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(Edgar) Clumsy
Author: Johanna Steele
Date: 12-19-14 15:06
It had been another false alarm and Edgar felt a bit stupid for concentrating his efforts in trying to find a bludger to throw it at Rylee, the Slytherin seeker. He wasted precious time chasing the bludger that had collided with the quaffle, that dropped into a freefall. Malden went for it and Edgar thought the match was becoming too repetitive with the red ball falling down twice and two snitch false alarms too close to each other.
As Malden approached Hunter's hoops, Edgar was still in pursuit of the erratic bludger. But he was not the only beater doing so. He felt a presence near him, and by the corner of his eye he recognized Asher. Since Slytherin was attacking, Edgar was supposed to throw bludgers at the Slytherin chasers, to stop their advance. Asher was supposed to defend them but instead he had adopted another strategy and went for the bludger. Edgar understood why the moment Asher was able to win their little race: he used his bat to throw the bludger far away, to the other side of the pitch. That way he would make sure that, at least for a while, one of the bludgers would not bother the Slytherin chasers. He quickly left, while Edgar had no other option but to retrieve the bludger.
He flied as fast as he could, feeling the wind on his face. He censured himself for not being able to get to the bludger first and for a moment he doubted his beater skills. His self-esteem had been low for the past days, thanks the last Potions class where Snape had humiliated him in front of everyone. Edgar knew that there was no particular reason for Snape picking on him other than that he was Gryffindor, however he had taken the teacher's comments too personally. Especially when he made an allusion to the fact the reason perhaps he didn't have a girlfriend was because of his incompetence and lack of intelligence. He also asked out loud if it was wise for Edgar to play as a beater because due to his clumsiness at brewing potions, he might hurt one of the Quidditch spectators during the Saturday match.
At the end of the class, Luke told Edgar to ignore Snape that he was just trying to affect him; it was his way to help his house to win the match. But no matter how he tried to just forget about it, Snape's comments had really messed up with Edgar's mind. Finley's goal had eased things up a little bit but he really wanted Gryffindor to win. It would be priceless to see Snape's face if Leonine caught the snitch. He had complimented his brother, Baron, during the Potions class, while he had given a bad time to Edgar, Madoc and Hunter.
Finally he was able to reach the bludger. He looked to where the chasers were. Malden had passed the quaffle to Mason but during the pass Gerry had stole the quaffle. But Crew had blocked his passage, and Mason took advantage of Gerry's stop to take the red ball from his hand, claiming it back to Slytherin. Mildred and Finley made a line in front of Hunter's hoops, trying not to give any scoring positions to Mason. However, he seemed to find a gap and shot. But Hunter defended it and passed the quaffle to Mildred.
The three Gryffindor chasers moved away from the hoop's area very fast, the Slytherins in their tail. Edgar raised his bat and aimed to Malden. It slowed him down for a bit. Edgar then joined Madoc as they both tried to protect their team's chasers from being hit by the bludgers sent by Baron and Asher. Mildred, Gerry and Finley worked together, alternating the possession of the quaffle between the three of them. For a moment the Slytherin chasers were not able to do anything to break the attack. Madoc protected Gerry from a bludger and when Edgar was about to deviate another bludger that this time was meant to Finley, he had the idea of trying to hit Gus with it. If it didn't touch the Slytherin keeper, at least it would distract him, and it would help out the Gryffindor chasers. Maybe they could score another goal.
He was already seeing it in his mind, as his bat hit the heavy dark ball. Who is clumsy now Snape?. Unfortunately he didn't aim the bludger well and instead of hitting Gus, the ball hit one of the hoops. There was a metallic sound as the bludger rebounded and Edgar had no time to react. He heard a crack and felt the warm blood following down his chin and staining his already scarlet robes, after the bludger hit his face, breaking his nose.
Coach Krum was about to order a time out so Edgar could clean up, and put a temporary bandage or something around it, before Madam Pomfrey could fix it, but he made him a sign not to do that yet because Gerry was ready to shot. Edgar held his breath, fighting the pain in his nose, waiting to see if the quaffle would enter or not the hoops and raise Gryffindor's advantage against Slytherin.
