|
|
Chaser, Keeper and Seeker
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 10-26-14 16:30
Sophie was up in the air, searching for the golden snitch. Her right shoulder hurt because earlier when she was playing as a chaser, she had been hit by a bludger. Now she was trying out for seeker, bravely standing on her broom, despite the pain. It was indeed calmer to be a seeker however, she admitted it was without a doubt more nerving wrecking to search for the tiny snitch and knowing that most likely the victory of the team was in her hands. As a chaser the action was somewhat faster and you had the help of the two other chasers, so you were not alone.
She kept looking around the pitch, not forgetting to look down to the grass as well. She knew that sometimes the snitch could be found at the lowest level of the pitch. Sophie took a look at the other team's seeker. He was only a few meters away from her, and he obviously hasn't spotted the small golden ball yet. To confuse him a little, she speed up pretending she was chasing something. He followed her until he realized it was a trap.
As she kept looking for the snitch, Sophie couldn't help to think about the goal she scored earlier. She didn't know if it had been pure luck or skill but the truth was that the shot had been quite potent and it went straight to the hoop. She was able to hear Caleb and Estine and the stands clapping their hands, and cheering for her. She had also done some decent passes to her teammates.
Patricia had also played on that previous scrimmage, but as a keeper in Sophie's same team. She did not have the ambition of making the Quidditch team, she just wanted Caleb to notice her, because although she knew he was more into Gobstones than anything else, he used to assist the school's Quidditch matches and she had overheard him justifying to one of his friends at the Ravanclaw common room that he was doing homework earlier because he planned to go watch the trials today.
She liked to fly and she had done relatively well during the warm ups although in the drills she barely defended any goal. But she liked the keeper position because she didn't have to fly around like some silly fly or a bee. It has been good to play with Sophie because she was sure Caleb had at least acknowledged that she too was there at the pitch. Her exhibition has been somewhat poor, compared to her older sister's who had received a wave of applause from Caleb when she scored that goal. This left Patricia in a bad mood and she promised herself that next year she would sign up as chaser and score a dozen of goals that would leave Caleb speechless.
Meanwhile at the current scrimmage, Sophie kept searching for the snitch, trying to avoid the bludgers that were occasionally sent in her direction with the mission to stop her. She thought she had heard the noise of the snitch's wings fluttering next to her ear and when she turned around the little ball had already flew away. She accelerated, feeling the other seeker right next to her. The two of them were side to side, on the same route to catch the snitch. The boy tried to use his body to push Sophie aside, but she was able to stay steady on her broom.
They got closer and closer to the target. Sophie started stretching her arm and so did the other seeker. The snitch sensing movement turned abruptly to the left. Sophie shifted her broom with ease: she was smaller and lighter than the other boy and the movement was somewhat graceful. Thanks to this, she had gained a little advantage over the other seeker and that made her be able to catch the snitch. It was a nice feeling to feel the ball inside her hand and she smiled with happiness.
On the stands, Caleb and Estine cheered for her once again. On the sidelines, a sour Patricia looked at Caleb, already thinking of another way to call his attention, something that would not involve playing Quidditch.
Chasing (Jasper & Marlow)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 10-26-14 19:37
Dipping a hand into the bag of crisps Jasper offers Marlow looks at the crisp in her fingers. "I really shouldn't eat this."
Jasper rolls his eyes. "You hardly need to watch your weight."
"It's not that. It's that I've already had two bags all by myself and helped Lauren with another two."
"So it is that."
"No, I'm just saying I should have something that's not so junky."
Jasper points to his mouth. "Then toss that crisp in here and stop dipping into my food."
Marlow laughs and pops the crisp into her mouth instead. "I'll just eat better tomorrow."
"So you are watching your weight. Or, wait, don't tell me you're slimming." Jasper rolls his eyes again and gives a derisive snort.
Marlow levels a hard stare at him. "No, I'm not watching my weight even if it sounds like it. No, I am not on a slimming diet. You shouldn't make that sound like a bad thing. Some people really struggle."
"I wasn't aiming the attitude at most people. I was aiming it at you if you were thinking you need to lose weight."
