Shoulders rammed into each other, broomsticks and arms became a jumbled mess, but then Ramona had the quaffle again and attempted another goal. This time Hunter caught the ball outright.
He handed the quaffle to Hunter Rabnott, who held onto the ball for about two seconds before he passed it to Max. Max wove right and left like a slalom skier, expertly dodging every obstacle in his way. He only got to mid-pitch, however, when a bludger courtesy Aderyn struck him between the shoulder blades. Madoc had been seconds from intercepting the ball, delayed only when Cai came out of nowhere and crossed his path during her systematic search for the golden snitch.
Alastor was in position to snatch the ball from the stunned Max. He turned 180 degrees and threw the ball to Franciscus. Franciscus tucked it securely against his side and darted forward, diving suddenly when Hunter deliberately got in his way. He pulled up ahead of Hunter and passed the quaffle to his cousin Ramona. Ramona drew in close to the Gryffindor keeper, but passed the quaffle right back to Franciscus at the last second. He wasted no time and shot the ball forward, through one of the hoops without hitting any rim.
"Vanderbilt, that's Franciscus Vanderbilt, scores for Ravenclaw!" the announcer cried out. "Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are tied, 20-20!"
Hunter Green gave the quaffle to Mildred. From across the Pitch, Beatrix watched as the cluster of chasers drew closer and closer to her. She got herself ready for their onslaught and silently hoped that she wouldn't take another bludger to the face like she had during Ravenclaw's last match. She knew Ash was out there somewhere and she really didn't want him to see her looking less than her best (again).
She found herself wondering if she should use some of the money she had gotten through the Kendra Beck Hogwarts Scholarship on a makeover. Beatrix knew she was somewhat pretty, but Ash hardly noticed her. Maybe if she changed her look or enhanced her natural beauty somehow, he would fall head over heels in love with her…
Beatrix blinked when she realized the Gryffindors were upon her. What would her teammates think if they knew daydreaming about a boy was the reason she'd let a goal get past her? Luckily, when Max lined up to attempt a goal, Beatrix was there in body and mind to knock it away… and just in the knick of time, too!
The ball rebounded into Alastor's arms. He spun around and away in the blink of an eye. Beatrix watched intently until he reached the halfway point before allowing herself to relax even the slightest bit. Alastor quickly found himself surrounded almost on all sides. He made the split second decision to pass to Franciscus.
Franciscus caught the pass without any trouble and leaned over his broomstick to cut down on wind resistance. He picked up a little bit of speed. Suddenly, he felt a whoosh go right past his ear and then saw a black bludger fly ahead of him. He knew someone had meant to hit him with it and had missed. Franciscus hoped that Jade or Aderyn would get it, but he groaned inwardly when he saw Madoc drop down to intercept the bludger.
Madoc aimed the ball straight for Franciscus. At just the right moment, Franciscus rolled out of its path. The dodge slowed him down a little bit and allowed the other chasers to catch up to him. Mildred came up beside him and attempted to swipe the ball from his arm. When Max pulled up to his other side, Franciscus pulled the ball even tighter against his body. He flew steadily ahead and then quickly let the quaffle free, hoping neither Mildred nor Max would get a hand on it as it headed straight for one of the hoops.
Beatrix let out a loud groan that nobody but she could hear when Hunter Green knocked the quaffle back into the cluster of chasers. The distance was far enough that she couldn't see clearly who recovered the ball first. Beatrix craned her neck as if it would help her see past the pack, but she couldn't see a darn thing!
Ramona let the quaffle fly, only for Hunter to turn it back again. Franciscus darted ahead of Max to gain possession of the ball and tried another goal attempt, but this time Hunter kicked the ball away with the toe of his shoe. Alastor reached for the ball with a tall stretch of his arm, but only managed to have the quaffle rebound off his palm. Franciscus was right there to receive it and threw the ball the same time Jade got a bludger off at her brother.
Hunter wavered for half a second as if debating whether he could withstand the hit and block the goal attempt, but instinct one out and he dodged out of the way of the bludger's path. Franciscus pumped his fist in the air when he scored again. Now Ravenclaw was leading 30 to 20!
(Madoc) Snitchnip
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 06-16-14 11:24
Madoc flew into action, setting his sights on a bludger he might use on Franciscus, who was busy trying to distract Mildred. She had possession of the quaffle and found it very difficult to pass the ball with Franciscus practically on top of her. A part of Madoc hoped he would hit Franciscus in his throwing arm so that the Ravenclaw chaser couldn't score anymore goals. He'd done three already!