(Madoc & Malden) Brothers & Opponents
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 12-19-14 18:06
Gus stopped the quaffle from going into the hoop by catching it, but before he could pass the ball to one of his Slytherin teammates, Coach Krum blew his whistle to check on the status of Edgar's nose. It took several minutes for the flying and Quidditch professor to staunch the nosebleed and situate Edgar with a bandage, as well as to make sure the Gryffindor beater wasn't suffering from some sort of head injury. When it seemed all was well, the game resumed.
Gus handed the quaffle off to Malden, who immediately lobbed the ball at Mason. Mason passed to Crew. For a while, the Slytherin chasers worked as a team to move the quaffle down the Pitch and ever closer to the Gryffindor goal hoops. The team of three Slytherin chasers were a bit more mature than the Gryffindor ones, having only one first year on the roster versus two. As it was, Crew probably had an advantage over the others, being the son of professional Quidditch players.
Although Edgar looked determined to play at the same intensity as earlier in the match and didn't at all appear impaired, despite all of the blood stains on the front of his Quidditch uniform, Madoc felt the need to step up his game. He sighted an attainable bludger and went after it, pushing his broomstick as hard as he could. The effort paid off, because he reached the black ball well before Asher. could Madoc swung his bat and connected with the ball, sending it towards Crew.
Madoc didn't wait to see what happened and instead looked for the other bludger, before deciding Edgar had it under control. He turned back to catch up to the one he'd just hit and saw that Crew was rubbing his lower back near his tailbone and that he didn't have the quaffle anymore. Unfortunately, Malden appeared to have either accepted Crew's pass or recovered his fumble.
Malden swerved around Rylee, who was searching systematically for the golden snitch, and then tossed the ball to Mason. Mason threw it right back when he saw that Edgar had targeted him with the other bludger. He managed to dodge it enough so that it only grazed him but was glad to have given up the quaffle, because Finley and Gerry were on top of him and could have stolen it.
Malden ducked the other bludger, which his own brother Madoc aimed at him. It was intercepted by Baron, who redirected it at Mildred. Malden was so close to the goal hoops and wanted to score very badly. It seemed bad luck that a Gryffindor first year had scored the first points of the match. He had to fix things by at least making the score even.
Although she was attempting to stay neutral, Willow's voice started to grow excited the nearer Malden got to the goals. He let the quaffle fly the same moment one of the Slytherin beaters, he didn't see which, aimed one at Hunter. For a brief second, Malden pictured the red and black balls colliding with one another, but they didn't. Hunter moved to avoid the bludger but also tried to stop the quaffle. His fingers grazed the quaffle but it wasn't enough to stop the ball or send it too far off course. It hit rim but still went through the hoop.
Malden grinned. Now the score was 10-10.
Hunter, meanwhile, retrieved the quaffle and passed it to Finley. Seeing that Asher and Baron had commandeered both bludgers, Madoc put himself in the position to defend Finley from an attack. Edgar hovered near Mildred. They knocked the bludgers away, forcing Asher and Baron to retrieve them and giving Finley a better chance of getting closer to the Slytherin goals.
Malden tried to steal the ball away, but Finley's grip was hard to break. She held on to the quaffle for dear life. When a bludger finally made it in her direction, Madoc was there to redirect it at his brother. Malden saw it coming and quickly pulled back his hand and swerved. He shot Madoc a dirty look, but Madoc didn't notice. He saw Finley pass to Gerry, who looked like he might attempt a goal.
The Only Hunter
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 12-19-14 21:30
For the first time since playing for a Hogwarts team, or so he thinks it's the first time, Hunter isn't hearing a commentator making sure everyone knew his actions were that of Hunter Green while others were those of Hunter Rabnott. He's not being called the "other" Hunter. It's nice but, frankly, it's also a little strange.
Also strange is playing against Slytherin but not Olive. Hunter has no idea one of her former Slytherin teammates has had a similar thought about Olive not being in the air today. For Hunter, she is at least in the stands. She told him before the match that while she feels compelled to root for the Slytherin team, she is cheering him to do well. He's not exactly sure how that can work since if he does well that might mean Gryffindor is doing well too, which would mean Slytherin might not be. Or maybe it doesn't mean that. It's a little confusing to ponder during the middle of a match.
It's also not made any easier by the fact of Hunter having conked his head. He feels supremely stupid about how it happened. He didn't bump heads with another player. He wasn't smacked in the head with a bludger though one of the rigid, black balls is indirectly responsible.