Marlow reaches into the bag of crisps again, pointedly ignoring Jasper's smirk at the action. Crunching it loudly Marlow slowly chews, swallows, then says, "Honestly, I'm not watching my weight. It's just that it's easy to get in a rut eating nothing but crisps and sweets and then having to watch weight because of it. I can't play Quidditch well if that's the only sort of food I eat."
"So does that mean you don't want one of these cinnamon oatmeal biscuits?"
Marlow pulls a face at her cousin. "Oh shut up and hand one over."
Smirking again, Jasper does just that, stretching his legs out further as he reclines back to get more comfortable, wondering if he'll get to play another match today. In his last one, playing chaser as he's done in every scrimmage today, Jasper had managed to score two goals. If that was his last of the day, at least he's going out having played really well.
He'd considered trying for seeker what with Aleydis Vanderbilt gone but after a great deal of thought about it, Jasper decided to stick with what he knows, and loves, best.
Looking at one arm, the stipling of some new bruises already showing up, he wonders whose bright idea it had been all those years ago to have a bludger in matches. And not just one bludger but two. How different the game would be without them! Then again, Quidditch might be somewhat dull without the added layer of bludgers, even if bludgers can inflict pain and cause injury.
His worst bludger hit so far today is from much earlier in the day. Jasper and the other two chasers on the team were doing a series of rapid back and forth passes, working the quaffle towards one set of the hoops and the keeper there. An undersized first year who was having trouble controlling his broom while wielding a beater's bat got off the only really good hit he's had in any of the scrimmages he's been in that Jasper has seen.
Just as Jasper passed the quaffle to Ramona Mickle, the bludger going at a rapid speed smashed into his arm just above his wrist. In the initial pain of he moment, Jasper wondered if he had a fracture or a full on break. Thankfully, that wasn't the case but the spot continues to sting all this time later. There's a lump there and as the day has gone on there has been a steadily darkening bruise.
Jasper had had no option but to shake it off. There was one other option but not one he would take if he didn't have to do so. As with many of the more die hard players out today, Jasper didn't want to have to leave the match. Doing so might have meant not being allowed to play again later. Jasper couldn't see making the decision himself to greatly diminish his chances of making the Hufflepuff team. Though he's got NEWT level courses this year and has the added class of Alchemy, being a sixth year means he isn't going to have to be splitting time prepping for those NEWTs.
He had done the only option he felt was open for him. Jasper darted ahead to be ready to take another pass from either Ramona or Malden McGonagall. They'd continued their passing game, working the quaffle in close to where Hunter Green was playing keeper for the other team. Jasper had the quaffle then, shifting it from his dominant hand before trying for a goal. From Hunter's expression he was probably expecting the shifting to be some sort of trick but he quickly realized it wasn't, hustling to get to the quaffle.
Hunter knocked the quaffle away, with Malden getting it. Jasper took another bludger hit when he saw one heading straight for an unsuspecting Malden, though this one turned out to be barely a nudge. Malden took the shot, the other bludger giving Hunter grief, and allowing the quaffle through the hoop for a goal.
Jasper had made it through the rest of that scrimmage, doing his best to ignore the pain radiating up and down his arm from that one bad hit. He'd played all out, working hard as if his arm didn't feel like part of it was going to fall off. He was, however, glad when the match ended, giving him time to ice the spot before being called to play again.
Marlow had played in the scrimmage following that one, having no idea Jasper was thinking he might have a break or fracture. Like him, she was interest in one of the Hufflepuff chaser positions, one she's played for three years now. Or she thinks it's three.
Marlow, a first year named Gerry Martini-Blackwell, and Paton Shrewsbury were the chasers one one team. Another first year, Anderson Acker, Liam Murray, and his sister Emily Murray were the other three chasers. Emily got the quaffle first but last it two seconds later when Marlow stole it from her.
Marlow darted around other players, dodging a bludger, and avoiding a collision with one of the seekers. Seeing Gerry open, she'd passed, hoping the more inexperienced Gryffindor would catch it without a problem. He did, rocketing ahead, then handing off to Paton.