Madoc flew around the bludger to intercept it and hit it so hard, he felt the vibration of the hit travel up the length of his arm. The bludger screamed in Franciscus' direction, but then Jade popped up out of nowhere and redirected it towards Mildred. Madoc was too far away to save her, but Edgar managed to put himself between his teammate and the black ball. He turned it back towards Franciscus. The bludger clipped the bristles of the Ravenclaw's broomstick and caused him to spin out. Alastor, who had been flying a little too closely, got bumped into and also briefly lost control of his broomstick.
By now, Mildred had pulled ahead and lobbed the ball toward Max. Max danced around Aderyn and her bludger and ducked under Bran, who had lowered his flying in his search for the snitch. Bran glanced around wildly when he realized he was directly in the path of the oncoming chasers, but they flew around him expertly.
Madoc darted after the bludger Aderyn had aimed at Max and walloped it at Hunter R., who was closing in on Max. Madoc continued on ahead, waving his bat-free hand away from his face at the sound of wings beating near his ear. He assumed a dragonfly or other large insect had decided to fly near him, but he was wrong. His hand struck the golden snitch, and it did not go unnoticed by Professor Krum.
"Foul! Snitchnip!" he shouted after blowing his whistle.
Madoc hung his shoulders. What were the chances he would accidentally touch the snitch?
Alastor took the foul shot, with only Hunter G. in his way. Hunter had already allowed one goal attempt following a foul get past him. He definitely didn't want it to happen again. Alastor sized up his options and then let the quaffle fly. Hunter stopped it with a solid catch.
Madoc breathed a sigh of relief and hoped the snitch stayed far away from him from now on!
Exclusive
Author: Lee Sickleby
Date: 06-16-14 12:59
Lee sat at a small, round table near the front of the room at Bombay Palace and perused the menu while waiting for Alaia to arrive. She wasn't late; he was simply a little bit early. It had become a habit in recent years for Lee to appear somewhere early enough to get a feel for the place and the people there. Even now he had his eyes and ears open, even though he wasn't technically working.
Alaia came in a few minutes later and immediately spotted him. He waved her over and got up to greet her with a peck of the cheek. He waited until she'd seated herself before resuming his seat.
"Were you waiting long?" she asked him, as she hung her purse on the back of the chair and then picked up her menu.
"No," Lee said. "I've only been here a few minutes. Did you go see your parents?"
"Yes, and they gave me the guilt trip again about not keeping up with nursing. I know they mean well, and they aren't horribly sore with me for starting up my own business instead, but sometimes I wish they would just let it go."
"I understand," Lee said, "but I think that is what parents do. They want what they think is best for their children, even when we might have a better idea of what is best for us."
"Do your parents ever wish you were more than just a clerk at the Ministry of Magic?" Alaia asked.
A waiter came over to take their drink order. Alaia asked for a mango lassi, while Lee opted to stick with water.
He answered her question after the waiter departed. "Yes, but then I remind them that I am working my way up from the bottom. Sometimes it takes a long time to climb each rung of the ladder."
Alaia nodded. "Especially if you're waiting for somebody to retire or get sacked!"
Lee chuckled. "Especially then."
They fell silent for a moment, each studying the menu. When Lee made up his mind, he set his menu aside and studied Alaia. She wore her hair in a ponytail and had on a thin, jeweled headband. Twinkling chandelier earrings teased the tops of her shoulders, which were nearly bare due to the wide-neck sweater she wore.
When at last she made her selection, she put down her menu and noticed Lee watching her. A smile spread across her face and she murmured, "What?"
Lee smiled at her. "Things have been going well between us, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think so," Alaia agreed.
They had gone out on several dates, including one last night to a special exhibition at the Royal Museum of Magic.
"I don't want us to date other people," Lee said. He hadn't technically dated anyone else since meeting Alaia, but with things growing more serious between them, he thought it best they make things a little more official.
"I don't want us to date other people either," Alaia murmured, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. "I think we should be exclusive."
"I do too," Lee replied, but before he could say anything more, the waiter was back by their table, inquiring after their orders.
They told him what they wanted and then resumed their conversation, both seemingly pleased with the direction their relationship was taking.