Hunter had just deflected the quaffle from going through one of the hoops with a bludger came his way. He'd easily avoided it but in the process of moving out of its path, he somehow banged the back of his head on the hoop rim behind him. He saw spots for a moment so it was excellent for him that the quaffle action was heading in Gus's direction once more. The spots cleared fairly rapidly but even if they hadn't, Hunter doubts he would have said anything. He would have had to be falling over from a concussion and unable to stay upright on his broom before he'd admit to a problem that could remove him from the match and probably even then he'd protest at least a little.
Since the head bashing the action has gone up and down the pitch a few times. Hunter sort of wishes he could blame the single Slytherin goal to still being a little scrambled from hitting his head but the goal was made before that happened.
At the moment, the chasers are all converging on him once again. Malden has the quaffle but looks to be prepping for a pass. Sure enough, he throws to Crew. Crew is immediately hemmed in by Mildred and Finley, prompting him to drop the quaffle to Mason, who's flying on a slightly different level.
Mason breaks away from the others but with Gerry in hot pursuit. Edgar helps slow Mason with a well bludger. Gerry catches up and comes even, watching for an opening to steal. That opening comes with Madoc sends that same bludger right back at Mason, catching him on the elbow. From the way Mason's hand spasms, releasing his grip on the ball, Hunter has to think the bludger caught Mason on his funny bone.
Gerry's got the quaffle now, spinning back the other way. In a sprint, he watches for an opening to move the ball even further forward with a long pass. Not finding either Finley or Mildred in a position to take such a pass, Gerry hunkers down further over his broom, accelerating in the process.
Gerry gets nearly three-quarters of the way down the pitch before one of the other two Gryffindor chasers is open for a pass. Gerry throws to Mildred but Malden is suddenly there, as if apparating to the spot, intercepting the quaffle. Malden races away, Gerry in hot pursuit with Milded only a hair behind.
Malden, Crew, and Mason pull into a tightly knit formation, working the quaffle along the pitch through a series of fast, close passes. It's Crew with the quaffle when they reach Hunter. Crew takes the shot, the quaffle going to Hunter's right. He dives for it, palming the ball away.
Crew makes a grab for it but Mildred messes him up, though she doesn't get the quaffle either. It's Mason taking possession. He doesn't retain possession for long, lining up a shot and firing off the red ball. It goes to the extreme opposite side of the three hoops from where Hunter has just blocked a goal attempt. He gets there to stop the quaffle but only enough for his fingertips to graze the ball without altering its trajectory even a teensy bit.
The score now stands 20 to 10, Slytherin's favor. His mouth pulled into a tight line, Hunter hands the quaffle off to Gerry, thinking that maybe, just maybe he could blame this second goal on his banged up skull if anyone were to say something to him.
Gryffindor Chaser
Author: Gerry
Date: 12-21-14 06:42
Gerry accepted the quaffle from Hunter and hurtled away from the Gryffindor goals. He didn't get very far when he found his path blocked by Malden, who deliberately cut right in front of him. With Mason and Crew flying on either side of him, Gerry had little options. One presented itself when Mildred ducked beneath him. When Gerry dropped the ball into her arms, both Mason and Crew dove and reached out their arms in an attempt to grab it, but miraculously, nobody hit anyone. Malden moved out of the way to pursue Mildred, giving Gerry the chance to scamper off behind them.
Mildred held tight onto the ball until one of the bludgers crossed her path. She simultaneously steered clear of it and let the quaffle go, sending it in a neat arc into Finley's open arms. Finley barely had it in her arms before Crew stole it away, but Edgar and Madoc reacted quickly and aimed bludgers at the Slytherin chaser. In the split second Crew considered what action to take, what with the bludgers coming at him from both sides, Finley had stolen the quaffle back and hastened away from him.
She passed to Gerry, who passed to Mildred, who passed it back to Gerry. The quaffle flew back and forth between the Gryffindor chasers and was sometimes only a red blur instead of ball shaped. The Slytherin beaters attempted to determine a pattern so that they would know who to aim the bludgers at but ended up having to try their luck. One clipped Gerry in the upper arm, but luckily he didn't have possession of the quaffle at that very moment.
Finley tossed the ball back to Mildred, who eyed the goals Gus protected. Gus sized her up, thinking about all the different ways she had scored or attempted to score in the past. He gauged her movements and correctly anticipated her fake-out. Mildred pretended to aim for one goal when she really threw for another. Gus batted the ball back into the fray with his hand, sending it directly into Gerry's arms. He tried for a goal, but while Gus didn't block it, it also didn't go into the hoop. It bounced off the rim and came right back at him.