Paton narrowly missed a bludger but in his avoidance of it, he left himself open for Liam to slip in close and snatch the quaffle away. Liam, in turn, threw long to Anderson. The Acker boy took a bludger, causing him to fumble his grip. This let Paton return the favor, taking the quaffle right back. He almost immediately sent the red ball to Marlow.
She tucked the quaffle in close, leaned over her broom, and accelerated in the direction of the other team's keeper. That time she and her two fellow chasers got the ball to the hoops, Marlow taking two shots, Gerry and Paton both one apiece. None of those four goal efforts made it but by scrimmage end, each of them had made one goal to the other team's two. The snitch wasn't caught, though there had been a close moment, stopped only by a bludger.
Now, sitting next to Jasper, munching on the cinnamon oatmeal biscuit he'd shared, Marlow too hopes she gets to play in another scrimmage or two before the trials end.
Trying Out for Quidditch
Author: Finley
Date: 10-27-14 06:51
Originally, Phoebus and Finley decided together that they would try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Finley, having grown up in the Muggle World without any knowledge of witches and wizards, found every position interesting. A keeper was basically the Muggle equivalent of a goalie and was probably the most important position on the team. Chasers and beaters saw all the action. Seekers were critical, because their catch of the snitch typically won matches. Phoebus, on the other hand, was only interested in playing beater.
When the time came to actually try out, however, Phoebus backed out of their joint plan. He claimed he didn't want to make a fool out of himself in front of the entire school but insisted Finley still give it a shot. Finley couldn't decide if Phoebus wanted to watch her make a spectacle of herself, or if he really thought she stood a chance at earning a position on the team. After a brief debate, Finley decided she would tryout as originally planned.
In her first scrimmage match, she played keeper. Hovering in front of goal hoops wasn't as easy as it looked, and blocking was also tricky at times. Keepers also couldn't move too far from the hoops to avoid getting hit by bludgers, which meant a lot of them got hurt. In her second scrimmage match, she played beater. Finley found the position of beater even more difficult, because excellent aim was necessary to do the job right. She didn't have any trouble intercepting bludgers, but directing them accurately was very challenging.
In her current scrimmage match, she played chaser. Finley flew swiftly alongside Ramona from Ravenclaw, watching the older girl's moves. Ramona suddenly found herself in the path of a bludger, sent via Slytherin Asher, and quickly handed the quaffle off to Finley. It was a short pass and one Finley easily accepted. She tucked the quaffle securely under her arm and hurried to the goal hoops, which were being guarded by Slytherin Gus van Tassel.
Gus was a big guy, so Finley already imagined him blocking her goal attempt easily, but Edgar Steele got off a bludger at the perfect time. Gus rolled his shoulder to avoid it, giving Finley the opportunity to score. Unfortunately, her aim wasn't perfect and the quaffle hit the rim of the hoops and bounced back into the fray. Before anybody could get a hand on the quaffle, one of the seekers caught the snitch.
Finley sat out the next scrimmage match but was called into the one after that as seeker. She spent a long time searching for the tiny, gold ball and wondered how anyone ever saw it. The Pitch was huge, not only long and wide but deep as well. How high did snitches go? The nice thing about playing seeker was nobody bothered her, at least not when it seemed like she hadn't spotted anything. That changed the moment she picked up the pace.
She caught a glint of gold and edged closer to make sure she was, in fact, seeing the snitch hovering in the air. The moment she was certain, she took off after it, alerting not only the beaters but the other seeker as well. Soon the two seekers were flying shoulder to shoulder after the snitch, which darted out of reach. Finley tried to go faster, but the snitch seemed to make the gap wider and wider. Just when she thought she would never get any nearer to it, it turned abruptly and cut in front of her. Unfortunately, its sudden movement took Finley by surprise and she flew over it without making the catch.
She forced her broomstick around and bumped into the other seeker, who had also been taken by surprise. They were a temporary tangle of broomstick and limbs, which probably looked comical from the stands. When Finley finally managed to break free, the snitch was long gone. She went back to seeking but never saw the snitch again.