(Ramona) Chasing
Author: Griet
Date: 06-16-14 17:43
After Alastor's goal attempt, Hunter Green gave the ball to Mildred. She darted ahead, only to get stopped by a bludger thanks to Aderyn. Instead of turning over the ball to one of the Ravenclaw chasers, however, Max was there to recover the ball. He hurried forward with it pulled close to his body. Ramona rushed to catch up to him and moved alongside, her eyes on the red ball in the crook of his arm.
Max cast a quick glance around to see if Mildred or Hunter Rabnott could accept a pass, but Mildred was still a bit behind him and Hunter was boxed in by Franciscus and Alastor. Max did the only thing he could. He shifted the ball from his right arm to his left as quickly as he could. Ramona swiped her arm out to grab it, but she was a fraction too slow. A well-timed bludger, or maybe an accident, rammed right into it, popping it free from Max's grasp.
Ramona pushed herself forward to catch it, but so did all the other chasers. They scrambled madly after it, watching as it soared in an arc ahead of them. Alastor was the quickest, managing to dart ahead of the ball, throw a glance over his shoulder, and catch it with both arms like a wide receiver in American football. If only the Gryffindor goal hoops were in front of him and not the Ravenclaw ones, or he could have kept on going, faster and faster until he got within scoring range. Unfortunately, Alastor had to make an abrupt turn and dart in the opposite direction.
Max tried to cut him off, but Alastor dodged him. He looked to Franciscus and threw the ball, relieved when the younger chaser caught it without any problems. Franciscus pulled ahead and then tossed the ball to Ramona. Ramona flattened herself against the shaft of her broomstick and torpedoed to where Hunter Green waited. She gave no indication to where she might throw until the last possible second. Hunter tried his best to stop the ball, but he wasn't quite quick enough.
"Mickle scores!" cried the commentator. "Ravenclaw leads, 40-20!"
Hunter retrieved the ball and handed it to the other Hunter. Rabnott took off with record speed, with Ramona hot on his heels. For a brief moment, she wondered who Sadie was rooting for, her boyfriend or her sister. Definitely her boyfriend, Ramona decided. She thought about her own boyfriend then and decided that Gus had better be rooting for her team. Ramona was tempted to look for him in the stands, but she had a more important matter that required her attention at the moment.
She urged her broomstick to fly faster and tried to close the distance between herself and the Gryffindor chaser currently in possession of the quaffle.
Suddenly Not Feeling Well (Devon)
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 06-16-14 19:38
Sitting next to another second year, Gryffindor Lauren MacDougal, Devon tries hard to stifle a yawn. The harder she tries the bigger the yawn grows. Finally giving in to it, the yawn is so huge Devon's jaw hurts and each side of her face feels stretch. Lauren takes her eyes off the Quidditch match long enough to ask, "How can you be bored right now?"
Yawning again, though not as enormously, Devon shakes her head. "I'm not bored. I'm suddenly very sleepy."
Lauren again asks, "How? The match is exciting, even if Gryffindor's behind right now."
"I don't know. I was fine one second and the next I can barely keep my eyes open. My throat's starting to hurt a little too."
Lauren looks at her again, this time with mild alarm. "Your throat hurts? Is it catching?"
"I don't know. It just started."
"Throat getting sore. Suddenly tired. Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey."
The stadium erupts in cheers as Ravenclaw scores again, putting them in the lead 40 to 20. Devon gives Lauren a rueful smile, both because Lauren's team is losing by a wider margin and because she thinks how awful it is to start coming down with something on a Saturday, during a Quidditch match no less. At least her own house, Hufflepuff, isn't playing. She'd really hate to miss any of that.
Feeling stiff and creaky as she stands, Devon tells Lauren goodbye and excusing herself along the row where they are sitting, makings her way to the ground. By the time she reaches the castle, it occurs to her that she never looked to see if Madam Pomfrey might be at the match. Even if she isn't, the witch can't spend all her time in the hospital wing, can she? As Devon's throat is now also feeling scratchy in addition to sore, she hopes she'll find the nurse in.
Carters on the Pitch - Ravenclaw leads by 30
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 06-18-14 17:55
Shifting on her broom Cai continued searching the pitch for the snitch - hoping that she would be able to actually find it and end the match because right now she was eagerly wanting a hot cup of tea and a bowl of chicken noodle soup (or really any soup in general) because she was feeling miserable. She'd woken up stuffy nosed, and achy and honestly hadn't wanted to get out of bed.
However, she'd managed to make it through a few things this morning and ultimately was feeling better by the time the match rolled around. Though as things progressed and the match wore on, her energy began to flag and ultimately she was eagerly ready for her pjs, her bed and a hot cup of tea and maybe a potion from Madame Pomfrey.