Gerry got his hands on the ball, but so did Crew. The two first year boys, who were also neighbors in Hogsmeade, wrestled with the quaffle. Gerry only managed to snatch the ball away when a bludger, thanks to Madoc, hit Crew in the shoulder. Gerry quickly assessed which goal hoop he should aim for, the same time Edgar got off the other bludger at Gus. The bludger got Gus in the collar bone. Gerry's quaffle, meanwhile, sailed cleanly through the goal hoop.
Now the game was tied, 20-20!
(Willow) First Time Commentating
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 12-21-14 13:06
Willow sat in the staff box at the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin and gave a running play-by-play in her role as commentator. It was a bit nerve-racking to sit in the staff box vs the regular stands, especially with Professor McGonagall seated right next to her. Everybody knew how fanatical the Headmistress was about Quidditch. That was one thing that hadn't changed since Willow's first time as student at Hogwarts.
It was a bit interesting sitting next to Professor McGonagall instead of Amorica like Willow usually did. Both Professor McGonagall and Willow had to be neutral, the former being Headmistress of the entire school and the latter serving as Quidditch commentator. However, Professor McGonagall was a former Gryffindor and Willow herself was a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall was obviously for her own team, just like Willow hoped Slytherin would win.
Right now the score was tied at twenty points each.
"Jeffers has the quaffle. He throws to Morgan. Morgan narrowly misses a bludger! That was a close one! Morgan passes to McGonagall––nope! The quaffle is intercepted by Campbell. Campbell passes to Pride––wait! The quaffle is intercepted again, this time by Jeffers."
Mason turned around and darted away, only to find himself the target of both of the bludgers. Madoc and Edgar worked like a synchronized team.
"Jeffers throws the ball longhand to McGonagall. McGonagall tries for a goal. It's no good! Green blocks. McGonagall catches the rebound and gives it another go. Green blocks again! McGonagall catches the––ouch! McGonagall, that's Madoc, gets him in the arm. Malden drops the ball."
The chasers all dove for the quaffle, with Malden the slowest of the bunch. Gerry was the one who emerged victorious and took off like his life depended upon it, only to be targeted by a bludger. Someone shouted a warning to him, so Gerry moved out of the way, but then Crew came out of nowhere and lifted the quaffle straight out of his arms.
"And it's Morgan for the steal!" Willow shouted. She wanted to jump up and down, but she restrained herself. With any luck, Crew would score more points for Slytherin, though it would be even better if Rylee caught the snitch!
Still Tied (Crew)
Author: Driver Morgan
Date: 12-21-14 18:36
The Quidditch stadium was full of students, staff and various visitors cheering for the first match of the season. Today was Gryffindor versus Slytherin, and there was a long running rivalry between the two houses. Crew Morgan was ecstatic to be a part of his house team and even more proud to be there as a first year. A look into the stands he saw his two best friends, Remedy Foster and Sagitta Howell, both cheering him on. Little did Crew realize that his parents and little brother were there as well. They were proud their eldest son was following in their footsteps and would possibly be a professional player in the future.
Jump ahead further in the match and Crew had just taken a bludger to the shoulder curtesy of the Madoc. This caused him to lose possession after a split second hesitation. The pain was biting but he pushed it to the back of his mind, as the wind swept through his shaggy hair. Gryffindor scored again and the score was now twenty points to twenty points. Crew growled, slightly angry, but Quidditch was still a fun game to him, no matter the stakes. It only drove him to fly faster and play harder.
Another goal shot by Slytherin is blocked by Hunter Green, and the game remains tied. So far the team is doing well, and seems to be working well together. All three chasers clad in green seemed to know just where the others were, making passing easier. Just as Crew intercepts a pass from Gerry he flys straight up, loops over Edgar and Finley before he turns and sprints for the hoops. He passes to Malden, right below the left hoop, who takes a shot. The quaffle is intercepted by Hunter right before a goal can be made on Slytherin's behalf. Hopefully the snitch will be spotted and caught by one of the seekers soon, and his team would be victorious. The match wasn't over yet though, and keeping his head in the game was most important. Morgan looked up just in time to see the quaffle slip from Finley's hands and fall towards his position below it. He set his chin and reached up with his legs wrapped around his broom to keep him from tumbling towards the ground. Just as his fingers grasped the red ball, he grinned, unaware of the bludger heading right towards him.