A Supremely Bad Idea
Author: Lysander Stratford
Date: 10-27-14 13:41
Lysander answered the door to find Astrid standing on the landing. She wore her hair in a long ponytail and wore sage green robes with a low neckline and bell sleeves. Knee high boots and a small, cross body purse completed the outfit. After giving her an appraising glance, Lysander invited her into his flat and said, "I wasn't expecting to see you."
Astrid looked around the room before settling her eyes on Lysander and remarked, "As nice as it sounds, I can't stay on honeymoon forever." She smiled. "I stopped by to give Charlotte a little gift. Is she here?"
Lysander shook his head. "She's at the gaming center with Grace. Would you like to leave it with me, or do you want to come back later?"
Astrid unzipped her tiny purse and removed a nice-sized box of handmade Parisian chocolates. The box was flat, pale blue in color, and tied with a chocolate-brown ribbon. Astrid handed it to Lysander and explained, "It's a family-owned shop, going back five generations. I had the proprietor choose the best chocolate varieties appropriate for someone Charlotte's age. I sampled a few and can't imagine her not liking any of it, unless she doesn't like chocolate…"
"She loves chocolate," Lysander said. "Thank you, Astrid. She'll be pleased."
"I'm glad, and I really have the both of you to thank. Your being at my wedding, and Charlotte being a member of the wedding party, made my day all the more special."
Lysander fixed a smile on his face and asked, "And how is married life?"
"Oh, it's fine," Astrid said, turning to run her fingers over the smooth petals of a few late autumn wildflowers Charlotte had picked and stuck in an old milk bottle that now served as a vase.
"And Axel? He's doing well, I trust?"
Astrid turned back around to look at Lysander and said, "Yes, he's fine as well."
There was a long, deafening silence as they stared at each other. Lysander was the first to look away, and he cleared his throat, thinking of something else to add to their conversation.
Astrid spoke first. "How long do you expect Charlotte to be out of the house?"
Lysander turned back to Astrid and answered, "A while yet."
Astrid removed her purse and stuck it on the kitchen table next to the box of chocolates. "Good," she said, moving towards him. Lysander started to back away and nearly stumbled over a toy Charlotte had left on the floor. "Astrid, wait a moment," he urged, holding up both hands.
Astrid didn't stop, and soon had him pressed up against the wall. "I see how you look at me, Lysander. I saw it on my wedding day, too. Isn't this what you want?"
"Yes… no! You're married!" he exclaimed, but his hands disobeyed his mind and found the small of her back.
"So? Axel doesn't have to know about this. Nobody does, except for you and me." Astrid looked up at him imploringly and said, "I won't tell a soul."
Lysander gave it half a thought before he threw caution into the wind and spun Astrid around so that her back was pressed into the wall. He tugged on her ponytail to lift up her chin and then pressed his lips to hers in a searing kiss.
DNA Testing
Author: Aris Sisco
Date: 10-27-14 17:11
Aris sat in his apartment when there was a tap at his window and he looked up. There was an owl in the window with a letter. Getting up and crossing the room Aris let the owl in and gave it a treat and took the letter. He watched for a long moment as the owl flew away and then he looked down at the envelope it was addressed to him in a familiar green scrawl. The letter was from Jade.
I am in labor and at the hospital. The healers said I should have the baby any time. I just thought you should know. I will be having the DNA test done and it would be nice if you came down to get yours done so they had it on file so they can compare the baby.
Jade
He read the letter over twice and then showered and dressed again and headed over to St. Mungo's so that he could get the blood work done for the test. Then he headed up to the maternity ward. He wanted to go see if Jade had the baby yet -- he had a morbid sense of wanting to see the little person that could change his life forever.
The baby had been born and Aris stared at it through the glass in the nursery. It was a girl and he felt himself sort of hoping that the baby was his but at the same time he didn't want that because life as he knew it would be over.
Walking to the door of the room where Jade was he knocked no the door and waited to be invited in.
"Hello, Jade." He said as he walked in and pulled up a chair beside her bed.
"Hi, Aris." She said in a tired voice. "Did you see her?" Aris nodded his head and said that he had seen her in the nursery. "Did you get the test done?"
"Yes. I did it a while ago. They said the test would take an hour once they got blood from the baby."