Cheers rose up from the stands and she thought that was the goal that Ravenclaw had made that made the score 40-20 and that really wouldn't do. Down by twenty? Seriously? What was going on with her team?
Currently, the quaffle was in Gryffindor's possession - in the hands of Mildred who was closing in on the Ravenclaw hoops in an attempt to score and bring the lead down by ten. Right now, I was currently scanning over the pitch trying to find the snitch - and it was doing a fairly decent job of hiding.
Within minutes, and after a deft, careful pass of the quaffle to Max Owens - who only barely managed to get the quaffle past the fingertips of Beatrix Vanderbilt. That put the score at 40-30, closing the gap at least a little bit.
Aderyn shifted on her broom, Ravenclaw was winning, and that was a good thing because she wanted the win - she was a bit competitive and especially going up against her sister, and right now they were both enjoying the competition - despite the fact that Cai was feeling sick.
At the moment she watching the bludgers that were racing around the pitch - she caught a motion from Jade and quickly moved to direct the bludger to disrupt the pass of the quaffle between Mildred and Hunter R. It was barely a success, and Mildred had to shift position to avoid getting in the direct path of the bludger, which allowed Ramona to take possession of the free falling quaffle.
Quickly the mass of chasers and beaters turned and headed toward the Gryffindor hoops guarded by Hunter Green. Madoc quickly hit the bludger when Ramona tried to pass the quaffle to Alastor, and unfortunately the bludger was off the mark and Alastor quickly made another attempt to score, but Hunter was quick to block the score attempt the first time. However, thanks to a well hit bludger from Jade, Alastor's second attempt would soar through the right most hoop, bringing the score up to 50 for Ravenclaw and 30 for Gryffindor)
Now, it was simply up to either Cai or Bran to locate the snitch and end the match.
(Current Score: Ravenclaw 50 Gryffindor 30)
Jolted (Bran)
Author: Saffron
Date: 06-18-14 19:06
Bran has spotted the snitch for sure twice so far this match. Once it vanished in a blink. Literally. He saw it, had to blink, then it was gone.
The second time he'd gone in pursuit before Gryffindor seeker Cai realized. Thanks to a bludger courtesy of Edgar that sighting too was short lived.
A few other times during the match Bran thought he spotted the small winged ball. One of those times got him targeted by a bludger. There were additional bludgers but sometimes the beaters do that just to break a seeker's rhythm or because they think the seeker might have seen something.
He wouldn't have minded something happing like what happened to Madoc earlier in the match. The snitch had come right up to Madoc and Bran guesses it buzzed his ear or something along those lines. However it happened, Madoc was charged with a foul for touching the snitch, a no no for anyone but seekers in match.
Slowing as chasers cut across his current flight path, Bran has a good opportunity to be spectator for a few seconds. Max has the quaffle gripped in one hand, his arms making jerking motions as though he's about to pass to Hunter Rabnott. Ramona is right there on him making that pass more difficult. Max makes a throw diagonally across his body to Mildred instead.
Mildred catches the quaffle easily enough but securing her grip on it is made more difficult by a bludger from Jade. Alastor uses the opportunity to attempt a steal but comes up empty handed. Mildred accelerates away from him while finally getting a good hold on the ball.
With the path clear once again, Bran forces his eyes away from the main action to continue with his search. He doesn't make it far before he's turning his head to see how the Gryffindor chasers are faring now that they are in Beatrix's vicinity rather than simply listening to the running commentary as he tries to do when it's not overly distracting from the task of finding that snitch.
In that brief moment he'd looked away, Mildred has passed to Hunter Rabnott. Bran watches as Beatrix rebuffs Hunter's attempt with Franciscus grabbing up the rebound. With the quaffle back in Ravenclaw hands for the time being, Bran redirects his attention back to his quest.
No sooner has he turned his head to resume the search than something nearly slams into his face. His entire body along with his broom jolt from the shock of it. Crossed eyed he looks at this thing, comprehension dawning that it's the snitch. Without further hesitation, Bran snatches at the ball with its rapidly beating wings still nearly touching his face.
Only after he's sure he's got a full hold on it and the snitch's wings have slowed then calmed entirely does Bran triumphantly hold up the coveted ball. Across the Quidditch stadium the announcement rings, "HYLAND WITH THE SNITCH! RAVENCLAW WINS 200 TO GRYFFINDOR'S 30!"