Baron the Beater and Leo the Seeker
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 12-21-14 19:37
Baron had been less sure about a beater position than one of the others because beaters are sanctioned to hurt people using bludgers. The aim isn't to purposely inflict pain and injury, at least not for most beaters, but that's what, in essence, they do. Baron has wondered if playing beater is the best for his long-term image. Each time he's had this thought he reminds himself that if he's playing with good sportsmanship then being a beater versus keeper, chaser, or seeker shouldn't matter to his long-term career goals.
Right this second Baron can't concern himself with such thoughts. Edgar just messed up his plan for a bludger so he's having to rapidly rethink. Where they are in relation to the chasers, and the quaffle, bunched up around one set of hoops, racing ahead to intercept and redirect the bludger isn't a very good option. Edgar does a quick scan, locates the second bludger and charges after it, mindful that Madoc is after that one as well.
He reaches the bludger but too late to aid Slytherin in making another goal just then. Baron has to settle for sending the bludger in Finley's direction simply because she's just taken charge of the quaffle.
Finley hangs on to the quaffle at the bludger hits her, which is too bad since she's still relatively close to the Gryffindor tended hoops. Less distance for a Slytherin chaser to travel to try to add more points to his team's tally.
Madoc gets to the bludger he just hit so Baron shoots after it to do what he couldn't do a moment before with the one Edgar had swatted. Getting a little ahead of the bludger, he shifts his broom just so, allowing Baron to hit the ball on the trajectory he desires. This time he bats the black ball in Mildred's direction, smiling ever so slightly at preventing her from successfully catching a pass.
Malden catches the red ball when Mildred fails to do so, taking off back the way they've just come. Baron is going after one of the bludgers to assist Malden with transporting the quaffle back to where Hunter is determined to prevent Slytherin from scoring again. Arriving at the bludger, Baron's set to target Gerry but is distracted by the sight of his brother Leo, who is the Gryffindor seeker, looking as if he's spotted the snitch.
Leo caught a glimpse of tiny wings beating rhythmically at a hummingbird fast rate. He makes an effort to be subtle, making no overt moves to indicate he's altering his flight path or has had a snitch sighting. He must not have done as good a job with that as he hoped because he hears more than sees a bludger coming up on him.
He reacts with a sharp broom maneuver but the bludger still grazes one arm. Leo blinks with relief the hit isn't a hit. His stomach gives a lurch and tightens at not immediately seeing the snitch. He's again relieved, expressed with a sigh this time, at spotting it again.
Increasing his speed, Leo attempts to shorten the gap between the little ball and himself. About that same time he hears commentator Willow Westwick announcing to all that Leonine Marchbanks has had a snitch sighting. Dropping all pretense of just flying a regular search pattern, Leo steps up his speed even more, flattening over his broom in the process, stretching one arm hand, fingers reaching even though he's not yet close enough to even consider being able to wrap his hand around the snitch.
He has no idea when Rylee joins in the chase. One second she's not there and then she is in his peripheral vision. One bludger followed by the other come at them. Leo isn't clear which bludger is aimed at who. Could be both were aimed at him or could be both were aimed at Rylee. They are flying almost parallel so it would be impossible to send one at either of them without a high chance of the other being hit.
Rylee and he seem to alternate who's ahead, closer to the snitch. Neither can truly break away from the other. Leo doesn't mind all that much so long as he can keep the snitch in his line of sight. Pulling up even with Rylee once more then again being the one in the lead, Leo stretches further out over his broom, reaching his arm as far as he can, a sense of discomfort setting in the longer he maintains this pose.
Another bludger comes in from the side. Leo is so stretched out and flattened along his broom handle at this point that the bludger whizzes across his back, causing a stinging sensation. It's only after he edges even closer to the snitch that he realizes Rylee isn't right there with him still. That bludger must have caught her in such a way that she slowed or altered course somewhat.
Reaching out as far ahead of him that he can, Leo's rear end comes off the broom seat entirely. This allows him to close the distance between his hand and the snitch enough for his fingers to wrap tightly around it. He feels the wings go still against his palm, Willow loudly proclaiming he's caught the snitch.
Heading down for a landing, Leo is so elated he thinks he could keep flying even without his broom. His first match as a member of an official school team and Gryffindor wins, the final score 170 to Slytherin's 20.