Jade nodded her head and the two talked civilly for a while before the healer came back in and gave them the results of the DNA test.
"We ran the twice to make sure that the results were accurate." the healer said.
"The baby is..." there seemed to be a long pause before the healer went on. "is not yours."
A part of Aris was relieved and part of him was a little sad. He looked at Jade and wanted to say something to her but he could not. This was the proof he needed to know that she had cheated on him while they were together.
"Congratulations Jade." He said and then turned to walk away. "I wish you luck." He said turning back towards her and then he walked out of the room and headed home.
Two More Marchbanks (Baron & Leo)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 10-27-14 20:23
Barontaine Marchbanks takes to the air with confidence. He's done well in each scrimmage match so far today. He sees no reason why he shouldn't do equally well in this one. As in each of the other matches, Baron is in a chaser position, playing in towards the goal of making the Slytherin House team. If he does not, then he views today as another grand opportunity to make a good impression, exhibit good sportsmanship. Both will serve him well years from now when he's the British Minister of Magic.
The quaffle is released, a scamble ensues. Baron is pleased to get his hands on it first. He's happy about it but not smug. Smug isn't very good sportsmanship.
Baron races from the mid-pitch point where the quaffle release took place. Teammate Paton Shrewsbury is just ahead and open. Baron makes the pass then increases his speed to be where he can be of assistance to Paton and the third chaser on their team, some girl named Finley. Baron makes a mental reminder to speak to her after the match to learn her full name and verify that she's a first year as he believes her to be. He'll mention his brother Cornington, also a first year.
Paton gets the quaffle to Finley. She soon passes to Baron. The three of them keep up a fast paced passing game, making it harder for the other team's two beaters, one of whom is his cousin Gus Hodfuffer, to get a bludger hit on the person with the quaffle. Baron gets dinged once in the path to the hoops, but it came half a second after he'd already passed off the quaffle.
The drawback to passing so often is it leaves them more open for an interception or steal. Luckily, this time Finley, Paton, and he reach Beatrix Vanderbilt without any of the other three chasers getting even a single finger on the quaffle. Baron knows that will quickly change, either because Beatrix stops the ball from going through a hoop and the quaffle then ends up with one of her team's chasers or because his team makes a goal and the quaffle is turned over to the other team afterwards.
It's Paton taking the first goal shot of this scrimmage. Beatrix keeps it from going through the hoop with the quaffle sent back out into the fray. Finley grabs it but no sooner does she have fingers gripping it then she's hit by a bludger forcing her to let it go. Baron is right there, snatching it away from another of the Vanderbilts, Franciscus.
Baron lines up the shot and throws the quaffle. A bludger from one of his side's beaters harasses Beatrix, causing her to be late in getting close enough to the ball to block. The quaffle hits the rim and for a moment Baron thinks it might come back this direction only to have it slip through the other way. Ten points for his team and the other side now takes possession.
Baron wouldn't mind his team getting the quaffle right back but he also looks forward to the challenge of keeping the other team from reaching the hoops at the opposite end of the pitch or if they do make it there, working with keeper, beaters, Finley, and Paton to prevent that team from scoring.
In the scrimmage that follows another Marchbanks mounts a broom, one of the two seekers for the match. Leonine had thought of trying out for beater but he'd hurt his arm a couple of days ago. It was still sore enough today he didn't think he could handle the bat very well. In the big picture, the time each scrimmage runs if no seeker catches the snithc isn't very long compared to how long a regular match generally lasts but as sore as Leo's arm is he knows he'd be showing signs of serious fatigue in his bat hand and arm well before any scrimmage ended. He'd withdrawn his name for beater, content with trying for seeker.
This match begins, all four balls released. Leo's roommate, and friend, Mickey Moon is the chaser who gets the quaffle first. Leo wishes he could sit and watch, cheering Mickey's efforts on but he'll never find the snitch that way, not unless it flies directly in front of his faces and stays there. There's also the fact that Mickey's on the other team right now.
He's not caught the snitch in any of the other scrimmages he's played today but he came close in one and in that one and another the winged ball gave him a good chase. In neither of those did the other seeker get the snitch so that's something at least, or in his opinion anyway. In another match, the other seeker did get the snitch. Not to make excuses but Leo wonders if he might not have done better that time if he'd not taken a bludger right to his stomach that hit him hard enough he spent several minutes bent over his broom, wheezing heavily. He wonders if that's how an asthmatic feels.
Leo slows in his search to allow the six chasers, strung out in a line, pass in front of him. Pablo Carioca of his team has the quaffle with Mickey trying to get it back. The other four chasers are assisting their respective teammates, trying to either help Mickey get the quaffle from Pablo or helping Pablo keep possession of the ball.
After the last of the chasers has passed, Leo can clearly see the other seeker Barbie Bones, a girl from his house but new this year. He's seen her in some of the other matches trying out for other positions as well. As seeker right now she appears to be on to something. Leo speeds up, looking hard for whatever it is she's following.
Leo spots the object of Barbie's interest, increasing his speed even more. The snitch is staying far enough ahead of Barbie that she's not yet to the point of the leaned over stretch, arm extended.
Sensing more than seeing Leo, Barbie increases her own speed. The snitch speeds up. Leo accelerates, going low over his broom in the process. He comes even with Barbie then pulls slightly ahead. She pulls back even then is the one a little ahead. Back and forth they go, neither truly besting the other as they also concentrate on keeping the snitch in view, still so tantalizingly out of reach.
A bludger whizzing across in front of them has Barbie and Leo both abruptly pulling up. The hard ball had come close enough to graze the tips of both their broomsticks, thankfully not doing any damage to either. The snitch, in the meantime, has vanished from sight. Leo hears Barbie sigh. He perfectly understands the sentiment.
Both return to searching, neither spotting the snitch for the duration of the match.
Firstie First (Crew)
Author: Driver Morgan
Date: 10-27-14 21:32
"Good luck Crewbie!" Remedy and Sagitta both yelled to Crew as he took to the Quidditch pitch. Neither of the girls planned on trying out, but were in the stands to support their younger friend. After watching a few scrimmage games, he took to the pitch, head held high. As a first year, he would have a tougher time beating the older students to make the Slytherin house team, that's what the other students said.
After warm ups, while waiting on his first match, Crew stood on his broom, lazily flying in a circle. It helped him focus and kept his balance, a little trick the energetic eleven year old used before he played. He couldn't help but be confident, albeit cocky, about his skills. His parents were both on the winning World Cup British National team, and Crew was determined to follow in their footsteps. The whistle blew, ending the previous match and Crew was up next, playing as a chaser. That was the only position he ever really loved, just like his parents, but occasionally played keeper when he would play pickup games back home.
He jumped back on his broom and took to the sky, waiting for the balls to be released. No matter what, Crew was a quidditch addict, and loved the fun of the game, win or lose he would play all day if allowed. He closed his eyes, a soft breeze ruffled his shaggy hair and a smirk etched on his lips. Game time! The opposing team was first for the quaffle, and a fellow chaser flew up beside them, snatching the red ball. It wasn't long before a bludger headed her direction, along with another opponent. Crew spun around and dropped just below his teammate to accept a pass. The pair passed back and forth as they approached their goal, but a bludger nearly knocked Crew off his broom, he swiftly tossed it to the third chaser who was situated just by the hoops, and scored.
Crew wiped a sweat soaked strand of hair out of his face and grinned. He was in the zone now, and was reflecting on some tips his parents, and his uncles Arley and Seb had given him. They both played for the Hufflepuff team when they were in school and had come up with several clever plays. If he made the team, Crew would have to commandeer that play book, it could prove useful. The opposing team sped by after catching the quaffle. The ball changed hands several more times, until a pass headed his direction.
He wrapped his legs around his broom, and stretched out for a pass. The quaffle fell into his hands, and Crew sprinted for the hoops. One swift shot towards the left hoop and another goal was scored. The whistle blew and the match ended. The seekers of both teams hadn't been successful, that was a position Crew didn't envy, one little miscalculation could win or lose a match, and potential humiliation in the succeeding days.
Feeling ever more confident that his first match had ended on a positive note, he was eagerly back in the air in a second scrimmage. This match seemed to fly by, until near the end. The opponent chaser fumbled and the quaffle was falling towards the grassy pitch. Crew dove down after it, and was approaching the ground way too fast. He held onto his broom with one hand and got his other hand just close enough to pass up as hard as he could. He pulled up in the nick of time, his broomtail scrapping the ground. Right when the ball flew up to a teammate, a bludger struck it, but somehow knocked it into his own teammate's direction. His dad would be proud of that move, which made Crew grin as he narrowly avoided a bludger. After a score by the other team Crew thought he had come away from both matches without any major injuries, which would make his mother happy, but he thought that all too soon.
The other team's beater noticed Crew slightly distracted, and aimed right for him as he went to steal the quaffle. The bludger connected hard into Crew's back and he tumbled, still holding onto his broom, but the quaffle slipped away, and allowed the other team to score. He flinched, but managed to stay in the game, a little more aggressive as the incident drove him to play harder. The game finally ended, and Crew was content with his performance.
"You should get your back looked at, Crew." Remedy said, as she and Ita made their way over to him.
"It's just a little bruise, I'll be fine!" Even with a little pain, he was still excited, and hoped he made the team. If not, there was always next year and a lot of practice with his dad and uncles. It helped growing up in a family of quidditch fanatics, their insights always helpful.
Hoping To Make The Hufflepuff Team (Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 10-27-14 21:50
Sitting on the sidelines, Duncan has a thought. He's never heard either of his parents mention playing Quidditch for a house team while students. Did either of them ever even try out? His dad loves Quidditch and even plays on a team that does charity events. His mum likes Quidditch, maybe could even be considered a lover of it but Duncan somehow can't picture Bethany Praed Dippet competitively playing Quidditch when at Hogwarts. He especially can't envision it now she's hugely pregnant. He's expecting an owl any day now telling him the baby's been born.
Duncan's brow wrinkles. Did he send anything about trying out for the Huffelpuff team today?
No matter. If he forgot he'll write about it tomorrow and send it off. Mum and Dad will be happy for him if he makes the team but they'll be happy that he even tried. Duncan is not known for putting himself out there or doing something that might possibly make him the center of attention.
His friend Devon Abbott sits down next to him. "Does it smart?"
Duncan holds up a reddened hand. "A little but not much. Not like it did when it happened."
In the last scrimmage match he'd play, he'd been holding the quaffle when a bludger slammed into the back of his hand. As he'd had the quaffle pressed against his broom handle, the bludger effectively mashed his hand between the two balls. Good thing the quaffle is a much softer ball with some give or his hand might have been broken.
Other than that particular bludger hit, the rest of the match went well. The hit had come only a minute or two into the scrimmage. Duncan was able to pass the quaffle to teammate Edgar Steele though he'd used his other hand to do it, resulting in a sloppy pass. Even with that, Edgar had caught the quaffle. Edgar kept the ball for a short time before sending it in what looked like an overly long pass to Jasper Jenkins.
Duncan had caught up to them by that time and did his best to keep up with their level of skill, both of them older and more experienced than he. He'd fumbled a catch from Jasper but didn't lose the quaffle. It was close, and he had a difficult time of hanging on to the ball particularly with a hand that still ached from that bludger but somehow he'd done it.
They'd gotten the quaffle down to one end of the pitch. After a couple of shots at the hoops that were turned back by the keeper, Duncan got off one. It was again on the sloppy side, this time using the injured hand, his fingers stiff and feeling almost as if they didn't belong at the end of his own arm. Even with the bad throw, the goal was good. Duncan can't take all the credit though. Asher Kent had made a well time bludger hit that interfered with the keeper's efforts. That's okay by him. A goal is a goal and he is the one who threw the ball.
When the scrimmage ended, his team had made three goals, one by each of the chasers. The other team hadn't made any but their seeker did get the snitch in the last two minutes of the match.
Looking up at the match taking place above them, Devon and Duncan talk about how the day has gone so far and Duncan wonders how many more scrimmages will be played before the trials are over for this year.